Street Date: October 2nd (DVD)
Director: James Felix McKenney
Starring: Michael Rooker, Blanche Baker, Greg Finley, Don Wood, Ben Forster, Amy Chang
What’s the story? Ray Pelletier and his wife Helen have been ice fishing the frozen expanse of Lake Noyade for over two decades but this year something is different: no fish bite. Is it their new neighbors on the ice – Stevie Jr. and his overbearing Dad – with their high-tech gear and over-sized rig that is driving the fish away? Or is it something else? The answer comes in an onslaught of ferocious attacks that unites the two families against a mysterious creature from under the ice.
Early Thoughts: Not good. I caught this film some time ago and it plays out like a Creature from the Black Lagoon-on-ice. Not on ice skates, of course, but it’s a “creature in a frozen lake” yarn that is incredibly silly. Things get even worse when the monster makes an appearance. McKenney throws in a few environmental themes for good measure, but everything about Hypothermia‘s execution is so hammy.
- Also on October 2nd: Chained, Seance: The Summoning
Opening: October 5th
Director: Tim Burton
Starring: Winona Ryder, Martin Short, Catherine O’Hara, Martin Landau, Charlie Tahan, Atticus Shaffer, Robert Capron, Conchata Ferrell
What’s the story? After unexpectedly losing his beloved dog Sparky, young Victor harnesses the power of science to bring his best friend back to life – with just a few minor adjustments. He tries to hide his home-sewn creation, but when Sparky gets out, Victor’s fellow students, teachers and the entire town all learn that getting a new “leash on life” can be monstrous. A stop-motion animated film, “Frankenweenie” was filmed in black and white and rendered in 3D, which elevates the classic style to a whole new experience.
Early Thoughts: Those who caught the Comic-Con presentation were impressed. The bar on ghoulish stop motion-animated films has been raised in the wake of ParaNorman, however, so Frankenweenie better deliver. It looks like it has a lot of heart, though – something ParaNorman lacked, but made up for with smarts.
Opening: October 5th
Director: Scott Derrickson
Starring: Ethan Hawke, Vincent D’Onofrio, James Ransone, Fred Dalton Thompson, Nicholas King, Clare Foley, Victoria Leigh, Juliet Rylance, Michael Hall D’Addario
What’s the story? A true crime novelist struggling to find his next big story discovers a box of home videos showing other families being brutally murdered, but his investigation soon leads him to a supernatural entity that may be placing his own family in harm’s way.
Early Thoughts: I haven’t been shy in saying this is one of my favorite horror films of the year. I go on feeling and this movie set me on edge and made my skin crawl. It’s not without its faults, however, but I chalk them up as things that come with the funhouse nature of its third act. Still, Sinister has a killer opening, as in, I thought I was watching a goddamn big screen snuff film of some type. Between the story, the score (by Christopher Young) and some of Derrickson’s visuals, there’s some bad mojo circulating through this movie – I mean that in a good way – and it makes for one helluva viewing.
Also on October 5th: #HoldYouBreath
Street Date: October 9th (DVD)
Director: Darren Lynn Bousman
Starring: Stephen Moyer, Erik Knudsen, J. Larose, Mia Kirshner, Allie MacDonald, Max Topplin, Peter DaCunha
What’s the story? Despite their reluctance, Richard Marlow takes his wife Cynthia, their young son Danny, and his teenage daughter Sadie to the Pine Barrens for a long weekend of camping and family bonding. As they arrive at the Wharton State Forest, a mutilated deer runs out into the road, nearly colliding with the Marlows’ car. Later that evening, another bloodied animal falls from a tree. Bad turns to worse when, in the middle of the night, a college boy camping nearby disappears into the woods. Nevertheless, Richard presses the family to hike further into the forest, to the spot where he used to camp with his father. He is feverish and a past wound on his arm appears badly infected, but when it begins to rain, there is no turning back. Richard’s sickness soon becomes debilitating, his headaches turn to hallucinations. What’s worse, he believes there is something stalking them, something with yellow eyes, pointed horns, and the wings of a bat – THE JERSEY DEVIL. The disfigured bodies of the missing camper and another college boy soon turn up. The Marlows must fight for their lives as the horrifying answer reveals itself in a shocking and tragic conclusion.
Early Thoughts: Known for his contribution to the SAW franchise and his warped musicals, Repo! The Genetic Opera and The Devil’s Carnival, Bousman is mixing things up with a creature feature for once. I spied a look at the film at the American Film Market in late 2011 and the clips showed promise. I just hope I haven’t guessed the film’s outcome before having seen the whole thing.
Street Date: October 9th (DVD)
Director: Louis Morneau
Starring: Stephen Rea, Steven Bauer, Ed Quinn, Nia Peeples, Guy Wilson, Adam Croasdell and Rachel DiPillo
What’s the story? A monstrous creature terrorizes a 19th Century European village by moonlight and a young man struggles to protect his loved ones from an unspeakable scourge in Werewolf: The Beast Among Us, Universal Studios’ all-new addition to its time-honored legacy of classic monsters. During his studies with the local doctor, Daniel witnesses the horrific consequences of werewolf attacks. Watching as the beast’s fearsome reputation draws bounty hunters, thrill seekers and charlatans to the tiny town, Daniel dreams of destroying the ruthless predator. So when a mysterious stranger and his team of skilled werewolf hunters arrive to pursue the monster, he offers to join them, despite his mother’s protests. But it soon becomes clear that this creature is stronger, smarter and more dangerous than anything they have faced before. As casualties mount and villagers see their neighbors transformed into ravening monsters, the townsfolk take up arms against each other to find the true identity of the werewolf. Amid the hysteria, Daniel begins to suspect he’s closer to his target than he ever dreamed.
Early Thoughts: The good? A werewolf movie! The bad? Director Louis Morneau, the man who gave us Hitcher II: I’ve Been Waiting and Joy Ride 2. Honestly, I’ll give it a shot – it’s a period piece (rumor has it, the film’s development began as a direct-to-DVD sequel to The Wolfman remake) and the trailer demonstrates its ambition.
- Also on October 9th: Truth or Die, Amphibious
- October 12th: Smiley
