At first, Devon Sawa is a bit frazzled. The 33-year-old actor has just returned to find a parking ticket on his car. Still, shaking off the disappointment (“If it’s the worst thing that happens to me all day, I’m OK with that”), Sawa is enthusiastic when it comes to the subject of his latest movie, “Philly Kid.” Releasing this week in theaters and on VOD from After Dark Films, the movie co-stars Sawa as Jake, the pal of a former NCAA champion wrestler recently paroled from prison, Dylan (Wes Chatham), whose unsavory connections lead his friend into a series of brutal cage fights. ShockYa had a chance to speak one-on-one  [ Read More ]

We’ve got three new wide releases arriving this week, but all are getting rather modest openings. Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark tops the bunch with 2,760 theaters. While it’d be nice to see it have as strong an opening as The Last Exorcism with a $7,087 per theater average, it’s more likely to come in on par with Insidious at $5,511 per location, which would give it a total of $15 million for the weekend. Colombiana is set to debut with 2,614 theater and after the action disaster that was last weekend’s Conan the Barbarian, Colombiana will be lucky to post a $3,000 per theater average and snag $7  [ Read More ]

The Box office results for the weekend of August 19th – 21st sees “The Help” tame Apes, Spy Kids, a Barbarian and some vampires. Meanwhile, the new releases all underwhelm. Here are the studio estimates: 1. The Help ($20.4 million) 2. Rise of the Planet of the Apes ($16.3 million) 3. Spy Kids: All the Time in the World ($12 million) 4. Conan the Barbarian ($10 million) 5. Fright Night ($8.3 million) 6. The Smurfs ($8 million) 7. Final Destination 5 ($7.7 million) 8. 30 Minutes or Less ($6.3 million) 9. One Day ($5.1 million) 10. Crazy, Stupid, Love ($4.9 million) Analysis The Help is cleaning up (yeah, I just  [ Read More ]

There are three 3,000+ theater openings this weekend, but none are poised to be solid performers. Spy Kids: All the Time in the World is getting the widest release, hitting 3,295 theaters, but round four looks to fall far flatter than its predecessors. Spy Kids 3D: Game Over is the strongest opener of the franchise with a $33.4 million start, but the fourth film will likely be on par with the second film, The Island of Lost Dreams, and start its run with about $16 million. Arriving in 3,114 theaters is the remake of Tom Holland’s Fright Night. Sure, the film is a horror comedy and 30 Minutes or Less  [ Read More ]

“Final Destination 5″ is the latest in a string of “Final Destination” films that, according to many, have gotten more and more ridiculous with each film. However, while, overall, the critics seems to still abide by that opinion for the most part, giving it a 55% on Rotten Tomatoes, the audience has given it a 70%. However, the critics have still given the movie a pat on the back. According to Rotten Tomatoes, the critics felt that “[i]t’s still only for the gore-thirsty faithful, but ‘Final Destination 5′ represents a surprising return to form for the franchise.” Here’s some of what they said: “Morbid mirthfulness was at the heart of  [ Read More ]

The box office results for the weekend of August 12th – 14th has “Apes” holding off the new arrivals as it continues its impress march in theaters. And in other news, “Glee,” financially, hits a sour note. Here are the studio estimates: 1. Rise of the Planet of the Apes ($27.5 million) 2. The Help ($25.5 million) 3. Final Destination 5 ($18.4 million) 4. The Smurfs ($13.5 million) 5. 30 Minutes or Less ($13 million) 6. Cowboys & Aliens ($7.6 million) 7. Captain America: The First Avenger ($7.1 million) 8. Crazy, Stupid, Love ($6.9 million) 9. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 ($6.8 million) 10. The Change-Up ($6.2  [ Read More ]

While the Cheat Sheet is normally packed with the usual suspects – The Hunger Games, The Dark Knight Rises and Twilight, just to name a few – this time around, we’ve got some rather unique stories to share. Unfortunately for Howard Stern, he’s part of the bunch as a hole in his team led to the leaking of Super 8. Another punch to the gut also goes out to 3D technology, as a recent study proves the extra dimension does nothing to enhance a story, rather only offers the potential for discomfort. On the brighter side, Kenny Ortega snagged a dream of a gig, as he’s been recruited to direct  [ Read More ]

Title: Final Destination 5 Directed By: Steven Quale Written By: Eric Heisserer Cast: Nicholas D’Agosto, Emma Bell, Miles Fisher, Arlen Escarpeta, David Koechner, Tony Todd Screened at: AMC Empire, NYC, 8/10/11 Opens: August 12, 2011 “We’re gonna die! We’re gonna die!” Far be it from me to contradict that sober advice. We wonder, though, whether we’re going to die in bed (preferably with someone who looks like Ryan Gosling or Rachel McAdams) or by violence. One philosopher, a Mr. Gary Gutting, deals with the question of death in a New York Times column August 10th called “Trying to Live Forever,” in which he concludes, “When all is said and done,  [ Read More ]

We’ve got a lot of new items hitting theaters this weekend. Of the four, Final Destination 5 will undoubtedly come out on top. Rocking more positive reviews than one would expect and a devoted fan base, the fifth installment looks to pull in at least as much as the fourth film, but likely a little more, perhaps about $30 million. Comedies haven’t faired too well recently, but there’s a chance the action element will give 30 Minutes or Less a bit of a boost. Odds are it won’t make nearly as much as Sony’s summer 2010 action/comedy release, The Other Guys, but it could be on par with Pineapple Express  [ Read More ]

Title: Final Destination 5 Directed By: Steven Quale Starring: Nicholas D’Agosto, Emma Bell, Miles Fisher, Ellen Wroe, Jacqueline MacInnes Wood, PJ Byrne, Arlen Escarpeta, David Koechner, Courtney B Vance, Tony Todd There’s no beginning this review without setting the scene from a personal standpoint; I am a diehard Final Destination fan. I’ve seen them all countless times and love them all to death (no pun intended), that is until The Final Destination tainted my beloved franchise. Sure, it’s tough to keep a plot fresh four times over, but drowning it in 3D technology is no way to spice it up and Final Destination 5 proves it. No, it doesn’t solidify  [ Read More ]

Tony Todd, Emma Bell and Nicholas D’Agosto talk with Hollywood.com about the horror film “Final Destination 5″ from director Steve Quale, executive produced by Sheila Hanahan Taylor, Erik Holmberg, Richard Brener, Walter Hamada and David Neustadter. The film stars Emma Bell (Frozen, TV’s “The Walking Dead”) and Nick D’Agosto (Fired Up!, TV’s “Heroes”), along with Miles Fisher (TV’s “Mad Men” and “Gossip Girl”), Arlen Escarpeta (Friday the 13th), Jacqueline MacInnes Wood (TV’s “The Bold and the Beautiful”), P.J. Byrne (Dinner for Schmucks) and Ellen Wroe (TV’s “Huge”). Rounding out the rest of the cast are Courtney B. Vance (TV’s “FlashForward,” “ER”), David Koechner (“The Office,” Anchorman) and “Final Destination” franchise  [ Read More ]

The box office results for the weekend of August 5th – 7th unveils a surprising ‘Rise’ for the last major tentpole of the summer season. And in other news, Universal deals with another flopper. Here are the studio estimates: 1. Rise of the Planet of the Apes ($54 million) 2. The Smurfs ($21 million) 3. Cowboys & Aliens ($15.7 million) 4. The Change-Up ($13.5 million) 5. Captain America: The First Avenger ($13 million) 6. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 ($12.1 million) 7. Crazy, Stupid, Love ($12.1 million) 8. Friends with Benefits ($4.7 million) 9. Horrible Bosses ($4.6 million) 10. Transformers: Dark of the Moon ($3 million) Analysis  [ Read More ]

Tony Todd talks about the upcoming horror film “Final Destination 5″ from director Steve Quale, executive produced by Sheila Hanahan Taylor, Erik Holmberg, Richard Brener, Walter Hamada and David Neustadter. The film stars Emma Bell (Frozen, TV’s “The Walking Dead”) and Nick D’Agosto (Fired Up!, TV’s “Heroes”), along with Miles Fisher (TV’s “Mad Men” and “Gossip Girl”), Arlen Escarpeta (Friday the 13th), Jacqueline MacInnes Wood (TV’s “The Bold and the Beautiful”), P.J. Byrne (Dinner for Schmucks) and Ellen Wroe (TV’s “Huge”). Rounding out the rest of the cast are Courtney B. Vance (TV’s “FlashForward,” “ER”), David Koechner (“The Office,” Anchorman) and “Final Destination” franchise icon Tony Todd (Hatchet II). Click  [ Read More ]

Sure, it’s fun getting early peeks at upcoming productions, but it’s a different story if those first looks are coming from anywhere else, but the studio in charge. Hearing that John Travolta, Chuck Norris and Jean-Claude Van Damme may be in The Expendables 2 from the Nu Boyana Studios CEO? Good. Seeing official images of Anne Hathaway, Henry Cavill and Rihanna in full costume for The Dark Knight Rises, Man of Steel and Battleship respectively? Awesome. A parody video by Miles Fisher starring the entire cast of Final Destination 5? Bloody fantastic! Amateur photos and video of folks hanging around the set of Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises? Now  [ Read More ]

Here’s a nasty new movie clip from the upcoming horror film “Final Destination 5″ from director Steve Quale, executive produced by Sheila Hanahan Taylor, Erik Holmberg, Richard Brener, Walter Hamada and David Neustadter. The film stars Emma Bell (Frozen, TV’s “The Walking Dead”) and Nick D’Agosto (Fired Up!, TV’s “Heroes”), along with Miles Fisher (TV’s “Mad Men” and “Gossip Girl”), Arlen Escarpeta (Friday the 13th), Jacqueline MacInnes Wood (TV’s “The Bold and the Beautiful”), P.J. Byrne (Dinner for Schmucks) and Ellen Wroe (TV’s “Huge”). Rounding out the rest of the cast are Courtney B. Vance (TV’s “FlashForward,” “ER”), David Koechner (“The Office,” Anchorman) and “Final Destination” franchise icon Tony Todd  [ Read More ]