As an amateur critic (who conjures a perception of credibility by the skin of his teeth like a snake oil salesman trucking across the unpaved west), I like to break down the calendar year by what it offers in terms of film. Summer comes with blockbuster season (more emphasis on the “busts” this year), but it also comes with genre fest season. In truth, there is very little reason to codify July through (roughly) October as the time for genre film festivals. Genre festivals run all over the world all throughout the year. But some of the most prominent fests fall in that stretch between Cannes and the lead-in to awards season. FrightFest, Fantastic Fest, Beyond Fest.

And the festival that kicks off this arbitrarily defined season is the Fantasia International Film Festival. Taking place in Montreal from July 20 to August 9, this year’s 27th edition of the fest features new, cutting edge genre films from across the globe, as well as a quality selection of older films. Here are, in no particular order, seven films from the program worth keeping an eye on.

Suitable Flesh

Joe Lynch’s Suitable Flesh, a Lovecraft adaptation starring Heather Graham and Barbara Crampton, appears satisfyingly gory (if you’re into that sort of thing). While it may not prove to be as manic as Lynch’s 2017 film Mayhem, Flesh comes off similarly wild with a pulpy flair. Plus, we don’t say no to Barbara Crampton in this household, so I will be there. For those not attending the fest, Suitable Flesh is set to release on Shudder (sometime in the future).

Late Night with the Devil

A 1970s late-night TV broadcast gone wrong is a solid enough premise to hook me in. The film being headed by David Dastmalchian doesn’t hurt any; I find him to be a reliable character actor whom I am intrigued to see in the lead role of a horror flick. I’m a sucker for horror with a techno-nostalgia twist to it, and the network television format certainly slots into that appeal.

Blackout

Blackout is director and legendary character actor Larry Fessenden’s latest take on the classic monster movie. Depraved, Fessenden’s last feature, was a modern Frankenstein story. His 1995 film Habit was a similar play on vampire mythology. Blackout, then, presents his take on the Wolfman. Depraved was an intriguing revision without frills, and I’m curious to see what Fessenden does with the werewolf concept.

Shin Kamen Rider

The “Shin” series (not an official title) has been very entertaining to watch unfold. Shin Godzilla was extraordinarily fun — I will continue to bring up Shin Godzilla until Hollywood makes a good Godzilla movie or otherwise forever gives up on the IP. Last year’s Fantasia featured Shin Ultraman, another reimagining of a popular Japanese franchise. Shin Ultraman was also quite enjoyable. Shin Kamen Rider, the next installment, sees the return of Hideaki Anno as director. Anno, creator of the cult favorite anime Neon Genesis Evangelion, has had a creative hand in all of these Shin films. Out of the three IP, Kamen Rider is the character I am least familiar with, but I’m fully bought in on these reboots.

The Roundup: No Way Out

Another film connected to last year’s Fantasia fest, The Roundup: No Way Out is a sequel to The Roundup, an electric, straightforward, brawling action/crime film starring Ma Dong-seok. Technically the third in a series, No Way Out sees the return of Ma and director Lee Sang-yong. I have high hopes for the film, given how thoroughly The Roundup delivered on its action sequences.

Tiger Stripes

Amanda Nell Eu’s feature debut, Tiger Stripes, won the Critics’ Week prize at this year’s Cannes. A prize for showcasing filmmakers presenting their first or second features, the Critics’ Week Grand Prize has gone to some imaginative genre films before. I Lost My Body, the animated film about a disembodied hand seeking its owner, and Diamantino, the wacky political-satire-slash-fantasy about a retired soccer player, both won. Now, Eu’s debut is added to the list. Tiger Stripes is a body horror film revolving around a young girl experiencing puberty. It is one of the most acclaimed films going into Fantasia and is worth keeping on your radar.

Where the Devil Roams

The Adams Family — Toby Poser, John Adams, and Zelda Adams — have become something of a festival mainstay (when it comes to genre-oriented fests, at least). The Deeper You Dig and Hellbender, two ultra-low budget films shot in the Adams’ neck of the woods in upstate New York, both played Fantasia. While I was mixed-to-positive on both of those films, the Adams’ ambition and passion are infectious. Reading interviews with the family, it comes through that they are happy to learn as they go, and the rough edges that result have a distinct charm. I can easily picture a world where one of their films achieves that perfect equation where increasing skill plus rugged charm equals an experience that leaves me smitten. Maybe Devil Roams can accomplish that.

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As always, thanks for reading!

—Alex Brannan (Twitter, Letterboxd, Facebook)