The Girl In The Trunk stars Katharina Sporrer and Caspar Phillipson. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Thriller movies captivate audiences with heart-pounding suspense, intricate plots, and unexpected twists. They explore the darkest corners of human psyche with themes of danger, deception, and moral ambiguity. From psychological thrillers that dig into the depths of the mind to action-packed thrillers with adrenaline-fueled sequences, the genre offers a diverse array of experiences. They are some of the most popular movies because they immerse audiences in a world where nothing is as it seems, leaving them exhilarated and enthralled.
With that said, if you’re in the mood for a claustrophobic thriller, there’s a new movie available now for digital release in the UK, Ireland, USA, and Canada. (Strike Media Ltd, 2024)
The Girl In The Trunk Strap in, and let this enigmatic new thriller take you for a ride. Starring Caspar Phillipson (Jackie, Blonde) and Katharina Sporrer (Genius), and written and directed by Jonas Kvist Jensen, this tight tense thriller will leave you on the edge of your seat.
A woman finds herself kidnapped and entrapped in the enclosed space of a speeding car’s trunk, wearing her wedding dress, and with her phone as the only available tool. The situation deteriorates gradually as a failed escape attempt costs the life of an innocent bystander.
With the clock ticking towards a slow death from heat exhaustion in the Texas desert, a psychotic kidnapper at the wheel, Amanda is forced to make her own luck in the end. A dangerous game of questions and deadly consequences – to be played over the phone with the mysterious kidnapper – seems the only way to maybe discover his true identity, getting help or simply fighting her painful way towards a fleeting chance of escape.
Chilling British horror movie is set for release this summer in the UK. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
In today’s movie news: after debuting in film festivals, The Moor will be released in the UK this summer. It has received critical acclaim and hopefully it will have a wider release coming soon. Check out the trailer below, it looks haunting and dark. My kind of movie.
Bulldog Film Distribution is delighted to confirm that the acclaimed British horror, The Moor will be heading to UK Cinemas from June 14 and on UK Digital HD from July 1, 2024. (Strike Media, Ltd, 2024)
The Moor stars Sophia La Porta, David Edward-Robertson, Elizabeth Dormer-Phillips as well as the late British acting legend, Bernard Hill.
Synopsis Claire was just a child when her best friend was abducted and murdered. Twenty-five years later, the killer has served his time and is due to be released. Claire is approached by Bill, the dead boy’s father, who has a plan to keep the killer behind bars. With the help of psychic Eleanor, he takes them deep into the haunted moor which he believes is his son’s final resting place. They find more than just the ghosts of dead children out there – something else, something dark and evil, stirs beneath their feet.
Run Time: 119 Mins
Chris Cronin’s feature-length directorial debut was widely praised following its World Premiere at Pigeon Shrine FrightFest, screening in the prestigious ‘First Blood’ strand. In Total Film’s FrightFest Awards 2023, the film was nominated for Best Director, Best Film and Won Best Scare.
“My aim with this story was to create an original horror film set in my home county of Yorkshire. Instead of delving into the fictional murders themselves, I focused on the aftermath and how something so terrible affects lives and relationships. What happens when so much grief and guilt are left unresolved? As a genre filmmaker I wanted to explore those important questions through tension and suspense. Genre lets us take a look at very human and painful situations and make them larger than life, forcing us to re-examine them. Thankfully, most of us don’t know what it’s like to experience a tragedy as great as Bill and Claire’s, but through the medium of horror we can elevate how awful it would be, making the audience really feel it.” – Director Chris Cronin
Curtis Jackson , Brian Van Holt, and Nora Zehetner in Boneyard. Photo: Lionsgate, used with permission.
Crime thrillers are one of my favorites types of movies because they immerse viewers in a world of mystery, suspense, and intrigue. The twists and turns keep audiences on the edge of their seats and every character adds depth to the narrative. Settings range from gritty urban landscapes to serene countryside, each enhancing the story’s atmosphere. These movies offer a thrilling escape into the darker aspects of human nature, while the adrenaline rush is a major plus.
In today’s movie news: If you’re ready to experience the next big crime thriller, which involves a serial killer, check this one out.
Boneyard stars Brian Van Holt, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Nora Zehetner, Michael Sirow, and Mel Gibson. This chilling thriller based on a true crime story will be released on Video On Demand nationwide (US/ Canada) on July 2 and in US theaters July 5. (EG-PR, 2024)
Synopsis: When the skeletal remains of eleven women and girls are discovered in the New Mexico desert, an extensive investigation is launched. Inspired by true crime stories, this chilling crime-thriller follows Police Chief Carter (Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson), Detective Ortega (Brian Van Holt), and Agent Petrovick (Mel Gibson) in a multi-agency effort to identify and apprehend the killer. As each of their agendas and methods clash, a tangled web of intrigue casts suspicion in all directions.
Genre: Action/Thriller Rating: (Not Yet Rated) Running time: 96 mins Release Date: EST/Video On Demand (7/2/24); Theatrical (7/5/24) Written by: Vincent E. Mcdaniel, Asif Akbar, Hank Byrd, Koji Steven Sakai Produced by: Colin Bates
Invaders from Proxima B beams onto Video On Demand on May 31, 2024. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Looking for a new family friendly sci-fi movie to stream? In today’s movie news: coming up on Fandango at Home, is release of Invaders from Proxima B.
Buffalo 8 is excited to slide into summer with the North American VOD release of Invaders from ProximaB, a family friendly science fiction comedy from writer/director/star Ward Roberts (Westworld, Agents of SHIELD) and Samantha Sloyan (The Haunting of Hill House, Midnight Mass). Invaders from Proxima B debuts exclusively on Fandango at Home May 31, 2024. (Justin Cook PR, 2024)
Invaders from Proxima B– After a wise-cracking alien named Chuck (Roberts) crashes in the backyard, the Jankins family (Roberts, Sloyan) teams up with their new otherworldly friend to battle a dangerous array of weirdos that show up in hot pursuit. The stakes couldn’t be higher for Chuck, the Jenkins, and maybe even all of planet Earth.
Ward Roberts produced the film under his DrexelBox Films outfit alongside Mike C. Nelson. The film had its world premiere at the Austin Film Festival. The cast is rounded out by Sloyan, Mike C. Nelson (Shrinking, Black-ish), Richard Riehle (Office Space, Casino), Jeremiah Birkett (Black Cake, Euphoria), and Sarah Lassez (Nowhere, Lo).
You Can’t Run Forever will be released on May 17, 2024. Photo: Lionsgate, used with permission.
Some of the most exciting movies to watch are thrillers. The suspense, intrigue, and adrenaline-fueled plots hold the audience’s attention and immerse them in a world of uncertainty, where every twist and turn keeps them on the edge of their seats. In today’s movie news, if you’re searching for the next exciting movie, the new J.K. Simmons thriller, You Can’t Run Forever, will be released in theaters, on digital, and on demand on Friday May 17, 2024.
You Can’t Run Forever – Miranda, a young woman already suffering from acute anxiety due to a past tragedy, faces a new terror when a serial killer chooses her as his new target. In a harrowing hunt through the woods, Miranda finds strength she never knew she had as she tries to elude her murderous tracker. Academy Award® winner J.K. Simmons stars in a spine-chilling thriller about the strength of family and the astonishing power of the human spirit. It stars J.K. Simmons, Fernanda Urrejola, Allen Leech, Isabelle Anaya, Graham Patrick Martin, and Olivia Simmons. (EG PR, 2024)
Genre: Thriller Rating: R for violent content including suicide, language, drug use, and brief sexual content. Running Time: 103 minutes Directed by Michelle Schumacher Written by Carolyn Carpenter, Michelle Schumacher Produced by Randle Schumacher
“You Can’t Run Forever” is about trauma and survival, and how sometimes we think we couldn’t possibly survive something tragic in our lives, only to realize not only can we survive, but we are stronger. It’s about the love and strength of family. The family you’re born into, and the family you choose.” – Michelle Schumacher
Aulia Sarah, Claresta Taufan Kusumarina and Maudy Effrosina in Dancing Village: The Curse Begins. Photo: Lionsgate, used with permission.
Love horror movies? I do. Horror movies tap into our primal fears, exploiting the dark recesses of the human psyche. They’re a rollercoaster ride of adrenaline and terror, plunging audiences into a world where the supernatural collides with reality and making excellent use of tension and suspense. While exploring themes of mortality, the unknown, and the macabre, they remind us of the thin veil that exists between the rational and the irrational, making us confront our deepest fears in the safety of a movie theater. If you’re looking for a new horror movie, here is an Indonesian horror movie coming out today, Friday April 26, 2024: Dancing Village: The Curse Begins (International title: Badarawuhi Di Desa Penari). It has English subtitles.
In this horror-thriller, a shaman instructs Mila to return a mystical bracelet, the Kawaturih, to the “Dancing Village,” a remote site on the easternmost tip of Java Island. Joined by her cousin, Yuda, and his friends Jito and Arya, Mila arrives on the island only to discover that the village elder has passed away, and that the new guardian, Mbah Buyut, isn’t present. Various strange and eerie events occur while awaiting Mbah Buyut’s return, including Mila being visited by Badarawuhi, a mysterious, mythical being who rules the village. When she decides to return the Kawaturih without the help of Mgah Buyut, Mila threatens the village’s safety, and she must join a ritual to select the new “Dawuh,” a cursed soul forced to dance for the rest of her life. (EG PR, 2024)
Dancing Village: The Curse Begins is a prequel to KKN DI DESA PENARI, which was the highest grossing Indonesian film in history when it was released in 2022.This new film is the first film made for IMAX movie ever produced in Southeast Asia and in 2024, it will be one of only five films made for IMAX productions worldwide. Producer Manoj Punjabi is Indonesia’s most successful film and TV producer, and is the founder of MD Pictures, the country’s largest film company. Punjabi has produced 168 movies, including five of the biggest all-time local box office hits in Indonesia, including SEWU DINO and KKN DI DESA PENARI.
The French macabre horror movie Pandemonium leads ARROW’s May 2024 lineup. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Arrow Video is excited to announce the May 2024 lineup of their subscription-based ARROW platform, available to subscribers in the US, Canada, the UK, and Ireland. Enjoy a selection of new titles, from carefully cultivated curations, shorts by new talent, and deep dives into the tastes of filmmakers whose talents have delighted audiences and shaped genre filmmaking. (Arrow Video, 2024)
The May 2024 lineup leads with the exclusive ARROW release of Quarxx’s French macabre horror Pandemonium, available May 27 in the US, Canada, UK, and Ireland.
Drawing on themes found in Dante’s Inferno and Milton’s Paradise Lost, Pandemonium is a multi-textured existential fantasy, topped with signature notes of visceral horror, disturbing fairy tale, wry comedy, and dark thriller. From the creative mind of Quarxx, comes this aesthetically stunning and relentlessly macabre tale. Pandemonium made its world premiere at Neuchâtel and went on to screen at Fantasia, Frightfest, Fantasy FilmFest, Sitges, Grimmfest, Trieste, and Screamfest and you can see it at home on ARROW with a host of brand new extras.
May Seasons bloom May 3 with Jennifer Reeder Selects (UK/IRE/US/CA) Titles include Switchblade Sisters, The Sacred Spirit, Lady Morgan’s Vengeance.
Also on May 3, subscribers in all territories can enjoy a pair of underseen violent short films. The Host (UK/IRE/US/CA): In this tense-as-hell 1960 short from Jack Hill, Sid Haig plays an on-the-run cowboy who is laying low. But, to remain safe and appease a local tribe, he must commit another terrible crime. Hill and Haig’s incredible talents were burning bright right from the beginning in an atmospheric, violent debut feature that is not to be missed.
The Adventures of Denchu-Kozo (UK/IRE/US/CA): Hikari is a boy who is bullied at school because he has an electricity pole growing out of his back. One of his classmates named Momo comes to his rescue and he thanks her by sharing his secret possession with her: a time machine. Activating the time machine transports him 25 years into a dark, dystopian, world of the future. There he encounters members of the Shinsengumi Vampire Gang who are hunting a woman named Dr. Sariba who is revealed to be Momo’s future self. He and he alone must save the world.
On May 10, head to the fields and forests and watch Cunning Folk (UK/IRE/US/CA). Cunning Folk is a collection of folklore and folktales, the locals who believe in them and the outsiders who inevitably fall foul of them. If you know what’s good for you, you will fear, respect and uphold the Old Ways of the Cunning Folk. Or else… Titles include The Wyrm of Bwlch Pen Barras, Threshold, Bloody Spear at Mount Fuji.
On May 10, enjoy a trio of recent additions to the indie horror lexicon. Legs (UK/IRE/US/CA): Joy and Harry are trying to have a baby. One night, Joy swallows a spider in her sleep. When Joy subsequently develops an insatiable appetite for flies, it dawns on her that there may be more than one way of becoming a mother.
The Afterlife Bureau (UK/IRE/US/CA): “There’s something which comes after death and before you meet your maker… paperwork.” The Afterlife Bureau is a dark comedy in which brings Earthly nuisances such as bureaucracy to the afterlife.
Ouzo and Blackcurran (UK/IRE/US/CA): Two old friends take a trip down memory lane, but they are not alone – there’s someone there who never left.
On May 17, stay up all night and watch The City that Never Sleeps (UK/IRE/US/CA). On ARROW, the Big Apple is known as The City That Never Sleeps because the films set on its streets will give you nightmares. Psychopathic gangsters, deranged killers, out-of-control street gangs, even zombies and misshapen, deadly ex-conjoined twins, get a taste of an older, scarier, grittier, scuzzier New York in The City That Never Sleeps. Titles include: The Driller Killer, Basket Case, Mammoth.
Also on May 17, enjoy origin stories of genre legends. Eaten Alive (UK/IRE/US/CA): Nearly a decade before he donned Freddy Krueger’s famous red and green sweater, horror icon Robert Englund delivered a supremely sleazy performance in Eaten Alive, another essay in taut Southern terror from Tobe Hooper, director of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. Oozing atmosphere from its every pore, Eaten Alive matches The Texas Chain Saw Massacre for sheer insanity helped in no small part by some marvelous histrionics from Chain Saw star Marilyn Burns and William Finley.
Spider Baby (UK/IRE/US/CA): This was the first solo feature by Jack Hill, whom Quentin Tarantino dubbed “the Howard Hawks of exploitation filmmaking,” and it remains one of his wildest and weirdest. Lon Chaney Jr gave one of his most memorable late performances as Bruno, their guardian and protector, who has managed to cover up their crimes until two distant relatives lay claim to their house. When they insist on moving in, Bruno has to cross his fingers and hope that the ‘children’ behave towards their new guests.
On May 24, slide into The Ick (UK/IRE/US/CA). Guaranteed to gross you out and featuring the sleaziest and skeeziest films on ARROW, this one is bound to give you The Ick. Titles include Doom Asylum, Hellish Flesh, The Baby.
On May 31, ARROW closes out the lineup by sending audiences to Heaven or (Mostly) Hell (UK/IRE/US/CA). Recently dead and stuck in limbo with a very important choice to make, up or down. Who knows if we get a choice of paradise or the abyss à la the beginning of Quarxx’s film Pandemonium? We’ve tried to give you a choice in this collection, but let’s be honest, on ARROW, the choice favors purgatory more than the pearly gates. Titles include Pandemonium, Hotel Poseidon, A Ghost Waits.
Head over to ARROW to start watching now. Subscriptions are available for $6.99 monthly or $69.99 yearly.
ARROW is available in the US, Canada, the UK and Ireland on the following Apps/devices: Roku (all Roku sticks, boxes, devices, etc.), Apple TV & iOS devices, Samsung TVs, Android TV and mobile devices, Fire TV (all Amazon Fire TV Sticks, boxes, etc.), and on all web browsers.
With a slickly designed and user-friendly interface, and an unparalleled roster of quality content from westerns to giallo to Asian cinema, trailers, Midnight Movies, filmmaker picks and much, much more, ARROW is the place to go for the very best in on-demand entertainment.
In the coming months, ARROW will be adding Oscar-winning hits, European classics, Asian cinema masterworks, rediscovered Westerns, offbeat gems and much more as part of ARROW’s international strategy to support and celebrate the medium of film.
Based on a true story, the movie adaptation of ‘Mustang Miracle’ will be released nationwide on April 12, 2024. Photo: Amazon
Humberto G. Garcia was born in 1955 and raised in the San Felipe section of the City of Del Rio, Texas. He spent many years as a migrant farm worker before graduating from high school in 1972. He then attended the University of Texas at Austin where he received his BA in Government in 1975 and then received his Doctorate of Jurisprudence in 1978. He returned to Del Rio to practice law for six years and then moved to San Antonio where he has practiced as a litigator of civil cases for over twenty five years. In 2006 he became a professional golfer, playing several qualifiers into the Champions Tour as well as several mini tours. He continues to play golf professionally and is devoting time to writing. (Amazon, 2024)
“Mustang Miracle,” his first published book, is the story of young caddies who are recruited to form the San Felipe High School Golf Team and competed against all-white schools for the Texas State High School Golf Championship. The movie adaptation, which will be released on Friday April 12 under the name The Long Game, is directed by Julio Quintana and stars Jay Hernandez, Dennis Quaid, and Cheech Marin.
“Mustang Miracle” – In 1957, when very few Mexican-Americans were familiar with the game of golf, and even less actually played it, the young caddies are recruited by two men who loved the game but who had limited access to it. Despite having outdated and inferior equipment, no professional lessons or instructions, four young golfers with self-taught swings from the border city of Del Rio captured the State title. Three of them took the gold, silver and bronze medals for best individual players. This book tells their story from their introduction to the game as caddies to eventually becoming champions.
Movie synopsis: The Long Game tells a true story of the San Felipe Mustangs, a group of Mexican-American youths located in Del Rio, Texas. In 1955, the group sets out to play golf at a white country club in town. Determined to learn how to play they created their own golf course in the middle of the South Texas desert. Despite prejudice, the Mustangs overcame these obstacles to become the 1957 Texas state champions and broke barriers for many Latino PGA Golfers to come.
The Long Game Drama Rated PG for language, racial slurs, thematic material, some violence, and brief rude material. Run time: 1h 52 min
Max Beyond will be available for digital download starting April 23, 2024. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
In today’s movie news, I have some exciting news about a new action thriller that will be available as a digital download in the US next month. It’s an animated sci-fi movie called Max Beyond. Gamers should take notice of this movie because there will be a spin off video game coming next year and this movie serves as an introduction to the backstory and characters to the game that is currently in production. (HaZimation, 2024)
The Max Beyond game immerses the players into the same world, action and obstacles as seen in the movie, but taking a fresh approach of this being a co-op based game, where both characters have to help each other to restore reality and escape the facility known as Axion, with the engaging game mechanics and alternative timelines.
HaZimation is excited to share that their animated action-thriller Max Beyond will be available on US Digital Platforms from April 23, 2024.
Max Beyond tells the story of Max, a young boy held captive in a research facility. Using his ability to create rifts in the fabric of spacetime across parallel universes, he searches for the reality in which his brother Leon, a former-marine, manages to rescue him. With attempt after attempt ending in Leon’s death, the strain starts to take its toll on both brothers. When Max discovers his captors are using his power against him, he realizes he must stop focusing on how the story ends and rewrite the story from the beginning.
The cast includes BAFTA-award winning actor Jane Perry, Dave Fennoy, and Cade Tropeano. Motion capture performances from Ace Ruele and Alex Kong.
Max Beyond is directed, co-written and co-produced by Hasraf ‘HaZ’ Dulull, co-written by Stavros Pamballis, and co-produced by Paula Crickard.
“What if you had the ability to reset dimensions to find the right moment that will save your brother, but the more you do it, the weaker you get? Strap in for Max Beyond, a tour de force rollercoaster ride of big & intense action, with edge of the seat thrills and emotionally charged characters as the story pulls the audiences into the mind-bending multi-universe.” – Writer/director Hasraf ‘HaZ’ Dulull
The film’s executive producers are Yariv Lerner, Amy Gardner, and Jason Potter. The music score is by Miroshot, a band known for their experiential music featured in SXSW 2022.
Run Time: 92 Minutes
Max Beyond utilizes the latest ground-breaking Realtime animation technology called Unreal Engine, the same engine tech used to power video games like Fortnite. Using this approach has also enabled HaZimation to take a Transmedia view to expand the story and universe of Max Beyond into a video game (Consoles + PC).
Elizabeth Hurley stars in the new thriller Strictly Confidential. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
In movie news today, releasing next month is the new thriller Strictly Confidential starring Elizabeth Hurley and Georgia Lock.
Lionsgate’s new thriller Strictly Confidential is the new feature film directorial debut of writer/director Damian Hurley. It stars Elizabeth Hurley, Georgia Lock, Lauren McQueen, Freddie Thorp, and Genevieve Gaunt and will be released in theaters and digital/on demand on April 5, 2024. (Lionsgate, 2024)
Strictly Confidential – A haunted young woman is lured into a seductive world of infidelity, betrayal and murder as she desperately tries to unravel the mystery surrounding her best friend’s sudden death.
Elizabeth Hurley and Georgia Lock star in a sensual thriller with a devilish twist. On the anniversary of Rebecca’s (Lauren McQueen) death, Mia (Lock) returns to the Caribbean paradise where she and her best friend shared her final days. As Mia and sets out to unravel the mysterious events of her passing, old passions rise, new secrets are uncovered and Mia is pulled into a seductive world of sex, betrayal and murder.
RATING: R GENRE: Thriller RUNTIME: 89 min.
Strictly Confidential still. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
SA Examiner 