"We're not critics. We're professional fan-girls." --- This blog is dedicated to movies and the entertainment industry. We use random selection to bring into light the best and worst of streaming films and entertainment news.
20 – Taz: Quest
For Burger (6/6) Production/Distribution:
Warner Bros. Animation, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Director: Ryan
Kramer Writer: Bryan
Condon Actors: Steve
Blum, Hadley Gannaway, Eric Bauza, Ian James Corlett, Ely Henry Genre: Animation,
Adventure, Comedy Rated: Unrated Length: Unknown IMDb Blurb: After an outlaw abducts her father and steals her
town's food supply, a feisty adolescent bandicoot named Quinn recruits the
Tasmanian Devil to help her find the thief. Taz may be an ill-tempered rogue
with a fearsome reputation, but he and Quinn will have to work together to track
the criminal through the wilds of Tasmania and save her community. The new animation style first Taz, along with his talking
makes me twitch a little bit. Never-the-less, I love me some Tasmanian Devil. I
loved him when I was a kid and now that my Uncle lives in Tasmania I love it a
little more. Feels like a connection to him. We all have that personal TV show or movie that we will go
to see regardless of what the trailers look like. Taz: Quest for Burger
is mine. 19 – The Perfect
Find (6/23) Production/Distribution:
Confluential Films, AGC Studios, I’ll Have Another, Netflix Director: Numa
Perrier Writer: Leigh
Davenport, Tia Williams Actors: Gina Torres,
D.B. Woodside, Gabrielle Union, Aisha Hinds, La La Anthony, Tyler Antonius,
Janet Hubert, Keith Powers, Devale Ellis Genre: Comedy,
Drama, Romance Rated: Unrated Length: 1h 39min IMDb Blurb: After a high-profile firing, Jenna's fashion career
comeback hits a snag when she falls for a charming, much younger coworker - who
happens to be her boss's son. As sparks fly, Jenna must decide if she'll risk
it all on a secret romance. The Perfect Find hits me with a splash of nostalgia,
even though it’s not a remake or based on anything (that I know of). It’s the
feel of it that gives me the ‘member berries. I’m a child of the early 80s. By the time the 90s rolled
around I was watching romantic comedies, and The Perfect Find feels like
it harkens back to that age of rom-com. I think back to stuff like As Good
as it Gets (1997), not in story of course just in the feel of it. My one issue is that I think it’s going to go the way of having
the woman give up her job for the guy, which is not a trope I think should
still be making the rounds. 18 – Shooting
Stars (6/2) Production/Distribution:
Cold Front Productions, SpringHill Entertainment, Tangerine Pictures, Universal
Pictures, Peacock Director: Chris
Robinson Writer: Frank E.
Flowers, Tony Rettenmaier, Juel Taylor, LeBron James, Buzz Bissinger Actors: Dermot
Mulroney, Wood Harris, Caleb McLaughlin, LeBron James, Algee Smith, Natalie
Paul Genre: Biography,
Drama, History Rated: PG-13 Length: Unknown IMDb Blurb: A look at the young life of basketball star LeBron
James. Feature film adaptation of LeBron James and Buzz Bissinger's book 'Shooting
Stars'. I’m not a fan of basketball. Still, I support the idea of
taking an auto-biography and turning it into a full-on Drama, instead of presenting
it as a documentary. If you’ve followed the blog for any length of time, then you
know that neither of us are fans of documentaries. We both have ADHD and we
find that most documentary formats bore us so much that we can’t finish the
films. Even if we’re interested in the topic. Our brain chemistry just doesn’t
work for it. As a drama, though, it’s a lot more likely that we’re going
to learn the history of the players being featured. Even if it does stretch the
truth in a couple of places to make it more interesting to watch. I think this should be done more often. 17 – Esme, My
Love (6/2) Production/Distribution:
Silver Sound, Terror Films Director: Cory
Choy Writer: Laura
Allen, Cory Choy Actors: Audrey
Grace Marshall, Stacey Weckstein Genre: Thriller Rated: Unrated Length: 1h 45min IMDb Blurb: When Hannah notices the symptoms of a terminal and
painful illness in her aloof daughter, Esme, she decides to take her on a trip
to their abandoned family farm in a desperate attempt to connect before they
have to say goodbye. I’m not completely sure where Esme, My Love is going
to go, but I am sure there with be a lot of psychological thrills. Maybe it
will touch of Munchausen syndrome – that’s my best guess anyway. What draws me
to the flick is just how creepy the trailer is. It left just enough in the dark for me to really want to
know more. 16 – Koko: A Red
Dog Story (6/2) Production/Distribution:
Good Dog Enterprises, Screen Australia, ScreenWest, Samuel Goldwyn Films Director: Aaron
McCann, Dominic Pearce Writer: Aaron McCann,
Dominic Pearce, Nelson Woss Actors: Jason
Isaacs, Sarah Woods, Toby Truslove, Felix Williamson, Verity James, Hero,
Tucka, Dodge, Kya, Rufus, Sally Genre: Biography,
Comedy Rated: Unrated Length: 1h 18min IMDb Blurb: An ordinary dog, whose good fortune and ability to
connect with people, catapults him to fame. This dog flick seems to lean more comedy than emotional.
That in itself is weird. Most animal movies that come out from month to month are
heartfelt – even sad at the end. I don’t think that’s what we’re getting from Koko:
A Red Dog Story. Koko: A Red Dog Story looks hilarious and fun, with
just a touch of emotion. I can’t put it any higher than this, though, because I
suspect one of the dogs in the flick dies a horrific death for laughs and I
just don’t see that working for me. 15 – Past Lives
(6/2) Production/Distribution:
2AM, A24, CJ ENM Co., CJ Entertainment, Killer Films Director: Celine
Song Writer: Celine
Song Actors: Greta
Lee, Teo Yoo, John Magaro, Moon Seung-ah, Leem Seung-min Genre: Drama,
Romance Rated: PG-13 Length: 1h 46min IMDb Blurb: Nora and Hae Sung, two deeply connected childhood
friends, are wrest apart after Nora's family emigrates from South Korea. 20
years later, they are reunited for one fateful week as they confront notions of
love and destiny. Past Lives seems to be a sweet, philosophical story
of two childhood friends and who they become. Woven into that is a tale of ‘what
if’. I think everyone has that question about something, whether it be a lover,
a job, a move… some choice that had more than one option. Past Lives delves
into that. What would have happened? I’m not entirely sure where it will go, and I like that. 14 – Quicksand
(6/23) Production/Distribution:
Dawn’s Light, Elemental Stories, Sangre Films, Two Twenty Two Pictures, AMC+,
Shudder Director: Andres Beltran Writer: Matt
Pitts Actors: Allan
Hawco, Carolina Gaitan, Sebastian Eslava, Andrés Castañeda Genre: Thriller Rated: Unrated Length: Unknown
Length IMDb Blurb: Follows a married couple almost divorcing who
become trapped in quicksand while hiking through a rainforest in Colombia. They
will battle the elements of the jungle and must work together in order to
survive. Did anyone else who grew up in the 80s expect quicksand to
be more of a threat than it actually is? All our movies and shows utilized it. The
Neverending Story (1984) down-right traumatized us with it. Finally, we
have a horror movie that is based completely on it. Quicksand looks interesting and claustrophobic –
despite the fact that it takes place outside. I find that to be an intriguing effect.
I’m looking forward to seeing what they do with it. 13 – Ruby
Gillman, Teenage Kraken (6/30) Production/Distribution:
DreamWorks Animation, Universal Pictures Director: Kirk
DeMicco, Faryn Pearl Writer: Pam
Brady, Kirk DeMicco, Elliott DiGuiseppi, Brian C. Brown Actors: Toni Collette,
Jane Fonda, Ramona Young, Sam Richardson, Lana Condor, Annie Murphy, Colman
Domingo, Will Forte, Liza Koshy Genre: Animation,
Action, Adventure Rated: PG Length: 1h 30min IMDb Blurb: A shy adolescent learns that she comes from a
fabled royal family of legendary sea krakens and that her destiny lies in the
depths of the waters, which is bigger than she could have ever imagined. The feeling of Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken makes me
think back to Turning Red (2022). I suspect it will be pretty similar,
in both story and humor. The changing of the teenager into her proper Kraken
form is a lot like Mae turning into her red panda. The humor still borders on
teenage cringe, also, though most coming-of-age comedies do. It’s a little light on originality, but I do love it when
Dreamworks and Disney pit themselves against each other. We get a lot of decent
movies that way. Either Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken or Turning Red
will come out on top, and history will likely forget the other one. I’m interested in watching the contest play out. 12 – The Angry
Black Girl and Her Monster (6/9) Production/Distribution:
Crypt TV, CAA Media Finance Director: Bomani
J. Story Writer: Bomani J.
Story Actors: Chad L.
Coleman, Laya DeLeon Hayes, Denzel, Whitaker, Reilly Brooke Stith, Beth Felice,
Edem Atsu-Swanzy, Amani Summer Genre: Drama,
Fantasy, Horror Rated: Unrated Length: 1h 31min IMDb Blurb: It tells the story of teenage anti-hero, Vicaria,
who is on a desperate quest to cure death. There have been plenty of retellings of Frankenstein. It’s
been done in TV shows, books, movies, and any other media possible. But there’s
a good reason for that. The idea of convincing someone that they’re a monster is still
relevant today. As unfortunate as it is. And I think The Angry Black Girl and
Her Monster’s interpretation of that story is rooted in some of that. It
looks terrifying and on topic for today’s social climate. I’m going to be watching it as soon as I can. 11 – Peppergrass
(6/16) Production/Distribution:
BLS Productions, Barbet Films Director: Steven
Garbas, Chantelle Han Writer: Steven
Garbas, Philip Irwin Actors: Chantelle
Han, Charles Boyland, Michael Copeman, Philip Williams, Craig Porritt Genre: Thriller Rated: Unrated Length: 1h 34min IMDb Blurb: During a pandemic, a pregnant restaurateur tries to
rob a priceless truffle from a reclusive veteran. I know this movie has a lot to live up to. The last film to
come out that was anything like it was Pig (2021), and that has gotten
some insane reviews. It’s going to be difficult for fans of the Nic Cage (Renfield,
The Old Way, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent) flick to not compare
and contrast. The biggest difference is not the POV, but that Peppergrass
seems to have the slightest edge of comedic relief to it – which Pig did
not have. I’m hoping that’s enough of a difference to keep Peppergrass
from existing in its shadow. The truth of the matter is that the trailer looks great. I
expect to be scared by the film. I have high hopes.
10 – The
Boogeyman (6/2) Production/Distribution:
20th Century Studios, 21 Laps Entertainment, NeoReel, Twentieth Century Fox,
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Hulu Director: Rob
Savage Writer: Scott Beck,
Bryan Woods, Mark Heyman, Stephen King Actors: Sophie
Thatcher, Chris Messina, David Dastmalchian, Marin Ireland, Vivien Lyra Blair,
LisaGay Hamilton, Maddie Nichols, Madison Hu, Daniel Hagen, Mabel Tyler Genre: Horror,
Mystery, Thriller Rated: PG-13 Length: 1h 38min IMDb Blurb: Adaptation of Stephen King's 'The Boogeyman'. It’s important to note that this version of The Boogeyman
is a new adaptation of Stephen King’s (Firestarter, Carrie, Children of the
Corn) story. It is NOT a remake of any of the previous movie versions. That
matters because it’s likely not going to have some of the more questionable
tweaks to the story that the other flicks had. At least, that’s the hope. The trailer looks good. There was even a part that caught me
enough to make me flinch in my seat. I expect some jump scares, like the one
that got me, but I also expect there’s be a lot of psychological thrills as
well. It should be worth the watch for horror fans. 9 – The
Blackening (6/16) Production/Distribution:
Catchlight Studios, Lionsgate, MRC Film, Media Rights Capital, The Story
Company Director: Tim
Story Writer: Tracy
Oliver, Dewayne Perkins Actors: Antoinette
Robertson, Dewayne Perkins, Sinqua Walls, Grace Byers, X Mayo, Melvin Gregg,
Jermaine Fowler, Yvonne Orji, Jay Pharoah, James Preston Rogers Genre: Comedy,
Horror, Thriller Rated: R Length: 1h 36min IMDb Blurb: Seven black friends who go away for the weekend
only to find themselves trapped in a cabin with a killer who has a vendetta.
Will their street smarts and knowledge of horror movies help them stay alive?
Probably not. I’ve been seeing trailers for this film for a while, and I love
it. Meta movies really do it for me. Any flick that makes fun of
the tropes without going full parody is one that I want to see. One of my
favorite horror movies, after all, is The Cabin in the Woods (2011). The Blackening looks hilarious, without going full
stupid. More caricature than parody. I
can’t wait to see how it goes. 8 – Extraction 2
(6/9) Production/Distribution:
AGBO, Filmhaus Films, Netflix, Stillking Films, T.G.I.M Films, Wild State Director: Sam
Hargrave Writer: Joe Russo Actors: Chris
Hemsworth, Olga Kurylenko, Golshifteh Farahani, Daniel Bernhardt, Tako
Tabatadze, Tinatin Dalakishvili, Adam Bessa, Justin Howell Genre: Action,
Thriller Rated: R Length: 2h 2min IMDb Blurb: After barely surviving his grievous wounds from his
mission in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Tyler Rake is back, and his team is ready to take
on their next mission. The first Extraction (2020) was a whole lot of fun. As
good as Chris Hemsworth (Avengers: Endgame, Bad Times at the El Royale, 12
Strong) was as the main character, I attribute the success of the film to
Sam Hargrave (Avengers: Infinity War, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Atomic
Blonde). I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again: When someone in
stunts is given the reigns to direct action films they have the capacity to do
better than just about anyone. No one on set knows how to push the limits of
human capabilities better than a stunt person. And Sam Hargrave has a long and successful
stunt history. It’s because of him that we got shots in Extraction like
the one where the camera jumped off a roof with the characters. We got that because
he strapped that equipment onto his own body and did the stunt himself. Hargrave delivered intense action sequences better than the
majority of action films coming out at the same time. He didn’t ask his stunt
people to do anything he wasn’t willing to do himself, and he was on top of the
safety game. It is because of him that Hemsworth looked as cool as he did in
his part as Tyler Rake. Now we have a sequel, and I am still going to put my money
on Sam Hargrave. I don’t like Netflix right now any more than anyone else, so I
can’t put this film any higher on my list. Rest assured, if it was coming out
anywhere else, though, it would be. 7 – The Secret
Kingdom (6/9) Production/Distribution:
Hive Studios Australia, Little Monster Productions, Signature Entertainment Director: Matt Drummond Writer: Matt Drummond Actors: Alyla
Browne, Alice Parkinson, Christopher Gabardi, Sam Everingham, Darius Williams,
Beth Champion, Gabrielle Chan, Rowland Holmes Genre: Adventure,
Family Rated: PG Length: 1h 38min IMDb Blurb: Story of anxious Peter (12) and his sister Verity
(9), taken underground by a garrison of armoured pangolin. The Secret Kingdom seems like a wonderfully epic kid’s
tale. It features dragons, fantastic locations and an army of armored pangolins.
There’s a little something for every kid type. It’s even got a decent run-time
without being too long for tiny attention spans. It definitely has some lower budget qualities to it. You see
it most clearly in the trailer scenes featuring the dragon. Of course, that
could have been added to the coming attractions before they finished it up in
editing. That’s not unheard of. Either way, I don’t think the young ones the
film is geared toward will care all that much. Quite frankly, if the story is good enough, neither will I. 6 – Heroes of the
Golden Mask (6/9) Production/Distribution:
Arcana Studio, CG Bros Entertainment, Trigger Music, Fox VFX Labs, Heroes of
the Golden Mask Films Director: Sean
Patrick O’Reilly Writer: Xiaoming
Yao, John Wilson, Dennis Edwards, Jim Kammerud, Jacob Semans, Brian Smith, Richard
Lasser, Chris Wyatt, Merrill Hagan, Benjamin Townsend, Sean Patrick O'Reilly, Brandon
Violette, Jacob Fox, Patrick Rieger Actors: Ron
Perlman, Natasha Liu Bordizzo, Patton Oswalt, Christopher Plummer, Byron Mann,
Osric Chau, Kiefer O’Reilly, Sean Patrick O’Reilly, Zeus Mendoza, Kingston Chan,
King Lau Genre: Animation,
Adventure, Comedy Rated: Unrated Length: Unknown
Length IMDb Blurb: Charlie, a wise-cracking, homeless, American orphan
is magically transported to the ancient Chinese kingdom of Sanxingdui, where a
colorful team of superheroes need his help to defend the city from a brutal
conqueror. Charlie joins the heroes, and secretly schemes to steal the
priceless golden masks that grant them their powers. Heroes of the Golden Mask is beautiful and seems intense.
Not unlike a Kung Fu Panda (2008) film. Almost surprising in that way. Story-wise
it reminds me of The Forbidden Kingdom (2008) – which is a movie I
really liked. It starred both Jackie Chan (The Karate Kid, The Medallion,
Namiya) and Jet Li (Mulan, The Expendables, The Warlords) – which says
a lot. It’s not the worst comparison that could be made. I think Heroes of the Golden Mask has a lot of
potential. It could wind up being one of those flicks that kids like, but that
adults will as well. 5 – Transformers:
Rise of the Beasts (6/9) Production/Distribution:
Paramount Pictures, Skydance Media, New Republic Pictures, Di Bonaventura
Pictures, Bay Films, Entertainment One, Allspark Pictures, Hasbro Director: Steven
Caple Jr. Writer: Joby
Harold, Darnell Metayer, Josh Peters, Erich Hoeber, Jon Hoeber Actors: Michelle
Yeoh, Pete Davidson, Colman Domingo, Peter Dinklage, Cristo Fernández, Ron Perlman,
Anthony Ramos, Peter Cullen Genre: Action,
Adventure, Sci-Fi Rated: Unrated Length: 1h 57min IMDb Blurb: Plot unknown. Reportedly based on the
'Transformers' spinoff 'Beast Wars' which feature robots that transform into
robotic animals. I have a love-hate relationship with the Transformer films.
I really liked the first one, then I somewhat enjoyed the next two. After 4 and
5 I gave up all hope. Especially since one of them – for the life of me I can’t
remember which – literally copied and pasted a whole section of script from the
first flick. There was one part of the dialogue that was word-for-word the
same. As a result, I’ll admit, I haven’t even seen Bumblebee (2018). A lot of people I trust have told me that Bumblebee was
different. That the profit-over-substance hand of Michael Bay (6
Underground, Pain & Gain, Pearl Harbor) was no longer evident, even
though he was still credited as a producer. I want to believe them, and the
numbers do back them up. Transformers: Rise of the Beasts does look more like Bumblebee
than Age of Extinction (2014). As a result, I’m willing to give it
the benefit of the doubt. Besides, I really do love Anthony Ramos (In the Heights,
Hamilton, A Star is Born) as an actor. I’m cautiously optimistic. 4 – Indiana Jones
and the Dial of Destiny (6/30) Production/Distribution:
Walt Disney Pictures, Lucasfilm, Paramount Pictures, Disney+, Walt Disney
Studios Motion Pictures, Paramount+, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment Director: James
Mangold Writer: Jez
Butterworth, John-Henry Butterworth, David Koepp, James Mangold Actors: Harrison
Ford, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Mads Mikkelsen, Boyd Holbrook, Antonio Banderas,
John Rhys-Davies, Toby Jones Genre: Action,
Adventure Rated: PG-13 Length: 2h 22min IMDb Blurb: Archaeologist Indiana Jones races against time to
retrieve a legendary artifact that can change the course of history. I love the Indian Jones flicks of the past, but the newer
ones don’t really scratch the Indie itch for me. That said, I can’t say the
trailer for this one doesn’t instill enough nostalgia for me to try again. Cat is more of an Indiana Jones fanatic than I am. And that’s
why I’m giving Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny the benefit of the
doubt. I can only hope it will be everything the fans – past and present – are
hoping to get from it. 3 – Asteroid City
(6/13) Production/Distribution:
Focus Features, Indian Paintbrush, American Empirical Pictures Director: Wes
Anderson Writer: Wes
Anderson, Roman Coppola Actors: Jason
Schwartzman, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks, Jeffrey Wright, Tilda Swinton,
Bryan Cranston, Edward Norton, Adrien Brody, Lieve Schreiber, Hope Davis, Steve
park, Rupert Friends, Maya Hawke, Steve Carell, Matt Dillon, Hong Chau, Willem
Dafoe, Margot Robbie, Jake Ryan, Tony Revolori, Jeff Goldblum Genre: Comedy,
Drama, Romance Rated: PG-13 Length: 1h 44min IMDb Blurb: The itinerary of a Junior Stargazer convention is
spectacularly disrupted by world-changing events. Wes Anderson (The French Dispatch, Isle of Dogs, The
Grand Budapest Hotel) is a good enough reason to be looking forward to any
film. There’s something so satisfying about the symmetry in his cinematography.
The bright colors. The other-worldly nature of his story telling. And you know
I’m a sucker for dialogue that includes fun banter. Asteroid City seems to have all of that. On top of which
there’s a cast unlike any other we will see this month. It’s not even like
there’s just one or two people involved that draw eyes, they ALL do. If you don’t
like one of them, you probably like another 20. I understand that not all casual movie-goers enjoy Anderson.
He can be a bit too artsy and clean for them. But if you are a fan, this is
going to be a must-see. 2 – Elemental
(6/16) Production/Distribution:
Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar Animation Studios, Walt Disney Studios Motion
Pictures, Disney+ Director: Peter
Sohn Writer: John
Hoberg, Kat Likkel, Brenda Hsueh, Peter Sohn Actors: Leah
Lewis, Mamoudou Athie, Ronnie Del Carmen, Shila Ommi, Wendi McLendon-Covey,
Catherine O’Hara Genre: Animation,
Adventure, Comedy Rated: PG Length: 1h 43min IMDb Blurb: Follows Ember and Wade, in a city where fire-,
water-, land- and air-residents live together. Pixar is one of those studios that only ever puts out movies
that are worth paying attention to. You can’t even make a top 10 worst Pixar
movie list without going into films that have 60 and 70 percentiles on Rotten
Tomatoes. That makes Elemental a safe choice if you want a guaranteed good
flick to spend your $20 movie ticket on. I, personally, do not love the style of animation they opted
to go for with Elementals, but everything else in the trailer looks
amazing. I’m pretty sure I’ll get over my one ick while I’m actually watching
the film. Which I will be doing. 1 – Spider-Man:
Across the Spider-Verse (6/2) Production/Distribution:
Sony Pictures Animation, Marvel Entertainment, Arad Productions, Lord Miller,
Pascal Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE), Columbia Pictures, Disney+ Director: Joaquim
Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, Justin K. Thompson Writer: Phil Lord,
Christopher Miller, Dave Callaham, Stan Lee Actors: Shameik
Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Oscar Isaac, Jake Johnson, Issa Rae, Brian Tyree
Henry, Luna Lauren Velez, Rachel Dratch, Jason Schwartzman, Daniel Kaluuya, Andy
Samberg, Shea Whigham, Amandla Stenberg, Karan Soni, Jorma Taccone Genre: Animation,
Action, Adventure Rated: PG Length: 2h 20min IMDb Blurb: Miles Morales catapults across the Multiverse,
where he encounters a team of Spider-People charged with protecting its very
existence. When the heroes clash on how to handle a new threat, Miles must
redefine what it means to be a hero. Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse (2018) was –
objectively – one of the best non-anime animated films ever made. Anyone who
saw it loved it, or – at the very least – respected it. Everything from the animation
style to the story was absolutely perfect. Across the Spider-Verse had to contend with Covid
during its creation. That said, it has the same animation style, with returning
writer Phil Lord (Clone High, The Mitchells vs the Machines, The Lego Movie),
and a returning cast that includes people like Shameik Moore (Dope,
Samaritan, The Get Down), Hailee Steinfeld (True Grit, The Edge of
Seventeen, Pitch Perfect 3), Brian Tyree Henry (If Beale Street Could
Talk, Bullet Train, Widows), Oscar Isaac (Ex Machina, Moon Knight, Dune)
and Jake Johnson (New Girl, Safety Not Guaranteed, Jurassic World). On top of that we’re getting some all-star additions to that
cast. Those include Issa Rae (Insecure, The Lovebirds, The Photograph),
Jason Schwartzman (Rushmore, The Darjeeling Limited, Moonrise Kingdom),
Daniel Kaluuya (Get Out, Black Panther, Judas and the Black Messiah), and
Amandla Stenberg (The Hunger Games, The Hate You Give, Bodies Bodies Bodies)
– but there is a whole host of others. It is true that there are a few different writers, and
completely different directors. Never-the-less, I can’t help but look forward
to this sequel. It has big shoes to fill, but I’m thinking it’ll meet the
challenge. I can’t wait.
Movies to Look out
For
According to: Cat
Taz: Quest for Burger .20
Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story .19
20 – The Janes
(6/8) Production/Distribution:
HBO Documentary Films, Pentimento Productions Director: Tia
Lessin, Emma Pildes Genre: Documentary Rated: Unrated Length: 1h 41min IMDb Blurb: Police arrested seven women who were part of a
clandestine network. Using code names, blindfolds and safe houses, they built
an underground service for women seeking safe, affordable, illegal abortions
calling themselves JANE. I’m not one for documentaries, but I think The Janes
is exceptionally important right now. A lot of people my age, or younger, weren’t
exposed to what it was like for women when abortion was illegal. I don’t think
people realize how many women died from the kind of abortions that legality
makes obsolete. With Roe vs. Wade in jeopardy, we’re looking at a future
that mirrors the past. The Janes shows us what to expect. It’s not about
left vs. right – it’s about life vs. death. The Janes is a must-see. I only put it at #20 because
I knew that’s where it would be the most visible. Not everyone reads the whole
article, but everyone who clicks the link sees #20. If you’re going to have an
opinion on an abortion, you should know the whole story. 19 – Cryo (6/24) Production/Distribution:
Saban Films, Ten Letters Director: Barrett
Burgin Writer: Barrett
Burgin, Mason D. Davis Actors: Jyllian
Petrie, Emily Marie Palmer, Mason D. Davis, Curt Doussett, Morgan Gunter,
Michael Flynn Genre: Mystery,
Sci-Fi, Thriller Rated: PG-13 Length: 1h 58min IMDb Blurb: In an underground facility, five scientists wake
from cryosleep with no memory of who they are or how long they've been asleep.
They soon make a shocking realization: a killer is hunting them down there, and
may even be hiding among them. Cryo feels like a horror version of Passengers (2016).
There are some very obvious differences, but that was my first thought when
watching the trailer. Mixing that kind of flick with a slasher vibe is interesting
to me. I will admit that I’m not overly sure how well it will work. It is,
however, written and directed by new voices – and the trailer does intrigue me.
So, I think it’s worth trying. 18 – Dashcam (6/3) Production/Distribution:
Blumhouse Productions, Shadowhouse Films, Momentum Pictures, Laterna, M C Twist Director: Rob Savage Writer: Gemma
Hurley, Rob Savage, Jed Shepherd Actors: Annie
Hardy, Amar Chadha-Patel, Angela Enahoro, Seylan Baxter Genre: Horror Rated: R Length: 1h 17min IMDb Blurb: Two friends on a horror-fueled road trip and
livestream the most terrifying night of their lives. Ok, Dashcam looks completely basic and, based on the
trailer alone, it likely wouldn’t have made the list. So why is it here? Rob Savage (Strings, Britannia, Soulmates) is why. Way back in the beginning of the pandemic we saw Host (2020).
It looked like it wasn’t going to be much of anything. I thought it was going
to be this low-budget shaky-cam nonsense. It was new, though, and we weren’t
going to be seeing much new for a while, so I put it on our schedule. What we got was something that felt almost revolutionary.
With the cast and crew all safely separated, Rob Savage had given us a horror
movie that was effective, well-edited, and fast-paced. He took something that
could have been super basic and shaped it into one of the best horror movies of
that year. (I feel it’s important to note that I feel it could have stood up to
the horror movies that came out on a busier movie release year as well.) I said that day that I wanted to watch him. I wanted to see
more from him. Here we have another basic-looking film… with his name
attached. I am not going to judge it on its trailer. I want to see what he does
with it. He’s taken a lump of coal and offered a diamond back before. I’m ready for it. 17 – The
Righteous (6/10) Production/Distribution:
Panoramic Pictures, Arrow, Arrow Video, Vortex Media Director: Mark O’Brien Writer: Mark O’Brien Actors: Henry
Czerny, Mimi Kuzyk, Mark O’Brien, Mayko Nguyen, Kate Corbett, Nigel Bennett Genre: Drama,
Horror, Mystery Rated: Unrated Length: 1h 37min IMDb Blurb: A burdened man feels the wrath of a vengeful God
after he and his wife are visited by a mysterious stranger. Taking The Righteous on story only, it might seem a
bit basic. I’m not judging it on the plot, though. It’s the visuals that make
me feel like The Righteous has a place on this list. I think doing a religious horror like this in black and
white is a stroke of genius. It adds a striking contrast to a story that is
very much about good vs. evil – and paying for one’s own evil. I’m also interested in what Mark O’Brien (Ready or Not, Arrival,
Perry Mason) can do as a writer/director. I’m familiar with him as an
actor, and I’m excited to see his career evolve. 16 – The Lost
Girls (6/17) Production/Distribution:
Ingenious Media, Lipsync Productions, Pelgo Films, Altitude Film Entertainment,
Vertical Entertainment, Lifetime Television, Photon Films and Media, Vertical
Entertainment Director: Livia
De Paolis Writer: Laurie
Fox, Livia De Paolis Actors: Vanessa
Redgrave, Joely Richardson, Iain Glen, Louis Partridge Genre: Drama,
Fantasy Rated: Unrated Length: 1h 40min IMDb Blurb: Like her grandmother and her mother Jane before
her, Wendy must escape Pan's hold on her and the promise he wants her to keep. This trailer is not at all what I expected from a Lifetime film.
That worries me a bit, as it could mean that the movie is being misrepresented.
It could, however, also mean that Lifetime is branching out. Only the flick
itself will be able to tell us. That said, The Lost Girls is an interesting take on
the Peter Pan story. Instead of viewing Pan through the eyes of a fantasizing
child, we see how the grown Wendy might see her promise to never grow up as
more of a prison. It looks to show us the desire to move on while being held
back by a childhood story. I think Hook (1991)touched on that a little bit, but
it still kept its inner child alive and well. In The Lost Girls I think
we’re going to see more of a shrugging off of childish things in order to move
into a new stage of life. I’m interested in seeing what adventure this fantasy is
going to take us on. 15 – Press Play
(6/16) Production/Distribution:
CJ Entertainment, Splendid Film, The Avenue Entertainment Director: Greg
Björkman Writer: Greg
Björkman, James Bachelor Actors: Lewis
Pullman, Danny Glover, Clara Rugaard Genre: Music Rated: PG-13 Length: 1h 25min IMDb Blurb: A young woman has a chance to save the love of her
life, when she discovers that the mix-tape they made together can transport her
back in time. Time travel is a concept that is getting a bit old for me.
There’s been a whole lot of it in movies throughout the past few years, but this
is a special case. Especially this month. I think everyone eventually loses someone that they wish
they could go back and talk to just one more time. I know that I have. And if I
could get to them through a song we shared and stop the tragic event from occurring,
I would do it in a heartbeat. Even if I couldn’t change it, just to see them
one more time would be something. Maybe my pick is colored by recent events, as my husband
lost his brother in May, but I think any of us who’ve lost someone will be able
to relate to Press Play. It’s not going to be an easy watch, though. There will be an
undoubtedly high amount of heartbreak. 14 – Cha Cha Real
Smooth (6/17) Production/Distribution:
Picturestart, Endeavor Content, TeaTime Pictures, Apple TV+ Director: Cooper
Raiff Writer: Cooper
Raiff Actors: Cooper
Raiff, Dakota Johnson, Evan Assante, Vanessa Burghardt, Leslie Mann, Brad
Garrett, Raúl Castillo Genre: Comedy,
Drama Rated: R Length: 1h 47min IMDb Blurb: A young man who works as a Bar Mitzvah party host
strikes up a friendship with a mother and her autistic daughter. The trailer for Cha Cha Real Smooth makes it seem
more like a dramatic romance than a traditional dramedy. That said, it has a
lot going for it as a coming-of-age style story. All of us have had that moment where we need to decide who, or
what, we want to be. This kind of story touches on that, but most of them
target a younger demographic. Here we have a person starting their adult life
for us to relate to. It’s a nice change. I enjoy Dakota Johnson (Wounds, Our Friend, Am I OK?)
as an actor in most cases and Leslie Mann (The Other Woman, Motherless
Brooklyn, This is 40) is an absolute treasure. I’m not familiar with Cooper
Raiff (Shithouse, Madeline & Cooper, I Would Have Kissed You), but
he gives off some David Tennant (Good Omens, Final Space, DuckTales)
vibes, so I’m more than willing to give him a chance. Cha Cha Real Smooth might not be my first choice for
a theater trip, but I wouldn’t turn down going to see it with a friend. 13 – Good Luck to
You, Leo Grande (6/17) Production/Distribution:
Genesius Pictures, Align, Cornerstone Films, Searchlight Pictures, MK2 Mile End,
Lionsgate, Wild Bunch Germany, Arna Media, Ascot Elite Entertainment Group, Front
Row Filmed Entertainment, Hulu, Wild Bunch Director: Sophie
Hyde Writer: Katy
Brand Actors: Emma Thompson,
Daryl McCormack Genre: Comedy,
Drama Rated: R Length: 1h 37min IMDb Blurb: Follows Nancy Stokes, a 55 year-old widow who is
yearning for some adventure, human connection and some sex, good sex. Something about this trailer was just exceptionally charming.
It’s a story about finding oneself that includes a celebration of female
sexuality. Emma Thompson’s (Dolittle, Cruella, How to Build a Girl)
character feels relatable, or at least accessible. While Daryl McCormack’s (Peaky
Blinders, Pixie, How to Fake a War) title character gives off an air of
calm. In a movie like Good Luck to You, Leo Grande the actors are what make
it. And the chemistry between Thompson and McCormack gives me a lot of hope
toward the final product. When it’s just the two of them on screen for an hour and a
half, any small cracks will seem HUGE. But, in this case, I really believe it
will work. 12 – Hustle (6/8) Production/Distribution:
Happy Madison Productions, Kirschenbaum Productions, Roth Films, Roth/Kirschenbaum
Films, SpringHill Entertainment, Netflix Director: Jeremiah
Zagar Writer: Will
Fetters, Taylor Materne Actors: Adam
Sandler, Ben Foster, Robert Duvall, Queen Latifah, Jaleel White, Juancho
Hernangomez Genre: Comedy,
Drama, Sport Rated: R Length: 1h 57min IMDb Blurb: A washed-up basketball scout discovers a phenomenal
street ball player while in Spain and sees the prospect as his opportunity to
get back into the NBA. I’m the first to admit that Adam Sandler’s (Punch-Drunk
Love, The Wedding Singer, Funny People) more recent films have been crap. Most
of them, anyway. You know which of his newer films wouldn’t stand up to that descriptor?
Uncut Gems (2019). The fact is, as a comedian, Sandler never grew up. His style
of comedy is VERY 90s, and he has no interest in progressing with the rest of
the world. That’s simply the kind of humor he prefers, I guess. And that’s
fine. People can like whatever comedy they want to like. The problem is that
there’s very little room left for that kind of humor in our current cinematic
landscape. It’s not what audiences want anymore. As a dramatic actor, however, Adam Sandler is so much better
than people give him credit for. They get stuck on the comedy and expect the
worst. If you look at his history in the drama genre, though, there’s very
little that gives cause to doubt him. Hustle does have a tinge of comedy, but it is first,
and foremost, a drama. I think that means we can expect great things from
Sandler here. The trailer looks interesting and reminds me a bit of the kind
of dramedy we might see Robin Williams (Mrs. Doubtfire, One Hour Photo, Good
Will Hunting) star in if he was alive today. 11 – Interceptor
(6/3) Production/Distribution:
Ambience Entertainment, Foryor Entertainment, Netflix Director: Matthew
Reilly Writer: Stuart
Beattie, Matthew Reilly Actors: Elsa
Pataky, Luke Bracey, Aaron Glenane, Mayen Mehta, Paul Caesar, Belinda Jombwe,
Marcus Johnson Genre: Action,
Adventure, Drama Rated: Unrated Length: 1h 36min IMDb Blurb: One Army captain must use her years of tactical
training and military expertise when a simultaneous coordinated attack
threatens the remote missile interceptor station she is in command of. There are parts of this film that look a bit basic. I’ll
admit to that. Still, it seems like a perfectly solid claustrophobic action
flick. I expect some explosions and bad ass fight scenes. Will it be a thinker? No. Still, if your past month has been
as bad as mine? A turn-your-brain-off shoot-‘em-up is probably going to hit the
spot. I’m currently stuck at home with Covid, so this seems like a
fun little gift from Netflix to me.
10 – Elvis (6/24) Production/Distribution:
Warner Bros., Bazmark Films, Roadshow Entertainment, The Jackal Group, Whalerock
Industries, HKC Entertainment, Warner Bros. Pictures Germany, Warner Bros.
Pictures, Warner Bros. Singapore Director: Baz
Luhrmann Writer: Baz
Luhrmann, Sam Bromell, Craig Pearce Jeremy Doner Actors: Austin
Butler, Dacre Montgomery, Olivia DeJonge, Tom Hanks Genre: Biography,
Drama, Music Rated: PG-13 Length: 2h 39min IMDb Blurb: A look at the life of the legendary rock and roll
star, Elvis Presley. Whether or not you love Elvis, it’s impossible to overlook
his influence. In the context of films, that means Hollywood has covered just
about every aspect of his life. There’ve been biographies, cameos, alternate histories…
it’s difficult to find something about his life that movies have not covered.
Real or imagined. Elvis does actually take a different perspective,
though. It seems to focus more on his manager, Colonel Tom Parker – played by
Tom Hanks (Toy Story, The Post, Sully), and the state of the world as Elvis
rose to fame. I think that gives the film a bit of an interesting edge. It’ll still be most appealing to fans of the man himself,
but the trailer looks good. 9 – Jerry and
Marge Go Large (6/17) Production/Distribution:
Landline Pictures, Levantine Films, Media Rights Capital (MRC), Paramount+, Paramount
Pictures Director: David
Frankel Writer: Brad
Copeland Actors: Bryan
Cranston, Annette Bening, Michael McKean, Anna Camp, Rainn Wilson, Jake
McDorman Genre: Biography,
Comedy, Drama Rated: PG-13 Length: Unknown IMDb Blurb: Based on true story about couple Jerry and Marge
Selbee, who won lottery and uses the money to revive their small town. Bryan Cranston (Your Honor, Breaking Bad, The One and
Only Ivan) is enough of a reason to want to see just about anything. In
this case, he’s mixed with a cute, and amusing, plot. I can see this flick going a heartwarming route. The
conflict aspect does suggest that there’ll be some infuriating moments, but I
believe it will all amount to something that makes us smile. Which, I know I
definitely need right now. 8 – Marcel the
Shell with Shoes On (6/24) Production/Distribution:
Cinereach, Chiodo Brothers Productions, A24, Elevation Pictures Director: Dean
Fleischer-Camp Writer: Dean
Fleischer-Camp, Elisabeth Holm, Nick Paley, Jenny Slate Actors: Jenny
Slate, Dean Fleischer-Camp, Isabella Rossellini, Joe Gabler, Lesley Stahl, Thomas
Mann, Rosa Salazar Genre: Comedy Rated: PG Length: 1h 29min IMDb Blurb: Feature adaptation of the animated short film
interviewing a mollusk named Marcel. Although I don’t tend to enjoy documentaries, mockumentaries
are a different story. Most of the time, they tend to be hilarious. In this
case, I see some of that, and a whole lot of adorable. That said, I also think
it offers a perspective that many people don’t consider on a day-to-day basis. Marcel the Shell with Shoes on follows a mollusk as
it travels the world looking for its family. It shows how significant they are
in their own story and, yet, how small they are in the world. I have a lot of faith in this picture – and I think it will
be deeper than one might expect. 7 – Lightyear
(6/17) Production/Distribution:
Pixar Animation Studios, Pixar, Walt Disney Pictures, Walt Disney Studios
Motion Pictures, Forum Hungary, HKC Entertainment, Walt Disney Studios Motion
Pictures Argentina, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Germany Director: Angus
MacLane Writer: Jason
Headley, Angus MacLane, John Lasseter, Pete Docter, Andrew Stanton, Joe Ranft Actors: Chris
Evans, Keke Palmer, Dale Soules, Taika Waititi, Peter Sohn, Uzo Aduba, James
Brolin, Mary McDonald-Lewis, Efren Ramirez, Isiah Whitlock Jr. Genre: Animation,
Action, Adventure Rated: PG Length: 1h 40min IMDb Blurb: The story of Buzz Lightyear and his adventures to
infinity and beyond. I think everyone was little nervous when Lightyear was
announced. Someone other than Tim Allen (Home Improvement, Galaxy Quest, The
Santa Claus) voicing Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story (1995)? We all
thought the production studio was collectively high. Luckily, there’s a reason for that. Chris Evans (Knives Out,
Free Guy, The Red Sea Diving Resort) isn’t voicing the toy from the movie;
he’s voicing the real person from the flick the toy was based on – which makes
it a whole lot more acceptable. Lightyear is a cute idea that gives more depth to the
Toy Story universe, without giving us another sequel. Instead, we get to
see a film that exists in that world. A little meta, but pretty cool. I enjoy the idea of this project, and I’m hoping it lives up
to expectations. 6 – Spiderhead
(6/17) Production/Distribution:
Conde Nast Entertainment, Grand Electric, Reese Wernick Productions, Screen
Arcade, The New Yorker, The Rebel Fleet, Netflix Director: Joseph
Kosinski Writer: Rhett
Reese, Paul Wernick, George Saunders Actors: Miles
Teller, Chris Hemsworth, Charles Parnell, Jurnee Smollett Genre: Action,
Crime, Drama Rated: R Length: 1h 46min IMDb Blurb: In the near future, convicts are offered the chance
to volunteer as medical subjects to shorten their sentence. One such subject
for a new drug capable of generating feelings of love begins questioning the
reality of his emotions. This movie looks amazing. There’s an originality to it that I
don’t get from a lot of trailers that we see from month to month. I’m usually
able to pick out a previous film that the coming attraction reminds me of. I can’t
do that here. Since it’s an adaptation with a new feel, it’s not easy to
make predictions about the quality. Especially since Netflix originals can go
either way. There is some reliable talent involved in it, though, that leads me
to believe that there’s a chance it will go very right. The obvious talent would be the faces involved. Chris
Hemsworth (Extraction, Thor: Ragnarok, Blackhat), Miles Teller (Whiplash,
Allegiant, War Dogs), Charles Parnell (Top Gun: Maverick, A Million
Little Pieces, The Venture Bros.), and Jurnee Smollett (Underground,
True Blood, Birds of Prey) have all proven their abilities in various
projects. I’m not overly familiar with the director, but the writers are
another story. Rhett Reese (Deadpool, Zombieland, Deadpool 2) and Paul
Wernick (Deadpool, Zombieland, Deadpool 2) are known for their action/adventure
films that boast a comedic thread. Following them to a film like Spiderhead
is a given. This one is absolutely going to be worth checking out. 5 – Gatlopp (6/16) Production/Distribution:
Tea Shop Productions, American Pantheon, Particular Crowd, Signature Films, The
Knights Young Productions, XYZ Films, Signature Entertainment Director: Alberto
Belli Writer: Jim
Mahoney Actors: Jim
Mahoney, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Jon Bass, Sarunas J. Jackson, Shelley Hennig, John
Ales, Amy Davidson Genre: Comedy,
Horror Rated: Unrated Length: 1h 20min IMDb Blurb: A group of old friends reunites for a nostalgic
evening of fun and games after a decade apart. After one too many, they decide
to play a drinking game, but it's quickly revealed that this game comes with
supernatural stakes. Mischief leads to mayhem, and the group realizes that if
they can't come together to win the game by sunrise, they will be forced to
play for eternity - in hell. A couple of years ago we watched Uncanny Annie (2019).
It was a Hulu original that basically had the feel of a low-budget horror rendition
of Jumanji (1995). The trailer for Gatlopp reminds me a bit of
that. I enjoyed Uncanny Annie for what it was, but
Gatlopp feels like it has a lot more promise than that film did. First of all, the plot has always been a bit on the
ridiculous side, keeping it a single-genre horror called for a great deal of suspending
disbelief. Adding the comedy genre to the mix allows the absurdity to just be. Besides,
horror-comedy has always been a favorite of mine. Add to that the writer. Jim Mahoney (The Main Event, 8
Steps to Buying, Hey Babe…) doesn’t have a whole lot of full-length feature
films to his name, but what he does have is Klaus (2019). Klaus was a holiday flick put out by Netflix and it
was absolutely phenomenal. I am dying to see how the person who wrote that
handles something for an older crowd – especially with horror elements. The trailer also looks amazing. There’s a certain realistic
tone to the conversations between the characters that I think a lot of horrors
lack. A realistic response to unbelievable occurrences is often missing. I
always appreciate that, and it makes me look forward to seeing how they react
to the rest of the events. I’m super excited for this. 4 – Jurassic
World Dominion (6/10) Production/Distribution:
Amblin Entertainment, Latina Pictures, Perfect World Pictures, Universal
Pictures, B&H Film Distribution, United International Pictures (UIP),
Universal Pictures Argentina, Universal Pictures International (UPI), Starz! Director: Colin
Trevorrow Writer: Emily
Carmichael, Derek Connolly, Michael Crichton Actors: Chris
Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Laura Dern, Sam Neill, Jeff Goldblum, Mamoudou
Athie, BD Wong Genre: Action,
Adventure, Sci-Fi Rated: PG-13 Length: 2h 26min IMDb Blurb: Four years after the destruction of Isla Nublar,
dinosaurs now live--and hunt--alongside humans all over the world. This fragile
balance will reshape the future and determine, once and for all, whether human
beings are to remain the apex predators on a planet they now share with
history's most fearsome creatures in a new Era. The Jurassic series is my ultimate guilty pleasure. The first Jurassic Park (1993) is, of course, a
classic… but I even like the bad ones. Yes, even the dinosaur dream one. I can
watch them all back-to-back without stopping. They could put out 87 films in
the series, and each one would still wind up on my list. I get that not everyone has the same love of dinosaurs, but it’s
hard to argue with the trailer for Jurassic World Dominion. It looks
pretty damn good. x Plus, Laura Dern (F is for Family, Little Women, Marriage
Story), Sam Neill (Rams, Blackbird, Peter Rabbit), and Jeff Goldblum
(The Fly, Dark Dice, Isle of Dogs) are returning. That says good things. 3 – Crimes of the
Future (6/2) Production/Distribution:
Argonauts, Bell Media, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), Coficiné,
Ekome, Ingenious Media, Serendipity Point Films, The Harold Greenberg Fund,
Téléfilm Canada, Wiffle Films, MK2 Mile End, Metropolitan Filmexport, Neon,
Capella Films, Front Row Filmed Entertainment, Movie Cloud, Rocket Science, The
Searchers, Weltkino Filmverleih Director: David
Cronenberg Writer: David
Cronenberg Actors: Viggo
Mortensen, Léa Seydoux, Kristen Stewart, Don McKellar, Scott Speedman Genre: Drama,
Horror, Sci-Fi Rated: R Length: 1h 47min IMDb Blurb: Humans adapt to a synthetic environment, with new
transformations and mutations. With his partner Caprice, Saul Tenser, celebrity
performance artist, publicly showcases the metamorphosis of his organs in
avant-garde performances. Body horror is not for everyone. That is the very first
thing I need to acknowledge. That said, for those of us that do enjoy a good
body horror film, David Cronenberg (The Fly, Dead Ringers, Rabid) is a
legend. And, as his first movie in 8 years, Crimes of the Future is an
absolute must-see. The trailer is giving off everything one would expect from a
Cronenberg project. It’s gross and horrendous – and it is clearly only the tip
of a very bone and skin-twisting story. I highly recommend that you not watch this one if you can’t
stomach a basic torture-horror… because this will be much, MUCH, harder to
swallow. 2 – The Black
Phone (6/24) Production/Distribution:
Universal Pictures, Blumhouse Productions, Crooked Highway, B&H Film
Distribution, United International Pictures (UIP), Universal Pictures
Argentina, Universal Pictures International (UPI) Director: Scott
Derrickson Writer: Scott
Derrickson, C. Robert Cargill, Joe Hill Actors: Ethan
Hawke, Jeremy Davies, James Ransone, Madeleine McGraw Genre: Horror Rated: R Length: 1h 42min IMDb Blurb: After being abducted by a child killer and locked
in a soundproof basement, a 13-year-old boy starts receiving calls on a
disconnected phone from the killer's previous victims. I have been waiting for The Black Phone for years.
Since the first images of Ethan Hawke (Moon Knight, Tesla, Ten Thousand Saints)
in that mask surfaced. I’m a huge fan of supernatural horrors and an even
bigger fan of things like Criminal Minds (2005-2020). This film seems
like the perfect mix of the two. It makes me giddy that this flick seems to have great reviews
from the festivals it appeared in. That news gives me so much hope that it’s
going to live up to expectations. That alone would be a feat because my expectations are HIGH. 1 – Mad God (6/16) Production/Distribution:
Tippett Studio, Shudder Director: Phil
Tippett Writer: Phil Tippett Actors: Alex Cox,
Niketa Roman, Satish Ratakonda, Harper Taylor, Brynn Taylor Genre: Animation,
Fantasy, Horror Rated: Unrated Length: 1h 23min IMDb Blurb: A corroded diving bell descends amidst a ruined
city and the Assassin emerges from it to explore a labyrinth of bizarre
landscapes inhabited by freakish denizens. As good as Mad God looks, it’s the story behind it
that made me put it as high as my number one slot for June 2022. Creator Phil Tippett (Starship Troopers, Willow,
Dragonslayer) doesn’t have a whole lot of experience in the writing or
directing credits, but what he does have is experience with visual effects.
He’s the man behind the effects in films such as Jurassic Park (1993), RoboCop
(1987), and Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983). He
brought those stories to life for us in a time when CGI couldn’t do the things
it can today. For the past 30-years, he’s been working on Mad God
as a passion project. When a person with that kind of talent takes on a passion
project that takes that long to complete, there’s no way to ignore it. He took his significant experience with visual effects and
stretched it into a full movie. There’s no audible dialogue, just a visual
feast of stop motion. I think this film will prove that there’s still more than
just a small place in our CGI Hollywood for older effects. Mad God is going to be absolutely insane.
