A classic Universal monster visits the big screen in The Invisible Man, accompanied by mostly small and delayed films. Let’s check them out.
The Invisible Man
Directed by: Leigh Whannell
With: Elisabeth Moss, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Aldis Hodge, Storm Reid, and Michael Dorman
What is it about: When Cecilia’s abusive ex takes his own life and leaves her his fortune, she suspects his death was a hoax. As a series of coincidences turn lethal, Cecilia works to prove that she is being hunted by someone nobody can see.
Heads Up: Writer/director Leigh Whannell has been cementing his position as a master of low-budget horror film in the last two decades (his writing started the Saw and Insidious franchises, and he directed Insidious 3 and the excellent and underseen Upgrade). Now he is tackling the horror classic The Invisible Man, starring the eponymous member of Universal’s all-star monster roster. The story has been made several times since the 1930s (last major cinematic adaptation was 2000’s Hollow Man). This one looks creepy and it stars the wonderful Elisabeth Moss as the lead, so I am really pumped for it
Thappad
Directed by: Anubhav Sinha
With: Taapsee Pannu, Pavail Gulati, Tanvi Azmi, Dia Mirza, and Ratna Pathak Shah
What is it about: the story of Amrita whose seemingly perfect life is shattered when her husband slaps her once in a party. But is one slap enough to question what a relationship stands for?
Heads Up: Director Anubhav Sinha is riding high after the critical and commercial success of his two previous films Mulk, and Article 15. This time around he writes and directs a courtroom drama about physical abuse against women, starring the usually excellent Taapsee Pannu. Talking about spousal abuse is usually a tabu that our societies would rather sweep under the rug, so I am glad there is a major film that’s willing to tackle it. I say go for it.
A Million Little Pieces
Directed by: Sam Taylor-Johnson
With: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Billy Bob Thornton, Odessa Young, Giovanni Ribisi, Juliette Lewis, and Charlie Hunnam
What is it about: A young aspiring writer at the bottom of his addictions is interned in a facility center to face his traumatic past.
Heads Up: Based on the bestselling memoir by James Frey that was met by huge commercial success upon its release, but later was found out to be largely fabricated, forgery, and exaggerated, which subsequently lead to its designation as semi-fictional instead of memoir. This film adaptation was panned by critics too, as it was deemed “little more than a well-intentioned but unpersuasive echo of a deeply problematic memoir“. I’d say, don’t bother.
Paradise Hills
Directed by: Alice Waddington
With: Emma Roberts, Danielle Macdonald, Awkwafina, Eiza González, and Milla Jovovich
What is it about: Uma wakes up in an apparently idyllic school for young ladies called Paradise, meant to reform her and her new friends. But there’s a darker secret behind its walls.
Heads Up: This is a twist on The Stepford Wives from a YA angle. The reviews are decent, but I am not sure it’s a must-see in cinema.
VFW
Directed by: Joe Begos
With: Stephen Lang, Martin Kove, William Sadler, and Fred Williamson
What is it about: A group of war veterans must defend their local VFW post and an innocent teen against a deranged drug dealer and his relentless army of punk mutants.
Heads Up: Stephen Lang is leading a cast of veteran actors in this gory homage to films like Assault on Precinct 13, where a ragtag group of people have to stand up and defend themselves after being besieged by ruthless criminals. This film is enjoying great reviews from critics who praise it for its “solid cast, deft direction, and surprisingly weighty subtext add extra heft to a gory thriller that should hold buckets of sanguine appeal for grindhouse fans“. So if you have the stomach for the gore and the violence, this might be fun.
StarDog and TurboCat
Directed by: Ben Smith
With: Luke Evans, Nick Frost, Gemma Arterton, and Bill Nighy
What is it about: A loyal dog and a vigilante cat embark on a space age voyage to find their way home.
Heads Up: This animation comedy seems to be aimed to very young children with little to offer for teens and adults. If you need a film that appeals to everyone then Pixar‘s Onward is coming out next weekend, but if you want to appease your impatient preschoolers, then this should suffice.
