[TIFF] The best movies you did not hear about from the Toronto International Film Festival

The recently concluded Toronto International Film Festival was a showcase for some of the most exciting movies of the year. There were documentaries, horror, and movies that are impossible to classify giving film fans plenty to choose from. While all the studio releases get all of the publicity, there were other movies that entertained fans at TIFF. Here are some of our favorites.

Jagged

Alanis Morissette released one of the most critically and popular albums of the 1990s. The documentary looks at the creation of the album and its impending success. It is also an intimate look at the singer. The singer gave an amazing amount of access to filmmaker Alison Klayman and the interviews provide great insight. Unfortunately, Morissette has since derided the film which speaks very highly of her.

Kicking Blood

Vampire movies have managed to come out on a regular basis and still remain popular with audiences. The idea of a more personal story is not novel, but the way Kicking Blood goes about it certainly is. The plot is about addiction with characters suffering from withdrawal and trying to kick their habit. Where other movies have taken of fighting a bloodlust, Kicking Blood is about the struggle. 

Saloum

There are not enough horror movies that use African folklore. With the exception of stories involving voodoo, they have been largely ignored in this part of the world or Europe, with the occasional excursion to Asia and Mexico. Saloum is a genre defying story based around African-Caribbean mysticism. It is also a fast paced action movie, tense thriller, and effective comedy.

Silent Night

The feature debut from writer-director Camille Griffin is one of the most entertaining films of the year. The movie mixes together black comedy, horror, and social commentary in a frightening tale that sees a family come and some friends come together on a beautiful Christmas night. Making this holiday season especially special is the pact they have all made: everyone is going to die.

You Are Not My Mother

Folk horror is a sub genre that has been lurking around in the background for decades. In recent years, there seems to be more than usual. Based around Irish folklore and set during Halloween, You Are Not Mother is a patient story about a girl whose mother has returned from her sudden disappearance as a changed person. While things seem better at first, things quickly turn dark.