The 43rd Annual Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) just announced their Midnight Madness program for 2018, and it’s enough to make horror fans swoon. In addition to some less publicized gems, we’re learning that 2 of the most hotly-anticipated genre offerings of the year will celebrate their world premieres at the event: David Gordon-Green’sHalloweenand Shane Black’sThe Predator. Both are reboots of classic properties that peaked in popularity in the 1980s and are part of a new wave of nostalgia-soaked horror ignited (at least in part) by the launch of the mega hit seriesStranger Thingson Netflix in 2016.
In an official statement, Midnight Madness Programmer Peter Kuplowsky explains:
“This year’s Midnight Madness slate promises another idiosyncratic confluence of established and emerging genre filmmakers. To complement some of the buzziest provocations on the festival circuit, I have sought to curate an eccentric array of World Premieres that demonstrate the dexterity of genre cinema as a canvas for both sublime satisfaction and stunning subversion. That includes the section’s two much-anticipated sequels,The PredatorandHalloween, each of which boldly and brilliantly builds upon its mythic iconography to thrilling and surprising effect.”
Other notable films horror and sci-fi fans will want to investigate at TIFF includeAssassination Nation(a modern reimagining of the Salem witch trials),Climaxby “extreme” French director Gaspar Noé (Irreversible,Into the Void), the futuristic sports-themed thrillerDiamantino, the high fashion-themed “In Fabric”, a “Bollywood-infused” action thriller out of India calledThe Man Who Feels No Pain, the techno-horror/sci-fiNekrotronic, the militia shockerThe Standoff at Sparrow Creek, and the frontier/western-tinged creeperThe Wind(among others).
In Gordon-Green’sHalloween(slated to arrive in US theaters nationwide on October 19th, timed to coincide with the 40th Anniversary of John Carpenter’s originalHalloween):
It’s been 40 years since Laurie Strode survived a vicious attack from crazed killer Michael Myers on Halloween night. She now faces a terrifying showdown when Michael returns to Haddonfield, Ill. – but this time, Laurie is ready for him.
In Black’sThe Predator(invading US theaters on September 14th):
When a young boy accidentally triggers the universe’s most lethal hunters' return to Earth, only a ragtag crew of ex-soldiers and a disgruntled science teacher can prevent the end of the human race.
TIFF 2018 kicks off on September 6th and runs through the 16th. News of this year’s Midnight Madness slate was first published on the officialTIFFwebsite.
