Ken (Marino) is just your average guy, who works an average job - he's your typical joe-blog feed up with his average life. But as soon as he starts getting stomach pains his average life is turned upside down.
Stressed from working too much, Ken confides with friend Highsmith (Stormare) on his stresses and strange stomach problems, however, things go from bad to worst when he tries to keep his stress bottled up. Eventually, Ken explodes literally... out from his 'backside'. The horrors that follow next come in the form of a nasty little demon hell-bent on causing havoc upon anyone who stresses him out.
Is this just the figment of Ken's imagination, or is there really a nasty demon up his backside?
18 August 2013
Last week saw the release of The Butler which proved a successful late-summer opening, taking more than $27M over the weekend at the US Box Office. Lee Daniels (Precious, The Paperboy), who directed the movie, teamed up with seasoned screen writer Danny Strong (Mad Men) - the pair have produced a moving picture of the portrayal of butler 'Cecil Gaines' played by Forest Whitaker and also starring Oprah Winfrey, making this her first number 1 film in over 30 years.
In other news, as the school holidays near an end, Kick-Ass 2 which opened before the weekend, was expected to attract a good measure of the mid-teens market into theaters, however, the film has proved a slow start, taking lower than projected takings of $16M - 20% less than the first film Kick-Ass (2010) which preformed better at $20M
On the other end of the spectrum Despicable 2 is now approaching an impressive total figure of $340M - and the film still shows no signs of slowing down. CEO of NBC Universal Steve Burke has confirmed the animated film, which cost roughly $50M to make, will become the most profitable feature to date in the 100 year history of Universal Pictures.
Further speculation mounts as to whether Christian Bale will reprise his role as Batman in Man of Steel 2 - with unofficial rumors suggesting Warner Bros. have offered Bale up to $50M to come back as 'The Dark Knight', in the next Superman movie. Bale has neither confirmed or denied the rumor, however, other leading actors have been thrown into the pile of possible 'Bruce Wayne' inheritors, from Ryan Gosling, Josh Brolin and even Nathan Fillion have been linked.
Also released in US theaters was the biopic drama of Steve Jobs - JOBS starring Ashton Kutcher as the late founder of Apple, has received luke warm reviews from critics, especially from Steve Wozniak who pioneered the firm with Jobs in the late 1970s - has commented on the films mis-representation of some of the characters portrayed, recently posted a reply on Gizmodo.com "I saw the movie tonight. I thought the acting throughout was good. I was attentive and entertained but not greatly enough to recommend the movie"
As the last remaining weeks remain of the Summer Blockbuster season, Sony Pictures Elysium opens strong is the US - taking just over $30M during the weekend. Its Matt Damon's first big-budget blockbuster since The Bourne Ultimatum trilogy in 2007 - Director Neill Blomkamp's Sci-Fi epic has stunning visuals with IMAX theaters selling out sets. Sony will hope to capitalize on Matt Damon's previous action-hero outings to bring the studio inline with the films $100M plus productions costs.
Further releases include, We're the Millers, Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters, and Disney Pixar's Planes proving well for the holiday family market. Staying with Disney its now official, the biggest summer flop of 2013 is The Lone Ranger with cinema bookings falling, and the film only managing to so far take just under $87M dollars at the US Box Office. Disney's jaw-dropping $250M in production costs will be an up hill battle to re-cope. Last year the major studio had to admit of its failings of their high-buget flop John Carter seeing one of their Senior Executives resigning from Disney.
In other news, Mel Gibson has been announced in the ever expanding cast roster in the forthcoming The Expendables 3 2014 - there's no official word whether he's playing a good guy or villain, however, with changes to the script currently being reworked, official synopsis should be available towards the end of the year, Harrison Ford is also currently linked to the cast.
In international news, Film4 Frightfest opens in London's Leicester Sq 22nd - 26th August 2013 - with this year hosting an impressive lineup of films for horror fans. The Dead 2: India and comedy-horror Stalled set to be fan favorites within the lineup. Other films screening at Frightfest include V/H/S 2, Painless and For Elisa. For full listings: Film4 Frightfest Lineup
Opening in the UK this week sees the release of Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa, starring comedic actor Steve Coogan - receiving great reviews from critics, and produced with a modest budget, Alpha Papa could be one of the UK summer hits of summer 2013
Lastly, as Kick-Ass 2 sets to open in UK theaters next week, a public snub as broken out between Hollywood star Jim Carrey and the films director Jeff Wadlow. Carrey now wishes not to support the film, due to its ultra violent content. Carrey stars in the upcoming film as Colonel Stars and Stripes as a custom vigilante who teams up with Kick-Ass and Hit Girl. Its thought the actor has made the protest following last years shooting at Sandy Hook School, which became one of the worst shootings in US history.
Fast-paced car action drama starring Ethan Hawke and Selena Gomez who must race against time to save his kidnapped wife.
Brent Magna (Hawke) a retired racing car driver is selected by an unknown criminal to carry out tasks in order to save his wife held hostage.
Brent now directed by the criminals voice (Voight) and goes where the voice tells him. However, when Brent assumes a kitted out Ford Shelby GT500 Super Snake, he's unaware the teen owner (Gomez) is near the scene and attempts to take the car back by force.
The two unlikely pair must now drive where the voice tells them, and journey into the unknown at high-speed.
Rating (US) PG-13 | (UK) 12A
Starring:
Ethan Hawke
Selena Gomez
Jon Voight
Dir: Courtney Solomon
Running Time: (TBC)
Language: English
Release Date: 30 August 2013 (US) | 4 October 2013 (UK)
Outrageous comedy from the writers who brought you Wedding Crashers
Drug dealer David Clark (Jason Sudeikis) is in over his head with big-time drug smuggler Brad Gurdlinger (Ed Helms), and is persuaded to smuggle drugs out of Mexico into the U.S.
David unsure on how he can pull off this hair-brain scheme, thinks of the perfect cover to move the shipment of drugs across the U.S. border. Why not invent the perfect all american family?
Now assembling his unlikely band of recruits in Rose O'Reilly (Jennifer Aniston) a poll-dancing stripper, Kenny (Will Poulter) the guff ball teen, and runaway thief Casey (Emma Roberts), David now has his wholesome american family.
With on road antics and crude-jokes to rival National Lampoon's Vacation, We're the Millers will have you laughing from beginning to end.
Rating (US) R | (UK) 15
Starring:
Jennifer Aniston
Jason Sudeikis
Emma Roberts
Dir: Rawson Marshall Thurber
Running Time: 110 min
Language: English
Release Date: 7 August 2013 (US) | 23 August 2013 (UK)
The year is 2154, the Earth is a baron wasteland were the remaining people who are on the planet live in filthy and unsafe conditions. However, only the lucky few humans who are very rich live outside Planet Earth, on a man-made space station called 'Elysium'
Starring Matt Damon as Max who gets involved in a struggle to save his own life and the remaining members of mankind left on Earth - to seek voyage to Elysium, were illness and disease have been wiped out. Only the very rich can enjoy the vast privileges on the man-made space station.
Max soon discovers there's more to the true, that the corrupt government of Elysium have been hiding, to keep the remaining inhabitants living on Earth in extreme squalor.
Written & Directed by Neill Blomkamp, District 9 - brings this epic Sci-Fi tale of two halves to life in this visually stunning production. Also featuring an impressive support cast from Diego Luna, Wagner Moura and Alice Braga.
Rating (US) R | (UK) 15
Starring:
Matt Damon
Jodie Foster
Sharlto Copley
Dir: Neill Blomkamp
Running Time: 109 min
Language: English
Release Date: 9 August 2013 (US) | 21 August 2013 (UK)
The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, Lily Collins, 2013
Based on the best-selling fantasy book series City of Bones by Cassandra Clare. The first installment of the tale is now adapted on to the big-screen 'The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones'.
The story follows Clary Fray (Lily Collins) who has a special gift in seeing inner-dimensional beings. Not realizing why she has this power, out one night in New York City, she's noticed by the mysterious Jace Wayland (Jamie Campbell Bower - Twilight) a 'Shadowhunter' from an inner worldly dimension known as Downworld.
Clary trying to unravel her past and the disappearance of her mother Jocelyn Fray (Lena Headey), she joins forces with Jace and the Shadowhunters to fight nasty demons, vampires, warlocks and other creatures of the night.
The first adaptation of the hugely successful City of Bones series, with the follow up The Mortal Instruments: City of Ashes released 2014
Rating (US) PG-13 | (UK) 12A
Starring:
Lily Collins
Jamie Campbell Bower
Jonathan Rhys Meyers
Dir: Harald Zwart
Running Time: 130 min
Language: English
Release Date: 21 August 2013 (US) | 21 August 2013 (UK)
Creepy new horror by first-time writer & director Chad Crawford Kinkle brings us this original bizarre film based on a pregnant teenage girl living in the rural lands of Tennessee who lives amongst a weird group of cult worshipers
The story follows Ada (Lauren Ashley Carter) who lives in a small town, ignorant to the outside world, she soon discovers by her Mother played by an unrecognizable (Sean Young), that she has been selected by the creepy Dawai (Sean Bridgers), who is the towns sculpture. Dawai sculptures the faces of those who are to be sacrificed to the all knowing pit that provides good fortune to the community. However, when the 'Jug Face' of Ada goes missing all hell breaks loose in the small hick-town.
As events go from strange to even stranger, Ada tries to subdue the town crazies who want her dead, how long can she escape from the pit that "wants what it wants."
An unsuspecting family celebrating their wedding anniversary come under siege by a armed masked gang. Unable to determine who these people are, the terrorized family try to band together in an effort to survive a deadly game of cat and mouse.
Disguised in animal masks, the crazed gang will stop at nothing to claim their next victim. However, little do the gang know, someone in the family has a hidden talent for survival. Directed by Adam Wingard and Written by Simon Barrett who both were behind cult-horror classic V/H/S 'You're Next' is tipped to be one of the must watch films of summer 2013 - expect twists and turns to rival films such as Switchblade Romance and Funny Games
Rating: (US) R | (UK) 18
Starring:
Sharni Vinson
Nicholas Tucci
Wendy Glenn
Dir: Adam Wingard
Running Time: 96 min
Language: English
Release Date: 23 August 2013 (US) | 28 August 2013 (UK)
Loosely based on true events, which caused a political scandal in Sweden in 1976 - Call Girl aka 'Kol Gerla' as it's known to its native Sweden, is a smart edgy drama which can rival any Anglo/Western political thriller, such as Argo or Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.
The story follows 2 teenage girls who from quite underprivileged backgrounds, eagerly get recruited by the Madam Dagmar Glans (Pernilla August), owner of a high-socitey escort business, who's clientele include members of the Swedish government, foreign elites to gang-masters. Dagmar wine's & dines the naive girls with lavish gifts, and seduces them to work the members of high-status.
The girls soon want out of the sleazy business of entertaining, but Madam Dagmar has other intentions for them.
The Madam's actives soon catch the attention of the police, with her every movement monitored, and now has to use her all telling black book of powerful clients as blackmail to stop the investigation against her.
Winning much praise at the Toronto film festival, Call Girl reminds us of how high-class escorts have been entangled within the political seen for years, used as pawns for deal making to having top officials resign, it's a story all to familiar in modern day politics.
