Yahoo! Movies: New Thriller DVD Releases

Wrong Turn

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:43 -0000

A wrong turn leaves a group of young people trapped --- and hunted � in the West Virginia wilderness. Makeup and creature effects created by Stan Winston. (1 hr. 30 min.) Release date: Oct 20, 2009

Twister

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:42 -0000

The largest storm to hit Oklahoma in more than half a century is brewing, and it promises to drop multiple twisters into Tornado Alley. It's the storm that two rival groups of scientists--Jo Harding and her band of brash university students, and corporate-sponsored Dr. Jonas Miller and his sleek, crack cadre with their state-of-the-art research vans--have been waiting for to earn their place in meteorological history. Each team wants to be the first to launch their own equipment pack inside a twister to transmit valuable scientific data about tornado behavior. But to do so, they must put themselves directly in the path of the marauding monster--and stay always just ahead of the swirling twister, anticipating its every move. Adding to the charged atmosphere, Jo's soon-to-be-ex-husband, meteorologist Bill Harding, reluctantly joins Jo and his old crew for this last, epic chase. (1 hr. 54 min.) Release date: Nov 3, 2009

House of Wax

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:41 -0000

Ever been creeped out by the life-like statues at a wax museum? Yes? But have you ever recognized your old roommate behind the glass? Vincent Price plays the menacing Professor Henry Jarrod, in a role that would solidify his reputation as the creepiest man in Hollywood. With everything from cancan girls to rubber paddleballs finding their way into the audience, 'House of Wax' takes full advantage of the novel 3-D stereoscopic process. (1 hr. 28 min.) Release date: Nov 3, 2009

Eight Legged Freaks

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:40 -0000

What do you get when you cross toxic waste with a bunch of exotic spiders? Eaten. As every fan of classic spine-tinglers knows, given the opportunity and the right chemical enhancement, arachnids will grow to humongous size and wreak havoc upon humanity. In EIGHT LEGGED FREAKS, the residents of a rural mining town discover that an unfortunate chemical spill has caused hundreds of little spiders to mutate overnight to the size of SUVs. And they're hungry. (1 hr. 39 min.) Release date: Nov 3, 2009

Jurassic Park

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:39 -0000

The contemporary story of a remarkable theme park built around actual dinosaurs, created from DNA deposits. (2 hrs. 7 min.) Release date: Nov 1, 2009

The Bourne Identity

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:38 -0000

Set against dramatic European backdrops, THE BOURNE IDENTITY is the story of a man (Matt Damon), salvaged, near death, from the ocean by the crew of an Italian fishing boat. When he recuperates, the man suffers from total amnesisa. He is completely without identity or background, but possesses a range of extraordinary talents in fighting, linguistic skills and self-defense that speak of a dangerous past. He sets out on a desperate search�assisted by the initially rebellious Marie (Franka Potente) to discover who he really is, and why he is being pursued by assassins. (1 hr. 36 min.) Release date: Nov 1, 2009

Halloween

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:37 -0000

The early 2000s have seen a string of big-budget remakes of classic horror films. In addition to THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE and THE HILLS HAVE EYES, John Carpenter's benchmark slasher flick HALLOWEEN has been given a new-millennial overhaul. At the helm of the project sits rocker Rob Zombie, whose previous films, HOUSE OF 1,000 CORPSES and THE DEVIL'S REJECTS, brought a fan's touch and an auteur's vision to the director's chair. While Zombie's HALLOWEEN is faithful to Carpenter's vision, there are some obvious changes, the most pronounced of these being the substantial focus on Michael Myers's childhood. The film posits Michael (played by a creepily vacant Daeg Faerch) as a troubled child made all the worse by a horrible home life--wonderfully illustrated via William Forsythe's performance as Deborah Myers's boyfriend--and constant abuse at school. Zombie paints Michael's pain with palpable grit and sleaze, but he isn't out to put our culture on the couch--he simply wants to show Michael killing his family. With the exception of Michael's therapy sessions while incarcerated, the film, post-massacre, stays loyal to the original.

Zombie's film is clearly the work of a filmmaker who knows and loves the genre. The director's signature is stamped all over HALLOWEEN (most notably in the use of grainy home movie footage and a smokin' classic rock soundtrack), although remnants of Carpenter's brilliant original still remain. When it comes to remakes, it's hard to ask for much more. (1 hr. 49 min.) Release date: Oct 6, 2009

Shopping For Fangs

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:36 -0000

In this amalgam of comedy styles and genres, a young man believes he may be turning into a werewolf; meanwhile, a lonely housewife is confused by her mysterious blackouts, and meets an irreverent and brash waitress who leads to an unusual and unforgettable relationship. All these quirky characters and more interact in this crazy comedy in which anything can happen. (1 hr. 29 min.) Release date: Oct 6, 2009

Dreamcatcher

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:35 -0000

Dreamcatcher, the film based on Stephen King�s best-selling novel, tells of four young friends who perform a heroic act � and are changed forever by the uncanny powers they gain in return. Years later the friends, now men, are on a hunting trip in the Maine woods when they are overtaken by a blizzard, a vicious storm in which something much more ominous moves� Challenged to stop an alien force, the friends must first prevent the slaughter of innocent civilians by a military vigilante, then overcome a threat to the bond between them. In the end, the friends confront an unparalleled horror, with the fate of the world in the balance. (2 hrs. 14 min.) Release date: Nov 3, 2009

A Time to Kill

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:34 -0000

In a small southern town in the 1960s, a black man awaits trial for murdering the two rednecks who viciously raped his 10-year-old daughter. A young, idealistic white lawyer takes up the father's defense, and the incendiary case becomes a firestorm of racism and controversy, ripping the town apart. Based on John Grisham's bestselling first novel. (2 hrs. 8 min.) Release date: Nov 3, 2009

3,000 Miles to Graceland

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:33 -0000

A skilled band of criminals gang together with a goal to get rich at the 2001 International Elvis Convention in Las Vegas. Dressed to the nines as flawless Elvis impersonators and armed with enough ammo and electronic gadgets to easily knock off any establishment, it's no surprise when, at the last minute, the deal goes bad. A wild action-adventure film with twisting plot and a kicking soundtrack by George Clinton, 3,000 MILES TO GRACELAND is a non-stop rollicking ride. (2 hrs. 5 min.) Release date: Nov 3, 2009

The Gate

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:32 -0000

Two teenagers come across a special rock with a beautiful crystalline center in their backyard. The rock enthralls them and they dig up the family's lawn in a search for more of the precious stones, but instead find the Gate. It's a hidden underground chamber that holds the secret of centuries and the vengeance of eternity. (1 hr. 32 min.) Release date: Oct 6, 2009

Chinatown

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:31 -0000

"Forget it, Jake -- it's Chinatown." The opaque shrug that ends this 1970s classic embodies the film's world-weary depiction of people who are never what they seem and dark motives that dwell deep below the surface. Like the water that drives the plot, secrets in Chinatown have a way of bubbling up in the most unexpected places, as detective Jake Gittes (Nicholson) discovers when he takes on Evelyn Mulwray (Dunaway) as a client. Not so much a recreation of the classic-era Chandler and Hammett private-eye stories as an outright celebration of the depravity they only hinted at. A stunning achievement for both Polanski and Towne. Followed by Nicholson's direction of THE TWO JAKES in 1990. (2 hrs. 11 min.) Release date: Oct 6, 2009

Poison Ivy

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:30 -0000

A scheming woman named Ivy insinuates herself into a solitary schoolmate's wealthy family with evil intentions. (1 hr. 31 min.) Release date: Sep 29, 2009

Natural Born Killers

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:29 -0000

Oliver Stone's over-the-top satire on America's worshipful fascination with tabloid criminals stars Woody Harrelson as Mickey Knox and Juliette Lewis as girlfriend-wife Mallory Wilson. Commencing with the dual murder of Mallory's sexually abusive father (Rodney Dangerfield) and grossly negligent mother (Edie McClurg), the anomic couple take off on a three-week killing spree across the country, telling everyone who they are so that they get the credit for their crimes. The media are immediately enthralled with the couple, especially Wayne Gale (Robert Downey Jr.), the bloodthirsty host of a tabloid TV show who follows their every move. By the time they're finally arrested, they've become such huge media stars that the cops treat them more like celebrities than criminals. Even the maniacal limelight-hogging warden of the Batongaville State Prison, Dwight McClusky (Tommy Lee Jones), is in awe. Stone pulls out all the stops in the prison riot, as the unwitting Gale becomes an unwilling participant in his own broadcast of the event. Again the director switches from film to video, from color to black and white, from sitcom parody to newsreel parody, and from one film stock to another, hoping to jar the audience out of its complacency with visual hyperbole. (2 hrs.) Release date: Oct 13, 2009

A Nightmare on Elm Street

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:28 -0000

A hellish, razor-fingered monster enters the dreams of the teenage residents of a bucolic town and systematically slaughters them in their sleep--until one courageous young woman does battle with the predatory fiend. An excellent, surprisingly surrealistic genre entry from the master, Wes Craven. (2 hrs. 30 min.) Release date: Sep 29, 2009

The Lost World: Jurassic Park

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:27 -0000

THE LOST WORLD: JURASSIC PARK is director Steven Spielberg's sequel to his original dinosaur thriller. Dr. Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) returns for more dino-horror when, four years after the disaster at the would-be amusement park, another expedition is mounted by millionaire John Hammond (Richard Attenborough). To document the natural behavior of the beasts at a mysterious Site B, Hammond sends a team comprising Malcolm; Malcolm's girlfriend, paleontologist Dr. Sarah Harding (Julianne Moore); and a wildlife videographer (Vince Vaughn). They face adversity in the form of a less-than-scrupulous big-game hunter (Pete Postlethwaite) and, of course, the terrible lizards themselves. The film is loosely based on Michael Crichton's novel THE LOST WORLD, which was named after the 1912 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle novel of the same name. Spielberg proved his determination to alternate making socially conscious films with directing movies of sheer entertainment value; his prior film to THE LOST WORLD was SCHINDLER'S LIST, and he followed the dinosaur adventure with AMISTAD. (2 hrs. 14 min.) Release date: Nov 1, 2009

Disclosure

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:26 -0000

Based on Michael Crichton's controversial bestseller, a powerful woman at a computer software company jeapordizes a man's career when he spurns her sexual advances. (2 hrs. 9 min.) Release date: Nov 3, 2009

Audition

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:25 -0000

AUDITION is an art-house cult horror film that will be talked about for a long time to come. Ryo Ishibashi stars as Aoyama, a single father who has not dated since his wife died seven years earlier. To help find another woman to bring joy into Aoyama's charmless life, his best friend, television producer Yoshikawa, convinces Aoyama that they should add a fake part to a show they are auditioning actresses for--a role that will become Aoyama's real-life companion. After a series of comical auditions, in walks a woman whom Aoyama thinks is perfect--Asami, played by former model Eihi Shiina. But when Aoyama proves too tentative in his courting--and starts learning odd things about Asami's past--she decides to exact a revenge that filmgoers will never forget.

Director Takashi Miike's film, based on the novel by Ryu Murakami, begins like a slow-moving romance, carefully developing the characters and their maturing relationships. But suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere, the mood and pace change, smashing viewers over the head with fast cuts between the past and the present, with dreamlike images that turn into torrid nightmares, with screams and shouts where there had been soft-spoken whispers, with blood and violence that replaces love and longing. The last section of the film is one of the most brutal torture scenes ever put on celluloid, and it is definitely not for the faint of heart. But even in its gore-filled shockingness, the film is beautiful to look at, a monumental achievement by a director willing to take chances and challenge his audience. (1 hr. 55 min.) Release date: Oct 6, 2009

Gothika

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:24 -0000

A criminal psychologist (Berry) awakens to find herself a patient in the very same mental institution in which she works, with no memory of the murder of her husband (Dutton) that she's accused of committing. As she tries to regain her memory and convince her coworkers of her innocence, a vengeful spirit uses her as an earthly pawn... which only further convinces all involved of both her guilt and her increasingly stead descent into madness and delusion. (1 hr. 36 min.) Release date: Nov 3, 2009

North By Northwest

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:23 -0000

NORTH BY NORTHWEST is a suspense thriller that finds Cary Grant in the role of Roger Thornhill, a Manhattan advertising executive mistaken for a spy. Considered by many to be the prototypical pure action movie (creating the template for later James Bond and Indiana Jones films), the film is a cross-country roller-coaster ride with Alfred Hitchcock at the helm. The film is duly famous for several classic and indelible scenes, including the desert biplane encounter and the Mt. Rushmore climax. The original title was THE MAN IN LINCOLN'S NOSE, which was replaced by a reference to a line from William Shakespeare�s HAMLET (in which Hamlet says, "I am but mad north-north-west."). The magical combination of Hitchcock and the debonair Grant--who made four wonderful films together--makes NORTH BY NORTHWEST a suspense-filled standout.

When Thornhill finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time, the world as he knows it comes to an end. Suddenly danger threatens as the hapless businessman is targeted as an American intelligence agent and set up as a killer. All of Thornhill's attempts to straighten things out only make matters worse--and soon the desperate man is on the run from murderous foreign operatives, the CIA, and the police. The supporting cast, including Eva Marie Saint, James Mason, and Martin Landau, is uniformly excellent. (2 hrs. 16 min.) Release date: Nov 3, 2009

Murder By Numbers

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:22 -0000

A tenacious homicide detective (Sandra Bullock) and her new partner (Ben Chaplin) uncover a trail of shrewdly concealed evidence that links two brilliant young men (Ryan Gosling, Michael Pitt) to a murder. (2 hrs.) Release date: Nov 3, 2009

The Client

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:21 -0000

In this taut legal drama a trailer-park kid witnesses the suicide of a mob lawyer and is pursued by authorities trying to find out if he knows anything. In an attempt to protect himself, the 11-year-old hires a feisty female attorney who takes up his case and develops a bond with him. Based on the novel by John Grisham. Academy Award Nominations: Best Actress--Susan Sarandon. (2 hrs. 4 min.) Release date: Nov 3, 2009

U.S. Marshals

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:20 -0000

Tommy Lee Jones reprises his Oscar-nominated role as lawman Sam Gerard in THE FUGITIVE. This time, his lamster is a former Secret Service agent accused--perhaps wrongfully--of the cold-blooded murder of two of his unit members. As the chase unfolds, Gerard becomes more and more fascinated by his highly trained and intelligent quarry--and more convinced of his innocence. (1 hr. 45 min.) Release date: Nov 3, 2009

Z

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:19 -0000

Based on a true incident, the Deputy Z is struck down by a speeding truck while hundreds watch. Despite the report of accidental death, a journalist's questioning of the facts leads to an investigation. (2 hrs. 5 min.) Release date: Oct 27, 2009

Hardware

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:18 -0000

Sometime in the future, a man acquires some pieces of an android for his metal sculpting girlfriend. The android was once a machine designed to destroy humans. In the night it reassembles itself and resumes its mission in this politically pretentious film. (1 hr. 32 min.) Release date: Oct 20, 2009

Silent Scream

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:17 -0000

When the on-campus accommodations are all taken, a group of college students are forced to take rooms in the spooky house of Mrs. Engels (Yvonne De Carlo) and her strange son, Mason (Brad Reardon). When one of the kids turns up dead, the police launch an investigation, uncovering the bloody history of the mansion and its owners. (1 hr. 27 min.) Release date: Nov 23, 2009

Sleepers

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:16 -0000

Tommy, John, Michael, and Shakes are four young teenage punks growing up in the streets of Manhattan's Hell's Kitchen in the mid-1960s. When these four friends pull a prank that that goes awry, they find themselves serving time at the Wilkinson School for Boys, where they are repeatedly and sadistically violated and tortured by four guards--the most menacing being Noles, portrayed by Kevin Bacon. Fifteen years later, the foursome is still dealing with the emotional repercussions of their abuse. Tommy (Billy Crudup) and John (Ron Eldard) have become common criminals, and when they spot Noles in a local watering hole they can't pass up the chance for revenge. It's up to Shakes (Jason Patric), a low-profile newspaper employee, and Michael (Brad Pitt), a lawyer with the district attorney's office, to save their friends while keeping the details of their tortured childhoods secret. Dustin Hoffman appears as Danny Snyder, and Robert De Niro stars as Father Bobby, the local neighborhood priest who is as comfortable on the streets or in a bar as he is behind the pulpit. Based on the allegedly true story by Lorenzo Carcaterra, the film is directed by Barry Levinson (DINER, RAIN MAN). (2 hrs. 20 min.) Release date: Nov 3, 2009

Proof of Life

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:15 -0000

An American engineer in a Latin American country is captured by anti-government forces. When the rebels learn his identity they demand $3 million for his safe return. However, his U.S. employer is on the verge of insolvency and will not provide the ransom. Peter's wife Alice is forced to deal with the matter on her own. She retains the services of freelance professional hostage negotiator Terry Thorne. With the help of a fellow negotiator, Dino, and a trio of highly trained mercenaries, Terry mounts a bold operation to rescue Peter that could as easily result in disaster as in triumph. (2 hrs. 15 min.) Release date: Nov 3, 2009

Murder At 1600

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:14 -0000

A mysterious murder report summons a hardened Washington D.C. homicide detective to the shadowy halls of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue--and draws him into a web of conspiracy, cover-ups, and corruption. (1 hr. 47 min.) Release date: Nov 3, 2009

The Girl in the Park

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:13 -0000

A socially isolated woman still haunted by the disappearance of her three-year-old daughter 15 years ago obsesses over the prospect that a troubled young woman whom she has recently befriended may in fact be her long-lost daughter in THE LAKE HOUSE, writer-director David Auburn's affecting psychological drama. Sigourney Weaver stars as the long-grieving mother, and THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA's Kate Bosworth stars as the mixed-up teen who becomes the object of the dejected woman's hopeful fixation. (1 hr. 49 min.) Release date: Dec 1, 2009

Under Siege 2: Dark Territory

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:12 -0000

Ex-Navy SEAL Casey Ryback returns, this time aboard a train which is hijacked by a psycho genius out to steal a satellite weapons system he invented for the government. Only the inscrutable, martial arts and weapons master Ryback can save the day in this all-out actioner. (1 hr. 40 min.) Release date: Nov 3, 2009

The Stepfather

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:11 -0000

This is the chilling tale of a congenial family man whose engaging smile and staid demeanor insidiously mask a deep-seated dementia. His obsessive desire to live the ideal family life ultimately leads to the family's very destruction. (1 hr. 38 min.) Release date: Oct 13, 2009

The Pelican Brief

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:10 -0000

Julia Roberts (ERIN BROCKOVICH) stars in THE PELICAN BRIEF as sharp law student Darby Shaw whose querying mind gets her into trouble. A faithful adaptation of John Grisham's (THE FIRM) best-selling novel, this taut thriller follows the travails that beset Shaw when her theory on the cause of the deaths of two Supreme Court Justices lands her name on the conspirators' hit list. When Shaw teams up with reporter Gray Grantham (Denzel Washington--THE HURRICANE) they find themselves dodging deadly assassins in a suspenseful story that weaves complex narrative strands. The well-cast film also features a cameo by playwright-actor Sam Shepard (TRUE WEST). (2 hrs. 20 min.) Release date: Nov 3, 2009

A Study in Terror

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:09 -0000

Jack the Ripper is terrorizing London in the late 1800's, and the only man capable of solving the insidious crimes is the master mind super-sleuth, Sherlock Holmes. (1 hr. 35 min.) Release date: Dec 8, 2009

Night of the Creeps

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:08 -0000

A group of co-eds experience an evening of terror when their college formal becomes the breeding ground for monstrous creatures who turn their victims into zombies. With special effects by the award-winning make-up artist, David Miller, of "Thriller" fame. (1 hr. 28 min.) Release date: Oct 20, 2009

The Brain That Wouldn't Die

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:07 -0000

A boorish doctor who has devised a way to bring the dead back to life gets into a car accident and kills his beautiful fiancee; he takes her severed head back to the lab with him and keeps it alive in a tray of serum. She is unhappy with the situation and begs him to let her die, but he embarks upon a search for the perfect body for his amour, visiting strip clubs and streetwalkers and scouring the city. Meanwhile, the fiancee discovers that a side effect of her current status is telepathy, and she begins to communicate with the doctor's "mistake," which is held captive in a locked room off the lab. With the monster's help, the bodyless woman manages to save the life of the doctor's chosen victim and burn the lab down in the process. (1 hr. 21 min.) Release date: Oct 20, 2009

Copycat

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:06 -0000

A psychopath is copying the crimes of renowned serial killers such as Son of Sam and the Boston Strangler, and the detective on the case turns to a forensic psychologist who specializes in the field. Unfortunately, the doctor has become a paranoid agoraphobic as the result of an earlier assault at the hands of the killer. A violent, bloody thriller. (2 hrs. 3 min.) Release date: Nov 3, 2009

A Nightmare on Elm Street Part III: Dream Warriors

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:05 -0000

The third installment in the "Nightmare on Elm Street" series. In a medical facility, seven teenagers who have constant nightmares about child murderer Freddy Krueger undergo monitoring for sleep disorders. But nothing that anyone does seems to help them -- until Nancy Thompson, the heroine of the first movie, joins the medical staff. She suggests that they try a new drug, which inhibits dreaming, on the youngsters. The gullible doctor-in-charge opposes this treatment, forcing Nancy to fight both him and a suspicious nurse in order to save the teens. Meanwhile, Freddy gleefully unleashes one horror-filled image after another to traumatize the patients ... till they fear that this is one nightmare they'll never wake up from again. (1 hr. 37 min.) Release date: Sep 29, 2009

Matador

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:04 -0000

This twisted, brave, funny film from Spanish director Pedro Almod�var takes an unflinching look at the link between sex, death, and religion. Antonio Banderas stars as �ngel, a sensitive student of matador Diego (Nacho Martinez), whose goring at the horns of a bull has left him obsessed with killing. In order to prove his manhood to Diego, the misguided �ngel tries to rape his model girlfriend (Eva Cobo), and when that fails, he confesses to a string of murders he didn't commit. Mar�a (Assumpta Serna), a mysterious, attractive lawyer, takes his case but winds up falling for Diego, revealing some dark secrets of her own. The pair begin a beautifully doomed romance as a police inspector (Eusebio Poncela) begins to fathom who the real killer, or killers, may be. This was the fifth film from the talented Almod�var, and it reveals a true genius at work in his use of symbolic color, structure, metaphor, and homage to Hitchcock and Welles. MATADOR is fast-moving, disturbing, erotic, and undeniably brilliant in a way most American audiences may not be prepared for but should certainly seek out. Almod�var regulars Carmen Maura, Julietta Serano, Chus Lampreave, and Ver�nica Forqu� costar. (1 hr. 47 min.) Release date: Nov 3, 2009

Spies Like Us

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:03 -0000

Saturday Night Live alumni Dan Aykroyd and Chevy Chase appear on film together for the first time as Austin Milbarge and Emmett Fitz-Hume, respectively, in this hilarious spy/adventure spoof. Austin and Emmett are two dopey businessmen who decide they want to be spies, even though they have no experience in that area. The dumb duo take the CIA's admissions test...and are busted for cheating. Nevertheless, the pair are employed as spies anyway--unaware that the true reason they've been hired is to serve as a smokescreen for a band of real spies who are on an important mission. Soon the Russians are after the nitwits, and a potential world war hangs in the balance. (1 hr. 49 min.) Release date: Nov 3, 2009

Murder in the First

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:02 -0000

A well-shot drama about an ambitious young public defender who takes on the case of a man whose cruel treatment at Alcatraz turned him into a killer. In the process of trying the case, the two develop a bond and ultimately bring down Alcatraz once and for all. (2 hrs. 3 min.) Release date: Nov 3, 2009

City That Never Sleeps

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:01 -0000

John leads the perfect double life happily married, hardworking cop by day; a lurid wretch of a man by night. When his father is murdered, he's forced to choose between his two lives in order to successfully track the killer. (1 hr. 30 min.) Release date: Nov 3, 2009

The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:27:00 -0000

New York City subway dispatcher Walter Garber's ordinary day is thrown into chaos by an audacious crime: the hijacking of a subway train. Ryder, a criminal mastermind, leads a highly-armed gang of four, threatening to execute the train's passengers unless a large ransom is paid within one hour. As the tension mounts beneath his feet, Garber employs his vast knowledge of the subway system in a battle to outwit Ryder and save the hostages. But there's one riddle Garber can't solve: even if the thieves get the money, how can they possibly escape? (1 hr 35 min.) Release date: Nov 3, 2009

X-Cross

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:59 -0000

BATTLE ROYALE II and YO-YO GIRL COP director Kenta Fukusaku returns to the helm with this gruesome, over-the-top shocker concerning a picturesque resort overrun by a village of murderous marauders, and a mysterious killer whose weapon of choice is a particularly large--and sharp--pair of scissors. Shiyori (Nao Matsushita) is enjoying a particularly refreshing getaway when she discovers a cell phone warning her to get out of paradise as quickly as possible. Now, as the bloodthirsty locals set out to take her apart piece by piece, the terrified vacationer begins to recall just how it was that she and best friend Aiko (Ami Suzuki) ended up in this dire predicament in the first place. Time for reflection begins to run short, however, when a formidable villain appears sporting a pair of shears that would make even Edward Scissorhands cower in fear. (1 hr. 30 min.) Release date: Oct 27, 2009

Afterwards

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:58 -0000

As helmed by Gilles Bourdos, this supernatural thriller continues John Malkovich's career-long tradition of playing offbeat, enigmatic figures with a menacing air. Romain Duris stars as Nathan Del Amico, an attorney doubly haunted by his past as the survivor of a childhood near-death experience and an adult witness to his own baby's death. As a product of these crises, Nathan has buried himself in his work and now suffers from a bad case of familial estrangement from his separated wife (Evangeline Lilly) and little girl. Then the mysterious Dr. Kay (Malkovich) turns up, claiming that he has clairvoyant visions informing him when someone is about to die--a gift as a "messenger" that enables him to make each person's transition out of life a smooth and easy one. Suddenly, upon hearing Kay's claims, Nathan feels his death-laden memories double in intensity and grows increasingly convinced that either he now stands on the verge of death, or that he has the same messenger abilities as Kay. (1 hr. 47 min.) Release date: Oct 27, 2009

The Moon in the Gutter

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:57 -0000

This haunting drama, set in a dismal harbor town, tells the story of a stevedore who is desperately trying to discover the identity of his sister's killer. (2 hrs. 6 min.) Release date: Oct 20, 2009

King Of The Ants

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:56 -0000

Michael was a small-town boy who grew up dreaming about his eventual success in college football, spending his free time watching the local team run through their drills. Now in college, he finds himself at the bottom of the food chain, rarely afforded the opportunity to play; this runs counter to the expectations of his military family, who expect nothing but the best from their offspring. Michael is oppressed by this until he meets Brenda, a Californian free spirit who helps him stand up to his father, as well as to see the world outside the sphere of the stadium. KING OF THE ANTS is a moving coming of age story with fantastic performances turned in by Tedd Tasky (PAYBACK, ALIEN FURY - COUNTDOWN TO INVASION) and Patrick St. Esprit (Days of our Lives, WE WERE SOLDIERS). (1 hr. 41 min.) Release date: Oct 6, 2009

A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:55 -0000

Freddy, the psycho-sandman, returns to terrorize the teenagers on Elm street, but finds himself squared off against the "Dream Master," a beautiful young girl who just may have the psychic ability to lay the horror to rest. (1 hr. 33 min.) Release date: Sep 29, 2009

Runaway

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:54 -0000

Michael (Aaron Stanford) arrives in a rural town, rents a motel room, and gets a job at the local gas station working for Mo (Peter Gerety), alongside the rambunctious Carly (Robin Tunney). Both Mo and Carly take an interest in Michael's life, and Carly is romantically attracted to him, but Michael's privacy is very important to him, because he has a dark secret. He's run to this small town from an unhappy, traumatic family life, and is forced to earn a living while secretly caring for his little brother, Dylan (Zack Savage). Despite Dylan's constant complaining, Michael rarely lets him leave the motel, because Michael knows that if the authorities find them, they'll be sent back home, or worse. In flashbacks, we see Michael talk to a therapist, Dr. Maxim (Terry Kinney), about his tormented relationship with his parents, Lisa (Melissa Leo) and Jesse (Michael Gaston). Michael blames his father's abuse for his inability to function, and when he saw signs that his father planned to abuse Dylan in the same way, he felt that he had no choice but to take drastic action. As Michael begins to confide in Carly, who has also suffered in an abusive relationship, we gradually learn just how bad things got back home before he ran. RUNAWAY was directed by Tim McCann (REVOLUTION #9) from an original script by Bill True. The film had its world premiere at the 2005 Tribeca Film Festival. (80 hr.) Release date: Dec 8, 2009

Vicious Circle

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:53 -0000

No description available (1 hr. 30 min.) Release date: Dec 8, 2009

Whiteout

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:52 -0000

No description available (1 hr. 41 min.) Release date: Dec 1, 2009

Angels & Demons

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:51 -0000

When Robert Langdon discovers evidence of the resurgence of an ancient secret brotherhood known as the Illuminati -- the most powerful underground organization in history -- he also faces a deadly threat to the existence of the secret organization's most despised enemy: the Catholic Church. When Langdon learns that the clock is ticking on an unstoppable Illuminati time bomb, he jets to Rome, where he joins forces with Vittoria Vetra, a beautiful and enigmatic Italian scientist. Embarking on a nonstop hunt through sealed crypts, dangerous catacombs, deserted cathedrals and even to the heart of the most secretive vault on earth, Langdon and Vetra will follow a 400-year-old trail of ancient symbols that mark the Vatican's only hope for survival. (2 hrs. 18 min.) Release date: Nov 24, 2009

The Canyon

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:50 -0000

A newly married couple finds their dream honeymoon turned into a survivalist nightmare in the indie thriller THE CANYON. After eloping to Vegas, newlyweds Nick (Eion Bailey) and Lori (CHUCK�s Yvonne Strahovski) decide to take a mule tour of the Grand Canyon. But the pleasure trip turns deadly when the pair�s untrustworthy guide, Henry (Will Patton), gets them lost in the Arizona desert, leading to a desperate fight for survival in the unforgiving wilderness. (1 hr. 37 min.) Release date: Nov 17, 2009

Franklyn

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:49 -0000

Writer-director Gerald McMorrow makes his feature debut with this ambitious psychological sci-fi drama set between contemporary London and the dystopic Meanwhile City, where the separation between church and state has been obliterated to make way for a religion-dominated society. As atheist vigilante Jonathan Preest (Ryan Phillippe) prepares to seek revenge against Meanwhile City's powerful leader, privileged artist Emilia (Eva Green) finds her cynicism and depression accelerated by the difficult relationship she shares with her mother. Meanwhile, sensitive Milo (Sam Riley) attempts to recover from a recent heartache, just as deeply religious Peter (Bernard Hill) arrives in London to search for his missing son, a haunted Gulf War veteran. As the narrative shifts between the real and imaginary worlds, McMorrow explores the complex relationships between fantasy, faith, and love. (1 hr. 35 min.) Release date: Nov 17, 2009

The Limits of Control

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:48 -0000

In spite of the title, THE LIMITS OF CONTROL constantly reveals the controlling hand of its creator, the indie icon Jim Jarmusch. The film follows Jarmusch regular Isaach de Bankole as he ambles through various parts of Spain on an ambiguous criminal mission. Credited as the "Lone Man," de Bankole encounters a series of oddly disguised accomplices and absorbs their one-sided philosophical musings, all the while piecing together the nature of his assignment. This narrative sounds more compelling in summary than it is on screen, but if you are seeing a Jarmusch picture in hopes of a scintillating story, then you are as confused as the characters from his more memorable films. The sole disappointment of this film is that, despite the overwhelming strangeness of the action (or lack thereof), none of the characters display any confusion or uncertainty, as they assuredly assess the events and still find time to practice tai chi and pontificate about music, film, science, and painting. The film is rigorously structured: each encounter invokes a definitive theme that clicks firmly into place by the conclusion. The individual scenes are entirely enjoyable, as a white-blond Tilda Swinton discusses Welles and Hitchcock, and John Hurt rasps about the depiction of Spanish bohemians in art and literature. Despite Jarmusch�s domineering presence, it is the brilliant work of his collaborators, particularly cinematographer Christopher Doyle and editor Jay Rabinowitz, that shimmers in the memory of the viewer after the final shot. Doyle makes every line, curve, and diagonal in his frames vibrate with hints of radiant significance, and his ethereal images of the Almerian landscape often draw our attention from the artificial metaphysical dialogue. Jarmusch fans will be delighted by this perplexing metaphor of a film, which aims to symbolize and summarize the whole of existence through its myriad parts. (1 hr. 56 min.) Release date: Nov 17, 2009

Bad Guys

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:47 -0000

No description available (1 hr. 30 min.) Release date: Nov 10, 2009

Bajo la sal

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:46 -0000

No description available (1 hr. 50 min.) Release date: Nov 10, 2009

Watchmen

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:45 -0000

In an alternate 1985 America, costumed superheroes are part of the fabric of everyday society, and the "Doomsday Clock" - which charts the USA's tension with the Soviet Union - is permanently set at five minutes to midnight. When one of his former colleagues is murdered, the washed-up but no less determined masked vigilante Rorschach sets out to uncover a plot to kill and discredit all past and present superheroes. As he reconnects with his former crime-fighting legion - a ragtag group of retired superheroes, only one of whom has true powers - Rorschach glimpses a wide-ranging and disturbing conspiracy with links to their shared past and catastrophic consequences for the future. Their mission is to watch over humanity...but who is watching the watchmen? (163 min.) Release date: Nov 3, 2009

Just Cause

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:44 -0000

A Harvard law professor takes up the case of a southern black man on death row for murdering a white woman, a crime he may not have committed. Discovering the truth proves difficult, as a Bible-spouting inmate and the brutal police officer who convicted the condemned man lead the professor down blind alleys and into treacherous waters. (1 hr. 42 min.) Release date: Nov 3, 2009

Dark Mirror

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:43 -0000

A photographer moves her family into a strange old house, where she discovers an alternate reality reflected in the glass... A dark reality that is closing in on her. (1 hr. 26 min.) Release date: Nov 3, 2009

Sauna

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:42 -0000

JADE WARRIOR director Antti-Jussi Annila crafts this transcendentalist shocker set in 1595 and following two brothers as they descend into a world where there is no such thing as salvation. Protestant Sweden and Orthodox Russia have just reached an uneasy truce. In the wake of their fighting, Finland has become a wasteland. Conquered Finnish brothers Knut and Erik are polar opposites: one is a hardened warrior whose mind has been twisted by the horrors of war, the other is a gentle scientist with no use for fighting. Both have been assigned the task of denoting the new border between Finland and Russia, though they're about to commit a sin that will haunt them both for the rest of their days. After leaving a young girl to die an excruciating death, Knut and Erik forge ahead into an uncharted swamp, eventually reaching an unmapped town where their mere presence awakens a force of unspeakable evil. The girl has returned to haunt them, a horror that both brothers attempt to escape by washing away their sins in a mysterious sauna. But this sauna holds a terrifying secret, and in this godforsaken land there is no mercy for men who would permit such atrocities to be committed against a mere innocent. (1 hr. 23 min.) Release date: Oct 27, 2009

Orphan

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:41 -0000

Horror's creepy child genre gets another entry with this chiller from Jaume Collet-Serra (HOUSE OF WAX). After the death of their unborn child, Kate (Vera Farmiga) and John (Peter Sarsgaard) go to an orphanage to consider adoption. There, they find Esther, a young girl who seems innocent, but she brings destruction to her new family. (2 hr. 3 min.) Release date: Oct 27, 2009

Twilight

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:40 -0000

Bella Swan has always been a little bit different, never caring about fitting in with the trendy girls at her Phoenix high school. When her mother re-marries and sends Bella to live with her father in the rainy little town of Forks, Washington, she doesn't expect much of anything to change. Then she meets the mysterious and dazzlingly beautiful Edward Cullen, a boy unlike any she's ever met. Edward is a vampire, but he doesn't have fangs and his family is unique in that they choose not to drink human blood. Intelligent and witty, Edward sees straight into Bella's soul. Soon, they are swept up in a passionate, thrilling and unorthodox romance. To Edward, Bella is what he has waited 90 years for -- a soul mate. But the closer they get, the more Edward must struggle to resist the primal pull of her scent, which could send him into an uncontrollable frenzy. But what will Edward & Bella do when a clan of new vampires -- James, Laurent and Victoria -- come to town and threaten to disrupt their way of life? (120 min.) Release date: Oct 27, 2009

West 32nd

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:39 -0000

As films such as MEAN STREETS have exposed the underbelly of Little Italy, Mike Kang's WEST 32ND is a gritty look at New York City's Koreatown. John Cho (HAROLD AND KUMAR GO TO WHITE CASTLE) plays John Kim, an ambitious lawyer who sees how taking the case of a young Korean murder suspect may be able to improve the image of his firm--and himself by extension. He meets the boy's sister Lila (Grace Park), and he's immediately drawn to the case. As he investigates the case, he goes deeper and deeper into the underworld of gangs and corruption.

With OLDBOY and THE HOST, Korean films have gained a foothold in U.S. cinemas, but Korean-American films have yet to do the same. Raised in Providence, Rhode Island, director-screenwriter Kang gives an interesting look at the lives of those straddling the space between Korea and America. Cho, who was previously so funny in the stoner comedy, moves seamlessly into this intense drama. He carries the film with his deft portrayal of a complex character. Park, who is best known for her role as a Cylon in the sci-fi series BATTLESTAR GALACTICA, gets to stretch a bit in her role as the conflicted Lila. Coupled with small moments of humor, her flirtation with John gives the film a brief rest from the darkness. WEST 32ND harkens back to crime films such as DONNIE BRASCO and RESERVOIR DOGS where characters with the best of intentions get in over their heads as they spend time with the "bad guys." (1 hr. 31 min.) Release date: Oct 13, 2009

The Killing Room

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:38 -0000

Four volunteers sign up for what initially appears to be a typical paid study in this tense psychological thriller from director Jonathan Liebesman (DARKNESS FALLS, TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE: THE BEGINNING). The allure of a little extra cash proving too powerful to resist, and the strangers decide to partake inthe research. As the study gets underway, the group is presented with a series of questions, and given a finite window of time in which each individual member must submit a unique numerical answer. At first, the participants all assume that the subject who gives the most obviously incorrect answer will be removed from the experiment, though it doesn't take long for the group to realize that the correct answer isn't always the answer that the researchers are looking for. Meanwhile, as the brooding Dr. Phillips (Peter Stormare) attempts to manipulate the study to get the answers he wants, the newest member of his team, military psychologist Ms. Reilly (Chlo� Sevigny), begins questioning the ethics of such a diabolical experiment. (1 hr. 30 min.) Release date: Oct 13, 2009

Infestation

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:37 -0000

When hapless cubicle-dweller Cooper (Chris Marquette) awakens strung up in a silky cocoon, he finds himself face to face with a swarm of enormous, man-eating insects intent on devouring the entire human race. It was his first day on the job, but as nervous as Cooper was coming in to work, he never imagined that things could get this bad. Breaking free of his slimy prison with no time to spare, Cooper races to unravel his coworkers before they're all sucked dry like human milkshakes. With a small battalion of terrified office drones under his command, the company's newest employee fights to find a safe haven, and smash as many creepy-crawly invaders as possible along the way. Perhaps in the frenzy of this mutant insect invasion, Cooper will finally summon the courage to break the ice with his pretty colleague Sarah as well. (97 hr.) Release date: Oct 13, 2009

Oral Fixation

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:36 -0000

A patient turns to murder in hopes of winning her dentist's affections in this dark tale of obsession and tooth decay. When Rachel Marks makes a play for her dentist and he turns her down cold, she wages a sadistic campaign to ingratiate herself into his life even if it means drawing blood. (82 hr.) Release date: Oct 13, 2009

Drag Me to Hell

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:35 -0000

After nearly two decades of successful detours into mature thrillers (THE GIFT, A SIMPLE PLAN) and superhero blockbusters (the Spider-Man series), director Sam Raimi returns--full tilt--to his scrappy horror roots with DRAG ME TO HELL. Alison Lohman stars as Christine Brown, a soft-spoken Southern girl with a good heart, a PhD-toting boyfriend (Justin Long), and a job as a loan officer at a bank just outside of Los Angeles. When evicting a vile and negligent old woman named Mrs. Ganush (Lorna Raver) seems to be the only way to secure an important promotion, Christine pushes her moral flexibility about as far as it can go (not very far at all) only to dearly pay the price as the recipient of a rather nasty curse. The next three days of Christine�s life amount to an unimaginable endurance test in which she is subject to physical and psychological torture while a terrifying demon draws ever closer to take her to hell, where she would burn for eternity.

Raimi manages to keep the feverish awfulness of DRAG ME's central concept palpable while layering on his distinctly disturbing and exhilaratingly kinetic macabre-meets-slapstick portraiture, and the result is an efficient celebration of the art of horror movies that�s campy, scary, and fun. Similar to HBO�s classic TALES FROM THE CRYPT series, HELL feels like a living, breathing EC comic. While it may come as a minor shock that Bruce Campbell, the beloved mouthpiece of the EVIL DEAD franchise, is nowhere to be found in this unabashed horror-comedy, Christine is an excellent twist on Raimi's genre-hero archetype. Fans will get a kick out of seeing her inexplicably leave her gob agape as putrid projectiles pour in, and hearing her, after a bit of pushing, spout a Campbell-ism or two ("I�m gonna get me some!"). (1 hr. 39 min.) Release date: Oct 13, 2009

Senseless

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:34 -0000

Kidnapped and tortured by political extremists just as he's making his way to the top of the corporate ladder, an aspiring CEO becomes the star of an ultra-violent reality show that's streams online. His humiliation growing with each new transgression committed against him, Elliot Gast stages a daring escape attempt based on the hope that someone out there is doing more than simply watching. (87 hr.) Release date: Oct 6, 2009

Crazy As Hell

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:33 -0000

CRAZY AS HELL tells the story of Ty Adams (Mike Beach), a maverick psychiatrist whose non-medicinal approach for treating patients has crowned him a hero in some circles, and an egoist in others. At Sedah State Mental Hospital Adams agrees to be the subject of a thirty-day documentary, examining the effects of psychiatry on mental illness and conversely the effects of metal illness on psychiatry. The study progresses as planned, until the day that a mysterious stranger admits himself to the hospital claiming to be Satan (Eriq La Salle). Through their intense therapy, the stranger works his way into Adams' world, unraveling his life, and pushing him into a battle in which only one of them will survive. (1 hr. 53 min.) Release date: Oct 6, 2009

Trauma

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:32 -0000

A taut, mysterious thriller, TRAUMA stars Colin Firth (LOVE, ACTUALLY) as Ben, an insect-obsessed man slowly putting together the pieces of his life as he awakes from a coma. He discovers that the car accident which lead to his unconscious state claimed the life of his wife, and the police suspect him of murdering a famous pop star. Ben's sense of disorientation at this news is heightened by plenty of visual trickery deployed by director Marc Evans (MY LITTLE EYE), who litters the hospital where the bulk of the film plays out with lashes of David Lynch-inspired imagery. Mena Suvari (AMERICAN BEAUTY) makes a few brief appearances as Charlotte, whom Ben becomes infatuated with, and the action builds slowly to an unforgettable climax. (1 hr. 33 min.) Release date: Sep 29, 2009

Lies & Illusions

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:31 -0000

Monster-movie director Tibor Takacs (MANSQUITO, MEGASNAKE) helms the action-comedy LIES & ILLUSIONS. Christian Slater stars as successful self-help author Wes Wilson, whose happiness is shattered when his fiancee, Samantha (Sarah Ann Schultz), is killed in a seemingly random attack. Wes�s world is turned further upside down after he uncovers Samantha�s secret double life, which involved stealing a cache of diamonds from ruthless jewel smuggler Isaac (Cuba Gooding Jr.)--who now wants his loot back, and is willing to do anything to get it. (93 hr.) Release date: Sep 29, 2009

Stepfather 2

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:30 -0000

The unrepentant sociopathic killer has escaped from a psychiatric hospital and assumed a new identity. Posing as a family therapist he begins to court a divorced woman and wins over her son in order to satisfy his bloody urges. (1 hr. 26 min.) Release date: Sep 29, 2009

Fermat's Room

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:29 -0000

A group of motley math experts must solve problems at lightning speed to avoid being squashed into oblivion in writer-director Luis Piedrahita's mindbending thriller FERMAT'S ROOM. The story begins with a handsome, twentysomething intellectual, Galois (Alejo Sauras), banking off the success of solving an intimidating mathematical enigma known as Goldbach's theorem. Galois then receives an invitation from the mysterious stranger Fermat (Federico Luppi) who invites both him and several other intellectuals to a set location in a warehouse, with the stated intention of having them collectively solve a mathematical riddle. He instructs them to avoid bringing cell phones, which none do. Upon arrival, Fermat indeed greets them in the warehouse, but is soon summoned offsite and leaves his invitees alone. As soon as he departs, odd events begin to transpire: the members of the group begin receiving strange mathematical riddles on their PDAs which they must solve in under a minute. Subsequently, hydraulic presses on the exterior of the warehouse kick on and the walls begin to close in, threatening the lives of the protagonists. (1 hr. 30 min.) Release date: Sep 29, 2009

The Lawnmower Man

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:26:28 -0000

A simpleton gardener is transformed into a malevolent mega-genius by a scientist using virtual reality software in THE LAWNMOWER MAN, which uses excellent computer graphic animation by Angel Studios. (1 hr. 45 min.) Release date: Sep 29, 2009