[TIFF ’21] Some hot picks for the Toronto International Film Festival

The Toronto International Film Festival is coming up and some of the biggest movies of the year will be making an appearance. The fest will also be a showcase from some films that may not be receiving the same mainstream buzz, but still look very promising. This is the first year AIPT will be covering TIFF and there are a lot of films we want to see. Here are some of the ones we are most looking forward to.

HOLD YOUR FIRE

In what looks to be one of the more topical films of the year, the documentary is about the longest hostage siege in New York Police Department history. It was 1973 and four Black men were involved in a shootout with the police that led to a standoff. At the time, the 130 year old policy was to deliver an ultimatum then to respond with deadly force. Through interviews and footage, the film looks at one of the most pivotal moments in police history.

Kicking Blood

Vampires have been a popular part of cinema since films began. It is hard to come across a story that is eye-catching and honors the tropes of the genre. Kicking Blood works by taking some familiar themes and placing them in the modern world. These are not wealthy members of society, however. Anna is tired of eternal life and has a certain admiration for humans. But it is the “vampires as junkies” theme that seems to really set it apart.

To Kill the Beast

A gothic horror story by way of South America, the film follows a young woman named Emilia. She goes to a small town on the border of Argentina and Brazil where she learns a beast has been hurting people – especially women. A dense atmosphere and rich characters are the hallmarks of gothic stories and this seems to be no different. As with most gothic tales, this one seems less about the supernatural and more about the psychological horror.

You Are Not My Mother

It seems like folk horror may be making a comeback. This Irish export is about a teenage girl whose mother disappears. When she returns, she seems a little different. The changes are welcome at first, but soon it is clear not every change was for the better. This is a common horror scenario that is always good for tension and adding dashes of Irish folklore can only make it better.

Zalava 

Set in Iran in 1978, the movie uses a mix of setting and circumstance to weave its tale of horror. A village believes they are cursed with demons and resort to bloodletting in a crude and deadly form of exorcism. When the skeptical Massoud attempts to stop the rituals he encounters a shaman who claims he can end the curse. Should he hold on to his skepticsim or trust the supposed expert in order to quell the possible riot?

The Toronto International Film Festival takes place from September 9 – September 18

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