We are only in the second week of the new year and the release calendar is already packed! Let’s not waste any time.
January 11 (Wednesday)
Shin Ultraman (Fathom)
Director: Shinji Higuchi | Writer: Hideaki Anno
Stars: Hidetoshi Nishijima, Akumi Saitoh, Masami Nagasawa
While I don’t get to indulge my love for Kaiju films often, I did go and check this one out on its Wednesday release for Fathom Events and it is exactly what I wanted out of an updated Ultraman. It’s funny, goofy, colorful, and completely bizarre in all the best ways.
January 13 (Friday)
Plane (Theaters)
Director: Jean-François Richet | Writers: Charles Cumming, J.P. Davis
Stars: Gerard Butler, Mike Colter, Tony Goldwyn, Danielle Pineda
This is a thriller straight from the Gerard Butler playbook and that isn’t necessarily a negative. But I mean…c’mon…the movie is named Plane! I would love to see the proposed titles that didn’t make the final cut. While it seems like a good portion of his movies are more or less the same, tonally, at least you know exactly what that tone is and can just sit back and be entertained. This being the biggest profile release of the weekend says a lot.
Skinamarink (Theaters)
Written & Directed by: Kyle Edward Ball
Stars: Jaime Hill, Lucas Paul, Ross Paul
The trailer isn’t giving away very much about this Canadian indie horror flick, but I like the gritty 70s-era aesthetic and the minimalist approach. Two kids wake up in the middle of the night, their dad is gone, and so are all the windows in the house…and there’s a mysterious disembodied voice. It has a lot of buzz, so I am going to try and see it this weekend.
The Devil Conspiracy (Theaters)
Director: Nathan Frankowski | Writer: Ed Alan
Stars: Alice Orr-Ewing, Joe Doyle, Eveline Hall
On the title alone, I likely would have looked the other way but the trailer gave me a lot of things I enjoy. Angles, devils, demons, and pseudo-mythical religious history. I am looking at this one in the same light as something like Constantine. I’ll probably have to see it alone on a weekday afternoon, but why not?
The Offering (Theaters + VOD)
Director: Oliver Park | Writers: Hank Hoffman, Jonathan Yunger (story)
Stars: Paul Kaye, Nick Blood, Allan Corduner
Sort of along the same lines, except with Jewish religious mythology, a family in mourning falls victim to an ancient demon. That sounds fun! Seriously though, the trailer gave me The Autopsy of Jane Doe vibes and there’s an actor in the cast whose name is literally Nick Blood.
*Door Mouse (Theaters + VOD) – Editor’s Pick*
Written & Directed by: Avan Jogia
Stars: Famke Jansen, Donal Logue, Avan Jogia
Comic books and burlesque collide in a “neo-noir” mystery about the disappearance of a young woman. The trailer is giving me notes of Brick and Eyes Wide Shut, both of which are positives for me. This is also Avan Jogia’s debut feature film as both a writer and director and I love those projects. If I can find it in theaters, I will check it out. Otherwise, I’ll rent it at home.
On Sacred Ground (Theaters + VOD)
Directors: Josh, Joshua, and Rebecca Harrell Tickell
Writers: William Mapother, Josh & Joshua Tickell
Stars: William Mapother, Amy Smart, David Arquette, Mariel Hemingway
A journalist covering the Dakota Access Pipeline finds himself caught between reporting on the truth and some powerful financial interests behind the pipeline. It is rare to see a directing trio, but I really like the cast here and I’m tempted to see it for David Arquette playing the oil company alone. It looks pretty good but will probably be hard to find in theaters.
What Else Is New…
House Party (Theaters)
Director: Calmatic | Writers: Stephen Glover, Jama Olori
Stars: Andrew Santino, Tosin Cole, Jacob Latimore
A high school student decides to host a house party while his parents are away. A remake of the 1990 comedy, ‘ House Party’.
-IMDb
Excuse me for laughing at all the wrong things, but these guys are clearly not in high school and it’s obvious that the budget for this film went into cameos and appearance. It might be funny, but if the trailer is any indication I wouldn’t bet on it. Pass.
Saint Omer (Theaters)
Director: Alice Diop | Writers: Amrita David, Alice Diop, Zoé Galeron
Stars: Kayije Kagame, Guslagie Malanda, Valérie Dréville
Follows Rama, a novelist who attends the trial of Laurence Coly at the Saint-Omer Criminal Court to use her story to write a modern-day adaptation of the ancient myth of Medea, but things don’t go as expected.
IMDB
I have seen the trailer a couple of times and I am getting deja vu because I could have sworn I have already previewed this movie, and I still don’t know what it’s about. It looks intense and emotional and has very good reviews far too.
Sick (Peacock)
Director: John Hyams | Writers: Kevin Williamson, Katelyn Crabb
Stars: Marc Menchaca, Jane Adams, Gideon Adlon
Due to the pandemic, Parker and her best friend decide to quarantine at the family lake house alone – or so they think.
-IMDB
I guess we have arrived at the cabin-in-the-woods quarantine-slasher seems like a good idea. Being in lockdown was bad enough, but here’s a big lake house to enjoy, oh wait, murderer! This is some low-hanging fruit, but I do like the cast and I would consider seeing it for Pamela Adlon’s kid. At least I can see it at home.
Kitchen Brigade (Theaters + VOD)
Director: Louis-Julien Petit | Writers: Petit,Liza Benguigui, Sophie Bensadoun
Cathy is a sous-chef wanting to open a restaurant. With financial difficulties, Cathy accepts a job at a shelter for young migrants. At first she hates the job then her passion for cuisine starts to change children’s lives.
-IMDB
So this looks like the Frech equivalent of Dangerous Minds but with culinary skills instead of high school English. In fairness, it looks cute enough but the odds I ever see this are slim and none.
The Drop (Hulu)
Director: Sarah Adina Smith | Writers: Smith, Joshua Leonard
Stars: Utkarsh Ambudkar, Jillian Bell, Gene Farber
In this cringe comedy, a married couple face a marriage test when one of them drops a baby during a tropical island wedding.
-IMDB
I don’t know what a cringe comedy is but I didn’t laugh once during the trailer and that can’t be positive. Proceed at your own risk.
Dog Gone (Netflix)
Director: Stephen Herek | Writers: Nick Santora, Paul Toutonghi (book)
Stars: Rob Lowe, Johnny Berchtold, Kimberly Williams-Paisley
Based on the true story of a father and son who repair their fractured relationship during a forced hike of the Appalachian trail to find their beloved lost dog.
-IMDB
I love dogs and I would probably blubber like a baby at some points during this movie, but it’s the kind of movie that there are many slight alterations of out there. It’s probably a great family movie. No offense, but pass.
A Man Called Otto (Expands)
Director: Marc Foster
Writers: David Magee, Fredrik Backman & Hannes Holm (book)
Stars: Tom Hanks, John Higgins, Tony Bingham
Otto is a grump who’s given up on life following the loss of his wife and wants to end it all. When a young family moves in nearby, he meets his match in quick-witted Marisol, leading to a friendship that will turn his world around.
-IMDB
I already preview Gran Torino -lite last week, but it expands if you care.
Thanks for reading! I still believe word of mouth is the best way to help, so if you enjoy what I’m doing, please tell somebody. And if you have a comment, I’d love to hear it! Liking, subscribing, and sharing go a long way too. As usual, be well, be safe, and have fun no matter how you get your movies!