Aarcflick

In Aida and Back, chaos erupts during the production of the Spanish television series "Aida." Complications arise when someone on set is accused of inappropriate behavior. Screenwriter and director Paco León and co-writer Fernando Pérez have created a light and mildly amusing satire with touches of Almodóvar, but it's tonally uneven and not funny, quirky, or witty enough.  Carmen Machi, reprising her role as Aida, is the film's best asset with her charismatic performance that brings nuance and depth. Viewers who have seen the Aida series will appreciate the inside jokes and seeing all the familiar faces, but those unfamiliar with it will find little to engage them, especially since all the inside jokes will be incomprehensible. Furthermore, the tone is very inconsistent, with some serious moments causing an abrupt shift in register, and there are too many underdeveloped subplots. Director: Maryam Touzani Writers: Nabil Ayouch, Maryam Touzani Stars: Carmen Maura, Marta...

Epic Pictures Group will release the mystery-thriller feature film in select North American theaters on February 6, before its video-on-demand release on February 10, as exclusively reported by The Hollywood Reporter. Shawn Ashmore (The Rookie, X-Men), Elizabeth Mitchell (Lost), Jessy Schram (Mad Men), and Garret Dillahunt (Fear the Walking Dead) lead the cast of the film directed by Kyle Kauwika Harris. The Huntsman tells the story of an ICU nurse who becomes entangled in a dangerous world after agreeing to help a comatose patient accused of murdering six women. Director: Kyle Kauwika Harris Writers: Kyle Kauwika Harris, Judith Sanders, Steven Jon Whritner Stars: Shawn Ashmore, Elizabeth Mitchell, Jessy Schram Harris directed the film from a screenplay he co-wrote with Steven Jon Whritner, based on the novel by author Judith Sanders. Frank J. Malinoski serves as executive producer. “With The Huntsman, I wanted to explore the gray areas of morality, the limits of justice, and the elusi...

One of Japan's most avant-garde auteurs has created another visually stunning but narratively forgettable baroque fantasy. Several filmmakers in Venice are reportedly presenting films that reflect the "state of the world." Whether it's Luca Guadagnino with his take on cancel culture, Yorgos Lanthimos satirizing the radicalization of the far right, or Kathryn Bigelow portraying our collective madness in a nightmarish fashion, many of our most celebrated directors seem to be observing a rapidly changing world and asking themselves, "How did we get here?" Director: Mamoru Hosoda Writer: Mamoru Hosoda Stars: Mana Ashida, Masaki Okada, Masachika Ichimura Hosoda, a former Studio Ghibli animator who went independent and has become one of Japan's most successful auteurs, is no exception. His latest film, 2021's "Belle," was a sci-fi adaptation of "Beauty and the Beast." For his newest work, Hosoda hasn't strayed too far from that baro...

I learned about Aztec death whistles through a series of prank videos on the internet. (If you've never seen one, take 30 seconds to watch one.) These contraptions emit a loud, piercing sound that resembles a scream from beyond the grave. It's no wonder people are easily startled by them. Whistle, the new horror film from director Corin Hardy (The Nun), revolves around the discovery of an Aztec death whistle and the terrible things that happen when someone blows into it. Chrys Willet (Daphne Keen from Logan) is the new girl at school. She's assigned the locker that belonged to a basketball star who died in a mysterious fire. On top of the locker, she finds a strange-looking urn containing an equally strange whistle. Professor Craven (Nick Frost) confiscates it when she brings it to detention, but a friend steals it back and returns it to her during a group study session. Another friend blows the whistle, and soon after, the whole gang starts dying one by one in gruesome way...

Kevin James' film career has primarily consisted of physical comedies, most notably the Grown Ups films and Paul Blart: Mall Cop, in addition to an action-drama, Becky, where he unexpectedly played a neo-Nazi. The actor takes a different turn in his latest film, Solo Mio. With a script he co-wrote with directors Charles and Daniel Kinnane, James plays himself as a romantic lead. And he pulls it off successfully. Matt Taylor is in Italy to marry his fiancée Heather (Julie Anne Emery). She gets cold feet at the last minute, leaving him at the altar. Since the honeymoon package is already paid for and non-refundable, he reluctantly decides to stay. Two other honeymooning couples—Julian and Meghan (Kim Coates and Alyson Hannigan) and Neil and Donna (Jonathan Roumie and Julee Cerda)—try to cheer him up. This process is accelerated when he meets Gia (Nicole Grimaudo), a coffee shop owner who is instantly attracted to him. Directors: Charles Kinnane, Daniel Kinnane Writers: Kevin James, J...

There's a growing group of filmgoers who believe that sex has no place in movies. Harry Lighton's Pillion will undoubtedly shock these people. Lead actor Alexander Skarsgård has referred to the film as a "domination comedy" during its press tour, and he's right. The film has more in common with a low-key indie comedy than with the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy, even though Pillion also centers on a BDSM relationship. What Pillion, adapted from Adam Mars-Jones' 2020 novel Box Hill, understands better than Fifty Shades is how the BDSM community can be a safe space for people to discover themselves. At first glance, Colin (Harry Melling) isn't what you'd consider an adventurous type. He's a parking enforcement officer who sings in a barbershop quartet in his spare time. His mother (Lesley Sharp) encourages him to find a partner, but Colin struggles to connect with anyone. The answer to his isolation comes in the form of a motorcyclist, Ray (Skarsgård),...