Entertainment
The Most Popular Director In The World Wants To Transform A New Genre
By Chris Snellgrove
| Published
Right now, Christopher Nolan is on top of the world. Despite all the concerns that it would flop (mostly from people who think Citizen Vigilante is the best movie ever made), The Odyssey has proven to be a massive success in its first weekend. Unlike Odysseus himself, it looks like the film has some smooth sailing ahead of its voyage to earning (with the blessing of the gods) at least a billion at the box office. Considering how this literary epic is so different than his previous works (which focused on everything from Batman to Oppenheimer), fans all have the same question: what will Nolan do next?
Now, it seems we have an answer…sort of. In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he discussed how large portions of The Odyssey essentially function as a horror film and that each scary scene in that film “whets my appetite for more.” It seems the Dark Knight director is interested in making his own horror movie, and he went so far as to praise Curry Barker for turning Obsession into a microbudget success story. As a huge horror fan myself, I’m crossing my fingers Nolan transforms the genre with the exact opposite: a macrobudget film that stretches the boundaries of cost as much as it stretches the boundaries of imagination.
Christopher Nolan’s Newest Obsession
Have you ever wondered why there are so many new horror movies each year? It comes down to basic math. It doesn’t take much money to make a movie where young, virtually unknown actors die in gruesome ways, making these films a safe gamble for the studios. Their goal is the kind of success that happened with Obsession, a movie made for $750,000 that has earned over $443 million at the box office. When you have a chance to get that kind of insane return, you better believe studio execs are happy to roll the dice on horror.
That particular cinematic success story seriously impressed Christopher Nolan. In his interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Nolan indicated a desire to direct his own horror movie, but he doesn’t want to rush into anything. “I’ve always believed that horror as a genre has to be approached very carefully from a conceptual point of view. In other words, you have to have an amazing idea,” he said. “When you go see a film like Obsession, that’s an amazing idea. That movie works like a motherf*cker. It’s not about the technical side. It’s not about what technical itches I would have to scratch. It’s about story. So I’m always looking.”
Beer Taste On A Champagne Budget
That means all you horror fiends can mark down Nolan as being tentatively interested in crafting his own spooky movie. His praise of Curry Barker is both sweet and charming; it demonstrates that Nolan (who is reportedly a huge fan of lowbrow comedies like Talladega Nights) is no snob, and he’s impressed with what the younger director could do on such a shoestring budget. While I’m confident Nolan could deliver a similarly thrilling film on a similarly tiny budget, I’d like to see him go in another direction. That is, I’d like to see him make a horror movie with an Odyssey-sized budget!
Traditionally, horror movies have been made on the cheap for the reasons I outlined earlier. It’s one thing for a studio to gamble on a microbudget film, and it’s another for them to gamble on a blockbuster. Of course, this wouldn’t be just any blockbuster scary movie; it would be one from Oscar-winning director Christopher Nolan, whose critical and commercial success rate is undefeated. As both a fan of Nolan and the spooky genre, I can’t help but wonder how cool it would be if he got to film a lavish horror movie in IMAX, replete with special effects and the most famous working actors, all of whom want to star in one of his pictures.
We Deserve Better Big Budget Horror
Beyond my fanboyism, the main reason I want to see Nolan tackle a horror movie is that big-budget spooky films are rare, and the ones we get are usually pretty bad. Like, that awful Van Helsing movie cost $160 million to make, and the deeply disappointing World War Z cost $190 million. Most genre fans can acknowledge those movies are forgettable trash. But what if Nolan, the most ambitious modern director, used that kind of money to bring the scariest story he can think of to life? It could do more than scratch his proverbial itch; it might, in fact, transform the horror genre into something else entirely.
Until he makes any official announcements, the idea of Christopher Nolan directing a horror movie remains a beautiful (or, at least, beautifully bloody) dream. But it’s a dream worth having. Like, this guy just turned a 3,000-year-old poem that 99 percent of the world hasn’t read into a blockbuster nobody can stop talking about. He’s already transformed the tired superhero genre and the bland biopic genre. Why not go for the hat trick and transform scary movies, too? At the very least, Nolan would give spooky fans something to argue about other than their favorite subject: whether “elevated horror” is the best thing ever or the stupidest marketing term ever created.
Entertainment
Watch something you’ll remember — a lifetime of Curiosity Stream docs is just $127.50
TL;DR: Get Curiosity Stream Standard lifetime access for a one-time $127.50 through July 26 with code STREAM15 and enjoy unlimited access to thousands of documentaries with no recurring subscription.
$127.50
$399.99
Save $272.49
Not every streaming night has to end with another sitcom rewatch or the same movie you’ve already seen three times. Sometimes it’s nice to come away having learned something new.
That’s the appeal of Curiosity Stream, a streaming service dedicated entirely to documentaries. Through July 26, new users can get a Curiosity Stream Standard Lifetime Subscription for $127.50 with code STREAM15, making it a one-time purchase instead of another recurring entertainment bill.
Mashable Deals
Founded by John Hendricks, the founder of Discovery Communications, Curiosity Stream focuses on documentaries covering science, history, technology, nature, engineering, art, and more. The library includes thousands of films and series, with new content added weekly, so there’s always something new to explore.
Popular titles include Engineering the Future, Planet of Treasures, Deep Time History, Into the Jungle, Autonomy, The History of Home, and many more.
Mashable Trend Report
The Standard Plan also makes it easy to watch wherever you are. You can stream in HD across multiple devices, download documentaries for offline viewing, bookmark programs to watch later, and quickly search by topic or subject.
Whether you’re fascinated by space exploration, wildlife, ancient civilizations, or breakthrough technology, Curiosity Stream is built around thoughtful, in-depth storytelling rather than endless scrolling.
If documentaries are the kind of content you find yourself returning to, Curiosity Stream Standard Lifetime offers a simple way to keep that library available whenever you’re ready to learn something new.
Use code STREAM15 to get Curiosity Stream Standard lifetime access for just $127.50 (reg. $399.99) through July 26.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Entertainment
Netflix Sci-Fi Dark Comedy Series Is The Perfect One-Day Binge
By Charlene Badasie
| Published
The 2018 dark comedy-drama Maniac is streaming on Netflix. Created by Patrick Somerville and directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga, the 10-episode series is a reimagining of the Norwegian series of the same name. It stars Jonah Hill and Emma Stone in the lead roles, supported by a stellar ensemble cast including Justin Theroux, Sally Field, Sonoya Mizuno, Gabriel Byrne, and Jemima Kirke.
Maniac Stars Jonah Hill and Emma Stone
Maniac tells the story of two strangers, Owen Milgrim (Jonah Hill) and Annie Landsberg (Emma Stone), who sign up for a mysterious pharmaceutical trial. Owen is a man struggling with schizophrenia, while Annie is dealing with a traumatic past and a strained relationship with her family. Both are looking for an escape from their troubled lives.
The pharmaceutical trial they join promises to solve all their problems with no complications or side effects. Led by Dr. James K. Mantleray (Justin Theroux), it involves a series of mind-bending, immersive experiences induced by experimental drugs. As Owen and Annie undergo treatment, they bond within a series of interconnected and surreal alternate realities.
A Cure For What Ails You
Maniac begins in New York City, where Owen Milgrim hides his schizophrenia symptoms. After losing his job, Owen joins a trial at Neberdine, a pharmaceutical company, for a new drug that promises to cure all disorders. There, he meets Annie Landsberg, who helps him avoid trouble by pretending to know him. Annie, dealing with her own issues, gets into the drug trial by stealing a badge.
After taking the “A” pill, Annie relives her sister Ellie’s death. Annie, Owen, and another test subject are questioned after the “A” pill test, and Owen reveals his past trauma. When the GRTA supercomputer malfunctions, it links Annie and Owen during the “B” pill test. The malfunction leads to complications in the trial, and Dr. Greta Mantleray (Sally Field) is brought in to fix it.
Well-Received By Critics And Audiences Alike
Maniac received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised the performances of Hill and Stone, as well as the ambitious and imaginative storytelling. The series was lauded for its unique visual style, thought-provoking themes, and eclectic approach. The aesthetic draws on influences from the 1980s and incorporates retro-futuristic elements.
The series premiered at the Southbank Centre in London, England, in September 2018, followed by its American debut two days later at Center 415 in Manhattan, New York. Maniac, described as “wild, audacious, addictive” and a “brilliant piece of world-building,” currently holds an 84 percent critics score on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes alongside an equally impressive 84 percent audience rating.
A Little Too Cold And Calculating
While the overall consensus was largely positive, Maniac was not without its detractors. Some reviewers felt that the show was too calculated and lacked the thrill of the unexpected despite its mind-bending premise. One critic noted that while incredibly fun to watch, the series becomes emptier the more one thinks about it.
Sill, Maniac serves as a bold and unconventional exploration of the human psyche, marked by standout performances and a distinctive visual flair. The Netflix series is a definite must-watch for fans of the black psychological comedy-drama genre.
Entertainment
Batman’s Most Sympathetic Villain Comes To Life In Official Clayface Trailer
By Chris Snellgrove
| Published
Part of what makes Batman’s rogues gallery so compelling is that many of the bad guys in it are surprisingly sympathetic. Mr. Freeze isn’t some generic sci-fi villain, for example; he’s a man on a mission to save his dying wife. Two-Face wasn’t born a monster; rather, a monstrous transformation was forced upon him, breaking his mind. Unless you watched Batman: The Animated Series, though, you may not realize who the most sympathetic villain of all is: Clayface. Once a movie star, he was disfigured and embraced a desperate solution to restore his good looks. Unfortunately, it all went wrong, and his mind embraced the horror that his body had become.
Surprisingly enough, James Gunn decided that a solo Clayface movie should be the third film in the DCU. Obviously, it’s a bold strategy to make a Batman villain movie without Batman, and many fans questioned whether the Superman director had gone a little loopy. Apparently, though, there’s method to Gunn’s madness: the official trailer for Clayface gives us our best look yet at the DC’s first real horror film. With captivating performances and genuinely creepy body horror, this trailer promises to deliver all the scares that comic book fans can handle.
Definitely Eat BEFORE You Watch The Trailer
The Clayface trailer reveals a slightly tweaked origin story for main character Matt Hagen. Instead of being a more established actor, he’s a young, rising star with his entire career ahead of him. Instead of getting injured in a car accident like in Batman: The Animated Series, he is attacked by a local crime boss who leaves the actor’s beautiful face scarred and deformed. Hagen connects with a scientist who is working on an experimental procedure that could restore his famous face. At first, it works; however, it doesn’t take long for his body to start breaking down, transforming Gotham’s latest actor into its latest supervillain.
The trailer is very solid and will go a long way towards restoring the faith of fans nervous about the failure of Supergirl. Previously, those fans were asking the obvious question: if DC had such trouble creating a successful superhero film (something they had done many times before), how bad would their first horror film be? However, this trailer hints at an ambitious, well-crafted movie that will potentially blow us away. It looks so good, in fact, that we can forgive some of its more trope-y elements, like including a creepy, slowed-down version of a popular song (“Do You Realize??” by the Flaming Lips).
A Killer Leading Man
What does the trailer do well? For one thing, Clayface leading actor Tom Rhys Harries does an amazing job as the titular character. His passion is palpable, and he really sells the idea that this rising star is in over his head at every turn. That helps make Clayface a more sympathetic character, of course: like most real-life villains, this fictional character is a victim of circumstances beyond his control. Furthermore, the road to his personal hell is paved with actions that most of us would take in his place, including taking desperate measures to get his old life back.
Aside from Harries’ excellent performance, the best thing about this Clayface trailer is how fully it leans into body horror. Now, these kinds of frights aren’t for everyone, but if you love the filmography of David Cronenberg, you’ll like what you see here. Shots of our protagonist’s scarred face are truly jarring, and it’s tough not to wince in sympathetic pain when watching his body writhe and transform. The creepy climax, though, is when his eyes start getting covered by his skin. Trust me: you’re going to scream into your hand when you see him bust the scissors out!
Body Horror Is Back On The Menu, Boys
The performances, music, and gross-out special effects come together to create a perfectly unsettling vibe. Gotham’s aesthetic is one of glamorous decay, one that channels the colorful excess of Batman Forever and the grimy bleakness of Joker. The creepy song does its job to keep you on the edge of your seat as you await the revelation of each new terror. The Clayface trailer is peak horror perfection: you can’t look away, even as you know that everything is going to get worse for every single person you see onscreen.
Obviously, this is just a trailer, and its good editing doesn’t mean the film will be good (remember, Supergirl had tight trailers, too). However, this is a movie I’ve had faith in ever since I heard that horror auteur Mike Flanagan was writing the script. Looking at the trailer, that faith has been rewarded, as the whole movie looks just as eerie and unsettling as I hoped it would. Will the final film live up to this trailer and the general hype? We’ll find out when Clayface oozes into theaters on October 23.
Raiders sign No. 1 overall pick QB Fernando Mendoza
Homer-happy Braves power past Padres in series finale
