Sunday, January 01, 2012

The Most Highly Anticipated Horror Films of 2012!

Sometimes, the movies slated for the 2012 year are only as good as their hype. A few of these flicks only look good as a trailer, but when audiences hit the theatre, either all the best parts have been given away or expectations fall flat. Not every title bears merit, but if any blood money is to be spilt, here’s a list of curios that should really be investigated.

Beneath the Darkness (Release Date: Jan 6)

Dir.: Martin Guigui.

Cast: Dennis Quaid, Tony Oller and Aimee Teegarden.

When a group of teens witness their best friend murdered by a so-called hero, they have to figure out how to expose him and avoid being killed too. Dennis Quaid plays Ely Vaughn, the pillar of the community, but also the antagonist in this film. Interestingly enough, Vaughn is the town’s local mortician, and there’s a secret that no body knows about him.

Quaid may very well create a memorable villain. In all the numerous films he has been in throughout his career, he has shown he has The Right Stuff including Great Balls of Fire! In the trailer, he certainly looks like he’s enjoying the role.


The Woman in Black (Feb 3)

Dir.: James Watkins.

Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Ciarán Hinds and Janet McTeer.

Daniel Radcliffe is smart to quickly move away from his Harry Potter beginnings and appear in other productions to spotlight his talent. After baring it all in Broadway, he’s going to explore the supernatural in a movie where he gets to play detective. Arthur Kipps (Radcliffe) finds that he is not going to get a lot of support from the locals, and he has to solve the mystery of the Woman in Black.


The Innkeepers (Feb 3)

Dir.: Ti West.

Cast: Kelly McGillis and George Riddle.

With a name like Ti West (House of the Devil, Cabin Fever 2) synonymous to the new horror scene of last decade, The Innkeepers will be a product to investigate. Just like the pair of wannabe ghost hunters who check in, will they, along with Claire (Sara Paxton) and Luke (Pat Healy), be the last to check out?

*another interesting facet of this production is that it will release on demand first, on Dec 30th, and in theatres second.


Dark Shadows (May 11)

Dir.: Tim Burton.

Cast: Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Chloë Grace Moretz, Gulliver McGrath, Helena Bonham Carter, Christopher Lee and Eva Green.

Just how many re-interpretations does this classic gothic soap opera need? How many people can name them all? There was the movie revival featuring the original cast, the comic book series by Innovation Comics, the 90’s revival featuring Ben Cross, another reimaging commissioned by the WB (which never got off the ground), and a set of audio dramas by Big Finish Productions (more famous for their "Doctor Who" audio CDs).

There is now Tim Burton’s reworking of the tale with Johnny Depp starring in the classic role of Barnabus. Usually these two working together can do no wrong. And with Jackie Earle Haley as Willie Loomis, the character who frees Barnabas from his stone cold prison, just how many egos can prove to be too much on set? That will depend on who will steal the show when this film hits theatres.


Prometheus (June 8)

Dir.: Ridley Scott.

Cast: Noomi Rapace, Charlize Theron, Michael Fassbender, Idris Elba, Guy Pearce and Patrick Wilson.

Instead of being just a prequel to Alien, Prometheus will be its own unique beast in a universe where the two just slightly go hand-in-hand. Trailers are already available for die-hards to dissect, and most of the plot is being kept under wraps. With H.R. Giger providing some of the “material culture” of the alien race that humanity will encounter, expectations are going to be high for what terrors mankind will face in outer space. And that also includes how well this movie will fare in the box office.


Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (June 22)

Dir.: Timur Bekmambetov.

Cast: Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Dominic Cooper, Benjamin Walker, Alan Tudyk, Rufus Sewell, Anthony Mackie, and Robin McLeavy.

Based on a novel by Seth Grahame-Smith and directed by Timur Bekmambetov (Night Watch and Day Watch), this movie shows plenty of potential to mix up some history with fantasy, and teach a new generation of youths on why Lincoln rocks. Who needs Van Helsing when there is Lincoln?

Unlike other book to movie adaptions, Grahame-Smith was conscripted to provide the screenplay. Expectations will be high with some fans ready to make comparisons from the book to the film. Let’s hope some of the humour remains intact.


ParaNorman (Aug 17)

Dir.: Chris Butler and Sam Fell.

Cast: Kodi Smit-McPhee, Anna Kendrick and Christopher Mintz-Plasse.

When “I see dead people” became the catchphrase back in the late 90’s, can “I talk to dead people” be next? This CGI product will no doubt be youth-friendly. When Laika Entertainment, the studio, created other lovable classics like Corpse Bride and Coraline to appeal to all ages, ParaNorman is going to be heartily welcomed.

This film focuses in on Norman Babcock (voiced by Kodi Smit-McPhee), a boy who can communicate with the undead. Apparently only he has the ability to save his township from a centuries-old curse.


World War Z (Dec 21, 2012)

Dir.: Marc Forster.

Cast: Brad Pitt, Eric West, Matthew Fox, David Morse, James Badge Dale, Mireille Enos, David Andrews, and Elyes Gabel.

To those who do not know what this film is all about, go buy Max Brook’s novel now! Finished reading it? Okay, that’s going to get a theatrical treatment with the help of J. Michael Straczynski ("Babylon 5," Thor) and Matthew Michael Carnahan (Lions for Lambs, State of Play) creating the screenplay. When considering their familiarity with how to write a good drama, and weave it around a war scenario, there is potential as long as they stay faithful to Brook’s flair in the book.

When the premise is all about a UN representative Gerry Lane (Brad Pitt) interviewing survivors of the great zombie war, parts of this film will no doubt be told in flashback. As for how close the movie will follow the book’s central themes remains to be determined. Details are scant as of press time.


Twixt (release date unknown)

Dir.: Francis Ford Coppola.

Cast: Val Kilmer, Bruce Dern, Ben Chaplin, Elle Fanning, Joanne Whalley, David Paymer, Alden Ehrenreich, and Anthony Fusco.

This movie has all the hallmarks of an Edgar Allen Poe mystery and a Gothic Romance. When writer Hall Baltimore (Val Kilmer) becomes involved in an investigation of a murdered young girl, and starts having mysterious dreams from a ghost named V (Elle Fanning), the results can prove to be unsettling.

Sadly, no official date has been given for when Francis Ford Coppola’s Twixt will get a proper theatrical release. Expectations are high for sometime in the 2012 year. It has been screened at the Toronto Film Festival and the American Film Market. The problem may simply be in getting a distributor who loves the product enough to give the movie the release it deserves.


Dante’s Inferno Documented

Dir.: Boris Acosta.

Cast: Jeff Conaway, Eric Roberts, Vincent Spano, Jenn Gotzon, Hélène Cardona, Arnoldo Foà, Veronica De Laurentiis, and Diane Salinger.

Despite what the title of this movie implies, this film is not a documentary. Instead, it is "a visual and narrative journey told by over 30 scholars and artists from Italy and the United States." (Quiet Earth)

With names like Eric Roberts, Jeff Conoway,, and Arnoldo Foà providing voiceovers over neoclassical and romantic style artistic depictions of Dante’s journey, this product is an art lover’s wet dream come true. The videogame of the same name holds no candle to the exploration of the exposition that author Dante Alighieri created in his 14th century poem.

Dante's Inferno Undocumented at Quiet Earth:

Dante's Inferno Undocumented at Quiet Earth

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1 comments:

Unknown said...

Prometheus and twixt will be the best 2 of this group. I can assure you. Scott and capolla are like Lucas and spielberg and id love my son to enjoy movies that I have enjoyed so continuing franchises are a must I say put it this way if I'm not scared atleast my son will be then his kids after him