After a year-long hiatus, Toronto After Dark has returned with a collection of genre titles destined for Shudder, as well as offerings from the likes of Paramount Pictures and Lionsgate. Beyond its features, however, the festival boasts a range of short films from both Canadian and International creators. Although I love short films, I often find them difficult to review because of their brief runtimes. The fact that many aren't available outside of these festivals also makes it a bit less fun because there isn’t a real conversation to be had if I’m the only one who has seen them. That said, this year's standout was Meat Crayon, a film I would love to see turned into a feature at some point. But there was also Clown Song, which plays like an elaborate music video that keeps getting stuck in my head. Overall, I saw 18 shorts, and even though you may have never heard of some of them, they're worth seeking out once they land on YouTube (especially my Top 5).

Without further ado, here's my ranking…

18. SEISMIC BRAIN IMPLOSION - Director: Alistair Quak

17. DID YOU KNOW THERE’S A BLACK HOLE IN YOUR REFRIGERATOR? - Director: Leonard Farr

16. CREEPING CHARLIE - Director: Briana Templeton

15. BATH BOMB - Director: Colin G. Cooper

14. GIANT SKELETON - Director: Austin Birtch

13. WINDOW TO THE SKIES - Director: Martin Berthiaume

12. SOMETHING BAD THAT HAPPENED IN MY PAST - Director: Mike Mildon

11. DAMSEL IN GEEKSTRESS - Director: Renaud Parra

10. FOR SALE - Director: Christopher Schrack

9. GHOST THEFT AUTO - Director: Kyle Dunbar

8. PIMPLE (BORBULHA) - Director: Fernando Alle

7. PANDORA, INC. - Director: Joe Lueben

6. STRIP MALL - Director: Andrew Appelle

5. CADABRA - Director: Tiffany Wice

4. LOUD - Director: Adam Azimov

3. OUTSIDE NOISE - Director: Ethan Evans

2. CLOWN SONG - Director: Brady Dowad

1. MEAT CRAYON - Director: Richard Rotter And now for the features…

4. HOLD THE FORT

How far can a single run-on joke about Homeowners Associations (HOA) take a film? Just over an hour, apparently, as that happens to be the runtime of Hold the Fort. There are other jokes littered throughout, but the ridiculous premise surrounding an HOA is what carries this thing. It’s just old-fashioned, dumb humour that never tries to be anything more. There’s a bit of a disconnect with Chris Mayers’ portrayal of Lucas, and the budgetary limitations are obvious at times; however, for what it is, Hold the Fort is entertaining. Maybe not in the laugh-out-loud sense, but it made me snicker. It’s just… very, very stupid.

3. SISU: ROAD TO REVENGE

Your enjoyment of Sisu: Road to Revenge will be based almost entirely on your ability to suspend disbelief because there are Fast & Furious-levels of ridiculousness here. The sequel strips away some of what made the first film work in exchange for cartoon violence that is uneven yet entertaining, even when it dips into feeling like a live action Looney Tunes episode. I thought the first film was fine, and this one is very similar. Stephen Lang's moustache-twirling villain is a highlight, but otherwise, there isn’t much that separates the two films. I certainly don’t need any more Sisu movies, but I’d watch.

2. THIS IS NOT A TEST

Much like The Walking Dead: World Beyond, This Is Not a Test looks at the zombie apocalypse through the eyes of adolescents. Thankfully, it doesn't pull any punches on the level of blood and guts while also tackling some surprisingly mature themes, but it does tend to feel like a YA film. That said, although it hits a bit of a lull at the midway point (it relies too heavily on melodrama), the characters pull it through. It's like Lord of the Flies but with the undead. If that sounds tonally uneven, it is. But it maintains entertainment value throughout.

1. PRIMATE

With all due respect to the creative team, Primate is so much better than it has any right to be. Its influences are clear and prominent throughout the film, but it still offers something new to pair with the homages. There are horror hallmarks, including highly effective jump scares and gruesome kills, but there’s also a story about family and relationships that strengthens both the characters and the film’s foundation. If you’ve been underwhelmed by some of the more recent creature features (Coyotes, Death of a Unicorn, Dangerous Animals), Primate is exactly what the doctor ordered.