NEW THIS WEEK
The
long-awaited sequel to the original game changing horror film, Blair
Witch sees genre filmmaking masterminds Barrett and Wingard (You’re
Next, The Guest) take on the lore of the infamous witch in the
woods. A young man and his friends travel to the haunted hills of Maryland to
attempt to figure out once and for all what happened to those original missing
students from the classic 90’s film. Once deep in the woods, things take a turn
for the spooky for these camera wielding investigators as they uncover more of
the mystery of the titular witch.
We Said: “There's no doubt
of [Director Adam] Wingard's talents behind the camera when left completely to
his own devices, but he doesn't show it in Blair Witch. It's too conventional
to serve as a satisfying sequel to one of the genre's most enduring and
inventive horrors.” Rating: 2 out of 5
The Good: 2016’s Blair
Witch is filled with several extremely clever winks and nods to the
original 90’s classic. In fact, watching it closer for a second time I really
found myself gaining an appreciation for a lot of the plot points that build
off of the existing story. But what really matters is the suspense! Is this Blair
Witch scary? In many moments, yes. There’s a lot of this movie that you
might watch through your fingers, especially during the intense third act. If
you’re a fan of the franchise, this new take is worth looking over.
The Bad: Unfortunately, the
first Blair Witch is now such a genre staple that there’s a whole
formula for horror movies based around its structure. The new film follows this
pattern, and therefore feels pretty uninspired in too many moments. You know
exactly where the plot will go and when the scares will happen, just because of
the nature of the story. It’s extremely disappointing, especially considering
the brilliant, genre-defying work that the creative team of Barrett and Wingard
have done before. None of the characters are interesting. None of the new
technology helps freshen the found footage gimmick. Very little feels new, and
that’s a real let down.
Overall: While it doesn’t live
up to the greatness of the original film, 2016’s Blair Witch does build
off of its plot in some really surprising ways. There’s a couple great scares
thrown in, but mostly it’s a pretty straightforward found-footage teen slasher.
Creative
free spirit Rafe Khatchadorian (Griffin Gluck) has a real problem with
authority, a problem that comes to a head when he transfers to a new middle
school lead by a tyrannical principal Dwight (Andy Daly). Middle School: The Worst Years of
My Life follows Rafe and his equally imaginative friends as they fight
back, running through a playbook of pranks and schemes to challenge the status
quo, battle bullies, and impress the girl of Rafe’s dreams (Isabela Moner).
We Said: “[Middle
School: The Worst Years of My Life is] still a pre-teen movie, but it's
one that tries to speak to them on their own level, rather than just sprinkling
slightly naughtier humor into a script otherwise suitable for kids who have
just begun to pay attention long enough to even watch a movie. […] It never
rises to the level of something adults might want to seek out on their own, but
parents should consider this one a diamond in the rough.” Rating: 3 out of 5
Based
on the shocking true story that changed the face of historical literature, Denial
focuses on Professor Deborah Lipstadt (Rachel Weisz) and her quest to solidify
the truth. After she names World War II historian David Irving (Timothy Spall) in a book about Holocaust denial, Irving fights
back, taking Lipstadt to court in a legal battle over historical truth. The
inspiring courtroom thriller sees Lipstadt attempt to stand tall and defend the
truth of history regardless of the cost.
We Said: “A trio of great
performances and the strength of [Deborah] Lipstadt's fight for truth are what
bolster Denial, a handsomely shot but labored courtroom drama from
director Mick Jackson. […] Regardless of its issues, Denial is an important
film that shows the fight against bigotry and hate can take many forms, but it
must always be fought.” Rating: 3 out of
5
Also Available: Girls:the Complete Fifth Season, The Monkey King 2, and The Hollow
