Midnight Madness Movies Coming To A Theater Near You!

So the Festival is over, and that means so is Midnight Madness... at least for another year. But many of the films were picked up for distribution, which means you'll still get the chance to see them. Here's a list.

If you want to see Samuel L. Jackson as an ass-kicking US President, you're in luck! Big Game was picked up by Elevation Pictures, a Canadian distribution company, and will be released in the US by RED/Relativity.

The whole world is going full walrus. A24 films picked up Tusk and will release it in the US this fall, while Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions will be handling distribution for the U.K., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Latin America, Italy, Benelux, Scandinavia, Eastern Europe, South Africa, Portugal, Spain and Greece.

It Follows was picked up by Icon Film Distribution for the UK and Radius Films for the US. P.S. Make sure no ghosts are lurking in the cinema when you attend a screening.

Screen Gems holds the rights for US distribution of the latest and last installment in Jaume Balaguero's zombie found footage franchise, [REC]4, but no firm release dates have been set. It opens in Spain on October 31.

If you want to enjoy a nice room temperature plate of busghetti worms bushgetti, you'll be able to when What We Do In The Shadows hits US and Canadian theaters and home video, thanks Unison Films, The Orchard, and Video Services Corp.

The Guest opened in US theaters on September 17 through Picturehouse and D Films will release it in Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal on September 26, with nationwide expansion the next week. UPDATE: The Guest will be opening in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal on October 10, with further Canadian dates following after.

Midnight Madness 2014 Playlist!

MM Interviewer Rob Mitchell has put together a playlist of all his interviews, the introductions and post-screening question and answer business for all the films that played Midnight Madness this year. Twenty-two videos and just under five hours of content!

Today's Final Screenings!

Don't just stand there. There's screenings you can still catch!

Three Midnight Madness films have their final screenings today--but there's still a chance to catch them!

Learn everything you need to know to avoid Murder Scouts in Jonas Govaerts' Cub. And do it in the comparative safety of the day time.

President Samuel L. Jackson will be addressing TIFF for the last time in Jalmari Helander's Big Game.

And it's just better to see Adam Brooks and Matthew Kennedy's giallo-comedy The Editor now so you can understand your eerie premonitions and that mysterious figure with the black leather gloves.

If you time it just right , you can make all the shows. 

 CUB screening times:
Sat., Sept. 13th, 12:30 PM, SCOTIABANK 13
 
BIG GAME screening times:
Sat., Sept. 13th, 2:30 PM, SCOTIABANK 12

THE EDITOR screening times:
Sat., Sept. 13th, 6:15 PM, SCOTIABANK 4

And MM Alumni Adam Wingard and Simon Barrett's THE GUEST premieres tonigh:
Sat., Sept. 13th, 11:59 PM, RYERSON
Sun., Sept. 14th, 6:45 PM, SCOTIABANK 3

Samuel L. Jackson's Video Introduction of BIG GAME!

Post by Midnight Madness at the Toronto International Film Festival.

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BIG GAME Final Screening:
Sat., Sept. 13th, 2:30 PM, SCOTIABANK 12

Pics From the Premiere of BIG GAME!

Anyone that loved the old Amblin action/adventure films from the 80's had their appetites more than satiated by Jalmari Helander's Big Game, featuring Samuel L. Jackson (whose plane crash in this film, for once, didn't have anything to do with snakes) and Rare Exports alum Onni Tommila. Ian Goring was at the rain-soaked premiere to bring you photos from the screening!

Ryerson attendees were treated to a free shower prior to entering the theatre. How thoughtful.

Jalmari Helander and Onni Tommila display that famous Finnish enthusiasm for the premiere of BIG GAME!

Helander and Tommila yuk it up with fellow MM blogger Robert Mitchell. 

Onni Tommila was told not to talk about Finnish Fight Club, but he couldn't help it.

Little-known fact: Samuel L. Jackson actually turned down the role of President Bill in BIG GAME, so Samuel L. Trapezoid was cast in his place.

The quick-witted and charming Tommila teaches the Ryerson audience a few choice swears in the Q&A after the film as Colin Geddes and Jalmari Helander look on. Midnight Madness: Corrupting Youth for 26 Years and Counting.

If you missed Big Game on Friday, check out one of the alternate screenings to experience this wild hunt on the big screen! COCK IT, MOTHERFUCKER!

BIG GAME screening times:

Sat., Sept. 13th, 2:30 PM, SCOTIABANK 12

Video: BIG Game World Premiere Intro & Q&A with Jalmari Helander & Onnni Tommila

Big Game had an amazing world premiere last night to a packed audience at Ryerson theater. The crazy rain and thunderstorm did not dampen the enthusiasm for director Jalmari Helander's (Rare Exports) second feature film. Big Game is an action adventure film starring Samuel L. Jackson as the President of the United States aided by a thirteen year old boy Onni Tommila as they band to together to survive the wilderness and terrorists. Here is the complete introduction and post-screening Q&A with Mr. Helander and Mr. Tommila with programmer Colin Geddes. There are still opportunities to see the film that everyone at midnight madness was raving about! Film times below the video.





BIG GAME screening times:
Sat., Sept. 6th, 9:00 PM, SCOTIABANK 12
Sat., Sept. 13th, 2:30 PM, SCOTIABANK 12

Video: BIG GAME Red Carpet Interviews with Jalmari Helander Onni Tommila "I'm Not Going To Make GI Joe"

Big Game had it it's world premiere last night at the midnight madness programme at the Toronto International Film Festival. Robert Mitchell talked with director Jalmari Helander (Rare Exports) and actor -- who is also Jalmari's nephew -- Onni Tommila on the red carpet about big adventure at high altitudes, working with Samuel L. Jackson and the difficulties of making a film on top of mountains.



BIG GAME screening times:
Sat., Sept. 6th, 9:00 PM, SCOTIABANK 12
Sat., Sept. 13th, 2:30 PM, SCOTIABANK 12

Social Media Buzz for BIG GAME!

After last night's mountain hunting adventure flick from Finland, it's no surprise that Twitter was on fire with talk of Big Game! What were folks saying? Jonny Bunning has compiled some of the best comments about the screening and here they are, in all their glory!

If you were unfortunate enough to miss the bombastic midnight screening last night, fear not! We have two more opportunities for you to catch Big Game at TIFF, and don't forget to check the schedule and here for information and screening times about all the rest of the Midnight Madness programme!

BIG GAME screening times:
Sat., Sept. 6th, 9:00 PM, SCOTIABANK 12
Sat., Sept. 13th, 2:30 PM, SCOTIABANK 12

BIG GAME: The Illegitamate Child of Amblin?

Premiering tonight, Big Game apparently plays like a film made by Steven Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment, so I thought it'd be fun to take a poll of what everyone's favourite Amblin films are so that we can get in the mood..

 The diversity of Amblin's filmography is incredible considering you can usually still tell that Amblin's behind it. From Gremlins, Jaws, Small Soldiers, The Goonies, and the Back to the Future films, Amblin is perhaps the king of films for kids that have a bit of an adult edge to them.

So if you have time between now and seeing Big Game, take a break from TIFF to watch an old Amblin film. If you don't, at least leave a comment below with your top 3-5 Amblin films.

BIG GAME screening times:
Fri., Sept. 5th, 11:59 PM, RYERSON
Sat., Sept. 6th, 9:00 PM, SCOTIABANK 12
Sat., Sept. 13th, 2:30 PM, SCOTIABANK 12

BIG GAME Premieres Tonight!

Just another day for President Samuel L. Jackson

Air Force One crashes in the wilderness. The president is the only survivor. Who has the skills to get President Samuel L. Jackson out alive? Kurt Russell? Harrison Ford? President Samuel L. Jackson his own self? Nuh-uh, not even President Samuel L. Jackson--cause what if he's pursued by a tactical force of highly trained Samuel L. Jackson SEALs/ninjas led by the Punisher Ray Stevenson?

No, the only one who might be able save President Samuel L. Jackson is 13-year-old Oskari (Onni Tommila).

Find out tonight at the premiere of Jalmari Helander's Big Game.




BIG GAME screening times:
Fri., Sept. 5th, 11:59 PM, RYERSON
Sat., Sept. 6th, 9:00 PM, SCOTIABANK 12
Sat., Sept. 13th, 2:30 PM, SCOTIABANK 12

Wuh-oh! WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS, TUSK, and BIG GAME are off sale!

We're only a day out from TIFF and I've been diligently checking the board at the box office to bring you lovely blog-readers the scoop from the chaos!

Unfortunately, today's update is a bad news/good news situation.  As of this writing, the midnight screenings of TUSK, WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS, and BIG GAME are currently listed as off-sale, meaning that advance tickets can no longer be purchased for them.  That's the bad news.

But fear not, Madness-o-philes, because my brown-terpart Sanjay has posted a helpful update about what off-sale means and the options for getting tickets for off-sale films.  You can find that post here.

Don't forget, as of this writing there are still advance tickets available for all the other Midnight screenings, and things are always changing, so snap those up while you can!

TUSK screening times:
Sat., Sept. 6th 11:59 PM, RYERSON
Sun., Sept. 7th, 9:45 PM, BLOOR HOT DOCS CINEMA
Fri., Sept. 12th, 3:45 PM, SCOTIABANK 1

BIG GAME screening times:
Fri., Sept. 5th, 11:59 PM, RYERSON
Sat., Sept. 6th, 9:00 PM, SCOTIABANK 12
Sat., Sept. 13th, 2:30 PM, SCOTIABANK 12

WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS screening times:
Fri., Sept. 12th, 11:59 PM, RYERSON
Sat., Sept. 13th, 9:30 PM, SCOTIABANK 12
Sun., Sept. 14th, 3:45 PM, SCOTIABANK 3

BIG GAME: Top 5 Film Presidents of All Time

It's hard to believe that up until Big Game nobody had the foresight to cast Samuel L. Jackson as the President of The United States. With that said, here are five examples of where films elected some Midnight Madness approved POTUS'. I'm Sanjay S. Rajput and I approve this message.

#5 Jamie Foxx as President Sawyer in White House Down.

I wasn't thrilled with White House Down (or Olympus Has Fallen for that matter). But Jamie Foxx does his best John McClane as President impression and sure does blow stuff up real good! America, F' Yeah!

#4 Bill Pullman as President Whitmore in Independence Day.

Combat decorated veteran? Check! Able to inspire the world with an awesome speech? Check! Personally leads a global army to fight off a technologically superior invading alien army? Check! Why don't real politicians have credentials like this?!!?

#3 (TIE) Donald Pleasance as President White in Escape from New York 
and Cliff Robertson and President Cahill in Escape from LA. 

While these guys played uber-facists in charge of a North American Police State they did manage to rein in Snake Plissken. At least for a little while anyway... 

#2 Charlie Sheen as President Rathcock in Machete Kills. Any president who wields an M16, smokes pot, and bosses  Danny "Machete" Trejo around has earned a spot on this list. 

#1 Harrison Ford as President Marshall in Air Force One.

He's played Indiana Jones and Han Solo, was there any way he wasn't going to be at the top of this list?!!? A one man terrorist smashing machine who delivers action movie one liners as easily as he passes legislation. I'm pretty sure GET OFF MY PLANE would've made a great campaign slogan.

So, will Samuel L. Jackson make the list? I'll let you know after I check out Big Game at Midnight Madness.

BIG GAME screening times:
Fri., Sept. 5th, 11:59 PM, RYERSON
Sat., Sept. 6th, 9:00 PM, SCOTIABANK 12
Sat., Sept. 13th, 2:30 PM, SCOTIABANK 12

INTERVIEW: BIG GAME Director Jalmari Helander Talks About Big Adventure and "President" Samuel L. Jackson

Big Game is director Jalmari Helander's second film. His first feature film Rare Exports received world wide attention--and for good reason. It was a very original horror film set around classic Finnish Santa Claus mythology. When Mr. Helander was asked in an interview if he was pretty set on ruining Christmas for a generation of children, this was his response, "Actually, I’m not because…people from America have ruined Christmas for the Finnish people. I’m just taking it back…we also have this old Santa Claus legend and it’s much more interesting than the American one."

This quote is just a small insight into the mind of new storyteller who is very avant-garde,  authentic and not afraid to take risks. Here is my interview with Mr. Helander.--Robert A. Mitchell.

I have seen Big Game described as Home Alone meets Rambo? What drew you to the action adventure genre? What inspired you to fuse that genre with sensibilities from films such as Home Alone?

I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A BIG FAN OF ACTION AND ADVENTURE. I FEEL THAT I SHOULD INVITE THE AUDIENCE TO SEE SOMETHING THEY CAN'T SEE IN THE EVERYDAY WORLD. SOMETHING THAT THEY COULD EXPERIENCE AN ADVENTURE. THAT'S WHAT I THINK MOVIES ARE FOR. AND FROM THE VERY BEGINNING I FELT, THAT IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO DO ACTION FILM WITH SOME HEART IN IT. 

Onni Tommila acted in your first feature Rare Exports. Did you write this film with him in mind to play Oskari the boy who helps outwit the terrorists with the President of the United States? How has he matured as an actor? 

WHEN PETRI AND I DECIDED TO GO WITH A YOUNG BOY IN A SCRIPT IT WAS ABSOLUTELY CLEAR THAT BOY WOULD BE ONNI. I ALWAYS LIKE TO THINK THAT I AM REWRITING MY OWN CHILDHOOD IN A WAY. I HAD FEW CONCERNS OF COURSE WITH ONNI AND THE BIGGEST ONE WAS COULD HE ACT SO WELL WITH FOREIGN LANGUAGE. WE DID FEW TESTS AND WE WERE HAPPY TO SEE THAT HE ACTUALLY CAN ACT IN ENGLISH VERY WELL! THERE'S BEEN QUITE A LOT CHANGES OF HOW ONNI ACTS COMPARED TO RARE EXPORTS. IN RARE HE DID NOT HAVE SO BIG RANGE OF FEELINGS HE COULD DO. HE WAS SO YOUNG! BUT NOW, I COULD ASK HIM ALMOST ANYTHING!!! I LOVE THAT LITTLE MAN!

Speaking of the President I for one cannot wait to see Samuel L. Jackson in this role. What did Mr. Jackson tell you when he first read the script?

I ACTUALLY DID NOT SPEAK WITH HIM ABOUT THAT. I HEARD HE REALLY LIKED THE SCRIPT AND I WAS VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT. FIRST QUESTION HE HAD FOR ME WAS HOW I SEE THE PRESIDENT. IN WHAT STAGE HIS PRESIDENTIAL CAREER HE IS OR WHAT IS HIS POLITICAL STAND. I HAD TO EXPLAIN THAT I REALLY DON'T KNOW. THIS FILM IS NOT ABOUT PRESIDENT OR HIS POLITICAL VIEWS. IT'S ABOUT A MAN WHO IS THE MOST POWERFUL MAN ON THIS PLANET BECAUSE HE IS THE PRESIDENT. THEN YOU TAKE THAT AWAY AND HE'S JUST A MAN WITH A SUIT AND TIE IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE AND HE HAS TO SURVIVE THAT SITUATION WITH THE HELP OF 13 YEAR OLD BOY.

Some of the stills I have seen from the movie showcase a beautiful and rugged landscape. Can you tell me where you shot the picture and what kind of conditions you, your cast and crew endured while filming? 

WE SHOT THE FILM IN GERMANY. THE STUDIO WAS IN MUNICH BUT ALMOST ALL THE LOCATIONS WERE IN THE ALPS IN THE VERY SOUTH PART OF GERMANY. I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED (or did it begin after seeing Cliffhanger?) BIG MOUNTAINS, CLIFFS AND LARGE LANDSCAPES. BUT WHEN YOU WANT SOMETHING LIKE THAT YOU HAVE THE ACCEPT THE TERMS. THOSE PLACES ARE HARD TO GET, IT'S A BIG SHOW JUST TO GET EVERYONE TO THE LOCATION EVERY MORNING AND THE WEATHER CAN CHANGE IN A MINUTE. WHEN IT'S CLOUDY YOU ACTUALLY CAN'T SEE OR FILM ANYTHING. IT WAS OUR THIRD SHOOTING DAY WHEN I GOT OUTSIDE IN THE MORNING AND SAW THE MOUNTAINS FROM MY BALCONY. I WAS TERRIFIED AND CHOCKED: THE MOUNTAINS WERE COVERED WITH SNOW!!! IT WAS NOT AN EASY MORNING BUT IN THE END WE SOLVED THE PROBLEM. AND LUCKILY THE WEATHER CAN CHANGE FROM BAD WEATHER TO GOOD AS QUICKLY IT DOES ANOTHER WAY AROUND.

What did you learn from making Rare Exports and how did you apply that knowledge and grow as a storyteller in your second feature film?

WELL, I ACTUALLY MADE MYSELF SOME NOTES AFTER RARE EXPORTS. FOR EXAMPLE THAT IF SOMETHING DOES BOTHER YOU IN A SCRIPT IT MOST DEFINITELY WILL BOTHER YOU WHEN YOU ARE SHOOTING. AND IT WILL BOTHER YOU IN THE EDIT AND IN THE PREMIERE. THE PROBLEMS ALMOST EVER WON'T BE SOLVED ON A SET. PROBLEMS SHOULD BE SOLVED WHEN WRITING A SCRIPT. AND NOW AFTER BIG GAME I HAVE ALSO LEARNED A LOT OF NEW STUFF. CAN'T WAIT TO BE FILMING THE THIRD ONE!!!

What waits audiences who sign on for the adventure that waits in Big Game?

LIKE I SAID BEFORE I AM TRYING TO SHOW AMAZING THINGS TO THE AUDIENCE. TO TAKE THEM INTO AN ADVENTURE. MY GOAL IS TO HAVE LOTS OF PEOPLE WALKING OUT OF THE CINEMA WITH A BIG SMILE ON THEIR FACES.

BIG GAME screening times:
Fri., Sept. 5th, 11:59 PM, RYERSON
Sat., Sept. 6th, 9:00 PM, SCOTIABANK 12
Sat., Sept. 13th, 2:30 PM, SCOTIABANK 12

BIG GAME: Samuel L. P.O.T.U.S

Jalmari Helander, the director of TIFF 2010's Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale returns to TIFF this year with his latest film, Big Game. There's no sign of Krampus and jolly old Saint Nick in Big Game, but Helander has instead recruited the biggest b.a.m.f. of them all, Samuel L Jackson as the President of the United States, who must rely on a 13 year-old boy to help him survive after Air Force One is shot down by terrorists.

Check out these sweet stills and then click the handy link below to buy your tickets.

BIG GAME screening times:
Fri., Sept. 5th, 11:59 PM, RYERSON
Sat., Sept. 6th, 9:00 PM, SCOTIABANK 12
Sat., Sept. 13th, 2:30 PM, SCOTIABANK 12