The weekend of February 22, 2013 brings two intriguing thrillers of different kinds in front of movie-loving audiences in theaters. Both films take place within different genres, but was is interesting to note is that the casting for both films has recruited some experienced television stars to round out the players involved. But one film in particular is riding on a familiar action-star lead to bring home the bucks.
Still Going Fast
Former WWE wrestler Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson has certainly had a busy on-screen career of late with three high profile action films due out this year in which he co-stars; G.I. Joe: Retaliation, Pain & Gain, and Fast & Furious 6. On top of that Johnson headlines Snitch this weekend, playing a father trying to free his framed son from prison by going undercover for the DEA.
The movie is directed by Ric Roman Waugh, who delivered the very-well received straight-to-video 2008 crime-fiction film Felon. The flick also co-stars Susan Sarandon (Arbitage) and a host of familiar television actors in Jon Bernthal (The Walking Dead), Harold Perrineau (Sons Of Anarchy), Michael Kenneth Williams (Boardwalk Empire), Melina Kanakaredes (CSI: NY), and Benjamin Bratt (Private Practice).
Every trailer thus far has hinted that this could be an extremely worthy movie to indulge in, full of character depth, drama and substance, not to mention some action-thrills. The cast is impeccable and the filmmaker is a rising talent, so it should receive some warranted attention. Snitch is rated PG-13 for violence and drug content.
Stemming From Established Popularity
The horror television show American Horror Story has so far in two seasons brought a unique hybrid-mix of bloody carnage, supernatural happenings and sci-fi mysteries. Opening this weekend is also Dark Skies, a film that seems influenced by that television show by mixing a horror/thriller aspect with potential alien invaders.
The film stars television expert Keri Russell (Felicity, The Americans) as a mother trying to protect her family from a deadly force that is threatening their suburban way of life. At the helm is director Scott Stewart, who is looking to rebound from CGI-happy works that seriously underperformed at the box-office, like Legion and Priest.
Early signs indicate that Dark Skies might definitely be Stewart's best work to date that is capable of delivering some scares to audiences, but it remains to be seen if the film can stand as anything more than simply a passing interest in the genre. Dark Skies is rated PG-13 for violence, terror, sexual material, drug content and language.
Snitch and Dark Skies will both be playing at Cineplex Odeon First Markham Place Cinemas for local Markham residents.
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