Screen Anarchy

In past columns, I have spoken at length on the art of crying on movie posters, as it is a mild obsession of mine. These images are almost always female (the notable exception being Get Out), and almost always in extreme close up. The poster for the Elizabeth Banks-starring, Austin Peters-directed crime thriller Skincare follows the design right down to the ultra-tiny and non-typical placement credit block placement (here dead centre) as per Akiko Stehrenberger’s trend-setting key art for the American remake of Michael Haneke’s Funny Games. The difference with Grandson’s design here, is that there is a more controlled intent, being that the film is a mystery instead of a horror, the mood is less terror, and more, well, something else. This is mainly to…

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An intergalactic bounty hunter on a mission to rescue a preteen explosives specialist faces off with an arms dealer’s army on a hostile desert planet in Eli Roth’s abysmal video game adaptation, Borderlands. With over one billion dollars in sales spread out over half a dozen games and spinoffs, Gearbox’s Borderlands is one of the most successful video game franchises of the 21st century. Known for its unique comic book aesthetics, expansive mythology, memorable characters, and a dark, adult sense of humor; this Australian game seemed more than ready to make the jump to the silver screen. However, instead of a film that embraces the edgy nature of the game that helped create a rabid fanbase (I count myself among the devoted), Borderlands delivers a…

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In a desperate attempt to protect her ten year old daughter, a young widow allows a nightmarish monster to slowly eat her alive.

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Three desperate brothers return to the remote Scottish woodland where they killed their abusive father only to discover his shallow grave is now empty, forcing them to question each another’s loyalty as fear and paranoia set in.

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Sam Peckinpah’s got James Coburn, Kris Kristofferson, and Bob Dylan’s number in a new edition from the Criterion Collection.

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Coincidently I was thinking of filmmaker Jeremy Saulnier (Green Room, Blue Ruin) just the other day, wondering when we were going to be hearing from them and a new project. Lo and behold, Netflix shares the official trailer for their next film, Rebel Ridge today! Coincidence? Synchronicity? Call it what you will, we’ve got a new Jeremy Saulnier thriller on the way next month.    Off the hop, it’s got a Jack Reacher vibe to it. A stranger with a military background goes into some backwater town where they get treated unjustly by the local cops. This time though its a whole lot more poignant because the lead character is an African American. Things happen, words are said, folks get roughed up, then out come…

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A family moves into a suburban house and becomes convinced they’re not alone.   Steven Soderbergh’s Presence is their first foray into the horror genre and of course it is anything but conventional. Soderbergh directed from a screenplay by David Koepp and it made waves at the time because the director turned the camera into the supernatural spirit that resides in the home that the family just moved into. Everything you see happening to the family is from the spirit’s perspective.   Neon was quick to the chase and scooped Presence up and they’ll put it in theaters in the new year, on January 17th. A very brief, official teaser was released today. You will find it down below. It features a controlled shot looking…

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Frank Grillo, Robert Patrick and Rhona Mitra star in HOUNDS OF WAR about the best military mercenaries money can buy. Known as ‘The Hounds’, they are sent on a final mission by their creator: a carefully planned trap set up to destroy them.   Frank Grillo stars in Isaac Florentine’s latest acition flick, Hounds of War. The trailer and key art went live today. You’ll find the trailer down below, along with a small gallery of stills and two BTS photos.    Hounds of War stars Frank Grillo, Robert Patrick playing basically the same character as he did in Reacher – might even be the same suit – and the eternal Rhona Mitra.    Hounds of War will be on digital on September 20th, presented…

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Emily is making a documentary about reconnecting with her estranged mother, Sam. Emily was removed from their home and put in foster care because of her mother’s addiction. Years later, Sam wants to reconnect. She’s cleaned up and kicked her addiction. She wants to be a part of Emily’s life once again. With her cinematographer Danny by her side, Emily heads to her hometown of Las Cruces, New Mexico.    Everything seems on the level. Sam invites them into her home, has dinner with them and tries to prove that she has turned her life around. The next day she disappears and is nowhere to be found. Emily and Danny search for her and soon learn that Las Cruces has become a place where the…

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Lily Collias, James LeGros, and Danny McCarthy star in director India Donaldson’s piercing drama.

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