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1. HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET:
A note to every character in a horror thriller that starts out with a single mom (Elizabeth Shue) and teen daughter, Elissa played by the Hunger Games’ Jennifer Lawrence) moving into an area where they find that the rent is unbelievably affordable … know your neighbours! In this one, as one might expect, the rent is cheap because it’s adjacent to the house at the end of the street where a family was murdered. The hose is vacant … so why does Elissa see lights in the upstairs windows at night? That sets the tone for what might be a journey into the land of the forces of evil … or worse. An adequate chiller, saved by Lawrence’s performance, which is outstanding as always. Rated 14A.
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2. FRANKENWEENIE:
28 years ago Tim Burton created a short film with this title as a film school project. It got a failing grade. Now, laughing all the way to the bank, the quirky director offers up the story of young Victor, who makes his own home-made horror movies that star his little dog Sparky. Tragically, Sparky is hit by an car and dies … but young Victor feels that with a few medical procedures – and some lightning – he can bring the dog back to life. By the way, Victor’s family name is “Frankenstein.” Lots of fun, plenty of inside humour – voices of Katherine O’Hara and Kate Winslet. Rated PG.
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3. DREDD:
In 1995 Sylvester Stallone was a futuristic Judge riding a flying motorcycle and dispensing judgement to criminals on the spot. It was a highly stylized sci-fi thriller with some good special effects. This time around, a remake with Karl Urban as the title character, and a lot more story than the original displayed. That’s not necessarily a good thing. A drug-dealing subplot, and those who would unseat the judges get in the way of what could have been a visual and co-star, rookie Olivia Thirlby doesn’t get enough to do. Okay though. Rated 18A.
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JUDGE DREDD (1995):
18 years old, and in many respects, a better film than the remake!
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