BARE BONES: NOPE (2022)

NOPE (2022)

Latest flick from Jordan Peele has siblings OJ (Daniel Kaluuya) and Em (Keke Palmer) Haywood struggling to keep their horse training ranch afloat after the accidental death of their father (Keith David). Having to sell off their horses is the least of their worries as something sinister, lethal and possibly extraterrestrial is inhabiting the skies surrounding their property.

 

Flick is written and directed by Peele and is a resounding disappointment, especially after a promising first half. It starts out quite spooky as Peele knows how to construct scary sequences, no better example than OJ’s foray into their stables one night after hearing noises. When things are kept in shadows and mystery, the film delivers some nice goosebumps. It’s in the second act when things are brought into the light that the film loses its grip and things go from scary to outright silly. Much like his sophomore effort Us, there are some cool ideas here, but the execution of those ideas is a bit shaky and there are far too many unanswered questions to be satisfying. At well over two hours, a lot could have been cut with no harm to the plot, like western carnival owner Ricky’s (Steven Yeun) past as a childhood TV star and a traumatic experience with a simian costar’s vicious and deadly rampage. Why was this sub-plot even there? As with Us Peele has too many ideas, some admittingly very clever, and does more harm than good trying to shoehorn them all into one film. Sometimes less is more. Add to that a downright silly final confrontation with our airborne invader and you a flick that starts strong and ends on a goofy whimper. Also stars Michael Wincott as an eccentric filmmaker and Brandon Perea as a UFO enthusiast tech guy.

-MonsterZero NJ

BARE BONES: THE FOUND FOOTAGE PHENOMENON (2021)

THE FOUND FOOTAGE PHENOMENON (2021)

The Found Footage Phenomenon is a fun and informative documentary about one of horror’s newest sub-genres…or is it? Flick from Sarah Appleton and Phillip Escott traces the start of the sub-genre back to moments and films from the 60s and 70s, such as the opening moments of the classic slasher Peeping Tom to Ruggero Deodato’s Cannibal Holocaust, where the seeds of this sub-genre first were sown. We then cover films like The Last Broadcast and The Blair Witch Project where found footage really started to take form, to some of the newer entries like the Paranormal Activity series, [REC] series, Cloverfield and Megan is Missing. Along the way we get interviews from found footage filmmakers like Jaume Balagueró, Oren Peli, Eduardo Sánchez, André Øvredal, Ruggero Deodato himself and many more. We learn about how some of these films were made and of some of the titles we haven’t seen, or that missed the spotlight and credit they deserve. It’s a lot of fun! All in all, a very entertaining and interesting documentary for found footage and horror fans alike. Now available to stream on Shudder! 

 

-MonsterZero NJ

“X” PREQUEL “PEARL” GETS A POSTER AND TRAILER!

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Fans of Ti West’s latest horror X were pleased to discover a prequel called Pearl was filmed along with it. The film is obviously an origin story for Mia Goth’s Pearl. Now from A24 comes the official poster and trailer. The film, which is set to release in theaters on 9/16/22*, is again written and directed by Ti West with Mia Goth reprising her role as Pearl!

*Release date via Bloody-Disgusting.com

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MonsterZero NJ

Source/photos: A24

WEEKEND BOX OFFICE ESTIMATES JULY 22-24

(Remember, clicking the highlighted links brings you to the reviews here at The Movie Madhouse!)

1. “Nope” $44 Million

2. “Thor: Love and Thunder” $22.1 Million

3. “Minions: The Rise of Gru” $17.7 Million

4. “Where the Crawdads Sing” $10.3 Million

5. “Top Gun: Maverick” $10 Million

6. “Elvis” $6.3 Million

7. “Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank” $3.9 Million

8. “The Black Phone” $3.45 Million

9. “Jurassic World: Dominion” $3 Million

10. “Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris” $1.35 Million

-MonsterZero NJ

source: Box Office Mojo

BARE BONES: AMERICAN CARNAGE (2022)

AMERICAN CARNAGE (2022)

Comedy/horror finds the children of an undocumented immigrant family taken into custody and forced to work at a retirement home after their parents are deported. It’s the only way J.P. (Jorge Lendeborg Jr.) and his sister Lily (Yumarie Morales) will be allowed to stay in the country. Being this is a horror, there is something very sinister going on at this particular rest home.

 

Directed by Diego Havillis from his script with Julio Havillis, this is an awful movie. Movies with a message are more than welcome but Havillis bludgeons you over the head with his commentary about undocumented immigrants, and how they are treated, so hard that you become numb to it very quickly. This is the opposite effect a filmmaker should want when trying to say something. These messages are also delivered with no wit or finesse and grow tiresome rather than become thought-provoking, as such relevant and contemporary issues should be. Add to that that this is a tedious and dumb horror with Lendeborg being a dull and lifeless leading man, and you have a 98-minute movie that is a slow-moving chore to sit through. Even Jenna Ortega (Scream 2022, X), who brings some feisty energy to her Camila, can’t give this sinking ship any buoyancy. It’s a shame, had the film focused on Ortega and made the messages a part of the story, instead of clumsy narrative-stopping exposition, this might have been a little more fun and given us something to think about on top of it. Instead, it’s a tedious bore that not only dulls the effect of its meaningful commentary but wastes the charismatic Ortega and isn’t even a good horror movie either. No wonder Lionsgate dumped this quietly into release despite Ortega‘s current star-power. Also stars Brett Cullen as a racist governor.

 

Flick is currently available on VOD and in limited theatrical release.

 

-MonsterZero NJ

FAREWELL AND RIP TO REBECCA BALDING!

REBECCA BALDING in one of her two cult classic horrors, The Boogens.

Sad news for horror movie fans as actress Rebecca Balding has passed away at age 73 after battling ovarian cancer. Balding only made two horror films in her career but both, Silent Scream and The Boogens, have become beloved cult classics. She also had a lengthy career in TV as well and was married for over four decades to her Boogens director James L. Conway. She will be greatly missed!

REBECCA BALDING as Scotty in Silent Scream!

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-MonsterZero NJ

 

HALLOWEEN ENDS GETS A TEASER TRAILER!

From the official Universal Pictures Youtube page synopsis…

“This is Laurie Strode’s last stand.

After 45 years, the most acclaimed, revered horror franchise in film history reaches its epic, terrifying conclusion as Laurie Strode faces off for the last time against the embodiment of evil, Michael Myers, in a final confrontation unlike any captured on-screen before. Only one of them will survive.

Icon Jamie Lee Curtis returns for the last time as Laurie Strode, horror’s first “final girl” and the role that launched Curtis’ career. Curtis has portrayed Laurie for more than four decades now, one of the longest actor-character pairings in cinema history. When the franchise relaunched in 2018, Halloween shattered box office records, becoming the franchise’s highest-grossing chapter and set a new record for the biggest opening weekend for a horror film starring a woman.

Four years after the events of last year’s Halloween Kills, Laurie is living with her granddaughter Allyson (Andi Matichak) and is finishing writing her memoir. Michael Myers hasn’t been seen since. Laurie, after allowing the specter of Michael to determine and drive her reality for decades, has decided to liberate herself from fear and rage and embrace life. But when a young man, Corey Cunningham (Rohan Campbell; The Hardy Boys, Virgin River), is accused of killing a boy he was babysitting, it ignites a cascade of violence and terror that will force Laurie to finally confront the evil she can’t control, once and for all.

Halloween Ends co-stars returning cast Will Patton as Officer Frank Hawkins, Kyle Richards as Lindsey Wallace and James Jude Courtney as The Shape.

From the creative team that relaunched the franchise with 2018’s Halloween and Halloween Kills, the film is directed by David Gordon Green from a screenplay by Paul Brad Logan (Manglehorn), Chris Bernier (The Driver series), Danny McBride and David Gordon Green, based on characters created by John Carpenter and Debra Hill. Halloween Ends is produced by Malek Akkad, Jason Blum and Bill Block. The executive producers are John Carpenter, Jamie Lee Curtis, Danny McBride, David Gordon Green, Ryan Freimann, Ryan Turek, Andrew Golov, Thom Zadra and Christopher H. Warner.

Universal Pictures, Miramax and Blumhouse present a Malek Akkad production, in association with Rough House Pictures.”

Much anticipated final chapter in the Halloween franchise opens 10/14/22.

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-MonsterZero NJ

Source/photos: Universal Pictures

“AMERICAN CARNAGE” WITH JENNA ORTEGA GETS A POSTER AND FULL TRAILER!

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From the official Lionsgate Youtube page synopsis…

“After a governor issues an executive order to arrest the children of undocumented immigrants, the newly detained youth are offered an opportunity to have their charges dropped by volunteering to provide care to the elderly. Once inside the eldercare facility, the volunteers discover the governor and the facility’s supervisor have cooked up a horrifyingly depraved conspiracy that endangers the young and the old in this twisted thriller-comedy.”

Horror comedy with a message is directed by Diego Hallivis from his script with Julio Hallivis and stars current queen of horror Jenna Ortega, Allen Maldonado, Jorge Lendeborg Jr. and Bret Cullen. Flick is currently in limited theatrical release and VOD.

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-MonsterZero NJ

Source/photos: Lionsgate

WEEKEND BOX OFFICE ESTIMATES JULY 15-17

(Remember, clicking the highlighted links brings you to the reviews here at The Movie Madhouse!)

1. “Thor: Love and Thunder” $46 Million

2. “Minions: The Rise of Gru” $26 Million

3. “Where the Crawdads Sing” $17 Million

4. “Top Gun: Maverick” $12 Million

5. “Elvis” $7.6 Million

6. “Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank” $6.25 Million

7. “The Black Phone” $5.3 Million

8. “Jurassic World: Dominion” $4.95 Million

9. “Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris” $1.9 Million

10. “Lightyear” $1.3 Million

-MonsterZero NJ

source: Box Office Mojo

FRIDAY THE 13TH’S ADRIENNE KING RETURNS TO HORROR IN DEAD GIRL IN APARTMENT 03!

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From the official synopsis…

“ADRIENNE KING, the original final girl in horror classic Friday the 13^th, returns to the horror arena for DEAD GIRL IN APARTMENT 03, coming this Summer.

After recently moving to New York City, a young woman is horrified to discover that her roommate has died in their apartment under mysterious circumstances. After her body is taken away by the police, Laura soon feels an unsettling presence in the apartment and paranormal signs that she will soon be the next victim. With the help of a pair of NYC detectives, Laura must uncover the secret behind her roommate’s death before it is too late.

Laura Dooling (Blu Bloods), and Michael Schantz (City on a Hill) also star in the film, the latest from cult auteur Kurtis Spieler (cult classic New York Ninja).

DEAD GIRL IN APARTMENT 03 premieres August 9 on digital platforms and special edition Blu-ray and DVD November 22 from Wild Eye Releasing.”

Photo credits: Wild Eye Releasing

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-MonsterZero NJ

Source: Wild Eye Releasing