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| Breaking Dawn, final poster Courtesy Summit |
The fall movie season leading up to Christmas is a cornucopia of films that are a paranormal enthusiast’s dream. Heavy on the ghosts, demons and post-apocalyptic world - one we may soon live in if the Mayans were correct - this season will not disappoint.
Many highly-anticipated films, such as The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and the final installment of the Twilight Saga will thrill fans and a couple of animated flicks will delight the kiddos (and adults).
So which of these following paranormal, horror or fantasy movies are you excited to see? Which...not so much? Look ahead to see the list...
Looper
Sept. 28
Starring: Bruce Willis, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Emily Blunt. Director: Rian Johnson
This action-packed, futuristic, mob-infused flick seems a bit complicated. But, there’s illegal time travel so that’s cool, right? The year is 2047 and Joseph Simmons (Gordon Levitt) is a 25-year-old "Looper" which is basically a hitman who must successfully dispose of anyone getting in the way of his employer’s criminal dealings. When Simmons fails, the mob targets him and he must dispose of his future self (Willis).
Hotel Transylvania
Sept. 28 (PG)
Starring: voices of Adam Sandler, Kevin James and Fran Drescher. Director: Genndy Tartakovsky
In this animated family film, Sandler plays our favorite vampire, Dracula and he runs the 5-Stake resort, Hotel Transylvania. Monsters need a place to vacation without judgement, right? On the 118th birthday of Dracula’s daughter, Mavis, he invites the world’s most infamous monsters to the hotel to celebrate. Unexpectedly, a human happens upon the hotel and ends up falling for Mavis. Hijinks ensue!
Solomon Kane
Sept. 28 (R)
Starring: James Purefoy, Rachel Hurd-Wood and Max von Sydow. Director: Michael J. Bassett
This limited-release film is based on the pulp stories of author and creator of Conan the Barbarian, Robert E. Howard. Kane is a viscious English soldier from the 1500s who has been damned because of the life of brutality that he has led. When attacking a castle, his men are destroyed by demons until he is left to face the Reaper. The Reaper has been sent by the Devil himself so take hold of Kane’s defiled soul. Kane vows to try to redeem himself by living a peaceful life and fight against darkness.
Sinister
Oct. 5
Starring: Ethan Hawke, James Ransone and Vincent D’Onofrio. Director: Scott Derrickson
In this terrifying supernatural thriller from the producer of the Paranormal Activity movies and Insidious, and the writer-director of The Exorcism of Emily Rose, Ethan Hawke plays an ambitious true-crime novelist and family man who finds a box of disturbing home movies. They reveal how and why the families that previously lived in his new home, were murdered. Oh and yeah, we get to meet a demon named Bagul. Bagul exists in images and likes kids a little too voraciously. This causes obvious paranormal horror on him and his terrified family.
Frankenweenie
Oct. 5
Starring: voices of Charlie Tahan, Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara and Martin Short. Director: Tim Burton
The black-and-white, stop-motion animated film, Frankenweenie is an obvious parody of the classic 1931 film Frankenstein, as well as a remake of Burton’s 1984 short film of the same name. Victor Frankenstein is a child scientist who sadly loses his best friend, his pup, Sparky. Sparky will always live in his heart, but he wants to bring him back. He is able to re-animate Sparky with the power of lightning. Victor hides Sparky but when he escapes, the little guy creates chaos in their town.
Paranormal Activity 4
Oct. 19
Starring: Katie Featherston, Brady Allen, Kathryn Newton and Matt Shively. Directors: Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman
This installment in the highly-popular franchise that just won’t die, is a continuation from Paranormal Activity 2. It is five years after Katie killed her sister and brother-in-law, and kidnapped their son, Hunter. Katie and Hunter have moved next door to a pretty young girl named Alice and her mom. Strange things start occurring at Alice’s home since the arrival of her creepy new neighbors. Get out that video camera!
Cloud Atlas
Oct. 26
Starring: Tom Hanks, Halle Berry and Jim Broadbent. Directors: Tom Tykwer, Lana Wachowski and Andy Wachowski
Cloud Atlas is based on the 2004 science fiction/fantasy novel by David Mitchell. The film begins in the 19th century and ends in (here we go again!) the post-apocalyptic world. There are 6 story lines that interlock in this tale of human drama that shows how our actions impact one another throughout the ages. “Everything is connected.”
Silent Hill : Revelation 3D
Oct. 26
Starring: Sean Bean, Radha Mitchell, Kit Harington and Carrie-Anne Moss. Director: Michael J. Bassett
Sean Bean returns for the sequel to the disturbing 2006 film Silent Hill. He is reprising his role but has a name change from Christopher Da Silva to Harry Mason. He and his daughter, Heather Mason, had been running from dangerous and evil forces until his disappearance. On the eve of Heather's 18th birthday, she discovers that she isn't who she thought she was and falls into the demonic dimension that exists in the town of Silent Hill.
The Man with the Iron Fists
Nov. 02
Starring: Russell Crowe, RZA, Lucy Liu and Cung Le. Director: RZA (Robert Fitzgerald Diggs)
Written by the rapper and Eli Roth, RZA plays the blacksmith in China's Jungle Village. Since he arrived, he has been made to create some badass tools of destruction by "radical tribal factions." When the village is threatened by a traitor, he must join forces with warriors and assassins and channel energy that changes him into the ultimate human weapon.
Vamps
Nov. 2, on DVD Nov. 13
Starring: Alicia Silverstone, Krysten Ritter, Wallace Shawn, and Dan Stevens. Director: Amy Heckerling
Goody and Stacy are a couple of sweet and lovely NYC gals just enjoying "life" as vampires. Of course, buzz-kill Dr. Van Helsing shows up with the desire to rid the city of the undead. Van Helsing's son falls for Stacy and hilarity ensues. Some other familiar characters show up, such as Renfield and Vlad, to add to this campy and blood thirsty romantic comedy.
Jack and Diane
Nov. 2
Starring: Juno Temple, Riley Keough. Director: Bradley Rust Gray
No this isn't a film about the catchy 1982 hit song by John Mellencamp, it's about two teenage girls, falling in love, and how "transforming" deep emotions could truly be. Jack and Diane are young lesbians who spend a passionate night together in New York City that affects both of them quite strongly. When Jack finds out that Diane is moving away, she becomes distant and Diane's body starts to violently react to her emotions. What makes it paranormal: The lesbian werewolf subplot, perhaps?
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2
Nov. 16
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner. Director: Bill Condon
Twi-hards have been highly anticipating this final installment to the epic Twilight Saga (the final poster for which is above). The no-longer-ordinary Bella is not only a new mom but a new vampire. Her daughter, Renesmee, has been misidentified by the vampire Irina, as an uncontrollable "immortal child" and must be destroyed. Vampire clans are gathered to defend and therefore, save Renesmee from the Volturi. Apparently some changes to the book have also been made which will cause both excitement and controversy among fans. Oh, and there was that other little news item with the two leads.
Rise of the Guardians
Nov. 21
Starring: voices of Chris Pine, Isla Fisher, Jude Law, Alec Baldwin. Director: Peter Ramsey
Jack Frost (Pine) only has one job, to make winter happen wherever he goes. But, when the Nightmare King (Law) has a desire to bring total darkness to our world, Jack is recruited by The Guardians, who we know better as Santa Claus (Baldwin), the Tooth Fairy (Fisher), the Sandman, and the Easter Bunny. Their job is to stop the Nightmare King and protect the world's children. The movie is based of the book series by William Joyce, entitled The Guardians of Childhood.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Dec. 14
Starring: Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Cate Blanchett, Billy Connolly. Director: Peter Jackson
Finishing off the new flicks of a fall season filled with mega-anticipated films, it's this fantastical journey that’s been causing geekgasms ever since production has been announced. Bilbo Baggins is visited by Gandalf and unwillingly sent on a quest to reclaim the conquered Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor. Obviously this won’t be an easy journey but with the help of 13 dwarves, including the warrior Thorin Oakenshield, Baggins will encounter several obstacles that will ultimately lead them to Gollum and that precious gold ring.
Monsters, Inc. 3D
Dec. 19
Starring: John Goodman, Billy Crystal, Jennifer Tilly, Steve Buscemi. Director: Pete Docter and David Silverman
In 2001, Monsters, Inc. was a box-office hit…it earned $525 million world-wide. So why not re-release it in 3D? It's a no-brainer. Audiences get to relive the antics of Sully and his one-eyed helper, Mike… employees of the scream producing factory, Monsters, Inc. A lot of the kiddos who enjoyed the film 11 years ago are now young adults and will most likely give this modern Disney classic another spin - and just in time for the 2013 sequel, Monsters University.