‘Exhuma’ Digs Up Terrors As Our Pick of the Week

Exhuma

What is it? A pair of shamans discover something evil on their latest case.

Why see it? This is a big, thrilling, richly detailed piece of folk horror with atmosphere, scares, and personality to spare. Writer/director Jang Jae-hyun chases his two previous films, the religious horror movies The Priests (2015) and Svaha: The Sixth Finger (2019), with a meaty genre tale weaving historical atrocities and supernatural beliefs into fantastical entertainment. We get detailed rituals and a richly layered belief system alongside ghostly chills and monstrous decapitations, and the resulting concoction is a fun genre treat that keeps on giving right through its numerous endings. The journey moves viewers from the ghostly to the monstrous with meaning and history behind the horror, and while there are thought-provoking elements at play here there’s also a desire to deliver big, creepy, gory, beautiful thrills. That desire becomes reality resulting in genre entertainment that’ll leave you engorged and plenty satisfied.

[Extras: Featurette]

The Best

Capricorn One [Imprint Films]

What is it? Three astronauts take an Earthbound adventure.

Why see it? The 70s were home to a wonderful array of conspiracy-filled films about government antics beyond the pale and the unfortunate souls trapped in their crosshairs. There are several classics from The Parallax View to Three Days of the Condor, and I’d argue that the shortlist also includes this late 70s entry inspired by the idea that America faked the moon landing. Here it’s a trip to Mars that gets scuttled and manipulated, leaving three astronauts on the run, and the result is a thriller that takes some surprising opportunities to have fun. It’s a deadly serious affair, to be sure, but director Peter Hyams lets his characters and action unfold with an unexpected — but welcome — playfulness. Add in a strong cast (James Brolin, Elliott Gould, Sam Waterston, Hal Holbrook) and a truly fantastic aerial chase in the third act, and you have a film that’s better than its B-movie reputation. Imprint’s new hardbox release features both the theatrical cut and the extended alongside numerous extras shining a light on the film’s production and reception. It’s a great release for an underappreciated thriller.

[Extras: Theatrical and extended cuts, commentaries, featurettes, interviews]

The Convent [4K UHD, Synapse]

What is it? A group of teens awaken a haunted convent.

Why see it? Mike Mendez makes goofy films, but few manage to find the fun that this silly chiller from 2000 manages. A teen kills a bunch of nuns, and forty years later a group of unruly teens returns to the convent where it all happened. Of course, they’re joined by some amateur satanists meaning it’s not long before their antics bring an undead assault with demonic twists. It’s all ridiculous and never really played for scares, but Mendez delivers a fun time with sharp dialogue, gory beats, and a third act appearance by Adrienne Barbeau. Synapse’s new release brings all its goopy, gory goods to bright, detailed life making for a great release just in time for Halloween.

[Extras: New 4K remaster, commentaries, featurettes, deleted scene, outtakes]

A Quiet Place: Day One [4K UHD, steelbook]

What is it? A prequel!

Why see it? John Krasinski’s A Quiet Place was a big hit, and while I don’t love it, I respect its success. Even better, it birthed a sequel that’s superior in every way — so of course it did less well at the box-office. This third film is actually a prequel, as the subtitle implies, and it’s also better than the first film. Here we start off in the hours before the alien creatures arrive, and we’re witness to their initial, confounding assault, and the setpieces deliver both thrills and suspense grounded by the always terrific Lupita Nyong’o. It never rewrites its subgenre, but it’s a solidly entertaining creature feature.

[Extras: Deleted scenes, featurettes]

The Rest

Harold and the Purple Crayon

What is it? A masterclass in fucking up an adaptation.

Why see it? I’m gonna admit right up front here, that there was probably no way I was going to enjoy this film. The original kids book is an unforgettably sweet and fun read, an ode to imagination and wonder straight from the mind of a child. So of course the film casts Zachary Levi as Harold. Seems he’s all grown up now and resides in the body of a wacko, and my thoughts on Levi aside, the premise immediately loses all the charm of the source. Anyway, the film is no better than I feared as Levi can’t sell the character — no adult could — meaning the magic and creative spirit get lost in the shuffle. Skip it.

[Extras: Featurettes, deleted scenes]

Killers [Synapse Films]

What is it? Two brothers escape custody and take a family hostage.

Why see it? Loosely inspired by the Menendez Brothers, two siblings kills their parents, escape custody, and unleash more bloodshed. Mike Mendez’s first feature is more than a little rough around the edges, and that leaves a bit to be desired. Still, we get some fun enough bursts of violence and a midway twist that adds some minor thrills.

[Extras: New restoration, commentary, alternate ending]

Kinds of Kindness

What is it? A triptych!

Why see it? Yorgos Lanthimos makes movies that walk, dance, and fuck to the beat of their own drum. Sometimes they result in magic like Poor Things and The Lobster, and sometimes? Well, once in a while he delivers a misfire. This three-story tale is loaded with familiar, talented faces (Emma Stone, Jessie Plemons, Willem Dafoe, Margaret Qualley, Hong Chau, and more), and there are moments that earn smiles, but the overarching themes and narratives don’t quite find their footing. Watch it for the cast.

[Extras: Featurette, deleted scenes]

Riot In a Women’s Prison [Raro]

What is it? A dramatic look at women in prison.

Why see it? When you think ‘women in prison flick,” the odds are you think salacious sex and nudity, rough violence between prisoners and guards, and an overall sadistic tone. This mid 70s effort from Italy teases some of that more than other parts, but at the end of the day, this is a serious drama about women prisoners. Yes, there’s skin and chafing, but it mostly feels more matter of fact than exploitative. Mostly.

[Extras: Commentary]

Also out this week:

Arcane, Close to You, The Convert, Maxxxine, Monsieur Vincent, Robot Dreams, Sleepy Hollow [4K UHD]