Fox’s Hell’s Kitchen season 23 is all about head chefs. Gordon Ramsay’s “Head Chefs Only!” themed season premieres on September 26, 2024 at 8pm ET/PT and heads to the East Coast for its very first time.
The bar is set high as the head chefs attempt to stand out from the pack and impress Chef Ramsay with their skills.
“Thanks to the culinary boom of the last 30 years, good chefs have more skills in their arsenal than ever before. But Chef Ramsay knows one critical skill for a great chef remains elusive and rare: leadership. And Chef Ramsay is looking for the ultimate leader to fill a very special position in his empire,” reads Fox’s synopsis. “So, for this historic season, filmed for the first time on the east coast at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut, where one of Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen restaurants is located, Chef Ramsay is focusing his search on one specific group: Head Chefs Only! This talented crop of chefs will come from all ages, backgrounds, culinary specialties, and restaurant types. But whether that restaurant is a tiny mom-and-pop shop or sports a large fine-dining brigade, these chefs are used to calling the shots. Line cooks need not apply.”
Hell’s Kitchen Season 23 Blue Team
EGYPT
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Currently Resides: Riviera Beach, FL
URI
Hometown: Buenos Aires, AR
Currently Resides: Long Branch, NJ
MICHAEL
Hometown: Hudson, OH
Currently Resides: Lakewood, OH
KYLE
Hometown: Dennis Township, NJ
Currently Resides: Philadelphia, PA
BRANDON
Hometown: Lafayette, IN
Currently Resides: Arvada, CO
CORBIN
Hometown: Appleton, WI
Currently Resides: Appleton, WI
ANTHONY
Hometown: Sacramento, CA
Currently Resides: Sacramento, CA
JOE
Hometown: Staten Island, NY
Currently Resides: East Rutherford, NJ
SHANT
Hometown: Glendale, CA
Currently Resides: Glendale, CA
Hell’s Kitchen Season 23 Red Team
MEGHAN
Hometown: Honolulu, HI
Currently Resides: Ewa Beach, HI
HANNAH
Hometown: DeKalb, IL
Currently Resides: Boynton Beach, FL
MAGALI
Hometown: Huntington Beach, CA
Currently Resides: Hartford City, NJ
ANN MARIE
Hometown: Highlands Ranch, CO
Currently Resides: Denver, CO
LULU
Hometown: Puebla, MX
Currently Resides: Jacksonville, FL
BRITTANY
Currently Resides: Dallas, Texas
WHITNEY
Hometown: Reidsville, NC
Currently Resides: The Bronx, NY
AMANDA
Hometown: Orlando, FL
Currently Resides: Pompano Beach, FL
AMBER
Hometown: San Diego, CA
Currently Resides: Palm Springs, CA
Keke Palmer as Samira in ‘The Burbs’ (Photo by: Elizabeth Morris/PEACOCK)
Two-time Emmy winner Keke Palmer (Password) is confirmed to star in and executive produce The ‘Burbs, inspired by the 1989 film with Tom Hanks and Carrie Fisher. Peacock’s given a straight-to-series order to the mystery comedy series executive-produced by Brian Grazer and Seth MacFarlane.
“Set in present-day suburbia, The ‘Burbs follows a young couple returning to the husband’s childhood home,” reads Peacock’s synopsis. “Their world is upended when new neighbors move in next door, bringing old secrets of the cul-de-sac to light, and new deadly threats shatter the illusion of their quiet little neighborhood.”
The new series will shoot on Universal Studios Hollywood’s backlot where the original film, directed by Joe Dante, was shot. Dana Olsen, screenwriter of the ’89 comedy, is involved in the Peacock series as a co-executive producer.
Celeste Hughey (Palm Royale) is on board as writer and executive producer. Additional executive producers include Fuzzy Door’s MacFarlane, Erica Huggins, and Aimee Carlson, along with Imagine Entertainment’s Grazer, Kristen Zolner, and Natalie Berkus.
The series is produced by UCP, a division of Universal Studio Group.
The original PG-rated comedy film opened in theaters on February 17, 1989. Critics didn’t embrace the comedy thriller, with the film earning a 56% rotten score on Rotten Tomatoes. Made for $18 million, The ‘Burbs grossed $49 million worldwide during its theatrical run.
Oscar nominees Melissa McCarthy (Can You Ever Forgive Me?) and Clive Owen (Closer) will star in a Paramount+ limited series about the murder of JonBenet Ramsey. McCarthy will star as JonBenet’s mother, Patsy, and Owen is set to play JonBenet’s dad, John Bennett Ramsey.
The eight-episode limited series, currently titled JonBenét Ramsey, has Oscar nominee Richard LaGravenese on board as writer, executive producer, and showrunner.
“JonBenét Ramsey explores the tragic unsolved murder of six-year-old beauty queen JonBenét Ramsey. It follows the Ramsey family, before and after the tragedy as they go through the painful loss of a child while facing intense public scrutiny caused by a media frenzy that caused this case to captivate an entire nation,” reads Paramount+’s synopsis. “At the heart of the series, it is the story of Patsy and John Ramsey – exploring the unbreakable partnership of these two complex people – as husband and wife, as mother and father – who had committed themselves and their children to building the narrative of a perfect, privileged life only to have it destroyed one Christmas night in 1996.”
Additional executive producers include McCarthy, David C. Glasser, Ron Burkle, Bob Yari, David Hutkin, and Anne Sewitsky.
“Melissa McCarthy and Clive Owen are an extraordinary duo to delve into this tragic story that has cast a long, haunting shadow over American culture for nearly three decades,” stated Chris McCarthy, Paramount Global Co-CEO and President/CEO, Showtime & MTV Entertainment Studios.
“JonBenét Ramsey continues to be one of the country’s most fascinating unsolved murders,” said Jeff Grossman, Executive Vice President, Programming, Paramount+. “The incredible talent of Melissa McCarthy, Clive Owen, and the creative team led by Richard LaGravenese will illuminate her story with the acuity and nuance it deserves.”
In addition to LaGravense, Harrison Query and Tommy Wallach will serve as executive producers. Anne Sewitsky (Presumed Innocent) will direct four of the eight episodes, including the first episode. Sewitsky is also an executive producer. The limited series is produced by MTV Entertainment Studios and 101 Studios.
“We have been working to bring this thought-provoking and bold project to audiences for some time now and could not be happier with the top-notch team working in front of and behind the camera,” said David Glasser, CEO of 101 Studios.
Fox’s Accused has added four actors to its season two cast. Cobie Smulders, Vella Lovell, Dina Shihabi, and Isabel Arraiza have joined the crime anthology series for the upcoming season.
In addition, Fox unveiled a short trailer teasing the fictional cases and timely subject matters that will be featured in the new season.
“Accused is a collection of intense, topical, and human stories of crime and punishment. Each episode is a fast-paced provocative thriller, exploring a different crime, in a different city, with an entirely original cast,” reads Fox’s synopsis. “Based on the BBC’s BAFTA-winning crime anthology, each episode opens in a courtroom on the defendant, with viewers knowing nothing about their crime or how they ended up on trial. Told from the defendant’s point of view through flashbacks, the show holds a mirror up to current times with evocative and emotional stories. In the end, audiences will discover how an ordinary person gets caught up in extraordinary circumstances, and how one impulsive decision can impact the course of that life – and the lives of others — forever.”
Confirmed season two actors include Felicity Huffman, William H. Macy, Michael Chiklis, Taylor Schilling, Justin Chambers, and Nick Cannon. Patrick J. Adams, Ken Jeong, Debra Winger, Christine Ebersol, Mercedes Ruehl, and Danny Pino also star in season two episodes.
The series premiered on Fox in January 2023. Season two is set to join Fox’s primetime lineup on October 8, 2024, with new episodes airing on Tuesdays at 8pm ET/PT.
Cobie Smulders’s credits include Stumptown, How I Met Your Mother, American Crime: Impeachment, and Secret Invasion. Vella Lovell stars in Fox’s Animal Control opposite Joel McHale, and worked with Ted Danson and Holly Hunter in Mr. Mayor. Lovell’s resume also includes Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Dollface, and The Big Sick. Dina Shihabi’s past credits include Painkiller, Catching Dust, Ghosts of Beirut, and Archive 81.
Isabel Arraiza’s filmography includes The Little Things, Zoo, Driven, and American Dreamer. Arraiza has Notice to Quit with Michael Zegen and Nell Verlaque opening in theaters on September 27, 2024.
The 10 survivalists competing on ‘Alone’ season 11 (Photo Credit: The History Channel)
History’s Alone season 11 episode 12, the season finale, begins on Day 75 with Dub, William, and Timber battling freezing temperatures and heavy snow. Food is scarce, and conditions are deteriorating as the number of daylight hours has been reduced to just four.
One survivalist is forced to tap on Day 80, and another decides to leave on Day 83 with his health and mental state intact. The winner of the $500,000 prize is crowned on Day 84, moving into third place on the list of Alone winners behind season seven’s Roland (Day 100) and season three’s Zachary (Day 87).
Dub Paetz in ‘Alone’ season 11 (Photo Credit: The History Channel)
Dub – Age 44, Frederic, Michigan
Day 75, 2:36pm – The season finale begins seconds after episode 11 ended, with Dub collapsed in the snow. He truly believed the Day 75 med check visit was just a ruse, and that he was about to be announced as the season 11 winner. Unfortunately, he was wrong. After giving himself a few minutes to sulk, he returns to work collecting firewood.
Dub is disappointed he set himself up for such a big letdown. However, he thinks his competitors might tap because they miss their kids. He does a little ice fishing but is unsuccessful. The sun’s only hitting the horizon and will be up for just four and a half hours a day.
3:31pm – Dub admits he’s in a desperate situation. The fish aren’t biting, and he’s forced to return to his shelter empty-handed. Alone is the most difficult thing he’s ever done, but he doesn’t want to tap out and have regrets for the rest of his life. “The red button is a dream-crushing killer that’s got a nice little sugarcoating on it,” says Dub.
Day 78, 2:38pm – Dub sings a little ditty about living in the Arctic while fishing. Nothing bites and he calls it a day.
3:16pm – Dub decides to eat most of the fish from his stash, even though that’s a risky move. He’s prepared for cold, but not this degree of cold. (It’s -9 degrees now.) Dub’s been putting mittens on his feet at night to prevent frostbite, but they’re still freezing. The hours of darkness are wearing on him, and it feels like solitary confinement. But if he leaves, he’ll have to live with the decision that he tapped out.
6:12pm – Dub wishes he could just sleep, but it’s too early. He admits he’s having a constant inner battle over pushing the button. When he has food, he’s fine. But when he’s low on resources, it’s difficult to win the inner debate over tapping.
Dub cuts off a portion of his belt that looks like a brook trout and makes a new lure. He’s hopeful it will convince a big fish that it’s real.
Day 80, 11:53am – Dub confirms he just experienced the coldest night thus far. He bundles up before heading to the river. 8” of snow fell overnight as Dub makes his way to do some fishing. All his trails are covered, but he eventually arrives at his fishing hole. He vows to fish until his body can’t take it anymore.
Dub’s new lure doesn’t convince any fish to bite. He reveals that Alone makes them sign a paper saying whether they want to be alerted about family emergencies. He chose not to know, but now he’s worried something might have happened while he’s been in the Arctic.
The food situation is dire, and Dub knows he’s in trouble. His heart pounds when he walks, and he lacks enough energy to walk up even small hills. He’s done his best, but his body can’t survive much more of this. Still, tapping will end his dream of winning. He knows he’ll never have another shot at this amount of money.
Dub returns to his shelter and makes the call. The crew comes to retrieve him, and he explains it’s a desire to see his mom that made him tap. Physically, he thinks he may have been able to hold on. But mentally, he can’t live with the possibility something happened to his mom or dad while he was in the Arctic. “Money comes and goes, but family…you only get one,” says Dub, his beard and mustache covered in ice.
“Turns out, I like people more than I thought. That’s why I’m going home,” admits Dub. This competition has made him realize he’s more competent than he thought. It was painful to tap, but this immersive experience let him forge a new connection with nature. It also made him realize we are, in fact, all social animals.
Timber Cleghorn in ‘Alone’ season 11 (Photo Credit: The History Channel)
Timber – Age 35, Salem, Indiana
Day 76, 11:43am – Timber shows off a t-shirt full of moose as he munches on some jerky. He heads to the river, certain he can survive past 100 days on just jerky. However, his teeth are sore from the jerky and fresh meat will help his dental health.
Ice fishing hasn’t been great so far, but yesterday he used guts as bait. He pulls up his lines and they’re empty, so he decides it’s time to retrieve a fish from the food cache. After pulling one out, he decides to leave the tail behind. “It struck my mind how many children tonight won’t have a meal at all,” says Timber. He leaves the tail for a wild animal that needs it, hoping to raise awareness for children who will go without food this evening.
Day 78, 11:30am – Timber wraps up his Trial by Fire game and declares Alexandra the winner. The little figure is named after his wife’s middle name. Once the game’s over he checks his snare lines. He’s seen hare tracks and is ecstatic to discover he’s caught one close to camp. He believes his experience in this competition has been deeper than words can express. It’s been a pure connection with nature because his life has depended on it.
1:51pm – He talks to his kids as he demonstrates using the rabbit’s lower jawbone as a scoop to remove the brains.
Day 79, 9:43pm – It’s snowing hard, and his hands are freezing. Alone shows William and Dub are also amazed by how heavy it’s coming down.
Day 81, 10:11am – Timber’s been reflecting on the phases he’s been through over the past 80 days. From rushing water and animal activity to silence and colorlessness. The isolation is starting to wear on him.
11:57am – It’s -10 degrees when he makes it to the river to check his lines. He hears a big crack under him and knows the ice is dangerous. Timber doesn’t feel safe at this point and decides to pull up all his fishing gear. It’s just too risky. He’ll pin his hopes on more hares, supplemented by jerky.
2:25pm – Timber’s ready to get his new vision for his family life started. Even though he believes he can survive longer, he doesn’t need to impress anyone. Timber’s certain whoever else remains in the competition will stick it out through at least 100 days. He holds the radio and considers tapping, but ultimately decides not to just yet.
Day 83, 12:22pm – He’s enjoying the experience and could last to Day 100, if he wanted to. But now, he’s not certain the money is the correct goal. If he gives it out to people in need, he still won’t be able to help everyone. “I think that I’ve received everything, besides the money, that I can possibly receive from something like this,” says Timber. He’s at peace with his existence and can be proud of every minute he’s spent on Alone.
2:07pm – Timber taps out. Alone points out only four participants have made it past Day 83. Timber believes the right path to take now is to go be with his family. He tears up as he says he’s happier than he’s been in years. “I feel fully alive again,” says Timber.
He wants his children to see the true victory in immaterial things, like integrity and joy. The show isn’t about killing big game; survival is much more complex.
William Larkham Jr in ‘Alone’ season 11 (Photo Credit: The History Channel)
William – Age 49, Happy Valley Goose Bay, Labrador
Day 77, 11:58am – It’s a snowy day, but his fire is roaring. Although his lean-to keeps the weather out, he plans to close a few holes. William confesses he’s craving his wife’s chocolate cake and dream whip. His wife’s his best friend, and he misses her terribly.
He leaves his cozy fire to check the rabbit snares as Alone informs viewers the area will go dark in just 17 days. He sees lots of rabbit tracks and sets a few more snares. William’s lost 70 pounds since Day 1 and needs to add to his food cache.
Day 79, 11:48am – He spent another comfortable night in his shelter which is built like a trapper’s tilt. He believes he’s in the endgame now, and today he’ll work on catching more food. Rabbits would be great in case the weather turns, and he’s excited when he discovers one in his snare. It’s a total surprise since he hasn’t seen pawprints in days.
Back at camp, he takes inventory. He’s got a pike, some coney, and now a rabbit. He prepares the rabbit while saying that if he wins, he can spend more time with his kids. The rabbit’s delicious and a morale booster.
Day 81, 1:31pm – William’s rabbit snares are empty, and he admits to becoming more skeptical that he’ll win. He believes someone must have bagged big game.
Day 84, 12:36pm – Yesterday was windy, but today feels better. He’s got a weird thing going on with his foot, but otherwise, he’s fine. He misses his family and pets but is taking it day by day and staying mentally strong.
William’s still in bed when he’s alerted to a med check coming in one hour. He rushes to eat, cooking up some coney before the team arrives. He’s lost 75 pounds since Day 1 and is still determined not to tap. William’s certain he’s still got gas in the tank and will only leave if he’s pulled.
Asked how he’s doing, he admits he misses his family and hopes he’s not still out there on Christmas. He’s unsure of his long-term strategy this late in the game, unaware that his wife Jill is approaching his shelter. He’s still chuckling about his kids when Jill surprises him. They squeal joyfully and hug, incredibly happy to be reunited after 84 days.
William shows off his small shelter and Jill’s amazed he can even fit inside. She confesses she was worried at Day 50 that he might be dying, but then calmed down after re-reading his last text message. She was certain he’d be there as long as it took.
William calls Alone the greatest adventure of a lifetime, and says he’ll be back if they ever do a season of champions. His wife kept him motivated; his family is everything to him. The $500,000 will allow them to move back to his wife’s hometown and raise his kids in that small community atmosphere.
Staying positive played a crucial role. William now realizes he has more mental strength than he thought. He also believes he’s proven you don’t need to get big game to win. William thinks his win will inspire kids across Labrador to believe they can try something like this.
He’ll be talking about his experiences on Alone for the rest of his life. William is part of this land now, and proud of that.
The thriller Caddo Lake, formerly known as The Vanishings at Caddo Lake, has found a home at Max. The streamer announced the drama from filmmakers Celine Held, Logan George, and M. Night Shyamalan will premiere on Thursday, October 10, 2024.
“When an eight-year-old girl mysteriously vanishes, a series of past deaths and disappearances start to link together, forever altering a broken family’s history,” reads Max’s synopsis. And the trailer features Dylan O’Brien walking around a menacing-looking titular lake.
The cast also includes Eliza Scanlen, Diana Hopper, Caroline Falk, Sam Hennings, Eric Lange, and Lauren Ambrose.
Directors Held and George were inspired to write the film after seeing a photo of the real lake and then visiting the cypress forest on Texas and Louisiana’s border. Shot in Karnak, Texas, production on the film took place in late 2021 and 2022.
M. Night Shyamalan, Ashwin Rajan, Kara Durrett, and Josh Godfrey serve as producers. Executive producers include Kimberly Steward, Harrison Huffman, and Will Greenfield.
Paramount+’s official Landman trailer begins with Oscar winner Billy Bob Thornton explaining that his character’s job in the oil industry is to secure the land and manage the people. And of the two, it’s the people – the second part of the equation – that can get you killed.
In addition to Thornton, the season one cast includes Ali Larter (The Last Victim), Michelle Randolph (1923), Jacob Lofland (Joker 2), Kayla Wallace (When Calls the Heart), and James Jordan (Yellowstone). Mark Collie (Nashville), Paulina Chávez (The Expanding Universe of Ashley Garcia), and Demi Moore (Feud: Capote Vs. The Swans) also star.
Jon Hamm (Fargo) appears in a recurring guest role, with Andy Garcia (Expendables franchise) and Michael Peña (End of Watch) guest starring.
Billy Bob Thornton as Tommy Norris and Ali Larter as Angela Norris in ‘Landman’ (Photo Credit: James Minchin/Paramount+)
“Set in the proverbial boomtowns of West Texas, Landman is a modern-day tale of fortune-seeking in the world of oil rigs,” reads Paramount+’s synopsis. “Based on the notable 11-part podcast ‘Boomtown’ from Imperative Entertainment and Texas Monthly, the series is an upstairs/downstairs story of roughnecks and wildcat billionaires fueling a boom so big, it’s reshaping our climate, our economy, and our geopolitics.”
Taylor Sheridan and Christian Wallace created the series and executive produce along with David C. Glasser, David Hutkin, Ron Burkle, Bob Yari, Geyer Kosinski, Michael Friedman, and Stephen Kay. Imperative Entertainment’s Dan Friedkin and Jason Hoch and Texas Monthly’s J.K. Nickell and Megan Creydt are also involved as executive producers.
Landman premieres on November 17, 2024 with the release of the first two episodes. New episodes of the 10-episode season will stream on Sundays.
WINONA RYDER as Lydia and MICHAEL KEATON as Beetlejuice in ‘BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE’ (Photo Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures)
The long-awaited sequel to 1988’s Beetlejuice accomplishes exactly what it needed to do. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is a big dose of nostalgia, covered in goo and brought to life by a cast totally committed to Tim Burton’s vision. Newcomers Jenna Ortega and Justin Theroux understood the assignment, but it’s the returning cast members who really bring the fun in this much-anticipated sequel.
The 2024 sequel catches up with the Deetz family 30+ years after the events in Beetlejuice. Lydia Deetz (Winona Ryder, Stranger Things) is a single mom whose relationship with her teenage daughter is a hot mess. Said daughter, Astrid (Jenna Ortega, Wednesday), lives in constant annoyance. She resents her mom’s work as a psychic mediator and host of a ghost-hunting TV show. Astrid also cannot stand her mom’s manager and boyfriend, Rory (Justin Theroux, White House Plumbers). To be honest, she’s right in thinking the guy’s an arrogant jerk.
And as far as the whole ghost thing goes, Astrid’s a nonbeliever. If Lydia can see ghosts, why hasn’t she seen Astrid’s dead dad? Again, Astrid has a point. However, Astrid’s belief system is challenged when she’s forced to return to her mom’s childhood home after a frantic call from Delia (Catherine O’Hara, Schitt’s Creek). Lydia’s dad bit the dust, and in a series of delicious twists, it’s revealed he died an incredibly gruesome death. (More on that later.) Stepmom Delia demands their presence as she prepares to mourn her husband in classic Delia the diva’s over-the-top, outlandish style.
The original film’s setup had the Deetz family moving into a home occupied by the ghosts of Adam and Barbara Maitland (played by Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis). Goth girl Lydia could see the ghosts, and her friendship with the couple led to crazy encounters with Betelgeuse. A trickster who fashions himself to be the “ghost with the most,” Betelgeuse tried to use Lydia to return to the world of the living. The Maitlands foiled his plans before he and Lydia could exchange wedding vows.
Flash-forward 30 years, and the impish Betelgeuse still pines for Lydia to the point he’s taken to randomly popping up just to annoy her. Reluctantly drawn back to the Ghost House-as the townsfolk call it-Lydia once again finds herself in Betelgeuse’s domain.
Tim Burton’s version of an afterlife is filled with red tape, a rule book as thick as an encyclopedia, and offices staffed by overworked and underappreciated employees. While Beetlejuice spent very little time in the world inhabited by the dead, the sequel devotes a decent amount of time in the world of the dead. The afterlife functions like a small city, albeit one with a grungy color palette, horribly disfigured occupants, and a deeply depressing and macabre vibe.
The film jumps back and forth between the lands of the living and the dead, with Michael Keaton’s Betelgeuse as the ringmaster. Keaton still has that pep in his step, and his 2024 Betelgeuse is just as manic and menacing as his 1988 version. No one can match Keaton’s energy, and watching him slip back into this weird creature is an absolute blast.
Delia Deetz has evolved from sculpting bizarre structures to performance art, and Catherine O’Hara goes big every chance she gets as the eccentric artist. If Delia’s in a scene, O’Hara makes her the focus-even if it’s not the script’s intention. She’s just that fabulous. Winona Ryder has the most challenging job since this adult Lydia is no longer the rebel, having ceded that position to Jenna Ortega’s Astrid. The sequel’s Lydia is weighed down by having to balance seeing the dead while dealing with the living. It’s only after Betelgeuse pushes her into mama bear mode that the old Lydia emerges.
Jenna Ortega’s Astrid wants a normal life and has nothing but disdain for all things paranormal…until the afterlife basically smacks her in the face. Ortega’s so good at ‘teen with an attitude’ roles, and she infuses Astrid with the perfect mix of loneliness, anger, and confusion, as well as a longing to reconnect with her mom.
Justin Theroux’s terrific as the sleazy producer with narcissistic tendencies. Theroux’s a welcome addition to the Beetlejuice world, as is Willem Dafoe as a dead actor who spends the afterlife in his most famous role of a TV detective named Wolf Jackson. And Monica Bellucci flits in and out of the story as Delores, a soul-sucking demon obsessed with getting revenge on her ex-husband Betelgeuse. There’s so much going on that Bellucci’s Delores is almost lost in the shuffle.
Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin are missed, but Jeffrey Jones, who played Lydia’s dad, definitely isn’t. Jones is persona non grata in Hollywood after being charged with possession of child pornography and soliciting a minor to pose for sexually explicit photographs in 2002. Burton and screenwriters Alfred Gough and Miles Millar didn’t just write out the character; they killed him off with a gory death and then used the death as the reason for Lydia and Delia to reunite at the Ghost House.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is loaded with references to the original film. In fact, a Beetlejuice refresher is warranted before watching the sequel. Revisiting his 1988 hit seems to have reinvigorated Burton, and the sequel is a big, joyous reunion.
Jump in the [ticket] line, rock your body in time [while in your theater seat]. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice won’t make you break out in a Tango, waltz, or rumba, but it’s a fun, nostalgic trip that captures the weird and twisted Beetlejuice vibe. On the downside, you’ll be singing that maddeningly addictive song for weeks and driving everyone around you nuts.
GRADE: B
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for macabre and bloody images, brief drug use, some suggestive material, strong language, and violent content
Alfre Woodard, Bill Pullman, Alfred Molina, Geena Davis, Denis O’Harke, and Clarke Peters star in ‘The Boroughs’ (Photos Courtesy of Netflix)
Netflix has released new details on The Boroughs, a project from the Stranger Things and The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance teams that was announced back in April 2023. Described as a sci-fi / supernatural mystery, the upcoming series just announced a big-name cast and confirmed an eight-episode season.
“In a seemingly picturesque retirement community, a group of unlikely heroes must band together to stop an otherworldly threat from stealing the one thing they don’t have… time,” reads Netflix’s synopsis. The streamer didn’t indicate a target time frame for The Boroughs to premiere.
Alfred Molina (Spider-Man: No Way Home) plays Sam, Geena Davis (Blink Twice) stars as Renee, Alfre Woodard (Salem’s Lot) is Judy, Denis O’Hare (American Horror Story) plays Wally, Clarke Peters (Da 5 Bloods) is Art, and Bill Pullman (The Sinner) stars as Jack. Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews created the series and serve as co-showrunners. Upside Down Pictures’ The Duffer Brothers and Hilary Leavitt are executive producing along with Addiss and Matthews. Ben Taylor (Sex Education) will direct multiple episodes and also serve as an executive producer.
Discussing working with the Duffer Brothers, Addiss and Matthews said, “They bring the perfect balance of heart and horror to our story. We can’t wait for audiences around the world to unlock the dark mystery buried beneath the sunny facade of The Boroughs.”
“While the heroes in The Boroughs have a few more years on them than the kids from Stranger Things, they are a similarly lovable bunch of misfits, and we can’t wait for you to join them on an adventure that is at turns scary, funny, and deeply touching,” stated the Duffer Brothers back in 2023. The Duffer Brothers also have Something Very Bad is Going to Happen and the fifth and final season of Stranger Things in the works at Netflix.
A scene from ‘Strange Darling’ (Photo credit: Magenta Light Studios)
The opening crawl of Strange Darling says that the movie is about the last few murders of a prolific 21st-century serial killer whose reign of terror moved from Colorado to Wyoming and ended up in the woods of Oregon.
And that’s pretty much all you should know about the plot of the movie before you go see it.
With Strange Darling, writer/director JT Mollner (Outlaws and Angels) redefines the cat-and-mouse thriller. What seems like a one-night stand situation goes horribly wrong for the characters, who are known only as The Lady (Willa Fitzgerald from The Fall of the House of Usher) and The Demon (Smile’s Kyle Gallner). Strange Darling is a visceral film that checks off just about every content warning box imaginable – violence, sex, drug use, all of them. And there is a twist at every turn.
Since we don’t want to talk too much about the plot of Strange Darling in order to avoid spoiling the surprises, let’s talk about the tools Mollner uses to make the movie as effective as it is. One of the most important aspects of the movie is its non-linear timeline. The title card boasts that Strange Darling is a “Thriller in 6 Chapters,” then immediately switches to a card saying “Chapter 3.” That gives you an idea of what you’re in for. Similar to what Tarantino did with Pulp Fiction, Mollner provides information in the order he wants you to see it, and it’s brilliant. Since some of the twists and turns change everything about the movie, what is shown in Chapter 2 is better off not being known while Chapter 5 is being experienced. In this way, the audience is the mouse, and Mollner is the cat.
Another element in Strange Darling that helps the movie make its point is the cinematography. It was shot by Giovanni Ribisi (yes, THAT Giovanni Ribisi, the Sneaky Pete actor who also served as a producer on the film), and for as chaotic as the movie is, the photography is subtle and subdued, with long smooth takes that let the action unfold naturally as if the audience is witnessing the calamity first-hand. While at first, it might seem as if using Ribisi as the director of photography may have been a money-saving decision, he knows his stuff, and his work fits the film perfectly.
Speaking of fitting the film perfectly, there’s the soundtrack. There are two sides of the musical coin at work in Strange Darling. On the one hand, there’s an abrasive and cacophonous analog synth score by composer Craig DeLeon (Fatal Attraction) that adds to the commotion and madness onscreen. And then, there’s a bunch of mellow, folksy songs written and performed by indie rock waif Z Berg (from the band The Like) that are sonically the complete opposite – soft, lyrical, and touching. These seem to juxtapose the horrific events of the movie (and DeLeon’s tumultuous score) in a soothing way. Z Berg even turns in a haunting rendition of Nazareth’s “Love Hurts” (which is, uncoincidentally, one of the movie’s tag lines).
And then, there’s the cast. Willa Fitzgerald and Kyle Gallner have terrific chemistry, whether they’re seductively trading barbs in a car bathed in neon hotel light or they’re fighting it out deep in the Oregon woods. Both performances are great, but they’re next-level when they are on screen together. The supporting cast includes veteran actors Ed Begley Jr. (Young Sheldon) and Barbara Hershey (The Entity), and along with a handful of bit parts, that’s really all the movie needs. Fitzgerald and Gallner are in the driver’s seat, everyone else is along for the ride.
It seems as if the entire identity of Strange Darling is built around going into it blind, and as cliché as that sounds, in this case it’s 100% true. There’s a reason that both critics and audiences are keeping the plot points secret, and it’s the same reason that Mollner chose to unfold his story non-chronologically. It’s all part of the big picture. So, see Strange Darling before the big picture gets ruined for you.
GRADE: A
MPAA Rating: R for sexual material, language, drug use, strong/bloody violent content
Release Date: August 23, 2024
Running Time: 1 hour 36 minutes
Distributor: Magenta Light Studios
