Opening This Week
Dilim
Directed by Jose Javier Reyes; stars Kylie Padilla, Rayver Cruz, Rafael Rosell, Joross Gamboa, Manny Castañeda
Nursing student finds herself alone in a spooky dormitory where two girls vanished under mysterious circumstances. Reyes says the shoot was fun. “Kylie is unpretentious, a beautiful specimen of naturalness. There is not a fake fiber in her. She simply loves to act.” Opens today.
This photo released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows, Robert Downey Jr., left, as, Hank Palmer, and Vera Farmiga as Samantha Powell, in the Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Village Roadshow Pictures’ drama “The Judge” a Warner Bros. Pictures release. (AP Photo/Warner Bros. Pictures)
The Judge
Directed by David Dobkin; stars Robert Duvall, Robert Downey Jr., Vera Farmiga, Billy Bob Thornton
Hotshot lawyer must defend his estranged father, a small-town judge who is suspected of murder. The Independent’s Geoffrey Macnab thinks it’s a “richly crafted yarn that boasts barnstorming performances.” Rolling Stone’s Peter Travers says it’s an “overstuffed, overlong slog.” Opens today.
Fury
Directed by David Ayer; stars Brad Pitt, Shia LaBeouf, Logan Lerman, Michael Peña, Jon Bernthal
Five-man tank crew embarks on a dangerous mission behind enemy lines. USA Today’s Claudia Puig calls it “tough, harrowing … captures the brutality and misery of war.” The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Steven Rea agrees: “Unrelentingly violent, visceral depiction of war … as it should be.” Opens today.
The Best of Me
Directed by Michael Hoffman; stars Michelle Monaghan, James Marsden, Luke Bracey
High school sweethearts reunite two decades after their star-crossed romance. Time Out’s Tom Huddleston remarks: “Misguided and overemotional … weirdly, unintentionally entertaining.” Screen International’s Brent Simon quips: “Sputters and struggles to find lift.” Opens today.
Kristy
Directed by Oliver Blackburn; stars Ashley Greene, Lucas Till, Haley Bennett, Erica Ash
Stuck alone on campus, teenage girl learns to defend herself against her creepy tormentors. Moviepilot.com describes it as “lean, mean … taut, nerve-shredding thriller.” Crypticrock.com concurs: “Complex yet simple plot with twists, turns and plenty of suspense.” Opens today.
As Above, So Below
Directed by John Erick Dowdle; stars Perdita Weeks, Ben Feldman, Marion Lambert, Edwin Hodge
Explorers get lost in
the labyrinthine catacombs under Paris’ streets. RogerEbert.com’s Simon Adams says: “Novel enough to be worth the price of admission.” Los Angeles Times’ Robert Abele sums it up as “an entertainment-free sinkhole of Dramamine-worthy nonsense.” Opens today in Ayala Cinemas.
Paranormal Island
Directed by Marty Murray; stars Briana Evigan, Lance Henriksen, Randy Wayne, Sarah Karges
Rowdy buddies land their dream job, bartending in a resort that turns out to be haunted. 28dayslateranalaysis.com reports: “Darkness promises looming terror.” Shocktillyoudrop.com’s Ryan Turek says: It “stars Briana Evigan, so there is an upside.” Opens today.
Viy: Spirit of Evil
Directed by Oleg Stepchenko; stars Jason Fleming, Andrey Smolyakov, Aleksey Chadov
American cartographer stumbles on an isolated Eastern European town with a dark secret. Horrorcultfilms.uk notes: “A faithful adaptation of Nikolay Gogol’s classic Russian horror story.” Obskura.co.uk’s Anastasia Chupina says: “Satisfies audience’s hunger for spectacles.” Opens today.
Wolves
Directed by David Hayter; stars Lucas Till, Jason Momoa, Merrit Patterson, Kaitlyn Leeb
Teenager goes on the road after learning he is a werewolf. Screenrant.com’s Sandy Schaefer regards it as “‘Twilight’ with a bit more bite.” Wegotthiscovered.com’s Matt Donato dismisses it as a “strange beast… a declawed melodrama … a cartoonishly vibrant creature-feature.” Opens today.
The Pirates
Directed by Seok-hoon Lee; stars Nam-gil Kim, Ye-jin Son, Hae-jin Yoo, Kyeong-yong Lee
Bandits and pirates try to recover the emperor’s Seal of State, which was swallowed by a whale. Seattle Times’ Soren Anderson says: “Fun, though … too dimly lit.” LA Weekly’s Michael Nordin notes: “Studied the swashbuckling playbook … passable, if unexceptional.” Opens on Saturday in SM Cinemas.
Little Azkals
Directed by Babyruth Villarama-Gutierrez; stars Agiel John Rojo, Nicolas Art Abalos, Laurence Dave Gerali
Documentary follows 22 Filipino kids, from as near as Laguna province to as far as South Cotabato province, who join a three-week football training program at Loughborough University in the United Kingdom. “The kids’ stories are inspiring.
They remind us that there is still hope,” Gutierrez says. Opens Saturday in SM Cinemas.
