By Chris Kavan - 04/18/18 at 10:06 AM CT
Well, well, well - I guess a little bump is better than no bump at all. After several weeks (months? - I've lost count) of exactly two ratings worth talking about, the MPAA Ratings Boards has graced me with three movies to talk about. Cue the choir. While I'm certainly happy for the increase, only one of hte new movies really has my attention - a horror film getting all the buzz that is shaping up to be one of the more interesting in recent memory. Otherwise we have a doggone comedy and the latest from Richard Linklater. I have hope that the hits will keep on coming and this week wasn't just a fluke.
It has already been a great year for horror with the Insidious franchise delivering solid numbers, A Quiet Place making a lot of noise and even a savagely-reviewed Truth or Dare holding strong. But there is one horror film this year that looks even better - it might not make as much money as A Quiet Place, but it certainly has go people buzzing. That horror film is Hereditary. The film stars Toni Collette as Annie Graham, a woman with a penchant for making miniatures and who isn't sure how to deal with the death of her mother. Things go from bad to worse when she begins to uncover some rather unsavory secrets about her family history - one that goes beyond a few skeletons in the closet, but something that could destroy her sanity and everything she holds dear. But she is not alone as her son (Alex Wolff), husband (Gabriel Byrne) and especially her young daughter, Charlie (Milly Shapiro) are all affected. The film is described as a domestic descent into madness and has drawn comparisions to everything from The Exorcist to the Babadook with a lot of credit being given to first-time feature director Ari Aster. The trailers make this look amazing for a horror film - and Shapiro looks to join (if not top) the list of damn creepy children in movies forevermore. It has earned raves from Sundance and SXSW - and I, for one, am more than ready to find out just how twisted and horrifying things get. Rated R for horror violence, disturbing images, language, drug use and brief graphic nudity.
Richard Linklater is responsible for some of great films: Slacker, Dazed and Confused, School of Rock, A Scanner Darkly and Boyhood just to name a few. Not every films has been a knockout, but I would say the chance is very good that you will leave happy, if not impressed. That is why I give Where's You Go, Bernadette my seal of approval, even if it is a bit of a ways off. Linklater follows the story of 15-year-old Bee (Troian Bellisario) who finds herself trying to figure out where her anxiety-ridden mother, Bernadette (Cate Blanchett) has ran off to - even as it leads to some uncomfortable truths about her past. Hey - it's a lot like Hereditary, minus the insane horror aspect, amirite? Linklater tends to get a lot of of his cast, in humor or drama, and he has lined up some well-rounded support including Kristen Wiig, Judy Greer, Billy Crudup, Laurence Fishburne, James Urbaniak and Kate Easton among others. It's too far out for a trailer, yet, but based on Linklater's filmography, this should be another winner. Rated - Rated PG-13 for some strong language and drug material.
For those who like a bit of daaawwww in their lives, just add some adorable canines to your film. The aptly-titled Dog Days takes of bunch of disparate people, adds lovable dogs, and... daaaaaawwwww! That's right, people come together thanks to their pets interactions. It's sure to be a hit with families, dog lovers, cat haters and others. Plus, it has a nice cast including Stranger Things (and It) standout Finn Wolfhard, Nina Dobrev, Vanessa Hudgens, Eva Longoria, Thomas Lennon, Adam Pally, Rob Corddry, Tig Notaro, Jessica St. Clair and more. I'm sure it will be overly cute and pleasant - and August release perfect for that end-of-summer treat before heading back to school. Rated PG for rude and suggestive content, and for language.
Count 'em - three movies I was able to talk about! Now let's see what next week brings but, before then, be sure to check out the full MPAA Ratings Bulletin below:
DESTINATION WEDDING
Rated R for language throughout and sexual content.
DISCOVERING THE REEF
Rated G
DOG DAYS
Rated PG for rude and suggestive content and for language.
HEREDITARY
Rated R for horror violence, disturbing images, language, drug use and brief graphic nudity.
NOTHING TO LOSE
Rated PG for thematic material and some smoking.
REVENGE
Rated R for strong bloody gruesome violence, a rape, sexuality, graphic nudity, drug use and language.
UNFRIENDED: DARK WEB
Rated R for some disturbing violence, language and sexual references.
WHERE'D YOU GO, BERNADETTE
Rated PG-13 for some strong language and drug material.
