What to Watch This Weekend: Pig, Roadrunner, Gunpowder Milkshake, Space Jam, Spongebob, Fear Street, Wrath of Man, Best of Enemies

For The Wanderer: Roadrunner (Theaters)
Roadrunner chronicles the life of an influential chef and person, and much like Bourdain himself, shines a light on the good and the bad while creating a satisfying movie experience.    For more information, check out the review!

For The Kids: Space Jam: A New Legacy (Theaters and HBO Max)

Space Jam: A New Legacy has the King and a liberal use of some classic Warner properties, that is both an an enjoyable follow on to the classic cartoon basketball movie and a strange WB and LeBron marketing film.  It's streaming on HBO Max for a month so definitely check it out there!  For more information, check out the review!

For A Dramatic Nic Cage Experience: Pig (Theaters)

Pig takes flavors from several different genres and prepares them with some delicious acting from Cage and Wolff, and a stellar soundtrack to create a layered, unique stew.  For more information, check out the review! 

For A Neon Female John Wick: Gunpowder Milkshake (Netflix)

Gunpowder Milkshake is a stylish film that melds noir, neon, spaghetti westerns, and some badass ladies into a female-focused, more light hearted but no less brutal John Wick-type film.  For more information, check out the review!

For More Kids: Spongebob Squarepants (Redbox)

Spongebob Squarepants: Sponge on the Run updates the animation and adds some stellar cameos but keeps the characters, silliness, and craziness that makes Spongebob what it is.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Poignant Historical Drama: Best of Enemies (Netflix)

A historical film starring two amazing actors playing very different characters, The Best of Enemies tells the story of the clash between a civil rights advocate and a leader in the local Ku Klux Klan in North Carolina during school integration.  This was an underappreciated film in theaters and should not be missed now!

For A Darker Guy Ritchie Experience: Wrath of Man (Redbox)
Wrath of Man has Ritchie's trademark sharp writing, style, and a solid Statham performance, but with a darker tone and more intense action.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Horror Conclusion: Fear Street Part Three 1666 (Netflix)

I thought this was the weakest of the Fear Street films, but if you've made it this far you're going to conclude the story!  Fear Street Part Three 1666 concludes the trilogy's story with shock revelations, a good sense of dread, and a neon-laced epic final showdown.  For more information, check out the review!

Fear Street Part Three 1666 Review: The Surprising Conclusion To The Fear Street Trilogy

Release date: July 16, 2021
Running time: 109 minutes
Writers: R.L. Stine (based upon the Fear Street books by), Kyle Killen (story by), Phil Graziadei (story by)
Directed By: Leigh Janiak
Starring: Sadie Sink, Emily Rudd, Ryan Simpkins, McCabe Slye, Gillian Jacobs, Chiara Aurelia, Marcelle LeBlanc, Ted Sutherland

In 1994, a group of teenagers discover the terrifying events that have haunted their town for generations may all be connected — and they may be the next targets. Based on R.L. Stine’s best-selling horror series, Fear Street follows Shadyside’s sinister history through a nightmare 300 years in the making. 

Fear Street Part Three 1666 is the conclusion to the Fear Street trilogy, which is a three week summer event on Netflix.  This one takes place in 1666, in a puritan-like town that is gripped with religious fear.  The film uses many of the same actors we have met in the first two Fear Street installments to tell the origin of the Shadyside witch and the series of killers who have been unleashed on the town.  It is an interesting tactic, and one that is both fun and distracting at the same time.  It is nice to see these characters in different roles but it can be distracting when these later characters have different personalities than who we met before.  As with Fear Street part Two 1978, the story in this film takes place partly in the past and partly in the "present" of 1994.  But this film has a lot more tense horror than the previous entries.  The religious aspects make this a dark film, and the unease when people begin to suspect an evil influence is very well done.  

But although Part Three 1666 does the admirable job of tying the stories together is the weakest of the three.  One problem is that a large portion of the movie takes place in 1666, which means that all the wonderful style that were hallmarks of the first movies is lost in this one.  The palette is drab and the music is nonexistent.  I don't blame the team for this as that is kind of what you get when you have to go back in time, but I do wish we spent less time in the past in this film and pushed on to the present.  Thankfully, once the film switches to the "present", all those aspects come roaring back.  And despite the ending of the film being an interesting way to wrap the story up, it does leave some questions that are unanswered.  And there are several seemingly random events at the end that just seem strange or off; I'm not sure if it was the filmmaker trying to be clever or if it was something in the original source material that I missed but some of these strange aspects just stuck out.  And finally, there is some pretty poor CG in this one.  We had seen instances like this before but it is just more prevalent in the third film than it has been in the past two. 

But if you've made it this far you are probably going to watch Fear Street Part Three 1666.  And just because it is the weakest film in this series doesn't mean it is bad.  It just doesn't live up to the extremely high bar set from the first film, and the still high bar in the second.  

Fear Street Part Three 1666 concludes the trilogy's story with shock revelations, a good sense of dread, and a neon-laced epic final showdown.

Rent it.

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Fear Street Part Three 1666 is available on Netflix on July 16, 2021.

What to Watch This Weekend: Meander, Rock Paper and Scissors, Our Friend, Son, Fear Street, French Exit, Words on Bathroom Walls, Black Widow

For A Mysterious Horror Sci Fi Film: Meander (Theaters, Redbox, and Digital)
Meander is just a superb horror scifi film, with great practical effects and a grueling, mysterious story all driven by Gaïa Weiss's captivating performance.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Simply Unsettling Family Horror: Rock, Paper, and Scissors (Digital)

Rock, Paper, and Scissors is an understated, unique, and unsettling film that uses some nuanced performances and fantastic music to create this sinister family thriller.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Family-Focused Cult Classic: Son (Shudder)

Son's slow burning story, great cast, and wonderful practical effects tell a family-focused demon story with plenty of hearts that should become a cult classic.  For more information, check out the review! 

For A Stylish Horror Throwback: Fear Street Part One 1994 and Part Two 1978 (Netflix)

The Fear Street Trilogy concludes next week so make sure to catch up on the first two stylish horror films.  Fear Street Part One 1994 is an entertaining horror movie, with a 90s feel and soundtrack, great blood and gore, and some modern updates to start this exciting trilogy.  Fear Street Part Two 1978 presents a summer camp slasher, with a similarly amazing soundtrack and style as the first movie, but with an increased body count.  For more information, check out the review!

Because You Need Your Marvel Fix: Black Widow (Theaters)

Sure I gave it a rental, but it is a Marvel movie in theaters that will entertain you and keep you from the heat.  Black Widow is an entertaining and funny Marvel movie that gives some background to one of the most popular Avengers while also providing an explosive summer blockbuster.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Poignant Tear Jerker: Our Friend (Amazon)
Our Friend is a poignant, painful, and powerful movie about love, family, and friendship that feels so real and raw and should not be missed.  For more information, check out the review!

For the Fan of Teenage Dramas: Words on Bathroom Walls (Amazon)

Words on Bathroom Walls portrays a complicated illness through strong performances and good lessons about family, love, growth, and pain.  For more information, check out our review!

For A Dark and Quirky Comedy: French Exit (Redbox)

The dry, dark comedic style, wonderful dialogue, and quirky cast of characters fueled by Pfeiffer's magnetic performance make French Exit a film worth staying for.  For more information, check out the review!

Fear Street Part Two 1978 Review: A Slasher Follow Up Continues The Fear Street Saga

 

Release date: July 9, 2021
Running time: 109 minutes
Writers: R.L. Stine (based upon the Fear Street books by), Kyle Killen (story by), Phil Graziadei (story by)
Directed By: Leigh Janiak
Starring: Sadie Sink, Emily Rudd, Ryan Simpkins, McCabe Slye, Gillian Jacobs, Chiara Aurelia, Marcelle LeBlanc, Ted Sutherland

In 1994, a group of teenagers discover the terrifying events that have haunted their town for generations may all be connected — and they may be the next targets. Based on R.L. Stine’s best-selling horror series, Fear Street follows Shadyside’s sinister history through a nightmare 300 years in the making. 

Fear Street is a three movie event that starts with the first movie, 1994.  After hte events of the first film, it moves on to Part Two, 1978.  Shadyside, 1978. School’s out for summer and the activities at Camp Nightwing are about to begin. But when another Shadysider is possessed with the urge to kill, the fun in the sun becomes a gruesome fight for survival.  Whereas Fear Street Part One felt like a 90s Scream-style film, 1978 feels more like an 80s slasher film.  The movie is set in a summer camp with all the 80s style tropes you would expect: cliques, town rivalries, exaggerated personalities, and a competition that isolates people at night.  The film feels like a wonderful throwback to these films and continues the trend that was started in the first film in the series.  And in line with the different time period, you get an all new cast.  Although there are appearances from those that we met in 1994 in their 1994 timeline, the characters in 1978 are all new. 

But 1978 is much more of a slasher than 1994 was, with a killer that literally goes crazy and on a rampage.  Despite this, the film does have a good sense of dread to accompany the gore.  A lot of the film is spent hiding from the murderer, or trying to round up other kids so that they don't become victims, so there is a great sense of suspense as people try to escape this.  However, when the suspense goes away, the film definitely digs into its slasher side.  The body count is greatly increased in this film, and along with it the blood, gore, and crunching sounds.  And although the sound of the killer's axe is a noticeably present thud in this film, the soundtrack will also get your blood flowing.  Just like 1994's use of 90s music, 1978's soundtrack is period appropriate and immediately sets the tone.  You have some absolute classics in the soundtrack that will have you rocking out while you run from the killer.  

And although I really did love this film, it also had the feeling of a bridging film.  For one, the movie pretty much focused on the main killer.  Whereas 1994 had a menagerie of killers, this one pretty much only showed the latest one.  And although the film ends with a somewhat self contained story, it also has a cliffhanger that leads right into the third movie in the series, 1666.  

Fear Street Part Two 1978 presents a summer camp slasher, with a similarly amazing soundtrack and style as the first movie, but with an increased body count. 

Watch it.

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Fear Street Part Two 1978 is available on Netflix on July 9, 2021.

Fear Street Part One 1994 Review: A Bloody Good Stranger Things Film

 

Release date: July 2, 2021
Running time: 107 minutes
Writers: R.L. Stine (based upon the Fear Street books by), Kyle Killen (story by), Phil Graziadei (story by)
Directed By: Leigh Janiak
Starring: Kiana Madeira, Olivia Scott Welch, Benjamin Flores Jr., Julia Rehwald, Maya Hawke, Charlene Amoia, David W. Thompson

In 1994, a group of teenagers discover the terrifying events that have haunted their town for generations may all be connected — and they may be the next targets. Based on R.L. Stine’s best-selling horror series, Fear Street follows Shadyside’s sinister history through a nightmare 300 years in the making. 

Fear Street is a three movie event that starts with the first movie, 1994.  And 1994 is appropriately named because it feels like a 90s horror film.  The movie has a great sense of style that transports you back to this time.  For those of us that grew up on Scream and other similar horror movies of the time, this will feel so wonderfully familiar.  And a film based on an R.L. Stine book just screams 90s nostalgia.  Stine was my first exposure into written "horror" and it felt great to watch a movie event based on that work.  From the scenes set in a mall, to the 90s fashion and technology, to the amazing soundtrack that brought back memories of that time, this film is made for 90s kids. The soundtrack especially hit home as so many 90s hits were used to set the mood and evoke those classic sounds.  Just hearing some of these songs blasting as a bus pulled out to a high school football game brought back all the memories!

And although the setting was the first thing I noticed, the cast is also quite good.  The group is a band of mostly misfits pulled together for one reason: to survive this strange series of events intact.  And although the film evokes the 90s, Fear Street Part One definitely has some updates to make the movie feel more modern.  From a same sex relationship to a diverse group of characters, the film is set in the classic time period with modern sensibilities.  The film definitely has a similar to feel to another Netflix series, Stranger Things, where a band of young people group together to stop a major threat.  But Fear Street is more gory, with some great practical effects and kills.  It lives in a strange place where it feels too bloody for some young people but set in a time period that most of the target audience can't relate to.  But if you give it a chance, Fear Street is an entertaining horror film with great style and plenty of gore.  The killers are scary, the group of kids are wonderful to root for, and the whole film is a fun ride with an exciting final chapter that sets up the next movie in the series perfectly.  

Fear Street Part One 1994 is an entertaining horror movie, with a 90s feel and soundtrack, great blood and gore, and some modern updates to start this exciting trilogy. 

Watch it.

If you liked this review and want to see more from Watch or Pass, please consider 

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Fear Street Part One 1994 is available on Netflix on July 2, 2021.