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Movie Review: Rob Zombie’s 31

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Written by John Squires

After the Fathom Events “sneak preview” screening of 31, Rob Zombie appeared on screen for a pre-filmed Q&A session. When asked what movies inspired him to make the film we just watched, Zombie relayed a story that was quite telling. In short, he had been developing a non-horror project that just wasn’t working out, and during a phone conversation with a friend, he noted that he could come up with any random, dumb horror idea off the top of his head and make that movie instead. And here we are. Rob Zombie’s 31; a random idea that Zombie quickly came up with on the phone one night.

Oh boy does it show.

Written and directed by Rob Zombie, the 1976-set 31 centers on the members of a traveling carnival who are kidnapped one night by a group of masked maniacs. It’s Halloween night, and their captors are playing an annual game of life-and-death that puts the gang up against a series of increasingly sadistic clowns. If they wish to survive, the friends will have to stick together and fight for their lives.

31 new trailer

For a guy whose music has remained relatively one-note throughout the years, Rob Zombie has proven himself to be a fairly versatile filmmaker. The leap from the cartoonish House of 1000 Corpses to the Western-like epic that is The Devil’s Rejects was huge, and in the wake of his much-maligned stay in Haddonfield, The Lords of Salem saw Zombie stepping outside any box he had put himself in. But with 31, Zombie not only puts himself back in the box, but takes such a huge step backwards that it’s hard not to wonder what happened to the visionary who once seemed intent on, well, trying.

One thing you cannot take away from 31 is that it’s most definitely a Rob Zombie movie, and though it’s hard not to admire a filmmaker whose work is so completely his own, the problem with 31 is that it feels, to a nauseating extent, like a filmmaker going through the motions and just plain not caring. Zombie’s laziest and safest film to date, 31 abandons most of the goodwill he has built up as a filmmaker over the years, playing out not quite like a pastiche of his greatest hits, but rather a Frankenstein-like patchwork of Zombie’s worst artistic qualities. Dialogue, techniques, and even entire scenes are lifted wholesale from Zombie’s past work; but this time around, the charm is strangely absent from the proceedings.

doom head

A plotless mess that’s home to no shortage of Zombie’s trademark sleaziness but not much else, 31 is, I hate to say it, the work of a filmmaker pandering to the lowest common denominator and grabbing the lowest hanging fruit from every single tree he passes by. While Zombie is certainly known for creating memorable and truly iconic villains, even the bad guys here feel completely uninspired; I can almost guarantee the only one you’ll remember upon leaving the theater is Doom-Head, played by a scene-stealing Richard Brake. The film is at its best whenever Brake is on screen, and to his credit, Zombie seems well aware of that; the entire opening scene sees Brake delivering a chilling monologue.

Among the film’s many problems is the camerawork, which is shakier than the shakiest found footage film you’ve ever seen; and 31 is not, in case you were wondering, a handheld horror flick. Whenever anything happens – and when I say “anything,” I mean someone getting killed… not much else ever really happens – Zombie shakes the camera to the point that you can barely tell what’s happening, which oddly makes the film way less brutal than you may expect it to be. Even when the blood does fly, and you can actually make out what’s going on, there’s never much creativity to the gruesomeness or the manner in which the dull characters are dispatched. It’s all just too limp and forgettable for its own good.

As someone who’s been defending Rob Zombie since he started writing about movies, it pains me to not be able to defend 31. It pains me even more to feel, in my heart, that his greatest work as a filmmaker may be behind him. Because when a filmmaker jumps the shark, it tends to look a whole lot like 31.

Let’s just forget this ever happened.

31 poster

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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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