By Amanda Gilmore

Julian Higgins’ Feature debut follows Sandra (Thandiwe Newton) in the direct aftermath of her mother’s passing. Over the course of seven days, the increasing environment of racism and misogyny brings Sandra to a boiling point.

God’s Country is a slow-burn pressure-cooker of a film that will have you on the edge of your seat. Higgins creates tension in every frame as we follow Sandra’s grieving process and determination to be taken seriously in a world against her. The anxiety-inducing music by DeAndre James Allen-Toole adds to this unnerving atmosphere making for one intense viewing experience.

At the heart of the Film is a captivating character study that rests on Newton’s sturdy shoulders. She gives a tour-de-force performance perfectly exposing the grieving process. While Sandra’s mourning, a confrontation with two hunters who trespass on their property increases her grief and anger. Higgins and co-writer Shaye Ogbonna have created a grossly understated character. Newton plays into this understatement allowing for one surprising, riveting performance.

God’s Country screens virtually at Sundance:
Premiere: Jan. 23 at 11PM EST

Second Screening: Jan. 25 at 10AM (available for 24hrs)

Tom Sweet and Boyd Holbrook start in eery Werewolf Thriller THE CURSED, coming to theatres next month. Here’s a first look at the Trailer.

Synopsis:

In the late 1800s,a once-peaceful remote country village is under attack—but by who or what, no one knows. Villagers spread rumors of a cursed land, supernatural forces, and even demonic creatures, as the disappearances and killings continue, Pathologist John McBride arrives to investigate the danger, only to discover something much deeper and more sinister than he ever could have imagined.

Elevation Pictures release THE CURSED in theatres February 18, 2022.

(Photo/video credit: Elevation Pictures)

She back! Madea returns in A MADEA HOMECOMING, coming soon to Netflix. You can’t miss this brand-new Trailer!

Synopsis:
Madea’s back — hallelujer! Tyler Perry returns with everyone’s favorite character in TYLER PERRY’S A MADEA HOMECOMING, the newest film in the MADEA franchise set to debut on Netflix. Writer-director-producer Perry stars in the film that centers around Madea’s great-grandson’s college graduation, though the celebratory moment hits a halt as hidden secrets and family drama threaten to destroy the happy homecoming. The film features all-stars of the MADEA franchise, including Tamela Mann (Cora), David Mann (Mr. Brown), Cassi Davis Patton (Aunt Bam) as well as a guest appearance from iconic Irish actor Brendan O’Carroll, who matches Madea’s comedic prowess as Agnes Brown.

A MADEA HOMECOMING arrives February 25, 2022 on Netflix.

(Photo credit: Netflix)

Brazilian eight-part Thriller Series INSÂNIA is streaming now Disney+ via Star. Here’s your first look at this twisty thrill ride.

Synopsis:

“Insânia” follows the story of Paula, a scientific police officer admitted into a mysterious psychiatric clinic after a family tragedy. Once there, her mind wanders down dark and uncertain paths reaching the brink of insanity, while she investigates the real reason for her hospitalization, uncovering a terrifying conspiracy.

The series stars Carol Castro (“Mulheres Apaixonadas,” “Carcereiros”), Rafaela Mandelli (“O Negócio”), Bella Camero (“Malhação”), Eucir de Souza (“Rua Augusta”), Rafael Losso (“Rotas do Ódio”), and Samuel de Assis (“#MeChamadeBruna”). Ravel Cabral, Thomas Aquino, Lourinelson Vladimir, Fabio Marcoff, Fernando Seixas, Leonardo Goulart, Rosana Stavis, Luthero Almeida, Pedro Inoue completes the series’ cast.

INSÂNIA is streaming now on Disney+ via its Star banner.

(Photo/video credit: Disney+)

Paramount Pictures Canada x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to win Advance Screening Passes in Vancouver and Calgary on Wednesday February 2nd at 7:00 PM, plus Run-of-Engagement Passes (Halifax, Winnipeg and Toronto) to see JACKASS FOREVER.

Synopsis:

Celebrating the joy of being back together with your best friends and a perfectly executed shot to the dingdong, 

The original jackass crew return for another round of hilarious, wildly absurd, and often dangerous displays of comedy with a little help from some exciting new cast.  

Johnny and the team push the envelope even further on February 4th in jackass forever.

To enter for a chance to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK and indicate there your City. Re-Tweet the Contest Tweet below for an extra chance! Your must be following.

Rules and regulations here.

JACKASS FOREVER is in theatres January 4, 2022.

(Photo/video credit: Paramount Pictures Canada)

Eight-episode Series PAM & TOMMY thrust its way onto our radar the moment we saw that first look photo of Lily James transforming amazingly into a dead-ringer for Pamela Anderson. Craig Gillespie (I, Tonya, Disney’s Cruella) once again brings us a fascinating glimpse into the world of a misunderstood heroine and we’re here for it.

The ’90s-set Series is very intentional in its nostalgic references, whether it be in its Soundtrack, or keen attention to details in set decor and costumes. Just as many of us were getting our first dial-up modem and signing-up for our first e-mail addresses in the mid-90s, it was impossible to avoid the controversy of Mötley Crüe Drummer Tommy Lee (Sebastian Stan) and Pamela Anderson‘s Sex Tape Scandal. The VHS tape, recorded during the former couple’s honeymoon, was stolen by Rand Gauthier (Seth Rogen), a spiteful electrician owed money by Lee, who had been hired to do some renovation work in their home. Gauthier then began reproducing copies of the tape for sale, before things got out of hand, the tape continued to get pirated and surfaced online before Lee and Anderson even knew how to long onto the internet.

James is just superb as Anderson, really embodying her as a woman in love who wants nothing more than to be a mom, an Actress determined to advance her career, and when probed indignantly about her sexual past. All this, while being the blonde bombshell in a bikini whom America loved. Whether she is tilting her head up defensively or cautiously looking backwards at fans crowding around her, we believe every second that she is Anderson. Stan while given less to work with as the clueless Lee, gives it his all still and is in on the joke and all of Lee‘s absurdities. Similar can be said about Rogen, who is cast well as our eyes and ears into Pam & Tommy‘s world, but also acting often before thinking.

One thing we were fearful of with PAM & TOMMY was that it was taking the couple’s misfortune for the sake of entertainment. After all, wasn’t it enough that they had to go through it all once? Much of the earlier part of the Series has us being annoyed at the hormone-charged escapades between the couple, them oblivious to much else other than themselves. We also get to know Gauthier and establishing the motives for doing what he did. To be frank, these parts could have been condensed into an episode or two.

Where PAM & TOMMY truly takes flight is where we see Gauthier begin to face the consequences of his actions, not exactly getting rewarded for his “big business venture”. Writer Robert D. Siegel explores the impacts of this tape on the couple’s marriage and more so on Anderson‘s career. She seemed to be on the brink of something huge. No disrespect to her legacy. The Series examines gender double standards and how Anderson bears the weight of scrutiny and judgment as a woman, and also the question of consent which still bears just as much today in 2022 as it did when this controversy surfaced. In looking back at it all through fresh lens, we hope viewers not only see the Series as entertaining and often comical, but that what had taken place was a crime with lasting impacts.

PAM & TOMMY streams on Star, via Disney+ February 2, 2022.

By Amanda Gilmore

James Ponsoldt’s latest Feature follows four best friends, Daisy (Lia Barnett), Mari (Eden Grace Red Field), Dina (Madalen Mills) and Lola (Sanai Victoria) on the last weekend of summer before entering middle school. When they arrive at their secret spot in the woods to lay trinkets from their summer together, they find a dead body. They spend the next day finding out who he was and what happened to him.

There’s a lot to love about Summering. It’s a touching examination of childhood friendship and the fear of growing up. This is expressed beautifully through the four young girls who share strong chemistry. It’s fun to watch them wandering through their town talking freely about the world around them. 

The Film is at its best when focused on the family lives of these four girls, particularly in the relationships they share with their mothers. The scenes within their homes are poignant and at times heartbreaking. Daisy’s home life is one that stands out. Her father left a year ago resulting in her mother (played by Lake Bell) struggling with daily tasks. These moments are impactful, but sadly we don’t get enough of them.

The main focus in Summering is about the children finding the body and their quest to know more about him. It’s a shocking and dark storyline for a film about children which results in the young characters experiencing emotional and mental distress. Ponsoldt and Co-writer Benjamin Percy show this by adding a paranormal element of the girls seeing the ghost of the man. However, we only scratch the surface of their distress.

Summering screens virtually at Sundance:
Premiere: Jan. 22 at 7PM EST

Second Screening: Jan. 24 at 10AM EST (available for 24hrs)

By Justin Waldman

We Need to talk about Cosby explores how “America’s Dad” went on to be exposed as a monster, a sexual predator for over 40 years. It is hard to separate art from the people who create it, and the Documentary touches on that, but it is a little too soft at times for the exploration of what Bill Cosby has done, and not what he’s done. It will be premiering episodically over four weeks, which may dilute its potency, however it packs the punch that it needs to bring to the forefront.

W. Kamau Bell helms this Documentary, and as he says himself he was a child of Cosby, a black man who grew up in the ’70s, became a stand-up comedian, Cosby paved the way for a lot of people. However, the revelations that came out about Bill Cosby for years that finally garnered more attention, more women coming forward, the question had to be asked, how does one approach talking about Cosby?

The Documentary focuses on what Cosby meant for the community at large, what he became later in his career, and the monster that he truly was being revealed. Can someone’s actions and art be separated from who they are, or are they forever linked? We Need to talk about Cosby holds back a little too much, it needed to be harder on what Cosby has done and not what good he did do for the community. Monsters are monsters, there is no denying that, and he needs to pay for his crimes that spanned forty plus years. Everyone who stood by and let it happen also needs to be held accountable, because there is no way that what he was doing was unnoticed nor undocumented.

We Need to talk about Cosby is a much-needed Documentary that could have dug a bit deeper into the monster he was revealed to be, and not so much the good he did at the beginning of his career.

We need to talk about Cosby screen at Sundance as follows:

Premiere: Jan 22^nd at 12:00 pm EST

Secondary screening Jan 24^th 10 am EST (available for 24 hours)

By Justin Waldman

For someone’s Feature debut to be so absolutely beautifully twisted and messed up is such a delight and that is exactly what Hanna Bergholm manages with Hatching. It is a rare occurrence to see something that embraces the work of David Cronenberg and Yorgos Lanthimos so perfectly, but that is what gets delivered by Screenwriter Iija Ratusi. Hatching is a haunting, terrifying, creature family movie.

The Mother, Sophia Heikkila, has a blog about the perfect family love with her Finnish family and documents every single aspect of their life to portray the perfect family. The Horror is already set, as no such thing truly exists, and everything seems ideal until Tinja played by Siira Solalinna hands a crow to her mother, that she ends up killing, and Tinja brings its egg into the house and cares for it, as it grows, grows, and turns into something truly horrifying.

Things starts to unfold when the egg hatches and the sinister underbelly of the Film truly gets to shine in this funny, disturbing, and inventive feature debut, Hatching. It is not too gruesome for those that enjoy the Horror aspect without getting too squeamish and delivers the absolute insanity genre fans crave.

Siiri Solalinna and her Co-stars Jonna Aaltonen and Hertta Karen steal the show. Their performances from either hiding the hatchling or being the horror that lurks, truly is exceptional from such young talent. It is captivating, powerful, horrifying, and occasionally hilarious. Hatching is an endless joy that will please the light horror fans and satisfy the itch for those looking for something darker and more sinister.

Hatching screens at Sundance as follows:

Premiere: Jan 23^rd at 1:55 am EST

Second Screening: Jan 24^th at 10 am EST (available for 24 hours)

By Amanda Gilmore

After learning she has a terminal illness, Sarah (Karen Gillan) decides to participate in a futuristic cloning procedure to help ease her partner and family’s impending loss. Ten months later, she learns that she’s in remission and decides to decommission her clone. However, Sarah’s Double files a motion to live and they are set for a duel to the death.

Writer/Director Riley Stearns’ third Feature is a dark Sci-Fi Comedy with a pair of powerful performances from Gillan. Dual is an often strange film that tells the story of how impending death makes us evaluate our existence. His use of deadpan satire makes for a unique, fun watch. Particularly when it comes to the diverging lives of Sarah and her Double. 

Gillan is perfectly cast and allows the audience to believe in this odd futuristic world. She excels as both Sarah and her Double, turning in two compelling performances. As Sarah, she effectively portrays her dissatisfaction with the life she’s found herself living. As the Double, she excels at showing the clone’s curiosity for life. Out of the Supporting Cast, Aaron Paul (who plays Sarah’s combat trainer) turns in a deadpan comedic performance that impeccably reflects the world Stearns has created.

Overall, Dual is an intriguing high-concept film and its steady pace grips the audience into Sarah’s world. The ending might leave audiences unsatisfied, however, it does leave us with a question: is an unhappy life worth killing for?

Dual screens virtually at Sundance:

Premiere: Jan. 22 at 8PM EST

Second Screening: Jan. 25 at 10AM EST (available for 24hrs)