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‘John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum’ Rips and Tears to New Action Heights

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Some people want enormous showdowns featuring their favorite Marvel characters, I on the other hand wait with anticipation to see someone give John Wick a gun. And boy does he get a gun or two in the runtime of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum.

The story takes off like a bullet from where John Wick 2 left off. Wick is running through the streets of NY making strategic moves to assist in his upcoming excommunicado sentence, during which he will receive no assistance from anyone under The High Table. As Wick fans recall, Wick broke some very important rules on Continental grounds that lead to an impending contract on his life.

The film takes no time getting into the nitty-gritty world of headshots and and constantly cool choreographed violence. This time however, Wick is up against the clock and in constant survival mode as opposed to his usual just and vengeful self. The Baba Yaga’s biggest enemy this time around is time itself.

Director, Chad Stahelski brings that trademark flare back to the Wick series once again. Combining the genius and timing of Buster Keaton with masterful martial arts and gun-fu of East meets West. This time around, Stahelski steers heavily into inspiration from High Noon, complete with homages to clocks ticking down to inevitable final moments and subsequent consequential action. Stahelski elevates his already deep understanding of the language of cinema and generously gives us the action we have come to expect from the series and then raises the bar he set.

Wick’s nemesis this time around lies in the deadly hands of Mark Dacascos, who brings a very interesting take on his approach to lethal assassin, Zero. Dacascos is the real deal in the world of martial arts and that lends to his character here with his precise approach to action. The interesting thing that Dacascos does here is to turn his character into a genuine John Wick fanboy. Sure, he needs to kill Wick, but that doesn’t stop his childlike wonder while attempting it. The third act moments between Zero and Wick are well-done outright hilarious.

Wick

Through a series of events, I will avoid spoiling, Wick ends up partnered with Sofia (Halle Berry) in a some sequences that viciously doubles the action of what we have seen in previous John Wick films. What you have to remember, especially during these scenes, is that they are doing all this shit for real. Reeves and Berry unleash a slew of bullets paired with an intense duo of dogs who in turn unleash their own hell onto the baddies. The result is bloody and magical. The stunt work that went into this stuff is fuckin’ legendary and I’m still in complete awe.

Reeves is Wick. Wick is Reeves. The dude pours himself into the role once again and has a profound understanding of exactly what to bring to Stahelski’s table of action. Well-versed in gun fu and kung fu and everything in between, Reeves is a craftsman whose blood, sweat and tears lies in each frame of the film to mesmerizing results.

One of the best things about this series outside of the outstanding action has always been the world that John Wick created from the get go. Secret code, double speak, gold coins, keys and an underground that we hadn’t seen previous to these films is absolutely rich. Chapter 3 takes us further down that alluring rabbit hole. New locations, characters and big and game changing reveals are made throughout, never taking away from action set pieces.

While a lot of action films are just that. The rich world of John Wick is busting at the seams with symbolism. The historical, philosophical and even religious undertones are everywhere and throughout. This time around that substance is capitalized on with bits of those symbols bleeding into the narrative to satisfying and well earned results.

For me it is hard to rate any of the Wick films. They are all equally fantastic and I’ve loved every single badass second with them. From start to finish this series has been a masterpiece and we are lucky enough to have witnessed it. Wick maintains the lightning in the bottle sensation that It has always been and still promises more of this vicious ballet, and I for one am entirely here for that.

‘John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum’ is out now in theaters.

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Childhood Memories Collide in New Horror Film ‘Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble’

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It looks like ITN Studious and Jagged Edge Productions are going the Avengers: Infinity War route with their upcoming film Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble. From the deranged mind of Rhys Frake-Waterfield (Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey) comes this belligerent mash up of beloved childhood icons.

According to an article out of Variety today, Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble will consist of Winnie the Pooh, Bambi, Tinkerbell, Pinocchio, Peter Pan, Tigger, Piglet, The Mad Hatter, and Sleeping Beauty. All of these iconic figured will be warped into nightmarish versions of their former selves. Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble is set to be released upon the world sometime in 2025.

Poohniverse

Actor-producer Scott Chambers (Malevolent) had the following to say about Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble. “As horror fans, we would love an Avengers that is all villains. It’d have Freddy Krueger, Jason, ‘Halloween,’ ‘Scream,’ all of those. Obviously that will never happen, but we can make it happen in our own little way, and that’s where this film has been born.”

Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble will be a part of The Twisted Childhood Universe. Just like the MCU, each character will first get a standalone film. After introductions are made, they will be reunited in an Avengers style film. Although they will be killing off the survivors from the previous films, they won’t be working together.

Chambers describes this as an “epic sequences of monster vs. monster.” And I don’t know what more fans could ask of the studio. This fantastical idea is a huge risk but Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble sounds amazing.

That’s all the information we have at this time. Check back here for more updates on Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble. If you haven’t already, check out the trailer for Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 2 below.

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Blumhouse’s ‘The Wolf Man’ Reboot Kicks Off Production with Leigh Whannell at the Helm

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Blumhouse Productions has officially commenced filming its reboot of the Universal Monsters legend, “Wolf Man”. Under the direction of Leigh Whannell, known for his acclaimed work on “The Invisible Man” (2020), the project promises to breathe new life into the iconic tale. The film is slated for a theatrical release on October 25th, marking a new chapter in the storied franchise.

Wolf Man

The journey of a “Wolf Man” reboot began in 2020 when actor Ryan Gosling presented a fresh take on the classic story to Universal. This concept quickly evolved into a screenplay crafted by the talented duo Lauren Schuker Blum and Rebecca Angelo, who are known for their work on “Orange Is the New Black,” alongside contributions from Whannell and Corbett Tuck. The narrative is set in contemporary times, drawing inspiration from the atmospheric tension of Jake Gyllenhaal’s “Nightcrawler,” albeit with a distinct supernatural twist.

The film has seen its share of directorial and casting shifts, with Whannell initially signing on to direct in 2020, only to step away and then return to the project after Ryan Gosling and director Derek Cianfrance exited. The lead roles have been filled by Christopher Abbott and Julia Garner, both of whom bring significant talent to the screen. Abbott portrays a man whose family faces the terror of a lethal predator, with Garner likely playing his wife, sharing in the familial peril. The storyline also hints at a daughter named Ginger, adding a layer of depth to the family’s harrowing experience.

Julia Garner and Christopher Abbott

This reboot represents a collaboration between Blumhouse and Motel Movies, with Jason Blum producing. Ryan Gosling remains involved as an executive producer, alongside Ken Kao, Bea Sequeira, Mel Turner, and Whannell himself. The announcement of the film’s production start was made by Jason Blum, who shared an exciting glimpse of Whannell on set, signaling the beginning of what is hoped to be a memorable addition to the horror genre.

As the “Wolf Man” reboot moves forward, fans and newcomers alike are eager to see how this modern interpretation will pay homage to its roots while offering a fresh and thrilling experience. With a talented cast and crew at the helm, the film is poised to reintroduce the timeless tale of transformation and terror to a new generation.

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‘Immaculate’ Stars Reveal Which Horror Villains They Would “F, Marry, Kill”

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Sydney Sweeney is just coming off the success of her rom-com Anyone But You, but she’s ditching the love story for a horror story in her latest film Immaculate.

Sweeney is taking Hollywood by storm, portraying everything from a love-lusting teenager in Euphoria to an accidental superhero in Madame Web. Although the latter got a lot of hate among theater-goers, Immaculate is getting the polar opposite.

The film was screened at SXSW this past week and was well-received. It also gained a reputation for being extremely gory. Derek Smith of Slant says the, “final act contains some of the most twisted, gory violence this particular subgenre of horror has seen in years…”

Thankfully curious horror movie fans won’t have to wait long to see for themselves what Smith is talking about as Immaculate will hit theaters across the United States on March, 22.

Bloody Disgusting says that the movie’s distributor NEON, in a bit of marketing smarts, had stars Sydney Sweeney and Simona Tabasco play a game of “F, Marry, Kill” in which all their choices had to be horror movie villains.

It’s an interesting question, and you might be surprised at their answers. So colorful are their responses that YouTube slapped an age-restricted rating on the video.

Immaculate is a religious horror movie that NEON says stars Sweeney, “as Cecilia, an American nun of devout faith, embarking on a new journey in a remote convent in the picturesque Italian countryside. Cecilia’s warm welcome quickly devolves into a nightmare as it becomes clear her new home harbors a sinister secret and unspeakable horrors.”

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