“The System” Starring Tyrese Gibson & Terrence Howard – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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I like the poster and trailer for The System starring Tyrese Gibson, the always good Terrence Howard, Jeremy Piven and Lil Yachty.

When a young soldier (Tyrese Gibson), newly returned from war, gets caught up in a drug bust, he is recruited by the authorities to go undercover in a notoriously dangerous prison to investigate what is really going on behind the scenes. When he discovers an underground prisoner fighting ring, the warden forces him to compete. In order to win his freedom, he must fight to stay alive as well as take down the warden’s corrupt system.

CAST: Tyrese Gibson, Terrence Howard, Jeremy Piven, Lil Yachty

DIRECTOR: Dallas Jackson

WRITER: Dallas Jackson

RUNTIME: 97 Minutes

RATING: R for violence, language throughout and some drug material.

“A Gasoline Wedding” (1918) Starring Harold Lloyd / Z-View

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A Gasoline Wedding (1918)

Director:  Alfred J. Goulding

Writer:  H.M. Walker

Stars:  Harold Lloyd, ‘Snub’ Pollard and Bebe Daniels

Tagline:  None

The Overview:  Beware of spoilers…

Harold and a rich man’s daughter are in love and wish to be married, but her father wants her to marry Angus McCheapskate.  A plan is in place and it’s a race to the preacher where there will be two weddings!

A Gasoline Wedding is a Harold Lloyd short.

A Gasoline Wedding earns 2 of 5 stars.

“Emancipation” Directed by Antoine Fuqua, Starring Will Smith – The Trailer is Here!

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The Emancipation trailer is here.  If Antoine Fuqua and Will Smith can catch lightning in a bottle again, we’re in for a great movie.

An enslaved man embarks on a perilous journey to reunite with his family in this powerful film inspired by a true story. https://apple.co/_Emancipation

Emancipation, directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring Will Smith, premieres in theaters December 2, streaming on Apple TV+ December 9.

“Spite Marriage” (1929) Starring Buster Keaton / Z-View

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Spite Marriage (1929)

Director:  Edward Sedgwick, Buster Keaton (uncredited)

Writers:  Robert Hopkins (titles), Story by Lew Lipton, Ernest Pagano

Stars:  Buster Keaton, Dorothy Sebastian and Leila Hyams

Tagline:  Try and Stop Laughing at Buster!

The Overview:  Beware of spoilers…

When the man that actress Tribly Drew (Sebastian) loves becomes engaged to another, she agrees to marry Elmer Edgemont (Keaton) out of spite.  Tribley believes that Elmer is a millionaire because he attends every showing of her play and he’s always well dressed.  What she learns is that Elmer is a drycleaner who borrows the clothes and spends his pay on play tickets.  Will the rebound marriage work out or will Elmer be taken to the cleaners?

Spite Marriage contains excellent examples of Keaton’s physical prowess at stunts, especially those on a moving sailboat.  It also contains Keaton’s famous act of trying to get his drunk wife into bed.  Keaton had hoped that Spite Marriage would be his first talkie, but instead it became his last silent film.

Spite Marriage earns 3 of 5 stars.

“House of Dracula” (1945) – Starring Dracula, Wolf Man and Frankenstein! / Z-View

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House of Dracula (1945)

Director:  Erle C. Kenton

Screenplay:  Edward T. Lowe Jr. from a story by Dwight V. Babcock, George Bricker

Stars:  Lon Chaney Jr. , John Carradine, Onslow Stevens, Martha O’Driscoll, Lionel Atwill, Glenn Strange and
Skelton Knaggs

Tagline: Frankenstein’s Monster … Wolf Man … Dracula … Mad Doctor … Hunchback

The Overview:  Beware of spoilers…

Dracula (Carradine) shows up at Dr. Franz Edelmann’s (Stevens) castle and asks Edelmann to cure him from being a vampire.  Edelmann agrees to try.  Soon after, Lawrence Talbot comes knocking.  Talbot wants the doctor to cure him from being a werewolf.  What are the odds?  As the commercials say, but wait, there’s more!  As the doctor works to cure both Dracula and Talbot, he discovers the Frankenstein monster in mud under his castle!

Doctor Edelmann is using his own blood for the transfusions with Dracula and this is causing the doctor to experience symptoms of vampirism.  Soon enough we have Dracula, the Wolfman, Frankenstein, the mad doctor and his hunchback assistant creating havoc!  Having the top three classic Universal monsters in the same film is every kid’s dream!

John Carradine isn’t my favorite choice for Dracula, but why nitpick when we also get Wolfman and Frankenstein?  Lon Chaney Jr. as Lawrence Talbot isn’t as whiney as normal and that’s a good thing.  Glenn Strange makes a fine Frankenstein.  While House of Dracula isn’t a classic, the kid in you will enjoy it!

House of Dracula earns 3 of 5 stars.

“Among the Living” – The Trailer is Here!

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I’m a sucker for a good zombie movie.  Among the Living looks like it could fit the bill.  Deal me in.

Stranded in the countryside in the aftermath of a deadly outbreak, older brother Harry fights to protect his younger sister, Lily, while he desperately searches to find refuge with their father. Harry and Lily are determined to survive their journey as they strive to avoid an infected population with a thirst for blood as well as the greater threat of other survivors.

“Guillermo Del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities” – The Final Trailer is Here!

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Here we have the final trailer for Guillermo Del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities.  I’m looking forward to this!

Guillermo del Toro – the master of horror – presents a collection of unprecedented and genre-defining stories that will challenge our traditional notions of horror.

Guillermo Del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities is an anthology of sinister stories, told by some of today’s most revered horror creators – including the directors of The Babadook, Splice, Mandy, and many more.

Unlock Your Fears with Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities

“Stars at Noon” – The Trailer is Here!

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Stars at Noon is another nice looking trailer based on a book.  I want to see this one!

From acclaimed filmmaker Claire Denis and starring Margaret Qualley and Joe Alyn. Based on the novel ’The Stars at Noon’ by Denis Johnson. STARS AT NOON – In Theaters October 14. #StarsAtNoon

RELEASE DATE: In Theaters October 14 & on Hulu October 28
DIRECTOR: Claire Denis
CAST: Margaret Qualley, Joe Alwyn, Danny Ramirez, Benny Safdie, and John C. Reilly

“Bones and All” – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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I like the poster and trailer for Bones and All.  Based on the novel by Camille Deangelis, Bones and All is a strange story.  I have a feeling that it will either be very good or very bad,  Hoping for the best…

You can’t run from who you are. From acclaimed director Luca Guadagnino and starring Taylor Russell, Timothée Chalamet, and Mark Rylance – watch the #BonesAndAll trailer now and see the movie only in theaters this November.
Directed by: Luca Guadagnino
Starring: Taylor Russell, Timothée Chalamet and Mark Rylance
Based on the novel by: Camille DeAngelis
Screenplay By: David Kajganich

Stephen King’s Storm of the Century (1999) / Z-View

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Storm of the Century (1999)

Director:  Craig R. Baxley

Screenplay:  Stephen King

Stars:  Tim Daly, Debrah Farentino, Colm Feore, Jeffrey DeMunn, Casey Siemaszko and Stephen King

Tagline: Give him what he wants and he’ll go away.

The Overview:  Beware of spoilers…

As the residents of the small remote Little Tall Island off the coast of Maine, prepare for a blizzard that is predicted to be the storm of the century, a murderer is discovered sitting in a chair, eating cookies next to the corpse of the old woman that he beat to death with a cane.  Mike Anderson (Daly), store owner and part-time constable and his deputy bring the stranger in to the jail cell located in the back of Anderson’s store.  Because of the storm, all transportation to the island is shut down.  They’ll have to hold him until the storm passes.

The man gives his name as André Linoge (Feore). He tells Anderson and those watching, “Give me what I want, and I’ll go away.”  Linoge has information about Anderson and others that no one could possibly know.  He also seems to have ability to make folks do things against their will.  When two people commit suicide and “Give me what I want and I’ll go away” is found written beside them, they start to believe that Linoge is a demon.  As the storm worsens, Linoge displays more powers, inflicting hallucinations and causing people to commit murder.  If they give Linoge what he wants, will he really go away?  And what could he possibly want?

Storm of the Century is a three part mini-series that creates a slow burn as we’re introduced to Linoge and come to realize that he may be more than an evil man.  Tim Daly was excellent as the level-headed, moral part time constable/store owner.  Jeffrey DeMunn was perfect as the unlikable town manager.  Equally as good was Colm Feore as the menacing  André Linoge.  As a viewer, you cannot help but think about what you would do in that situation.  Would you give him what he wants?

Storm of the Century earns 4 of 5 stars.

“Most Dangerous Game” (2020) Starring Liam Hemsworth and Christoph Waltz / Z-View

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Most Dangerous Game (2020)

Director:  Phil Abraham

Screenplay:  Nick Santora

Stars:  Liam Hemsworth, Sarah Gadon, Christoph Waltz, Zach Cherry and Chris Webster

Tagline: None

The Overview:  Beware of spoilers…

When Dodge Tynes (Hemsworth) learns that he has an inoperable brain tumor, his only worry is providing for his pregnant wife after he’s gone.  A nurse gives Dodge a card for the Tiro Fund, a foundation that helps people with terminal illnesses.  Trio CEO, Miles Sellars (Waltz), meets Dodge and tells him he’s a perfect candidate for assistance.  As a former athlete who still jogs daily, Dodge is in shape and this will help if he agrees to the deal.

The deal is Dodge agrees to be prey for five hunters.  Every hour that Dodge is alive, money will be wired into his account.  If he survives 24 hours, he wins the hunt and his family will have over 24 million dollars.  If he is killed before the game ends, his wife will keep all money in the account.  Once the game starts, there is no stopping it.  If Dodge tells anyone about the game, he will become prey forever.  He cannot leave the city and he must carry a phone that will give his location for 15 seconds every hour.

Ultimately Dodge agrees to play the game… and the race is on.  But can Sellars truly be trusted?  What information is he hiding from Dodge… and how will that impact the game?

Most Dangerous Game is based on the short story The Most Dangerous Game written by Richard Connell in 1924.  It has been adapted many, many times and when done right, never gets old.  Most Dangerous Game gets it right.  Originally seen on the Roku channel as 7 or 8 minute episodes, it has now been compiled into a 2 hour and 7 minute film.  Since each episode had to get the viewer to want to see the next, there are a ton of great action scenes, cliffhangers and twists.

Liam Hemsworth is believable as the former athlete trying to stay alive.  Christoph Waltz brings the right amount of cocky arrogance to his part.  Sure, the hunters are cliches (the Englishman who plays by the rules, the martial arts chick, the cowboy, the priest, and an aging hippie), but that’s part of the fun.  I had a blast watching Most Dangerous Game and wish more movies followed the format.

Most Dangerous Game earns 4 of 5 stars.

Rob Zombie’s “The Munsters” (2022) / Z-View

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The Munsters (2022)

Director:  Rob Zombie

Screenplay:  Rob Zombie based on the television show The Munsters by Allan Burns, Chris Hayward

Stars:  Cassandra Peterson, Sheri Moon Zombie, Jeff Daniel Phillips, Richard Brake, Daniel Roebuck, Dee Wallace, Sylvester McCoy, Pat Priest, Jorge Garcia, Catherine Schell and Butch Patrick

Tagline: None

The Overview:  Beware of spoilers…

The Munsters was a television comedy that ran for two seasons from September 1964 to May 1966.  The show featured a family of monsters living in the suburbs.  The family consisted of Herman Munster, based on Frankenstein’s monster; his vampire wife, Lilly; their son Eddie (a werewolf); Lilly’s father, Grandpa who was a vampire and their niece, Marilyn who was pretty by conventional standards (but the family thought of her as unattractive).  The comedy came from neighbors’ reactions to the Munsters and the family’s interactions with each other and normal folks.

Rob Zombie’s reboot explores how Herman and Lilly first fell in love.  I wanted to like The Munsters.  While I wasn’t a huge fan of the original series, I did watch it as a child.  My wife who is just a few months younger than me was a huge fan.  She had high hopes for the reboot.  We started watching and she was ready to bail after the first few scenes.  Ultimately we stuck with it for about 30 minutes before tapping out.

Part of the problem is the movie starts with several scenes and no Munster in sight.  Instead we have a mad scientist and his halfwit hunchback, Floop (I kid you not.  His name is Floop.  Is that supposed to get a cheap laugh?) robbing graves.  When Floop is sent to retrieve the brain of one of the world’s smartest men, he instead brings back the man’s brother’s brain.  The world’s smartest man and his brother, who happens to be one of the world’s dumbest men both conveniently (for the joke to work) died within hours of each other.

Meanwhile Grandpa is trying to hook Lilly up with a Nosferatu-looking vampire.  We get to see them on a date.  Lilly’s brother (a werewolf) is trying to get Grandpa to sell the house.  Meanwhile the mad scientist is creating Herman.  Oh, and there’s scenes of Grandpa watching Transylvania tv talk shows.

Does this sound like fun or anything even remotely funny?  If you think so, then give The Munsters a go.  It wasn’t for me… or my wife who is a Munster‘s fan.  Of course your mileage may differ.

The Munsters earns 1 of 5 stars.

Francesco Francavilla’s Poster for the Limited Release of George Romero’s Classic “Night of the Living Dead”!

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Francesco Francavilla was asked to design/illustrate a poster for a limited German theatrical release of George Romero’s Night of the Living Dead.  Francesco hit a home run!  I love that Ben is given center stage and we see him surrounded by the living dead. Walking zombies in the foreground and hands seen through the boards over the window.  Bravo!

Source:  Francesco Francavilla 

“Corrective Measures” (2022) Starring Bruce Willis and Michael Rooker / Z-View

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Director:  Sean Patrick O’Reilly

Screenplay:  Sean Patrick O’Reilly based on Corrective Measures by Grant Chastain and Fran Moyano

Stars:  Bruce Willis, Michael Rooker and Tom Cavanagh

Tagline: None

The Overview:  Beware of spoilers…

Overseer Devlin (Rooker) is Warden of a maximum security prison for super powered villains.  When Payback, a vigilante is sent there, things heat up.  Payback sees himself as an avenger who kills super powered villains and the prison is full of them.  In addition as Devlin works out his plan for an early retirement, Lobe (Willis), an evil genius with secret powers is working on his own plan for an early release.

Corrective Measures is a low budget film.  And the amount and type of effects used throughout the film are evidence of it.  Willis and Rooker aren’t given much to do and the film would probably benefited from having their salaries go to unknown actors and a bigger effects budget.  Then again, having Willis and Rooker’s names on the poster probably got more eyes on the film.

State of Emergency earns 2 of 5 stars.

“Lou” (2022) Starring Allison Janney & Jurnee Smollett / Z-View

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Lou (2022)

Director:  Anna Foerster

Screenplay:  Maggie Cohn, Jack Stanley

Stars: Allison Janney, Jurnee Smollett, Logan Marshall-Green, Ridley Asha Bateman, Matt Craven and Daniel Bernhardt

Tagline: None

The Overview:  Beware of spoilers…

Hannah (Smollett) lives on a small, remote island with her daughter Vee (Bateman).  The island is sparsely populated with much of it wilderness.  Hannah’s nearest neighbor is her landlord, Lou (Janney).  Lou is a grumpy, older woman who keeps to herself.

While a storm rages, Vee is kidnapped by her former special forces psycho father (Marshall-Green).  All phone lines are down so Hannah runs to Lou’s place for help.  Surprisingly, Lou seems to come alive.  She arms herself with a pistol and rifle.  Lou tells Hannah she will track and bring back Vee.  Hannah says that her ex-husband is former special forces and he’s crazy.  Lou says she can handle it and starts off.  Hannah follows.  There’s more to Lou than Hannah realized, but can Lou really save her daughter?

Who’d have thought Allison Janey could be an action star?  Surprisingly, she pulls it off!  The fight scenes and action beats are believable.  Janey’s best acting occurs when she comes off as a tired old lady lost in the woods and then takes on two men!  Logan Marshall-Green maintains the right balance as the crazy dad/pitiful son.  Jurnee Smollett and Ridley Asha Bateman are perfect for their roles and look like they could actually be mother and daughter.  If you’re a fan of action movies, you should enjoy Lou.  I did.

Lou earns 3 of 5 stars.