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Movie Review: Cub
Cub has been one of the most buzzed about horror films of 2015 ahead of its U.S. release, which will finally be upon us this month. The Belgian slasher (natively titled Welp) follows a group of scouts led by three leaders, as they go on a camping trip in a remote forest outside of a run-down industrial park.
As the story progresses, we learn that the locals (of which there don’t seem to be many) consider the camping spot to be cursed if not haunted. Nobody wants to go there because a bunch of factory workers who lost their jobs hanged themselves from the trees. Not even the local law enforcement who arrives by dirtbike (and seems to pay homage to Friday the 13th) likes being there.
Meanwhile, there’s a kid in a mask roaming around. We see him right at the very beginning of the film in an effectively creepy setup and catch glimpses of him roaming around throughout the picture. But is this just some murderous kid? A werewolf? A ghost? You’ll just have to see how it unfolds.
Cub is well-directed, well-acted, and well-photographed. There’s really not a lot to dislike about it as a fan of slasher films. It utilizes plenty of common tropes (the bullies, the running out of gas, the bike cop, the camping in the woods, the cat gag, and others I’ll let you discover for yourself), but it doesn’t use them in an annoying way. It may be winking at its audience a bit (which is most evident when one of the character’s phones utilizes a highly recognizable horror movie theme for a ringtone), but not to the point where it feels like its cramming it down our throats or for faux-comedic value.
The film is another in a recent crop of genre films to provide an 80s-sounding score. For some, this might be a trend that wears out its welcome, but frankly, I’m just a sucker for that stuff no matter how much I encounter it.
There are some inventive kills, though if I’m being honest, I would’ve liked to have seen a bit more in this department. Even still, there is one in particular that is much more disturbing than pretty much anything else in the film. I won’t elaborate further than that as to not spoil it.
While I’m not nominating it for film of the year, I really don’t have much negative to say about it. If I’m reaching, I’ll say I wouldn’t have minded a little more in the character development department, but even that is mostly adequate.
Ultimately, Cub is a quality slasher that while not necessarily ground-breaking, manages to put its own spin on the sub-genre and should be counted as a welcome addition to it.
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Cub hits DVD and Blu-ray from Artsploitation on August 18. Bonus features include: deleted scenes, SFX reel, short film (Blu-only), music video (Blu-only), and trailers.
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Movies
Trailer for ‘The Exorcism’ Has Russell Crowe Possessed
The latest exorcism movie is about to drop this summer. It’s aptly titled The Exorcism and it stars Academy Award winner turned B-movie savant Russell Crowe. The trailer dropped today and by the looks of it, we are getting a possession movie that takes place on a movie set.
Just like this year’s recent demon-in-media-space film Late Night With the Devil, The Exorcism happens during a production. Although the former takes place on a live network talk show, the latter is on an active sound stage. Hopefully, it won’t be entirely serious and we’ll get some meta chuckles out of it.
The film will open in theaters on June 7, but since Shudder also acquired it, it probably won’t be long after that until it finds a home on the streaming service.
Crowe plays, “Anthony Miller, a troubled actor who begins to unravel while shooting a supernatural horror film. His estranged daughter, Lee (Ryan Simpkins), wonders if he’s slipping back into his past addictions or if there’s something more sinister at play. The film also stars Sam Worthington, Chloe Bailey, Adam Goldberg and David Hyde Pierce.”
Crowe did see some success in last year’s The Pope’s Exorcist mostly because his character was so over-the-top and infused with such comical hubris it bordered on parody. We will see if that is the route actor-turned-director Joshua John Miller takes with The Exorcism.
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News
Win a Stay at The Lizzie Borden House From Spirit Halloween
Spirit Halloween has declared that this week marks the start of spooky season and to celebrate they are offering fans a chance to stay at the Lizzie Borden House with so many perks Lizzie herself would approve.
The Lizzie Borden House in Fall River, MA is claimed to be one of the most haunted houses in America. Of course one lucky winner and up to 12 of their friends will find out if the rumors are true if they win the grand prize: A private stay in the notorious house.
“We are delighted to work with Spirit Halloween to roll out the red carpet and offer the public a chance to win a one-of-a-kind experience at the infamous Lizzie Borden House, which also includes additional haunted experiences and merchandise,” said Lance Zaal, President & Founder of US Ghost Adventures.
Fans can enter to win by following Spirit Halloween‘s Instagram and leaving a comment on the contest post from now through April 28.
The prize also includes:
An exclusive guided house tour, including insider insight around the murder, the trial, and commonly reported hauntings
A late-night ghost tour, complete with professional ghost-hunting gear
A private breakfast in the Borden family dining room
A ghost hunting starter kit with two pieces of Ghost Daddy Ghost Hunting Gear and a lesson for two at US Ghost Adventures Ghost Hunting Course
The ultimate Lizzie Borden gift package, featuring an official hatchet, the Lizzie Borden board game, Lily the Haunted Doll, and America’s Most Haunted Volume II
Winner’s choice of a Ghost Tour experience in Salem or a True Crime experience in Boston for two
“Our Halfway to Halloween celebration provides fans an exhilarating taste of what’s to come this fall and empowers them to start planning for their favorite season as early as they please,” said Steven Silverstein, CEO of Spirit Halloween. “We have cultivated an incredible following of enthusiasts who embody the Halloween lifestyle, and we’re thrilled to bring the fun back to life.”
Spirit Halloween is also preparing for their retail haunted houses. On Thursday, August 1 their flagship store in Egg Harbor Township, NJ. will officially open to start off the season. That event usually draws in hordes of people eager to see what new merch, animatronics, and exclusive IP goods will be trending this year.
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Movies
’28 Years Later’ Trilogy Taking Shape With Serious Star Power
Danny Boyle is revisiting his 28 Days Later universe with three new films. He will direct the first, 28 Years Later, with two more to follow. Deadline is reporting that sources say Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Ralph Fiennes have been cast for the first entry, a sequel to the original. Details are being kept under wraps so we don’t know how or if the first original sequel 28 Weeks Later fits into the project.
Boyle will direct the first movie but it’s unclear which role he will take on in the subsequent films. What is known is Candyman (2021) director Nia DaCosta is scheduled to direct the second film in this trilogy and that the third will be filmed immediately afterward. Whether DaCosta will direct both is still unclear.
Alex Garland is writing the scripts. Garland is having a successful time at the box office right now. He wrote and directed the current action/thriller Civil War which was just knocked out of the theatrical top spot by Radio Silence’s Abigail.
There is no word yet on when, or where, 28 Years Later will start production.
The original film followed Jim (Cillian Murphy) who wakes from a coma to find that London is currently dealing with a zombie outbreak.
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