(Welcome to Tales from the Box Office, our column that examines box office miracles, disasters, and everything in between, as well as what we can learn from them.)
"'The Mummy' isn't really trying to scare you – it's trying to entertain you." This is what /Film's Chris Evangelista lovingly wrote of 1999's "The Mummy" in 2021. Directed by Stephen Sommers and starring Brendan Fraser as the swashbuckling Rick O'Connell, the film became a somewhat unexpected hit, so much so that it ended up being one of the highest-grossing films of 1999 overall. Critics were a bit mixed on it in its day. It was an action/adventure film, the likes of which Hollywood had released many times before. Be that as it may, a film designed purely to entertain (rather than to scare) resonated with audiences in a big way. It was pulpy lightning in a bottle.
Universal had, for years,...
"'The Mummy' isn't really trying to scare you – it's trying to entertain you." This is what /Film's Chris Evangelista lovingly wrote of 1999's "The Mummy" in 2021. Directed by Stephen Sommers and starring Brendan Fraser as the swashbuckling Rick O'Connell, the film became a somewhat unexpected hit, so much so that it ended up being one of the highest-grossing films of 1999 overall. Critics were a bit mixed on it in its day. It was an action/adventure film, the likes of which Hollywood had released many times before. Be that as it may, a film designed purely to entertain (rather than to scare) resonated with audiences in a big way. It was pulpy lightning in a bottle.
Universal had, for years,...
- 5/11/2024
- by Ryan Scott
- Slash Film
Imperator Furiosa is, in my humble opinion, one of the most important characters to hit the big screen in the last 20 years. She represents a justified rage often denied to women in post-apocalyptic films, a physical capability typically reserved for men who have been shaved down from slabs of meat on a GyroKone, and serves as a protector of the five wives — a woman looking after other women who are treated as little more than a form of currency. When "Mad Max: Fury Road" director George Miller expressed a desire to make a standalone epic prequel focusing on Furiosa, fans were thrilled at the prospect. Charlize Theron beautifully brought Furiosa to life, so it was only natural that she'd be brought back for the film.
During a special screening of "Furiosa" and a press event with Miller at IMAX Headquarters, he explained that replacing Theron was a matter of logistics.
During a special screening of "Furiosa" and a press event with Miller at IMAX Headquarters, he explained that replacing Theron was a matter of logistics.
- 5/9/2024
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
Imagine being born with the gift of foresight and predicting decades ago that, one day, there would be a live-action "Dune" franchise. And not only would it prove accessible to mainstream audiences, but it would also end up becoming a genuine pop-culture event and eventually spawn three entire movies from one of our most talented filmmakers around. Well, the people have spoken and their wishes couldn't be clearer: more desert, more Arrakis, and more "Dune."
After opening weekend box office numbers for "Dune: Part Two" surpassed early tracking figures, boosted by positive critical responses (including /Film's review by Chris Evangelista) and word of mouth spreading from fan screenings, the obvious has finally become official. Legendary announced that, essentially, it loves money and would like to remain in the money-making business by giving the green light to a third "Dune" movie, which is currently untitled. All signs point to "Dune: Messiah,...
After opening weekend box office numbers for "Dune: Part Two" surpassed early tracking figures, boosted by positive critical responses (including /Film's review by Chris Evangelista) and word of mouth spreading from fan screenings, the obvious has finally become official. Legendary announced that, essentially, it loves money and would like to remain in the money-making business by giving the green light to a third "Dune" movie, which is currently untitled. All signs point to "Dune: Messiah,...
- 4/4/2024
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
Tim Robinson's unmistakable brand of cringe-comedy humor is setting its sights on its next victim(s), but rest assured -- we're all trying to find the guy who did this. That "guy" would probably be all of us who gleefully devoured Netflix's sketch series "I Think You Should Leave" and vaulted the comedian and former "Saturday Night Live" actor to the cream of the crop, turning the worst fictional societal monster this side of Larry David in "Curb Your Enthusiasm" into a ratings juggernaut. We have absolutely no regrets whatsoever.
In one of the wisest comedy decisions made in recent memory, HBO has now decided that it wants in on the Tim Robinson business. You'll undoubtedly want to put his latest production on your radar, titled "The Chair Company." According to Deadline, this new series has been given the go-ahead for a half-hour pilot episode that's executive produced by,...
In one of the wisest comedy decisions made in recent memory, HBO has now decided that it wants in on the Tim Robinson business. You'll undoubtedly want to put his latest production on your radar, titled "The Chair Company." According to Deadline, this new series has been given the go-ahead for a half-hour pilot episode that's executive produced by,...
- 4/2/2024
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
We love horror here at /Film, which gives us an excuse to highlight some of the best horror movies of 2024. The year is still young — it's not quite April yet — but there are already a slew of creepy, spooky, and scary titles to pick through and celebrate. We can only hope and assume this list will grow considerably as 2024 continues on, but for now, let's look back at what's already arrived and highlight some titles that might've completely slipped through the cracks for some of you. We've avoided spoilers to keep these films fresh for you. You're welcome. And now, here are the best horror movies of 2024 so far.
Read more: The 50 Scariest Horror Movie Monsters Ranked
Blackout
Larry Fessenden, indie horror auteur, is back — with a werewolf movie. But "Blackout" isn't your typical lycanthrope flick. This is more like a quirky indie character drama that also happens to be about a werewolf.
Read more: The 50 Scariest Horror Movie Monsters Ranked
Blackout
Larry Fessenden, indie horror auteur, is back — with a werewolf movie. But "Blackout" isn't your typical lycanthrope flick. This is more like a quirky indie character drama that also happens to be about a werewolf.
- 3/25/2024
- by SlashFilm Staff
- Slash Film
The 2024 Academy Awards are over, and as many predicted, The big winner of the night was Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer." The unlikely megahit of 2023 about the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer, his work with the Manhattan Project in the lead up to the Trinity Test and the creation of the atomic bomb, as well as his eventual fall from political grace in the '50s, ended taking home several Oscars. These included Nolan winning Best Director and "Oppenheimer" winning Best Picture."
The film was nearly universally praised upon its release last summer. Our own Chris Evangelista described "Oppenheimer" in his review as "not just a movie, it's a spectacle. A film that asks tough questions and then dares to not give us any easy answers." It went on to become the highest-grossing biopic of all time.
At first glance, "Oppenheimer" is an obvious choice for a Best Picture winner. After all,...
The film was nearly universally praised upon its release last summer. Our own Chris Evangelista described "Oppenheimer" in his review as "not just a movie, it's a spectacle. A film that asks tough questions and then dares to not give us any easy answers." It went on to become the highest-grossing biopic of all time.
At first glance, "Oppenheimer" is an obvious choice for a Best Picture winner. After all,...
- 3/11/2024
- by Rafael Motamayor
- Slash Film
Warning: This article contains spicy spoilers for "Dune: Part Two."
Words are everything in the story of "Dune." Empires rise and fall based on a single message sent from the desert world of Arrakis, as we see late in "Part Two" when Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) reaches through the stars to challenge the very might of the Padishah Emperor (Christopher Walken). In author Frank Herbert's massively influential 1965 novel, meanwhile, almost every chapter is preceded by short excerpts written by Princess Irulan (whom we finally meet in the sequel, played by Florence Pugh) laying out assorted sayings, family history, and other character-specific insights detailing the legend of Paul Atreides. At the very end of the book, Herbert even includes an exhaustive glossary, laying out a "Terminology of the Imperium" for readers who might have found themselves adrift at sea amid the complicated world-building, terminology, and other incredibly nerdy mythology compiled by the sci-fi writer.
Words are everything in the story of "Dune." Empires rise and fall based on a single message sent from the desert world of Arrakis, as we see late in "Part Two" when Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) reaches through the stars to challenge the very might of the Padishah Emperor (Christopher Walken). In author Frank Herbert's massively influential 1965 novel, meanwhile, almost every chapter is preceded by short excerpts written by Princess Irulan (whom we finally meet in the sequel, played by Florence Pugh) laying out assorted sayings, family history, and other character-specific insights detailing the legend of Paul Atreides. At the very end of the book, Herbert even includes an exhaustive glossary, laying out a "Terminology of the Imperium" for readers who might have found themselves adrift at sea amid the complicated world-building, terminology, and other incredibly nerdy mythology compiled by the sci-fi writer.
- 3/1/2024
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
This article contains spoilers for "Dune: Part Two."
Frank Herbert's "Dune" is one of the most influential and praised science-fiction books of all time. Herbert's novel is a fun space adventure that also contains complex themes, a poignant message about the dangers of messiahs, meticulous worldbuilding that few writers have ever replicated, and nuanced characters, all while being weird as heck.
Denis Villeneuve's "Dune: Part One" (aka simply "Dune") did a great job of making Herbert's story feel like a true cinematic event -- one with an eye for giant spectacle and stunning cinematography. The filmmaker's "Dune: Part Two" only doubles down on the themes from the first part, resulting in what Chris Evangelista described in his review for /Film as "one of the bleakest blockbusters ever made."
But as fantastic and full of action as the movie is, "Dune: Part Two" also has a very dense narrative...
Frank Herbert's "Dune" is one of the most influential and praised science-fiction books of all time. Herbert's novel is a fun space adventure that also contains complex themes, a poignant message about the dangers of messiahs, meticulous worldbuilding that few writers have ever replicated, and nuanced characters, all while being weird as heck.
Denis Villeneuve's "Dune: Part One" (aka simply "Dune") did a great job of making Herbert's story feel like a true cinematic event -- one with an eye for giant spectacle and stunning cinematography. The filmmaker's "Dune: Part Two" only doubles down on the themes from the first part, resulting in what Chris Evangelista described in his review for /Film as "one of the bleakest blockbusters ever made."
But as fantastic and full of action as the movie is, "Dune: Part Two" also has a very dense narrative...
- 2/29/2024
- by Rafael Motamayor
- Slash Film
Denis Villeneuve isn't exactly what one might call an action director. His early thrillers like "Prisoners" and "Sicario" are slow-burn affairs punctuated by graphic bursts of violence while his sci-fi hit "Arrival" devotes most of its runtime to characters talking about linguistics. Even in "Blade Runner 2049" and "Dune," the action scenes are swift and brutal yet relatively few and far between. That changes somewhat with "Dune: Part Two," a film in which young Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) and the Fremen unleash the full might of their desert power as they go to war with the ruthless House Harkonnen and its ally, the power-hungry Shaddam IV (Christopher Walken), the Padishah Emperor of the Known Universe, in a battle for the planet of Arrakis.
"Dune: Part Two" also sees Paul putting all that one-on-one training with his gruff mentor, Gurney Halleck (Josh Brolin), in the first film to good use as...
"Dune: Part Two" also sees Paul putting all that one-on-one training with his gruff mentor, Gurney Halleck (Josh Brolin), in the first film to good use as...
- 2/27/2024
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
Denis Villeneuve is on one heck of a winning streak these days -- a "heater," as the kids might say. The director behind jaw-dropping films like "Enemy" and "Sicario" followed up his early success by turning himself into a household name, first making 2016's "Arrival" into an Academy Awards darling before unleashing "Blade Runner 2049" on the masses. Now, the filmmaker who once made a feature-length thriller about Hugh Jackman punching Paul Dano into a pulp has graduated to the blockbuster big leagues. With 2021's "Dune," Villeneuve and co-writers Jon Spaihts and Eric Roth took a classic sci-fi novel long considered to be "unadaptable" and somehow delivered a crowd-pleasing hit, one that has had audiences hungry for the sequel ever since.
Now that delays caused by the pandemic and then the writers' and actors' strikes are behind us, it's finally time for fans to inhale a handful of spice and...
Now that delays caused by the pandemic and then the writers' and actors' strikes are behind us, it's finally time for fans to inhale a handful of spice and...
- 2/26/2024
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
"Terrifier 2" might have been a surprise hit in 2022, proving too brutal for even some seasoned horror fans. But you'd never have expected such success based on the original movie. Released in 2016, "Terrifier" took director Damien Leone's psychotic slasher Art the Clown, previously the star of several short films, and built a whole movie around his gory exploits. Sadly, the result was less than impressive. As /Film's Chris Evangelista put it in his "Terrifier 2" review:
"The first "Terrifier" is what I'd call 'crap' [...] While I freely admit the film is loaded with some incredibly practical gore, the movie itself is little more than a plotless, storyless, valueless excuse to showcase that gore and not much else."
Luckily, Leone stepped up his game for "Terrifier 2," as evidenced by the much improved critical response, the $15 million it made on a $250,000 budget, and the fact we'll soon be getting the highly-anticipated "Terrifier 3.
"The first "Terrifier" is what I'd call 'crap' [...] While I freely admit the film is loaded with some incredibly practical gore, the movie itself is little more than a plotless, storyless, valueless excuse to showcase that gore and not much else."
Luckily, Leone stepped up his game for "Terrifier 2," as evidenced by the much improved critical response, the $15 million it made on a $250,000 budget, and the fact we'll soon be getting the highly-anticipated "Terrifier 3.
- 12/30/2023
- by Joe Roberts
- Slash Film
Warning: This article contains spoilers for the latest episode of "Monarch: Legacy of Monsters."
While "Monarch" may have started off a bit slow by leaning hard on its mystery-box storytelling in the early going (as /Film's Chris Evangelista pointed out in his review here), the smoke is finally starting to clear and the show's overall goal is rounding into shape — along with a heavy dose of even more Monster-Verse connections. Last week's episode "Will the Real May Please Stand Up?" featured a major Easter egg referencing the future events of "Godzilla vs Kong," but ended on a cliffhanger that didn't clarify exactly what the present-day Lee Shaw (Kurt Russell) is up to with his renegade force of former Monarch operatives. Those questions have now been answered emphatically as of episode 8 and, in the process, we've been given a roadmap to one of the wildest twists incorporated in the movies.
This week's adventure,...
While "Monarch" may have started off a bit slow by leaning hard on its mystery-box storytelling in the early going (as /Film's Chris Evangelista pointed out in his review here), the smoke is finally starting to clear and the show's overall goal is rounding into shape — along with a heavy dose of even more Monster-Verse connections. Last week's episode "Will the Real May Please Stand Up?" featured a major Easter egg referencing the future events of "Godzilla vs Kong," but ended on a cliffhanger that didn't clarify exactly what the present-day Lee Shaw (Kurt Russell) is up to with his renegade force of former Monarch operatives. Those questions have now been answered emphatically as of episode 8 and, in the process, we've been given a roadmap to one of the wildest twists incorporated in the movies.
This week's adventure,...
- 12/29/2023
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
"Terrifier 2" caused a stir in 2022 for reportedly making audience members vomit and faint at screenings. But there was more to the success of director Damien Leone's $250,000 indie horror than sensationalist headlines. "Terrifier 2" was memorable for David Howard Thornton's committed performance as Art the Clown, a seemingly invulnerable manifestation of evil who embarks on a Halloween massacre. Thornton had played the character in 2016's "Terrifier," but with the sequel becoming as successful as it did, Art was cemented as perhaps the first original slasher character to make any kind of significant cultural impact since Ghostface.
Of course, it helped that "Terrifier 2" was even bigger, weirder, and bloodier than the original, delivering 138 minutes of unadulterated brutality while still presenting a more fully realized plot than its predecessor. According to horror director extraordinaire Mike Flanagan, "Terrifier 2" was worthy of the designation "MegaSlasher" for the way in which...
Of course, it helped that "Terrifier 2" was even bigger, weirder, and bloodier than the original, delivering 138 minutes of unadulterated brutality while still presenting a more fully realized plot than its predecessor. According to horror director extraordinaire Mike Flanagan, "Terrifier 2" was worthy of the designation "MegaSlasher" for the way in which...
- 11/8/2023
- by Joe Roberts
- Slash Film
Death, taxes, and low-budget horror movies becoming breakout smash hits upon release -- more and more, these seem to be the only certainties in life and, needless to say, we're excited about one of them more than the others. Everything about the success of "Talk to Me" defies convention, from the unusual career trajectory of sibling directing duo Danny Philippou and Michael Philippou to the fact that a sequel has already been put into development -- a rarity for indie studio A24. But the long odds haven't stopped the film from flying high and scaring the heck out of audiences around the world, and after its incredibly profitable theatrical run, horror fans are about to have the chance to catch "Talk to Me" without even having to step outside the door.
And honestly, while we here at /Film are unabashed champions of the big-screen experience, watching this particular movie at...
And honestly, while we here at /Film are unabashed champions of the big-screen experience, watching this particular movie at...
- 9/12/2023
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
(Welcome to Scariest Scene Ever, a column dedicated to the most pulse-pounding moments in horror with your tour guides, horror experts Chris Evangelista and Matt Donato. In this edition, Matt gets back in the habit with "The Nun.")
I'm probably in the minority here, but I'll take "The Nun" over "The Nun II" any day. Corin Hardy's 2018 Conjuring Universe spinoff starring Valak as the franchise's popular demon of the cloth was the first entry that felt like it wasn't trying to imitate James Wan's style. Notes of gothic vibes and Hammer horror imbued a sense of individuality into "The Nun," which eventually became one of the Conjuring Universe's most financially successful films despite poor reception from critics and audiences alike. There are dozens of us who appreciate "The Nun" and will champion its misunderstood glory, one "Scariest Scene Ever" article at a time.
With "The Nun II" haunting...
I'm probably in the minority here, but I'll take "The Nun" over "The Nun II" any day. Corin Hardy's 2018 Conjuring Universe spinoff starring Valak as the franchise's popular demon of the cloth was the first entry that felt like it wasn't trying to imitate James Wan's style. Notes of gothic vibes and Hammer horror imbued a sense of individuality into "The Nun," which eventually became one of the Conjuring Universe's most financially successful films despite poor reception from critics and audiences alike. There are dozens of us who appreciate "The Nun" and will champion its misunderstood glory, one "Scariest Scene Ever" article at a time.
With "The Nun II" haunting...
- 9/8/2023
- by Matt Donato
- Slash Film
Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer" just might be the biggest surprise of 2023, a tremendous box office success that tells the crowd-pleasing, four-quadrant story of ... J. Robert Oppenheimer's work on the atomic bomb.
In his review for /Film, Chris Evangelista called the film "a conflicting movie with an unknowable core. It's also one of the best movies of the year." Nolan's best movie, "Oppenheimer" unites virtually every white male actor in Hollywood for a film with endless talk about physics and math that still manages to be thrilling.
Nolan's crowning achievement is condensing the gargantuan 700-page biography "American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer" into a functional screenplay, but that meant cutting some things. This made the film a target for audiences disappointed that the film undermined the point of view of those who were wronged, attacked, harmed, and/or killed by Oppenheimer's work, like the people of Hiroshima and Nagasaki,...
In his review for /Film, Chris Evangelista called the film "a conflicting movie with an unknowable core. It's also one of the best movies of the year." Nolan's best movie, "Oppenheimer" unites virtually every white male actor in Hollywood for a film with endless talk about physics and math that still manages to be thrilling.
Nolan's crowning achievement is condensing the gargantuan 700-page biography "American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer" into a functional screenplay, but that meant cutting some things. This made the film a target for audiences disappointed that the film undermined the point of view of those who were wronged, attacked, harmed, and/or killed by Oppenheimer's work, like the people of Hiroshima and Nagasaki,...
- 9/7/2023
- by Rafael Motamayor
- Slash Film
It's not quite Spooky Season just yet, but Universal is getting a head start on the festivities. After unveiling "The Last Voyage of the Demeter" in theaters to rather split reviews, the monster movie set on a boat unfortunately ended up foundering in the stormy waters of the box office. Those disappointing returns hopefully won't put an end to more outside-the-box adaptations of the classic Universal monsters, as this film was based on a single haunting chapter from Bram Stoker's original "Dracula" novel, but that's cold comfort to the cast and crew of hardworking, monster-loving talent.
In a sign of the times, however, it's taken only a few weeks after the theatrical release of "The Last Voyage of the Demeter" for the horror flick to stretch its leathery wings and make its way to a device near you. Having lost most of its screens to bigger blockbusters like "Blue Beetle,...
In a sign of the times, however, it's taken only a few weeks after the theatrical release of "The Last Voyage of the Demeter" for the horror flick to stretch its leathery wings and make its way to a device near you. Having lost most of its screens to bigger blockbusters like "Blue Beetle,...
- 8/29/2023
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
(Welcome to Scariest Scene Ever, a column dedicated to the most pulse-pounding moments in horror with your tour guides, horror experts Chris Evangelista and Matt Donato. In this edition, Chris asks "What's your favorite scary movie?" with "Scream.")
"Scream" was a big deal. It cannot be overstated how much Wes Craven and Kevin Williamson's meta-slasher changed the game for horror. The genre felt more than a little stale in the 1990s, and then along came "Scream" in '96. The film was hip, it was bloody, it was scary, and it was funny. And it was a big damn hit, too, hauling in $173 million against a $14 million budget. In the aftermath, self-aware horror films with hot young casts became all the rage, all of them trying to ape what made "Scream" so special while never quite recapturing the magic of the original. It's also important to remember that "Scream" is scary.
"Scream" was a big deal. It cannot be overstated how much Wes Craven and Kevin Williamson's meta-slasher changed the game for horror. The genre felt more than a little stale in the 1990s, and then along came "Scream" in '96. The film was hip, it was bloody, it was scary, and it was funny. And it was a big damn hit, too, hauling in $173 million against a $14 million budget. In the aftermath, self-aware horror films with hot young casts became all the rage, all of them trying to ape what made "Scream" so special while never quite recapturing the magic of the original. It's also important to remember that "Scream" is scary.
- 8/25/2023
- by Chris Evangelista
- Slash Film
“Retribution,” the latest action film from Liam Neeson, hit theaters Friday, and the reviews have been harsh, with some critics calling the film a “paycheck movie,” and that the film is “devoid of thrills, excitement, or purpose.”
“Maybe it’s time for Liam Neeson to retire from the action-movie game,” Rolling Stone posed with its headline.
At press time, the film ranked as rotten on Rotten Tomatoes‘ aggregated ratings, with a dismal 30% score based off of 40 reviews.
Vulture critic Bilge Ebiri wrote, “This is a paycheck movie, to be sure, the kind of direct-to-video title that gets a theatrical release because the lead actor still has star power. But he and his director have earned that paycheck.”
Rogerebert.com critic Peter Sobczynski, meanwhile, took a harsher stance. “A film so devoid of thrills, excitement, or purpose that it seems to have been custom-made to play in empty multiplexes during the...
“Maybe it’s time for Liam Neeson to retire from the action-movie game,” Rolling Stone posed with its headline.
At press time, the film ranked as rotten on Rotten Tomatoes‘ aggregated ratings, with a dismal 30% score based off of 40 reviews.
Vulture critic Bilge Ebiri wrote, “This is a paycheck movie, to be sure, the kind of direct-to-video title that gets a theatrical release because the lead actor still has star power. But he and his director have earned that paycheck.”
Rogerebert.com critic Peter Sobczynski, meanwhile, took a harsher stance. “A film so devoid of thrills, excitement, or purpose that it seems to have been custom-made to play in empty multiplexes during the...
- 8/25/2023
- by Umberto Gonzalez
- The Wrap
Ben Wheatley's new monster movie "Meg 2: The Trench" is about ... you know what? I'm fairly positive most of the people seeking out "Meg 2: The Trench" likely won't give much thought to what the film is about. The two "Meg" movies are exploitation cinema par excellence, providing basic, lizard-brain thrills for bloodthirsty summer audiences. In the first "The Meg," a massive prehistoric megalodon managed to escape from its deep, deep sea hunting grounds and flee to the surface to munch on bite-sized humans. Only the overpowering manliness of Jason Statham could keep the shark monster at bay.
In "Meg 2," a group of deep-sea explorers accidentally puncture the warm-water barrier that ordinarily keeps monstrous leviathans at bay, and unwittingly unleashes three megalodons, several octopodes, and a bunch of ravenous lizard monsters. Once again, Jason Statham has to dispatch the creatures himself, this time aided by martial arts superstar Wu Jing.
In "Meg 2," a group of deep-sea explorers accidentally puncture the warm-water barrier that ordinarily keeps monstrous leviathans at bay, and unwittingly unleashes three megalodons, several octopodes, and a bunch of ravenous lizard monsters. Once again, Jason Statham has to dispatch the creatures himself, this time aided by martial arts superstar Wu Jing.
- 8/24/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
The folks at Studiocanal and Rialto Pictures have released a trailer, as well as the release date, for "Cat Person." The movie is based on Kristen Roupenians' 2017 short story of the same name that was published in The New Yorker, and features Emilia Jones from the Best Picture winner "Coda" having the hook-up from hell with Nicholas Braun, aka cousin Greg from "Succession." Bad hook-ups are common in the age of internet dating, sure, but in this case, things go from bad to downright scary.
Susanna Fogel directed the film, with Michelle Ashford ("Masters of Sex") penning the screenplay. The adaptation of the short story is due to hit theaters in October and figures to be a conversation starter as part of the fall moviegoing season. Let's roll the trailer.
Read more: The 19 Greatest Movie Couples Of All Time Ranked
The Cat Person Trailer Is The Ultimate Hook-Up Horror Story...
Susanna Fogel directed the film, with Michelle Ashford ("Masters of Sex") penning the screenplay. The adaptation of the short story is due to hit theaters in October and figures to be a conversation starter as part of the fall moviegoing season. Let's roll the trailer.
Read more: The 19 Greatest Movie Couples Of All Time Ranked
The Cat Person Trailer Is The Ultimate Hook-Up Horror Story...
- 8/24/2023
- by Ryan Scott
- Slash Film
Who among us has never wondered about the role fate plays in love? No matter how satisfied we may feel with our current station in life, sometimes all it takes is a single reminder of the past to turn everything on its head. The premise of writer/director Celine Song's feature debut may not be altogether novel, but its treatment of an incredibly human and culturally specific love triangle sets "Past Lives" apart as one of the year's absolute best films. /Film's Chris Evangelista heaped praise on what he called "...a stunning, melancholy, altogether beautiful story of two people who keep missing their chance to be together -- at least in this lifetime" in his review out of Sundance, while yours truly wrote about how it was the best film you missed out on in June of this year.
And now, the deeply moving and wonderfully nuanced drama is...
And now, the deeply moving and wonderfully nuanced drama is...
- 8/22/2023
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
This weekend's major new release in theaters is "The Last Voyage of the Demeter," which has finally made its way to the big screen after spending literal decades stuck in development hell. Unfortunately, it feels a little bit like Universal Pictures isn't giving the big horror flick the push one might expect for a Dracula movie with an A-list cast. But a couple of cinematic icons in the form of Stephen King and Guillermo del Toro are out here spreading the gospel, as they've both had very nice things to say about the film.
King, one of the most prolific authors of our time whose works have inspired movies like "It" and this year's "The Boogeyman," took to Twitter recently to share his thoughts on director André Øvredal's latest. King admitted his skepticism, but the film ended up winning him over. "I was doubtful about 'The Last Voyage of the Demeter,...
King, one of the most prolific authors of our time whose works have inspired movies like "It" and this year's "The Boogeyman," took to Twitter recently to share his thoughts on director André Øvredal's latest. King admitted his skepticism, but the film ended up winning him over. "I was doubtful about 'The Last Voyage of the Demeter,...
- 8/12/2023
- by Ryan Scott
- Slash Film
For me, 2020 was already a rather stressful year before the Covid lockdowns went into effect for reasons unrelated to the pandemic. Even as misfortunes both personal and professional piled up throughout the months that followed, the virus, funnily enough, was never directly to blame for my woes. Not that I can really complain; I certainly had a far easier go of it in 2020 than other people, especially when it came to my mental health. My years of working remotely and being a borderline hermit were finally paying off!
You could say my experience was a bit like George Clooney's in "The Midnight Sky." Clooney, who also directed the 2020 film, stars as Augustine Lofthouse, a scientist, and the lone person holed up at an Arctic research station that's been evacuated in the wake of a mysterious global catastrophe that's left most of the Earth's surface uninhabitable in the year 2049. Augustine...
You could say my experience was a bit like George Clooney's in "The Midnight Sky." Clooney, who also directed the 2020 film, stars as Augustine Lofthouse, a scientist, and the lone person holed up at an Arctic research station that's been evacuated in the wake of a mysterious global catastrophe that's left most of the Earth's surface uninhabitable in the year 2049. Augustine...
- 8/12/2023
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
(Welcome to Scariest Scene Ever, a column dedicated to the most pulse-pounding moments in horror with your tour guides, horror experts Chris Evangelista and Matt Donato. In this edition, Matt wants you to "Let the Right One In.")
When Roger Ebert's right, he's right. The prolific film critic called Tomas Alfredson's "Let the Right One In" the best modern vampire movie upon its release, still relevant praise over a decade later. The movie is many things — sweet, compassionate, bloody, and supremely dark. Vampirism is what connects two outcast children, as they perform unspeakable acts for the benefit of each other. Alfredson stays in command of a vampire tale that's often an emotional journey first, relying on adolescent actors who shoulder the beloved international hit.
There's a specific moment where Virginia bursts into flames that is, probably, the most horror-forward shot of the entire film. That'd be most other...
When Roger Ebert's right, he's right. The prolific film critic called Tomas Alfredson's "Let the Right One In" the best modern vampire movie upon its release, still relevant praise over a decade later. The movie is many things — sweet, compassionate, bloody, and supremely dark. Vampirism is what connects two outcast children, as they perform unspeakable acts for the benefit of each other. Alfredson stays in command of a vampire tale that's often an emotional journey first, relying on adolescent actors who shoulder the beloved international hit.
There's a specific moment where Virginia bursts into flames that is, probably, the most horror-forward shot of the entire film. That'd be most other...
- 8/11/2023
- by Matt Donato
- Slash Film
In the spirit of fellow A24 horror filmmaker Ti West, "Talk To Me" directors Danny and Michael Philippou have just revealed to The Hollywood Reporter (via Bloody Disgusting) that they already have a whole prequel to their new hit movie locked and loaded. The filmmaking siblings behind the terrifying new seance flick told THR that they've already completely shot a screen life movie about the first possessed character audiences meet in the movie, Sunny Johnson's Duckett.
"We actually shot an entire Duckett prequel already," Danny Philippou told the outlet. "It's told entirely through the perspective of mobile phones and social media, so maybe down the line we can release that." It's unclear at this point whether the film is another feature or a short, but it sounds like it'll follow in the footsteps of movies like "Unfriended" and "Searching" by telling poor, doomed Duckett's full story through on-screen media.
"We actually shot an entire Duckett prequel already," Danny Philippou told the outlet. "It's told entirely through the perspective of mobile phones and social media, so maybe down the line we can release that." It's unclear at this point whether the film is another feature or a short, but it sounds like it'll follow in the footsteps of movies like "Unfriended" and "Searching" by telling poor, doomed Duckett's full story through on-screen media.
- 8/3/2023
- by Valerie Ettenhofer
- Slash Film
If the Trinity Test was the most historic moment of the 20th century, surely the bombshell box office success that was "Barbenheimer" is the 21st-century equivalent. Ok, maybe not. But "Barbenheimer" did feel somewhat culturally historic in the way it captured our collective attention — and our money. Greta Gerwig's "Barbie" brought in an outrageous $162 million on its opening weekend while Christopher Nolan managed to hold his own with "Oppenheimer" making an impressive $82 million without the aid of brand recognition or existing IP.
Still, Nolan had the benefit of telling the story of a man the director has been on record as calling the most important figure in history. On July 16, 1945, J. Robert Oppenheimer and his team of physicists watched as their efforts to harness the power of Quantum physics lead to the first test of the most destructive weapon ever created. That famous Trinity Test was, as "Oppenheimer" shows,...
Still, Nolan had the benefit of telling the story of a man the director has been on record as calling the most important figure in history. On July 16, 1945, J. Robert Oppenheimer and his team of physicists watched as their efforts to harness the power of Quantum physics lead to the first test of the most destructive weapon ever created. That famous Trinity Test was, as "Oppenheimer" shows,...
- 8/1/2023
- by Joe Roberts
- Slash Film
(Welcome to Scariest Scene Ever, a column dedicated to the most pulse-pounding moments in horror with your tour guides, horror experts Chris Evangelista and Matt Donato. In this edition, Chris comes down the stairs with "The Exorcist" Director's Cut.)
In 2000, "The Exorcist" returned to theaters. But this wasn't the version of the film horror hounds were used to — it was a director's cut billed as "The Version You've Never Seen." This cut restored several deleted scenes to the film, including a new ending which lightens the mood a bit (whether or not that's a good thing is up to you; many critics found the additional ending scene superfluous). Most of the new additions to the film are small — a subliminal face here and there. But there's one particular restored scene that's become the stuff of legend: the infamous spider walk.
The Setup
Released after Christmas in 1973, "The Exorcist" became a smash hit,...
In 2000, "The Exorcist" returned to theaters. But this wasn't the version of the film horror hounds were used to — it was a director's cut billed as "The Version You've Never Seen." This cut restored several deleted scenes to the film, including a new ending which lightens the mood a bit (whether or not that's a good thing is up to you; many critics found the additional ending scene superfluous). Most of the new additions to the film are small — a subliminal face here and there. But there's one particular restored scene that's become the stuff of legend: the infamous spider walk.
The Setup
Released after Christmas in 1973, "The Exorcist" became a smash hit,...
- 7/28/2023
- by Chris Evangelista
- Slash Film
2023 has certainly given all those aspiring filmmakers on YouTube a good reason to keep chasing their dreams. First, there was the underground success of "Skinarmarink," an avant-garde horror film that was conceived by writer and director Kyle Edward Ball back when he was operating his YouTube channel, Bitesized Nightmares. Now, Danny and Michael Philippou, the Australian brothers who have amassed millions of subscribers thanks to their horror-comedy shorts on their YouTube channel, RackaRacka, are riding a wave of critical accolades thanks to their feature directing debut, "Talk to Me."
The film, which was written by Danny Philippou and Bill Hinzman, centers on a group of Australian teenagers who decide to mess with a supernatural artifact in the shape of a dead medium's embalmed hand and forearm, only to learn the hard way what happens when you recklessly meddle with these sorts of things. Chris Evangelista reviewed "Talk to Me" for...
The film, which was written by Danny Philippou and Bill Hinzman, centers on a group of Australian teenagers who decide to mess with a supernatural artifact in the shape of a dead medium's embalmed hand and forearm, only to learn the hard way what happens when you recklessly meddle with these sorts of things. Chris Evangelista reviewed "Talk to Me" for...
- 7/28/2023
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
Warning: This article contains spoilers for "Oppenheimer."
Despite what the loudest voices on social media might have you believe, the job of any biopic isn't necessarily to reenact history with complete accuracy -- that's what textbooks and documentaries are for, after all. Rather, it's much more satisfying when it's about storytellers finding the emotional, humanizing truth at the core of figures whom we'll never truly know or understand. That's never stopped anyone from pointing out such historical errors and exaggerations anyway, of course, but do those complaints become more meaningful when the direct descendants of real-world figures are the ones voicing such thoughts?
Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer" is destined to land at or near the top of several "Best of" lists by the end of the year (check out Chris Evangelista's review for /Film here), but at least one member of J. Robert Oppenheimer's family has a certain misgiving...
Despite what the loudest voices on social media might have you believe, the job of any biopic isn't necessarily to reenact history with complete accuracy -- that's what textbooks and documentaries are for, after all. Rather, it's much more satisfying when it's about storytellers finding the emotional, humanizing truth at the core of figures whom we'll never truly know or understand. That's never stopped anyone from pointing out such historical errors and exaggerations anyway, of course, but do those complaints become more meaningful when the direct descendants of real-world figures are the ones voicing such thoughts?
Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer" is destined to land at or near the top of several "Best of" lists by the end of the year (check out Chris Evangelista's review for /Film here), but at least one member of J. Robert Oppenheimer's family has a certain misgiving...
- 7/28/2023
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
The filmmakers behind the year's most terrifying horror film, "Talk to Me," have a fascinating backstory that rivals any of the supernatural chills and thrills in their feature film debut. The Australian sibling duo of Danny and Michael Philippou first got their start as YouTubers, as we've previously written about here. But don't let their humble beginnings fool you. The pair of movie aficionados certainly didn't shy away from wearing their cinematic influences on their sleeves when it came time to write and film "Talk to Me."
The filmmakers revealed as much during a recent interview with /Film's Jacob Hall. In our review of the film, Chris Evangelista made note of the pervasive Sam Raimi influence, particularly through the usage of gore and makeup that feels of a piece with "The Evil Dead." But as it turns out, their specific inspirations for their newest film go even deeper than that.
The filmmakers revealed as much during a recent interview with /Film's Jacob Hall. In our review of the film, Chris Evangelista made note of the pervasive Sam Raimi influence, particularly through the usage of gore and makeup that feels of a piece with "The Evil Dead." But as it turns out, their specific inspirations for their newest film go even deeper than that.
- 7/26/2023
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
Though they've collaborated on five previous movies, Cillian Murphy was always desperate to play the lead in a Christopher Nolan movie. So, when he got the call to play J. Robert Oppenheimer in Nolan's adaptation of Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin's biography, "American Prometheus," he had to, in his own words, "sit down" because "it was kind of overwhelming."
It had to be overwhelming; not just because Murphy had been waiting so long to lead a Nolan film, but because of the epic nature of the story being told. Portraying the creator of the atomic bomb -- a man who you could easily argue is one of, if not the most important figure of the 20th Century -- must have been a vertiginous prospect, especially considering the truly dramatic journey Oppenheimer went on to create and then come to terms with the effects of his invention. Then there...
It had to be overwhelming; not just because Murphy had been waiting so long to lead a Nolan film, but because of the epic nature of the story being told. Portraying the creator of the atomic bomb -- a man who you could easily argue is one of, if not the most important figure of the 20th Century -- must have been a vertiginous prospect, especially considering the truly dramatic journey Oppenheimer went on to create and then come to terms with the effects of his invention. Then there...
- 7/25/2023
- by Joe Roberts
- Slash Film
Like a lot of people, I was fairly chilly on Christopher Nolan's "Tenet" at first. There was stuff I liked, for sure, but the whole thing was a little too Nolan-y for my tastes. Upon rewatching it, however, I found myself warming up to it. It's a vibes film about beautiful people in impeccably tailored outfits trotting around the world, but with an idiosyncratic touch that makes it less accessible than the James Bond and "Mission: Impossible" films. A lot of that is to do with the actual plot, which involves time inversion (a sci-fi notion best described as not not time travel) and a race to stop a doomsday weapon from destroying the world.
A doomsday weapon, albeit one that actually exists, is also at the heart of Nolan's latest film, "Oppenheimer." In fact, it was "Tenet" star Robert Pattinson who planted the idea of making a biopic...
A doomsday weapon, albeit one that actually exists, is also at the heart of Nolan's latest film, "Oppenheimer." In fact, it was "Tenet" star Robert Pattinson who planted the idea of making a biopic...
- 7/21/2023
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
“What We Do in the Shadows” will soon come screeching back to our TV screens as season five will premiere next month on July 13. But before that, season four will hope to have secured some well-earned Emmy nominations. The mockumentary vampire comedy show was created by Jermaine Clement and is based on his and Taika Waititi‘s 2014 film of the same name. It follows four vampires living together in modern-day New York City — Matt Berry‘s Laszlo, Kayvan Novak‘s Nandor, Natasia Demetriou‘s Nadja, and Mark Proksch‘s Colin Robinson. But while the vampires are the stars of the show, the unsung hero is Harvey Guillén as Nandor’s familiar, Guillermo.
Guillermo has hoped to be made into a vampire since season one but instead has remained his master’s long-suffering familiar. While the vampire actors get to hilariously ham it up as people from different time periods, Guillén is the grounding factor.
Guillermo has hoped to be made into a vampire since season one but instead has remained his master’s long-suffering familiar. While the vampire actors get to hilariously ham it up as people from different time periods, Guillén is the grounding factor.
- 6/23/2023
- by Jacob Sarkisian
- Gold Derby
A lot of peculiar things happened during the early months of the pandemic some 12,000 years ago in 2020. With everybody stuck at home, many people tried their hand at baking bread or singing sea shanties on TikTok. Others devoted their free time to playing "Animal Crossing: New Horizons" and remain very proud of the house they built for themselves, Tom Nook's parasitic loans be damned. Oh, and with most theaters shut down, viewers were left with little choice but to turn to streaming services for their entertainment.
Perhaps no movie benefitted more from the lockdowns than Netflix's "Extraction." A cross between "John Wick" and "Man on Fire," the movie stars Chris Hemsworth as Tyler Rake, a remarkably named black ops mercenary with a checkered past who's hired to rescue the son of an incarcerated Indian drug lord. In his review for /Film, Chris Evangelista wrote, "Bathed in a sickly yellow filter from beginning to end,...
Perhaps no movie benefitted more from the lockdowns than Netflix's "Extraction." A cross between "John Wick" and "Man on Fire," the movie stars Chris Hemsworth as Tyler Rake, a remarkably named black ops mercenary with a checkered past who's hired to rescue the son of an incarcerated Indian drug lord. In his review for /Film, Chris Evangelista wrote, "Bathed in a sickly yellow filter from beginning to end,...
- 4/3/2023
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
Jonathan Majors is having a great year on screen. The actor began his film and TV career just five years ago, but this month alone, he's starred in two number-one movies at the box office. After making a name for himself as a poetic supporting character in "The Last Black Man in San Francisco," taking on the main role in HBO's "Lovecraft Country," and appearing in films like "Da 5 Bloods" and "Devotion," Majors added some major franchises to his repertoire. He can currently be spotted going head to head with Michael B. Jordan in "Creed III," as well as making his big-screen Marvel debut as Kang the Conquerer in "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania."
Both of Majors' 2023 performances to date have earned him praise from critics and fans, but by the time the next award cycle runs around, the actor's name could be on the tip of everyone's tongue...
Both of Majors' 2023 performances to date have earned him praise from critics and fans, but by the time the next award cycle runs around, the actor's name could be on the tip of everyone's tongue...
- 3/25/2023
- by Valerie Ettenhofer
- Slash Film
The sun never sets in the world of streaming. After a jam-packed March that saw both "Star Wars" and "Star Trek" series going head-to-head with "Ted Lasso" -- not to mention, the much-buzzed-about return of "Yellowjackets" and the final hurrah of the Shakespearean tragedy that is "Succession" — it seems April is angling to keep the party going. Between "Schmigadoon!" and "The Afterparty" coming back, "Barry" setting sail for the Grey Havens with its final season, and whatever the hell Tara Hernandez and Damon Lindelof have cooked up for us with "Mrs. Davis," next month won't be hurting for appointment TV.
Not about to be left in the dust by its competitors, Netflix has its own plans for April. In addition to its typical monthly smattering of non-exclusive titles, the streamer will be dropping a 30th anniversary "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers" reunion special, "Once & Always," just to make all you Millennials...
Not about to be left in the dust by its competitors, Netflix has its own plans for April. In addition to its typical monthly smattering of non-exclusive titles, the streamer will be dropping a 30th anniversary "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers" reunion special, "Once & Always," just to make all you Millennials...
- 3/22/2023
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
Trust. Support. Honesty. Any relationship, no matter how long any given partners have been together, can't be expected to succeed without these fundamental building blocks. But what happens when you catch someone during a moment where they're just a little too honest? Julia Louis-Dreyfus learns this the hard way in the delightfully simple premise of the very straightforwardly titled "You Hurt My Feelings." Successful but past-her-prime novelist Beth (Louis-Dreyfus) can sense that time is working against her, relegating her as one small voice in a sea of authors who are all clamoring to become the next big thing in the literary world. Wracked by self-doubt, all she has is her past achievements and her ever-supportive husband, Don (Tobias Menzies). Nothing seems amiss ... until she happens to overhear how he really feels about her latest work.
Cue the downward spiral and existential crisis that only an actor like Louis-Dreyfus could make...
Cue the downward spiral and existential crisis that only an actor like Louis-Dreyfus could make...
- 3/21/2023
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
In news that's terrible for people with a fear of heights but fantastic for those with a penchant for schadenfreude thrills, Scott Mann's gripping survival horror film, "Fall," is getting a sequel. /Film's own Chris Evangelista described the film as a "surprisingly effective nail-biter" in his review and the relatively low-budget tale of two adrenaline seekers getting trapped on top of a decommissioned tower 2,000 feet in the air was a modest hit at the box office. However, a recent report from Deadline notes that the sequel news is not a result of the box office performance, but instead, due to the film's massive popularity on Netflix internationally.
The publication states that director Scott Mann and British producer Tea Shop Productions are currently brainstorming an idea for a follow-up feature, once again centered on the terrifying idea of being stuck somewhere way, way up high. "Fall" was initially supposed to...
The publication states that director Scott Mann and British producer Tea Shop Productions are currently brainstorming an idea for a follow-up feature, once again centered on the terrifying idea of being stuck somewhere way, way up high. "Fall" was initially supposed to...
- 3/17/2023
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
Say what you will about "Cocaine Bear," but with a title like that, you can't accuse Universal and director Elizabeth Banks of false advertising. The 1980s-set horror action-comedy, which is very loosely based on real events, pits a batch of hapless humans against a drug-fueled black bear in a battle of man versus coked-up nature (itself now an entire sub-genre because it's 2023 and we really shouldn't be remotely surprised by this). However, as much as Banks' movie lends itself to fanciful gore and hoot-worthy escapades in the tradition of Sam Raimi's "Evil Dead" trilogy, it also doubles as a send-up of Reagan-era drug policies and the U.S. government's failed, racist, "War on Drugs."
"Cocaine Bear," which Chris Evangelista reviewed for /Film, has done pretty decent business at the box office, taking in $65.7 million against a reported $35 million budget. It's still ranking in the top five in the U.
"Cocaine Bear," which Chris Evangelista reviewed for /Film, has done pretty decent business at the box office, taking in $65.7 million against a reported $35 million budget. It's still ranking in the top five in the U.
- 3/14/2023
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
"Scream" fans are still reeling from the events of "Scream (2022)" that saw Dewey Riley (David Arquette) meet a terrible fate at the hands of Amber Freeman (Mikey Madison) and the news that Neve Campbell would not be returning as Sidney Prescott for the first time in the franchise's history. Only Courteney Cox's Gale Weathers remains from the holy trinity, with a new generation poised to take over battling the many iterations of Ghostface. Made up of actors Melissa Barrera, Jenna Ortega, Jasmine Savoy Brown, and Mason Gooding, "The Core Four" take center stage in "Scream VI" after surviving the last Woodsboro massacre to relocate somewhere with a lot more potential victims -- namely, New York City.
For Gooding, who plays Chad Meeks-Martin in Radio Silence's latest slasher, the actor thought he had reached the end of the line way before he ever set foot on an NYC subway car.
For Gooding, who plays Chad Meeks-Martin in Radio Silence's latest slasher, the actor thought he had reached the end of the line way before he ever set foot on an NYC subway car.
- 3/9/2023
- by Drew Tinnin
- Slash Film
And then there was one. After David Arquette's Dewey Riley tragically bowed out in last year's fifth "Scream" installment and franchise icon Neve Campbell was unfortunately left out of the action this time around as Sidney Prescott, only one of the original trio is still around and available to be traumatized in the upcoming "Scream VI." (You can read /Film's review by Chris Evangelista here.) Courteney Cox's Gale Weathers has seen it all by this point, surviving multiple Ghostface attacks by multiple Ghostface killers -- oftentimes within the same movie. Though now far away from the deadly confines of Woodsboro and intent on selling her book in New York City, the past proves tricky to shake off completely.
Along with a very welcome familiar face in Hayden Panettiere's Kirby and the young returning cast from "Scream" (2022), Gale is apparently cursed to fend off Ghostface for the rest of her life.
Along with a very welcome familiar face in Hayden Panettiere's Kirby and the young returning cast from "Scream" (2022), Gale is apparently cursed to fend off Ghostface for the rest of her life.
- 3/8/2023
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
Just four years ago, Guy Ritchie's "Aladdin" raked in over $1 billion at the global box office. A decade earlier, the filmmaker scored another big hit with the action-packed, Robert Downey Jr.-led spin on "Sherlock Holmes," which topped out at over $500 million worldwide. Even some titles considered cult favorites among Ritchie fans — like "Snatch" and "The Man From U.N.C.L.E." – actually earned back their budgets and then some.
So what the hell just happened to "Operation Fortune?" The latest Ritchie caper hit theaters this weekend and barely made a ripple at the box office. The movie, a Lionsgate release, opened to just $3.1 million domestically, with an international box office bump that puts its current global receipts at roughly $40 million (per Box Office Mojo). The movie may not be a total wash from a business standpoint, as Deadline places its production budget at around $50 million, but it's still a disappointing show...
So what the hell just happened to "Operation Fortune?" The latest Ritchie caper hit theaters this weekend and barely made a ripple at the box office. The movie, a Lionsgate release, opened to just $3.1 million domestically, with an international box office bump that puts its current global receipts at roughly $40 million (per Box Office Mojo). The movie may not be a total wash from a business standpoint, as Deadline places its production budget at around $50 million, but it's still a disappointing show...
- 3/7/2023
- by Valerie Ettenhofer
- Slash Film
Season 2 of HBO's "Perry Mason" is set to premiere in mere days, and has gotten strong reviews (including from /Film's Chris Evangelista) as being a slick and stylish follow up to the episodes that came before it. The show takes place in 1930s Los Angeles and stars Matthew Rhys as the titular character, a relatively new lawyer that is flawed in all kinds of ways.
I had the chance to talk with Rhys in the lead up to the season's premiere about what it was like for him to come back to the role after a multi-year hiatus. "Mason is having this crisis of faith to do with his own imposter syndrome. And he's not sure whether he wants to be doing it, whether he's qualified enough to be doing it," Rhys told me about his character. He added later on that the upcoming episodes "takes us in a direction I wasn't expecting,...
I had the chance to talk with Rhys in the lead up to the season's premiere about what it was like for him to come back to the role after a multi-year hiatus. "Mason is having this crisis of faith to do with his own imposter syndrome. And he's not sure whether he wants to be doing it, whether he's qualified enough to be doing it," Rhys told me about his character. He added later on that the upcoming episodes "takes us in a direction I wasn't expecting,...
- 3/2/2023
- by Vanessa Armstrong
- Slash Film
With eight films under its championship belt, the "Rocky" franchise is heading back to the ring with the release of "Creed III" on March 3, 2023. Throughout the entire series, the most important and lasting relationship may not be Rocky and Adrian, or Rocky and Mickey. The David and Goliath matchup between Rocky Balboa and Apollo Creed has been the constant over all these years, transforming from a bitter rivalry into a close friendship. Rocky's loyalty to Apollo after his tragic death inside the ring in "Rocky IV" led to an impossible upset over Ivan Drago and Rocky's love for Apollo led the embattled fighter to mentor his son, Adonis, in the "Creed" spin-off films.
After all Rocky and Creed went through together, it's easy to forget the incredible abuse they dolled out on each other in the ring. After the draw in "Rocky," the no holds barred rematch in "Rocky II...
After all Rocky and Creed went through together, it's easy to forget the incredible abuse they dolled out on each other in the ring. After the draw in "Rocky," the no holds barred rematch in "Rocky II...
- 2/27/2023
- by Drew Tinnin
- Slash Film
(Welcome to Scariest Scene Ever, a column dedicated to the most pulse-pounding moments in horror with your tour guides, horror experts Chris Evangelista and Matt Donato. In this edition, Matt says hell naw to nature thanks to "Backcountry.")
In honor of "Cocaine Bear," let's look back on a mid-2010s wildlife horror film that shows what bears are capable of without drug enhancements. Humans love to connect with nature, pitching tents and roughing it deep within forestation, but we forget we're visitors to occupied territories. Deers might flee in fear, rabbits might scamper away, but bears are better experienced on your movie screens as drug smuggler punishers. Movies like "Backcountry" remind us what makes an animal wild, especially bears who can end some lives with a few paw swipes.
Adam MacDonald does well to represent the foolishness of campers who consider themselves outdoorsy just because they bought some all-weather equipment.
In honor of "Cocaine Bear," let's look back on a mid-2010s wildlife horror film that shows what bears are capable of without drug enhancements. Humans love to connect with nature, pitching tents and roughing it deep within forestation, but we forget we're visitors to occupied territories. Deers might flee in fear, rabbits might scamper away, but bears are better experienced on your movie screens as drug smuggler punishers. Movies like "Backcountry" remind us what makes an animal wild, especially bears who can end some lives with a few paw swipes.
Adam MacDonald does well to represent the foolishness of campers who consider themselves outdoorsy just because they bought some all-weather equipment.
- 2/24/2023
- by Matt Donato
- Slash Film
The A24-produced Sundance hit "Past Lives" is a must-see film of 2023 that took the beloved American festival quietly by storm — and luckily for us, the movie finally has a trailer and release date.
In the sneak peek, we meet Na Young and Hae Sung (Teo Yoo), two childhood friends who reconnect later in life after forming a bond as children. They find each other again and start to explore their connection, but when Nora's career ambitions take precedence, they lose that connection again for several more years. But the film seems to assert that these two people will always be in each other's lives, and are destined to meet again.
Yesterday, A24 shared the first poster for the film via their social media channels. The poster simply shows an image of Lee smiling at someone she's looking at on her left-hand side. We only see someone's shoulder with a...
In the sneak peek, we meet Na Young and Hae Sung (Teo Yoo), two childhood friends who reconnect later in life after forming a bond as children. They find each other again and start to explore their connection, but when Nora's career ambitions take precedence, they lose that connection again for several more years. But the film seems to assert that these two people will always be in each other's lives, and are destined to meet again.
Yesterday, A24 shared the first poster for the film via their social media channels. The poster simply shows an image of Lee smiling at someone she's looking at on her left-hand side. We only see someone's shoulder with a...
- 2/22/2023
- by Lex Briscuso
- Slash Film
"The Batman" was one of the more refreshing comic book movie releases in 2022, with director Matt Reeves' take on the caped crusader considered by Chris Evangelista to be a "sprawling, ominous, dreamy epic." With a sequel to the film on the way, anticipation is high to see what adversary Robert Pattinson's Batman will go up against next. The Riddler (Paul Dano) was a great first villain for the series, giving Matt Reeves a chance to showcase Batman's detective skills, making the movie even more of a crime film than previous iterations. Whether "The Batman" sequel plays into that same genre or experiments with another feels like an aspect of production that will rely heavily on which villain Reeves decides to use.
One potential villain for the sequel is Barry Keoghan's Joker, who was featured in a deleted scene in the movie. The scene is a brief interrogation between Batman and the Joker,...
One potential villain for the sequel is Barry Keoghan's Joker, who was featured in a deleted scene in the movie. The scene is a brief interrogation between Batman and the Joker,...
- 11/5/2022
- by Ernesto Valenzuela
- Slash Film
Michael Giacchino recently broke the established Marvel formula with his television special, "Werewolf by Night," which /Film's Chris Evangelista described as "a quick, violent, funny monster movie homage." Giacchino's special presentation functions as a love letter to classic monster movies of the 1930s and '40s, and features creatures of the night that were made with the help of practical effects. "Director by Night," the latest making-of documentary about the latest MCU offering, similarly breaks the mold by taking a personal, heartwarming approach to highlighting Giacchino's love for filmmaking since he was a child.
Michael's brother, Anthony Giacchino, who is an established documentary filmmaker, maps the journey of "Werewolf by Night" in a refreshingly candid fashion. The documentary, however, is more focused on Michael's arc from a kid passionate about filmmaking to being widely known for his talents as a composer, to finally directing a Marvel movie about classic monsters.
Michael's brother, Anthony Giacchino, who is an established documentary filmmaker, maps the journey of "Werewolf by Night" in a refreshingly candid fashion. The documentary, however, is more focused on Michael's arc from a kid passionate about filmmaking to being widely known for his talents as a composer, to finally directing a Marvel movie about classic monsters.
- 11/4/2022
- by Debopriyaa Dutta
- Slash Film
Part of the reason why "The Strangers" has endured as an effective horror movie is that we've all had that feeling of being home alone at night, yet it still feels like there's something else watching us from the shadows. After 85 minutes of homebound terror, the words "because you were home" make all of the preceding violence sound so hauntingly meaningless. A couple on the rocks is thrust into a harrowing night of survival for no other reason besides that their lights were on.
It wasn't until a decade later that a sequel came to theaters with "The Strangers: Prey at Night," which /Film's Chris Evangelista called a "schlocky slasher showcase." Rather than rehashing the hopelessness of Bryan Bertino's 2008 home invasion thriller, the follow-up from Johannes Roberts saw the human prey actually landing a few blows in against their stalkers, and living to see another day. I truly believe...
It wasn't until a decade later that a sequel came to theaters with "The Strangers: Prey at Night," which /Film's Chris Evangelista called a "schlocky slasher showcase." Rather than rehashing the hopelessness of Bryan Bertino's 2008 home invasion thriller, the follow-up from Johannes Roberts saw the human prey actually landing a few blows in against their stalkers, and living to see another day. I truly believe...
- 11/2/2022
- by Matthew Bilodeau
- Slash Film
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