Review: ‘Memory’
Jessica Chastain And Peter Sarsgaard Give Career-High Performances In Michel Franco's Drama About Surviving Past Trauma

By
Cortland Jacoby
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Director Michel Franco takes his time delicately unwrapping his characters’ pasts in Memory. Actions implemented early on in the film go off with expert precision and impact by the end with the help of Jessica Chastain and Peter Sarsgaard’s brilliant performances. By the end, you are completely enraptured in one of the most well-done and moving films of the year.

We first meet Sylvia (Chastain) at an AA meeting for her sober anniversary. She’s quiet as the group goes around wishing her continued success for herself and her daughter, Anna (Brooke Timber) who is present. Franco then takes us through Sylvia’s disciplined routine of afterschool pickups, drop-offs, and meticulous house cleanings. Dedicated to her sobriety, she is very strict with her teenage daughter and spends her working hours as a social worker for adults with disabilities.

When she accompanies her sister (a superbly understated Merritt Wever) to a high school reunion, a man approaches her with a smile. She stares ahead, before eventually getting up and leaving to go home. He follows her from a distance, ending up at her door where he spends the night outside. The morning after she tentatively approaches him to call and gets his name, Saul (Peter Sargaard).

Franco doesn’t explain his characters’ behavior right away like a lot of lesser directors would. It is eventually revealed that Saul suffers from dementia and Sylvia is still grappling with childhood sexual trauma. In fact, she originally accuses Saul of being one of the perpetrators before being corrected by her sister.

To make up for it, she feels obligated to take Saul’s brother and niece’s (Josh Charles and Elsie Fisher) offer up to care for him during the day. Franco brilliantly draws out the intimacy of everyday moments between his two characters from watching movies together to doing dishes. It’s a masterclass in palpable tension and character building.

Here, Sarsgaard solidifies himself as one of the greatest character actors of our time. His Saul is subtle but still heartbreaking, giving one of the best performances of the year. He won Best Actor at the 2023 Venice Film Festival and with good reason. He disappears into Saul.

Chastain is just as brilliant, playing a more reserved and buttoned character. While Sarsgaard gets to play a bit more, everything rides on her character which she handles with ease. When key moments in Sylvia story are finally revealed, Chastain takes big emotional swings, making your heart break for her.

As a trio, Sarsgaard, Franco, and Chastain are a cinematic tour de force. It’s unfortunate that this film hasn’t made more of an impact this year and is unlikely to receive any Oscar nominations, but for my money, Memory is easily one of the best films of 2023.

Memory is in select theaters and opens wide on January 5th. Watch the trailer below.

Jordan Peele Is “Psyched” About His Next Film But It Remains A Mystery

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January 3, 2024

Jordan Peele has only directed three movies: Get Out, Us, and Nope, and already each new release is seen as a major event. Faster than just about any filmmaker in recent memory, Peele has carved out a niche for himself as the go-to guy for socially conscious horror movies. And while his next film which was initially set for the holidays 2024 was pulled off the schedule due to strike-related delays, Peele is still excited for fans to see what he has in store for them.

Peele spoke briefly about the mysterious project while appearing on the Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend podcast…

“This has been… obviously, it’s been an interesting year because the writer’s strike had had me in a state of listening, and that’s where I need to be. I do feel like my next project is clear to me, and I’m psyched that I have another film that, you know, could be my favorite movie if I make it right.”

Details on the film have remained a secret. We don’t know any plot info, and casting is still under wraps. Some rumors have surfaced that it could be connected to Peele’s most recent film, Nope, but that hasn’t been confirmed. That film opened in 2022 and earned $171M worldwide during a time when theaters were struggling to draw audiences.

One thing is for certain and it’s that we won’t know anything until the moment Peele wants us to. Peele has another horror film he’s producing through his Monkeypaw Productions banner which was yanked from its September 2024 date and is currently undated by Universal Pictures.

‘The First Omen’ Trailer: The Rise Of The Antichrist Is Near In This Prequel To The Supernatural Horror Franchise

By

Travis Hopson

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January 3, 2024

Unless you’re Fast & Furious, sequels can only take a franchise so far. Eventually, it starts to make more sense to just look backward, and that goes double for horror franchises. The latest to turn back the clock is The Omen, which returns with a prequel to the 1976 classic, The First Omen.

Nell Tiger Free, who definitely knows her way around creepy shit as part of M. Night Shyamalan’s Servant series, stars in The First Omen as an American woman sent to work at a church in Rome, only to discover a conspiracy to see the rise of the Antichrist.

Also in the cast are Tawfeek Barhom, Bill Nighy, Sônia Braga, and Ralph Ineson.

The film is directed and co-written by Arkasha Stevenson. Keith Thomas, director of the recent Firestarter remake, is aboard as a co-writer, too.

Here’s the synopsis: In this prequel directed by Arkasha Stevenson, a young American woman is sent to Rome to begin a life of service to the church. She encounters a darkness that causes her to question her own faith and uncovers a terrifying conspiracy that hopes to bring about the birth of evil incarnate.

20th Century Studios will release The First Omen into theaters on April 5th.

Review: ‘All Of Us Strangers’
Andrew Scott And Paul Mescal Star In This Steamy, Haunting Reflection On Grief

By
Cortland Jacoby
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We all have people who have come into our lives that make us question our pasts. That concept is examined, ripped apart, and snorted in Andrew Haigh’s quiet and devastating fantastical drama All of Us Strangers. Based on Japanese writer Taichi Yamada’s 1987 novel Strangers, the director and his two main actors take what has traditionally been a horror-based story and turn it into a haunting meditation on grief.

Andrew Scott, known for his work on Fleabag and Sherlock, plays a gay man living in a new and empty London high-rise apartment. As Adam, he spends his days avoiding writing his screenplay and watching old episodes of Top of the Pops. During a fire drill, he meets a fellow lonely neighbor named Harry. Paul Mescal (Normal People, Aftersun) gives Harry a cool sensuality. There’s something forbidden yet inviting about his performance and he plays off Scott beautifully.

While the two get to know each other and we get to know them, Haigh employs every trick in his romantic arsenal to get his audience to fall in love with them as a couple. It works. The chemistry between Scott and Mescal is palpable, from their longing looks to Harry’s gentle attempts at flirting. They talk about Harry’s estrangement from his parents and Haigh builds a false sense of security that is rocked when Adam travels out of town and follows a mustachioed man into a liquor store.

It’s clear the two know each other in a familiar way. Played by Jamie Bell, he leads Adam back to his childhood home where Claire Foy’s character waits for him. Unsure of what’s happening he embraces his parents and talks about what they missed after they passed in a car crash when he was 12.

The narrative jumps between Adam’s growing time with his parents and his relationship with Harry. Scott captures a man dealing with his repressed grief by controlling the everchanging pain in his eyes. He wants to make up for lost time, having those hard conversations with his parents that he never got to have. Scott and Foy are at their best during their second meeting, when Adam comes out to her. It’s funny and slightly painful, as Foy tries to reconcile that not only is her son gay but how attitudes and times have changed.

Bell gives his best performance of his career as Adam’s father, combining a very English ‘80s era father with a kind paternal spirit. We don’t know if he and Foy are real or not but his presence feels natural and lived in, like the rest of Haigh’s film.

I struggle to ascribe a genre to All of Us Strangers beyond “romantic fantastical drama” because no easy answers are given. It could be a grounded supernatural drama, rooted in a ghost story. It could be a psychological romantic drama or even a realistic sci-fi film in the vein of Petite Maman. Like the film’s ending, everything is up for interpretation. But one thing that you can’t argue with is that All of Us Strangers will haunt you with its beauty long after you walk out of the theater.

All of Us Strangers expands nationwide on January 5th.

Unforgettable Casino Scenes That Will Keep You on the Edge of Your Seat

By

PunchDrunkCritics

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January 3, 2024

In recent years, casinos have transcended their traditional confines to become not just a haven for high rollers but a trendy and acceptable part of mainstream society and culture. From the glamour of Las Vegas to the rise of accessible online casino platforms, the allure of the casino has become ingrained in our entertainment landscape. As we explore the fascinating intersection of casinos and cinematic artistry, let’s delve into unforgettable casino scenes that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

The Rise of Casinos in Pop Culture:

Casinos have evolved from exclusive enclaves for the elite to vibrant hubs of entertainment accessible to everyone. The portrayal of casinos in movies, TV shows, and other media has played a pivotal role in this transformation. The glitz, glamour, and intrigue associated with casinos have made them a captivating backdrop for storytelling, contributing to their widespread acceptance in modern culture.

With the advent of technology, the casino experience has expanded beyond brick-and-mortar establishments. The accessibility and popularity of online casinos and games have skyrocketed, offering a virtual realm where players can indulge in the thrill of the casino from the comfort of their homes. The digital revolution has democratised the casino experience, allowing anyone with an internet connection to try their luck at the tables or slots.

Unveiling Unforgettable Casino Scenes:

1. Casino Royale (2006): The Poker Showdown

Daniel Craig’s debut as James Bond in “Casino Royale” delivered a gripping casino scene centred around a high-stakes poker game. The tension is palpable as Bond faces off against his adversary, Le Chiffre, in a game that goes beyond cards to reveal the characters’ true mettle. The scene epitomises the blending of sophisticated gaming and high-stakes drama.

2. Ocean’s Eleven (2001): The Heist in Bellagio

George Clooney and his ensemble cast orchestrate a heist in the heart of Las Vegas in “Ocean’s Eleven.” The elaborate plan unfolds amidst the opulence of the Bellagio casino, creating a cinematic spectacle that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats. The intertwining of wit, charm, and strategy makes this casino scene an unforgettable cinematic moment.

3. Rain Man (1988): Counting Cards at Caesars Palace

“Rain Man” showcases Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman at the iconic Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Hoffman’s character, an autistic savant, demonstrates his extraordinary ability to count cards, turning a routine blackjack game into a mesmerizing display of skill. The scene not only captures the allure of casinos but also highlights the unique talents that can thrive within their walls.

4. Rounders (1998): The Final Poker Game

Matt Damon and Edward Norton star in “Rounders,” a film that explores the gritty world of underground poker. The final poker game unfolds in a tense and dramatic fashion, emphasizing the psychological warfare inherent in high-stakes gambling. The scene epitomizes the unpredictable nature of casino games and their ability to shape the destinies of those involved.

Casinos have seamlessly integrated into the fabric of our cultural narrative, captivating audiences both on and off the silver screen. From the glitzy allure of physical casinos to the convenience of online platforms, the casino experience continues to evolve, attracting a diverse array of enthusiasts. As we revisit unforgettable casino scenes in cinema, we are reminded of the enduring appeal of these establishments, where risk and reward dance in an eternal tango, ensuring that the casino remains a timeless and thrilling backdrop for storytelling.

‘Mean Girls’ Final Trailer Teases The Revenge Party Of The Year

By

Travis Hopson

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January 3, 2024

By the time the new Mean Girls hits theaters, the original comedy hit will be 20 years old. I’ll let that sink in for a minute. Yes, you’re old, too. Anyway, something people of a certain are having to get used to increasingly are musical adaptations of movies we used to love. We already have The Color Purple out there performing well at the box office and possibly earning accolades. And like it, this new Mean Girls is based on an acclaimed Broadway musical, meaning it will be the same movie, while also a very different one.

So the story remains the same, the characters are the same, and so are a lot of the jokes. But the cast is different, shows more cultural diversity, and there is a lot more music this time around.

The cast features Angourie Rice, Reneé Rapp, Auli’i Cravalho, Jaquel Spivey, Avantika, Bebe Wood, Christopher Briney, Jenna Fischer, Busy Philipps, Ashley Park, Tina Fey, and Tim Meadows. Fey, who wrote the original screenplay, returns to write this new take, joined by directors Samantha Jayne and Arturo Perez Jr.

Here’s the synopsis: From the comedic mind of Tina Fey comes a new twist on the modern classic, MEAN GIRLS. New student Cady Heron (Angourie Rice) is welcomed into the top of the social food chain by the elite group of popular girls called “The Plastics,” ruled by the conniving queen bee Regina George (Reneé Rapp) and her minions Gretchen (Bebe Wood) and Karen (Avantika). However, when Cady makes the major misstep of falling for Regina’s ex-boyfriend Aaron Samuels (Christopher Briney), she finds herself prey in Regina’s crosshairs. As Cady sets to take down the group’s apex predator with the help of her outcast friends Janis (Auli’i Cravalho) and Damian (Jaquel Spivey), she must learn how to stay true to herself while navigating the most cutthroat jungle of all: high school.

Mean Girls opens in theaters on January 12th.

Steven Yeun Exits Marvel’s ‘Thunderbolts’ Movie And Sentry Role

By

Travis Hopson

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January 3, 2024

Steven Yeun was to play Sentry in THUNDERBOLTS

Bad news for Marvel’s Thunderbolts movie, which has already faced delays due to the actors’ and writers’ strikes. Actor Steven Yeun has dropped out of the antiheroes film, after joining back in February, quickly followed by his Beef writer Lee Sun Jing.

Rumors about Yeun’s exit had begun to spread yesterday, but it’s THR who have the confirmation. As for why, the answer is pretty clear. Delays on Thunderbolts had to have been taxing on Yeun’s schedule, as he is in very high-demand right now. Clearly there was a breaking point and he had to leave. Yeun earned an Oscar nomination recently for his performance in Minari, as well as an Emmy nominee for Beef.

While it was never confirmed, Yeun was expected to play Sentry (Robert Kirkman admitted as much), a powerhouse Marvel character who was designed to be like their version of Superman. Gifted with the power of “one million exploding suns”, Sentry’s memories were repressed so as to keep hidden his evil dark side, known as The Void.

Thunderbolts is to be directed by Jake Schreier, also a director on Beef, so the Yeun connection ran pretty deep until now. Anyway, the film has Harrison Ford taking over the General Thunderbolt Ross role once played by the late William Hurt. Ross, who will be elevated to President of the United States, puts together his own Avengers-style superteam. But this group is more like the Suicide Squad, comprised of villains and antiheroes looking for lenient sentences.

Sebastian Stan is back as Bucky Barnes aka Winter Solder, joined by Hannah John-Kamen as Ghost, Wyatt Russell as John Walker aka USAgent, Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova aka Black Widow, David Harbour as Red Guardian, Olga Kurylenko as Taskmaster, and Ayo Edibiri in an undisclosed role.

DC Readers: Attend A Free Early Screening Of ‘Night Swim’

By

Travis Hopson

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January 2, 2024

We’re happy to offer our DC readers the chance to attend a free early screening of Night Swim, the latest horror from M3GAN producers Atomic Monster and Blumhouse!

SYNOPSIS: Based on the acclaimed 2014 short film by Rod Blackhurst and Bryce McGuire, the film stars Wyatt Russell (The Falcon and the Winter Soldier) as Ray Waller, a former major league baseball player forced into early retirement by a degenerative illness, who moves into a new home with his concerned wife Eve (Oscar® nominee Kerry Condon, The Banshees of Inisherin), teenage daughter Izzy (Amélie Hoeferle, this fall’s The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes) and young son Elliot (Gavin Warren, Fear the Walking Dead). Secretly hoping, against the odds, to return to pro ball, Ray persuades Eve that the new home’s shimmering backyard swimming pool will be fun for the kids and provide physical therapy for him. But a dark secret in the home’s past will unleash a malevolent force that will drag the family under, into the depths of inescapable terror.

The screening takes place tomorrow, January 3rd, at 7:00pm at Regal Majestic. If you’d like to attend, RSVP at the Gofobo site here. Please remember all screenings are first come first served and you’ll need to arrive early to ensure seating. Enjoy the show!

Night Swim opens in theaters on January 5th.

Review: ‘Mayhem!’
Xavier Gens' Brutal Thai Revenge Flick Scratches The Itch For 'The Raid' Fans Needing A Fix

By
Travis Hopson
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I’ve been itching for a film to give me that old visceral The Raid thrill. As much as I love John Wick, those movies are a bit too polished for my tastes. It’s the sharp edges of thrown elbows and knees that have been missing from my cinematic life. Much to my surprise, it’s French filmmaker Xavier Gens who scratches the itch with Mayhem!, a down ‘n dirty revenge movie that draws its inspiration from loads of different action flicks. But the choices made by Gens, who also co-wrote the script, are good ones, including the choice of star Nassim Lyes.

The film’s original title is “Farang”, which in Thai means a foreigner of Western ancestry. In a way it makes sense to have Gens behind the camera; a French director on a film set in Thailand and centering on an Algerian protagonist. There is culture clash everywhere from top to bottom. Lyes plays Samir, who we first meet behind bars as he’s trying to avoid trouble in order to get paroled. He keeps on an even keel by practicing muay thai, skills we already know will be put to the test sometime soon. After his release on good behavior, Samir walks the straight and narrow path, but his criminal past just won’t let him be. When one encounter ends with a prominent crimelord dead, Samir flees France for Thailand to start anew.

Elements of Western action and revenge thrillers play prominent roles in Mayhem!. You see aspects of Taken, Death Wish, and more, while you also get the “one last job” trope and the brual violence of Gareth Evans’ The Raid movies. Gens directed episodes of Evans’ crime series Gangs of London, once again making him a nice fit for the material. Samir manages to stay out of trouble for a few years, getting a job as a tourist driver that doesn’t pay much, but it’s honest work that his wife Mia (Loryn Nounay), a half-French, half-Thai woman with a daughter of her own, can respect. Sure, Samir still throws a fight or two to help out his shady friend Sombat (Sahajak Boonthanakit) and make some extra cash, but he’s living right for the most part. There’s just that little problem of money. Mia wants to buy land to open her own bar, and Samir promises French gangster Narong (Olivier Gourmet) to do a job that will get it for her. When that goes badly, it’s Samir’s family that pays the price, and he must use those fighting skills to get payback and exact a rescue.

This is pretty straight-forward stuff, not too far from what you might find in any early Steven Seagal movie, at least in terms of plot. Mayhem! is a little slow to get going, though. It’s not that Samir’s plight is uninteresting as things build to a head, but if you’re coming in expecting balls-to-the-wall action right from jump, you might be disappointed. However, if you’re patient, the wait is more than worth it. The always-great Thai legend Vithaya Pansringram, of Only God Forgives fame, gets in on the bloody fun, too, and that’s definitely worth sticking around for.

Lyes shows dramatic skills and physical gifts as he unleashes a torrent of violence as Samir. Driving his unrelenting force is the fear and anger of a husband and father doing what he needs to do to protect his family. At the same time, Samir has been on this endless quest to build a better life, and it seems he’s always drawn back into bloodshed and criminality. The only way it seems that he can get past it is to pound his past into a bloody pulp, which is what he does. There are some gruesome edged kills, with men and women butchered in equal measure. You also get the now-standard hallway battle against a seemingly impenetrable wave of attackers. It’s all very familar and well-done by Gens and fight choreographer Jude Poyer.

Mayhem! isn’t exactly trying to break the mold. But I’ll be honest; for me, I wasn’t looking for it to do anything like that. I wanted meat and potatoes martial arts ferocity, and Gens delivered it. While it might take a while to get there, action fans will find that Mayhem! delivers a knockout blow and I hope it’s the start of a potential franchise.

Mayhem! opens on January 5th in theaters and anywhere you rent movies.

Trailer For Steamboat Willie-Inspired Horror ‘Mickey’s Mouse Trap’ Arrives; ‘Terrifer 2’ Team Also Developing Mickey Mouse Horror

By

Travis Hopson

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January 2, 2024

Steamboat Willie-inspired Mickey Mouse horror — Teaser art for Steven LaMorte's Steamboat Willie-inspired horror comedy

You might’ve missed it, but yesterday, New Year’s Day, Mickey Mouse became public domain. That’s right, the most famous mouse in the world is no longer the sole property of Disney and can be used in all sorts of content from pretty much anyone. Well, I should clarify that it’s just the Steamboat Willie version of Mickey Mouse from the 1928 animated classic. When it happened, I tweeted that soon we’ll have “The Steamboat Mickey Murders” to look forward to. I was wrong…the title is different. And there are multiple horror films on the way.

Following in the footsteps of Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey, we have a teaser trailer for slasher film Mickey’s Mouse Trap. The footage weaves footage from the original cartoon with live-action stuff featuring a killer in a Mickey Mouse mask. >sigh<

Here’s the synopsis: It’s Alex’s 21st Birthday, but she’s stuck at the amusement arcade on a late shift so her friends decide to surprise her, but a masked killer dressed as Mickey Mouse decides to play a game of his own with them which she must survive.

The film was directed and edited by Jamie Bailey and written by Simon Phillips.

Meanwhile, the producing team behind Terrifer 2 has their own Steamboat Willie horror-comedy on the way. The untitled film comes from director/producer Steven LaMorte, who previously directed the Grinch-inspired horror, The Mean One (our review here), so he’s old hat at turning beloved fairy tales into stories soaked in blood.

Deadline describes LaMorte’s film this way: LaMorte’s Steamboat Willie horror comedy watches as a late-night boat ride turns into a desperate fight for survival in New York City when a mischievous mouse becomes a monstrous reality. Can a motley crew survive a killer creature with a taste for tourists?

Keep in mind that later versions of Mickey Mouse remain solely the property of Walt Disney, and that’s how they’ll be for the time being. A rep for Disney stated, “Mickey will continue to play a leading role as a global ambassador for the Walt Disney Company in our storytelling, theme park attractions, and merchandise. We will, of course, continue to protect our rights in the more modern versions of Mickey Mouse and other works that remain subject to copyright, and we will work to safeguard against consumer confusion caused by unauthorized uses of Mickey and our other iconic characters.”