I Love Paris (France/U.S., 2026)
Official synopsis
After being transformed into a vampire, a Parisian singer pursues stardom at the cost of her soul.
Review
Director Nicky Murphy’s mockumentary I Love Paris sends up the Gen Z hyperfocus on “anyone can be a star” dreams driven by Tik Tok, Instagram, and similar social media. Paris (Aminata Thiboult, who also cowrote the screenplay with Murphy) is an aspiring singer in France who wants to be famous ASAP, including playing an upcoming popular music festival there. When she has been bitten and turned by a vampire, her need to force her way into the after-dark headliner slot times complicates matters greatly.
Thiboult won Toronto After Dark Film Festival’s Best Performance award for her portrayal of the amusingly self-centered Paris. Thiboult helps keep viewers invested in her character even as Paris borders on the annoying. Leonor Oberson adds fine support as Lutèce, the vampire who turned Paris and who becomes her friend and new manager, as does Louiza Aura, who portrays viral influencer Mimi, who throws a wrench into the works when her aiding Paris’s quest to become famous takes a back seat to her mutual interest with Lutèce. This is only part of the intrigue, double-dealing, and assorted issues that Paris faces both on her hopeful rise to stardom and with her new life as a vampire.
The humor is hit and miss but works well enough overall. Matters aren’t laugh-a-minute but the satire lands well.
Murphy and Thiboult deliver an entertaining mockumentary that fans of horror comedies should find well worth a watch.
The Old Gods (Canada, 2025)
Official synopsis
Deep from within the ocean, a monster arises to reclaim the earth.
Review
Director Noah Van Buhren crafts a striking animated/live action Lovecraft-based feature that blends silent-movie style with kaiju-movie–like action. The result is an exciting 3-minute thrill ride that Lovecraft aficionados and creature-feature fanatics should have a blast watching.
I Love Paris and The Old Gods screened at Toronto After Dark Film Festival, which ran October 14–18, 2026.
