Review: ‘SCREAM VI’: Bright Lights, Big Serial Killer.

SCREAM VI


Scream 6 brings Ghostface out of Woodsboro and onto the bustling streets of New York City. When the film opens, Sam and Tara Carpenter (Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega) have seemingly left the trauma of the 2022 Scream reboot/sequel behind them. Tara is enrolled at the fictional Blackmore University, and Sam is getting the therapy she likely desperately needs to unpack her serial-killer linage (she’s the secret daughter of Billy Loomis, one of the baddies from the original 1996 film) But, since this is a Scream film, we know that it is only a matter of time until another psychopath adopts the Ghostface persona and comes after them.

2022’s reboot thrived by finding the perfect balance of new + nostalgia. While that film could be seen as a symbolic passing of the torch from Neve Campbell’s Sydney Prescott to Barrera’s Sam, it is still jarring to watch a Scream film without Sydney. Especially when Scream 6 is so clearly inspired by Scream 2 (talk about sentences you never think you will write), which similarly followed Sydney as she escaped Woodsboro for a fictional college setting. This time though, Courtney Cox is the only original star returning, and she struggles to provide a meaningful link to the weight of original films. Honestly, with so many of the other beloved characters missing in action, a clean break might have been the better approach.

Despite all of the changes, Ghostface remains as sharp as ever. There are even more kills, and they are bigger and gorier. This film makes the most out of its R- rating. There are also great homages to the past films (so much so that the film had me begging for one twist that never materializes – maybe next time!)

The much-promoted New York setting ultimately feels a bit underused – filming actually occurred in Montreal, and there are only a few scenes that truly attempt to capture the energy of the city. It’s a shame because those scenes are some of my favorites in the whole film. There’s a moment where Sam and Tara hide from Ghostface in a bodega, only to realize that this killer is willing to use weapons even more deadly than a knife. Another scene on the NYC subway captures the rising anxiety facing the city’s public transit today, where a rise in unprovoked attacks has left citizens suspicious of their fellow passengers. But that’s largely it – it feels like a waste of the setting (although to be fair, New York has posed a challenging setting for horror films in the past.) What about Ghostface popping up in a cab, a chase through central park, or a set piece on one of the iconic bridges?

Overall, the talent of the core cast and the film’s passion for the rich history of the franchise more than make up for its shortcomings. But the inevitable Scream 7 should make sure to stay on its toes, or else risk that the stabbings will start to get stale.


IN THEATERS NOW!


 

Review: MGM+ and Blumhouse bring audiences Yoko Okumura’s ‘UNSEEN,’ a wild story of dual survival.

 

UNSEEN

SYNOPSIS: Two women form an unlikely connection when a depressed gas station clerk SAM (Purdy), receives a call from EMILY (Francis), a nearly blind woman who is running from her murderous ex in the woods. Emily must survive the ordeal with Sam being her eyes from afar using video call.


Emily wakes up disoriented and tied up in a remote cabin by her ex. After fleeing into the woods but breaking her much-needed glasses, she accidentally dials Sam, a meek gas station attendant. (*cue the My Girl fans) Emily cannot see without her glasses. Begging this anxious stranger to video call her to aid in her escape from the ever-looming Charlie. These unlikely partners team up in different locations, leading to freedom for both women.

Michael Patrick Lane is Emily’s captor and psycho ex, Charlie. Scary and somehow kooky, he is like the Michael Myers of ex-boyfriends. Missi Pyle plays Carole, and she’s a real asshole. Her performance is both caricature and authentically terrifying. Pyle gives us rich, tacky, gun-toting Karen energy. I mean, had station is in Tallahassee. Her character work is unreal.

Midori Francis is an absolute badass as Emily. Minutes in, I was yelling at the screen, cheering her on. Her shockingly calm demeanor is all the motivation Sam needs to help. Jolene Purdy plays Sam with zero self-esteem and a heart of hold. Her emotional arc in the film will leave you with a smirk. She and Francis have electric chemistry, especially considering they are never in the same space as one another. They are both stars.

Areal shots are stunning. The addition of out-of-focus camerawork puts you in Emily’s chaotic mindset. The splashy neon colors of the Gator Galore station contrast beautifully with Emily’s overcast forest landscape. Directed by Yoko Okumura and written by Salvatore Cardoni and Brian Rawlins, UNSEEN balances comic, over-the-top characters with nuanced ones and the plausible scenario of a woman’s abduction by her ex. The script is a commentary on class and one hell of a story of gender-based violence. It is undeniably entertaining. Some audiences might initially make comparisons with Shudder’s SEE FOR ME, but that would be a mistake. Unseen stands apart in its unexpected comedy, performances, and clever writing. The final reveal made me say, “Oh, shit.” Be sure to stick around for the credits.


Paramount Home Entertainment will release the horror thriller  film UNSEEN on Digital and On Demand on March 7, 2023 and on MGM+ on May 2023.

 UNSEEN stars an ensemble cast of Midori Francis (“Grey’s Anatomy”), Jolene Purdy (“Orange is the New Black”), Missi Pyle (Gone Girl) and Michael Patrick Lane (“Dynasty”). The film is directed by Yoko Okumura (“The Bold Type”) and written by Salvatore Cardoni (Gnomes & Trolls: The Secret Chamber) and Brian Rawlins. The film was executive produced by Alexander Kruener, Jeremy GoldChris McCumber and Jason Blum.

The film is part of the Blumhouse Television and MGM+ deal to produce eight original films together. MGM’s streaming service, EPIX, rebranded as MGM+ on January 15, 2023.

 Building on Blumhouse Television’s success with the Welcome to the Blumhouse movies slate for Amazon and Into the Dark anthology series for Hulu, the deal is the first-of-its-kind for MGM+, which is adding films to its growing slate of premium original content.


 

Tom Cruise returns to kicks some a$$ in new ‘Jack Reacher’ trailer

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Yep, I’d totally watch this. Although I do think that Chance Kelly would have made a fabulous Jack Reacher.

JACK REACHER: NEVER GO BACK is in theaters October 21, 2016

#JackReacherMovie

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Website: ReacherMovie.com

Will Ferrell & Mark Walhberg team up again for ‘Daddy’s Home’ in new trailer

Daddy's HomeOh, I’ll totally see this.dh-01244r

PARAMOUNT PICTURES and RED GRANITE PICTURES Present

DADDY’S HOME
Directed By Sean Anders

DADDY’S HOME” follows a mild-mannered radio executive (Ferrell) who strives to become the best stepdad to his wife’s two children, but complications ensue when their freewheeling and freeloading real father (Wahlberg) arrives, forcing him to compete for the affection of the kids.

Ryan Gosling, Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Brad Pitt star in new trailer for Adam McKay’s ‘The Big Short’

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When four outsiders saw what the big banks, media and government refused to, the global collapse of the economy, they had an idea:  The Big Short. Their bold investment leads them into the dark underbelly of modern banking where they must question everyone and everything.  Based on the true story and best-selling book by Michael Lewis (The Blind Side, Moneyball),  and directed by Adam Mckay (Anchorman, Step BrothersThe Big Short stars Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling and Brad Pitt.
 
 
Official Website: http://thebigshortmovie.com
#TheBigShort

‘Galaxy Quest’ Being Developed for Television at Paramount

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Deadline is reporting that Paramount Television is developing a small screen version of their film Galaxy Quest with Robert Gordon, the original writer of the film, to provide the script for the pilot. Gordon is also set as executive produce the series along with the original director Dean Parisot and producer Mark Johnson.

The film centered around the cast of a highly popular sci-fi adventure series “Galaxy Quest” which was canceled. Actors Jason Nesmith (Tim Allen), Gwen DeMarco (Sigourney Weaver), Sir Alexander Dane (Alan Rickman), Tommy Webber (Daryl Mitchell) and Fred Kwan (Tony Shalhoub) continue their careers by making appearances at sci-fi conventions and store openings in costume and character. They are wallowing in despair and at each other’s throats until aliens known as Thermians arrive and, having mistaken the series for fact and consequently modeling their entire culture around it, take them into space to save them from the genocidal General Sarris and his armada.

No word on if any of the original cast would return. More as it becomes available

Paramount’s ‘Rings’ Will be a Prequel to ‘The Ring’

The Ring

As if the Ring films didn’t scare you enough, Bloody Disgusting has an exclusive regarding the upcoming addition to the Ring franchise entitled Rings. According to the report, the film will act as a prequel to the 2002 original film and will focus on the origin of Samara’s reign of terror. Yeah, cause we need that to sleep at night! I mean come on!

The film will be directed by F. Javier Gutierrez and stars Italian actress Matilda Lutz

The film will hit theaters November 13, 2015.

Keep it here for updates as they become available