Known for creating and directing the Ju-On franchise, including the American remake starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, Takashi Shimizu is back with two brand new films, both of which screened at Fantasia International Film Festival. While I didn’t get the chance to watch Village of Eight Gravestones, which had its world premiere on 28th July, I…
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Fantasia 2026 Review: When You Open the Door
Eriko Katagiri’s When You Open the Door had its world premiere at Fantasia International Film Festival on 25th July. The film, which was written by Katagiri and Tomoko Shinozuka, follows 27-year-old Miki (Serena Motola). She wakes up in her small apartment from her sleepy memory of herself as a child, with a red-haired doll and…
Fantasia 2025 Review: I Fell in Love with a Z-Grade Director in Brooklyn
Japanese writer/director Kenichi Ugana has made a name for himself among cult and genre fans, with chaotic hits such as Love Will Tear Us Apart, We Are Aliens, and The Gesuidouz. Usually delivered in a collision of genres, like comedy, horror, and fantasy, Ugana’s films often explore the human condition while showcasing his passion for…
Film Review: The Tale of Princess Kaguya (2013)
The most striking part of The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (2013) is its fresh and innovative animation style which parts from the boldness we are so used to seeing in Studio Ghibli’s more refined films. Director Isao Takahata, who has worked on other Ghibli films (Grave of the Fireflies, Only Yesterday, Pom Poko and My Neighbours…