Each week within this column we strive to pair the latest in theatrical releases to the worthwhile titles currently available on Netflix Instant Watch.
This week Ghost Face returns to theaters to square off against a nebbish parrot, an accused traitor and a daring documentary about the war on terror. You can take the thrills home with our suggested batch of features that include psycho slashers, notorious courtroom theatrics, harrowing tales of war, and award-winning animation!
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Scream 4
It’s been 10 years since a serial killer has reeked havoc on lip-quivering heroine Sydney Prescott (Neve Campbell), and now Ghost Face has returned to up the ante, cashing in and criticizing the latest in horror conventions. Wes Craven directs.
Take the fear home with a trio of terrifying tales:
The Last House on the Left (1972) Before Craven was serving up self-aware cinema, he was crafting some of the most deeply disturbing entries in the horror genre. Like many of Craven’s classics this one recently got a gritty remake, but the original Last is a tale of rape, torture, and murder so dark it’s hard to look away, and even harder to shake. The story centers on the brutal evisceration of two teen girls, and what happens when one’s parents discover her killers. Not for the faint of heart, this movie is arguably the most repulsive and shocking American horror movie ever made.
The Craft (1996) If you’re looking to revel in ’90s nostalgia more than you’re looking for a scare, revisit Neve Campbell’s pre-Scream witches-gone-wild drama. Full of mean girls, ’90s fashion, and some delightfully dated special effects, it’s sure to make you want to break out your baby doll dresses – or at the very least play Light as a Feather, Stiff as a Board.
Trick ‘r Treat (2008) If self-aware cinema is your bag, try this ghoulish and grisly anthology that was cruelly cheated of a theatrical run. Michael Dougherty directs a series of interweaving vignettes that feature gore, wit, and a pitch-black sense of humor while they reiterate and enforce the rules of Halloween. Scream 4 star Anna Paquin co-stars in this undervalued horror gem.
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Rio
A tale of love taking flight that centers on a macaw with a paralyzing fear of flying. Jesse Eisenberg and Anne Hathaway co-star in this animated adventure produced by the makers of Ice Age.
If you’re looking for an animated film that all ages can enjoy, we suggest these stand-outs:
Up (2009) This Pixar picture took home an Oscar in 2009 for its high-flying (and house flying) adventure about a curmudgeonly old man (Ed Asner in the voice role he was destined to play) who bonds with a doughy adventure scout, a talking dog, and an elusive tropical bird. For adults, it’s a touching tale about how life is what happens when you’re making other plans. For kids – I mentioned the talking dogs, right?
The Secret of Kells (2009) A must-see you may have missed, this little known Irish indie competed in the Best Animated Film category alongside Up. While it didn’t win the gold, it did garner well-deserved praise for animator Tomm Moore’s glorious and lushly designed tale of adventure. Secret centers on a wee monk’s journey to complete an illuminated manuscript. Along the way he crosses paths with a Willie Nelson-looking illuminator, a merciless monster, a pack of vicious Vikings, and a gleeful and unforgettable spirit girl named Aisling. Kids will love it for the vivid characters and quick-paced adventure, while parents will be able to take in the master craftsmanship of Secret‘s layered look and emotional depth.
Ponyo (2008) An expected contender for the 2009 Animation Oscar, Hayao Miyazaki’s collaboration with Disney got beat out by the underwhelming Disney princess tale The Princess and the Frog, (which is also on Instant but is less adult-friendly.) In his most accessible animated film, Miyazaki applies his imaginative eye to The Little Mermaid, creating a beautiful hand-drawn cartoon about a little fish-turned-little girl who discovers she loves a land-living boy – and ham! Kid’s will lock on to the excitable atmosphere and child-centered narrative, while parents can enjoy the evolving and groundbreaking visual style that has made Miyazaki an icon of animation.
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The Conspirator
Robert Redford directs this law drama based on the true story of a woman accused of conspiring with John Wilkes Boothe to kill President Lincoln. James McAvoy stars as the noble lawyer struggling to do right by his tight-lipped client played by Robin Wright.
If you’re a fan of courtroom docudramas, this may be your lucky weekend:
JFK: Special Edition (1991) This Oscar-winning docudrama delves into the pivotal prosecution case against Lee Harvey Oswald, who was accused of being the lone assassin of President John F. Kennedy. Kevin Costner stars in this epic tale that scored Oliver Stone a Best Director nod at the Oscars.
The Crucible (1996) Heralded playwright Arthur Miller adapted his scathing Red Scare allegory for the screen in this sizzling and scandalous drama, which is based on the notorious Salem witch trials. Daniel Day-Lewis stars as John Proctor, a farmer whose life (and wife) are put in peril when a schoolgirl’s crush morphs into a murderous vendetta. Winona Ryder co-stars and the sexually charged fire starter, Abigail Williams. This powerful picture manages to shine a critical light on two different dark spots on America’s history, and proves a haunting warning about giving into mob mentality and fear.
Dangerous Beauty (1998) If you want to make an especially specific themed double-feature pair The Crucible with this of tale of forbidden love and zealotry that is based on the true story of Veronica Franco (Catherine McCormack), a smart Venetian woman whose lack of noble status led her to the life of a courtesan. Her former lover (Rufus Sewell) can’t afford to marry her, dowry-less as she is, so the two keep up a torrid affair as she beds the powerful men of Venice, and he avoids his frigid wife. But things get more complicated for these struggling lovers when the plague befalls the land, turning neighbors into blood-thirsty bible-thumpers who blame the city’s courtesans for their bad fortune. When Franco is force before a jury over a charge of witchcraft, will her lover risk everything to speak on her behalf? This little known drama was a dud at the box office, but provides a sweeping romance with a witty humor and sharp flare.
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Armadillo
This buzzed about Danish doc follows a troop of soldiers on patrol in a Taliban-infested territory of Afghanistan.
Restrepo (2010) This Oscar-nominated, American-produced documentary reveals the gritty reality a platoon of American soldiers face in the heated warfront of Afghanistan over a one year period. A striking and humbling look at one front of the War on Terror, this doc lets the troops speak for themselves.
Four Lions (2010) For a satirical take on the War on Terror, check out this acclaimed black comedy out of Britain. Blistering and biting, this comedy centers on a group of Islamic blokes who see themselves as destined jihadis. Lions is writer/director Christopher Morris’ feature debut, and its unrepentantly fierce wit scored him a BAFTA for Outstanding British Debut.
Brothers (2005) Acclaimed director Susanne Bier’s Danish drama centers on a war at home. When a soldier who has gone missing in Afghanistan is reported dead, his mourning wife falls into the consoling arms of his younger brother. While he fights for survival, their relationship evolves, making for an explosive reunion. Also available on Instant is the American remake, which co-stars Tobey Maguire, Natalie Portman, and Jake Gyellenhaal.
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Wild Card Pick
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Metropolis Restored (1927) This German expressionist sci-fi classic may be one of the most influential films the world has ever seen. With its bold performances and striking visual effects, Metropolis took the world by storm! However, as the film’s prints began hitting foreign soil, distributors and politicians — fearful of the film’s political overtones — cut out pieces of the negative, steadily reducing the film and its running time as it toured the world. Some sequences were thought to be lost forever. Then in 2008, a 16 mm reduction negative of the original was discovered in Argentina. From this, 25 minutes was restored to the film, creating the most complete version that had screened in 80 years. If you missed the film’s revival tour last year, take this opportunity to see the ray gun Gothic design that’s inspired countless artists, musicians, and filmmakers. While a 2 ½ hour silent film may seem like an esoteric indulgence, I think you’ll find that there’s a reason this tale of warring classes and a malevolent machine man is still being screened. Especially thrilling is the captivating performance(s) of Brigitte Helm, who plays a compassionate leader of the oppressed and a deranged robot hell-bent on bringing about sexually charged destruction with equally stirring bravado!
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Can you think of a connection/suggestion we missed? Share them in comments.