8 films to see on the week of May 11-18, 2018
Truth or Dare (a.k.a. Blumhouse’s Truth or Dare)
A SUPERNATURAL thriller focuses on a game of Truth or Dare among a group of friends that turns deadly. The players are to either tell the truth or accept the dare, otherwise, they are punished. Directed by Jeff Wadlow, it stars Lucy Hale, Tyler Posey, and Violette Beane. The film has a paltry score of 15% on review aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes. “As a scary movie, Truth or Dare is about as frightening as a slip on a banana peel,” writes Mara Reinstein of Us Weekly.
MTRCB Rating: R-13
Tully
MARLO, a mother of three, has difficulty in watching over her children. That is, until her brother introduces a night nanny with whom she eventually forms a special bond. Directed by Jason Reitman from a script by Diablo Cody, it stars Charlize Theron, Mark Duplass, and Mackenzie Davis. The film has a high Tomatometer score of 88% from review aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes. Katie Walsh of the Tribune News Service writes: “An emotionally deep yet concise rumination on the nature of modern motherhood, on the inherently false premise of doing it all, of having it all and making it look good.”
MTRCB Rating: PG
My 2 Mommies
MAMU, a gay man takes the role of a parent when he finds out that he has a seven-year-old son from a previous accidental affair. Directed by Eric Quizon, it stars Paolo Ballesteros, Solenn Heussaff, Maricel Soriano, Joem Bascon, Dianne Medina, and Marcus Cabias.
MTRCB Rating: PG
Squad Goals
FIVE BOYS experience a series of mishaps at school that could potentially get them expelled. They’re friendship grows as they deal with school, love, and family problems. Directed by Mark Meily, it stars Julian Trono, Vitto Marquez, Andrew Muhlach, Dan Huschka, and Jack Reid.
MTRCB Rating: PG
Bad Samaritan
A VALET burglarizes the houses of his rich customers — but ends up robbing the wrong one. He finds a woman held captive in the house he is robbing but leaves her behind, calling the police instead — but they find no one. The kidnapper then goes after the valet who is trying to rescue the woman he left behind. Directed by Dean Devlin, it stars David Tennant, Robert Sheehan, Carlito Olivero, Kerry Condon, Jacqueline Byers, and Lisa Brenner. The film has garnered mixed reviews — and a scant 56% score on film aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes. On the one hand, Rex Reed of the New York says: “Bad Samaritan is a well-directed thriller with knuckle-chewing suspense,” on the other, Peter Travers of Rolling Stone writes, “The former Doctor Who star David Tennant enlivens this stock thriller about scam artists and serial torturers — but it’s still a mess. Tennant deserves better. So do audiences.”
MTRCB Rating: R-13
Higher Power
JOSEPH STEADMAN becomes the unwilling test subject of a maniacal scientist in a battle that can either save or destroy the world. Directed by Matthew Santoro, it stars Ron Eldard, Jade Tailor, Austin Stowell, Jordan Hinson, and Colm Feore.
MTRCB Rating: R-13
Black Butterfly
PAUL IS a struggling writer working on what he hopes is a career-saving screenplay. He offers Jack, a drifter he met at a diner, a place to stay — but then Jack demands to mess with Paul’s work. Directed by Brian Goodman, the movie stars Antonio Banderas, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Piper Perabo, Abel Ferrara, Nathalie Rapti Gomez, and Katie McGovern. Vikram Murthi of RogerEbert.com called the film: “A charmless, nonsensical thriller that doubles as a hack screenwriter’s wet dream, filled to the brim with faux-insights that wouldn’t impress even the most inattentive college freshmen.”
MTRCB Rating: R-13
Curse of the Nun
JUST WHEN a damaged young woman is about to move into a new home, a spirit of a crazy nun keeps her from leaving. Directed by Aaron Mirtes, Lacy Hartselle, Jonathan Everett, Rae Hunt, Kate Kilcoyne, and Aaron Mirtes.
MTRCB Rating: R-13
