Tag: Fantasy

Say Hello and Not Goodbye Monster When Luke Burnett Entertains the Dickens Out of Curiosity Seekers of this Short

In Goodbye Monster, a teenager’s imaginary friend decides it’s time to move on. Luke Barnett’s funny and thoughtful short film gives its coming-of-age premise a wonderfully monstrous twist.

Goodbye, Monster PosterWilson (Kue Lawrence) doesn’t want to grow up. In this hilarious coming-of-age story about a teen with a goblin for an imaginary friend, the creature is ready to pack his bags and move on. After a certain age, most kids are ready for that transition: dating, partying and, well, girls. Fans seeing Goodbye Monster in the Are You Afraid of Fantasia short-film block will laugh and root for Luke Barnett, who steals the show as the goofball monster under the bed. He thinks walking out of the bedroom and into freedom will be easy.

As for the now-teenage Wilson, he’s puzzled. Just when he thinks life will continue to be rough, Monster recounts something that foreshadows even more trouble to come. Honestly, I think Barnett has created a great proof of concept that could turn this short into a feature film. I want to know more about its mythology, and I’d love to see more from this multitalented actor turned writer and director.

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Who’s Bleating now? King Arthur’s Night, The Documentary in Review

John Bolton’s King Arthur’s Night blends documentary filmmaking with a filmed theatrical production, creating an unusual take on the Arthurian legend. While the hybrid approach doesn’t always work, the performances and music make it a memorable tribute.

King Arthur's Night Poster ImageScreening at the VIFF Theatre (Vancouver, BC) July 14 and 18th. Please click here to purchase tickets in advance.

Set against the backdrop of Harrison Hot Springs, British Columbia, John Bolton’s King Arthur’s Night is a bold reimagining of the tale told by Thomas Malory. It offers a meta-look at the play through the lens of preproduction and filmmaking rather than focusing solely on the play itself. While that approach is not altogether bad, the presentation is misleading. When all I want is to see the two separate than apart, I can at least stay fixed to the fiction. The non-fiction can live in it own world.

Because we see bits of filming take place in-betweeen the edited cuts, I’m left begging for just the myth to be told. Perhaps that will change. Until there is an announcement that there is a story only cut, what we have is a work that feels like This Is Spinal Tap!

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AnimEigo Brings Home Five New Licenses (and Why I’m Excited for The AD Police Files) From Anime Expo 2026

AnimEigo is dusting off another shelf of anime history, bringing long-awaited classics, namely the The AD Police Files, and the underdogs into the spotlight for a new generation.

AnimEigo logoAt Anime Expo 2026, AnimEigo and parent company MediaOCD announced a handful of titles set for release next year. And one of them has been desired for a long time. And for fans of the Bubblegum Crisis saga, it’s about time The AD Police Files is getting a Blu-ray release.

No, we are not talking about the television series. Instead, it’s the three original video animations that predate Bubblegum Crisis. So the story goes, it seems some of the original material was lost, and it was impossible to remaster back then. But now, with someone discovering what’s needed to finally get it done, it now is! And who knows, maybe afterward, there may be a Mega Tokyo Mega Set that packages them all. While that’s hard to say if that will happen, this fan wants to be hopeful.

But there’s more than just one announcement. The two companies also said they will be releasing the following series to North America.

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Gotta Watch Them All. Fantasia Film Festival 2026’s Pearl Jubilee Top Selections! (Part Two)

In part two of our Fantasia Film Festival 2026 pre-event coverage, we dive into the zany and also include a blast of the past where needed.

Fantasia Film Festival 2026 poster
Event runs from July 16 to August 2, 2026. Montreal, Quebec.

When certain must-see lists get way too large, it’s best to split things up or subsection. This fact is especially true when planning on what to see at Fantasia Film Festival 2026; when this year has a lot more short film programs added to the party, it’s safe to say some people won’t be sleeping. Some enthusiasts may well be running frantically to catch the next work on their itinerary.

No big intro is needed, and that’s because with this part, I’ve included two movies freely available on YouTube that are required viewing before part three is viewed on the big screen!

The Fox

The FoxSet in a parallel world where animals talk, hustle, swear, and scheme, The Fox opens with Nick (Jai Courtney, Dangerous Animals, The Suicide Squad) discovering that his fiancée, Kori (Emily Browning, American Gods, Sleeping Beauty), is cheating on him. Forced to accept that their relationship has run its course, he’s devastated.

Everything changes when Nick captures a fox (Olivia Colman, The Favourite, The Lobster), who offers him some unconventional marital advice in exchange for her freedom.

Her suggestion? Push Kori into a magical hole, where she’ll emerge transformed into a woman who adores him unconditionally and will never leave. Not exactly a man known for making wise decisions, Nick thinks it sounds like the perfect solution, completely unaware that a much bigger plan may already be unfolding. – Fantasia Film Festival

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At Darkroom Streaming, They’re All About Crusher Joe! (and the classics)

Last week, Darkroom added Crusher Joe to their streaming collection, and if you don’t know who this character is, we have an introduction! He’s more than your “average” Joe, and we explain why. Also other classic titles have been added.

Darkroom StreamingFor those who don’t know about Darkroom, perhaps now is the time to subscribe. Not only is this streaming platform affordable, it also specializes in showcasing independent, foreign, arthouse, and cult classic films; at just $2.99 USD per month, why not? Even a quick browse shows they’re no stranger to giving film festival curiosities like Heavy Trip (film review) a home. There’s even Icarus to be found, assuming you have a premium membership to tap into this particular film vault.

For anime fans, what’s especially notable is the platform’s recently added lineup, which includes Crusher Joe. For those unfamiliar with this classic series, it follows a group of licensed troubleshooters known as Crushers, specialists who tackle everything from rescue missions and planetary colonization support to dangerous assignments that ordinary authorities can’t handle. The Crusher Council oversees their activities, and the original novels delve into far more drama than the animated adaptations that followed. Written by Haruka Takachiho beginning in the late 1970s and published through Sonorama Bunko, the series feels less like Star Wars and more like giving Han Solo his own spin-off series, only with a stronger emphasis on teamwork and adventure.

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Fantasia Film Festival at 30 Glorious Years! So What’s Worth Watching? (Part One)

There’s less than a week to get ready for Fantasia Film Festival 2026! Not only is it their pearl jubilee but also there may be cake to find too!

Fantasia Film Festival 2026 poster
Event runs from July 16 to August 2, 2026. Montreal, Quebec.

When I think of Montreal, there are only a few words that pop into mind: Fantasia Film Festival. This year’s celebration promises to be huge because it’s their Pearl anniversary, and I’m sure not everything is being advertised. Some surprises must be in store for those attending this summer celebration of pop culture cinema.

As for what defines my top twenty works to see, this list comes after considering all of the short film programs. Since they also make up part of my overall picks, it felt important to cover them first before narrowing everything down to this final selection. The links go to Fantasia’s webpage, with showtimes and advance ticket purchase options.

Ancestral Beasts

Ancestral Beasts Movie PosterFour years after losing her mother, Elyse (Morgan Holstrom) still hasn’t recovered, and what she now has to face are the shadows of her past. That’s the gist I get from the marketing for this film. Not only is there an Indigenous angle, but also the idea of intergenerational trauma returning from beyond the grave. It may sound like a familiar haunted house tale on paper, but there’s clearly much more going on, including mental illness within local communities. To say more would reveal too much about why this film is a must-see.

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