TIFF’s Midnight Madness just premiered the most important horror movie of the year with Obsession. But that’s no surprise. The program, recently tied for the top spot on Dread Central’s 90 Best Genre Festivals on Earth list, has a long track record of unveiling some of the most important, popular, and critically acclaimed horror films of the past decade.
“This is the scariest film in the lineup,” head programmer Peter Kuplowsky told me a few weeks back about the film. “It gets under your skin in ways horror films rarely do … It’s a debut, and it’s absolutely devastating.”
With Obsession already circling a reported $15 million sale to Focus Features (per Deadline), it’s the perfect moment to reflect on the section’s legacy. From introducing breakout auteurs to staging cultural events, Midnight Madness has proven itself as the rare festival slot where chaos meets prestige.
Midnight Madness Matters
Under the supervision of head programmer and genre mad scientist, Peter Kuplowsky, the reputation of Midnight Madness has continued to strengthen and fortify on the global stage. A premiere here is a badge of honor as prestigious as it is rambunctious. The ravenous, rowdy crowd brings the energy of a ’70s drive-in, while TIFF’s global platform ensures films ripple far beyond the midnight slot. That fusion of cult-film spirit and international visibility is what makes Midnight Madness unlike any other slot on the circuit.
As we noted in our list of the world’s best genre festivals, it’s “the best of the majors when it comes to curation and programming.” It’s where you go not just to watch a film but to feel it detonate in real time.
The 10 Most Important Horror World Premieres at Midnight Madness of the Decade:
10. Baskin (2015)
Can Evrenol’s Turkish nightmare dragged extreme horror back onto the international stage with surreal, hellish imagery. Its Midnight Madness premiere instantly cemented it as a cult classic from hell.
9. Violation (2020)
Madeleine Sims-Fewer and Dusty Mancinelli’s devastating debut reimagined the revenge film through an unflinching lens. Even in a muted pandemic year, it proved MM could still shock and provoke.
8. Blood Quantum (2019)
Jeff Barnaby’s Indigenous zombie epic offered a politically charged twist on the undead formula. It spotlighted Canadian horror on the global stage while amplifying underrepresented voices.
7. The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016)
André Øvredal’s morgue-set chiller blended procedural tension with supernatural terror to chilling effect. It became his Hollywood breakthrough, paving the way for Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark.
6. The Ritual (2017)
David Bruckner’s folk-horror trek through the Swedish wilderness blended grief with ancient monstrosities. It showcased MM’s instinct for atmospheric terror with mainstream appeal.
5. Revenge (2017)
Coralie Fargeat’s feminist firebrand reframed the rape-revenge subgenre with visceral style and righteous fury. It proved Midnight Madness could launch not just movies, but bold new auteur voices.
4. Halloween (2018)
David Gordon Green’s legacy sequel wasn’t just a premiere — it was a cultural event that reignited slasher fever. It went on to dominate the box office and redefine the franchise for a new era.
3. Saint Maud (2019)
Rose Glass’s haunting psychological debut followed a nurse consumed by religious fervor. Its unsettling vision confirmed Midnight Madness as a launchpad for the next generation of horror auteurs.
2. Sick (2022)
John Hyams’ pandemic-set slasher tapped into the anxieties of lockdown with sharp precision. Its kinetic kills and timely themes showed the programme’s knack for programming horror that feels urgent. I can’t help but wonder if this killer comeback for Kevin Williamson helped secure his directing on Scream 7.
1. When Evil Lurks (2023)
Demián Rugna’s possession nightmare was hailed as one of the scariest films of the decade. Its MM premiere launched it to instant critical acclaim and a global audience via Shudder.
Midnight Madness at TIFF50
Obsession (Curry Barker)
A rabid, delirious teen horror already attracting a $15M+ deal from Focus Features, making it the unmissable horror premiere of the year. It arrives like a feral viral blackout, reminding us that Midnight Madness still spotlights the boldest and most market-shifting entries in the genre.
Dust Bunny (Bryan Fuller)
The long-awaited feature debut from the Hannibal visionary, Dust Bunny, fuses Fuller’s theatrical style with gonzo genre sensibilities. It looks poised to translate TV auteur energy into midnight-marquee spectacle.
Karmadonna (Aleksandar Radivojević)
A profane, savage satire from the A Serbian Film co-writer, this directorial debut pits an expectant mother against a supernatural ultimatum in a grotesque fight for survival. Only Midnight Madness could give such a filthy, unforgettable nightmare a global stage.
Canada Takes Over the World
From Baskin to When Evil Lurks, the past decade of Midnight Madness premieres has shaped the global horror conversation while proving that TIFF’s late-night slot is as vital as ever. With Obsession and Dust Bunny now carrying the torch into 2025, the program continues to balance discovery, chaos, and prestige in a way no other festival can match.
And as Canadian horror landmarks like Jeff Barnaby’s Blood Quantum remind us, Midnight Madness isn’t just a global stage—it’s a homegrown source of pride. For nearly 40 years, Toronto has been at the center of horror’s evolution. With Obsession now stepping into that lineage, the legacy is alive, feral, and still foaming at the mouth.
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