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M. Night Shyamalan Movies That Deserve Another Chance

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M. Night Shyamalan is one of those writers/directors everyone loves to hate but I never really understood why. Yes, The Last Airbender was not his shining moment and his first attempt at an ACTUAL horror movie format with The Visit didn’t go well, but that doesn’t mean he’s not great at what he does. He’s got talent and some of his least popular movies deserve another chance.

Everyone loved The Sixth Sense. That was our introduction to the Shyamalan twist, as it has come to be known. Nobody saw it coming and if they said they did, I call bullshit. It was slow burning, quiet and terrifying. Haley Joel Osment killed his role and it went down very quickly as a classic.

Unbreakable was also a crowd favorite, but then things started to go downhill for Shyamalan and his fans. People started getting tired of the twists, disliking the stories thinking they were stupid and giving his movies poor ratings to which I say….”What the hell is wrong with you people??”

There was even a creepy mockumentary about all of his mysteries like he was some supernatural being called The Buried Secret of M. Night Shyamalan. It was wildly entertaining and I thought it was so fun that he participated even though he got a lot of criticism for marketing it as real. They took a tip from The Blair Witch Project and it backfired.

I’m taking this time to remind you, my lovely readers, about why you should love M. Night Shyamalan’s movies, past The Sixth Sense and Unbreakable. This is excluding his new movie Split that has received rave reviews.

5. The Village

M. Night Shyamalan

Image courtesy of Where’s the Jump

Oh my God, the hate for The Village is palpable. When you start talking about it, the haters literally climb from between the couch cushions to say why they hate it so much. Maybe because I don’t go into a movie or a magic show determined to spoil the twists and tricks that I am able to enjoy it more. While I thought the “monsters” in the woods were silly looking, the actual story was interesting and heartbreaking.

4. Lady in the Water

M. Night Shyamalan

Maybe it was the performance by Paul Giamatti or the dry humor hidden between the fantasy story, I’m not sure but I love this movie, despite the overwhelmingly negative reviews. I have seen it multiple times and I love it every time. Bryce Dallas Howard pulls out another quiet and strong performance as Story and the characters in the apartment building are exaggerated and wonderful. It doesn’t deserve the hate it receives.

3. Devil

M. Night Shyamalan

Image courtesy of Culturefy

While it follows the famous Shaymalan guideline, its style is very different due to the fact that he just produced it. Confined to basically one set, this movie is paranoid and claustrophobic. While the twist is easier to see coming in this particular movie, it was creepy and more disturbing than his other movies.

2. The Happening

M. Night Shyamalan

Image courtesy of OSW Review

Spoiler alert….it was the trees and people bitched about that to no end. It was M. Night Shyamalan’s first rated R film and I think this might be his creepiest one. It released to negative reviews but this remains one of my favorites. The thought that you take your own life out of your own control is terrifying. And I thought that the idea that nature was doing what it had to to protect itself was a refreshing and new idea. This movie deserves a lot of love.

1. Signs

M. Night Shyamalan

Image courtesy of Blu Ray

This movie is considered one of his better ones and for good reason. I’m biased because I love most things alien but this movie is very well made. While I could do without the repeated flashbacks that build to the big ending, it’s a slow burn and builds to a creepy crescendo. The fact that you only see small flashes of the aliens themselves makes the movie even better. Signs is great for watching more than once and the creepiness remains. It’s definitely tops in my book.

I believe these movies deserve more love than what they were given. What is your favorite of M. Night Shyamalan’s so-called “worst” films? Let us know in the comments. While you’re here, check out the Split/Unbreakable news here.

(Featured image courtesy of ET Online)

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The Original ‘Beetlejuice’ Sequel Had an Interesting Location

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beetlejuice in Hawaii Movie

Back in the late ’80s and early ’90s sequels to hit movies weren’t as linear as they are today. It was more like “let’s re-do the situation but in a different location.” Remember Speed 2, or National Lampoon’s European Vacation? Even Aliens, as good as it is, follows a lot of the plot points of the original; people stuck on a ship, an android, a little girl in peril instead of a cat. So it makes sense that one of the most popular supernatural comedies of all time, Beetlejuice would follow the same pattern.

In 1991 Tim Burton was interested in doing a sequel to his 1988 original, it was called Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian:

“The Deetz family moves to Hawaii to develop a resort. Construction begins, and it’s quickly discovered that the hotel will be sitting on top of an ancient burial ground. Beetlejuice comes in to save the day.”

Burton liked the script but wanted some re-writes so he asked then-hot screenwriter Daniel Waters who had just got done contributing to Heathers. He passed on the opportunity so producer David Geffen offered it to Troop Beverly Hills scribe Pamela Norris to no avail.

Eventually, Warner Bros. asked Kevin Smith to punch up Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian, he scoffed at the idea, saying, “Didn’t we say all we needed to say in the first Beetlejuice? Must we go tropical?”

Nine years later the sequel was killed. The studio said Winona Ryder was now too old for the part and an entire re-cast needed to happen. But Burton never gave up, there were a lot of directions he wanted to take his characters, including a Disney crossover.

“We talked about lots of different things,” the director said in Entertainment Weekly. “That was early on when we were going, Beetlejuice and the Haunted MansionBeetlejuice Goes West, whatever. Lots of things came up.”

Fast-forward to 2011 when another script was pitched for a sequel. This time the writer of Burton’s Dark Shadows,  Seth Grahame-Smith was hired and he wanted to make sure the story wasn’t a cash-grabbing remake or reboot. Four years later, in 2015, a script was approved with both Ryder and Keaton saying they would return to their respective roles. In 2017 that script was revamped and then eventually shelved in 2019.

During the time the sequel script was being tossed around in Hollywood, in 2016 an artist named Alex Murillo posted what looked like one-sheets for a Beetlejuice sequel. Although they were fabricated and had no affiliation with Warner Bros. people thought they were real.

Perhaps the virality of the artwork sparked interest in a Beetlejuice sequel once again, and finally, it was confirmed in 2022 Beetlejuice 2 had a green light from a script written by Wednesday writers  Alfred Gough and Miles Millar. The star of that series Jenna Ortega signed on to the new movie with filming starting in 2023. It was also confirmed that Danny Elfman would return to do the score.

Burton and Keaton agreed that the new film titled Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice wouldn’t rely on CGI or other other forms of technology. They wanted the film to feel “handmade.” The film wrapped in November 2023.

It’s been over three decades to come up with a sequel to Beetlejuice. Hopefully, since they said aloha to Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian there has been enough time and creativity to ensure Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice will not only honor the characters, but fans of the original.

Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice will open theatrically on September 6.

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Russell Crowe To Star in Another Exorcism Movie & It’s Not a Sequel

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Maybe it’s because The Exorcist just celebrated its 50th-anniversary last year, or maybe it’s because aging Academy Award-winning actors aren’t too proud to take on obscure roles, but Russell Crowe is visiting the Devil once again in yet another possession film. And it’s not related to his last one, The Pope’s Exorcist.

According to Collider, the film titled The Exorcism was originally going to be released under the name The Georgetown Project. Rights for its North American release were once in the hands of Miramax but then went to Vertical Entertainment. It will release on June 7 in theaters then head over to Shudder for subscribers.

Crowe will also star in this year’s upcoming Kraven the Hunter which is set to drop in theaters on August 30.

As for The Exorcism, Collider provides us with what it’s about:

“The film centers around actor Anthony Miller (Crowe), whose troubles come to the forefront as he shoots a supernatural horror movie. His estranged daughter (Ryan Simpkins) has to figure out whether he’s lapsing into his past addictions, or if something even more horrific is occurring. “

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New F-Bomb Laden ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Trailer: Bloody Buddy Movie

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Deadpool & Wolverine might be the buddy movie of the decade. The two heterodox superheroes are back in the latest trailer for the summer blockbuster, this time with more f-bombs than a gangster film.

‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Movie Trailer

This time the focus is on Wolverine played by Hugh Jackman. The adamantium-infused X-Man is having a bit of a pity party when Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) arrives on the scene who then tries to convince him to team up for selfish reasons. The result is a profanity-filled trailer with a Strange surprise at the end.

Deadpool & Wolverine is one of the most anticipated movies of the year. It comes out on July 26. Here is the latest trailer, and we suggest if you are at work and your space isn’t private, you might want to put in headphones.

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