Orphan: First Kill

Orphan: First Kill

The origins of Esther are explored in Orphan: First Kill. Leena Klammer (Isabelle Fuhrman) is a 31-year-old Estonian woman with a gland disorder that halted her growth at age 10. A seasoned grifter, Leena has been locked away in the Saarne Institute after killing a family that took her in. However, Leena ends up escaping…

Black Bear

Black Bear

A filmmaker confronts her demons at a rural retreat in Black Bear. Alison (Aubrey Plaza) is a filmmaker suffering from writer’s block, who rents a room at an isolated cabin owned by Gabe (Christopher Abbott) and his pregnant girlfriend Blair (Sarah Gadon). While hoping to find inspiration for her next film, Alison gets to know her…

Poster for the movie "Bliss"

Bliss

A struggling artist is introduced to a drug that gets her creative juices flowing, while also introducing some vampiric side-effects. Dezzy (Dora Madison) is a young woman, who has been struggling to finish a painting for an upcoming gallery show, while also having to deal with her nagging landlord, unreliable agent, and her freeloading boyfriend…

Goodnight Mommy

Goodnight Mommy

Two twin brothers are bothered by the apparent changes in their mother in Goodnight Mommy. Elias and Lukas (Elias and Lukas Schwarz) live on their own with their mother (Susanne Wuest). When she comes home heavily bandaged after an operation, the two brothers notice that the behaviour of their mother isn’t like it once was, particularly…

The Imposter

The Imposter

My experience at Hot Docs kicked off in a big way with The Imposter.  Even though it was the first film that I would see at the festival, I can say now that it is probably going to be the one to beat. The film is done in a very similar style to the films…