Welcome back to This Week In Discs! If you see something you like, click on the title to buy it from Amazon. Toad Road James (James Davidson) is a slacker, but that shouldn’t be mistaken for meaning he sits around all day doing nothing. Instead, he sits around all day smoking, popping, and snorting anything he and his friends can get their hands on, but that starts to change when he meets the new girl, Sara (Sara Anne Jones). She’s new to the drug scene, he introduces her, and she gets hooked just as he wants out. He agrees to one last trip with her. Shrooms in hand, the two head out to the legendary Toad Road to investigate rumors of the seven gates of hell. It goes according to plan until he wakes up to discover she’s disappeared. Writer/director Jason Banker’s debut feature is low budget, raw...
- 12/17/2013
- by Rob Hunter
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
Known for its selection of unnerving and underrated acquisitions of films that appear to exist on the unconventional fray, Artsploitation Films brings Jason Banker’s hallucinatory horror film Toad Road to DVD. A hit among a handful of film festivals, including Fantasia International Film Festival, where it won Best Director and Best Actor, Banker’s film has established a solid following with his first feature film, winning praise from a variety of top tier sources and even more eclectic avenues, such as a celebratory insert accompanying the disc, which contains praise from actor Elijah Wood. But, to be honest, there needs to be a differentiation here in what some may define as a horror film, as there’s really nothing horrific that goes on here. Sure, it hints at passing through the gates at Hell, but more so as a metaphor for addiction, instead it plays like some odd minded...
- 12/17/2013
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
A new clip from the indie fear flick from Elijah Wood's horror film company SpectreVision, Toad Road (review) from writer-director Jason Banker, has arrived with an explanation!
From the Press Release
The horror-thriller Toad Road earned praise from audiences and critics alike last fall at the influential Fantasia International Film Festival in Montreal, where it won awards for “Best Director” (Jason Banker) and “Best Actor” (James Davidson).
Building on that momentum, Artsploitation Films has announced it will bring Toad Road to theaters this October. Following the film’s theatrical run, the company will release it on DVD and VOD as well as in the digital marketplace.
“There is a nihilism and decay present within the characters of Toad Road that makes the film mesmerizing. The horror comes not from just a mystical location and inevitable conclusion, but a very real, very dark place in each of their hearts. It's...
From the Press Release
The horror-thriller Toad Road earned praise from audiences and critics alike last fall at the influential Fantasia International Film Festival in Montreal, where it won awards for “Best Director” (Jason Banker) and “Best Actor” (James Davidson).
Building on that momentum, Artsploitation Films has announced it will bring Toad Road to theaters this October. Following the film’s theatrical run, the company will release it on DVD and VOD as well as in the digital marketplace.
“There is a nihilism and decay present within the characters of Toad Road that makes the film mesmerizing. The horror comes not from just a mystical location and inevitable conclusion, but a very real, very dark place in each of their hearts. It's...
- 6/28/2013
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
What happens when the allure of a local legend, mixes with the reckless abandon of youth who don't fear waking up to their consequences of their actions? It's a compelling premise to base a movie on, and writer/director Jason Banker does just that with "Toad Road," a micro-budget horror film that has all the thrills and unease you'd expect from a major Hollywood movie. Starring Sara Anne Jones (who sadly passed away shortly after the film's premiere), James Davidson and Whitleigh Higuera, the film uses the found footage/verité aesthetic finds a group of aimless friends with few inhibitions getting more than they bargained for out in the woods. And in this exclusive clip from the movie, we see an initial wariness about encountering whatever is out there. "James explains the legend of Toad Road to Sara, comparing it to a bad trip. Sara, eager to explore the boundaries...
- 6/28/2013
- by Kevin Jagernauth
- The Playlist
Toad Road appeared at last year’s Fantasia International Film Festival and it has been announced that the movie will be getting a limited theatrical run later this year, along with a DVD and VOD release. For those that are interested in learning more, we also have the Toad Road trailer:
“The horror-thriller Toad Road earned praise from audiences and critics alike last fall at the influential Fantasia International Film Festival in Montreal, where it won awards for “Best Director” (Jason Banker) and “Best Actor” (James Davidson).
Building on that momentum, Artsploitation Films has announced it will bring Toad Road to theaters this October. Following the film’s theatrical run, the company will release it on DVD and VOD as well as in the digital marketplace.
“There is a nihilism and decay present within the characters of Toad Road that makes the film mesmerizing. The horror comes not from just...
“The horror-thriller Toad Road earned praise from audiences and critics alike last fall at the influential Fantasia International Film Festival in Montreal, where it won awards for “Best Director” (Jason Banker) and “Best Actor” (James Davidson).
Building on that momentum, Artsploitation Films has announced it will bring Toad Road to theaters this October. Following the film’s theatrical run, the company will release it on DVD and VOD as well as in the digital marketplace.
“There is a nihilism and decay present within the characters of Toad Road that makes the film mesmerizing. The horror comes not from just...
- 6/25/2013
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
We finally have good news for those of you looking forward to checking out the indie fear flick from Elijah Wood's horror film company SpectreVision, Toad Road (review) from writer-director Jason Banker. The flick is planning to hit said road this October!
From the Press Release
The horror-thriller Toad Road earned praise from audiences and critics alike last fall at the influential Fantasia International Film Festival in Montreal, where it won awards for “Best Director” (Jason Banker) and “Best Actor” (James Davidson).
Building on that momentum, Artsploitation Films has announced it will bring Toad Road to theaters this October. Following the film’s theatrical run, the company will release it on DVD and VOD as well as in the digital marketplace.
“There is a nihilism and decay present within the characters of Toad Road that makes the film mesmerizing. The horror comes not from just a mystical location and inevitable conclusion,...
From the Press Release
The horror-thriller Toad Road earned praise from audiences and critics alike last fall at the influential Fantasia International Film Festival in Montreal, where it won awards for “Best Director” (Jason Banker) and “Best Actor” (James Davidson).
Building on that momentum, Artsploitation Films has announced it will bring Toad Road to theaters this October. Following the film’s theatrical run, the company will release it on DVD and VOD as well as in the digital marketplace.
“There is a nihilism and decay present within the characters of Toad Road that makes the film mesmerizing. The horror comes not from just a mystical location and inevitable conclusion,...
- 6/25/2013
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
Elijah Wood's The Woodshed, the new horror label from partners Wood, Daniel Noah, and Josh C. Waller, has announced two new projects: the original production A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night and the completed feature Toad Road (review) from writer-director Jason Banker.
The Woodshed is partnering with Blackout Films and Random Bench on Toad Road, which will be the first film to go out under "The Woodshed Presents" endeavor, says Variety. The Woodshed partners discovered the film when programming Nightmare City, a horror film festival collaboration between Cinefamily, Cinespia, and The Woodshed that is currently unfolding around Los Angeles.
"Programming the festival, we viewed scores of new horror films, but 'Toad Road' leapt out of the pack with its devastating power. We knew we had to do whatever we could to make sure this special film is seen," said Wood.
The Woodshed will present the U.
The Woodshed is partnering with Blackout Films and Random Bench on Toad Road, which will be the first film to go out under "The Woodshed Presents" endeavor, says Variety. The Woodshed partners discovered the film when programming Nightmare City, a horror film festival collaboration between Cinefamily, Cinespia, and The Woodshed that is currently unfolding around Los Angeles.
"Programming the festival, we viewed scores of new horror films, but 'Toad Road' leapt out of the pack with its devastating power. We knew we had to do whatever we could to make sure this special film is seen," said Wood.
The Woodshed will present the U.
- 10/20/2012
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
(Los Angeles, CA – Oct 19 2012) The Woodshed, the new horror company from partners Daniel Noah, Josh C. Waller and Elijah Wood, is proud to announce two new projects. The Woodshed will partner with Blackout Films and Random Bench on Jason Banker’s Toad Road as its first “The Woodshed Presents” endeavor. Noah, Waller and Wood discovered the film when programming Nightmare City, a horror film festival collaboration between The Cinefamily, Cinespia and The Woodshed currently unfolding around Los Angeles. Says Wood, “Programming the festival, we viewed scores of new horror films, but Toad Road leapt out of the pack with its devastating power. We knew we had to do whatever we could to make sure this special film is seen.” The Woodshed will present the Us premiere in Los Angeles next Tuesday October 23rd @10Pm as part of Nightmare City. Toad Road received both Best Director & Best Actor (James Davidson) awards...
- 10/19/2012
- by MIKE FLEMING
- Deadline
As another fantastic edition, the sweet sixteen, of Fantasia wraps up, the Juries are in with the fests winners. And the two big ones are Kim Jee-woon and Yim Pil Sung's science fiction anthology Doomsday Book, which one the Best Feature film and documentary/horror fusion Toad Road which won best Director, Jason Banker, and Best Actor, James Davidson. Korea proved very popular, winning the inaugural Satoshi Kon award for best Animated film at the festival, with Yeon Sang-ho's King of Pigs getting the honour. Horror descent into madness, Crave, won best first feature for Charles de Lauzirika.The rest of the award winners, and the Juries that picked them, can be found in Fantasia's full press release below.Feature Film JuryPresident: Gabriel Pelletier, with Jay Baruchel, Sylvain Krief and...
- 8/9/2012
- Screen Anarchy
Fantasia 2012 has come to an end, which means it's time for the announcement of this year's jury winners. As usual, they're an eclectic bunch, and hopefully we'll get to see them and all the other great films that screened during the fest here in the States sooner rather than later.
Feature Film Jury - President: Gabriel Pelletier, with Jay Baruchel, Sylvain Krief and Maggie Lee
Cheval Noir Award for Best Film: Doomsday Book by Kim Jee-woon and Yim Pil-sung
The film impressed the jury by the intelligence and originality it displayed in its efforts to imagine the near future and its impending doom through a collection of short films, all the while displaying mastery in every artistic aspects of the production.
Best Director: Jason Banker, Toad Road
Best Screenplay: Alberto Marini, Sleep Tight
Best Actor: James Davidson, Toad Road
Best Actress: Marijana Jankovic, Beast
Special Mention: AnnaLynne McCord, Excision
With her fearless performance in Excision,...
Feature Film Jury - President: Gabriel Pelletier, with Jay Baruchel, Sylvain Krief and Maggie Lee
Cheval Noir Award for Best Film: Doomsday Book by Kim Jee-woon and Yim Pil-sung
The film impressed the jury by the intelligence and originality it displayed in its efforts to imagine the near future and its impending doom through a collection of short films, all the while displaying mastery in every artistic aspects of the production.
Best Director: Jason Banker, Toad Road
Best Screenplay: Alberto Marini, Sleep Tight
Best Actor: James Davidson, Toad Road
Best Actress: Marijana Jankovic, Beast
Special Mention: AnnaLynne McCord, Excision
With her fearless performance in Excision,...
- 8/9/2012
- by The Woman In Black
- DreadCentral.com
Toronto – The South Korean horror sci-fi anthology film series Doomsday Book by Kim Jee-woon and Yim Pil-sung picked up the top Cheval Noir Award at the Fantasia International Film Festival on Wednesday. The Canadian genre festival’s other big winner was Jason Banker’s Toad Road, which won for best director and best actor for James Davidson. Photos: Iconic Horror Movies The top Fantasia jury was led by Gabriel Pelletier, with Jay Baruchel, Sylvain Krief and Maggie Lee also sitting in judgement. Korean films shined elsewhere in Montreal as the Satoshi Kon Award for achievement in animation went
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- 8/9/2012
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The 2012 edition of Montreal's genre film mecca, the Fantasia International Film Festival, gave its top prize to Kim Jee-woon and Yim Pil-sung's "Doomsday Book," which received Cheval Noir Award for Best Film. Jason Banker's "Toad Road" took two prizes, for best director and best actor James Davidson. Also receiving two awards was Yeon Sang Ho's "The King of Pigs," which took the Satoshi Kon Award for Achievement in Animation as well as a special mention from the First Feature Jury. Best Screenplay was Alberto Marini's "Sleep Tight." Best Actress went to Majiana Jankovic for "Beast," with AnnaLynne McCord receiving a Special Mention for her performance in "Excision." New Flesh Award for Best First Feature went to "Crave," directed by Charles de Lauzirika. Best Animated Short Film was "It's Such a Beautiful Day," by Don Hertzfeldt ...
- 8/9/2012
- by Indiewire
- Indiewire
Toad Road
Directed by Jason Banker
Written by Jason Banker
U.S.A., 2012
‘Go to hell.’ ‘My life is a living hell.’ ‘What the hell just happened?’ These are but some of the countless examples of how flippantly the term ‘hell’ is utilized in everyday idiom. The word offers a flexibility unparalleled with almost any other. Considering how malleable the word is, just what is society’s conception of hell exactly? It is real, imagined, a thing to be thought about, a thing to be ignored out of fear? Toad Road, from first time writer-director Jason Banker, had its world premier at Fantasia 2012 this year and provides one of the many interpretations of the underworld, although no one leaving this film will confuse hell with anything flippant.
The story is set in an undisclosed countryside in the northern United States. A group of friends, among them one of the movie’s protagonists,...
Directed by Jason Banker
Written by Jason Banker
U.S.A., 2012
‘Go to hell.’ ‘My life is a living hell.’ ‘What the hell just happened?’ These are but some of the countless examples of how flippantly the term ‘hell’ is utilized in everyday idiom. The word offers a flexibility unparalleled with almost any other. Considering how malleable the word is, just what is society’s conception of hell exactly? It is real, imagined, a thing to be thought about, a thing to be ignored out of fear? Toad Road, from first time writer-director Jason Banker, had its world premier at Fantasia 2012 this year and provides one of the many interpretations of the underworld, although no one leaving this film will confuse hell with anything flippant.
The story is set in an undisclosed countryside in the northern United States. A group of friends, among them one of the movie’s protagonists,...
- 8/4/2012
- by Edgar Chaput
- SoundOnSight
Toad Road
Directed by Jason Banker
Written by Jason Banker
U.S.A., 2012
‘Go to hell.’ ‘My life is a living hell.’ ‘What the hell just happened?’ These are but some of the countless examples of how flippantly the term ‘hell’ is utilized in everyday idiom. The word offers a flexibility unparalleled with almost any other. Considering how malleable the word is, just what is society’s conception of hell exactly? It is real, imagined, a thing to be thought about, a thing to be ignored out of fear? Toad Road, from first time writer-director Jason Banker, had its world premier at Fantasia this year and provides one of the many interpretations of the underworld, although no one leaving this film will confuse hell with anything flippant.
The story is set in an undisclosed countryside in the northern United States. A group of friends, among them one of the movie’s protagonists,...
Directed by Jason Banker
Written by Jason Banker
U.S.A., 2012
‘Go to hell.’ ‘My life is a living hell.’ ‘What the hell just happened?’ These are but some of the countless examples of how flippantly the term ‘hell’ is utilized in everyday idiom. The word offers a flexibility unparalleled with almost any other. Considering how malleable the word is, just what is society’s conception of hell exactly? It is real, imagined, a thing to be thought about, a thing to be ignored out of fear? Toad Road, from first time writer-director Jason Banker, had its world premier at Fantasia this year and provides one of the many interpretations of the underworld, although no one leaving this film will confuse hell with anything flippant.
The story is set in an undisclosed countryside in the northern United States. A group of friends, among them one of the movie’s protagonists,...
- 7/29/2012
- by Edgar Chaput
- SoundOnSight
Screwing with genre in a similar way that micro-budget relative Aaron Katz does, Jason Banker's "Toad Road" is an off-putting horror tale that abstains from the easy routes its kin generally take. We're first introduced to James (James Davidson) as he awakens in a niveous woodland, isolated and curiously disheveled. It's a crafty opening, establishing a certain uneasiness with an enduring take shot from afar. He manages to hail down a ride, but despite the stranger's prodding at why the man was out in the middle of nowhere alone, the protagonist keeps a lid on it. "Toad Road" then switches gears. Adopting a verite documentary aesthetic and hopping back in time, we see what kind of person James really is. He parties too hard, sees a therapist to appease his Dad (and keep those rent checks coming), and does nothing that could even remotely be described as productive. At...
- 7/27/2012
- by Christopher Bell
- The Playlist
I haven’t heard too much in regards to Jason Banker’s feature film debut, Toad Road, but I’ll admit, the film’s premise has me a bit curious, as does this new trailer that just hit the net and a few of these pics, which are admittedly eerie. Throw in a fairly aesthetically pleasing poster, and I’m officially good to go on a viewing of this one. “Inspired by an urban legend, Toad Road is an intimate meditation on lost youth evocative of Gus Van Sant (with a racy touch of Larry Clark) and a radical deconstruction of genre cinema, a devastating and brilliant object of contemplation and dread, and a journey down unexpected paths.” Sarah Joelle Hildebrand, Sara Anne Jones, James Davidson, Whitleigh Higuera, Andy Martin and Scott Rader star.
- 7/24/2012
- Best-Horror-Movies.com
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