It’s Halloween weekend and almost all the offerings in the cinema are either horror or action. Let’s see whether you should go to the cinema for your horror fix, or whether you better off staying home and watching one of them old classics.
Jigsaw
Directed by: Michael Spierig, Peter Spierig
With: Matt Passmore, Tobin Bell, and Callum Keith Rennie
What is it about? Bodies are turning up around the city, each having met a uniquely gruesome demise. As the investigation proceeds, evidence points to one suspect: John Kramer, the man known as Jigsaw, who has been dead for ten years.
Heads Up: The Revival of Saw franchise is coming “to take back Halloween”. I am a huge fan of the first two Saw films, and I even like the 3rd. but then the series took a nosedive with more and more convoluted plot and stomach turning gore, and Jigsaw seems more like a continuation than a reset. I have little interest in seeing it, but little interest may grow if the word of mouth turn out to be good. Let’s hope the movie benefits from its director-duo-brothers who earlier made Daybreakers & Predestination, both good films in their own right.
Happy Death Day
Directed by: Christopher Landon
With: Jessica Rothe, Israel Broussard, and Ruby Modine
What is it about? A college student relives the day of her murder with both its unexceptional details and terrifying end until she discovers her killer’s identity.
Heads Up: Blumhouse strikes again, after the huge success of Split and Get Out earlier this year, with this PG-13 comedy-horror version of Groundhog Day. Reviews are good and the film is an alternative to Jigsaw for the people who don’t enjoy visceral gore. I would say go for it.
The Vault
Directed by: Dan Bush
With: Francesca Eastwood, Taryn Manning, and James Franco
What is it about? Two estranged sisters are forced to rob a bank in order to save their brother. But this is no ordinary bank.
Heads Up: This mash-up of horror and heist film is met with a shrug by most critics. I think there are better offerings for your horror fix this weekend.
Only The Brave
Directed by: Joseph Kosinski
With: Josh Brolin, Miles Teller, Jeff Bridges, and Jennifer Connelly
What is it about? Based on the true story of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, a group of elite firefighters risk everything to protect a town from a historic wildfire.
Heads Up: Only the Brave is based on real events and has a very impressive cast. The critical consensus is that it’s “no-frills drama that’s just as stolidly powerful as the real-life heroes it honors“. It has to be the film to see this weekend if you are not a horror fan.
Brawl in Cell Block 99
Directed by: S. Craig Zahler
With: Vince Vaughn, Jennifer Carpenter, and Don Johnson
What is it about? A former boxer-turned-drug runner lands in a prison battleground after a deal gets deadly.
Heads Up: This film has been well embraced by critics upon its release in the US a few weeks ago, and most of the praise goes to a committed Vince Vaughn who is giving a very different carrier redefining performance. This is for sure interest me, but in the same time it’s available already on VOD platforms if you don’t feel like seeing it on the big screen.
24 Hours to Live
Directed by: Brian Smrz
With: Ethan Hawke, Paul Anderson, Liam Cunningham, Qing Xu, and Rutger Hauer
What is it about? An assassin seeks redemption after being given a second chance at life.
Heads Up: This is a high concept B-action movie that looks like a perfect film for a group night out. I’d say why not.
