Resident Evil

 

           Co-written ( with Shay Hatten) and directed by Zach Cregger ("Weapons"), this new film is loosely based on the video game franchise. Having never played the game, I'm not sure how close it fits into that "world" but as a stand alone horror film, it's pretty good.

            The film stars Austin Abrams as Bryan, a medical courier delivering an unknown specimen to a hospital in Raccoon City. Driving along a deserted snow and ice covered road, he accidently hits a woman and this sets off a chain of events that Bryan is completely unprepared for.

            Mr. Abrams is excellent in the role of the reluctant hero. As the film progresses he encounters more and more bizarre creatures and his reactions and mutterings to himself are, at times, very funny.

             Co-starring as humans he encounters along the way are Zach Cherry, Kali Reis, and Paul Walter Hauser. It is Mr. Abrams, however, who carries the film and keeps it exciting.

              It's a fast paced ninety minutes as Mr. Cregger pours on the rising body count with plenty of blood and gore. Personally I'm still on the fence about the ending but that will be for the audience to debate.

The Weight

 

         Period drama set during the depression stars Ethan Hawk and Russell Crowe (although to be fair,  while an important part, Mr. Crowe only appears in the beginning and towards the end).

          Mr. Hawke plays Samuel Murphy, recently incarcerated into a brutal work camp building roads. Mr. Crowe is the warden who offers him early release if he will, along with three other prisoners, transport gold bars through the Oregon forest. Anxious to reunite with his young daughter, he accepts the mission.

            Carrying the gold on foot, the men encounter multiple hazards which increases the already suspenseful mission. Along the way, the pick up a native American woman who has run away from the work camp.

              The film co-stars  Julia Jones, Austin Amelio, Avi Nash, Lucas Lynggaard Tannesen, and Avy Berry.

             There is an an old school feel in the film's direction and cinematography. Even the credits at the end have an vintage look about them.  It's a very well done, exciting and suspenseful story.