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 Nicolas Lopez’s Aftershock

You can be excused if you have not yet been familiarized with writer, director, producer Nicholas Lopez. His most popular titles, Fuck My Life (2010) and Fuck My Wedding (2011) are not exactly household renowned titles.

But Lopez is about to be put in the spotlight with the showing of Aftershock which is having its World Premiere this week at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Aftershock stars Eli Roth (who also helped pen the screenplay) and Selena Gomez in a story surrounding the true events of a Chilean earthquake that ripped through the South American country in 2010. The earthquake was registered as an 8.8 magnitude quake and devastated the country leaving thousands either dead or homeless.

Aftershock will follow an American tourist (Roth) and two Chilean friends (Ariel Levy and Nicolas Martinez) who meet up with a group of Russians and plan a trip to the coastal town of Valparaiso. The group are relishing in the nightlife at a local dance club when the earthquake hits bringing the entire city down around them. With the city in ruins and the people in a state of both shock and terror, the group evades looters, escaped convicts and continuous aftershocks as they navigate through the destruction.

From the Official TIFF Program Guide:

“Lopez marks the film’s sharp tonal shift by replacing the neon-splattered clubs, in which sweaty bodies bounce and grind, with grim, blood-soaked streets lit by ominous fires and the occasional, faraway flash of an emergency vehicle that never seems to arrive. Meanwhile, Roth, as the clueless tourist, fully embraces (his characters) endearing dorkiness, giving a surprisingly sweet and self-deprecating performance. A chilling disaster story and a timely cautionary tale about environmental collapse, Aftershock is a grim reminder of how thin the line is that separates our civilized society from total chaos.”

Most of the events that unfold in Aftershock are based on the real life experiences of many survivors that have recounted their stories. Aftershock premieres of Tuesday September 11th and has repeat showings on September 13th and 16th.