SPEAK NO EVIL (R)
The pipeline of European Horror Stand Out to American Remake is getting shorter and shorter these days. Less than two years ago “Speak No Evil,” from Danish filmmaker Christian Tafdrup, was the toast of the Sundance Film Festival and widely considered a sleeper contender for the best horror movie of the year. For good reason, if you ask me. The film follows a Danish couple who are invited to visit a Dutch family they met on holiday. This impulsive decision, and the underlying feelings of emasculation in the husband, lead them and their daughter into a nightmare world built upon the spindly foundation of polite society and the unyielding bonds of normality. Not wanting to hurt someone’s feelings has never led to more catastrophic consequences. If you’ve got Shudder, give it a spin. It’s a wild time with an ending that you won’t forget anytime soon.
Now remade for an American audience, Blumhouse’s “Speak No Evil” tells a similar story while anchored around a thunderous performance by James McAvoy, who has clocked a fair number of impressive horror turns in recent years from “Split” to “IT: Chapter Two.” Unleashing a primal fury not seen since his work with Shamylan, McAvoy brings a delightfully animalistic rage with a twinkle in his eye to the central role of “Paddy,” a crumbling facade of cordiality that withers in real-time to the terror of unsuspecting couple Mackenzie Davis (“Terminator: Dark Fate,” “Black Mirror: San Junipero”) and Scoot McNairy (“Halt & Catch Fire,” “Argo”).
Come for McAvoy going full Jack Torrance, stay for the tongue business. Trust me.
“Speak No Evil” is playing at The Broad Theater and Prytania Theatres at Canal Place.
CLUELESS (PG-13)
This Sunday, Sept. 15, your friends at Gap Tooth Cinema are presenting the ’90s classic “Clueless” at the Broadside Theater, brought to you by Pleasure Savior with after-party music by Kelly Green.
Possibly the best high school film of all time, “Clueless” is the kind of generational touchstone that, not unlike “Heathers” before it or “Mean Girls” after, is an er text for an entire era, ripe for rediscovery and an evergreen delight for audiences of all ages (within reason). If you haven’t seen it in a while, you’re missing out.
If you think there’s a better time to be had at the movies on a lovely Post-Hurricane Sunday night…AS IF!
“Clueless” is playing on Sept. 15 at 7 p.m. at The Broadside Theater.
FRIDAY THE THIRTEENTH VI: JASON LIVES (R)
The finest film in the most prolific horror franchise of all time, “Friday the Thirteenth VI: Jason Lives” storms back into theaters for ONE NIGHT ONLY to celebrate one of the spookiest nights of the year. A direct sequel to “Friday the 13th IV: The Final Chapter;” “Jason Lives” brings to life the ultimate portrayal of our friend from Crystal Lake, his corpse erupting from the grave with the power of a thunderstorm that elevates his status from deformed murderer and cements his placement as an undead force of mayhem and destruction for the ages. Featuring the best Jason design and all-around kills, “Jason Lives” is the movie all Friday the 13th movies wish they were and you’d do yourself a favor by seeing it on the big, bloody screen on our boy’s special day.
You’ll be glad you did!
“Friday the Thirteenth VI: Jason Lives” is playing on Friday the 13th at Prytania Theatres at Canal Place.
