On July 16th I reported on the casting of Australian actor Xavier Samuel in the forthcoming The Twilight Saga: Eclipse. Then on July 22nd I was happy to pass on the news that his new film The Loved Ones would be having its International Premiere at the Toronto Film Festival in September.

I cover that event every year and will be at the screening. Even though Eclipse will be shooting in Vancouver, I reported at the time of my article that Xavier would "likely" attend but, of course, I could not report it as fact until it was confirmed. Now it has been.

I was fortunate to have actually met and interview Xavier Samuel and cover the premieres of two of his four previous feature films: Newcastle, at the Tribeca Film Festival in April 2008, and 2:37, at the Santa Barbara Film Festival in January 2007. So I've been happy to be able to actually write a bit about who he is and what he's done, in addition to reporting the news that he's been Twilighted. In an exclusive audio interview after the World Premiere of Newcastle in New York last year, I sat down with Xavier, his castmates, and director Dan Castle to discuss the film. I was the only American journalist there -- I was joined by two Australian reporters.

So I'm especially thrilled to pass on the news that the Toronto Film Festival has confirmed that Xavier will be attending and I'll be there to report on the festivities for the International premiere of The Loved Ones. Lovers of genre films generally attend every screening in the Midnight Madness section so this one is sure to sell out quickly. In this debut feature from Aussie director Sean Byrne, a troubled teen's prom dreams are shattered by a series of painful events that take place under the mirrored disco ball, involving syringes, nails, power drills, and a secret admirer.

"Though new to the feature director’s chair, Byrne cut his teeth in shorts, honing his instincts for dark, intense subject matter," Midnight Madness programmer Colin Geddes said. "With The Loved Ones, Byrne encourages the audience to laugh and have fun, only to sneak up and jolt them with horror when they’re least expecting it. When an image of a bloodied teenager in a tux on a balloon-littered floor came to Byrne, he sought to bring to the screen a fusion of two horror classics – The Evil Dead and Carrie. The Loved Ones mashes up sharp, swift drama with a series of bloody, imaginatively gruesome yet humorous thrills that are bound to provoke reactions from more squeamish audience members, who will surely have their hands over their eyes and grins on their faces."

Xavier Samuel is, of course, the "bloodied teenager" in question. He will be present at the screening for what is sure to be a lively Q&A and I'll be there as well. The actual date (we know it's at midnight at the Ryerson Auditorium) will be announced next Tuesday. By the way, also next Tuesday Newcastle will be released on DVD in Region 1 (North America).


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