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Toronto Int'l Film Festival Midnight Madness screening

posted 12 years ago by laserboy28
7 replies | jump to latest

Just came from the world premiere of "Aftershock" at the Ryerson Theatre. This is easily the best film of the Midnight Madness program so far this year, and the best, most effective film I've seen since the 2010 program - this film DELIVERS! Inspired by actual events by the film's INSANE Director (insane in a great way!) they form a story around some of the events seen after an 8.2 that hit Chile several years ago. Characters are well developed, the film is well cast, great story, terrific location (Chile!), great performances and it's as effective as hell! I'm a very jaded horror fan and let me say that there are many great scenes for hard-core horror fans but one particular scene had me move (I don't want to exaggerate and say "jump") in my seat and turn away in shock. That's quite an accomplishment for any film that can do that!
Aftershock has a distributor, when it comes to your town or city don't pass this one up, get out there and see it with an audience. I give this film a generous "9" because it's so well done for a horror/action film - also because the director is so crazy-wonderful and Eli Roth is such a cool, amazing, talented and well spoken guy in person. He really impressed us all with being so down-to-earth and passionate about the film.

[–] winner1-2 12 years ago

Just saw this trended on Twitter and now I'm interested.

I heard it's getting a wide release too so maybe I'll check it out.

How exactly is this a horror movie and not one of those natural disasters like The Day After Tomorrow, Deep Impact, etc?

[–] laserboy28 12 years ago

The synopsis reads that they are in an underground nightclub when the earthquake hits, they are not "under ground", perhaps it means underground as in an alternative club though it looked like a regular large nightclub to me.
Anyway, it's fair to slot this into the horror genre, but it could be tagged as an action/horror film. Why horror? The creep factor, suspense, grisly, brutal & violent deaths, the mood, the buckets of blood. This is NOT "The Day After Tomorrow"!

[–] eo_guy 12 years ago

I was at the TIFF screening and disagree with suggestions that this is a horror movie (the director suggested it too while on stage). It's a gore movie with a few minor horror elements, but more pertaining to the genre than to scares.

If this is successful it'll surely launch a new sub-genre, one that I'm tentatively coining Catastrophe Porn, until somebody can come up with a better name.

- David

Breaking Down Bergman
http://www.youtube.com/breakingdownfilms

[–] ecrisisny 12 years ago

I hate to be a downer but I had the exact opposite reaction. Take two parts I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell, one part Chilean Tourism Board stock footage and one part generic disaster film and you've got Aftershock. It was cheaply shot, the characters were grating cliches and there was zero tension, suspense or horror. With the right script, this had potential to be a classic, but they didn't seem to get anything right. Even the tone seemed off. The film is very mean spirited and cruel at times, which can be great, but it doesn't work with these unsympathetic characters who are just oozing schlock and cheese. With the exception of Gringo, and only because of a cliched "I'm an introverted divorced father" trait, these are the types of characters whose death we usually cheer for. I'm supposed to feel bad for the douchebag son of a billionaire because he has no cell phone service to call his dad so he can send the family helicopter to come save them? I should cheer for a final girl who is so uptight and protective she bans her sister from dancing (and drinking, talking to men, breathing)? Or get angry when a lift operator (who might I add they treated terribly the day before) tells them to go to the back of the line where they actually belong? Watching entitled, self obsessed jerks get their comeuppance is supposed to be fun, not a chore!

I respect Eli Roth and consider him a true connisseur of all things horror. I adore the fact he uses his influence to bring attention to films that would normally go unnoticed as well as unearthing obscure, forgotten gems. I also have enjoyed all of his previous producing stints, but this just felt like a paid vacation to Chile. I know I'm wrong, because he was so enthusiastic and genuine about it at the q&a, but it was honestly that bad.

[–] eo_guy 12 years ago

You all need to watch the TIFF Q&A posted under the subject on the imdb board. Some of what happens in it is too strange/insane to believe.

- David

Breaking Down Bergman
http://www.youtube.com/breakingdownfilms

[–] laserboy28 12 years ago

Be warned of some spoilers though before viewing the Q&A after the film.

[–] wewatchedamovie1 12 years ago

After watching today (I was super excited to see this) I can honestly say I just can't find a single thing I like about this film. Its badly shot, looks ugly, terrible characters, cheap effects, rape scenes and corny gore. I'm glad you liked it I just cant for the life of me understand why.

YouTube Movie Reviews to make you laugh! http://www.youtube.com/wewatchedamovie