Written and directed by Vincenzo Nappi, oh, Canada, such a wonderful place to live – WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT. A musical look into the artifice surrounding the Canadian identity. Starring: Léa Quintana, Stéphane Picotte, Karen Wan, Joey MacIntosh, Denis Moreno, Walid Jabri, Patty Keach and Ryan Stick.

Vincenzo Nappi kicks things off by perfectly recreating the feel of 1990s tourist propaganda, both in the tone and aesthetic. Especially capturing the essence of VHS and making you nostalgic for the days of Home Improvement and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. That is before Nappi blindsides everyone with the dark side to Oh… Canada, diving headfirst into a satirical, violent exploration of generic cultural identity.

Nappi does a great job of portraying the twisted nature to overtly perfect people and landscapes in marketing, using it to his advantage. Its playful yet violent tone would pair well with Mike Cheslik’s Hundreds of Beavers. Its visual stylings in bloodier moments even remind of Battle Royale, something that horror fans will certainly appreciate.

Although, it does feel as though it might click more strongly with Canadians, almost serving as an inside joke. One that outsiders can also enjoy but it’s not quite as effective for your average viewer. Particularly when it comes to the ending, which feels as though it’s trying to hit a punchier note but doesn’t entirely land without a bigger background knowledge to play with.

Oh… Canada is a fun and satisfyingly twisted satire of tourism and commercialised cultural identity. It takes a great stab at an almost 1950s housewife themed propaganda, while nicely creating that 1990s aesthetic and vibe. It’s an entertaining short but one that would probably work best for Canadian horror fans.

Verdict: ✯✯✯½ | 7/10

Celebrated its World Premiere at Fantasia Fest 2024