Keven McAlester's The Dungeon Masters seemed to have plenty of built-in win -- it follows three adults obsessed with Dungeons and Dragons. Many-sided dice (complete with explanation of how to destroy said dice if they prove to bring bad luck -- it involves a freezer and a hammer); dorky yet elaborate costumes; self-satisfied "game masters" laying down rules to "their" players -- it's all there. See, you're laughing already, aren't you?

Hmm. Gorgeously shot by Lee Daniel (who also worked on McAlester's 2006 Roky Erickson doc, You're Gonna Miss Me), and with a plaintive score by Blonde Redhead, the doc does have its moments of spontenous hilarity, and while I liked it, I couldn't help but feel like I was nudged to laugh at its subjects a little too often. Given that there are only three gamers extensively interviewed, it's difficult to say if all of D&D's grown-up fans are all basically losers -- but the film, which I don't think is intentionally mean-spirited, certainly suggests as much. SoCal resident Scott seems unaware of his wife's disdainful regard for him, engrossed as he is in writing a doorstop-sized science-fiction opus that he's convinced will one day become a best-seller. He's also involved in a "puppet ministry" (hero: "Captain Scripture") and produces his own cable-access television show (which actually looks pretty cool -- it contains both a cooking segment and ninjas). Southerner Elizabeth, who at only 23 has suffered through an abusive marriage, covers herself in black paint to portray a "Dark Elf" at any given opportunity; the rest of the time, including New Year's Eve, she's hooked to the internet. Tacoma, WA resident Richard, who has the most "normal" life outside of gaming (he has a steady job, nice house, easygoing wife), is also a nudist -- and admits that one day some years back, he simply walked out on his first wife without saying goodbye to her three kids, who he'd helped raise from young ages. There's an awkward meeting with one of the now-grown stepsons that forms the film's most uncomfortable moment -- no small feat in a movie filled with them.

Anyway, though I found it problematic at times, The Dungeon Masters is wall-to-wall fascinating, and it tries, at least, to give a happy ending to all involved (Elizabeth, in particular, seems headed toward a life that might not need role-playing fantasies to be fulfilling). But in a time when it's cool to be all, "Nerds are cool!", the film presents an occasionally stark reminder that sometimes, nerds are just nerds. And being a full-time nerd is never easy, no matter what Judd Apatow says.

Since I'm a bit of a nerd myself, I had to clock in a couple more horror flicks, neither of which I'm really too excited to share with you: The Burrowers, a somewhat intriguing monsters-on-the-early-American-prairie tale that more or less runs of out of gas in its third act; and the French Martyrs, hyped for its gruesomeness (which it delivered, more or less), but ultimately felt about as essential as, like, Hostel 3 would be. Torture porn is so 2005! Get over it!

Of the two best Toronto experiences I had this year, the first was Kiyoshi Kurosawa's Tokyo Sonata, about a Japanese family that goes from run-of-the-mill to totally surreal as the movie progresses. Dad loses his job and doesn't tell Mom. Oldest son decides he'll sign up for the U.S. military. Youngest son decides he wants to play piano. And Mom -- the most mild-mannered character here, seemingly happy to cook everyone's meals and vaccum all day every day -- has the most dramatic epiphany of all, which I won't spoil here, but to say that the fact that she's just gotten her driver's license sure comes in handy. It's a wonderful film from the director who made 1999's Charisma, 2003's Bright Future, and a lot of other movies you haven't seen but will want to after you watch Tokyo Sonata.

The other good time I had here wasn't a film at all. It was seeing seminal death metal/grindcore gods Carcass -- back on tour after a 15-year hiatus -- at Toronto's supremely packed and sweaty Opera House. Metal fans in Toronto! Yeah! I knew they were out there, it's just that NONE OF THEM are journalists or press/industry film people. No matter. The show was awesome and ear-splitting, and Carcass is coming to San Francisco next week, so I can see them again when I'm home sweet home.