Review: Survive holiday hell and hilarity in Camille Griffin’s ‘SILENT NIGHT’

SILENT NIGHT

 

SYNOPSIS: In true British fashion, (while the rest of the world faces impending doom), a group of old friends reunites to celebrate Christmas in the comfort of an idyllic country home. Burdened with the inconvenience of mankind’s imminent destruction, they adopt a stiff upper lip, crack open another bottle of prosecco and continue with their festivities. But no amount of stoicism can replace the courage needed for their last night on earth.


Writer/Director Camille Griffin gives audiences the gift of holiday hell and hilarity. Think The Big Chill meets Love Actually and sprinkles in Melancholia, as Silent Night finds us rocking around the Christmas tree for, perhaps, the last time. A group of friends makes a pact to spend their Christmas together, with one huge and horrifying caveat. The eclectic holiday soundtrack amps up the energy tenfold. But it’s all a bit of bait and switch. Therein lies the genius that is Silent Night. You think the film is one thing when suddenly BAM. This genre-destroying film will shock you.

Silent Night has an ensemble cast that’s to die for. Keira Knightley strikes the perfect balance of overly stressed host and mother, bringing that quirky charm we know so well. Lucy Punch has the innate ability to be funny without a single word and her talents are elevated by Griffin’s cheeky dialogue. Matthew Goode gives us the gambit of emotions. He’s a solid anchor amongst the spiraling chaos. A standout performance comes from Griffin’s real-life son, Roman Griffin Davis, as Art. After his incredible turn in JoJo Rabbit, it should come as no surprise that he knocks it out of the park here. His fearless honesty spills off the screen, and you will be unable to take your eyes off of him. He steals every scene. 

Even as these chic adults reminisce about what could have been, their children attempt to come to terms with impending doom. Every scene featuring a child is perfection. That is what kids are like, and thank you, Camille Griffin, for including these gems. If you didn’t know she was a parent beforehand, you would as you watched the film play out. The complexity of parenting lies within the overall arc of the film. In truth, this is one of the darkest films I’ve ever seen. If I said I wasn’t shaking from anxiety and crying in the end, I’d be lying. The writing is soaked in acerbic wit. It’s a punch to the face, over and over, all while it begs existential questions of privilege and morality. I could easily see a prequel, sequel, or series in which we follow other locations simultaneously. This is a formal request for such a creation.


AMC+ and RLJE Films will release the darkly comedic drama/horror SILENT NIGHT in Theaters and streaming exclusively on AMC+ on December 3, 2021.


Marking writer Camille Griffin’s feature directorial debut, SILENT NIGHT features an all-star ensemble cast including Keira Knightley (Pirates of the Caribbean Franchise), Matthew Goode (Downton Abbey), Roman Griffin Davis (Jojo Rabbit), Annabelle Wallis (“Peaky Blinders”), Lily Rose-Depp (Voyagers)Ṣọpé Dìrísù (“Gangs of London”), Kirby Howell-Baptiste (“The Good Place”), Lucy Punch (Into the Woods), Rufus Jones (”Flack”) and Trudie Styler (Filth, Moon).


Review: ‘Pirates of the Caribbean- Dead Men Tell No Tales’

All hands hoay! Captain Jack Sparrow is back in Pirates of the Caribbean- Dead Men Tell No Tales and the crews back together. Johnny Depp returns for a fifth go around as the swashbuckler in this fun, but somewhat hollow sequel hitting theaters this weekend.

Henry Turner (Brenton Thwaites) has grown up knowing his father, Will Turner (Orlando Bloom), is lost to the curse of the Flying Dutchman and has searched for a way to break his father free. Since he was a young boy, Henry has been obsessed with his search and it appears he may be closer to the end of his quest, but he will need a little help. Henry works on a British Royal Navy ship sailing directly for the Devil’s Triangle. Knowing the legend of such a place, Henry tries to convince the crew that they are sailing for danger, but he is too late. The ship comes face to face with Captain Salazar (Javier Bardem) and his ghost crew who slaughter everyone except Henry, who is left to tell the tale and send a message to Jack Sparrow. Dead is coming for him.

Jack and his crew are up to their old ways of looting, debauchery, and rum. Currently plotting a robbery on an island where a young woman named Carina Smyth (Kaya Scodelario) is also escaping criminal charges. She seeks out Henry, who has been transported to the same island to face his crime of treason. She tells him she knows of a way to find the Trident of Poseidon, a powerful artifact that grants its possessor total control over the seas which Henry plans to use to break his father’s curse. Henry only requires the assistance of Captain Jack and his compass to set out on this quest. Salazar and his crew are on the hunt for pirates and find Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush), whom they persuade into helping him track down and kill Jack. The race for the Trident is on and the fate of Jack Sparrow hangs in the balance.

 Directors Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg (Kon Tiki) are tasked with taking on the behemoth of a franchise and the two hold their own. The visual spectacle and the amusing action set pieces that have made this franchise so popular are bigger and more elaborate, but it’s the storytelling that has been lacking since the first film. The story for Dead Men Tell No Tales is not overly original, but does offer some complexity to the existing franchise storyline that will amuse fans and pump some much needed new blood into this series. Johnny Depp brings life to Jack Sparrow like no one else could. The character doesn’t evolve, but maybe he doesn’t have to. Watching the character on screen can, at times, feel nostalgic, but it’s still fun to watch him in action. Javier Bardem brings this franchise the best villain it’s had and commands the screen in every scene.

Overall, critics will no doubt be circling the waters to pan this movie, but Pirates of the Caribbean- Dead Men Tell No Tales is a fun, mindless adventure just in time for the summer time season. If you’re a fan of the franchise you’ll enjoy this one.

Stars:

3 out of 5

After Credit Scene?

Yes. At the end. Nothing in between

Trailer:

Advanced Screening of ‘Everest’ *Regal Crown Club*

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Regal Crown Club is sponsoring a bunch of advanced screenings for the upcoming drama Everest! You must be a Regal Crown Club member to go..membership is FREE! Sign up at Regal Crown Club

The following cities will be receiving screenings:

Buford, GA
Regal Mall Of Georgia Stadium

Austin, TX
Regal Gateway Stadium 16 & IMAX

Charlotte, NC
Regal Stonecrest at Piper Glen 22 & IMAX

Chicago, IL
Regal Cinemas City North Stadium 14 IMAX & RPX

Westlake, OH
Regal Crocker Park Stadium 16 & IMAX

Lakewood, CO
UA Colorado Mills Stadium 16 & IMAX

Houston, TX
Edwards Houston Marq’E Stadium 23 & IMAX

Las Vegas, NV
Red Rock Stadium 16 IMAX

Santa Clarita, CA
Edwards Valencia Stadium 12 & IMAX

Miami, FL
Regal Kendall Village Stadium 16 IMAX & RPX

Brooklyn, NY
UA Sheepshead Bay Stadium 14 IMAX & RPX

Irvine, CA
Edwards Irvine Spectrum 21IMAX

Orlando, FL
Regal Pointe Orlando Stadium 20 & IMAX

King of Prussia, PA
UA King of Prussia Stadium 16

Portland, OR
Regal Lloyd Center 10 & IMAX

Cary, NC
Regal Crossroads Stadium 20 & IMAX

San Diego, CA
Edwards Mira Mesa Stadium 18 IMAX & RPX

Dublin, CA
Regal Hacienda Crossing Stadium 20 & IMAX

Issaquah, WA
Regal Issaquah Highlands 12

Silver Spring, MD
Regal Majestic Stadium 20 & IMAX

Wanna go?! Click on the link below and grab a pair while supplies last!

Tickets

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TIG BENEDICT POSTER FINAL.indd

Alan Turing was a key figure in helping the allies win World War II. Known for his expertise as a mathematician, logician, cryptanalyst, and philosopher, he was a pioneering computer scientist who created the template for what would become the computers we use today. However, his accomplishments were never publicly known due to his criminal prosecution for being a homosexual. Read More →