This week in film rounds up the most noteworthy independent screenings and cinema-related events happening in Toronto.

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 19TH / DRIVE / CINEPLEX / MULTIPLE
For those who missed it last week, Drive opened on Friday as one of those weird festival flicks that starts screening before TIFF is even over. But in this instance, it's a blessing. Drive is one part crime caper and one part devastating tragic unrequited love. Ryan Gosling plays...the Driver, an unnamed man who lives an isolated and structured life, until he meets the charming Irene (Carey Mulligan) a single mom who lives in the same apartment complex as him. He becomes entranced by her, but unfortunately, loving her comes with some dangerous complexities. The film is really an exercise in restraint, by the time it finally erupts with violence (which the trailer promises) you're still somehow not expecting it. Also? The soundtrack will sit in your bones for weeks. Tickets prices vary depending on location and can be purchased online at Cineplex.

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 20TH / LITTLE TERRORS / THE PROJECTION BOOTH / 9:30PM
Rue Morgue's Little Terrors horror film series returns this month with a new batch of scary short films. This month's program includes The Eyes of Edward James, a self-described Hitchcockian exercise about a man repeating the details of his wife's death with his doctor; Legend of the Seven Deadly Torturers, a dark satire about a clerk trying to reduce inefficiencies in a torture chamber; the Cannes award-winning short Next Floor about a grotesque dinner party; and my personal favourite title ever, The Horribly Slow Murderer with the Extremely Inefficient Weapon, which is about a killer determined to attack his prey with a spoon. Tickets are $8 and can be bought at the cinema.

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 21ST / WORLD OF SHORTS: SEX, DRUGS AND ROCK 'N ROLL / NFB MEDIATHEQUE / 6PM & 8PM
Keep it simple, stupid. This Wednesday (and every third Wednesday of the month) the NFB celebrates a partnership with the Canadian Film Centre's Worldwide Short Film Festival with a collection of curated shorts at the Mediatheque. September brings a titillating collection of cinema concerning those who would be our rock and roll gods. A drug dealer who still lives with his mom, the indie band that lives out every cliche, the groupies, all types are represented in this collection. For those able to show up mid-afternoon, there is a free screening of Love at the Twilight Motel for viewing as well, as part of the Free Favourites at Four programme. See these and more at the NFB Mediatheque website. Tickets for World of Shorts programs are $6 for adults, $4 for students, seniors and members and can be purchased at the NFB.

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 22ND / PROM NIGHT / REVUE CINEMA / 9PM
Girls in pink dresses, blood in their tresses, Prom Night is yet another Canadian film in the slasher genre that has inspired films such as I Know What You Did Last Summer and the more recent Prom Night remake. Four young friends witness an accident that binds them in their youth, only to find it haunting their final memories six years later. A masked killer attempts to turn the best night of their lives into the last night, as they unwittingly primp and preen for their final scene. The film will also feature special guest, composer Carl Zittrer and a Q & A after the screening. Tickets are $10 for non-members and can be purchased at the cinema.

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 23RD / BATMAN RETURNS / TORONTO UNDERGROUND CINEMA / 9:30PM
Here's a fun trivia nugget, Batman Returns, Tim Burton's sequel to his wildly popular Batman film, almost didn't happen. Burton was unhappy with offers from the studio and went in his own direction to direct Edward Scissorhands and waited until Warner Bros. provided him with a script worth looking at. A darker story than the original, Batman Returns feels more like a Burton film than a Batman film and it's unfortunate the rest of the fims in the series fell short, until the Nolan reboot. Starring the sensuous and deadly Michelle Pfeiffer as the unforgettable Selina Kyle, Anne Hathaway has quite a bit to live up to from this portrayal, maybe she should take some notes. Tickets are $8 and can be purchased at the cinema.

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 24TH / DETECTIVE DEE AND THE MYSTERY OF THE PHANTOM FLAME / SELECT CINEMAS
This weekend finally marks the release of Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame, a historical, fantasy, action film based on the popular book series under the same name. The film follows Detective Dee, a psychic-Sherlock-type character based off of a popular figure in Chinese history, Di Renjie. Dee is played by Andy Lau, who actually studied some criminal psychology to prepare him for the role. Detective Dee is brought out of prison to help serve the Empress, as things are going politically awry before a very important date, but unfortunately, other parties want him killed, perhaps the Empress as well? Dee is a fast-paced action film at heart, with mystical elements and a ton of costumes and fights, fights and more fights. Tickets prices vary depending on location.

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 25TH / CITIZEN KANE / CINEPLEX / 1PM
In addition to bringing back The Great Digital Film Festival, Cineplex has also brought back their popular Classic Film Series this fall. Twice a month, multiple locations will be screening an unquestionable classic film for the low-low price of $5 and for the first month, the choice is none other than Citizen Kane. Orson Welles' magnum opus is the story of Charles Foster Kane, a bitter, rich newspaper man whose dying words strike at the hearts of a country seized by curiosity and obsession over his passing. A journalist makes the most of this opportunity and delves into the history of this much-detested man. Tickets can be purchased online or in person at the Cineplex of your choosing; for only $5 I'd be sure to reserve them soon!

For Toronto movie showtimes, view our Movie Listings section.

Still from Batman Returns