Thursday, May 3, 2018

Friend Request (2016) Through the Eyes of Cat

By Cat


Number Rolled: N/A
Movie Name/Year: Friend Request (2016)
Tagline: Be careful who you click with.
Genre: Thriller, Horror
Length: 92 minutes
Rating: R
Production Companies: Wiedemann & Berg Filmproduktion, Seven Pictures, Two Oceans Production
Producers: Byron Allen, Matthew Ballen, Richard Barner, Quirin Berg, Mark Borde, Maren Bouwer, Chris Charalambous, Mark DeVitre, Chad Doher, Abbie Dunn, Carolyn Folks, Stefan Gärtner, Marco Le Roux, Jennifer Lucas, Mark Popp, Patrick Noel Simon, Bertha Spieker, Giselher Venzke, Simon Verhoeven, David Vogt, Max Wiedemann
Director: Simon Verhoeven
Writers: Matthew Ballen, Philip Koch, Simon Verhoeven
Actors: Alycia Debnam-Carey, William Moseley, Connor Paolo, Brit Morgan, Brooke Markham, Sean Marquette, Liesl Ahlers, Shashawnee Hall
Stunts:  Oliver Bailey, Olivia Jackson

Blurb from Netflix: A popular college student's love of social media becomes her biggest regret when a mysterious account marks each one of her friends for a grisly demise.


When this movie hit theaters, it was my turn for our monthly list of the top movies coming soon. I placed this film as my #12 pick and Selina had this one at #13. For our Top 20 lists to mesh so closely around this movie, it piqued my interest further. That brings me to today!

I was pulling up a random selection to share with you all today, and found this in my list. I recalled how interested I was to see how it compared to movies like Unfriended (2015) and Antisocial (2013). This, especially, because the production team took great pains to distance this movie from the former by going as far as to change its title. When I described my take on it based on watching the trailer, I thought this film would be “super creepy.”

I wasn’t wrong.

I am also extremely glad that I gave this one a chance in spite of the others, which I hadn’t been all that impressed with.


Sure, there were some parts that didn’t entirely jive with me – but those were few and far between. Overall, the story was more cohesive. There were even some twists and turns that caught me off guard. I couldn’t find complaints about any particular actor’s performance. I felt they were all solid. There were some moments that came across as comedic elements that I do not believe were intended to be, but overall the film was filled with a sense of dread as the suspense built.

Was this a jump-scare-riddled recipe movie? Sure, it was. Did I care? Hell no. For one thing, the industry is beginning to become saturated with horror movies taking the leap into cyberspace. Technology is one of society’s greatest and most destructive social tools, after all.  The quality of this film exceeded that of some of the ones that came before. Just because the subject matter is similar, doesn’t make it derivative. Besides, the story here goes to a place that the others didn’t tread – and I’m not talking about the filming location of Cape Town, South Africa.

I, for one, am excited about the quality of this production, and its decided lack of shaky-cam. Just because people can record shaky stuff on their phones these days doesn’t mean that it’s a good idea to subject an audience to an entire movie of it – really. I digress.


I want to give serious props to the art department and visual effects team for Friend Request. The animations shown in this movie were trippy, darkly beautiful, and amazed me. Other imagery caused me to be unendingly grateful I hadn’t eaten before – or while – watching this.

All told, this is a solid horror thriller to pick for a late night get together with friends – or even alone. Watch it in the dark and see how many times you jump. 

Languages
Speech Available: English
Subtitles Available: English [CC]

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 14%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 29%
Metascore – 31%
Metacritic User Score – 4.3/10
IMDB Score – 5.3/10

Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 3.5/5

P.S. There are some animations tied to the movie shown through the credits.

Movie Trailer:

Monday, April 30, 2018

Top 20 Movies to Look Out For In May (2018)

According to Cat


20 - Tremors: A Cold Day in Hell (5/1)


Tag Line: N/A
Production Companies: Universal 1440 Entertainment
Director: Don Michael Paul
Writer: John Whelpley
Actors: Michael Gross, Jamie Kennedy, Tanya van Graan, Jamie-Lee Money, Jay Antsey, Jenna Upton, Christie Peruso, Kiroshan Naidoo
Genre: Action, Horror, Sci-Fi
Rated: PG-13
Length: 98 minutes

IMDb Blurb: The sequel finds Burt Gummer and his son Travis at a remote research station, where they must go up against Graboids that have been converted into living weapons.

The camp-factor of this series is likely not everyone’s up of tea. Even so, I can’t help but be drawn back in every time a new movie featuring the ever-evolving graboids is released. They’re usually a lot of fun! I’m interested in seeing the dynamic between characters Burt Gummer and his long-lost-recently-found son, Travis. That dynamic was one of the better parts of the last franchise installment. We’ve seen the graboids go global before – I can only wonder what twists the ice versions will bring! 

19 - Black Water (5/28)


Tag Line: Some secrets never surface
Production Companies: Taylor & Dodge, Dawn's Light, Rodin Entertainment
Director: Pasha Patriki
Writers: Chad Law, Tyler W. Konney, Richard Switzer
Actors: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Dolph Lundgren, Patrick Kilpatrick, Kristopher Van Varenberg, Al Sapienza, John Posey, Jasmine Waltz, Aaron O'Connell
Genre: Action, Thriller
Rated: R
Length: 105 minutes

IMDb Blurb: A deep cover operative awakens to find himself imprisoned in a CIA black site on a submarine.

This movie seems to be firing on all its retro-action-movie cylinders.

Not only does it star a pair of actors whose names are synonymous with the genre -- Jean-Claude Van Damme (Until Death, Assassination Games, Kickboxer: Retaliation) and Dolph Lundgren (War Pigs, Welcome to Willits, Arrow) – it seems that for all intents and purposes, it’s a legit action thriller. A lot of the projects that JCVD and Lundgren have been involved in during this stage of their careers have been treading the line of poking fun at themselves or their reputations from work at the beginning of their caeeers. The trailer showed that there can be a smidge of that levity woven in, but it really doesn’t give the impression of being a spoof at all.

Also interesting to note, JCVD’s son Kris van Damme (Dragon Eyes, 6 Bullets, Kill'em All) is also in this movie. He got started early, following in his father’s footsteps. His two earliest credited roles were playing a younger version of his father’s character, in fact. Since then, he’s had many characters of his own; but the pair have definitely made this a bit of a family business through consistently sharing the screen in quite a few films…but I digress.

Aside from the films that will predictably be leading the box office this month, there’s a lot of strange and crazy stuff out there, and quite a bit of the rest is rather dark. If you’re looking for something that’s grounded in fight scenes and bullets – but without a lot of gore – this might be your movie! 

18 - Life of the Party (5/11)


Tag Line: Old School Meets New Life
Production Companies: New Line Cinema, Gary Sanchez Productions, On the Day, Warner Bros.
Director: Ben Falcone
Writers: Ben Falcone, Melissa McCarthy
Actors: Melissa McCarthy, Gillian Jacobs, Debby Ryan, Maya Rudolph, Julie Bowen, Matt Walsh, Molly Gordon, Stephen Root, Jacki Weaver, Adria Arjona, Heidi Gardner, Chris Parnell, Luke Benward, Christina Aguilera, Jimmy O. Yang, Sarah Baker
Genre: Comedy
Rated: PG-13
Length: 105 minutes

IMDb Blurb: After her husband abruptly asks for a divorce, a middle-aged mother returns to college in order to complete her degree.

My first thought when I saw this trailer was that it seemed like a more modern spin on Back to School (1986) – of course, minus the late Rodney Dangerfield (Caddyshack, Ladybugs, Little Nicky) and from a female perspective. The plot’s significantly different from that 80s comedy romp, however.

Melissa McCarthy (Gilmore Girls, Identity Thief, Ghostbusters) is one of my favorite comedienne’s and always makes me laugh. There’s probably going to be a heartfelt message beneath the cringing and hilarity  - but even if it’s all fluff, the film should be entertaining and relatable to a wide age range. 

17 - Revenge (5/11)


Tag Line: A film by Coralie Fargeat
Production Companies: M.E.S. Productions, Monkey Pack Films, Charades, Logical Pictures, Nexus Factory, Umedia, uFund, Canal+, Ciné+, Cinémage 12, Le Tax Shelter du Gouvernement Fédéral de Belgique, Investisseurs Tax Shelter
Director: Coralie Fargeat
Writer: Coralie Fargeat
Actors: Matilda Anna Ingrid Lutz, Kevin Janssens, Guillaume Bouchède, Vincent Colombe
Genre: Action, Thriller
Rated: R
Length:  108 minutes

IMDb Blurb: Never take your mistress on an annual guys' getaway, especially one devoted to hunting - a violent lesson for three wealthy married men.

I am seriously excited about the number of movies coming out this month that let us bask in the glow of girl-power. This is one of those.

It looks like a trio of misogynists may just get some very bloody karmic payback. Literally. I read that they used so much fake blood for the effects in this movie that they ran out at one point.

Aside from that, while I expect that there might need to be a few stretches to suspend disbelief in a few places – I would love for this film to prove me wrong. I intend to watch it and find out! 

16 - Beast (5/11)


Tag Line: Be careful what you unleash.
Production Companies: Agile Films, British Film Institute, BFI Film Fund, Film4, Stray Bear Productions
Director: Michael Pearce
Writer: Michael Pearce
Actors: Jessie Buckley, Geraldine James, Johnny Flynn, Charley Palmer Rothwell, Hattie Gotobed, Shannon Tarbet, Emily Taaffe, Olwen Fouere
Genre: Thriller, Horror, Romance, Drama
Rated: R
Length: 107 minutes

IMDb Blurb: A troubled woman living in an isolated community finds herself pulled between the control of her oppressive family and the allure of a secretive outsider suspected of a series of brutal murders.

I loved the trailer for this movie – from the quirky and isolated redhead to the scruffy and enigmatic guy she stands in crashing waves with. That looked both terrifying and like a lot of fun at the same time. In any case, after watching all that I am dying to know who the murderer is and how the reclusive blonde fits in to the story. It’s a tale of romance laced with danger! 

15 - The Boxcar Children: Surprise Island (5/8)


Tag Line: Small island. Big adventure!
Production Company: Shout! Factory
Directors: Anna Chi, Daniel Chuba, Mark A.Z. DippĂ©      
Writer: Daniel Chuba
Actors: Dane DeHaan, Joey King, J.K. Simmons, Martin Sheen, Talitha Eliana Bateman, Gil Birmingham, Griffin Gluck, Stephen Stanton, Carter Sand, Davis Pak
Genre: Animation, Family
Rated: NR
Length:  80 minutes

IMDb Blurb:  The continuing adventures of Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny as they spend the summer on their grandfather's private island.

The Boxcar Children is a story that has long been near and dear to my heart. This movie spins a tale that takes place in one of the later books in the series. If you haven’t seen the first animated feature or haven’t read the book, you might want to do so before going to watch this one. I’m not sure how much exposition will take place to fill in the blanks of what has come before.

This is a great film for families – the books are timeless, award-winning, and the originals were written by a first grade teacher. Surprise Island is a one-day event, however, so if you want to see it on the big screen, check your local listings for availability. If you miss it, though, don’t fret. It’s available on blu-ray. 

14 - Measure of a Man (5/11)


Tag Line: Sometimes we have to fall down to grow up.
Production Companies: Taylor Lane Productions, Weedon Media
Director: Jim Loach
Writers: David Scearce, Robert Lipsyte
Actors: Blake Cooper, Donald Sutherland, Judy Greer, Luke Wilson, Luke Benward, Beau Knapp, Liana Liberato, Danielle Rose Russell, Sam Keely
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Rated: PG-13
Length:  100 minutes

IMDb Blurb: A bullied teen experiences a turning point summer in which he learns to stand up for himself.

The trailer claims that this movie continues ‘in the tradition of Stand by Me (1986), Wonder (2017), and Dirty Dancing (1987).’ I can see that. They’re all about a protagonist who feels uncomfortable in their own skin, has to deal with bullies, and somehow find it in themselves to grow into their own.

What the trailer shows us of this film is definitely selling us a movie that follows that recipe. It looks endearing and clever, and I’m planning on encouraging my daughter to watch it.

Bonus? Donald Sutherland (The Mechanic, Horrible Bosses, The Leisure Seeker) is in it. Seeing him embody a role is always a joy – hell, I get giddy hearing his voice in orange juice commercials. I've probably said that before, but it bears repeating! 

13 - The Cleanse (5/4)


Tag Line: We all have our demons.
Production Companies: Alcide Bava Pictures, Bron Studios, Gilbert Films, XYZ Films
Director: Bobby Miller
Writer:  Bobby Miller
Actors: Johnny Galecki, Anna Friel, Kyle Gallner, Anjelica Huston, Oliver Platt, Diana Bang, Kevin J. O'Connor, Loretta Walsh, Steve Blum
Genre: Comedy, Horror
Rated: R
Length:  81 minutes

IMDb Blurb: A heartbroken man attends a spiritual retreat to cleanse himself and fix his broken life. There he meets a fellow lost soul, and together they discover that "the cleanse" releases more than everyday toxins...a lot more.

This movie seems like it will be hilarious – even if a bit cringeworthy at times (you know, considering the ‘monster’ shown in the trailer was thrown up…or something). I’m highly curious to see where the line between horror and comedy is drawn. 

The film has been on the festival circuit since 2016, so it's about time it hit the big screen!

12 - The Son of Bigfoot (5/1)


Tag Line: Discover a New Force of Nature
Directors: Jeremy Degruson, Ben Stassen
Writers: Bob Barlen, Cal Brunker
Actors: Pappy Faulkner, Christopher L. Parson, Cinda Adams, Joey Camen, David Epstein, Joe Thomas, Sandy Fox, Jeff Doucette
Genre: Animation, Comedy, Family
Rated: PG
Length: 92 minutes

IMDb Blurb: A teenage boy journeys to find his missing father only to discover that he's actually Bigfoot.

Selina and I were both feeling some serious dejavu about this title. It really had seemed it had already been released – but that was likely due to the fact that it’s been everywhere around the world BUT here in the US in 2018 and is finally getting its big screen release Stateside.

This one seems like a solid offering to kick the month off with something for most ages. (I guess Bigfoot might be scary for babies and really little kids maybe? But it’s a cartoon, at least!)  With all the crazy hitting theaters this month, it’s good to know there are some more innocuous options out there. It looks pretty cute, if the trailer is an indication, and it has a good ‘embrace who you are’ message. 

11 - How to Talk to Girls at Parties (5/18)


Tag Line: Talk to the Girl. Save the World.
Production Companies: See-Saw Films, Little Punk
Director: John Cameron Mitchell
Writers: Philippa Goslett, John Cameron Mitchell, Neil Gaiman
Actors: Elle Fanning, Alex Sharp, Nicole Kidman, Ruth Wilson, Matt Lucas, Lara Peake, Eloise Smyth, Ethan Lawrence, Elarica Johnson, Tom Brooke, Stephen Campbell Moore, Joey Ansah, Alice Sanders, Ross Tomlinson
Genre: Comedy, Music, Romance
Rated: R
Length:  102 minutes

IMDb Blurb: An alien touring the galaxy breaks away from her group and meets two young inhabitants of the most dangerous place in the universe: the London suburb of Croydon.

This movie looks absolutely insane – in the best of ways. I’ve seen it described as ‘Romeo and Juliet but with punks and aliens.’ Seems legit! But seriously, this came from the mad genius mind of Neil Gaiman (Coraline, Lucifer, American Gods), as it’s based on one of his short stories.

Gaiman’s work continuously pushes boundaries as he spins his tales, and inspires so many. Case and point, an American DJ created an entirely new genre of music for this soundtrack called ‘extraterrestrial dance music.’ That sounds just about as out-there as the premise of the movie, but then the trailer was a wild ride that left me dying to see this film.

Fans of Gaiman’s comics and graphic novels will be glad to know that there is a comic adaptation set to publish to accompany the movie. 


10 - Mary Shelley (5/25)


Tag Line: Her Greatest Love Inspired Her Darkest Creation
Production Companies: Parallel Films, Juliette Films, IFC Films, BFI Film Fund, Gidden Media, HanWay Films, Head Gear Films, Metrol Technology, Sobini Films
Director: Haifaa Al-Mansour
Writers: Emma Jensen, Haifaa Al-Mansour
Actors: Elle Fanning, Douglas Booth, Bel Powley, Tom Sturridge, Stephen Dillane, Maisie Williams, Joanne Froggatt, Ben Hardy
Genre: Biography, Drama, Romance
Rated: PG-13
Length:  120 minutes

IMDb Blurb: The love affair between poet Percy Shelley and 18 year old Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin, which resulted in Mary Shelley writing Frankenstein.

This biopic explores how Mary Shelley became inspired to write the tale of Frankenstein. It’s one of the many films coming out this month highlighting female empowerment. Writing a book such as that was unheard of for a woman in her age. Her story, while seemingly a bit salacious according to the depiction in the movie, is inspiring. 

9 - In Darkness (5/25)


Tag Line: Fear blinds the truth.
Production Companies: XYZ Films, 42
Director: Anthony Byrne
Writers: Anthony Byrne, Natalie Dormer
Actors: Natalie Dormer, Ed Skrein, Emily Ratajkowski, Jan Bijvoet, Neil Maskell, James Cosmo, Joely Richardson, Amber Anderson
Genre: Thriller
Rated: NR
Length:  111 minutes

IMDb Blurb: A blind musician hears a murder committed in the apartment upstairs from hers that sends her down a dark path into London's gritty criminal underworld.

I think I got heart palpitations from watching the trailer for this one. Natalie Dormer (Captain America: The First Avenger, The Forest, Elementary) and Anthony Byrne (Mr. Selfridge, The Last Kingdom, Ripper Street) have certainly put the thrill in thriller, here.

I’m dying to find out if Dormer’s fellow Game of Thrones (2011-) alum, Ed Skrein’s (Tiger House, Kill Your Friends, Deadpool) character is a good guy or a bad guy. The movie still that is taking place of a poster on IMDb seems to show him protecting the blind ‘witness,’ but the trailer seems to paint a different picture. I must know. It’s driving me nuts! (That, and why isn’t there a real poster, either?? I hope that doesn’t mean that the release date is in a state of flux.) 

8 - Terminal (5/11)


Tag Line: Revenge never looked so good.
Production Companies: Beagle Pug Films, Hassell Free Production, Highland Film Group, LuckyChap Entertainment, Miscellaneous Entertainment, Proton Cinema, RuYi Media, Subotica Entertainment
Director: Vaughn Stein
Writers: Vaughn Stein
Actors: Margot Robbie, Simon Pegg, Mike Myers, Max Irons, Dexter Fletcher, Matthew Lewis, Katarina Cas, Jourdan Dunn, Nick Moran
Genre: Thriller
Rated: NR
Length: 90 minutes

IMDb Blurb: TERMINAL follows two assassins with a sinister mission, a fatally ill teacher, an enigmatic janitor and a waitress with a double life. Murderous consequences unravel as their lives meet at the hands of a criminal mastermind wanting revenge.

Margot Robbie (Suicide Squad, The Legend of Tarzan, Peter Rabbit) is simply hands-down amazing at playing homicidally batty characters. I am intrigued by the trailer for this one because it left me with so many questions.

The glimpses we got of the film seem to promise that this thriller comes with a witty edge and clever banter. I love it when dark humor gets laced in to projects like this. Robbie has really found her wheelhouse here, and I definitely want to see what she does here. Chalk another one up for girl-power this month. Her character certainly seems to have the upper hand in this film. 

7 - Dark Crimes (5/11)


Tag Line: It takes a dark mind to solve a twisted crime.
Production Companies: InterTitle Films, Los Angeles Media Fund, Opus Film, RatPac Entertainment, Some Kind of Garden
Director: Alexandros Avranas
Writers: Jeremy Brock, David Grann
Actors: Jim Carrey, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Marton Csokas, Kati Outinen, Vlad Ivanov, Agata Kulesza, Robert Wieckiewicz, Piotr Glowacki
Genre: Crime Drama, Thriller
Rated: R
Length:  92 minutes

IMDb Blurb: A murder investigation of a slain business man turns to clues found in an author's book about an eerily similar crime. Based on the 2008 article "True Crimes - A postmodern murder mystery" by David Grann.

As the title suggests, this movie looks to delve into some serious darkness. It’s chilling that this may be based on a true story – if the article that sparked its origins was based in fact.

Aside from that, the primary cast members of Jim Carrey (The Incredible Burt Wonderstone, Kick-Ass 2, The Bad Batch) and Martin Csokas (The Equalizer, Loving, Voice from the Stone) won me over to this movie in a matter of seconds.

I have followed Carrey’s career from the very beginning when he appeared as a regular in sketch comedy in the 90s. He has such range that transcends his near supernatural ability with physical comedy. He’s such a chameleon. He’s almost unrecognizable here with the beard and the accent he’s donned for this role. Seeing him in the trailer left me with an eerie feeling – but not as uncomfortable as his character’s suspected criminal counterpart in this crime thriller.

Csokas can just exude this crazy malevolence on the screen, and it has given me chills more than once. His character is one you love to hate in the series Into the Badlands (2015-). He’s played ‘good guys’ too, but it’s the bad ones that haunt you.

Watching the dynamic between that pairing is absolutely worth the ticket price for the big screen. 

6 - Breaking In (5/11)


Tag Line: Payback is a Mother
Production Companies: Universal Pictures, Will Packer Productions, Practical Pictures, Breaking In Pictures
Director: James McTeigue
Writer: Ryan Engle
Actors: Gabrielle Union, Billy Burke, Richard Cabral, Ajiona Alexus, Levi Meaden, Jason George, Seth Carr, Christa Miller, Damien Leake
Genre: Thriller
Rated: PG-13
Length: 88 minutes

IMDb Blurb: A woman fights to protect her family during a home invasion.

The description for this one is so simple, and yet do you really need more exposition than that? Aside from the backdrop of the crazy fortress-like house this little family has inherited, it’s pretty self-explanatory.

You don’t mess with a mother’s kids or you find out just how much of a badass she really is – even if she didn’t realize she was to begin with. It’s the very reason you don’t mess with bear cubs. Mama bear will mess you up!

Apparently these criminals forgot that lesson, and I’m looking forward to seeing them get their comeuppance. 

5 - Anon  (5/4)


Tag Line: Off the grid. On the run.
Production Companies: K5 Film, K5 International, K5 Media Group
Director: Andrew Niccol
Writer: Andrew Niccol
Actors: Clive Owen, Amanda Seyfried, Colm Feore, Sonya Walger, Mark O'Brien, Joe Pingue, Iddo Goldberg, Sebastian Pigott, Rachel Roberts
Genre: Sci-Fi, Thriller
Rated: NR
Length:  100 minutes

IMDb Blurb: In a world without anonymity or crime, a detective meets a woman who threatens their security.

The premise behind this movie is both a little scary and intriguing. I’m also very excited that this is a Netflix Original, so I don’t have to wait to watch it! Science Fiction is my wheelhouse – my go-to when I can’t decide what I want to watch. This film looks like it has the potential to check off all the boxes for the makings of a classic in the genre.

It’s all about pushing the limits of science and technology and at the same time giving us a cautionary tale wrapped in wonder.

Sign me up for a cyberpunk murder mystery! 

4 - Solo: A Star Wars Story (5/25)


Tag Line: N/A
Production Companies: Lucasfilm, Walt Disney Pictures, Allison Shearmur Productions, Imagine Entertainment
Director: Ron Howard
Writers: Jonathan Kasdan, Lawrence Kasdan, George Lucas
Actors: Alden Ehrenreich, Woody Harrelson, Emilia Clarke, Donald "Childish Gambino" Glover, Thandie Newton, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Joonas Suotamo, Paul Bettany, Clint Howard, Jon Favreau, Warwick Davis
Genre: Adventure, Fantasy, Action, Sci-Fi
Rated: NR
Length:  135 minutes

IMDb Blurb: During an adventure into a dark criminal underworld, Han Solo meets his future copilot Chewbacca and encounters Lando Calrissian years before joining the Rebellion.

I am so torn about this movie. Don’t get me wrong – I fully intend to see it, regardless. I just wasn’t sure where my level of desire placed it in regard to some of the other movies coming out this month.

Perhaps I’m still bitter about the plot in Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015). It’s possible that I’m also still irked with some of the choices made with the screen adaptation of Beautiful Creatures (2013). (I read the books. Alas.)

What it boils down to for me in a nutshell is that Alden Ehrenreich (Stoker, Hail Caesar!, Rules Don't Apply) isn’t Harrison Ford (Ender's Game, The Age of Adeline, Blade Runner 2049). I have such love for Ford as an actor that it’s hard for me to see anyone else in his iconic role – even if time travel isn’t a proven thing and it would be impossible for him to play the role, himself. I understand that my bias isn’t helping me give this movie a fair shot – but I can’t help but shake my fist at the sky a bit.

Even so, I have grown up loving this franchise and will see (and probably enjoy) the movie anyway, in spite of myself.

Aside from the titular role of Solo, there’s still plenty for this movie to offer. We get to see some of the backstory between Solo and Lando and also how he met (and is pretty much adopted by) Chewbacca. The wookiee’s story is worth the ticket price, honestly. While I have my reservations about Han Solo’s casting, I am really liking Donald Glover (The Lazarus Effect, The Martian, Atlanta) for the Lando role.

Then we get into the other cast members that up the ante on the star-power. Emilia Clarke (Terminator Genisys, Me Before You, Game of Thrones) and Thandie Newton (The Chronicles of Riddick, Gringo, Westworld) have a powerful screen presence, and I’m curious what their parts are here in this universe. Paul Bettany (A Knight's Tale, Inkheart, Avengers: Infinity War) and Warwick Davis (Jack the Giant Slayer, Get Santa, Star Wars: The Last Jedi) are a couple more that I always enjoy watching, regardless the role. I’m really curious as to Davis’ role here – considering he’s long been a part of the Star Wars franchise dating back to his lovable ewok character, Wicket.

Ron Howard (Rush, In the Heart of the Sea, Inferno) is also at the directorial helm so, honestly, it’s got to be good right? Here’s to hoping! 

3 - Cargo (5/18)


Tag Line: He is her only hope and her greatest threat.
Production Companies: Addictive Pictures, Causeway Films, Head Gear Films, Kreo Films FZ, Metrol Technology, White Hot Productions
Directors: Ben Howling, Yolanda Ramke
Writer: Yolanda Ramke
Actors: Martin Freeman, Anthony Hayes, Susie Porter, Simone Landers, Caren Pistorius, Kris McQuade, Natasha Wanganeen, Bruce R. Carter, David Gulpilil
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Rated: NR
Length:  105 minutes

IMDb Blurb: CARGO is a post-apocalyptic thriller and an emotional story of a father trying to save his child at all costs.

Cargo is another movie I’m very glad will be coming to Netflix, and thus enabling a dose of instant gratification when it’s released.

This looks to be a gut-punch of an emotional rollercoaster through the zombie apocalypse in a way not quite explored yet. I don’t even mind that I only recognize one actor out of the whole cast - Martin Freeman (Sherlock, Ghost Stories, Black Panther). I’m hoping his participation in this project is an omen for good things, since he’s a phenomenal actor.

The plot here plays on a parent's worst fears - at least one of them. I may very well have nightmares.

2 - Future World (5/25)


Tag Line: Welcome to paradise.
Production Companies: AMBI Group, Black Sparrow Films, Dark Rabbit Productions, Premiere Picture
Directors: James Franco, Bruce Thierry Cheung
Writers: Jeremy Cheung, Jay Davis, Bruce Thierry Cheung
Actors: James Franco, Lucy Liu, Milla Jovovich, Suki Waterhouse, Jeffrey Wahlberg, Margarita Levieva, Snoop Dogg , Method Man, Destiny Austin, Scott Haze, Carmen Argenziano, Tamzin Brown, David Batchelor, Wilmer Calderon, Brandon Stewart
Genre: Adventure, Sci-Fi, Action, Thriller
Rated: R
Length:  90 minutes

IMDb Blurb: A young boy searches a future world wasteland for a rumored cure for his dying mother.

Here we have another movie that looks absolutely bananas in all the best ways. Dystopian post-apocalyptic sci-fi gone bugnuts is pretty much the impression I got from the trailer – and I can’t wait to watch it.

What sold me? The crazy look in the eyes of Milla Jovovich (Survivor, Zoolander 2, Resident Evil: The Final Chapter). The cast is stacked with other well-known actors – but I want to see her as a badass antagonist, as she appears to be in this story. I’m irked only that I have to wait through the better part of the month to do so. 

1 - Deadpool 2 (5/18)


Tag Line: Prepare for the second coming.
Production Companies: Donners' Company, Kinberg Genre, 20th Century Fox, Marvel Entertainment
Director: David Leitch
Writers: Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, Ryan Reynolds, Rob Liefeld, Fabian Nicieza
Actors: Ryan Reynolds, Josh Brolin, Morena Baccarin, Julian Dennison, Zazie Beetz, T.J. Miller, Brianna Hildebrand, Jack Kesy, Bill SkarsgĂĄrd, Terry Crews, Rob Delaney, Lewis Tan, Leslie Uggams, Karan Soni, Stefan Kapicic
Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy
Rated: NR
Length: 120 minutes

IMDb Blurb: After surviving a near fatal bovine attack, a disfigured cafeteria chef (Wade Wilson) struggles to fulfill his dream of becoming Mayberry's hottest bartender while also learning to cope with his lost sense of taste. Searching to regain his spice for life, as well as a flux capacitor, Wade must battle ninjas, the Yakuza, and a pack of sexually aggressive canines, as he journeys around the world to discover the importance of family, friendship, and flavor - finding a new taste for adventure and earning the coveted coffee mug title of World's Best Lover.

OK, I know - who let Deadpool write that blurb, right? That's the official plot summary released by Fox. Moviefone offers an actual peek at the story with their blurb: Wisecracking mercenary Deadpool joins forces with three mutants -- Bedlam, Shatterstar and Domino -- to protect a boy from the all-powerful Cable.

Is there really a need for me to explain why this movie is at the top of my list. The first Deadpool (2016) movie was such a fantastic and irreverent mix of hilarity and action that I can't wait to see what they've done with the sequel. I'm not all that worried about this tale falling prey to sequelitis, even. I hope there's more to come from our favorite wise-ass anti-hero in red and black. 

This will definitely be worth the price of admission - though, will most certainly be a hard R rating even if it hasn't officially been dubbed so at the time of this article. 


Movies to Look out For
According to: Selina

Beast .20
Life of the Party .19
Revenge .18
Measure of a Man .17
The Boxcar Children: Surprise Island .16
The Tale .15
Tremors: A Cold Day in Hell .14
 Mary Shelley .13
How to Talk to Girls at Parties .12
 In Darkness .11
The Cleanse .10
 Solo: A Star Wars Story .9
 Breaking In .8
Terminal .7
The Son of Bigfoot .6
Dark Crimes .5
Anon .4
Cargo .3
Future World .2
Deadpool 2 .1