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Movie Review: Escape from Tomorrow

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The fact that Escape from Tomorrow exists at all is astonishing; that it was picked up for distribution is virtually unbelievable.

Director Randy Moore shot his controversial debut film largely on location at Walt Disney World and Disneyland – entirely incognito and without permission. The effort became one of the most talked-about movies of last year’s Sundance Film Festival, but many assumed it would never make it to home video due to the notoriously litigious Walt Disney Company. With the help of a good lawyer and Disney’s surprising decision to ultimately ignore its existence, Escape from Tomorrow has arrived on DVD and Blu-ray.

The making of Escape from Tomorrow instantly became the stuff of legend, but the big question is: does the film live up to the hype? Unfortunately, I have to say that the story behind the film is more interesting than the content – although it’s used as more than just a gimmick as well.

Escape from Tomorrow can technically be billed as a horror film, but it’s more of an arthouse cinema experiment. It’s presented in black and white, stripping Disney of its vibrant color pallet. The production would have been decidedly easier to pull off as a found footage film, but Moore and cinematographer Lucas Lee Graham went to painstaking lengths to achieve a cinematic look – although the guerrilla-style occasionally embraces a cinema verite ethos.

Escape from Tomorrow is about – what else? – a family on vacation at Disney. (It’s never specified whether they’re at World or Land; the park is an amalgam of both Disney properties.) Father Jim (Roy Abramsohn, Creepshow III), mother Emily (Elena Schuber), daughter Sara (Katelynn Rodriguez), and son Elliot (Jack Dalton) compose the seemingly happy, average family.

The activity centers on Jim, who first begins hallucinating while on It’s a Small World (featured here without its infectiously annoying music for legal reasons). He becomes increasingly obsessed with a pair of teenage French girls his family keeps running into. While the first two acts provide an interesting setup, the rest of the film devolves into a Mickey Mouse-fueled acid trip that culminates in an ending so bizarre that it would leave David Lynch scratching his head.

Given the left-field conclusion, I was hoping Blu-ray’s audio commentary with Moore and Graham would provide insight into the film. While the pair share some fun anecdotes, the track – much like the movie – leaves many questions unanswered. There is a second commentary featuring Abramsohn and Schuber in character, which is entertaining, but I would have much preferred to hear the actors’ perspectives on working on such a unique project. Far more informative is the disc’s 15-minute making-of featurette.

Disney may be the happiest place on earth, but it must have been hellish to secretly film a movie in the parks (along with some less-than-convincing green screen work). Not only did the cast and crew have to avoid drawing attention to themselves, but they also had to stand in line all day to go on several of the rides many times overall with a pair of young child actors and while charting the sun’s position to achieve the perfect shot. Escape from Tomorrow brings guerrilla filmmaking to a whole new level. While the surreal final product may be less interesting than the story behind the scenes and the social commentary may be largely lost as a result, the film is worth seeking out for its fortitude alone.

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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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