By Chris Kavan - 03/04/20 at 12:10 PM CT
Hollywood must be in a horror-happy mood. With The Invisible Man finally providing the good news the genre needs this year, this week's MPAA Bulletin is also all about scaring people. First up, X-Men meets horror in the long-gestating New Mutants and, on the other side, we get a sequel to a hit horror in which, in the words of the erudite Elmer Fudd, we must remain "vewwy, vewwy quiet". So if horror is your thing, this update's for you!
There are so many genres where trying to be original is a huge gamble. So many blockbusters out there are based on existing material that sometimes playing it safe is better. But John Krasinski was willing to take a chance with his original concept A Quiet Place. Starring himself and his wife Emily Blunt, the film concerned a family - including actual deaf actress Millicent Simmonds, along with Noah Jupe - as they survive in a world where sound is the enemy. It seems some horror - man-made or extraterrestrial - has been unleashed that hunts by a keen sense of sound. Using some truly great tension and teasing the film was a rousing success - to the tune of $188 million domestic and over $340 million worldwide. So there was little suprise when Krasinski returned to direct A Quiet Place Part II. Blunt, Simmonds and Jupe all reprise their roles as our family (including now a new baby) is forced to leave the farmhouse behind and venture out to what's left of the world. This means the cast expands as well with Cillian Murphy, Djimon Hounsou, Lauren-Ashley Cristiano and Zachary Golinger. And, in true apocaplyptic fashion, the true horror is not just the creatures who hunt by sound - but those who survive by any means possible, even if it means turning on your fellow man. The original worked so well because it kept things so claustrophobic and grounded. My only worry is that by expanding the world, it loses that tight sense of dread. Still, I trust Krasinski - this is his baby and I don't think he wants to ruin things. And a small part of me hopes we get some more answers to the whole sound-hunting beasts. Rated PG-13 for terror, violence and bloody/disturbing images.
In terms of projects I honestly never though would get a theatrical release, The New Mutants was high on the list of something that was surely going to be dumped on a streaming service. First announced back in 2015, with most of the shooting taking place in 2017 and starring a hot, young cast: Anya Taylor-Joy, Game of Thrones standout Maisie Williams, Strangers Things Charlie Heaton as well as Alice Braga, Blu Hunt, Henry Zaga and Happy Anderson. There was even a trailer released in anticipation of a 2018 release, and it revealed a very different take on the X-Men - a straight-up horror offering. But then the film was delayed, supposedly for reshoots - but due to the schedules of many of the young actors, these reshoots probably are not as extensive as first reported. For a time it was though Disney, who didn't express that much excitement in New Mutants, would dump it on Hulu or Disney+ but they finally announced an April 2020 release - nearly two years after the original date. The film clearly pushes the horror angle hard, something Boone was very keen on - and seems to focus on religion vs science (or genetics or whatever) playing a big part. Most of the mutants here are new - Williams as Rahne Sinclair / Wolfsbane is a Scottish werewolf essentially, Taylor-Joy is Illyana Rasputin / Magik a Russian mutant who specializes in teleportation (and sister to fellow mutant Colossus), Heaton portarys Sam Guthrie / Cannonball who is invulnerable while propelling himself through the air, Henry Zaga plays a new version of Roberto da Costa / Sunspot (last seen in X-Men: Days of Future Past) who manipulates solar energy and Hunt is Danielle Moonstar / Mirage - who creates illusions based on a person's fear/desire. Braga plays the mentor role and is also a mutant who can project protective fields around her while Anderson is probably a villain as Reverend Craig. Because of the extensive delays and such, I don't expect this to have a great time at the box office. Still, after the abject disappointment of Dark Phoenix, I at least hope it's competent. Rated PG-13 for violent content, some disturbing/bloody images, some strong language, thematic elements and suggestive material.
Those are the major releases for this week, but be sure to check out the full MPAA Ratings Bulletin below:
COUNTER COLUMN
Rated PG-13 for thematic elements, drug material and some violence.
DA 5 BLOODS
Rated R for strong violence, grisly images and pervasive language.
I CARRY YOU WITH ME
Rated R for language and brief nudity.
LAST MOMENT OF CLARITY
Rated R for violence, language, sexuality and nudity.
THE NEW MUTANTS
Rated PG-13 for violent content, some disturbing/bloody images, some strong language, thematic elements and suggestive material.
THE QUARRY
Rated R for some violence and language.
A QUIET PLACE PART II
Rated PG-13 for terror, violence and bloody/disturbing images.
REDEMPTION DAY
Rated R for violence and language.
RESISTANCE
Rated R for some violence.
REV
Rated R for language throughout, some violence and drug content.
THE SECRET GARDEN
Rated PG for thematic elements and some mild peril.
THE WILLOUGHBYS
Rated PG for rude humor and some thematic elements.
Y COMO ES EL?
Rated PG-13 for sexual material throughout, language and some violence.
