One of my favourite times of year is the annual reveal of the ten films that make up the Midnight Madness programme of the Toronto International Film Festival, selected by intrepid programmer and friend of BBP, Peter Kuplowsky. This programme, featuring one film that plays at midnight on each of the ten nights of the Festival every September, has established the careers of many of my favourite filmmakers and has debuted many of my favourite films over the years by highlighting some of the most subversive, groundbreaking, and extreme genres and styles from all over the world. In just the past few years, Midnight Madness has brought us films like The Substance, The Twentieth Century, When Evil Lurks, The Shadow Strays, The Furious, Obsession (which was the Festival’s top-grossing acquisition last year), Friendship, and so many more. According to Peter, “This year’s Midnight Madness lineup runs the whole gamut of midnight movie modes, representing ten countries of productions from emerging and established provocateurs. Though there’s only one feature debut in the bunch…”
River Joshua Giuliano | USA (Opening Night Film)
World Premiere
Opening up the Midnight programme this year is Joshua Giuliano’s “nerve-shredding” feature debut which could be this year’s massive success a la Curry Barker’s Obsession. This rural horror features Jane Levy, Jessica Rothe, and Max Mattern as stranded and bickering siblings being pursued by a mysterious, faceless killer along a country river.
Arrested Memory Sabu | Taiwan/Japan
North American Premiere
If you’re a fan of Chris Nolan’s Memento, this story about an Alzheimer’s-afflicted detective from often-imitated and prolific Japanese action director Sabu (Non-Stop) should scratch that particular itch. Neon-saturated and fast-paced, this one’s sure to have the audience’s pulse racing into the wee hours of the morning.
The Face of Horror Anna Biller | United Kingdom
World Premiere
It’s been way too long since The Love Witch writer/director Anna Biller graced our silver screens with one of her vintage tributes. Her newest calls back on both the Technicolor horrors of the 1960’s and a well-known Japanese horror story with a period piece about a ghost who takes revenge on her husband in Medieval England.
HALF Samjad | India
World Premiere
It wouldn’t be a real Midnight lineup without a maximalist action film, and this one from India will satisfy even the most discerning fans like me. Samjad’s “curry western” features massive Indian stars Ranjith Sajeev and Aiswarya Raj as half-blooded vampires who run up against criminals on a desert highway in one of the goriest actioners to grace the Royal Alexandra Theatre in this or any other year. With action choreography by Very Tri Yulisman who brought us the kicky-punchy in some of the best action films of the last decade like The Raid 2, Headshot, and The Night Comes for Us, I’m looking forward to a raucous Midnight audience cheering this one on like it’s a blood-soaked pro-wrestling match.
Anchors Aweigh Matt Barats | USA
International Premiere
Alt-comedian Matt Barats gives us a bit of a respite from the blood and violence with this first-person cringe semi-autobiographical comedy about a man dealing with the despair brought on by a failed marriage proposal. With similar vibes to the work of Tim Robinson and John Wilson, you might find yourself shedding tears for a few reasons during this one.
Kick On Nick Kozakis | Australia
World Premiere
Nothing says ‘Midnight’ to me quite like a violent, gory Australian thriller and Nick Kozakis’ Kick On seems like exactly that. Described by Peter as a protracted version of Alfred Molina’s iconic drug dealer scene in Paul Thomas Anderson’s Boogie Nights (but with a far higher body count), this siege horror about four kids who run afoul of a wealthy drug dealer’s son at a party set in his sprawling mansion is sure to be a nailbiter.
Vintage Violence Eugene Kotlyarenko | USA/Japan
World Premiere
In Eugene Kotlyarenko’s social media-soaked thriller, Cole Sprouse plays a fashion-obsessed livestreamer who is lured to Japan by one of his subscribers in the hopes of acquiring a stash of vintage denim. Kotlyarenko is quickly establishing himself as an astute voice for and about the chronically-online, and this new project promises to be a deeply dark continuation of the same.
The Spiral (L’estranea) Paulo Strippoli | Italy/Belgium/France
International Premiere
A mother confesses a deep, dark secret to her daughter in this pitch-black mystery about a seemingly-perfect family thrust into despair. Strippoli is quickly making a name for himself in the horror community with his Netflix production A Classic Horror Story (co-directed with Roberto De Feo), Flowing (Piove), and The Holy Boy (La Valle dei Sorrisi) which is set to make some noise at the Venice Film Festival this year. The Spiral is definitely one to keep an eye on.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Brian Mulroney Matthew Rankin | Canada
World Premiere
Iconic Canadian and Winnipeg filmmaker Matthew Rankin is back with the story of another iconic Canadian in a spiritual successor to 2019’s The Twentieth Century. Turning his focus on Canada’s 18th prime minister Brian Mulroney, Rankin’s latest reimagines the ambitious politician and his movement of Conservatism with a smile in the 1980’s as a “psychedelic doomscroll” through Mulroney’s mind. Using over 80,000 pieces of archival footage (courtesy of Canada’s National Film Board) to create a “genre-bending collage of VHS-ravaged Canadiana,” this one’s aiming to hit you squarely in the ol’ maple leaf.
Rogue Trooper Duncan Jones | United Kingdom (Closing Night Film)
North American Premiere
Duncan Jones of Warcraft, Source Code, and Moon fame adapts this classic British comic from the 2000 AD publication that brought us Tank Girl. The influential title follows a genetically-modified soldier who is the sole survivor of a mission that claimed the lives of all his friends, who are now embedded as AIs in his gun, his helmet, and his backpack. Rendered using Unreal Engine 5, Jones taps the vocal talents of Aneurin Barnard as Rogue as well as a star-studded supporting cast that includes Hayley Atwell, Sean Bean, Diane Morgan, Asa Butterfield, and Alice Lowe. Jemaine Clement and Matt Berry voice the film’s villains Mr. Brass and Mr. Bland.
And as if ten days of Madness weren’t enough, TIFF expands the selection with two bonus titles that drop ahead of the official start of the Festival with a special screening of Na Hong-jin’s sci-fi action thriller HOPE on September 9 and a “return to where it all started” screening of Curry Barker’s OBSESSION on September 11.
The Toronto International Film Festival returns September 10 – 20, 2026 for its 51st edition. Ticket and scheduling information can be found over at TIFF.NET and you’ll find our coverage right here at Biff Bam Pop!
