Tag Archives: Lucy Lawless

‘Pike River’ (2026) Social justice retelling arrives at the perfect time.

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brainstorm media logoPIKE RIVER

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In 2010, following the tragic death of 29 Pike River mine workers, two women- one a surviving wife and the other, a mother who lost her son- fought for justice for all the families affected.
Pike River 1Anna Osborne and Sonya Rockhouse seek accountability on every level, from Pike River to the Prime Minister. When the corporation meant to protect the workers fails to keep its promises to recover the men’s bodies, the families involved seek an apology and justice. Legal and moral blow after blow, Anna and Sonya hold the line. Through grief and illness, this grassroots activism changes policy forever.
PIKE RIVER_Lucy-Lawless _Credit_Matt Grace_10644Lucy Lawless is unrecognizable as Helen Kelly, the duo’s lawyer. Melanie Lynskey and Robyn Malcolm deliver heartfelt performances. Malcolm’s Sonya is mired in rage, sadness, and emotional fear. Lynskey is strong, proud, and powerful. Together, they tell a story of a seemingly unlikely pair of women who share a common goal of decency and legacy.
Melanie Lynskey and Robyn Malcolm in Pike River 2The film culminates with legal updates. Archival footage brings everything home. Ever since 2010, Osborne and Rockhouse have continued to advocate for corporate manslaughter laws and health and safety accountability in New Zealand. Pike River solidly stands alongside social justice films like Erin Brockovich, exposing governmental cover-ups and corporate lies. The road to justice is long and hard, but doing the right thing is worth every small step forward.

Pike River Official Trailer:

Pike River is IN THEATERS & ON DIGITAL FRIDAY, JANUARY 30

Directed by Robert Sarkies; Written by Fiona Samuel
Theaters and Cities to be announced.

Melanie Lynskey stars in this David and Goliath drama based on actual events following the 2010 Pike River Mine disaster that took the lives of nearly 30 men working underground. A touchpoint in global culture at the time, two women—one who lost her son, the other her husband—would make it their mission to bring a negligent corporation to account, no matter the odds stacked against them.

Co-starring Robyn Malcolm and Lucy Lawless, the women would fight for years—through life’s changes and challenges—to have their voices heard, culminating in a pivotal political moment for New Zealand as Jacinda Ardern found herself at the head of her party and poised to become Prime Minister.

PIKE RIVER arrives in the U.S. with an inspiring message of perseverance and hope brought to life by strong performances from Lynskey, Malcolm and the entire ensemble cast.

138mins | New Zealand | In English | 239:1 | 4K DCP | TBC

For more films based on true stories, click here!

Review: ‘The Spine Of Night’ is classically epic and ultra-violent adult animation.

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Synopsis: Heroes band together to face ancient, dark magic that falls into sinister hands.

Fantasy, folklore, and bloody horror are on full display in this unique animated film. It’s a story of neverending violence and rule. The Spine Of Night is a glorious retelling of past, present, and inevitable futures, as knowledge, magic, and power are on the line. The cast is extraordinary. Two performances, in particular, stand out in my mind. As The Guardian, Richard E Grant‘s performance is exquisite. His voice and rhythm are so iconic. Lucy Lawless is the lifeblood of Tzod. She projects strength and vulnerability through her performance, and it is captivating. 

The Spine Of Night is often a whirlwind of information. Numerous lands and leaders collide through time. Keeping track proved slightly challenging for me, but that does not lessen its epicness. I would watch a live-action version in series form. The hand-drawn rotoscope work is impressive. The physicality of the characters feels organic, which is usually difficult to produce in animation. Some retellings are in the style of black shadow form backed by ever-evolving colors. It’s a nice switch up for that particular section. Even if the amount of information feels overwhelming at times, The Spine of Night is a timeless fantasy. It will stand among the likes of Willow, Game of Thrones, and The Hobbit. It’s good versus evil in its most sincere form. 

RLJE Films will release the fantasy horror animated film THE SPINE OF NIGHT in theaters, on-demand and digital October 29, 2021.

Starring: Richard E. Grant, Lucy Lawless, Patton Oswalt

Directed By: Philip Gelatt, Morgan Galen King

Meet The Cast of “Ash vs Evil Dead” in this New Featurette

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Starz has released a “Meet the Cast” featurette for the upcoming “Ash vs Evil Dead” series and you can view it below!

Bruce Campbell reprises his role as Ash, the stock boy, aging lothario and chainsaw-handed monster hunter who has spent the last 30 years avoiding responsibility, maturity and the terrors of the Evil Dead. When a Deadite plague threatens to destroy all of mankind, Ash is finally forced to face his demons -personal and literal. Destiny, it turns out, has no plans to release the unlikely hero from its “Evil” grip.

Along with Campbell, the show stars Lucy Lawless (“Salem,” “Spartacus”) as Ruby, a mysterious figure who believes Ash is the cause of the Evil outbreaks, Ray Santiago (“Touch,” Meet the Fockers) as Pablo Simon Bolivar, an idealistic immigrant who becomes Ash’s loyal sidekick, Dana DeLorenzo (A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas) as Kelly Maxwell, a moody wild child trying to outrun her past, and Jill Marie Jones (“Sleepy Hollow”) as Amanda Fisher, a disgraced Michigan State Trooper set to find our anti-hero Ash and prove his responsibility in the grisly murder of her partner.

Director Sam Raimi is directing the first episode. “Ash Vs. Evil Dead” was written by Sam Raimi, Ivan Raimi (Darkman, Army of Darkness, Drag Me to Hell) and Tom Spezialy (“Chuck,” “Reaper,” “Desperate Housewives”). Sam Raimi will also serve as executive producer, along with Rob Tapert (Evil Dead, “Spartacus,” Xena: Warrior Princess”) and Bruce Campbell (Evil Dead, “Burn Notice”). Ivan Raimi will Co-Executive Produce and Aaron Lam (“Spartacus”) will serve as producer.

Ash vs Evil Dead  premieres Saturday, October 31st at 9:00pm ET/PT exclusively on Starz.