New releases in this weekend of April are rather weak, with only one wide release that looks like a must-see. Keep reading to know more.
Rampage
Directed by: Brad Peyton
With: Dwayne Johnson, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Naomie Harris, Joe Manganiello, and Malin Akerman
What is it about? Primatologist Davis Okoye shares an unshakable bond with George, the extraordinarily intelligent gorilla who has been in his care since birth. But a rogue genetic experiment gone awry transforms this gentle ape into a raging monster.
Heads Up: Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is back in this action Sci-Fi with a giant ape clashing with a giant flying wolf and a giant crocodile, destroying the world in the process. It looks like the ultimate pop-corn action movie, so I am psyched for it. That said, our own Lloyd Bayer isn’t as enthusiastic. In his 2/5 stars review, he wrote: “Rampage is only watchable for its action segments and a few scenes of standard quality visual effects“.
Submergence
Directed by: Wim Wenders
With: Alicia Vikander, James McAvoy, and Alexander Siddig
What is it about? In a room with no windows on the eastern coast of Africa, a Scotsman, James More, is held captive by jihadist fighters. Thousands of miles away in the Greenland Sea, Danielle Flinders prepares to dive in a submersible to the ocean floor. In their confines, they are drawn back to the Christmas of the previous year, where a chance encounter on a beach in France led to an intense and enduring romance.
Heads Up: This romance drama has great leads in Vikander and McAvoy, and a very respectable seasoned director Wim Wenders (Wings of Desire, Paris, Texas), but the reviews are quite bad. I would keep this in mind for home viewing only because the two leads are fantastic, but it doesn’t have to be seen on the big screen.
Beast of Burden
Directed by: Jesper Ganslandt
With: Daniel Radcliffe, Grace Gummer, Pablo Schreiber
What is it about? Sean Haggerty only has an hour to deliver his illegal cargo. An hour to reassure a drug cartel, a hitman, and the DEA that nothing is wrong. An hour to make sure his wife survives. And he must do it all from the cockpit of his Cessna.
Heads Up: This action thriller has been out on VOD since February and it is not well-received critically. I suspect it’s only coming out here on the big screens because it is starring Harry Potter himself. I say skip it.
Pyewacket
Directed by: Adam MacDonald
With: Nicole Muñoz, Laurie Holden, and Chloe Rose
What is it about? A frustrated, angst-ridden teenage girl awakens something in the woods when she naively performs an occult ritual to evoke a witch to kill her mother.
Heads Up: This supernatural horror film was very well received by critics, who describe it as an effective psychological horror with a slow burn. The trailer reminded me of excellent films like Under The Shadow and The Babadook, so if you are a horror junkie, then go for it.
The Outlaws
Directed by: Yoon-Seong Kang
With: Don Lee, Yoon Kye-Sang, Gwi-hwa Choi, and Seon-kyu Jin
What is it about? A detective in the Chinatown area of Seoul tries to keep the peace, while two Chinese-Korean gangs battle over turf in the neighborhood.
Heads Up: DIFF365 and VOX MoE are showing this Korean crime thriller which looks so much fun. Considering that there aren’t many good options showing this weekend, you might consider seeing this one.
