The Unofficial Ongoing Current Movies in Theaters thread

[dookeyXXX]

LOVE LIES BLEEDING
Aside from the obvious comparisons—Thelma & Louise, Bound, Wild Things—director and co-screenwriter Rose Glass’s latest genre blast has more in common with the early work of John Dahl (Kill Me Again and Red Rock West) and Of Mice and Men than anything else. She also seems heavily influenced by Nicolas Winding Refn.
On the surface it’s an unabashed love story laced with quick flash lurid sex and ultra-violence. And if one wishes to get academically introspective, it also examines toxic femininity and what happens when women adopt the traits of toxic masculinity in order to navigate the twisted patriarchy of bodybuilding and the late ‘80s underworld of Albuquerque gun running.
Lensed in a neon like dream haze that’s more hallucinatory nightmare gonzoness than anything else, the film is additionally drenched in a sonic maelstrom of electronic oomph! courtesy of Clint (Pop Will Eat Itself) Mansell, not to mention mind-numbingly intense sound design.
As for the Steinbeckian connection? Read into it as you will, but I found the lead characters of Lou (fantastically portrayed by Kristen Stewart) to be akin to George with Jackie (played by an uber ripped Katy O’Brian) taking on the role of Lennie. Feel free to draw your own conclusions, but this story follows many of the same themes as the 1937 novel.
Honestly though, when stripped to its core, this is a wickedly paced, slick, and frenetic ode to steamy 1980’s noir influenced B-movies. And there’s nothing wrong with that.

RIYL
Good Time; Vengeance; Rumble Fish; Wild At Heart


https://youtu.be/BF_J3-DmiS0?si=wwsdzRvdWL4mvuY6

[dookeyXXX]

Oh yeah, besides garnering considerable buzz at its Sundance premiere earlier this year, Love Lies Bleeding has also gained some notoriety in Michigan (and abroad thanks to the way news spreads across the webz):

https://variety.com/2024/film/news/m...or-1235942865/

[PB]

SLEEPING PENISES?!?!?
Is nothing sacred???

[dookeyXXX]

New Guy Ritchie joint looks entertaining…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvwDen1Wrx8

[dookeyXXX]

Hitting theaters 4/11, the latest from Alex (Ex Machina) Garland:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDyQxtg0V2w

[Supermoon]

I’m going to be interested in what people think of this movie. I could see it going either way

[dookeyXXX]

I am trying to temper my expectations, but I have really enjoyed Garland’s last few movies— Ex Machina, Annihilation, and Men—so they are skewing high…

[PB]

I’m going to be interested in what people think of this movie. I could see it going either way

Pretty sure it will go all ways, hard.
The fact that this movie even exists scares me.

[dookeyXXX]

From the looks of the trailer the story doesnt seem too far removed from the likes of The Man in the High Castle, the 2005 comic book series DMZ (which itself was turned into a series), the short-lived 2012 series Revolution or numerous other sci-fi musings. Here, however, it seems to be taking place in the real world in lieu of an alternate history.
In other words, it looks like it is mining familiar territory
But Garland has a solid track record of tweaking and updating familiar themes in innovative and engaging ways

[mcski]

Pretty sure it will go all ways, hard.
The fact that this movie even exists scares me.

Indeed feels a little to possible and will probable seen as a blueprint by all the wrong people. Will still watch it. Garland isn?t cookie cutter so who knows

[MontuckyFried]

Hitting theaters 4/11, the latest from Alex (Ex Machina) Garland

Interesting! I was a big fan of Ex Machina. Bought the BD for the great DTS:X track. Also enjoyed Annihilation of course. He also wrote the screenplay for Danny Boyle's excellent Sunshine and 28 Days Later!

At first, something that threw me (and countless others) off about the trailer was how in this theoretical Civil War scenario, CA and TX team up. Seemed implausible at first, BUT I read a good comment from someone addressing that very thing making the point that it kind of removes real world current politics from it, making it less of a Left vs Right thing which would only serve to divide audiences. You know how it goes so often. A film tries to make a point or has a political/religious slant and people review bomb it on either side depending upon the viewpoint. It's quite possible that Garland removes that entirely from the equation, which I certainly hope so! Would make for a much more intriguing plot and "world-building" if that's the case. Looking forward to this one, and will go in with an open mind.

[dookeyXXX]

ARCADIAN
The latest Nic Cage vehicle is an understated post-apocalyptic coming-of-age/sibling rivalry drama masquerading as a thriller.
Wonderful pacing, a nice low-key performance from Cage, and a few “oh shit” moments make for an entertaining yarn.
RIYL
Z For Zachariah; Pitch Black; A Quiet Place

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNARuSROxbM

[dookeyXXX]

STING
I went in with pretty high expectations given that writer/director Kiah Roache-Turner shot a fat load of adrenaline into the sagging ass of the zombie genre with Wrymwood: Road of the Dead and Wyrmwood: Apocalypse.
Sadly this tale about a girl and her spider is a straight up Stingker.
For a film about a blood thirsty arachnid, this film moves at a snail’s pace, is low on the gore, and almost entirely devoid of any tension.
It’s obvious that KR-T wanted to pay homage to the golden era of Spielberg’s Amblin output, but it feels like he missed the memo on what made those films great.
The characters are paper thin cliched archetypes, the story lacks any solid exposition, and honestly, hardly anything happens for the first 45-minutes; the trailer packs more excitement and creepiness than the entirety of the film.
(Interestingly enough I read a review that stated the film needed to be at least 20-minutes longer. WTF?! It needed to be 20-minutes shorter and a lot tighter in terms of story).
Suffice it to say, Arachnophobia is still the reigning king of spider centric horror films.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ys807OKQrgE

[mcski]

Does Super 8 count as spider cinema?

[dookeyXXX]

Does Super 8 count as spider cinema?

Not in my book, but it did the whole Amblin homage thing 100 times better than this film…

[dookeyXXX]

GHOSTBUSTERS: FROZEN EMPIRE
Everything that made 2021’s Ghostbusters: Afterlife a nostalgically fun romp somehow got lost in transition with this empty and flat endeavor.
Nevermind that it takes almost an hour-and-20-minutes for any semi-serious ghost shenanigans to happen, the film is limp, lackluster, and devoid of any pop, sizzle or bang.
What’s worse is that all involved seem to be on autopilot; the snappy chemistry everyone had in the last film has fizzled. The comic beats are off, the action sequences are flaccid, and the boss ghost is a disappointment.
Even the unabashed fan service moments fail to excite.
In short, this film is just bland.
And that’s a bummer.

[dookeyXXX]

LATE NIGHT WITH THE DEVIL
This is a gloriously demented low-budget gem.
To say much more would spoil the fun of it, but the gist is that it’s the found footage of a forgotten 1970’s late night talk show.
The whole schtick is brilliant, the acting is crisp, the pacing is tight, and the twists nicely placed.
I just hope that the directing duo of Cameron and Colin Caimes don’t end up as Hollywood fodder directing slick horror and vapid films after this nimble and sharp debut.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiwvEtimLzQ

[The Reverend Floater]

I'm telling you guys, go see Civil War in theaters...unless violence makes you squeamish. I didn't find it gratuitous but it's fuckin gnarly--as it probably should be.

Anyhow, the sound alone needs to be experienced in the theater. Whomever mixed that movie has an Oscar coming. And the soundtrack is phenomenal as well. Strong Apocalypse Now/Full Metal Jacket vibes in this one.

Sent from my SM-S928U1 using Tapatalk

[Meadow Skipper]

I'm telling you guys, go see Civil War in theaters...unless violence makes you squeamish. I didn't find it gratuitous but it's fuckin gnarly--as it probably should be.

Anyhow, the sound alone needs to be experienced in the theater. Whomever mixed that movie has an Oscar coming. And the soundtrack is phenomenal as well. Strong Apocalypse Now/Full Metal Jacket vibes in this one.

Oh yeah, I meant to reply to your thread about Civil Wars… but spaced on it.

Anyway, it was really intense. Like you pointed out, great soundtrack, and I thought the cinematography and editing was excellent - really great. Really good acting and direction too. Needs to be seen in a good theater.

The story really tripped my “what if…?” thoughts. There were a couple thin spots and unrealistic moments early on in the plot, but the 2nd and 3 acts were gripping as shit. Great action movie. There’s some criticism about how it (purposely) sidestepped current political commentary, but I was just fine with that.

Yeah, what if…?