PLOT: A 17-year-old girl is forced to move with her family to a resort where things are not what they seem.

REVIEW: 2024 has been the year of the well-marketed horror film. With Longlegs already blowing audiences away, now it’s Cuckoo’s turn to prove itself. Presented as less of a crime thriller and more of a “what the hell is happening?” mystery, Cuckoo isn’t afraid to get weird. And that’s often where horror can be the most interesting. Nine times out of ten, the unexplained is more terrifying than the truth, so there’s always a concern about a film expounding too much. I’m happy to report that the film manages to maintain its mystery.

I’m going to make this review as spoiler-free as possible since I know there’s still a little bit of time till this releases theatrically. If you’re one of those people who wants to know as little as possible then just know that you should absolutely check it out for yourself as it’s one of the best horror films of the year.

Hunter Schafer is absolutely phenomenal as Gretchen, a girl who feels lost in this new world of hers. The clear abandonment she’s feeling as the attention is always given to her new sister, with no regard for her current condition. I always love and attach to a character that gets put through the ringer and poor Gretchen is in a constant state of chaos. One element I loved was Gretchen’s headphones and their masking of sound. It allows for many tense moments that go on around her, playing with both the score and sound design.

Dan Stevens always picks interesting roles and here is no different. Unlike Abigail (where he constantly struggles with his accent), he seems to have more of a grasp on his German. Marton Csokas always seems to portray bad guys, which works in the film’s favor. There’s an uneasiness with his treatment of Gretchen, with a clear favoritism for his other daughter, Alma (Mila Lieu).  Jessica Henwick is here but it’s a pretty thankless role. Part of me wonders if her subplot was cut, as casting such a great actress for such a side part felt off.

This was my first time experiencing any of Tillman Singer’s work and I’m very impressed. This script in less capable hands would have been considerably more generic. But as the writer and director, there’s a complete understanding of what’s needed from one moment to the next to keep it firmly away from a vanilla storytelling method. I’m just as impressed with what we’re shown as I am with what they purposely avoid. Singer utilizes depth of field and shadow to great effect, especially during the film’s stalking sequences. There’s a great standoff that plays with loyalties and each party’s idea of how to best move forward. It’s a showcase for the wonderful cinematography and editing.

The score is fantastic whether it is deep drum beats that carry the energy from one scene to the next or light piano to set up a properly creepy moment. The sound design coalesces with the score in such a satisfying way that it becomes a character all its own. Sounds are very important to the story of Cuckoo, so the strong design helps elevate even small moments. This is definitely a film that will reward astute viewers in repeat viewings.

As with most mysteries, there’s an element of the story that is pretty vital, yet I obviously cannot talk about it here. Even the slightest hint betrays the mystery that the filmmakers worked so hard to establish. I think those expecting the scariest thing in existence should probably temper those expectations, as it goes more for weird versus straight-up shocking. The FX work in Cuckoo is absolutely top-notch, with such realism that I found myself wincing. It’s not overly excessive, but the reality of the wounds is impressive. The state of Gretchen’s face and how she slowly heals is a level of detail that few films would bother to acknowledge.

Cuckoo is weird enough in its narrative that it’s sure to be divisive. I love films that take strange directions and aren’t in the business of explaining every little thing. Just give me some creepy atmosphere and great performances and I’m always down for a wacky descent into hell. I’d argue that a few too many of the scary moments were shown in the trailer but they still work as intended. Go into this one knowing as little as possible and let the spooky vibes wash over you. As an absolute showcase for star Hunter Schafer, Cuckoo is a wild ride that’s here to stay.

CUCKOO IS CURRENTLY PLAYING AT FANTASIA FILM FESTIVAL AND RELEASES IN THEATERS ON AUGUST 9TH, 2024.

Cuckoo

GREAT

8

The post Cuckoo (Fantasia) Review appeared first on JoBlo.

When the X-Men movie series was in full swing, the studio knew they could make any spinoff they wanted. And while they certainly did at one point try to make the franchise the most exploratory in all of the comic book genre, a lot has been left on the table. One project that got sidetracked and eventually discarded was a Gambit movie starring Channing Tatum, who would have taken over for Taylor Kitsch. This, as we know, never found its footing, going through numerous phases and directors. As such, Channing Tatum never got his chance to play Gambit…until Deadpool & Wolverine, that is, popping in for a cameo that paid homage to this failed project.

This week, Channing Tatum took to social media to express his gratitude to Ryan Reyolds for letting him take his last stand – or, rather, first stand – as Gambit in Deadpool & Wolverine. “These pictures are almost 10 years apart to the day. I sat in the audience when Ryan showed his first peek of Deadpool 1 to the world and I think I ran back stage right after and found him and I think I just hugged him and was like holy shit you did it man. It’s perfect. I didn’t know him really at all back then. But since then I can say that there is almost no one that has had my back in this industry more than Ryan.”

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As we know, Deadpool & Wolverine is filled with cameos from all sorts of Marvel characters from future past, but most are with stars reprising their roles, as with Wesley Snipes as Blade, Jennifer Garner as Elektra and so many more. But for Channing Tatum, the movie offered his chance to right some wrongs, adding, “I thought I had lost Gambit forever. But he fought for me and Gambit. I will owe him probably forever. Cause I’m not sure how I could ever do something that would be equal to what this has meant to me. I love ya buddy. Shawn Levy as well. Truly such a brilliant creator on every single level. All things happen for a reason. I’m so grateful to be in this movie. It’s a masterpiece in my opinion. And just pure bad ass joy. I was literally screaming in the theater. LFG!!”

Channing Tatum has explained why his Gambit movie never took off before, suggesting it became a victim of timing and studio purchases, becoming one of the projects that didn’t quite match the tone they were after. As such, Tatum had to essentially block it out and know that it would never happen. And it likely never will. While it was awesome to see Tatum suit up, there just might not be that much of a desire for a standalone Gambit flick at this point.

What did you think of Channing Tatum’s cameo as Gambit? Would he have made a good version of the X-Men character? Deal us your thoughts below!

The post One Deadpool & Wolverine cameo star thanks Ryan Reynolds for resurrecting character *spoilers* appeared first on JoBlo.

When it was announced that Eminem would be killing off Slim Shady – his alter ego who catapulted his career in the late ‘90s with tracks like “My Name Is” – fans wondered what exactly that meant. Was it all a gimmick or was Eminem moving on from those sorts of lyrics, which were often on blast for being homophobic and misogynistic? Now in his 50s – and, more importantly, in 2024 – there just might not be a place for Slim Shady.

In a unique video courtesy of Complex titled “Slim Shady vs. Marshall Mathers: THE FACE-OFF”, Mathers sat down with his bleach blonde haired alter ego for a light-hearted but enlightening and self-therapeutic conversation. It’s here that Mathers calls out Slim, who Mathers actually created as a way to hope with his stress, addictions and difficult upbringing. “So you think it’s entertaining to just be a d*ckhead and piss people off? People want to be entertained. Look, man. I’ve grown up, bro. My fanbase has grown up. The world’s changed. F*cking people are way more sensitive now. Every other week on TikTok, Gen-Z discovers you on Monday and cancels me on Tuesday.”

Coming from Marshall Mathers – and not the cartoony Slim Shady – those words point to the rapper being more than aware that the lyrics that boosted his fame and notoriety just won’t fly in 2024 the way they did in 1999. As such, Slim had to go, being killed off on concept album The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce). But Slim, who is always kind enough to remind us he just doesn’t give a hoot, won’t let Mathers off that easily, saying he made his millions off of his back, a point hard to argue with.

The Death of Slim Shady may be one of the best-selling records this year but it has received some of the worst reviews of Eminem’s career, with much criticism going after exactly the sort of diss lyrics that made Eminem one of the most talked-about figures in all of pop culture for some time. With throws at Diddy, R. Kelly, Alec Baldwin, and more, to a lot of listeners, it’s all so desperate, like Eminem is trying to cling to his glory days. (Sort of reminds us of him calling out Moby when he rapped, “You’re too old, let go…”) Whether Eminem will “mature” more on future albums now that Slim Shady is in a bodybag remains to be seen, but it’s hard to imagine him dropping the trademark language and pop culture digs that always become pull quotes.

What do you think of Eminem’s music now? Do you think his lyrics will change with the death of Slim Shady?

The post Eminem suggests cancel culture made him kill Slim Shady appeared first on JoBlo.

Deadpool & Wolverine is blowing just about every expectation out of the water at the box office, but that doesn’t mean everyone has seen it yet, so be aware that this article will contain a big SPOILER for the highly anticipated movie. Let’s f***ing go!

As most people are aware, Deadpool & Wolverine includes cameos from many of the Marvel movies produced under 20th Century Fox, including one that never actually got made. Channing Tatum was attached to play Gambit in a standalone X-Men movie for years, but the final nail in that particular coffin seemingly arrived when Disney acquired 20th Century Fox. Tatum thought his chances of playing the character had disappeared, but enter Ryan Reynolds, who brought the actor in to play Gambit for Deadpool & Wolverine. Tatum shared a post on X/Twitter, thanking Reynolds and director Shawn Levy for involving him.

“These pictures are almost 10 years apart to the day. I sat in the audience when Ryan Reynolds showed his first peek of Deadpool 1 to the world and I think I ran back stage right after and found him and I think I just hugged him and was like holy shit you did it man. It’s perfect,” Tatum wrote. “I didn’t know him really at all back then. But since then I can say that there is almost no one that has had my back in this industry more than [Ryan Reynolds]. I thought I had lost Gambit forever. But he fought for me and Gambit. I will owe him probably forever. Cause I’m not sure how I could ever do something that would be equal to what this has meant to me. I love ya buddy.“

Tatum continued: “[Shawn Levy] as well. Truly such a brilliant creator on every single level. All things happen for a reason. I’m so grateful to be in this movie. It’s a masterpiece in my opinion. And just pure bad ass joy. I was literally screaming in the theater. LFG!!“

Reynolds responded, “Imagine having a front row seat to this guy. He’s not only a once in a generation talent but a genuinely GOOD man. I know what it feels like to WILL a character into existence and Chan did just that. Then he put the most vivid/authentic version of the character onscreen. This was our second San Diego Comic Con. Two of the best days of my life happened while [Channing Tatum] wore this shirt. Coincidence or conspiracy?“

Taking place six years after the events of the last movie, Deadpool & Wolverine finds Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) toiling away in civilian life with his days as Deadpool behind him. But when his homeworld faces an existential threat, he must suit up once again and convince a reluctant Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) to help save his universe. In addition to Reynolds and Jackman, the cast also includes Matthew Macfadyen, Emma Corrin, Morena Baccarin, Leslie Uggams, Karan Soni, Brianna Hildebrand, Shioli Kutsuna, Rob Delany, Stefan Kapičić, and more.

Our own Chris Bumbray had a lot of fun with Deadpool & Wolverine, which sounds like a real crowd-pleaser. “Have you ever been to a concert and wished that your favourite band would stop playing their not-as-good new stuff and play the hits? That’s exactly what Marvel is doing with Deadpool & Wolverine,” Bumbray wrote in his review. “After a rough run of movies, with many saying their Phase 5 has been disastrous, this feels like an everything but the kitchen-sink attempt by the company to win back those fans who feel alienated by the new direction the company seemed to be heading in. With this, you have a rock ‘em, sock ‘em thrill ride that delivers fans exactly the movie they wanted to see, with nary a message to be found amidst all the charred, sliced and diced corpses our heroes leave in their wake. It’s glorious fun.” You can check out the rest of Bumbray’s spoiler-free review right here, and don’t forget to let us know what you think of Deadpool & Wolverine as well!

The post Deadpool & Wolverine: SPOILER opens up about finally joining the MCU, says Ryan Reynolds “fought for me” appeared first on JoBlo.

Filming on Superman has wrapped four months after production began. The much-anticipated project will be the first movie in the new DC Universe, and director James Gunn took to Instagram to thank his cast and crew.

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A post shared by James Gunn (@jamesgunn)

“And that’s a wrap,” Gunn wrote. “God bless our cast and crew whose commitment, creativity, and hard work have brought this project to life. I set out to make a movie about a good man in a world that isn’t always so much. And the goodness and kindness and love I’ve encountered on a daily basis on the set has inspired me and thrust me forward when I felt too spent to move on my own. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart. It has been an honor. The destination has been Superman, but the journey has been the toil and the laughter and the emotions and ideas and magic we’ve shared together on set – and for that I am forever grateful.” The director added that the photo in the Instagram post is from the first week of shooting in Svalbard, Norway.

Superman stars David Corenswet (Pearl) as Clark Kent and Rachel Brosnahan (The Marvelous Ms. Maisel) as Lois Lane. The cast also includes Nathan Fillion (The Rookie) as Guy Gardner, a charismatic and slightly obnoxious member of the Green Lantern Corps; Isabela Merced (Dora and the Lost City of Gold) as Hawkgirl; Edi Gathegi (X-Men: First Class) as Mister Terrific; Anthony Carrigan (Barry) as Metamorpho; María Gabriela de Faría (Deadly Class) as The Engineer, a member of The Authority; Sara Sampaio (At Midnight) as Eve Teschmacher; Skyler Gisondo (The Righteous Gemstones) as Jimmy Olsen; Wendell Pierce (The Wire) as Perry White; Neva Howell (Logan Lucky) as Martha Kent; Pruitt Taylor-Vince (The Walking Dead) as Jonathan Kent; and Nicholas Hoult (The Great) as Lex Luthor.

The members of the Daily Planet newsroom have also expanded for the movie, with Beck Bennet (Saturday Night Live) set to play Steve Lombard, Mikaela Hoover (The Suicide Squad) as Cat Grant, and newcomer Christopher McDonald as Ron Troupe.

DC Studios co-CEO Peter Safran has previously teased that Superman will not be an origin story and will focus on “Superman balancing his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing. Superman represents truth, justice and the American way. He is kindness in a world that thinks of kindness as old fashioned.” Superman is slated to hit theaters on July 11, 2025.

The post Superman has officially wrapped as director James Gunn gives his thanks to the cast and crew appeared first on JoBlo.

Die Hard may be one of the greatest action movies of all time, but according to Bruce Campbell, it suffers from one major mistake in its premise — John McClane is just too capable.

“You want to put weird s— in the hands of someone who can’t handle it,” Campbell told Entertainment Weekly. “Like with Ash [from Evil Dead], he has no formal training whatsoever. He’s not military, he’s not CIA; he’s like a garage mechanic that’s out to save the world. That interests me! The premise of Die Hard is wrong. The guy in the air vent shouldn’t be Bruce Willis. He’s an ex-L.A. cop. The writers just took the easy train. They took the freight train to easy town.“

Campbell has a simple fix: “You put an accountant in the air vent who’s never fired a gun in his life, but ‘Oh my God, he’s smart!’ Now I’m interested.” I mean… he’s not wrong, but when Die Hard was first released, it was praised precisely because McClane was seen as a vulnerable protagonist. Audiences had been used to the Schwarzeneggers and Stallones, muscle-bound characters who could mow through dozens of baddies without breaking a sweat. McClane was something different; sure, he was a cop and knew how to handle himself, but at his heart, he was an everyman. Not everything went according to plan, and every hit he took hurt like a ton of bricks.

As for the Evil Dead franchise, there are actually two new movies in development. “The future is two more damn movies,” Campbell told EW. “We’ve got two new fabulous directors that have two new scripts in the shoot, and we think we’ve suckered a studio into coughing up the dough for both, since they seem to still make money.” It was announced earlier this year that Sébastien Vaniček (Vermin) had been tapped to direct the next installment of the franchise, but just two months later, it was revealed that Francis Galluppi (The Last Stop In Yuma County) would be writing and directing his own Evil Dead movie. Both movies will be moving forward, but it remains to be seen which will be released first.

What do you think of Bruce Campbell’s statement about Die Hard?

The post Bruce Campbell thinks Die Hard suffers from one major error appeared first on JoBlo.

Microsoft shutdown the Xbox 360’s marketplace this week and nearly two decades after the console first launched it feels like the final nail in the coffin for a particular era of gaming we’ll probably never see again.

Read more…

Microsoft shutdown the Xbox 360’s marketplace this week and nearly two decades after the console first launched it feels like the final nail in the coffin for a particular era of gaming we’ll probably never see again.

Read more…

Back in December of 2022, it was announced that Henry Cavill had signed on to star in and executive produce a TV series inspired by the miniature wargame Warhammer 40,000 for Amazon’s Prime Video. We haven’t heard anything more about the project since that announcement… and now the game’s publisher Games Workshop has revealed that Amazon could lose the Warhammer 40,000 rights if they haven’t put together agreeable “creative guidelines” for the show by the end of December.

It took months of negotiations for Amazon Studios to set up the Warhammer 40,000 deal with Games Workshop in the first place. The deal granted Amazon the exclusive rights to make films and TV shows set within the Warhammer 40,000 universe – and if all went well, there was also an option that would allow Amazon to license the rights to make projects set in the Warhammer Fantasy universe.

In case you’re not familiar with the game, Wikipedia provides some information: Warhammer 40,000 is noted for its science fantasy setting in the distant future, where a stagnant human civilization is beset by hostile aliens and supernatural creatures. The models in the game are a mixture of humans, aliens, and supernatural monsters wielding futuristic weaponry and supernatural powers. The fictional setting of the game has been developed through a large body of novels published by Black Library (Games Workshop’s publishing division). Warhammer 40,000 was initially conceived as a science fiction counterpart to Warhammer Fantasy Battle, a medieval fantasy wargame also produced by Games Workshop with which 40,000 shares a number of tropes and concepts despite not being set in the same universe.

IGN reports that Games Workshop discussed their Amazon deal in an annual financial report, saying they would work with Amazon until December 2024 to develop “creative guidelines for the films and television series.” Adaptations “will only proceed if the creative guidelines are mutually agreed between Games Workshop and Amazon.” So the companies have just five months left to agree on creative guidelines, or these Warhammer 40,000 and potential Warhammer Fantasy adaptations aren’t going to happen at Amazon.

This deal came about when Vertigo Entertainment’s Roy Lee and Natalie Viscuso partnered with Henry Cavill to secure the Warhammer 40,000 IP and deliver it to Amazon Studios. Vertigo is executive producing with Cavill, Amazon Studios, and GAW’s Andy Smillie and Max Bottrill. 

Cavill has previously said, “I have loved Warhammer since I was boy, making this moment truly special for me. The opportunity to shepherd this cinematic universe from its inception is quite the honor and the responsibility. I couldn’t be more grateful for all the hard work put in by Vertigo, Amazon and Games Workshop to make this happen. One step closer to making a nigh-on lifelong dream come true.” He has also said that working on this project “is the greatest privilege of my professional career,” as “this is the stuff I’ve been dealing with since I was a kid. This is the stuff I spend my free time daydreaming about, as an adult as well, and I get to bring it into life. There is no greater reason than I joined the industry than doing something like this.“

Are you a fan of Warhammer 40,000, and are you hoping an adaptation will happen with Amazon Studios and Henry Cavill involved? Share your thoughts on this one by leaving a comment below.

The post Amazon and Henry Cavill might lose Warhammer 40,000 after December appeared first on JoBlo.

Tom Cruise and Christopher McQuarrie have a good thing going, and the pair are reportedly set to team up once again for a World War II movie called Broadsword. I don’t think I need to hear more; one ticket, please!

Broadsword is said to tell the story of “an S.O.E. operation and a marine captain who crashes in France and becomes the sole survivor. Against all odds, he must complete his mission amidst the chaos of war.” World of Reel adds that Henry Cavill is set to star alongside Cruise, with Marion Cotillard eyed to play the female lead. Just keeps getting better and better. The outlet adds that the film is looking at shooting in the summer of 2025 and will likely be sandwiched between Cruise’s upcoming film with Alejandro González Iñárritu and Joseph Kosinski’s Top Gun 3.

Broadsword would mark Cruise’s return to the period of World War II for the first time since Valkyrie. The 2008 thriller was set in Nazi Germany and depicted the plot by Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg and other German army officers to assassinate Adolf Hitler and to use the Operation Valkyrie national emergency plan to take control of the country. The film also marked the first time Cruise and McQuarrie worked together as McQuarrie co-wrote the script with Nathan Alexander.

Of course, before Broadsword or any of his other projects, Tom Cruise still has to finish work on Mission: Impossible 8. We don’t know all that much about the upcoming sequel, only that it will follow the story set up in Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning, in which Ethan and his team were tasked with stopping the Entity, a rogue AI capable of controlling global defence intelligence and financial networks. The film was originally titled Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part Two, but after the first movie was perceived to be a box-office disappointment, Paramount rethought its approach. When production on the new movie was forced to shut down due to the SAG-AFTRA strike, the studio pushed the release date and announced that it would receive a new title.

Although the expectation was that these two movies would be a “culmination” of the franchise and serve as a “send-off” for Tom Cruise’s character, the actor has recently said that he hopes to take inspiration from Harrison Ford and keep making Mission: Impossible movies until he’s 80. “Harrison Ford is a legend; I hope to be still going; I’ve got 20 years to catch up with him,” Cruise said. “I hope to keep making Mission: Impossible films until I’m his age.” Of course, this all depends on how successful Mission: Impossible 8 is when it hits theaters on May 23, 2025.

The post Broadsword: Tom Cruise to star in WWII movie from Christopher McQuarrie, with Henry Cavill & Marion Cotillard eyed to join him appeared first on JoBlo.