On the heels of the Midnight Madness announcement, the Toronto International Film Festival has revealed its Vanguard line-up and it’s just as impressive. The slate includes the latest films from Alex Aja and Ti West as well as a few other goodies. Head inside for the breakdown.
- Blue Ruin Jeremy Saulnier, USA North American PremiereA classic American revenge story, Blue Ruin follows a mysterious outsider whose quiet life is turned upside down when he returns to his childhood home to carry out an act of vengeance. Finding himself in a brutal fight to protect his estranged family, he proves to be an amateur assassin. Starring Macon Blair.
- Borgman Alex van Warmerdam, The Netherlands/Belgium/Denmark North American PremiereBorgman is the central character in Alex van Warmerdams dark, malevolent fable. Is he a dream or a demon, a twisted allegory or an all-too-real embodiment of our fears? Borgman is a sinister arrival in the sealed-off streets of modern suburbia. His presence unleashes a crowing gallery of distortion around the careful façade constructed by an arrogant, comfortable couple, their three children and nanny. Starring Jan Bijoet, Jeroen Perceval and Hadewych Minis.
- Horns Alexandre Aja, USA World PremiereHorns, a supernatural thriller driven by dark comedy, mystery and romance follows Ignatius Perrish as he awakens after a hard night of drinking to find he has grown a pair of horns. In addition to his devilish appearance, the horns cause people to fall into a trance and voice their most unspeakable thoughts, an effective tool in Igs quest to discover the truth of his girlfriends murder. Starring Juno Temple and Daniel Radcliffe.
- Proxy Zack Parker, USA World PremiereWhile walking home from her latest OB appointment, a very pregnant Esther Woodhouse is brutally attacked and disfigured by a hooded assailant. This horrible event seems to be a blessing in disguise when Esther finds consolation in a support group. Her life of sadness and solitude is opened up to friendship, understanding, and even acceptance. However, friendship and understanding can be very dangerous things when accepted by the wrong people.
- The Sacrament Ti West, USA North American PremiereFrom acclaimed writer/director Ti West (The House of the Devil, The Innkeepers) and horror master Eli Roth (Hostel, Cabin Fever, The Last Exorcism), The Sacrament follows two Vice media correspondents as they set out to document their friends search to find his missing sister. They travel outside of the United States to an undisclosed location where they are welcomed into the world of Eden Parish, a self-sustained rural utopia comprised of nearly 200 members. At the centre of this small, religious, socialist community is a mysterious leader known only as Father. As their friend reunites with his sister, it becomes apparent to the newcomers that this paradise may not be as it seems. What started as just another documentary shoot soon becomes a race to escape with their lives. Starring Joe Swanberg, AJ Bowen, Kentucker Audley, Amy Seimetz and Gene Jones.
- The Strange Color Of Your Bodys Tears Hélène Cattet and Bruno Forzani, Belgium/France/Luxembourg North American PremiereA woman vanishes. Her husband inquires into the strange circumstances of her disappearance. Did she leave him? Is she dead? As he continues his search, he plunges into a world of nightmare and violence Starring Klaus Tange, Jean-Michel Vovk, Sylvia Camarda, Sam Louwyck and Anna DAnnunzio.
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