Movie Openings: Week of October 29th, 2010

It's Halloween weekend and to my surprise, there are only a couple of horror films opening this weekend. One is a monster movie that has received quite a lot of pre-screening buzz and the other is a new 3-D incarnation of an old friend.

First up is "Monsters," a British sci-fi horror film, filmed in Mexico with an American cast. Written and directed by Gareth Edwards (who is also the principal guy who created all the special effects shots), "Monsters" is an indie film shot on a really low budget of a mere $500,000. Yes, you heard that right, half a mil. After watching this film, you would swear that it costs 20 times as much to make. Helmed by no name actors, Scoot McNairy and Whitney Able (they are a couple in real life), the film was shot guerrilla style in various locations in Central America (Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Puerto Rico) and Texas over just a period of three weeks.
Here's the synopsis:
Six years ago, a NASA probe returning to Earth carrying samples of an alien life form crashed over Central America. Soon after, new life forms began to appear and half of Mexico was quarantined as an INFECTED ZONE. Today, the Mexican and American military still struggle to contain "the creatures"......The story begins when a US journalist agrees to escort a shaken American tourist through the infected zone to the safety of the US border.

Next up is the final installment (hopefully) of the venerable horror series, "Saw." The first and only "Saw" film to be shot in 3-D, this one, subtitled "The Final Chapter," stars Tobin Bell and Cary Elwes, who are reprising their roles as Jigsaw and Dr. Lawrence Gordon (from the first "Saw") respectively.
Here's the short synopsis:
As a deadly battle rages over Jigsaw's brutal legacy, a group of Jigsaw survivors gathers to seek the support of self-help guru Bobby Dagen (Sean Patrick Flanery), a man whose own dark secrets unleash a new wave of terror on the world.

Another notable film releasing this week is the third and final installment in Stieg Larsson's Millennium Triliogy, "The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest." It stars yet again Noomi Rapace and Michael Nyqvist, both having appeared in the other two previous films. If you are a fan of Larsson's books, this exciting conclusion to the trilogy should not be missed.

"Welcome to the Rileys" which stars Kristen Stewart and James Gandolfini. This one too has received some great reviews and is a drama about two very different people with an emptiness in their lives and both are awaken by their chance meeting.
Here's the synopsis:
Once a happily married and loving couple, Doug and Lois Riley (James Gandolfini and Melissa Leo) have grown apart since the death of their teenage daughter 8 years ago. Leaving his wife behind to go on a busines trip to New Orleans, Doug meets a 17-year old runaway (Kristen Stewart) and the two form a platonic bond. For Lois and Doug, what initially appears to be the final straw that will derail their relationship, turns out to be the inspiration they need to renew their marriage.

Other notable releases include "Eichmann," a movie based on the final confession of Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann and "Shake Hands with the Devil," a drama based on General Roméo Dallaire's autobiographical book as it recounts the events that unfolded during the Rwandan genocide of 1994 and the failure of the United Nations to act.