Between now and the closing film of the Toronto International Film Festival on September 16th, Killer Reviews will be highlighting some of the films that will have screenings at the prestigious event and giving you some insight into some of the more lesser known movies that being showcased in Canada.

Today, we take a look at Aleksander L. Nordass’ Thale

The small country of Norway has been leaving its mark with North American horror fan audiences.  Tommy Wirkola’s Dead Snow and Andre Ovredal’s The Troll Hunter have been two of the best the genre has had to offer over the past five years. 

Looking equally interesting (and creepy!) is Aleksander L. Nordaas’ Thale which is getting it’s Canadian Premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 12th.

Thale comes from Norwegian tale of the ‘huldra’, beautiful women with long hair who can be recognized by their thick animal tails.  The huldra live in the woods and would lure their victims (men, generally) into the forestry areas where they would never been seen again. 

From the TIFF Program Guide:

“Elvis and Leo are childhood friends who work together at a most unusual job: hosing down crime scenes and scooping up the human remains left behind.  Elvis is new to the gig, but doesn’t have the stomach for it; Leo, on the other hand, is a seasoned pro who understands how to stay detached while mopping up brains and blood.  When the pair is sent to a remote house in the woods to collect the corpse of an old man who was apparently torn apart by wolves, they’re hardly prepared for what they find next.

While exploring the home, the forensic odd couple discovers a hidden door behind which is a laboratory in eerily preserved condition, filled with equipment, books and even volumes of the old man’s audio diaries.  In a bathtub filled with milky, opaque fluid, the two find a silent and frightened young woman named Thale, connected to feeding tubes but otherwise seemingly unharmed.  Exploring the property further and listening to the audio diaries, Elvis and Leo slowly begin to learn more about Thale.  However, Elvis and Leo aren’t the only ones with an interest in the alluring and mysterious creature, and they’re soon stuck in the middle of a violent tug-of-war for possession of her.  Of course, Thale herself should not be underestimated: her vulnerable, childlike behaviour belies unexpected strength and hidden power.”

Nordaas comes of the directing of his acclaimed short film In Chambers (2008).