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“The Limehouse Golem” is the Nostalgic Whodunit You Didn’t Know You Needed

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In an age of big special effects, over the top monsters, and all too shallow plotlines, it’s easy to forget that really good stories not only exist but can still thrill viewers in unexpected ways.  Luckily, from time to time, a film like The Limehouse Golem comes along to remind us of that very fact.

Directed by Juan Carlos Medina with a script by Jane Goldman (who also wrote the screenplay for The Woman in Black) based on the novel by Peter Ackroyd, The Limehouse Golem tells the story of Lizzie Cree (Olivia Cooke) a former music hall actress who’s accused of murdering her husband (Sam Reid).  At the time of his death, however, there’s a much larger case that’s rocked an entire community.  A killer known only as the Limehouse Golem has committed a series of brutal murders, the last including an entire family.  Inspector John Kildare (Bill Nighy) from Scotland Yard has been brought in to solve the case, and to serve as a fall guy for the Yard if he cannot.

Kildare soon realizes the two cases are inextricably linked but discovering the killer’s identity may put more at risk than his career.

It’s a beautiful throwback film, embracing the tropes of the great British mysteries that came before it.  No one is completely innocent and guilt lies not only on the killer but on the people who helped create them.  The streets are just a little too clean, and the poor just a little too healthy looking, for it to all be completely believed, and yet we do.  It is mystery theater at its best, inviting the audience to put the pieces of the puzzle together having no idea what the larger picture truly is.

Bill Nighy (Underworld, Pirates of the Caribbean) turns in a brilliant, understated performance as Kildare consciously choosing a subtle approach to this intelligent and caring man.  Interestingly enough, Alan Rickman was originally cast in the role, but when his health began to deteriorate he had to leave the production.  Nighy stepped in, and while one cannot help but imagine Rickman in the role, it is undeniable that the film did not suffer in the least with the substitution.

Cooke (“Bates Motel”, The Quiet Ones), an undeniably talented actress, is serviceable in the role of Lizzie, at once strong and vulnerable, and yet there were times where her performance was overwhelmed by those around her.  About half the movie passes before she finds her even footing with Nighy and some of her co-stars.  That firm footing locks into place, and the second half of the film is the better for it.

It is Douglas Booth (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Jupiter Ascending) who steals this show, however.  As music hall performer Dan Leno, Booth is magnetic, radiating sex, mystery, and danger.  He is beautifully ambiguous in his desires and commanding on stage in 19th century drag, and the screen sizzled with his charisma each time he appeared.

Medina, who I was surprised to find only had four directing credits to his name on IMDb, directs his cast beautifully with an innate ability to balance silence with dialogue and stillness with action to fully tell the story of The Limehouse Golem.  Many a horror director could take lessons from Medina in the realm of gore.  His murder scenes are seriously gory, but he doesn’t linger.  He gives us just enough to take in the scene before cutting away quickly leaving an afterimage for the viewer to process.  The method is extremely effective.

The Limehouse Golem releases September 8, 2017 in theaters and on demand from Number 9 Films in associate with RLJ Entertainment and Lionsgate among others.  Check out the trailer below!

 

 

TITLE: THE LIMEHOUSE GOLEM
IN THEATERS AND AVAILABLE ON VOD AND DIGITAL HD: September 8, 2017
DIRECTOR: Juan Carlos Medina
WRITERS: Jane Goldman, based on the novel “Dan Leno and the Limehouse Golem” by Peter Ackroyd
CAST: Bill Nighy, Olivia Cooke, Douglas Booth, Daniel Mays, and Eddie Marsan
SYNOPSIS: The city of London is gripped with fear as a serial killer – dubbed The Limehouse Golem – is on the loose and leaving cryptic messages written in his victim’s blood. With few leads and increasing public pressure, Scotland Yard assigns the case to Inspector Kildare (Bill Nighy) – a seasoned detective with a troubled past and a sneaking suspicion he’s being set up to fail. Faced with a long list of suspects, including music hall star Dan Leno (Douglas Booth), Kildare must get help from a witness who has legal troubles of her own (Olivia Cooke), so he can stop the murders and bring the killer to justice.
GENRE: Thriller
DISTRIBUTOR: RLJ Entertainment

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Trailer for ‘The Exorcism’ Has Russell Crowe Possessed

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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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Win a Stay at The Lizzie Borden House From Spirit Halloween

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lizzie borden house

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.

Inside the Lizzie Borden House

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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’28 Years Later’ Trilogy Taking Shape With Serious Star Power

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28 years later

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.

Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Ralph Fiennes

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.

28 Days Later

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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