Kip Mooney
On The Forest And The Rest Of The Weekend's New and Repertory Film Releases.
The Forest.
Director: Jason Zada.
Writers: Nick Antosca, Sarah Cornwell, Ben Katai.
Cast: Natalie Dormer, Eoin Macken, Stephanie Vogt, Taylor Kinney.
Playing At: Wide.
While nearly every theater in the country is still playing The Force Awakens along its imperial march toward becoming the biggest movie ever, there aren't usually many new releases in January. And what slim pickings there are usually consist of dreadful comedies and weak horror movies. First up is The Forest, which features Game of Thrones' Natalie Dormer as a woman searching for her twin sister in the Aokigahara — a forest in Japan that's famously haunted, of course. There's certainly some spooky elements at play, but there's no way this PG-13 flick is going to bring the scares or tragedy.
The Revenant.
Director: Alejandro G. Inarritu.
Writers: Alejandro G. Inarritu, Mark L. Smith.
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, Domhnall Gleeson, Will Poulter.
Playing At: Wide.
The Revenant is a test of endurance for the audience and Leonardo DiCaprio's Hugh Glass alike. He's a fur trapper left for dead after getting mauled by a bear and who's out for revenge against the ruthless hunter who abandoned him (Tom Hardy). This is one of the most beautiful and devastating movies of the year, and one that demands to be seen on the big screen. Fair warning, though: As our own Javier Fuentes notes, it's not an easy watch.
Bubba Ho-Tep.
Director: Don Coscarelli.
Writer: Don Coscarelli.
Cast: Bruce Campbell, Ossie Davis, Ella Joyce, Bob Ivy.
Playing At: Alamo Drafthouse Richardson.
Showings: Friday, January 8.
Like its star Bruce Campbell, Bubba Ho-Tep is both ridiculous and badass. Campbell plays Elvis Presley, spending his golden years in an East Texas retirement home. He springs into action once a mummy comes to life and starts stealing the souls of his fellow residents. It doesn't make any sense, no. But it's a total blast.
