Matapanki (Chile, 2026)
Official synopsis
A punk kid gets superpowers from alcohol and tries to reshape society, but a violent error sparks global tensions with him at the center.
Review
“Punk’s not dead!” goes the battle cry, and writer/director Diego Fuentes follows that spirit with his action comedy/fantasy feature Matapanki. Punk rock fan Ricardo (Ramón Gálvez) accidentally discovers a bottle of the titular fictitious drink and finds that ingesting the beverage gives him superpowers. With nods to Spider-Man, the film takes him on an origin-story journey where he is reluctant to use his powers despite his friends’ encouragement. Naturally, nefarious forces are at work, which Fuentes uses to skewer local and international political figures and movements. He also uses colorful animation and drawing effects to complement Cinematographer Vicente Correa’s impressive black-and-white work. Fueled with punk soul, a driving soundtrack, and all-in performances, Matapanki is a unique slice of genre-cinema fare.
The Thing Inside Her (Canada, 2026)
Official synopsis
After removing her IUD, a woman is now facing an extraordinary realization about her slimy boyfriend.
Review
Matt (Matthew Graham) acts a little strangely to his girlfriend Harriet (Jacki Gunn). Perhaps Harriet should have zeroed in on Ava’s (Arghavan Jenati) hints about him before Harriet discovered what he really is. I want to avoid spoilers about The Thing Inside Her as much as possible, but I really need to mention that the creature costume design is a blast. Let’s leave it at that so viewers can go in cold to this funny, goopy look at modern romantic relationships. Gunn, who wrote the screenplay and codirected with Della Haddock, and the rest of the ensemble cast give amusing performances in this black-and-white monster comedy short.
Paper Cuts (New Zealand, 2026)
Official synopsis
You’ve never watched a cheeky animated horror anthology with the aesthetic of a children’s stop-motion TV show quite like this.
Review
Codirectors Ross Ozarka and Alice Gatland serve up a wild animated horror comedy with Paper Cuts. Using colorful handmade papercraft, the filmmakers tell a quick series of short-short tales involving all manner of murderous mayhem, with cannibalism being a hot topic throughout. Frenetic and packing plentiful surprises, shocks, and laughs in its 11-minute run time, Paper Cuts is a kick.
Matapanki, The Thing Inside Her, and Paper Cuts screened as part of Toronto After Dark Film Festival, which ran October 14–18, 2026.
