STACK #189 Jul 2020

FILM REVIEWS

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You're Home. Forever. VIVARIUM

The most dangerous game. THE HUNT

RELEASE DATE: 08/07/20

FORMAT:

RELEASE DATE: 15/07/20

FORMAT:

Gemma (Imogen Poots) and Tom (Jesse Eisenberg) move into a brand new house in an idealistic real estate development where everything is picture- perfect. But the promise of a dream home soon spirals into a bizarre nightmare when they find themselves trapped in a labyrinth of circular streets and never-ending rooflines. An unassuming and cheeky oddity with a deliciously quirky production design, Vivarium is a strange and surreal thriller

Co-scripted by Damon Lindelof ( Watchmen ) and produced by Jason Blum ( The Invisible Man ), this survival shocker has the dubious distinction of being one of the most controversial movies in the US this year. Its release was postponed following a series of mass shootings, and it also raised the ire of Republicans, who are cast as the victims in a savage political satire. The Hunt is a new take on an old formula – if you've seen Turkey Shoot or Hard

that plays like an episode of Black Mirror directed by David Lynch. Fans of challenging surrealist films like Vincenzo Natali's Nothing or Juan Diego Solanas's ambitious Upside Down ought to embrace Vivarium 's metaphoric social parables, while others may struggle a bit with this one’s avant-garde nature. GC

Target , you'll already know we're in 'hunting humans' territory here. But there are still plenty of surprises, not least an incredible face-off between gutsy female leads Betty Gilpin and Hilary Swank. Putting the 'red' into red states, The Hunt delivers fast and furious action, gratuitous violence, and satire that's as sharp as a knife. SH

66 JULY 2020

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