A sumptuously filmed adaptation of David Chariandy’s novel tackles heavy-duty issues such as police brutality, racism and closeted desire with a relatively light touch
“Danger: High Voltage” are among the first words seen on screen in writer-director Clement Virgo’s adaptation of David Chariandy’s 2017 novel. It begins with wannabe DJ/producer Francis (Aaron Pierre) pressuring his younger sibling Michael (Lamar Johnson) to join him in scaling a sinisterly buzzing pylon in their home town of Scarborough, Ontario. The voltage stays at that level throughout much of Brother, which ticks off several films’ worth of heavy-duty subjects – police brutality, racism, the immigrant experience, gang violence, closeted desire, dementia, cancer – and only occasionally verges on the ponderous.
The question that haunts the film is: what made Francis climb that day? After the opening scene, the action shifts forward a decade to find Michael, his old flame Aisha (Kiana Madeira...
“Danger: High Voltage” are among the first words seen on screen in writer-director Clement Virgo’s adaptation of David Chariandy’s 2017 novel. It begins with wannabe DJ/producer Francis (Aaron Pierre) pressuring his younger sibling Michael (Lamar Johnson) to join him in scaling a sinisterly buzzing pylon in their home town of Scarborough, Ontario. The voltage stays at that level throughout much of Brother, which ticks off several films’ worth of heavy-duty subjects – police brutality, racism, the immigrant experience, gang violence, closeted desire, dementia, cancer – and only occasionally verges on the ponderous.
The question that haunts the film is: what made Francis climb that day? After the opening scene, the action shifts forward a decade to find Michael, his old flame Aisha (Kiana Madeira...
- 9/14/2023
- by Ryan Gilbey
- The Guardian - Film News
"You never know when your break's coming..." Elevation Pictures in Canada has revealed an official trailer for an indie film titled Brother, a Canadian feature about two Black brothers, Michael and Francis, sons of Caribbean immigrants maturing into young men amidst Toronto's pulsing 1990's hip-hop scene. This film premiered at TIFF 2022 last year, and it also played at the Vancouver, London, and Busan Film Festivals. Exploring themes of masculinity, identity and family, a mystery unfolds during the sweltering summer of 1991, and escalating tensions set off a series of events that change the course of the brothers' lives forever. Brother crafts a timely story about the profound bond between siblings, the resilience of a community and the irrepressible power of music. Starring Aaron Pierre and Lamar Johnson as Francis and Michael, with Marsha Stephanie Blake, Kiana Madeira, and Lovell Adams-Gray. It had positive reviews at the fests. Such a stunning trailer,...
- 2/7/2023
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Hellions
Written by Pascal Trottier
Directed by Bruce McDonald
Canada, 2014
Back in 2008, director Bruce McDonald released the horror film Pontypool, which was inventive and claustrophic. Pontypool promised a great new voice in horror, but it’s a promise that McDonald hasn’t lived up to since. Still, it was hard not to walk into Hellions expecting great things. Sadly there is very little in this film to admire. Hellions follows teenager Dora Vogel (Chloe Rose), who must survive Halloween night when evil trick-or-treaters come for her.
The film starts out intriguingly enough with an ominous and uncut shot inside a hospital. From there the film keeps the momentum going with the revelation of teenage pregnancy, the specter of Halloween hanging over the film and creepy little evildoers bringing a dark goal to reality, but eventually it becomes evident that McDonald nor screenwriter Pascal Trottier have any clue where to take this film.
Written by Pascal Trottier
Directed by Bruce McDonald
Canada, 2014
Back in 2008, director Bruce McDonald released the horror film Pontypool, which was inventive and claustrophic. Pontypool promised a great new voice in horror, but it’s a promise that McDonald hasn’t lived up to since. Still, it was hard not to walk into Hellions expecting great things. Sadly there is very little in this film to admire. Hellions follows teenager Dora Vogel (Chloe Rose), who must survive Halloween night when evil trick-or-treaters come for her.
The film starts out intriguingly enough with an ominous and uncut shot inside a hospital. From there the film keeps the momentum going with the revelation of teenage pregnancy, the specter of Halloween hanging over the film and creepy little evildoers bringing a dark goal to reality, but eventually it becomes evident that McDonald nor screenwriter Pascal Trottier have any clue where to take this film.
- 2/3/2015
- by Dylan Griffin
- SoundOnSight
More Canadian distribution news has come in for the upcoming terror tale Solo, and we have it for ya right here! Check it out, and look for more on this one as soon as we get it.
From the Press Release
Indiecan Entertainment has acquired the Canadian distribution rights to Isaac Cravit’s debut feature length thriller Solo. Solo is written and directed by Cravit and produced by Chris Bennett and Robert Budreau for Lumanity Productions.
In Solo, a tense psychological thriller, Annie Clark plays a teenage girl who is terrorized when she spends two nights alone on a remote island as part of her camp counselor initiation.
La-based Continental Media acquired worldwide rights ahead of Cannes and sold the Us to The Orchard, who are partnering with horror specialist Shock Till You Drop on a late October release.
Solo was produced by Lumanity Productions in association with Gyro Park...
From the Press Release
Indiecan Entertainment has acquired the Canadian distribution rights to Isaac Cravit’s debut feature length thriller Solo. Solo is written and directed by Cravit and produced by Chris Bennett and Robert Budreau for Lumanity Productions.
In Solo, a tense psychological thriller, Annie Clark plays a teenage girl who is terrorized when she spends two nights alone on a remote island as part of her camp counselor initiation.
La-based Continental Media acquired worldwide rights ahead of Cannes and sold the Us to The Orchard, who are partnering with horror specialist Shock Till You Drop on a late October release.
Solo was produced by Lumanity Productions in association with Gyro Park...
- 10/10/2013
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
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