This week on Trailer Talk: Mysterious imposters, villains with an existential crisis and vengeful slaves.

THE IMPOSTER

The true crime genre is a personal favourite of mine. Exploring the dark and sometimes downright strange potential of the human animal, it can range from entertaining to informative to chilling. It also happens to be one of the best genres for the documentary format, providing a clear narrative with genuine stakes, so it’s no surprise that the trailer for The Imposter made such a strong impression.

Telling the story of the disappearance of Nicholas Barclay, a 13 years old Texan boy, and the peculiar nature of his return.

After three years without a sign, the Barclay family received a phone call telling them Nicholas had been found alive. And in Spain. Initially relieved to be reunited with their loved one, the family soon noticed strange inconsistencies; Nicholas’ eyes were now a different colour and he spoke with a clear French accent. Who is this stranger they welcomed into their home?

It’s a freaky, fascinating premise and it’s being told with a lot of style; a mix of stylishly shot reconstructions and intense, probing interviews. The Imposter will be screening at the Edinburgh Film Festival.

WRECK-IT RALPH

I was sold on Wreck-It Ralph within seconds. The instant I saw those familiar retro graphics and antiquated (but always hugely enjoyable) gameplay style of the old arcade titles, I was taken back to my childhood. I try to resist nostalgia at every turn, remaining objective, but everyone has their breaking point. Mine apparently comes somewhere between 8-bit graphics and a support group for video game villains, filled with cameos from some of the greatest names in the history of the medium.

The basic premise appears to be a mix of Toy Story and Tron, only heavy of the former and mercifully light on the latter, and tells the not-so-original but always relatable story of someone who wants to rediscover themselves. What instantly grabbed me about this trailer is how much reverence there is for this ever-evolving culture. They have really mined the thirty-something years of gameplay for all its worth, making full use of the variety of designs and tones available.

The story may be old and familiar but the journey should prove incredibly entertaining and unique. The only problem? Disney won’t be releasing it in the UK until February next year. Thanks for that, Mickey, you son of a bitch.

DJANGO UNCHAINED

This is the main event. Quentin Tarantino’s bloody tale of revenge in Slavery-era America announces itself with an incredible pulse-pounding trailer. It looks gorgeous – especially that shot of blood spraying on cotton – such a simple image manages to be meaningful and provocative.

The trailer employs some classic Tarantino song choices, moving from the somber grit of Johnny Cash to the blood-pumping, ass-kicking greatness of James Brown’s The Big Payback. Tarantino’s knack for anachronism gives everything he touches a unique, timeless quality and this appears to be no different. Django Unchained is a Spaghetti Western, but it will be unlike any you have ever seen before.

Jamie Foxx impresses, showing an intensity and focus that has been missing from his work for some time, Christoph Waltz once again sounds like he relishes every word that Tarantino has pass his lips, and Leonardo DiCaprio looks like he is having the most fun of his entire career. Could Leo become the Hans Landa of Django Unchained? I think so. It’s just nice to see that he is still capable of smiling. Another fun element: Franco Nero, the original Django, sidling up to Foxx’s Django at the bar.

Django Unchained is released in the UK in January 2013, as if the wait wasn’t unbearable enough.