Last weekend, we sawDeadpool & Wolverinedominate the theaterswith an explosive release that reminded movie-goers to wear their white pants. The nostalgia-riddled third installment of theDeadpooltrilogy blasted past the previous week’s number-one release,Twisters, raking in over $200 million since opening. WhileTwistershas had a very successful two-week run, amassing over $150 million so far, it was inevitable thatDeadpool & Wolverinewould overtake the natural disaster film with multiple generations of rabid fans eager to see the long-awaited collaboration betweenRyan Reynolds’Deadpooland his real-life “best frenemy,”Hugh Jackman, revising his role as Wolverine. If you’ve already seen the recent releases and are looking for something new, look no further! This handy guide will help you find something to check out in theaters this weekend and will keep you up to speed on the latest releases!
M. Night Shyamalan’s films can sometimes be a hit or miss for many horror fans and followers of his career. After creating a new potential superhero universe with his trilogy,Unbreakable,Split, andGlass, Shyamalan has had mixed reviews on his last two movies,Old, andKnock at the Cabin. His latest film,Trap, centers around a vicious serial killer, known as “The Butcher,’ caught in a sticky predicament. Played byJosh Hartnett(Lucky Number Slevin), he is known to law enforcement as “The Butcher,” but known to his family and friends as “Cooper,” or, in this case, “Dad.” While attending a massive pop concert with his young daughter, Riley (Ariel Donoghue), Cooper learns that the entire concert is a sting operation as a means to capture him. With swarms of police surrounding all the exits, they know they have him cornered. He has to find a way to escape without alerting the authorities or letting his daughter discover the true monster that he is.
As some of the best fictional serial killers like Hannibal Lecter orDexterhave done in the past, they blend in with the crowd. The major difference in this film is that he is encumbered by his sole tie to humanity (his daughter) and thus cannot simply hack and slash his way to freedom without leaving her behind or revealing his true nature to her. The film also stars Shyamalan’s daughter,Saleka, as the pop star, Lady Raven, andHayley Millsas Dr. Grant, a psychiatric analyst who understands Cooper’s motivations and how he might respond to being trapped. Saleka, who is a musician, composed 14 songs for this film to match the onscreen action, so pay close attention to the songs and lyrics when you watch this movie!
Trap is a film by writer-director M. Night Shyamalan under his Blinding Edge Pictures label. The film is part of a deal struck with Warner Bros for him to direct and produce several films under their banner.
Fandango‘Harold and the Purple Crayon’
If you’ve already seenDespicable Me 4andInside Out 2, and you’re still looking for something a little more lighthearted and family-friendly to see in the theaters, look no further!Harold and the Purple CrayonfeaturesShazam!star,Zachary Levias the titular character. Similar to the early 2000s cartoon,Chalk Zone, this film is a live-action fantasy/comedy that follows a young boy who discovers that whatever he draws with his magical purple crayon… comes to life. Based on the 1955 children’s book of the same name, Harold learns that his crayon holds the ability to create real objects, including toys, airplanes, andcreatures.
The film serves as a cinematic sequel to the book, where Harold grows up and draws himself off the pages of the book and into the real world, along with his two best friends, Moose (Lil Rey Howery) and Porcupine (Tanya Reynolds). The trio seems to be able to adapt to real life, with the help of Mel (Benjamin Bottani) and his single mother, Terri (Zooey Deschanel), until Gary Naswich(Jermaine Clement) gets a piece of the magical crayon and decides to use it for evil. Following Levi’s roles inShazam!andShazam! Fury of the Gods, as well as other family-friendly films likeTangledandChicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, the 43-year-old actor is well-equipped to embody the frivolity and fun it takes to engage younger audiences.
Harold and the Purple Crayon
A young boy named Harold embarks on a magical mission with the help of his purple crayon
#AMFAD: All My Friends Are Deadis the next new slasher film that incorporates younger audiences. Sorry millennials, but movie franchises likeScream,The Blair Witch Project, orParanormal Activityare so last generation. Fresh new takes on the slasher genre have been carving a path in recent years, appealing toGen Z audienceswith movies likeHost,M3GAN,Bodies Bodies Bodies, andTalk To Me. The advancements in technology and connectivity have drastically impacted how people interact with each other, sometimes for good, and sometimes for evil.
This movie stars several up-and-coming actors, such asJade Pettyjohn(Little Fires Everywhere),Jennifer Ens(Chapelwaite),Justin Derickson(Monster High: The Movie),Julian Haig(Riverdale),Cardi Wong(Golden Delicious),Ali Fumiko Whitney(Find Me Falling), andJoJo Siwaas a group of college friends whose entire lives revolve around their social media presence. When they rent an Airbnb to attend one of the year’s biggest festivals, things begin to go awry very quickly. As each member of the group is killed off in horrific ways, the surviving members of the group quickly learn that each death is related to the biblical “Seven Deadly Sins.” In a world that seems to revolve around the number of followers and likes you have, sometimes it’s safer to stay off the grid.
#AMFAD: All My Friends Are Dead
A group of close college friends rents an Airbnb for a highly anticipated music festival. Their weekend of revelry quickly turns sinister when they begin to be murdered one by one. As they attempt to uncover the killer’s identity, they realize each death is connected to one of the seven deadly sins.
This film is a delectable dark comedy that focuses on survival and class warfare. Set in 1918, during WWI and the Spanish Flu epidemic, a wealthy family takes on a private chef, Floyd Monk (Peter Sarsgaard), to prepare their meals. Unbeknownst to the patriarch, Jay (Billy Magnussen), who is a vegetarian, Floyd is a grifter who will survive by any means necessary. As food supplies run short, Floyd questions Jay’s ability to provide food for his family and soon rallies the support of others who wait on Jay’s family and maintain their vast estate. After the contagion spreads to their remote island, threatening those who live there with starvation and disease. Floyd leads an insurrection of service workers to take over the mansion, not unlike the French Revolution of 1848. If you’re a fan of darkly comedic movies with similar themes, such asParasite,Triangle of Sadness, orThe Menu, this movie will fill your appetite. Check below to find showtimes at a theater near you!
