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On a recent episode of the SmartLess podcast, Paul Rudd shared the story of an embarrassing theater mishap where he inadvertently flashed an Off-Broadway crowd, which earned snickering from the audience at the time and greatly amusing hosts Will Arnett, Jason Bateman and Sean Hayes.

In Monday’s episode, Rudd recalled the moment when he realized something was amiss during the 2001 production of “The Shape of Things” with Rachel Weisz.

“I was lying on top of a bed and I was wearing boxer shorts and a T-shirt and all of a sudden — this had never happened before — I heard the audience laughing,” said the actor. “And I’m like, what is going on? I realized it’s because I was lying on the bed and I had my leg up and I realized my balls were hanging out. Which is worse than actually, like even your penis. When it’s just your balls.

The Criterion Collection has announced their July 2025 slate of titles, delivering Stanley Kubrick, a film noir classic, an underrated New Hollywood gem, and more. Let’s check out what Criterion has in store:

First up is Fritz Lang’s The Big Heat (spine #1269), a scorcher of a noir that offers Glenn Ford and femme fatale Gloria Grahame in some of their finest performances (and don’t forget Lee Marvin!). With stellar black and white cinematography by Charles Lang (no relation), The Big Heat stands out in a decade crowded with some of the greatest film noirs ever. Special features include two new commentaries, an archival audio interview with director Lang (co-conducted by Peter Boganovich) and interviews with filmmakers Michael Mann and Martin Scorsese.

A pleasant addition is 1971’s Carnal Knowledge (spine #1270), one of just three Mike Nichols films featured in the collection. I always considered Carnal Knowledge one of the...

It’s always hilarious that the James Bond movies are part of the “spy” genre. Sure, that handsome devil is a secret agent who saves the world every couple of years, but he doesn’t do a whole lot of “spying,” does he? He doesn’t embed himself inside an enemy organization for years, insidiously gaining his co-workers’ trust and quietly feeding intelligence back to his handlers. He goes in guns a-blazing, not only giving out his real name but repeating it just for giggles. James Bond isn’t a spy. He’s a power fantasy with multiple product placement deals.

Steven Soderbergh’s new thriller “Black Bag” is a movie about actual spies. They’re probably not realistic either, but at least they’re putting in the damn work. They manipulate. They betray. And when they have sex with each other it’s not an unforgettable night on the Riviera with zero consequences.

Although most cinephiles are opposed to the concept of remaking beloved classics, the horror genre has proven to be an exception. Many of the greatest horror films of all-time are actually remakes; David Cronenberg’s The Fly was a far more disturbing film than the cheesy original, John Carpenter elevated the premise of The Thing From Another World with his masterpiece The Thing, and the 1978 version of Invasion of the Body Snatchers is perhaps even scarier than the 1956 original. The classic folk horror film The Wicker Man is universally beloved, and the prospect of an accomplished playwright like Neil Labute handling a remake sounded like it could actually be fairly compelling. However, the 2006 remake of The Wicker Man became the subject of ridicule due to the inadvertently hilarious performance by Nicolas Cage.

Justin Long and Kate Bosworth, who co-starred in writer/director Neil Labute’s 2022 horror comedy House of Darkness, have been in a relationship for a few years and are at least engaged, possibly married. Now, it has been announced that not only have they chosen to spend their lives together, but they’ve also signed on to make a survival thriller together. The project is called Coyote, and it’s set to be directed by Colin Minihan (What Keeps You Alive) from a story that was crafted by Daniel Meersand (The Pyramid), Nick Simon (The Girl in the Photographs), and Tad Daggerhart (Expend4bles).

The announcement was made by by Capstone Studios’ CEO Christian Mercuri. Nathan Klingher and Ford Corbett are producing the film for Gramercy Park, along with James Harris of Teashop Productions and Jib Polhemus of Source Management. Capstone’s Roman Viaris and Ruzanna Kegeyan serve as executive producers with Long,...

There have been many great horror television series that have improved past their initial season, going on to scare viewers for what can oftentimes be several years. Many of these series rival some of the best horror movies of all time, while others still fall short despite the growth they have achieved after their first season. Some of them even count among the best horror shows of 2024.

The ability to either take criticism and turn it into something better or build upon a show to make it even better is an important skill to have. At a time when so many shows are canceled after just one or two seasons, it's important to remember how a lot of great shows took a while to find their identity. The horror genre has plenty of examples of it, from hits like Supernatural to underrated gems.

Van Helsing The Troubled Series Had A...

This article contains mild spoilers for "Smile 2."

In Parker Finn's new horror film "Smile 2," Naomi Scott plays Skye Riley, a pop star poised to launch a world tour and in the midst of stressful rehearsals and press events. A lot is riding on the tour, as Skye only recently left rehab after a bout of intense cocaine addiction and alcoholism. She is also still traumatized from a recent drugged-up car accident, one that left her with a pain in her back, a scar on her belly, and a dead boyfriend. During this whirlwind of pain, guilt, and public activity, Skye accumulates a parasitic demon, one that appears to her as people she knows ... and they're always smiling. 

The "Smile" demon has a peculiar modus operandi. It lives inside its host, driving them crazy and feeding off their negativity and trauma. After about a week, the demon forces...

Exclusive: Jason Patric, known for his roles in features such as The Lost Boys, The Beast, After Dark My Sweet and Rush, has signed with More/Medavoy Management.

Patric can currently be seen in Cineverse’s horror film Terrifier 3, which opened strong at the box office this past weekend. In the film, written and directed by Damien Leone, Art the Clown (David Howard Thornton) is set to unleash another round of chaos on the unsuspecting residents of Miles County as they peacefully drift off to sleep on Christmas Eve.

Patric also starred in the drama Narc for writer, director Joe Carnahan and The Alamo for director John Lee Hancock, as well as Downloading Nancy, Expired, My Sister’s Keeper and The Losers.

His other previous film credits include starring roles in Geronimo: An American Legend, The Journey of August King, Sleepers and Your Friends and Neighbors, which was the first feature...

In 2012, filmmaker Andrew Dominik released the follow-up to his critically acclaimed film, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford; its name, Killing Them Softly. Unfolding during the 2008 Presidential election, this film tells the story of a hitman hired to tie up loose ends following the robbery of a high-stakes Mafia poker game.

Related 10 Underrated Gangster Movies That Are Flawless From Beginning to End

There are plenty of underrated gangster films that are just as good as many of the iconic staples in the genre.

At the time of its release, Killing Them Softly became a misunderstood failure in nearly every sense of the word, one that earned the rarest of cinematic audience scores and almost burnt down all the goodwill its relatively novice filmmaker had made for himself. If Killing Them Softly is remembered for anything today, it's for being one of the final movies to feature...

Exclusive: Sony’s sequel to I Know What You Did Last Summer has just added Billy Campbell to the booming cast which includes Freddie Prinze Jr., Chase Sui Wonders, Madelyn Cline, Sarah Pidgeon, Tyriq Withers and Jonah Haur-King. Franchise Og star Jennifer Love Hewitt is also in talks to return.

Jennifer Kaytin Robinson is directing the follow up, which is written by Sam Lansky and Kaytin Robinson off a draft by Leah McKendrick. Neal Moritz is producing for a theatrical release scheduled on July 18, 2025.

The Paradigm and Link Entertainment repped Campbell recently starred in 2x Primetime Emmy winning Amazon series Mr. & Mrs. Smith. He was also last seen in the CTV/Hulu television series, Cardinal. Campbell won a Canadian Screen Award for Best Actor in Cardinal for two years in a row as well as nominated for an International Emmy Award for Best Actor in a series. He is...

Did you binge all 10 episodes of Netflix’s too-short, rom-com series “Nobody Wants This” already? You’re not the only one.

After inhaling the Kristen Bell-Adam Brody series in one sitting, we have curated a list of romantic comedies that should satisfy your craving.

Our list of the top 10 movies to watch after “Nobody Wants This” covers the gamut from will-they-won’t-they to unlikely lovers to “just friends” tropes. Whether you want more of Brody and Bell or you just want to witness an undeniable onscreen spark, this list is for you.

Keep reading for the best rom-coms to watch after you’ve finished “Nobody Wants This,” and while we all wait for the show to be officially renewed for Season 2.

Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson in “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” (Credit: Paramount Pictures) How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days

Kate Hudson...

Having received mixed to negative reviews upon their initial releases, a few horror films from the 2000s are worth taking another look at. The 2000s prompted some memorable horror protagonists and horror sequels, but a few films took a bit longer to find their audience. Films like Cloverfield and Drag Me to Hell are widely discussed entries from the 2000s that have only continued to grow in popularity, while films like Thirteen Ghosts and Slither took longer to earn respect.

In a genre with rich, inventive storytelling and special effects, it's only understandable that certain films were widely dismissed when they first hit theaters. A few of the films have earned massive cult followings, while others are on their way to achieving a similar status. With enough time having passed since they were first released, there's something to enjoy in each of these horror films initially marked as a failure.

Warning: This article contains spoilers for Nobody Wants This!

After watching Adam Brody and Kristen Bell's new Netflix show, Nobody Wants This, viewers should watch their underrated 2013 drama-comedy movie. Netflixs hit romantic comedy was released on Sept 26, debuting to an almost perfect Rotten Tomatoes score. The show follows Joanne (Kristen Bell), a jaded agnostic podcaster who falls for Noah (Adam Brody), an attractive and charismatic rabbi.

While all the cast in Nobody Wants This gave incredible performances, making their characters nuanced and three-dimensional, Bell and Brodys incredible chemistry created a star-crossed love story to root for. Kristen Bell has appeared in many rom-coms, and Adam Brody has a few under his belt as well. Shockingly, theyve never appeared in this genre together before. However, viewers who enjoyed Nobody Wants This might want to check out another one of their projects a vastly underrated dramedy called Some Girl(s).

Kristen...

Exclusive: Aaron Eckhart will star in the Jesse V. Johnson-directed action thriller Scorpion, written by Corey Large (Detective Knight trilogy) and Edward Drake (Gasoline Alley).

In the movie, a CIA assassin goes into hiding after he takes the fall for a failed mission. When he reappears on the grid so does his past to tie up loose ends, and the only way to protect his daughter is to take down the agency chief who set him up.

Scorpion is produced by Large through his 308 Enterprises. The film is executive produced by Arclight Films’ Gary Hamilton, Jordan Nott, Pia Patatian, Jamie Thompson and Jon Keeyes and financed by Pink 308. Arclight Films is handling global sales.

Eckhart received a Best Actor Musical or Comedy Golden Globe nomination for Jason Reitman’s Thank You for Smoking and received an Independent Spirit Award for Best Debut Performance in...

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Wynonna Earp is a really entertaining supernatural western action-drama series created by Emily Andras. Based on the comic book series of the same name by Beau Smith, the Syfy series follows the titular character played by Melanie Scrofano, a high-functioning alcoholic who happens to be a direct descendant of the legendary lawman and gunslinger Wyatt Earp. Because of a family curse, Wynonna now has to kill the men and women Wyatt Earp killed in his time because all of them have become revenants or demons, who are walking the earth in the present. Wynonna has the help of the very sexy gun named Peacemaker and her family and friends. Three years after ending its run we have a special titled Wynonna Earp: Vengeance with all the main cast returning. So, if you loved the supernatural thrills, great action,...

Remakes are a matter of contention among movie fans. Every so often, one comes along that has something interesting and new to say about its source material... but that's certainly not common. Generally, news of a new remake is met only with eye rolls, especially if it is of a particularly beloved old movie.

And it's easy to see why that's the case. A lot of remakes are not only bad at staying true to the themes of the original, but they're just not fantastic movies in their own right. They're often punished with poor critical reviews, box-office failure, or both.

Planet of the Apes Changed the Ending

Original

Remake

Director

Franklin J. Schaffner

Tim Burton

Release date

April 3, 1968

July 27, 2001

The original Planet of the Apes is a beloved classic with one of the most famous twist endings in all of fiction. Unfortunately, the Tim Burton remake changed the ending.

Nicolas Cage's chilling performance in Longlegs showcases his acting abilities, redeeming past failures. Cage's recent successful horror resume, including Color Out of Space and Mandy, solidifies his status. Longlegs' critical acclaim and box office success have the potential to overshadow Cage's infamous Wicker Man role.

Nicolas Cage's performance in the 2024 horror hit Longlegs is a genuinely unsettling reminder of his acting abilities, providing a welcome tonic to a previous disaster that was 18 years in the making. As the titular serial killer, Cage is almost unrecognizable in eerie pale make-up, replacing his penchant for full-throttle bombast with something much more sinister. So powerful is his performance that it's impossible to avoid comparing Longlegs to other Nicolas Cage horror movies including those that have not been so well received.

Boasting a positive critical reception and impressive box office, Longlegs has cemented Nicolas Cage's status as a modern horror master. While the...

Nicolas Cage's horror movies range from sublime to ridiculous, with some standout performances elevating the genre. Cage's eclectic filmography includes hits like "Mom and Dad" and "Mandy," showcasing his range in the horror genre. "Longlegs" features one of Cage's best performances, blending horror with crime thriller for a truly disturbing experience.

Nicolas Cage has appeared in several horror movies throughout his impressive career, but some projects have proved much more successful than others. Few genres are as divisive as horror, so it will come as no surprise to discover that Cage has an impressive history starring in creepy movies. Cage has appeared in numerous horror movies of varying quality throughout his filmography, with many of these outings arriving in the last few years. Of course, much like the rest of his oeuvre, Cages horror efforts range from the sublime to the truly ridiculous - and sometimes a combination of the two.

David Loughery, the screenwriter whose credits included the action pictures Dreamscape, Star Trek V: The Final Frontier and the Wesley Snipes-starring Money Train and Passenger 57, has died. He was 71.

Loughery died Tuesday of skin cancer in St. Petersburg, Florida, his friend Fred Rappaport told The Hollywood Reporter.

Loughery collaborated with director Joseph Ruben on Dreamscape (1984), starring Dennis Quaid; The Good Son (1993), starring Macauley Culkin; Money Train (1995), with Woody Harrelson alongside Snipes in their follow-up to White Men Can’t Jump; and Blindsided (2013), starring Michelle Monaghan and Michael Keaton.

Born on March 3, 1953, in Oak Park, Illinois, Loughery graduated from Ball State University, then received his master’s degree from the University of Iowa. In 1981, he shared a story credit on an episode of ABC’s Hart to Hart.

After his film debut on Dreamscape, he had the sole screenplay credit and shared a story credit on Star Trek V: The Final Frontier...

Exclusive: Emmy and DGA Award-winning actor, director, writer and producer Ben Stiller has signed with WME in all areas.

Stiller’s breakthrough came with his Emmy-winning sketch comedy program The Ben Stiller Show (1992-1995), which helped launch the careers of Judd Apatow, David Cross, Janeane Garofalo and Bob Odenkirk.

Among his TV credits and accolades, Stiller won the DGA Award for directing all 7 parts of the Showtime limited series Escape at Dannemora, which he also executive produced, receiving Emmy nominations in the Outstanding Limited Series and Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series categories.

The multihyphenate recently concluded work on the second season of the Apple TV+ series Severance, which he directs and executive produces. For the first season of the series, he won a Peabody Award and was nominated for two Emmys plus PGA and DGA Awards.

His prolific acting career has included roles in major film franchises such as Night at the Museum,...

Warning: Spoilers for Chief of Station below!

Aaron Eckhart continues his successful transition into the action genre with Chief of Station, showcasing his action chops. Chief of Station reunites Eckhart with Erased co-star Olga Kurylenko in an enjoyable slice of action cinema that delivers on thrilling setpieces. Fans of Eckhart's action roles will be pleased to know that he is committed to the genre, with future projects like Classified in the pipeline.

Those who enjoyed Aaron Eckhart in The Bricklayer need to check out his latest movie, which continues his recent career trajectory. Eckhart first came to people's attention as the star of In the Company of Men and Your Friends and Neighbors, which were controversial dark comedies from director Neil Labute. Eckhart's movie CV has been a wild ride since then, covering major blockbusters (The Dark Knight), Oscar-winning dramas (Erin Brockovich), disaster movies (The Core) and even a little...

The success of The Bricklayer marks Aaron Eckhart's successful transformation into an action star. Eckhart's ability as an actor adds some class to lower-budget action fare like The Bricklayer and Muzzle. Upcoming films like Chief of Station and Classified will continue Eckhart's action streak, solidifying his position in the genre.

The Bricklayer has completed Aaron Eckhart's gradual transformation into an action star - and it's a beautiful thing to behold. Eckhart first came to attention for his work in director Neil Labute's dark comedies like In the Company of Men, but it was his incredible supporting turn in Erin Brockovich that marked his breakout role. He's rarely been offscreen since, with easily his best-known role being the tragic Harvey Dent/Two-Face in 2008's The Dark Knight.

This is the kind of movie that should have led to bigger leading roles for Eckhart, but none of his follow-ups quite clicked.

Director Renny Harlin is known for major projects and working with A-list talent, though his new movie The Bricklayer has a smaller ensemble. The movie nevertheless features familiar faces like Aaron Eckhart, Nina Dobrev, and Clifton Collins Jr. The supporting cast of The Bricklayer also includes an array of international talent.

The Bricklayer cast features an ensemble cast that includes up-and-coming international performers as well as established stars. The movie was originally released day-and-date in January 2024, going on to earn less than $1 million during its theatrical run. However, it found new success in the Spring when it premiered on the streaming service Netflix, where it landed on their daily Top 10 movie chart alongside hits including Glass, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, and Hotel Transylvania.

The Bricklayer is the latest from director Renny Harlin, who has helmed many major projects throughout his career including Deep Blue Sea, A Nightmare on Elm Street 4, Cliffhanger,...

Renegade Nell is a British historical fantasy adventure series created by Sally Wainwright. The Disney+ series follows the adventures of a young woman named Nell Jackson, who finds herself framed for murder as she flees to save her life she becomes a highwayman and with the help of a spirit she becomes one of the most feared highwaymen. Renegade Nell stars Louisa Harland in the lead role with Joely Richardson, Adrian Lester, Nick Mohammed, and Bo Bragason starring in supporting roles. So, if you loved the adventures of Nell Jackson, here are some similar shows you should check out next.

The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin (Apple TV+) Credit – Apple TV+

The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin is an absurd comedy series loosely based on the real life of highwayman Dick Turpin. Created by Claire Downes, Ian Jarvis, and Stuart Lane, the Apple TV+ series follows the story...

Filmmaker Neil Labute shares his thoughts on why he feels The Wicker Man remake failed. Despite Labute's efforts, 2006's The Wicker Man couldn't even recoup its budget, earning only $35.8 million worldwide. Establishing the right tone for The Wicker Man remake proved tricky, trying to balance the horror and comedic elements.

Nicolas Cage’s remake of The Wicker Man was roasted alive by audiences and critics during its release in 2006, and director Neil Labute has a few thoughts on why. For many, Cage's film didn't come close to capturing the atmosphere of the wild-haired Christopher Lee and his followers who chanted as Edward Woodward's character is sacrificed in the 1973 original. Playwright and famed filmmaker Labute was tasked with helming the reimagining of the dark and tense story, and the writer/director offered up his thoughts on why his horror movie ended up failing in an exclusive interview with MovieWeb.

Each week we highlight the noteworthy titles that have recently hit streaming platforms in the United States. Check out this week’s selections below and past round-ups here.

And the Razzie Goes to . . .

As much as we hate to give Razzies any sort of promotion, The Criterion Channel has a new series to show just how wrong the execrable organization has been over the past decades. Launching today, they are spotlighting comedic gems like Tom Green’s Freddy Got Fingered, Elaine May’s Ishtar, and Neil Labute’s The Wicker Man, alongside Cruising, Heaven’s Gate, Xanadu, Querelle, Under the Cherry Moon, Cocktail, Showgirls, Barb Wire, The Blair Witch Project, Swept Away and Gigli.

Where to Stream: The Criterion Channel

BlackBerry (Matt Johnson)

In BlackBerry, the rise of a blue-chip tech company sets the stage for the dissolution of a longstanding friendship. Sound familiar? Just wait ‘til you hear the score.

There is, a critic will argue, a great deal of value in finding and discussing the worst films of the year. All the films released in a given epoch are a reflection of the trends and ideas that produced them, and scoring the bottom of the barrel for the worst filmmaking, the worst ideas, and the most misguided thinking will provide a valuable analysis of where we are as a society. Worst-of lists are important and vital and should be written with enthusiasm. They also let critics blow off steam a little bit; we don't have the luxury to skip bad movies or avoid talking about the ones we hate. It's our job.

The Golden Raspberries, or the Razzies for short, however, lost sight of that value a while back. The annual Razzies announcement is usually a snarky affair that only serves to pick on the year's least popular blockbusters,...

Some apotheosis of film culture has been reached with Freddy Got Fingered‘s addition to the Criterion Channel. Three years after we interviewed Tom Green about his consummate film maudit, it’s appearing on the service’s Razzie-centered program that also includes the now-admired likes of Cruising, Heaven’s Gate, Querelle, and Ishtar; the still-due likes of Under the Cherry Moon; and the more-contested Gigli, Swept Away, and Nicolas Cage-led Wicker Man. In all cases it’s an opportunity to reconsider one of the lamest, thin-gruel entities in modern culture.

A Jane Russell retro features von Sternberg’s Macao, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, and Raoul Walsh’s The Tall Men and The Revolt of Mamie Stover; streaming premieres will be held for Yuen Woo-ping’s Dreadnaught, Claire Simon’s Our Body, Ellie Foumbi’s Our Father, the Devil, the recently restored Sepa: Our Lord of Miracles, and The Passion of Rememberance.

Steven Weisberg, a film editor whose career through the ’90s onward led him to collaborations with directors like Alfonso Cuarón, Barry Sonnenfeld and Barry Levinson, died Oct. 16 at the Motion Picture & Television Fund hospital in Woodland Hills, Calif. after several years of care for early onset Alzheimer’s. He was 68.

Weisberg’s death was confirmed by his ex-wife, Susan Ellicott.

Two of Cuarón’s early films, “Great Expectations” and “A Little Princess,” were edited by Weisberg. The two reunited for a foray into franchise filmmaking, “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.”

Weisberg also had a knack for editing studio comedies, with his first major feature credit being Ben Stiller’s directorial debut, the 1996 thriller “The Cable Guy.” Other notable credits include a string of Barry Sonnenfeld projects — the short-lived 2001 live-action series “The Tick” and his features “Big Trouble” and “Men in Black II” — as well as “Permanent Midnight,...

The Wicker Man's infamous 2006 remake starring Nicolas Cage hurt the reputation of the original 1973 film. The original Wicker Man from 1973 tells the same story a thousand times smarter, making it one of the greatest horror movies ever made. The 50th anniversary of the original Wicker Man is a good opportunity to re-discover it, and put the Nicolas Cage version on the pop-cultural back seat.

Mention The Wicker Man, and the go-to response is to invoke the infamous 2006 disaster starring Nicolas Cage. It bombed on first release and has since attained the same dubious status as Battlefield: Earth and the 1980s Howard the Duck. Today, it's probably best known for the memes that arose from it, featuring Cage delivering manic lines like "How'd it get Burned?!" and "the bees… the Bees…"

Certainly, the film deserves every bit of its reputation as a well-meaning effort sunk beneath the weight of unfortunate creative decisions.

His horrible mistake with The Wicker Man aside, Neil Labute has a history of making interesting films about uglier aspects of gender relations. He was exploring toxic masculinity long before it became fashionable, and he’s back on that topic here. Though it’s far from his most nuanced work, this home invasion horror tale has a few interesting things to say about expressions of masculinity and femininity within groups of women.

The occasion on which we meet these women is a hen party being held for Rose (Highdee Kuan) at a remote property which was owned by her parents and is now used for holiday rentals. The first people we meet are her older sisters: Tess (Maggie Q), a veteran of combat in Fallujah who has struggled to adjust to civilian life, and Beth (Kat Foster), a deeply conventional middle class woman who is continually embarrassed by this. They are joined.

‘Deliciously gruesome… thrilling, blood-soaked home invasion thriller anchored by fantastic dialogue and a remarkable turn from Maggie Q’ – Bloody Disgusting

The amazing Maggie Q returns to our screens for an all-out action home invasion horror that will ensure you’ll Fear The Night. This new killer thriller from lauded writer–director Neil Labute gets its UK debut on 25th September 2023 on digital courtesy of 101 Films.

Maggie leads the cast as Tess, an Iraq War veteran and recovering addict who’s back for her sister’s hen weekend. Along with her other sister and a group of friends, they head to their parents’ remote farmhouse in the California hills for an outrageous girls’ blow-out, but something far more sinister awaits them.

As the party gets going, the drinks begin to flow and so does the fun, but not for Tess, who can’t relax – she doesn’t fit in and struggles...

The director of In the Company of Men continues his run of terrible films with this awfully acted, ungripping drama

In the most dismaying possible way, Neil Labute has done it again. The dramatist and film-maker who gave us the 90s toxic masculinity classic In the Company of Men and the interesting and undervalued Samuel L Jackson thriller Lakeview Terrace in 2008, seems now to be going through a period of churning out exploitation content like a hack-for-hire. Last year we had the dismal revenge horror House of Darkness; now it’s this terrible home invasion thriller, with awful acting, clunking dialogue cues and drearily ungripping action and suspense sequences, along with a ChatGPT-ish title.

Maggie Q plays Tess, a military veteran who has seen action in Iraq and is now a recovering alcoholic struggling with a return to civilian life. She agrees to come to her sister’s bachelorette party...

The following contains spoilers for Justified: City Primeval Episode 7, "The Smoking Gun," which debuted Tuesday, August 22 on FX.

Justified: City Primeval took a massive risk moving Raylan Givens to Detroit. Raylan's home state of Kentucky was as important a part of the original FX series as the hero himself. Beyond that, shifting the story meant that the revival automatically couldn't use most of the supporting players who helped bring Raylan's word to life. Memorable characters like fellow U.S. Marshals Tim Gutterson and Rachel Brooks have yet to even get a "here's where they are now" mention.

Instead, the creatives had to introduce a new group of heroes and villains for Raylan to work off of, who would introduce him to the way justice was meted out in the Motor City. Many of the new characters in City Primeval played into established stereotypes and lacked the charisma that had made Tim,...

The classic horror flick The Wicker Man has gotten the 4K treatment.

Lionsgate has announced that The Wicker Man is getting a special SteelBook in 4K Ultra HD, along with Blu-ray and Digital. The SteelBook is set to be released on Oct. 17, 2023. Ahead of the release, Lionsgate has also unveiled the artwork for the SteelBook.

Related: Andy Serkis Announces The Wicker Man TV Series

The film is directed by Robin Hardy (The Fantasist) and follows Police Sergeant Howie as he investigates Lord Summerisle and his secretive pagan society. Anthony Shaffer wrote the script. The film also stars Britt Ekland, Diane Cilento, Ingrid Pitt, and Lindsay Kemp, and Russell Waters.

In The Wicker Man, per Lionsgate's synopsis, "When a young girl mysteriously vanishes, Police Sergeant Howie (Woodward) travels to a remote Scottish island to investigate. But the seemingly quiet community is not as it appears, as the detective uncovers a secretive...

Fear the Night is a new thriller starring Maggie Q as Tess, a military veteran who must fight off arrow-wielding intruders during a bachelorette party. Maggie Q was drawn to the project because of director Neil Labute's previous work and found the character of Tess intriguing due to her complex issues and dedication to protecting others. The film explores the sibling relationship between Tess and her sister Beth, with Tess's leadership and strength in the face of danger helping to repair their strained bond.

Warning: Contains Spoilers for the movie Fear the Night.Quiver Distribution's new thriller, Fear the Night, is currently available in theaters, on Digital, and On Demand. The film follows a military veteran who is struggling to find common ground with her sister, Beth. But when the two attend their sibling's bachelorette party in the California Hills, they must work together to survive an attack by arrow-wielding masked intruders.

[Editor's note: The following contains major spoilers for Fear the Night.]From writer/director Neil Labute, the thriller Fear the Night sees Tess (Maggie Q), a prickly Iraqi war veteran uninterested in winning over anyone, join a bachelorette party for her sister that’s being held at a remote farmhouse without much around except for some questionable characters whose looks linger a bit too long. When a group of home invaders attack and it quickly becomes clear that they’re not interested in leaving any witnesses behind, Tess leans on her training and a methodical approach in an effort to fight back and make it through the night.

A bachelorette party at a remote desert house is suddenly terrorized by home invaders.

That’s the plot of the new action thriller, Fear the Night, which stars Maggie Q as the sister of the bride and a hardened Iraq war veteran and skilled combatant. The women battle back against the invaders while searching for their father’s trove of guns.

Given the premise, you’d expect a classic shoot-’em-up to ensue. You’d be wrong.

Q wanted to do the film to work with writer-director Neil Labute. She’s a seasoned action star who previously went from Hong Kong martial arts films to appearing in Mission: Impossible III and Live Free or Die Hard.

But she had one request – no guns.

“I mean, she’s definitely looking for a gun,” Q said in an interview with Yahoo! Entertainment. “She...

Return To Dust, an arthouse hit in China last summer before being pulled from release, opens Stateside this weekend with Film Movement presenting on two screens – NYC’s Bam Rose Cinema and the Gene Siskel Film Center in Chicago, expanding to LA and Seattle next Friday.

The distributor acquired the film directed by Li Ruijun after it premiered in Berlin in March, 2022 to glowing reviews, see Deadlines’s here. Hai Quing and Wu Renlin star as a middle-aged couple in a rural province encouraged to marry by their families, who see them as a burden. Love and respect slowly as they scratch out a living of extreme hardship working the land. A 95% with critics on Rotten Tomatoes.

First released last July in China, it played unusually well for an arthouse title there and appeared on streaming platforms in early September before disappearing later that month without explanation.

Regulators don’t...

Note: This interview was accomplished prior to the start of the SAG strike.

Maggie Q burst onto the scene with 2006’s Mission Impossible III and quickly established herself as an action star. Over the years she’s dipped her toes into various franchises but has mostly found herself in smaller fare. Fear the Night (Check out Cody Hamman’s review Here) is proof of how that can be a positive as Maggie is captivating in every frame of the film as she’s allowed to do a little more than just stuntwork. So I was extremely excited to be able to discuss the film with Maggie and see just how much she collaborated with writer/director Neil Labute in creating the character of Tes. While Fear the Night is a bit on the generic side, Maggie’s performance elevates it and makes it worth a watch. Check out my wonderful conversation with the actress above.

Aaron Eckhart isn’t necessarily a household name among casual audiences, but among film buffs, he’s well-known as one of the most consistent character actors in the industry. Eckhart has appeared in a wide range of projects throughout his career, but, unquestionably, his two most iconic roles thus far have been as the charismatic tobacco salesman Nick Naylor in Jason Reitman’s black comedy Thank You For Smoking and the wholesome lawyer-turned-supervillain Harvey Dent in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight. Both roles required Eckhart to suggest a darker side within him, but he truly got the chance to play a terrifying villain in the 1997 black comedy In the Company of Men. Neil Labute’s fascinating adaptation of his own play examines the complexities of practical jokes and how games of cruelty only end up making all of the participants feel worse. With Labute's latest film, Fear The Night,...

Editor's Note: This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, and the movie covered here would not exist without the labor of the writers and actors in both unions.

When I think of Maggie Q, I think of the word badass. The actress has a long career as an action star, which makes a film like Fear the Night an absolute no-brainer. Do you want to see her destroy the hopes of would-be-robbers by kicking their asses? You will get exactly that with Neil Labute’s Fear the Night. The disappointing fact is that the movie would be exponentially better with more substantial writing and more confident directing.

The film follows Tess, a war vet who returns home after many years of deployment. She lives with her sister, and they have an estranged relationship, with mistrust and annoyance from both sides. The duo is invited to their...

It’s curious to see writer-director Neil Labute merge into the 2020s with power plays between genders again, first in House of Darkness and now Fear the Night, which hits theaters and digital platforms July 21. Avid filmgoers no doubt appreciated Labute’s deep dive into the messiness of human emotion and behaviors in films like The Shape of Things and In the Company of Men back in the 1990s. His work after those two great films never felt quite as elevated, however some have been downright engaging nonetheless.

Fear the Night falls nicely into that slot. It’s a throwback to those 1970s action thrillers that so often filled the screen and, for some reason, have made a resurgence in the early 2020s. Those were B movies, to be sure, and Fear the Night feels like another one. Hey, there’s room for all kinds of “art” on screen. But...

Note: This interview was accomplished prior to the start of the SAG strike.When eight women gather for a festive bachelorette party at a remote farmhouse, there’s bound to be some fun and games. Well, games of a different sort in Neil Labute’s new film, Fear the Night. Labute, who gave birth to In the Company of Men, Your Friends & Neighbors, Nurse Betty, and other film and television projects, delivers a lean, retro 1970s-style thriller here with Maggie Q at the helm.

The gist and grit of the story is that this seemingly routine bachelorette party is soon interrupted by the arrival of masked intruders. These fellas are after something, of course, and as they surround the house, suddenly they’re shooting arrows into the place — and the guests. Thank goodness Tess (Maggie Q) is there. She’s a military vet, but can she lead these women...

Stars: Maggie Q, Kat Foster, Highdee Kuan, James Carpinello, Travis Hammer | Written and Directed by Neil Labute

Fear the Night opens with a confrontation, though not the kind you might expect from a home invasion thriller. Tes is going through a trunk full of scrapbooks in the attic when her sister Beth appears and snaps at her for going through her stuff. Tes points out these are family heirlooms, not hers only for the subject to be changed to Tes swearing in front of Beth’s daughter despite the fact the girl isn’t even in the house at the moment.

These dysfunctional siblings have been brought together by a bachelorette party although it’s not exactly clear why. It’s obvious that Tes, who is suffering from Ptsd and struggling to readjust to society, likes these people about as much as they like her. After the obligatory run-in with...

Plot: A bachelorette party being held in an isolated farmhouse is crashed by a group of homicidal home invaders.

Review: In some circles, writer/director Neil Labute tanked his reputation by making the goofball 2006 remake of The Wicker Man – which is a shame, because when he first arrived on the scene he was a best known for making emotionally devastating dramas and dark comedies like In the Company of Men and Your Friends & Neighbors. His latest film is the home invasion thriller Fear the Night… and while it’s not on the level of his well-regarded dramas and dark comedies, it also doesn’t fall to the depths of the Wicker Man remake. (Which star Nicolas Cage insists was always meant to be a comedy as well.) So it may be best to refer to this one as “From the director of Lakeview Terrace”. It’s not great, it’s not bad.

Patrick Wilson in Insidious: The Red DoorPhoto: Screen Gems

After seeing Insidious: The Red Door, it’s hard not to feel a bit sorry for Patrick Wilson. It would be an unenviable task for anyone to take the directorial reins of a franchise from modern horror legends James Wan and...

Justin Long’s rise reached its peak in the late 2000s following his starring role in Accepted, but his career has since undergone an interesting transformation. With over 100 credits, Long has been working steadily for 20 years. His career began strong, with a small role in the 1999 sci-fi comedy Galaxy Quest. Long played his first starring role as Darry in the slasher classic Jeepers Creepers in 2001 and appeared in a significant role as Justin in 2004’s Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story.

Justin Long’s first leading role in a major Hollywood film came in 2006 when he starred in the slacker comedy Accepted. Accepted follows a young underachiever who chooses to create his own university after being rejected by numerous colleges, only to find himself in over his head when other college rejects begin applying. The film, which relied heavily on improvisation, owes much of its lasting appeal to a talented central cast of rising stars.

Last week, the trailer for home invasion thriller Fear the Night, which stars Maggie Q (Mission: Impossible III) and was directed by Neil Labute (Lakeview Terrace), arrived online. Quiver Distribution will be giving the film a theatrical, digital, and VOD release on July 21st – and with that date just over three weeks away, a poster for Fear the Night has now been unveiled as well. The poster can be seen at the bottom of this article and shows Q’s character, armed, bloody, and ready for battle.

Scripted by Labute, Fear the Night has the following synopsis: Eight women attend a bachelorette party at a remote farmhouse in the California hills. They are interrupted by the arrival of masked intruders who surround the place and begin shooting arrows at the home and the guests. One partygoer—Tess, a military veteran who is fighting her addictions and her difficulty at fitting...

Neil Labute is back with the action-thriller Fear the Night from Quiver Distribution, which stars Maggie Q and comes home this summer.

Fear the Night will be released in theaters and VOD on July 21, 2023.

Watch the official Fear the Night trailer below.

Fear the Night follows Iraqi war veteran Tess (Maggie Q) as she prepares for her sister’s bachelorette party. As the festivities unfold, the party is abruptly interrupted by a group of home invaders who quickly take the house under siege looking for a hidden fortune.

Surrounded by the frightened party-goers, Tess soon discovers that the ruthless attackers are hellbent on not leaving any witnesses. Tess strikes back, and the special ops expert takes matters into her own hands.

Kat Foster, Travis Hammer, and Gia Crovatin also star.

Eric Brenner will produce alongside Berry Meyerowitz, Jeff Sackman and Larry Greenberg of Quiver Distribution. This marks Quiver’s second collaboration with Labute,...