STACK #187 May 2020

FILM REVIEWS

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H.P. Lovecraft meets Nicolas Cage. COLOR OUT OF SPACE

The light has its mysteries. THE LIGHTHOUSE

RELEASE DATE: 06/05/20

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RELEASE DATE: 06/05/20

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Color Out of Space marks the return of director Richard Stanley ( Hardware ) following a 20-year hiatus from filmmaking. An adaptation of the story by legendary author H.P. Lovecraft, it depicts a unique alien invasion. A meteor lands beside a farmhouse and infects the surrounding area, the entity occupying the ethos and manifesting itself in the environment, emitting an unearthly colour whenever it’s present. Nicolas Cage headlines the cast and chews up every last

The superb second feature from writer-director Robert Eggers ( The Witch ) is as ominous as an approaching storm at sea. Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson – as a salty old sea dog and lumberjack-turned-lighthouse- keeper, respectively – anchor this tense two-hander. Stationed on a barren crag of rock off the New England coast in 1890, the relationship between the men is fractious from the start and devolves as isolation and alcoholism take a toll, and primal instincts surface.

Visually stunning and saturated with maritime mythology, this monochrome arthouse horror utilises a claustrophobic screen ratio and cacophonous sound design to keep the viewer on edge. It's a masterfully executed exercise in escalating dread, and highly recommended for those with an appreciation for the art of filmmaking and powerhouse performances. SH

morsel of the script, delivering an unhinged performance (of course); his impeccable comic timing contrasted by moments of pure horror. Conjuring memories of Spielberg’s War of the Worlds , The Thing and The Blob , Color Out of Space is one of the best horror films of the year, heralding a master craftsman’s return to the genre. GC (See page 22)

THE WAY BACK

JUST MERCY

DON'T GO

THE GRUDGE

RELEASE DATE: 13/05/20 FORMAT:

RELEASE DATE: 06/05/20 FORMAT:

RELEASE DATE: 13/05/20 FORMAT:

RELEASE DATE: 06/05/20 FORMAT:

Ben Affleck plays a former basketball star named Jack

Injustice is put on trial in this biopic of renowned civil rights lawyer Bryan Stevenson (played by Michael B. Jordan), based on his memoir. Fresh out of Harvard Law School, Stevenson's history-making battle for equal justice begins in Alabama, 1987, where Walter McMillan (Jamie Foxx) is awaiting the death penalty for the murder of a white girl, despite the lack of any evidence and a solid alibi. Determined to clear McMillan's name, Stevenson fights against prejudice and politics for over a decade to seek a retrial. A powerful legal thriller in the tradition of To Kill a Mockingbird , and anchored by impassioned performances from Jordan and Foxx. BS

Stephen Dorff and Melissa George star in this atmospheric, supernaturally-tinged psychological thriller, as a grieving couple who have relocated to coastal Ireland following the death of their young daughter in a tragic accident. Feeling indirectly responsible for her death, Dorff is plagued by recurring dreams of the fateful day and becomes convinced he is being sent a message, and pehaps an opportunity to avert the tragedy. But does he dare to cross the blurred line between dreams and reality, and what will he find there? This gripping mystery with a clever twist is recommended for those who loved The Sixth Sense and What Lies Beneath . AC

Produced by Sam Raimi, this latest reimagining of the 2002 J-Horror classic Ju-On: The Grudge (which also spawned the 2004 US reboot) tells an 'Untold Chapter' in the history of the inescapable curse. The non-linear narrative follows an assortment of interconnected characters and timelines, including Andrea Riseborough as a detective confronting the reality of supernatural forces; genre great Lin Shaye as a terminally ill patient, and our own Jackie Weaver as a euthanasia specialist. Indie writer- director Nicolas Pesce, who helmed the striking arthouse horrors The Eyes of My Mother and Piercing , serves up style and scares in his first major studio gig. BS

Cunningham, who left the hoops behind to slam dunk bottles of booze instead. When he’s asked to coach his former high school’s basketball team, it sets both Jack and his charges on a road to redemption. Part character study, part triumph-over-adversity sports drama (albeit lacking the mandatory sentiment and clichés), The Way Back is a great showcase for Affleck, whose personal struggle with alcoholism has been well documented by the tabloids. Playing Cunningham with the absolute conviction of a guy who knows the score, he's rarely been better. AC

32 MAY 2020

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