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Previous Next October 22, 2025 WRITTEN BY: NICK Before I dive into my slate for this year's Toronto After Dark Film Festival, I want to take a second to acknowledge its founder, Adam Lopez. After a public and relentless battle with cancer, Adam passed away earlier this year. He was a man with a level of optimism rarely seen, and someone I always enjoyed speaking with as his energy was infectious. Although he's no longer with us, his spirit lives on through this festival and the newly christened Adam Lopez Audience Award. He will be missed. 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.

ABBOTT ELEMENTARY: SEASON FOUR Starring: Quinta Brunson, Tyler James Williams, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Janelle James, Lisa Ann Walter, Chris Perfetti, and William Stanford Davis Creator: Quinta Brunson AMARÚ Y’all keep coming back here like my opinion is going to change on Abbott Elementary . I think it’s officially time to declare what we all already know: this show belongs amongst the all-time great television comedies. Yes, being a Black teacher helps, but isn’t connection what fuels the love for entertainment? I will say, I’m not a big fan of mockumentaries, so the fact that Abbott continues to make me laugh, cry, and feel warm and fuzzy while teaching life lessons along the way is astounding. At this rate, I’m guessing my Season Five review will only be five words. I’ll let you ponder that one. KATIE I loved the first three seasons of Abbott Elementary, but this season is definitely the weakest so far. I still love the characters and the cast is faultless, but the humour was very hit or miss, and I found the focus on guest stars frustrating. It meandered until the last few episodes of the season, which managed to recapture its previous heart-warming charm; however, overall, I can count the episodes I found memorable on one hand. I’m glad that it left things on a high, but I really hope the next season is stronger and more consistent. Check out our reviews for Season Three HERE .

THE FRANCHISE: SEASON ONE Starring: Himesh Patel, Aya Cash, Daniel Brühl, Billy Magnussen, Richard E. Grant, Lolly Adefope, Jessica Hynes, Darren Goldstein, and Isaac Powell Creator: Jon Brown QUENTIN Much like Veep , which also boasted Armando Iannucci as a writer and executive producer, The Franchise has a premise — the on-set shenanigans that occur during the production of a shared-universe superhero movie — that is ripe for parody. Also (again, much like Veep ), there are tremendously quirky characters, sharp satire galore, and hilariously caustic one-liners. So, I’m puzzled as to why I don’t exactly love this series in the way I loved Veep . It can be emptily entertaining, sure, but for some reason, there is a disconnect that prevents me from fully giving myself over to it. Richard E. Grant is fantastic, though. AMARÚ The Franchise takes everything you have ever seen about the rise and supposed death of the superhero genre, makes a bit out of it, then cranks the sarcasm to 11. Initially, it’s a bit off-putting to make every reddit bro, ignorant executive, diva actor, exasperated fandom, and on-set disaster so dramatically ridiculous, but with the short episode runtime and cast’s impeccable timing, it keeps getting funnier with each ensuing episode. Binge-watching the series works better than waiting a week for the next 20 minutes, so catching the series now could be a nice and easy two-hour laugh fest on a weekend afternoon.

POKER FACE: SEASON ONE Starring: Natasha Lyonne Creator: Rian Johnson AMARÚ Rian Johnson must be one of the best directors to work with because he got every celebrity and their mama to bring audiences back to a Columbo -style procedural. Poker Face is nothing more than your weekly whodunit, but without the mystery. They unveil that part quickly, then recap it through the lie-detecting Charlie’s (Natasha Lyonne) eyes alongside your special guest(s) of the week. It’s a simple show with an underused overarching story, but damn, it was entertaining. I loved watching every week, eyes glued while hoping that just once Charlie would turn around and say, “just one more thing.” JACOB There’s no denying that Rian Johnson’s Poker Face is imperfect. For one, the color grading lacks a certain pop, and your patience for it really depends on how much you enjoy Natasha Lyonne, which will either carry you through the show’s narrative missteps or won’t. Personally, I can’t help but get sucked into the week-to-week mysteries as written by Johnson or shot by cinematographer Steve Yedlin, whose work is quickly becoming some of my favorite to watch as it evolves. The macro story of the season isn’t as well-woven as the micro stuff, but damn this show has undeniable charm. QUENTIN To me, Natasha Lyonne is the definition of “a little goes a long way,” and Poker Face is A LOT of Lyonne doing her schtick while solving mysteries. The “case of the week” is never all that interesting either since we see the crime happen to start each episode, so the real mystery is in how Charlie (Lyonne) discovers a truth that we already know. After a few episodes, it grows tiresome and repetitive, with the only real draw being the major guest stars. Lastly, the central hook of Charlie always knowing when someone is lying because…of reasons?… is silly, quite frankly. PAIGE Rian Johnson’s new series, Poker Face, positions Charlie Cale (Natasha Lyonne) as the Benoit Blanc of this specific whodunit universe. It’s an episodic, case-of-the-week show that’s clever while also delivering classic detective work. By having the crimes played out in front of you first, then having Charlie piece together the puzzle to solve the mystery really sucks you in to see what next week’s crime has in store. That said, the series can’t maintain its tension, and it relies too heavily on its revolving guest stars to keep its recipe fresh instead of adding to Charlie’s overall story. ADRIANO Poker Face proves my long-held theory: director Rian Johnson is a maddening genius. Weekly, he’s able to take us on a ride with his Columbo -style, mystery-of-the-week thriller that’s funny while constantly pulling the rug out from underneath us. With a different cast of characters surrounding the infectious Natasha Lyonne every week, this easily could’ve gotten repetitive…and maybe binge-watching would have made it feel that way…but I couldn’t get enough of this show from the first episode to the shocking finale. I will be there on Day One for Season Two.

THEM: THE SCARE Starring: Deborah Ayorinde, Pam Grier, Luke James, Joshua J. Williams, and Jeremy Bobb Creator: Little Marvin QUENTIN Them: The Scare is a good example of why it’s hard for me to give up on seasonal anthologies. When each season has a different story, cast, and writers, you never really know what you may get in terms of quality. That said, while The Scare is an improvement over Covenant (Season One), it’s not perfect. The performances, atmosphere, and direction work together really well to create genuinely effective scares and creepy imagery, but they are in service of a lackluster narrative. Still, it’s a big step in the right direction for a potential third season, and horror-heads should be more than satisfied.

THE MOSQUITO COAST: SEASON TWO Starring: Justin Theroux, Melissa George, Logan Polish, Gabriel Bateman, Ian Hart, Ariyon Bakare, and Natalia Cordova-Buckley Creators: Neil Cross and Tom Bissell QUENTIN After a first season that was a tense story about a family on the run for mysterious reasons, The Mosquito Coast ’s second season goes off the rails. For one, they mostly sideline Justin Theroux, who was easily the most compelling part of Season One. Second, they focus more on his character’s family, especially the kids, which has been the downfall of many a show better than this one. Lastly, and probably most importantly, it seems the writers didn’t really know where to go next, so they slowed the pace and threw everything at the wall to see what stuck. Sadly, not much of anything did.

Previous Next July 5, 2023 WRITTEN BY: THE BITESIZE CREW Last July, we used our popular “Bitesize Top Five” series to highlight the releases that we, as a team, were most looking forward to in the second half of 2022. However, looking back, we don’t think it gave enough voice to the individual writers, or truly captured all the great films that were released late last year. For the most part, it became a list of tentpole movies, films from “event directors,” and, honestly, the things that we had already seen trailers for at the time. Also, television series were completely absent. It generally worked, but the final list wasn’t super creative. Plus, now a year wiser, we know we can do better. With that in mind, we wanted to take a deeper look at both the movies and series that will be dropping over the next six months, while also providing some insight into what makes the Bitesize team tick as viewers. Below, you’ll find a list of 24 upcoming releases (12 movies, 12 series) that really excite us. Hopefully, some of these titles will excite you too! NICK'S PICKS FILM: REBEL MOON As a director, Zack Snyder is a polarizing figure. His style is well known, and you're either a fan of it or you aren't - I very much am. So, when I heard he was adapting Rebel Moon from a Star Wars script he penned years ago, I got excited. The Star Wars universe is another that has been polarizing recently, in large part due to Kathleen Kennedy, so viewing that type of film through a new lens (Snyder's, to be exact) may just provide something more willing to take some risks. Snyder doesn't do subtle, and the behind-the-scenes teaser shows that this is going to be a big swing for him. Sure, it's Netflix so it could flop, but it also has the potential to be the launching point for the next great sci-fi franchise. Runner Up: NEXT GOAL WINS SERIES: GEN V The Boys has consistently been one of the best shows on television since it debuted in 2019, so the idea of a college spinoff with the potential for the same level of violence, brutality, dark humour, and wild superhero antics could be great… but it could also be the watered-down teen comedy that many adolescent shows become. Having had the pleasure of working on this series, I can confidently say it seems to be the former. New characters with new powers, all through the lens of the sex, drugs, and rock ‘n roll college lifestyle? Sign me up. Runner Up: SUGAR QUENTIN'S PICKS FILM: THE KILLER When it comes to directors whose work I will see with little to no explanation, David Fincher is very near the top of the list, which is good for The Killer since I don’t know much about the film’s plot other than it follows the life of an unnamed assassin. What I do know is that it’s based on a French graphic novel that was awarded "Best Indy Book" by IGN and "Best Comic You Didn’t Read” by Newsarama. I also know that it stars Michael Fassbender and Tilda Swinton, and that it has the same writer as Seven and Sleepy Hollow . There is a lot to be excited about in those few sentences, so what could go wrong?...Oh, it’s a Netflix movie? And Netflix doesn’t have the best track record for original movies? I remain hopeful, nonetheless. Runner-up : SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL SERIES: JUSTIFIED: CITY PRIMEVAL As a dedicated television watcher, I can say with some authority that FX’s Justified , which ran from 2010-2015, is one of the best shows of the 2010s, if not the 21 st century. Based on a series of Elmore Leonard novels, Justified follows Raylan Givens (Timothy Olyphant), a deputy U.S. Marshal that enforces his own brand of justice in rural Kentucky. It was a near perfect series with a near perfect ending. I didn’t need more…or so I thought. I can’t tell you how immediately excited I became when I heard FX was doing a sequel miniseries with Olyphant returning. And I can’t tell you how much more excited (excited-er?) I became when I heard it would center on Raylan hunting an elusive criminal known as The Oklahoma Wildman (Boyd Holbrook). I’m all in for this series. Runner-up : THE CONTINENTAL AMARÚ'S PICKS FILM: OPPENHEIMER Call me a Christopher Nolan stan if you like, but I don’t think the man has missed once. He is one of a handful of people who I consider to be “event film directors.” I’ll watch anything of his, sight unseen. However, I have seen trailers for Oppenheimer , and what I’m most excited about is Cillian Murphy finally being able to show off his leading man chops. That man is an unsung Nolan hero, and I’m hoping this opportunity leads to some awards consideration. In addition to him, the ensemble looks great (though, I still would’ve loved to see melanin somewhere), the intensity seems spot on, and you know the bomb itself is gonna be worth the price of admission. Nolan always brings a must-see technical wonder to the big screen with every movie he releases, and this may be his biggest yet. Runner-up: TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: MUTANT MAYHEM SERIES: LOKI: SEASON TWO Loki is a Top 3 villain/antagonist/antihero/whatever the hell you want to call him in the MCU, Tom Hiddleston gives arguably the best performance of all the MCU actors, and Loki : Season One is highly considered the best of the Disney+ MCU shows. There’s really no more reason for this to be my most anticipated show of 2023’s second half, but if I must elaborate more, there’s the Kang (Jonathan Majors) of it all (yea, yea, I know… but still), the WOW of it all (that’s an Owen Wilson reference, y’all), and the Rafael Casal of it all (I’ve mentioned Blindspotting to everyone before, right??). The combination of where Season One left off and the new additions of characters, actors, and storylines has me waiting impatiently for this next step in the MCU’s Multiverse Saga. Runner-up: LUPIN: PART THREE JACOB'S PICKS FILM: KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON As perhaps the world’s greatest living film director, Martin Scorsese’s works always shoot to the top of my “Most Anticipated Movies” lists. A project long in development, with an unprecedented budget for a film of its type in the modern era, Killers of the Flower Moon reunites Scorsese not with one, but both of his great muses: Robert De Niro in a supporting part, and in the lead, maybe the world’s greatest living actor , Leonardo DiCaprio. Add in Jesse Plemons, Brendan Fraser, and apparent Oscar-hopeful Lily Gladstone, and this story of Native American genocide and Euro-American greed is likely to be one of the year’s absolute best. “Can you find the wolves in this picture?” Runner-Up: MAESTRO SERIES: ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE It's a special thing when one’s favorite book is adapted to any screen, big or small, as well as incredibly nerve-wracking. What if they don’t get it right? What if what it looks like makes no sense? What if the cast or crew don’t understand the material? Luckily, when it comes to the adaptation of Anthony Doerr’s celebrated novel All the Light We Cannot See , it appears that these concerns have been mitigated. And while I’m still not sure what to expect of newcomer Aria Mia Loberti or Louis Hofmann as the story’s chief characters, the supporting cast, trailers, and production design look as perfectly tailored as they could ever be. Runner-Up: MANHUNT PAIGE'S PICKS FILM: BARBIE I can’t shut up about Greta Gerwig’s Barbie . The marketing behind the film has been next level, and it seems to have everything going for it to be a smash hit. It’s got an outstanding cast, a brilliant director, and from what I can tell, stunning visuals. Honestly, what more can you ask for? I’m telling you…this film is going to be more than meets the eye, and it will connect with the audience. Like the marketing says: if you love Barbie, then this film will be for you; if you hate Barbie, then this film will be for you! Runner Up: CHALLENGERS SERIES: AHSOKA With Star Wars Rebels being my favorite Star Wars animated show, the forthcoming Ahsoka series has my excitement through the roof. This series will pretty much serve as a live-action Season Five of Rebels , and it will bring some of our favorite animated characters to life with Sabine Wren (Natasha Liu Bordizzo) and the big baddie, Thrawn (Lars Mikkelsen); not to mention the return of Hayden Christensen as Anakin/Vader. Ahsoka also is going to serve as connective tissue for so many Star Wars branches, from The Clone Wars to The Mandalorian . It has to be the most important Star Wars series coming out since it’s going to bring all the various eras of the galaxy together. Runner Up: STAR WARS: SKELETON CREW ADRIANO'S PICKS FILM: DUNE: PART TWO I have not read Frank Herbert’s novel Dune , but Denis Villeneuve’s adaptation of the first half of the book was amongst my favorite films of 2021. So, suffice to say, I’m beyond excited to see his follow up and finish the story. With new additions to the cast, including Florence Pugh, Austin Butler, and Christopher Walken, Dune: Part Two seems to be more action-packed than its predecessor while still keeping up with the first film’s wonderful storytelling as it closes the chapter on the battle for Arakis. November 3rd cannot come soon enough. Runner-Up: PRISCILLA SERIES: WINNING TIME: THE RISE OF THE LAKERS DYNASTY: SEASON TWO As someone who couldn’t care less about basketball, the first season of Max Borenstein and Jim Hecht’s Winning Time: The Rise of The Lakers Dynasty captivated me from the get-go, and I sure as hell can’t wait to see where this story goes. Sure, I could’ve read the book on which the stories are based, or even just Googled what went down, but that won’t give me the show’s unique style or the stunning ensemble. I can’t wait much longer, but I just know the wait will be worth it for another winning season. Runner-Up: MASTERS OF THE AIR

SUSPICION: SEASON ONE Starring: Kunal Nayyar, Georgina Campbell, Elyes Gabel, Elizabeth Henstridge, Angel Coulby, Lydia West, Clare Perkins, Tom Rhy Harries, Noah Emmerich, and Uma Thurman Creator: Rob Williams QUENTIN Apple got me on this one. Suspicion , which is marketed as a mystery thriller starring Uma Thurman and Noah Emmerich, has very few thrills, barely any Thurman, and not near enough Emmerich. Instead, you’re tossed down the rabbit hole with several seemingly unconnected (and possibly innocent) characters who are trying to navigate their lives after being accused of abducting a character the viewer doesn’t know. Since the viewer isn’t connected to the victim and it’s hard to connect with any of the accused because they aren’t all that interesting, the show is a stagnant, yet somehow convoluted, slog.

WE OWN THIS CITY Starring: Jon Bernthal, Wunmi Mosaku, Jamie Hector, Josh Charles, McKinley Belcher III, Darrell Britt-Gibson, Rob Brown, David Corenswet, Dagmara Dominczyk, Don Harvey, Delaney Williams, and Larry Mitchell Creators: David Simon and George Pelecanos NICK We Own This City focuses on the true story of corruption within the Baltimore Gun Trace Task Force and the despicable acts those officers did, but spreads its story between too many points in time. The timeline jumping at breakneck speed makes things confusing and especially difficult to keep track of the abundance of characters followed. That said, the writing is crisp and the cast, headlined by the ball of energy that is Jon Bernthal, makes for an engaging watch. This series tells an important story and is a stark reminder that a few good cops can’t overcome a broken system. JACOB We Own This City is a special and rare kind of miniseries from the HBO catalog. It can be fairly dense upfront if one is unfamiliar with all the major players, but it never treats the audience as though their hands need to be held. The aftermath of the Freddie Gray killing was its own kind of mess, and the show never once loses focus within all the chaos. Jon Bernthal is expectedly excellent in the show, but it’s Wunmi Mosaku and Jamie Hector who steal the spotlight, while McKinley Belcher III makes a strong case for Emmy consideration. QUENTIN While I’m sure fans of The Wire (*cough* not me *cough*) are wetting themselves at another offering from David Simon, We Own This City is a miniseries that gets in its own way by trying to be too much like The Wire . It has the same “problem-from-all-perspectives” approach as that critical darling, but the inconsistent flashbacks make it somewhat confusing to follow. Plus, not all the storylines have the same level of intrigue (the Civil Rights Division plot is especially needless), while the ending is very abrupt. Despite good performances, I just didn’t need this show in my life, but you Simon-lovers probably don’t care about that.

THE BEAR: SEASON ONE Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Ayo Edebiri, Abby Elliott, Lionel Boyce, and Liza Colón-Zayas Creator: Christopher Storer QUENTIN I’ve never had to work in food service, but after watching The Bear , I feel like I have because it carries an air of gritty authenticity that is further amplified by the identifiable blue-collar Chicago atmosphere. It radiates the constant stress and anxiety of working in a professional kitchen. It can be a bit much, like Uncut Gems for chefs, but the performances are so natural that it makes for an intimately addicting series about grief, loss, the drive for success, and, of course, food. Overall, it’s a genuinely pleasant surprise that made me hungry for more episodes and an actual Chicago-style Italian Beef.

SUPER PUMPED: THE BATTLE FOR UBER Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Kyle Chandler, Kerry Bishé, Babak Tafti, Jon Bass, Elisabeth Shue, Bridget Gao-Hollitt, Uma Thurman, and Quentin Tarantino Creators: Brian Koppelman and David Levien QUENTIN Considering that Super Pumped and Billions were created by the same people, the shared DNA between the two shows makes sense. Despite being the true story of Uber, it has the same high-octane, bro-energy and ridiculously underhanded schemes that the fictional Billions does. In a way, being true makes it more fascinating; However, it also incites more incredulity in the viewer because you’re left in awe at the mere audacity of it all. Sometimes, it feels like it goes a little overboard with its commentary on the entitlement of billionaire disruptors; then again, maybe it’s true to life. I’m not sure which is worse.