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‘Fury Road’ is a Shakespearean punk rock opera

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Hype is a dangerous thing. And hope, as Max says in “Fury Road,” “is a mistake.” Luckily for us we had Genius and all around badass director George Miller behind the newest entry into Mad Max. The outcome and final product are nothing less than the beautiful unflinching legendary carnage that embodies the prior entries in the series and gives us something that exceeds the hype.

Since 1999, fans of the George Miller created wasteland have waited for a release of the next chapter of “Mad Max.” It was perhaps the longest wait for the next installment of a franchise ever. If it wasn’t, it sure felt like it.

Back in 79’ Miller introduced a world of savage gangs on the roads of the outback and gave birth to the vengeful fury that would be “Mad Max.” A couple of years later he followed it up with “The Road Warrior” one of the few and rare cases where a sequel was better than the original. Miller changed the landscape in “The Road Warrior” to a wasteland where fuel was life and survival wasn’t a guarantee. The third entry “Beyond Thunderdome” explored more of the wasteland that Miller had built and solidified the series as its very own mythos.

Flash-forward a couple of decades and we finally get “Mad Max: Fury Road” and all I can say is holy shit it was worth the wait and I already want more.

“Fury Road” opens with Max looking out over the wasteland. He stands with his Ford Interceptor and partner in vehicular crime behind him. It isn’t long before gangs of pale figures that resemble skeletons of the desert begin to pursue Max across the wasteland.

Once captured, Max is taken to a citadel built in to a cliff side where he is tattooed for blood and organ donation. Max tries to escape briefly before being pulled back into his prison by those skeletal figures that we come to know as Warboys. That is all before the title credit burns across the screen accompanied by a music que of grand menacing horns and strings.

The fourth entry in the series falls in perfectly with the rest of the films, while simultaneously upping the vehicular carnage up past 11. Much like with the prior films in the series this one has very little dialogue from Max and relies heavily on the action as a plot driver. That is what makes “Fury Road” stand out as one of the best-goddamned things of 2015. The film doesn’t need dialogue or more substance. Instead of long scenes of dialogue where characters realize that they are in love or that they are oh, so existential, here Miller gives us long hypnotic action scenes that play off like an operatic fuel guzzling machine. It is a welcome replacement for tired scenes of long dialogue and self-realization.

Much like “The Road Warrior” had Max take a backseat to a film that was about The Feral Kid (Emil Minty). Fury Road does the same thing. This time around Furiosa (Charlize Theron) ends up being the main character. Max again ends up the reluctant spectator who assists in saving the day.

It isn’t about till half way through that I realized that Furiosa was Max in this movie. She had everything taken from her and was on her own path of redemption and revenge. Charlize Theron plays the role like a champion of the wasteland her part in the film is at times more courageous and unflinching than Max himself.

Speaking of Max Rockatansky, lets talk about how Tom Hardy is the guy made to play the part. Mel Gibson was hard boots to fill considering he helped create the legendary character. Tom Hardy doesn’t go in trying to make the character different or step away from the source material. He comes in and takes it from where Mel left off. He wont let any fans of the original films down.

It could most definitely be argued that this film belongs to the bad guys. Most of the richness in the tapestry that Miller wove in the wasteland belongs to the Warboys and their deity and leader Immortan Joe.

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The Vikingesque Warboys, all live half-lives, with the belief that when they die that they will be taken to Valhalla. Each one of these guys lives off donor blood and are strictly forbidden to take part in drinking water (which Immortan Joe dubs “Aqua Cola). In this patriarchy water drinking is seen as weakness.

The People Eater and The Bullet Farmer, (actually their names) from Bullet Farm and Gas Town also join the chase to capture Furiousa. Immortan Joe and these two guys is the core of what makes Mad Max: Fury Road so damned crazy and awesome. From costume design to vehicle design everything tells a story about the characters without having to go into some drab lines of exposition. In a Thunderdomed shaped nutshell, that is what I love most about Miller and his series, He doesn’t feel he has to explain those things. The story keeps speeding on by leaving you wondering and trying to put some mythos together yourself after the credits roll.

I can’t say enough good things about this movie and found myself at a loss for words when I tried to think of something that I didn’t like. I guess the only thing that I finally found I didn’t like was that I couldn’t immediately watch this 88 more times. Go see it, breathe it in and join the pursuit in the most balls-to-the-wall, badass movie that you are likely to see for a long time.

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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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