By Chris Kavan - 06/05/19 at 09:40 AM CT
Thankfully we aren't going to have a repeat of the dreadful nothing we all had to endure during the Memorial Day update. There are three big movies getting their ratings due - a nice, round number. We have a new horror addition to the Conjuring franchise, a different kind of horror film that will prove doubly so for newlyweds and an action/comedy that combines Dave Bautista and Kumail Nanjiani - and why hasn't this happened yet?! So there you have it - something to talk about and as always, I hope for just as much, if not more, in the future.
I have been a fan of The Conjuring films - even the bad ones (like The Nun or Annabelle) still manages to entertain. Speaking of Annabelle, the sequel, Annabelle Creation, was a definite step up from the first film, which honestly I was surprised wasn't better because, holy crap that doll is super creepy. So I have hope that Annabelle Comes Home continues to improve upon - or at least maintain the same level - as the last film. This time around, the action takes place in the home of the Warrens, where the paranormal investigators have a room full of evil, possessed items - including our favorite doll. Ed and Lorraine (Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga) also have a daughter, Judy (Mckenna Grace) who, if you recall from the previous films, has encountered the doll before. You would think the duo, who have seen a lot over the course of their investigations, would maybe consider having their unholy house of horrors located, you know, off sight. Instead, despite all the precautions, it turns out the possessed doll is more powerful than they anticipated - and it goes about activating a bunch of other evil stuff and trying to possess everyone in sight: Judy, her friends, probably anyone else who gets within 50 feet of the house. I'm interested to see how this havoc plays out. Maybe not interested enough to see it in theaters - but interested enough I'll surely watch it on streaming. Rated R for horror violence and terror.
If creepy dolls aren't scary enough, I have something that is truly horrifying: in-laws. Yes, new bride Grace (Samara Weaving) is going to spend some quality time with her husband's (Mark O'Brien) new family - the Le Domas family (played by some familiar faces in Adam Brody, Andie MacDowell, Henry Czerny, Nicky Guadagni and Melanie Scrofano) are rich and eccentric - and they want to play a game, Ready or Not. The game is time-honored tradition among the family - but soon turns dark and quite deadly - with survival the prize for the winner. I'm not sure this is the kind of movie you would want to take your date to - murderous in-laws don't exactly make for a healthy relationship, but, then again, maybe it's exactly the kind of black comedy/horror that will bring people together. I'm sold based on the cast alone - I want to see how MacDowell especially gets her violence on. It reminds me a bit of You're Next - but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Rated R for violence, bloody images, language throughout, and some drug use.
If horror isn't your bad, baby, turn that grimace upside down - that is, smile you bastard because humor is on the menu too! I told you we're getting the epic team-up of Dave Bautista (best known as Drax in the Guardians of the Galaxy films) and Kumail Nanjiani (of Silicon Valley and The Big Sick fame). Bautista plays Vic, a hard-bitten detective on the trail of a dangerous terrorist organization - while Nanjiani plays a mild-mannered Uber driver, Stu, who finds himself unwittingly involved in the whole mess when Vic gets in his ride. Hence the name of the film... Stuber (kind of corny, but, whatever). Fellow Guardians star Karen Gillan is on hand, as is the likes of Betty Gilpin, Natalie Morales, Mira Sorvino and Joshua Mikel among others. Even though Bautista is known - he's not a star in his own right, and maybe this will be his breakout role ala The Rock and he'll get bigger and better things in the future. Pairing him with Nanjiani (who has that deadpan humor down pat) seems like an interesting and quite fun choice. We'll see if audiences agree. Rated R for violence and language throughout, some sexual references and brief graphic nudity.
Those are the big three for the week, but be sure to check out the full MPAA Ratings Bulletin below:
ANNABELLE COMES HOME
Rated R for horror violence and terror.
THE COMBINATION: REDEMPTION
Rated R for pervasive strong language, violence, some drug use and sexuality.
CORPORATE ANIMALS
Rated R for pervasive language, sexual content, some gore and brief nudity.
DEAD WATER
Rated R for language, some violence and sexual content.
DOOM: ANNIHILATION
Rated R for bloody violence and language throughout.
HONEY BOY
Rated R for pervasive language, some sexual material and drug use.
THE LIGHTHOUSE
Rated R for sexual content, nudity, violence, disturbing images, and some language.
MARIANNE & LEONARE: WORDS OF LOVE
Rated R for some drug material, sexual references and brief nudity.
READY OR NOT
Rated R for violence, bloody images, language throughout and some drug use.
THE STAND AT PAXTON COUNTY
Rated R for some violence and language.
STUBER
Rated R for violence and language throughout, some sexual references and brief graphic nudity.
TIMMY FAILURE
Rated PG for thematic elements, some language and mild action.
WHERE'S MY ROY COHN?
Rated PG-13 for thematic content, some sexual material and violent images.
