LIGHTS OUT (2016)
Genre: Horror
Certification: 15
Duration: 81 minutes
Directed by: David F. Sandberg
Starring: Teresa Palmer, Gabriel Bateman, Alexander Di Persia
KRS Releasing Ltd
It has been a great summer for horror films with Universal/Blumhouse’s The Purge: Election Year hitting a franchise high of $79 million stateside, and New Line/Warner Bros.’ Conjuring 2 crossing $300 million worldwide, marking the third best domestic debut for a scary picture at $40.4 million.
New Line and Warner Bros. have more to celebrate now as David F. Sandberg’s Lights Out is turning on $100 million-plus at the global box office.
The film is based on Sandberg’s 2013 short film of the same name and features Lotta Losten, who starred in the 2013 version.
Stalked by a demon that only appears in the dark, Rebecca (Teresa Palmer) uncovers a queasy conspiracy that leads back to her cranky mother, an imaginary “friend” and a deeply toxic family secret.
When Rebecca leaves home, she thinks that her childhood fears are behind her. As a young girl growing up, she was never really sure of what was real when the lights went out at night. Now, her little brother Martin (Gabriel Bateman) is experiencing the same unexplained and terrifying events that jeopardised her safety and sanity.
Holding a mysterious attachment to their mother (Maria Bello), a supernatural entity has returned with a vengeance to continue to torment the family.
Despite its box office success, however, critics appear to have mixed feelings about the film.
Edward Douglas from New York Daily News discredits the film as being horror, maintaining that “those who are scared of the dark won’t find much in the way of easy comfort watching Lights Out”.
Continuing on a similar note is Jeannette Catsoulis from The New York Times: “Spackling over any copycat cracks with strong acting and editing, Lights Out delivers minimalist frights in old-school ways”.
On the other hand, the critics consensus on Rotten Tomatoes agree that “Lights Out makes skillful use of sturdy genre tropes – and some terrific performances – for an unsettling, fright-filled experience that delivers superior chills without skimping on story”.
The film had its world premiere at the Los Angeles Film Festival on June 8, 2016.
SWALLOWS AND AMAZONS (2016)
Genre: Family
Certification: PG
Duration: 97 minutes
Directed by: Philippa Lowthrope
Starring: Kelly Macdonald, Andrew Scott, Rafe Spall
KRS Releasing Ltd
Swallows and Amazons is a 2016 British family adventure directed by Philippa Lowthorpe and written by Andrea Gibb, based on Arthur Ransome’s 1930s children’s novel of the same name.
The film follows the story of the Walker children on their adventures in the Lake District and their goal of claiming a remote island for themselves. Heading over there on the boat Swallow, they soon discover they are not alone – a gang of rebellious children, the Blacketts, also known as the “Amazons”, have also set up camp there, and a battle for the island begins. This battle parallels with that of a national scale as Britain is on the brink of war, as their childhood paradise is turned upside-down.
Catherine Bray from Variety praises the adaptation of the children’s classic, saying that it is “a very charming, fairly twee, entirely respectable adventure”.
Further praising the adaptation is The Guardian’s Wendy Ide who maintains how “the film taps into a particularly rich vein of nostalgia for what is perceived to be a simpler time. It’s a salve to the conscience of any parent who feels that their smartphone-addicted kids are not getting their full quota of whittling, woodcraft and bracing outdoorsy fun”.
It is not the first time that Swallows and Amazons has been adapted to the screen as it was produced both for TV and in film form in 1963 and 1974, respectively.
WAR DOGS (2016)
Genre: Comedy/ War Certification: 15
Duration: 114 minutes
Directed by: Todd Phillips
Starring: Ana de Armas, Miles Teller, Jonah Hill
KRS Releasing Ltd
Two friends in their early 20s (Jonah Hill and Miles Teller), living in Miami Beach during the Iraq War, exploit a government initiative that allows small businesses to bid on US Military contracts. Starting small, they begin raking in big. However, the pair gets in over their heads when they land a $300 million deal to arm the Afghan Military – a deal that puts them in business with some very suspicious people, not the least of which turns out to be the US government.
War Dogs is a 2016 American biographical war comedy-drama film, directed by Todd Phillips.
It is based on a Rolling Stone article that was written by Guy Lawson who later went on to write a book titled Arms and the Dudes detailing the story.
The film received mixed reviews from critics.
Variety’s Owen Gleiberman praised the film saying it manages to deliver “a rare thing: a based-in-reality movie that gives you a buzz. The film just about tingles with the pleasure of seeing people get away with things they shouldn’t”.
Contrary to this, The Atlantic’s David Sims maintains that “War Dogs is a missed creative opportunity; at its worst, it’s a quasi-celebration of two vile schemers”.
War Dogs has grossed $14.3 million in North America and $6.5 million in other territories for a worldwide total of $20.8 million.