This Week in Macabre & Mysterious Media: Aug. 3rd – 9th, 2015.

~YOUR MUSICAL INTERLUDE~

Lauren Shera – Light & Dust (pretty witchy)

I think, this week, I’m most excited about:

~THE MOVIES~

NEW ON NETFLIX & IN REDBOX:

The Raven (2012) R

Available on DVD from Netflix.
LEAVING NETFLIX STREAMING ON AUG. 6TH.
Not Available from Redbox.
John Cusack. I can’t remember if I’ve seen this or not. Might try to make time before it’s gone. Anyone out there love it or hate it?
On IMDb here.

Maggie (2015) PG-13

Available on DVD from Netflix.
(Not yet Available streaming on Netflix, will update if I notice.)
Available from Redbox.
This zombie drama starring Arnold Schwarzenegger was never widely released in theaters. I did mention it when it came out but I want to feature it again, now that it is available to most of us. This is a sweet, sad, slow story. It’s well worth a watch, if you aren’t expecting a horror movie. The Ogre, especially, respected the ending.
On IMDb here.

What We Do in the Shadows (2014) R

Available on DVD from Netflix.
(Not yet Available streaming on Netflix, will update if I notice.)
Available from Redbox.
This mockumentary  from New Zealand isn’t as good as Spinal Tap, (what mockumentary is?) but it’s fun. I adore the character Stu, and I suspect you will too. I also have a special fondness for Peter, who can’t seem to stop himself from making new vampires.
On IMDb here.

The Guest (2014) R

Available on DVD from Netflix.
Available streaming on Netflix.
Available from Redbox.
I just Found this one for my 13 movies set on or around Halloween list. (Did you realize it’s only 13 weeks until Halloween?)  It’s a strange film. Half action flick, half … thriller? And there’s a fair bit of Halloween stuff scattered everywhere, including a high school haunted house. Not a bad watch.
On IMDb here.

The Unwanted (2014) NR

Not Available on DVD from Netflix.
Available streaming on Netflix.
Not Available from Redbox.
This one was brought to my attention by a review at the blog Danse Noir. Looks like it was made for me. Southern Gothic? Check. Vampire sensuality? Check. Airstream trailer? Check. It’s on my queue, and I might watch it tonight. UPDATE: I’m kinda torn about this one. Loved a lot of the atmosphere. Thought some of the special effects were just ridiculous. Got a little confused by the story itself. Yet … I may watch this again, some dark night.
On IMDb here. (linked)

Snowpiercer (2013) R

Available on DVD from Netflix.
Available streaming on Netflix.
Available from Redbox.
I resisted this movie SO hard. The premise is just ridiculous. I watched it reluctantly with my menfolk. I hated it pretty much all the way through … though, I had to admit at the time, there WAS a lot to like about the film-making itself. Now I see that it’s streaming on Netflix. And I’m going to recommend it to you. I’m listing it as an orange, but I think — in my heart of hearts — it’s really a green. What I know for sure is that I can’t get some of the film’s imagery out of my head, and the story has stayed with me far longer than the plots of many movies I have liked from the get-go.
On IMDb here.

Reading Rainbow (1985) G

Some themed sets are Available on DVD from Netflix; search Reading Rainbow.
1985 season now Available streaming on Netflix.
Not Available from Redbox.
Here’s my major outlier for the week. Got little kids? Fire up Netflix.

(NO LONGER) IN THEATERS:

The Gift (2015) R

In general release on Thursday, Aug. 6th

Available on DVD from Netflix.
Not yet Available streaming on Netflix.
Available from Redbox.
Oooh. I hadn’t seen any trailers for this yet, but I found it today, as I was checking new releases. I’m TOTALLY ready for a good thriller. Jason Bateman, huh? Ok. Could be interesting. 
On IMDb here. (linked)

Mr. Holmes (2015) PG

In general release right now. (Playing widely around me in the Twin Cites area.)

Available on DVD from Netflix .
No longer Available streaming on Netflix.
Available from Redbox.
This looks entertaining. (And will probably be of particular interest to Tim Prasil: Inventor of Persons.) Starring Ian McKellen & Laura Linney — that’s a fine cast.
On IMDb here.

Cop Car (2015) R

In general release on Friday, Aug. 7th.

Available on DVD from Netflix.
Not yet Available streaming on Netflix.
Available from Redbox.
Speaking of fine casting: I’m intrigued by the opportunity to see my beloved Kevin Bacon portray a Very Bad Man.

We’re trying to save some money around here, and we plan to cut back on going to the theater, but I gotta say this looks like a GREAT flick for the drive-in … and we haven’t gone yet this year (even though a night at the drive-in is a MUST-HAPPEN event, at least once a summer.) Crossing my fingers that this will soon show up where I want it to be.
On IMDb here.

Dark Places (2015) R

In general release on … hmm. Supposedly Aug. 7th, but I’m getting the vibe that this might be hard to find.

Available on DVD from Netflix.
Not yet Available streaming on Netflix.
Available from Redbox.
Charlize Theron. Christina Hendricks. Oh my. Looks like this save-money thing might be more challenging than I thought. It seems this is based on a much-beloved book by Gillian Flynn. (And readers are saying the movie isn’t nearly as good as the book. Big shock.) Perhaps I can save myself by hitting the library to stave off the crave. (Sorry about all the rhymes there.)
On IMDb here.

The Vatican Tapes (2015) PG-13

In general release now.

Available on DVD from Netflix.
Not yet Available streaming on Netflix.
Available from Redbox.
I don’t know. This is one that looks like it can wait for renting. If you’ve seen it and loved it, send me a note, will ya?
On IMDb here. (linked)

~ON TV~

All quiet on the TV front this week.

~***~

INDEX TO ALL MACABRE & MYSTERIOUS MEDIA FEATURES HERE

The color of the title is keyed as follows:
Black = Have not yet experienced. I’m interested … or I think you’ll be interested.
Red = Have experienced. Not recommended. Worse than the reviews or buzz indicated.
Orange = Have experienced. Recommended, with reservations or cautions.
Green = Have experienced. Recommended. A good movie that lives up to its reputation.

Last updated 2016.06.03