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‘Riot Girls’ is a Punk Rock Call to Arms [REVIEW]

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Riot Girls

In an alternate version of 1995, a mysterious plague has wiped out all the adults and left one town’s teens in a violent gang war. This is the premise for Jovanka Vuckovic’s Riot Girls, a punk-infused teen-focused flick with surprisingly dark undertones. 

In the film, the town of Potter’s Bluff is divided into the poor East side and the rich West side — punks vs preps, essentially — with each group rallying behind an alpha male. When the Westside Titans (clad in letter jackets and doused with school spirit) capture an Eastsider, it’s up to two punk rock riot girls — Scratch (Paloma Kwiatkowski; Bates Motel) and Nat (Madison Iseman; Annabelle Comes Home) — to swoop in, bash some skulls, and save the day. 

Directed, written, edited, designed, and produced by women, the film puts a solid focus on its strong female characters. They’re all presented in a realistic and relatable light that the audience can really connect with. These girls have genuine friendships, fears, vulnerabilities, and strengths, and they can be heroic without the mystical skills of sci-fi kung fu.

via Route 504

Riot Girls is washed with a light, youthful energy that polishes over the film’s dark nature. For a film that focuses on a bunch of teenagers, there’s a fair amount of bloodshed. It’s a bit surprising to see kids straight up murdering each other, but there are no real consequences to deter them — no authorities to keep them in line. With the right “us vs them” attitude, you can see why these kids would believe that it’s the best solution to their current problem. 

The issue with the “no real consequences” part is that death carries very little weight — these kids play pretty fast and loose with murder. When someone is killed, we move on almost immediately. Death has been normalized — though perhaps seeing all of your parents die from gut rot will do that to you. It takes away some dramatic edge, but it speaks to the true dystopian nature of the film. 

That said, tonally, Riot Girls is a bit of a mess. It skips back and forth between heavy stakes and lighthearted adventure, and ends up feeling rather uneven. Because we’re picking up in the middle of the story with an already established set of warring societies, it can be difficult to connect to the reasons why this all matters. 

But as flippant as the film can be with its treatment of death, Riot Girls handles the topic of sexual assault with the appropriate gravity. Scratch clearly has some trauma in her past that keeps her on edge. Her anxieties betray her carefree attitude when things start to get heavy.  

via Route 504

On the West side, the Titans are led by Jeremy (Munro Chambers; Turbo Kid, Harpoon). Jeremy is coiled like a snake, ready to strike. His volatile nature gives Chambers a lot to play with, and he appears to relish in the stoic intensity. That said, the character of Jeremy perhaps isn’t the best fit for him. Chambers is extraordinarily talented, but the character is a bit too restrained when you really want to see him go off the rails. 

Kwiatkowski really leans in to Scratch’s punk rock attitude, and it seems to come naturally for her. Perhaps it’s the script, but there are times that her performance doesn’t tonally match with the action. It forces a specific reaction from her that doesn’t quite gel with the overall tone, so the performance comes off as stilted — at no fault to the actor.

via Route 504

When Riot Girls isn’t rebel yelling or not giving a damn about reputations, it has a very sweet and queer-positive love story. Nat and Scratch show their close connection throughout the film, building up to a heartwarming confession that embraces the spirit of young love. 

Riot Girls is a spunky and energetic film, infused with early-90s sensibilities. It focuses on teens who must survive with no parental help (the era of latchkey kids) and has a distinct comic book aesthetic that sprinkles a youthful unreality into the film. 

Though there are some hiccups with pacing and tone, Riot Girls is a punk rock feminist call to arms. With a cast of strong female characters — including Caine (Jenny Raven) and wise-beyond-her-years Lucy (Jordana Blake) —  it rallies rebel girls and shows us that we can kick ass in the face of male entitlement and classism, and emerge victorious. We are the heroes of our own stories, and we don’t need to be rescued.

Even in a post-apocalypse, we can claim the world as our own.

 

Riot Girls will receive a limited theatrical release starting September 13, 2019.

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New Poster Reveal For Nicolas Cage’s Survival Creature Feature ‘Arcadian’ [Trailer]

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Nicolas Cage Arcadian

In the latest cinematic venture featuring Nicolas Cage, Arcadian emerges as a compelling creature feature, teeming with suspense, horror, and emotional depth. RLJE Films has recently released a series of new images and a captivating poster, offering audiences a glimpse into the eerie and thrilling world of “Arcadian”. Scheduled to hit theaters on April 12, 2024, the film will later be available on Shudder and AMC+, ensuring a wide audience can experience its gripping narrative.

Arcadian Movie Trailer

The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has given this film an “R” rating for its “bloody images,” hinting at the visceral and intense experience awaiting viewers. The film draws inspiration from acclaimed horror benchmarks like “A Quiet Place,” weaving a post-apocalyptic tale of a father and his two sons navigating a desolate world. Following a catastrophic event that depopulates the planet, the family faces the dual challenge of surviving their dystopian environment and eluding mysterious nocturnal creatures.

Joining Nicolas Cage in this harrowing journey are Jaeden Martell, known for his role in “IT” (2017), Maxwell Jenkins from “Lost in Space,” and Sadie Soverall, featured in “Fate: The Winx Saga.” Directed by Ben Brewer (“The Trust”) and penned by Mike Nilon (“Braven”), “Arcadian” promises a unique blend of poignant storytelling and electrifying survival horror.

Maxwell Jenkins, Nicolas Cage, and Jaeden Martell 

Critics have already begun to praise “Arcadian” for its imaginative monster designs and exhilarating action sequences, with one review from Bloody Disgusting highlighting the film’s balance between emotional coming-of-age elements and heart-pounding horror. Despite sharing thematic elements with similar genre films, “Arcadian” sets itself apart through its creative approach and action-driven plot, promising a cinematic experience filled with mystery, suspense, and relentless thrills.

Arcadian Official Movie Poster

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‘Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3’ Is a Go with Enhanced Budget and New Characters

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Winnie the Pooh 3

Wow, they’re churning things out fast! The upcoming sequel “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3” is officially moving forward, promising an expanded narrative with a larger budget and the introduction of beloved characters from A.A. Milne’s original tales. As confirmed by Variety, the third installment in the horror franchise will welcome Rabbit, the heffalumps, and the woozles into its dark and twisted narrative.

This sequel is a part of an ambitious cinematic universe that reimagines children’s stories as horror tales. Alongside “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” and its first sequel, the universe includes films such as “Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare”, “Bambi: The Reckoning,” and “Pinocchio Unstrung”. These movies are set to converge in the crossover event “Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble,” slated for a 2025 release.

Winnie the Pooh Poohniverse

The creation of these films was made possible when A.A. Milne’s 1926 children’s book “Winnie-the-Pooh” entered the public domain last year, allowing filmmakers to explore these cherished characters in unprecedented ways. Director Rhys Frake-Waterfield and producer Scott Jeffrey Chambers, of Jagged Edge Productions, have led the charge in this innovative endeavor.

The inclusion of Rabbit, heffalumps, and woozles in the upcoming sequel introduces a new layer to the franchise. In Milne’s original stories, heffalumps are imagined creatures resembling elephants, while woozles are known for their weasel-like characteristics and a penchant for stealing honey. Their roles in the narrative remain to be seen, but their addition promises to enrich the horror universe with deeper connections to the source material.

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How to Watch ‘Late Night with the Devil’ from Home: Dates and Platforms

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Late Night With The Devil

For fans eager to dive into one of this year’s most talked-about horror films from the comfort of their own home, “Late Night with the Devil” will be available for streaming exclusively on Shudder starting April 19, 2024. This announcement has been highly anticipated following the film’s successful theatrical release by IFC Films, which saw it earning rave reviews and a record-breaking opening weekend for the distributor.

“Late Night with the Devil” emerges as a standout horror film, captivating audiences and critics alike, with Stephen King himself offering high praise for the 1977-set film. Starring David Dastmalchian, the movie unfolds on Halloween night during a live late-night talk show broadcast that disastrously unleashes evil across the nation. This found footage-style film not only delivers scares but also authentically captures the aesthetic of the 1970s, drawing viewers into its nightmarish scenario.

David Dastmalchian in Late Night with the Devil

The film’s initial box office success, opening to $2.8 million in 1,034 theaters, underscores its wide appeal and marks the highest opening weekend for an IFC Films release. Critically acclaimed, “Late Night with the Devil” boasts a 96% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 135 reviews, with the consensus praising it for rejuvenating the possession horror genre and showcasing David Dastmalchian’s exceptional performance.

Rotten Tomatoes score as of 3/28/2024

Simon Rother of iHorror.com encapsulates the film’s allure, emphasizing its immersive quality that transports viewers back to the 1970s, making them feel as if they are part of the eerie “Night Owls” Halloween broadcast. Rother lauds the film for its meticulously crafted script and the emotional and shocking journey it takes viewers on, stating, “This whole experience will have viewers of the Cairnes brothers’ film glued to their screen… The script, from beginning to end, is neatly sewn together with an ending that’ll have jaws on the floor.” You can read the full review here.

Rother further encourages audiences to watch the film, highlighting its multifaceted appeal: “Whenever it is made available to you, you must attempt to view the Cairnes Brothers’ latest project as it will make you laugh, it will creep you out, it will amaze you, and it might even strike an emotional cord.”

Set to stream on Shudder on April 19, 2024, “Late Night with the Devil” offers a compelling blend of horror, history, and heart. This film is not just a must-watch for horror aficionados but for anyone looking to be thoroughly entertained and moved by a cinematic experience that redefines the boundaries of its genre.

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