With a cast like Tom Hardy, Riz Ahmed, Jenny Slate and Michelle Williams I have faith that Venom will be better than it looks. The trailers have not been great and in this post Deadpool world we live in the PG-13 rating is more of a deterrent than ever, but it's attracted a decent cast so there's got to be something good, right? Originally introduced as a Spider-Man villain (and previously played by Topher Grace in Spider-Man 3) Venom is the alter-ego of investigative journalist Eddie Brock, whose body becomes fused with a mysterious substance, turning him into a murderous creature. This take on Venom seems to be more anti-hero/vigilante than straight up bad guy, but I think the effects look cool and Tom Hardy usually delivers, especially when his face is covered - see Dark Knight Rises, Mad Max: Fury Road and Dunkirk, so I remain excited about this.
I had no idea how many iterations there were of A Star is Born or how good they all supposedly are. The first one in 1937 won 1 Oscar, the 2nd version in 1954 was nominated for 6 Oscars and the 1976 version won 1 Oscar. I have to imagine this 2018 version has a shot for a nod, at least, if the same story has been wowing the academy for 80 years. Starring in his directorial debut is Bradley Cooper, a country star on his way out who gives a young singer a shot at fame. This will be Lady Gaga's first leading role but she's actually been acting for quite some time, cameoing as herself or showing up in American Horror Story (and an uncredited role in a 2001 episode of The Sopranos). Being a talented musician, she will be performing her own music in this musical drama that is already getting solid reviews.
The first Goosebumps movie was a hit (and pretty fun too) so a sequel was greenlit pretty quickly. Unfortunately, other movies got in the way, like last month’s House with the Clock in its Walls, and Jack Black couldn't take part in Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween. Realizing that kids might still show up for funny gags and scary monsters, they went ahead and made a sequel sans Black. Taking place after the events of the first, where author R.L. Stine captures all of his evil creations that leapt from the page and placed them into a book, a group of young kids find the book and unleash Slappy the evil doll. Slappy is a sort of leader of the other creatures and commands them to terrorize the town. PG hi-jinks ensues in what looks like a thin plot that will entertain kids and probably be the first horror film some see, so I'm all for it.
Joss Whedon and J.J. Abrams are pretty popular names in the movie world and one student of their craft, who worked with both of them in movies and television, is Drew Goddard. Goddard got his start in TV working on Buffy, Angel, Alias and Lost and then started working in film. His directorial debut was the fan favorite The Cabin in the Woods and he got an Oscar nomination for writing on The Martian. Now he's back behind the camera with Bad Times at the El Royale. The films looks to be a confined who-done-it, Agatha Christie type thriller where a group of people come together at a hotel and on a rainy night, all of their secrets and intentions are revealed. It, much like The Cabin in the Woods, is a set-up we have seen before but hopefully, also like TCinW, it has a wild third act that's as surprising as it is entertaining. Goddard, to me, has yet to disappoint and also the cast is awesome.
When the Russian President is kidnapped, a submarine crew lead by Gerard Butler is tasked with going to rescue him. Hunter Killer looks like my kind of movie but it seems like more of a September or January release. A silly action movie released at this point in the year seems like an odd choice, but it sure does look like a very busy action film. Which is a good thing because that means the producers have seen other submarine thrillers and realized that they are light on action and heavy on tension. Butler is fine in an action role but when he's having a conversation, one usually tunes out so it's best to toss in subplots and other action sequences outside of the submarine. From the trailer it looks like Linda Cardellini has a decent sized role and it's always nice to see her in things. Also, while not a horror film this does feature Butler and Gary Oldman, both of whom played Dracula once in their career, so that's something.
In 1978, Michael Myers terrorized a small town while hunting for his sister Laurie, played by Jamie Lee Curtis. 40 years later he's back in a film utilizing the same title as the first. This will mark the 10th Halloween film, including the remake and its sequel. However, director David Gordon Green and writer Danny McBride (yup, that Danny McBride) have opted to ignore all sequels, since Curtis' character died in 2002’s Hallween: Resurrection, and create a direct sequel to the first film. This is also the first time since Halloween III that John Carpenter has been involved in the production of a Halloween movie as he, his son and godson wrote the music for the film, which is pretty cool. Taking place 40 years after the event in the original, we find Laurie preparing for the day her brother returns. When someone interested in the story tracks down Michael he sets into motion his escape and return to track down his sister and anyone who gets in his way. This looks like a very intense movie and I can't wait to see Curtis back in action .
