Box office intakes were pretty minimal across the board, aside from two. Don't Breathe stole the number one slot from Suicide Squad, which held the position for a solid three weeks. Wait, what happened to Mechanic: Resurrection?! It was beat out by movies in their second and third week... Interesting. I'm not entirely sure how this coming week will pan out. There aren't any summer blockbusters, but possibly some movies worthy of Oscar nominations. Sully? The Light Between Oceans?
Apparently since Halloween is fast approaching, there's a surplus of horror movies coming out. Instead of doing another entry with a strict horror theme, I've mixed in a few others tonight!
31 — Trailer 2 (9/1/2016):
I'm not sure how I forgot about this movie when I did my horror theme a couple weeks ago, but maybe it has something to do with the fact that it features murderous clowns! Some carnies are kidnapped and have to survive a sadistic, life or death game arranged by their captors. Now, I'm guessing Rob Zombie's movies are very hit or miss with people. There's definitely a cult following. I've told myself that I would give his earlier movies a chance (The Devil's Rejects, House of 1000 Corpses). but that has yet to happen.
I cant image this movie not being abundantly violent and gory. Gory is where I may have some issues. The trailer mentions Saw, which was another movie I avoided, but finally watched and loved. Most of its violence was off screen, until later entries in the franchise, and I was already hooked. If you are a fan of Zombie's work, you are bound to really like this movie. Or at least it will be catering towards what you've come to expect from his films. Some of his alumni, Malcolm McDowell (Halloween, A Clockwork Orange), Richard Brake (Kingsman: The Secret Service, Batman Begins), and Sheri Moon Zombie (The Lords of Salem, Toolbox Murders) are involved.
I'll have to take a hard pass, until I get a feel for his earlier work!
The Light Between Oceans (9/2/2016):
Time to throw some drama into the mix. I believe I originally thought this was based on a Nicholas Sparks novel, but I was mistaken. It had that vibe. Either way, just like most of his work and movie adaptations, I'm unfamiliar with the source material. The film features the talents of Michael Fassbender (Jonah Hex, Inglorious Basterds), Alicia Vikander (Ex Machina, A Royal Affair), and Rachel Weisz (Complete Unknown, The Fountain).
The storyline is definitely emotionally charged, but I worry that the trailer gave away too much. It's hard to say. Hopefully there's still a lot more to be revealed that will allow the film to punch the audience right in the feels. I honestly don't know how I would handle a baby washing up to shore outside my residence, but I'm pretty sure I'd contact the authorities! But hey, that's just me... There's obviously going to be those moral and ethical dilemmas fought over, as we see in the trailer. The acting of the main cast looks excellent and I am positive they will deliver powerful performances.
I'm interested in the movie, but like more drama/romance, I kind of catalog it into the Redbox/Netflix department.
Yoga Hoser (9/2/2016):
Hmm... I've drifted away from Kevin Smith's latest movies/TV series (Comic Book Men, Red State). Not that I don't want to see them, it's just that they don't have that same nostalgic feel from his originals like Clerks and Mallrats. Yoga Hosers may be a mixture of both his classic and newer films. It definitely looks campy and doesn't take itself seriously. I worry a little because it stars his and Johnny Depp's (Alice in Wonderland, Edward Scissorhands) daughters, Harley Quinn Smith and Lily-Rose Depp, who both were involved with Tusk. Meaning that maybe it was just something thrown together for fun as a feature film for the both of them. Which is fine, but something I will likely skip seeing in theaters.
Regardless, it looks like the movie will be extremely offbeat, quirky, and fairly ridiculous. You can see a slew of guest appearances from the trailer, as well. And who knows, maybe it will be hilarious! A future cult classic. All I know is, I'm curious how many unique ways they kill off Bratzis! Admittedly, that alone may be worth the price of admission.
The Disappointments Room (9/9/2016):
The Disappointments Room stars Kate Beckinsale (The Aviator, Pearl Harbor) and Lucas Till (X-Men: First Class, Walk the Line) and is about a family that comes to own a new home that happens to be haunted. I know the plotline sounds really cliche, but the trailer does what I wish many did, especially with horror. It doesn't give away any major reveals, just enough teased to entice you, and they don't rely on some shitty cheap scare at the end of it — I always find those pointless in trailers and horror films are notorious for them. The trailer hints at the possibility of there being more than meets the eye, that possible there isn't actually any haunting, but rather the main character is mentally unstable.
BUT, regardless of how well I think the trailer is done, I am almost completely thrown off by the claim that the movie is based off of true events. Not saying that it isn't loosely based or inspired by claimed true events, but I just really feel Hollywood uses that reference too frequently with very little backing. Like food marked organic or natural or what the hell ever. If there's just the smidgen of a fraction of whatever the qualifications are for the label, it's slapped on.
I notice that Wentworth Miller (The Loft, Resident Evil: Afterlife) wrote the screenplay, so that makes me want to forget the "true story" label and watch it anyways! I may be a bit too excited for the return of Prison Break...
Other People (9/9/2016):
This Indy drama centers around a young man (Jesse Plemons — Black Mass, Battleship) down on his luck, who returns home to help tend to his dying mother (Molly Shannon — Hotel Transylvania, Never Been Kissed). I'm not overly familiar with either Molly Shannon or Jesse Plemons, but their performances seem great. Real and intimate. The chemistry between the cast is something that will be very important in carrying this movie, and that looks to be in good hands. I've long been a fan of Bradley Whitford (The Cabin in the Woods, The West Wing), and am positive he'll be amazing in his role.
Other People looks like it will have many fun moments, adrift a somber storyline that will bring some levity, but also deliver an emotional payoff. Especially for anyone who has ever had a loved one diagnosed with cancer. It's likely to be a heart-wrencher.
It looks really good, but I'm not sure if it is receiving a full or limited release. Either way, I'm very interested in seeing it!
Did any of the featured movies interest you? Are you a fan of Rob Zombie's music and/or films? Do clowns freak you out? Does The Light Between Oceans give you a Nicholas Sparks vibe? What would you do if you found a baby washed up on shore, similar to the movie's plot? Are you a Kevin Smith fan? What are your thoughts about Yoga Hosers? What do you think is in the room in The Disappointments Room? Do you feel the term "True Story" is overused to define movies? Have you ever known a loved one who was diagnosed with cancer? How did the experience affect you in the long run?