A weekly tip sheet for shoppers
When the Toronto International Film Festival ends today, movie fans are likely to go into withdrawal. But great cinematic offerings can still be found at independent video stores.
2 for 1 Movies, 2444 Bloor St. W. It's only five doors down from a Blockbuster but has managed to compete with the big boys thanks to its eclectic selection. The two-for-one deal also helps.
Mammoth Movies, 142 Lakeshore Rd. W. The family-owned Oakville location stocks about 15,000 titles, including a large foreign-language section. For convenience, the store also sorts movies by stars.
Revue Video, 207 Danforth Ave. Bill Hubacheck's foreign-flick haven offers such "carefully selected titles" as Rainer Werner Fassbinder's Berlin Alexanderplatz. Bonus: The store has one of the city's best selections of National Film Board docs.
After Dark, 1043 Bathurst St. The window has a silver mannequin with a television on its head. That's the first clue this isn't your everyday video store. The next is the selection of films. There are cult classics, B-movie horrors and the complete collection of Russ Meyer movies.
Suspect Video, 605 Markham St., 619 Queen St. W. This store has hard-to-find films such as Suicide Club and Battle Royale. Nearby Queen Video outlets may have more titles, but Suspect is the place for Hong Kong action, Asian madness and Japanimation.