This week in the Watchlist there’s a poisonous gas cloud that’s set to spoil Keira Knightley Christmas, a documentary about a Canadian climber that hits new heights, some alien abduction action and much more. Ready, set, go … and read The Weekend Watchlist.
“Anger clouds the mind. Turned inward, it is an unconquerable enemy.”
– Splinter, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
In Cinemas
Silent Night (15)
We all know Christmas get-togethers with friends and family can be seriously painful affairs, but imagine having armageddon to face as well as the washing up. That’s the interesting premise behind this British comedy drama, that sees couple Nell and Simon (Keira Knightley and Matthew Goode) invite their nearest and dearest for Xmas dinner and all the traditional laughter, fun and arguments over board games.
Yet, despite the good natured chit chat, the literal and rather toxic cloud hanging over them all is set to sweep in on Boxing Day and kill them all.It certainly gives surviving the holidays a new meaning! Essentially this film is the unusual make up of part Brit-com, part disaster movie. It’s hardly what you’d call a feel good movie, but if you like your Christmas with a large helping of darkness, this one might well be for you.
Stream It
The Alpinist (Netflix)
You’ll need a head for heights to enjoy this brilliant new documentary that’s just dropped on Netflix. It follows the fearless free-spirited Canadian climber Marc-André Leclerc as he takes on some of the boldest solo mountain ascents in history. For anyone in doubt, solo means no ropes, no climbing partner, no safety net, it’s just Marc against the mountain and it makes for some of the most heart-in-mouth footage you could hope to watch.
The interesting thing about this young climber is how he shuns the limelight, he prefers not to be filmed as to him it’s a purer vision of how sheer rock faces should be scaled. Which makes things especially tricky for filmmaker Peter Mortimer as he attempt to pin down this elusive, nomadic soul.
Did You Know?
John Malkovich wrote and starred in a movie, which Robert Rodriguez directed, that will remain locked in a vault in France for 100 years. The snappily titled,”100 Years: The Movie You Will Never See,” will be automatically unlocked from the impenetrable safe in Cognac on November 18th, 2115, for future generations to watch. A thousand people received invitations to the 2115 premiere, which they can pass down to their offspring.
Hidden Gem
The Fourth Kind (Netflix)
Having landed to stream on Netflix this month, we thought it was high time to re-watch this underrated alien abduction flick. Given the Pentagon recently released a report where they don’t rule out aliens existing, where we are now in the world means this fact-based movie delivers even more chills.
The plot focuses on the isolated town of Nome, Alaska, where, since the 60s, hundreds of people have gone missing with the cases of their disappearance unsolved. A psychiatrist named Abigail Tyler (Milla Jovovich) begins delving into sleep disorders plaguing her patients from the town and comes to the conclusion that there might be an other worldly explanation for the goings on. The Fourth Kind is clumsy in places, but some of the actual documentary footage from Tyler’s sessions with her patients is extremely freaky and made us keep a very close eye on the skies long after viewing. Stream in on Netflix.
New Trailer
See for Me
Here’s a first look at this Canadian thriller starring Skyler Davenport as Sophie, a visually impaired former skier, who’s housesitting for a wealthy client when a group of thieves break into the house to rob it. Sophie’s only defence is a smartphone app called See for Me which connects her to army veteran Kelly (Jessica Parker Kennedy), who has to use the app to see Sophie’s surroundings and guide her so she can fight back. See for Me is released in January 2022.
Quick Question Answer: Last week we asked you, what was the name of Quint’s shark-hunting boat in Jaws? The answer of course is The Orca.
This week we’d like to know what Burt Reynolds film included a Basset Hound character named Fred? We’ll give you the answer in next week’s Weekend Watchlist.
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