Welcome back to the end of the week! This week offers another range of upcoming project teases and trailers that mostly verge on intensity or horror and action (after all, we’re gearing up to promote the movies often “dumped” in January/February but that’s not all bad!). Scroll till something catches your eye!
“Last Train to Christmas” stars Michael Sheen and to start things off late but with some heavy emotion, he finds as he moves between train cars he travels to a different time in his life:
Written and directed by Julian Kemp and produced by Matt Williams and Matthew James Wilkinson, Sky will release this streaming on “Sky Cinema” and “Now” on December 18th, 2021.
“The Commando,” as a title invokes a certain Schwarzenegger vibe, but the trailer feels more like an “Expendables” sequel or spinoff. Its generic, but Michael Jai White and Mickey Rourke are anything but:
Directed by Asif Akbar and written by Koji Steven Sakai, Saban Films will release this in select US theaters and on VOD January 7th, 2022.
“In the Strange Pursuit of Laura Durand,” on the other hand, is the opposite of generic as the trailer describes a “punk, reggae, rock n’ roll, 8-bit odyssey of music.” It’s a greek road-trip comedy:
Directed by Dimitris Bavellas and written by Dimitris Bavellas and Katerina Kleitsioti, Strike Media will release this direct-to-VOD on January 17th, 2022.
“An Exquisite Meal” projects an independent film feel but there’s enough intrigue in the events and believability in the performances to give this a watch:
Written and directed by Robert Bruce Carter and co-produced by Josh Itzkowitz and Curtis Matzke, Gravitas Ventures will release this direct-to-VOD on December 28th, 2021.
“Hilda and the Mountain King,” to pull in a more positive tone, is based on an animated series and despite the tone of the trailer aiming for “epic fantasy,” this feels unique and touching on some level:
Directed by Andy Coyle, written by Kurt Mueller and Luke Pearson (the series’ original author), and produced by Waheed Alli and Silvergate Media, Netflix will release this streaming on Netflix December 30th, 2021.
“Studio 666” then brings us right back to horror and thrills. This is “Foo Fighters” answer to feature-film-concert hybrids like “Metallica: Through the Never.” It’s just a tease but it looks like fun:
Directed by BJ McDonnell, written by Jeff Buhler and Rebecca Hughes, from a story by Dave Grohl, and produced by John Ramsay and James A. Rota, Open Road Films will release this in theaters February 25th, 2022.
“Bubble” offers another break in tension but further creativity in a smooth, action-oriented and imaginative anime:
Directed by Tetsuro Araki, written by Gen Urobuchi, and scored by Hiroyuki Sawano, Netflix will release this streaming April 28th, 2022.
“Gold” returns to tension and thrills with a modern exploration of similar themes to “Treasure of the SIerra Madre,” and it stars Zac Efron:
Directed by Anthony Hayes and written by Anthony Hayes and Polly Smyth, Madman Films will release this theatrically in Australia on January 13th, 2022. (Trailer has been removed from Madman Films YouTube Channel)
“The Tiger Rising” is one more ray of hope in this list as Dennis Quaid and Queen Latifah re-grace the screen in a story about a child looking after a caged tiger:
Written and directed by Ray Giarratana and produced by Deborah Giarratana and Ryan Donnell Smith, The Avenue will release this in select US theaters on January 21st, 2022 and on VOD February 8th, 2022.
“The Kindred” is a horror thriller about “Sack head.” and despite us already having “Sam” from “Trick R’ Treat” and the lead antagonist in “The Strangers“… here comes another one. To be honest, this looks pretty engaging. Hopefully the story lives beyond the concept:
Directed by Jamie Patterson, written by Christian J. Hearn, and produced by Stephen Jarvis, Steve Jarvis, and Tracy Jarvis, Vertical Entertainment will release this in select US theaters and on VOD January 7th, 2022.
“The Requin” features the return of Alicia Silverstone and is sold with the phrase “terror has teeth,” yet the story seems to be about a gradual progression of survival as her physical surroundings erode… wait what?
Written and directed by Le-Van Kiet, Saban Films will release this in select US theaters and on VOD starting January 28th, 2022.
And lastly, “The Pink Cloud,” seems to have predicted the quarantine-life of 2020, as it was reportedly shot in 2019, yet explores the limits and challenges of living restricted to one’s home:
Written and directed by Iuli Gerbase and produced by Patricia Barbieri, Blue Fox Ent. will release this in select US theaters on January 14th, 2022, then on VOD March 1st, 2022.
The Music City Drive-In 
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