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Movie Review: All American Bully (Starring Friday the 13th’s Adrienne King)

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All American Bully was recently released to DVD and VOD. The title fits the narrative a lot more than the description and the cover art do:

Wild Eye Releasing has put a famous face to the ever-present topic of bullying in schools.  Adrienne King (Friday the 13th) makes a rare appearance on the screen as a tyrannical principal with a secret…Three friends try to cope after one of them is victimized by a bully, and their lives are slowly torn apart as the they fall deeper into a twisted web of buried secrets, ignorance, and revenge.  Through it all, Principal Kane (King) rules her small town high school with an iron fist, teaching harsh lessons to students and faculty alike.  The vicious cycle leads to a disturbing and violent conclusion where it turns out no one is truly innocent.

all-american-bully

This is a prime example of where marketing has the potential to negatively impact the viewer’s experience. Despite being marketed to horror fans, All American Bully is more like an R-rated after school special than a traditional horror movie. That’s not to say it doesn’t get dark, but you should know right up front that you’re not exactly getting the movie you might be inclined to expect. You should also know that it has essentially a DIY-budget feel to it. I don’t say any of this to keep you from watching it, but they’re things worth knowing before deciding whether or not to take the plunge.

Now, none of this is a knock on the film itself. I actually found myself quite engaged throughout. The acting, for the most part, was better than expected, and plenty of time is dedicated to developing the characters to ensure that we do care about them. At least some of them. In fact, it’s those that aren’t developed enough that become the movie’s main flaw as it gets closer to its conclusion. Ironically, that includes the very character that the marketing has used as the film’s selling point.

I’m referring of course to the role played by Adrienne King. All American Bully has been marketed as a return to the screen for King, and it’s not hard to understand why. She’s the only well-known name in the cast and everybody loves her (myself included). Her performance in All American Bully is just as good as we would expect from her too, and I was happy to see that she was attached to a film with some level of integrity as we often see so-called horror icons appear in numerous embarrassments. The problem is that her part in the story feels entirely incomplete. It’s almost as if they ran out of time to finish her scenes and just finished the movie without some of them.

Scenes with King and related characters are fine, and seem to be part of the overall plot until the movie just kind of leaves that part of the story behind, and never bothers to give it any kind of resolution or connection to the larger story that the viewer is expecting.

Despite this flaw, there is enough going on with the other characters and the central story to have kept me interested until the end, and quite frankly, I’ve got to respect just about anything that manages to do that.

All American Bully is a multi-layered look at small town bullying, which is a never-ending plague to teenagers from generation to generation. It’s a familiar message, but one that resonates nevertheless. Despite some flaws and the aforementioned caveats, I’d say it’s worth a watch for those not expecting a blood-soaked chiller. That’s just not what All American Bully is.

This trailer gives you a better idea of what to expect:

[youtube id=”adbU5tSXTVM” align=”center” mode=”normal”]

You can probably tell from that whether or not this movie is for you. Ignore the completely misleading cover art.

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1994’s ‘The Crow’ Coming Back to Theaters for A New Special Engagement

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The Crow

Cinemark recently announced that they will be bringing The Crow back from the dead once again. This announcement comes just in time for the film’s 30th anniversary. Cinemark will be playing The Crow in select theaters on May 29th and 30th.

For those unaware, The Crow is a fantastic film based on the gritty graphic novel by James O’Barr. Widely considered one of the best films of the 90s, The Crow’s lifespan was cut short when Brandon Lee died of an accidental on set shooting.

The official synapsis of the film is as follows. “The modern-gothic original that entranced audiences and critics alike, The Crow tells the tale of a young musician brutally murdered alongside his beloved fiancée, only to be risen from the grave by a mysterious crow. Seeking revenge, he battles a criminal underground that must answer for its crimes. Adapted from the comic book saga of the same name, this action-packed thriller from director Alex Proyas (Dark City) features hypnotic style, dazzling visuals, and a soulful performance by the late Brandon Lee.”

The Crow

The timing of this release couldn’t be better. As a new generation of fans eagerly awaits the release of The Crow remake, they can now see the classic film in all of its glory. As much as we love Bill Skarsgard (IT), there is something timeless in Brandon Lee’s performance in the film.

This theatrical release is part of the Scream Greats series. This is a collaboration between Paramount Scares and Fangoria to bring audiences some of the best classic horror films. So far, they are doing a fantastic job.

That’s all the information we have at this time. Make sure to check back here for more news and updates.

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Hugh Jackman & Jodie Comer Team Up for a New Dark Robin Hood Adaptation

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A report from Deadline details director Michal Sarnoski’s (A Quiet Place: Day One) newest project, The Death of Robin Hood. The film is set to feature Hugh Jackman (Logan) and Jodie Comer (The End We Start From).

Michael Sarnoski will write and direct the new Robin Hood adaptation. Jackman will be reunited with Aaron Ryder (The Prestige), who is producing the film. The Death of Robin Hood is expected to be a hot item at the upcoming Cannes film market.

Hugh Jackman, The Death of Robin Hood
Hugh Jackman

Deadline describes the films as the following. “The film is a darker reimagining of the classic Robin Hood tale. Set of its time, the film will see the title character grappling with his past after a life of crime and murder, a battleworn loner who finds himself gravely injured and in the hands of a mysterious woman, who offers him a chance at salvation.”

Lyrical Media will be financing the film. Alexander Black will produce the film alongside Ryder and Andrew Sweet. Black gave Deadline the following information about the project. “We are thrilled to be part of this very special project and to be working with a visionary director in Michael, a phenomenal cast in Hugh and Jodie, and producing with our frequent collaborators, Ryder and Swett at RPC.”

“This is not the story of Robin Hood we’ve all come to know,” Ryder and Swett stated to Deadline “Instead, Michael has crafted something far more grounded and visceral. Thanks to Alexander Black and our friends at Lyrical along with Rama and Michael, the world is going to love seeing Hugh and Jodie together in this epic.”

Jodie Comer

Sarnoski seems to be excited by the project as well. He offered Deadline the following information about the film.

“It has been an incredible opportunity to reinvent and freshly innovate the story we all know of Robin Hood. Securing the perfect cast to transform the script to screen was essential. I could not be more thrilled and trusting in Hugh and Jodie to bring this story to life in a powerful and meaningful way.”

We are still a long way away from seeing this Robin Hood tale. Production is expected to begin in February of 2025. However, it does sound like it will be a fun entry into the Robin Hood canon.

That’s all the information we have at this time.

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Mike Flanagan In Talks to Direct New Exorcist Movie for Blumhouse

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Mike Flanagan (The Haunting of Hill House) is a national treasure that must be protected at all costs. Not only has he created some of the best horror series to ever exist, but he also managed to make a Ouija Board movie genuinely terrifying.

A report from Deadline yesterday indicates that we may be seeing even more from this legendary storysmith. According to Deadline sources, Flanagan is in talks with Blumhouse and Universal Pictures to direct the next Exorcist film. However, Universal Pictures and Blumhouse have declined to comment on this collaboration at this time.

Mike Flanagan
Mike Flanagan

This change comes after The Exorcist: Believer failed to meet Blumhouse’s expectations. Initially, David Gordon Green (Halloween)was hired to create three Exorcist films for the production company, but he has left the project to focus on his production of The Nutcrackers.

If the deal goes through, Flanagan will take over the franchise. Looking at his track record, this could be the right move for the Exorcist franchise. Flanagan consistently delivers amazing horror media that leave audiences clamoring for more.

It would also be perfect timing for Flanagan, as he just wrapped up filming the Stephen King adaptation, The Life of Chuck. This isn’t the first time he has worked on a King product. Flanagan also adapted Doctor Strange and Gerald’s Game.

He has also created some amazing Netflix originals. These include The Haunting of Hill House, The Haunting of Bly Manor, The Midnight Club, and most recently, The Fall of the House of Usher.

If Flanagan does take over, I think the Exorcist franchise will be in good hands.

That’s all the information we have at this time. Make sure to check back here for more news and updates.

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