For mid-May, we’re doing pretty dang good in terms of genre love. While I don’t count ANGELS & DEMONS as horror or even something I’d watch, it might interest some of you. On the DVD side of things however, we have the unneeded GRUDGE 3, the under rated UNDERWORLD 3, and the unknown PASSENGERS starring the smokin’ hot Anne Hathaway. BTK and PLAGUE TOWN also round up this week’s genre releases. Happy Tuesday!
ANGLELS & DEMONS
Rated: PG-13 for sequences of violence, disturbing images and thematic material.
Starring Tom Hanks, Ewan McGregor, Ayelet Zurer
Directed by Ron Howard
Run Time: ???
When Robert Langdon discovers evidence of the resurgence of an ancient secret brotherhood known as the Illuminati — the most powerful underground organization in history — he also faces a deadly threat to the existence of the secret organization’s most despised enemy: the Catholic Church. When Langdon learns that the clock is ticking on an unstoppable Illuminati time bomb, he jets to Rome, where he joins forces with Vittoria Vetra, a beautiful and enigmatic Italian scientist. Embarking on a nonstop hunt through sealed crypts, dangerous catacombs, deserted cathedrals and even to the heart of the most secretive vault on earth, Langdon and Vetra will follow a 400-year-old trail of ancient symbols that mark the Vatican’s only hope for survival.
THE GRUDGE 3
Rated: UnRated
Starring Matthew Knight, Shawnee Smith, Mike Straub
Directed by Toby Wilkins
Run Time: 90 Min.
Jake, the sole survivor of The Grudge 2 massacre, is tortured by chilling visions of Kayako and Toshio that have led to his hospitalization. Jake’s caretaker, Dr. Sullivan (Shawnee Smith, the Saw series) is determined to investigate his horrifying tales. She explores his Chicago home, finding another family on the brink of succumbing to the curse. It becomes clear that Jake’s terrifying stories are true, and a mysterious Japanese woman may be the only hope of banishing the spirits forever…unless her plan destroys them all.
UNDERWORLD: RISE OF THE LYCANS
Rated:R
Starring Rhona Mitra, Bill Nighy
Directed Patrick Tatopoulos
Run Time: 92 minutes
The prequel story traces the origins of the centuries-old blood feud between the aristocratic vampires and their onetime slaves, the Lycans. In the Dark Ages, a young Lycan named Lucian emerges as a powerful leader who rallies the werewolves to rise up against Viktor, the cruel vampire king who has enslaved them. Lucian is joined by his secret lover, Sonja, in his battle against the Vampire army and his struggle for Lycan freedom.
PASSENGERS
Rated: PG-13
Starring David Morse, Dianne Wiest, Clea Duvall, Anne Hathaway
Directed by Rodrigo García
Run Time: 93 minutes
While helping a handful of plane crash survivors cope with their grief, young psychologist Claire Summers (2008 Best Actress, Oscar® nominee Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married) begins to uncover conflicting accounts of the accident. At first, Claire believes that trauma is behind her patients’ wildly different stories – until the survivors mysteriously begin disappearing one by one. Now Eric (Patrick Wilson, Lakeview Terrace), a surviving passenger she has grown dangerously close to, may hold the key to unlocking the truth about the tragic incident in this shocking psychological thriller.