Review: ‘JACK GOES HOME’ proves that Rory Culkin is terrifyingly good at his job.

jackgoeshome_theatrical_27x39They say you can never go home again. Maybe some of us should heed this advice depending on the skeletons in our closets. In Thomas Dekker‘s new film JACK GOES HOME, Rory Culkin finds himself playing the title character whose loss might be his greatest gain. Or maybe it’s the other way around.
r1I’ve see a horror film or two in my day, but I’ve never seen anything like Jack Goes Home. The story appears to be straight forward: Jack’s parents are in a car accident. His father dies and he goes home to take care of his mother, who has survived. When something goes bump in the night, he is compelled, by his father’s own words, to explore his childhood like never before. It doesn’t take too long before things get weird. Grief can make people act in funny ways, but this film takes it to a whole other level. Dekker’s script is off the hinges with scares both physically and emotionally. You’re never quite sure who is fooling whom. rl1With genre veteran Lin Shaye as Jack’s mother, you’re immediately thrown for a loop. Her presence is this insane mix of calming and unnerving. Each scene she appears in makes your skin crawl. Rory Culkin is more intense with each role he takes on. Following up on his fierce performance in Gabriel, there is no doubt this young man is a star. Jack is one hell of a character and when the film has the balls to open by having him break the fourth wall, you know you’re in for a ride. Each scene tops the next in mystery and fear and Culkin is the driving force behind your unease. As the credits rolled I thought, “What the hell did I just see?!” Then in watching the trailer again, I had so many more questions and theories. This is a film I’ll be speculating about for some time. It begs for multiple viewings.

JACK GOES HOME hits US cinemas and VOD on Friday, October 14th, from Momentum Pictures.

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA) Rated R for disturbing violent and sexual content, language throughout, and drug use.

Rory Culkin is desperate & vulnerable in the trailer for ‘Gabriel’ – Opens in theaters June 19th

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Opens in theaters June 19th

One of the standouts of the 2014 Tribeca Film Festival, both Liz and myself absolutely loved this movie. It perfectly captures the turmoil and vulnerability of the title character. Rory Culkin is captivating. Check out Liz’s interview with him.

Rory Culkin stars in GABRIEL a heartfelt portrait of a vulnerable teen at his psychological breaking point, struggling to keep it together in the wake of his father’s suicide. Convinced that reuniting with an ex-girlfriend holds the answers to his troubles, Gabriel risks everything in a desperate pursuit that will take him to uncharted and unexpected places and test the limits of those closest to him. Infused with authenticity and courage, GABRIEL establishes first-time writer-director Howe as a new filmmaking voice to be reckoned with.

Here’s the link to watch the trailer on iTunes.
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7th Annual Reelabilities Film Festival New York – Special Guests Rory Culkin – Opens March 12th

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Rory Culkin and RJ Mitte Announced as Special Guests at the 7th Annual Reelabilities: NY Disabilities Film Festival; Opening Night Event on March 12 on the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum

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At the 2014 Tribeca Film Festival, Liz and I saw the fantastic Gabriel, starring Rory Culkin (and Liz interviewed him!) You get another chance to see this amazing film at this year’s Reelabilities Film Festival.

Festival to play at over 35 venues throughout New York including Lincoln Center for the Performing ArtsMuseum of the Moving Image and the New York Public Library, followed by National Tour

The largest edition of ReelAbilities: NY Disabilities Film Festival includes more celebrated guest speakers than ever before. Opening night at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum will include a performance by The Voice season 7’s Blessing Offor and, following the NY premiere of The Finishers, Professor Annette Insdorf will engage in conversation with award-winning director, Nils TavernierRory Culkin, whose lead performance in Lou Howes’ directorial debut, Gabriel, was named “electrifying” by Variety Magazine, will discuss his role in the film after the film’s screening at JCC Manhattan.  The festival’s closing night event will include welcoming remarks from Breaking Bad‘s RJ Mitte along with a special comedy night featuring performers and comedians with disabilities.

Every film at the ReelAbilities film festival is followed by a conversation, as way of further engaging the community with the important topics presented in the films.  Panel discussions and conversations follow each of the festival’s 100+ screenings and events presented throughout the New York Metro area.

For a full list of festival speakers, visit: http://ny.reelabilities.org/guestsReelAbilities will be marking the 25th anniversary of the ADA with a Friday night dinner and screening of three films: The Astronaut’s Secret, On Beauty, and Riding My Way Back, accompanied by a discussion on New York City’s path to disability rights with historian Warren Shaw and Supreme Court Justice Richard Bernstein, moderated by Lawrence Carter-Long (Co-Host of TCM’s The Projected Image.) This is one of over a dozen special events that the festival will be hosting, which include a disability filmmaking workshop with DCTV, art exhibits, author talks, and more.A full list of festival events, visit:http://ny.reelabilities.org/eventsPresented by JCC Manhattan, ReelAbilities: NY Disabilities Film Festival is the largest festival in the country dedicated to promoting awareness and appreciation of the lives, stories and artistic expressions of people with different abilities. The festival presents award-winning films in NY and 12 additional cities throughout the USA. Discussions and other engaging programs bring the community together to explore, discuss and celebrate the diversity of our shared human experience.

Leading the way in accessible film and culture, ReelAbilities is presented in all accessible venues, providing captions, audio description, ASL interpretation, CART (live captioning), and information in Braille. 

Past festival guests include Sigourney WeaverMat FraserGeri JewellDanny WoodburnJohn HockenberryBen Lewin, and many others who have moderated and participated in post-screening conversations. These conversations are a core component of the festival, furthering audience understanding and consciousness about ideas raised in the films while providing a platform for in-depth discussions and audience interaction with filmmakers, actors, and issues portrayed in the films.

About The JCC in Manhattan
Located on 76th Street and Amsterdam, the JCC is a vibrant non-profit community center on the Upper West Side. The cornerstone of progressive programming in Manhattan, the JCC serves over 55,000 people annually through 1,200 programs each season that educate, inspire, and transform participants’ minds, bodies, and spirits.  Since its inception, the JCC has been committed to serving the community by offering programs and services that reach beyond neighborhood boundaries.  Programs at the JCC reach people at all stages of their lives, and serve the entire family and community.