Cinemas & Home Entertainment This Week…

GRIM PICKINGS this week includes key dates to dismember with James Wan dominating both the big and small screen, as the latest instalment in THE CONJURING franchise opens in cinemas while his billion dollar box office entry in the DCEU hits home entertainment!

IN CINEMAS

Thursday 18th April
THE CURSE OF THE WEEPING WOMAN
Michael Chaves make his feature directorial debut with this loose entry in THE CONJURING universe. We say loose as there’s really only one scene that ties this film into the aforementioned franchise and we suspect the studio wedged it in there to give this film an opportunity to find a theatrical audience. That said THE CURSE OF THE WEEPING WOMAN (known as THE CURSE OF LA LLORONA in the United States) is not too bad a film, unlike last year’s THE NUN, it’s just lacklustre. Despite an interesting premise based off Mexican folklore, THE WEEPING WOMAN is a rather run-of-the-mill spook-fest with jump-scares you can set your watch to. The real charm of the film lies with its family dynamic and the chemistry of its actors, that feels like a throwback to paranormal classics like POLTERGEIST and THE AMITYVILLE HORROR. In 1970s Los Angeles, the Weeping Woman is stalking the night—and the children. Ignoring the eerie warning of a troubled mother suspected of child endangerment, a social worker (Linda Cardellini) and her own family are soon drawn into a frightening supernatural realm. Their only hope to survive the Weeping Woman’s deadly wrath may be a disillusioned priest and the mysticism he practices to keep evil at bay, on the fringes where fear and faith collide. Beware of her chilling wail…she will stop at nothing to lure you into the gloom. Because there is no peace for her anguish. There is no mercy for her soul. And there is no escape from the curse of the Weeping Woman.

HOME ENTERTAINMENT

Available Now
AQUAMAN
After successfully transitioning from genre filmmaker to blockbuster director with FAST & FURIOUS 7, Aussie expat James Wan (THE CONJURING, SAW) brings his talent to the DC Extended Universe with AQUAMAN. While Wan’s prior history with horror may have you thinking he’d craft something that would fit comfortably amidst the needlessly dark back catalogue of DC, he surprises us all by bringing a far lighter look and tone than we’re accustomed to the DCEU. Embracing the absurdity of its titular character and setting, Wan’s AQUAMAN is a lively, stunning and at times hilarious origin story that despite its running time at almost two and a half hours never suffers from fatigue or boredom. The origin story of half-human, half-Atlantean Arthur Curry (Jason Momoa) and takes him on the journey of his lifetime—one that will not only force him to face who he really is, but to discover if he is worthy of who he was born to be…a king. Roadshow’s Blu-ray & 4K Ultra-HD Special Features include twelve production featurettes and even a preview of the latest DCEU feature SHAZAM!. Also worth noting is that the 4K Ultra-HD features both Dolby Vision and a a loungeroom engulfing demo-worthy Dolby Atmos audio track.JUSTICE LEAGUE VS THE FATAL FIVE
The latest entry into the animated DCEU is one of the best yet and has a familiar quality to it, like a throwback to the BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES from the 90s with its distinct style of animation and appearance of that eras characters. The fate of the earth hangs in the balance when the Justice League face a powerful new threat – the Fatal Five! Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman seek answers as Mano, Persuader and Tharok terrorize Metropolis in search of budding Green Lantern, Jessica Cruz. With her unwilling help, they aim to free remaining Fatal Five members Emerald Empress and Validus; and carry out their sinister plan. Meanwhile, the Justice League discover an ally in the peculiar Star Boy – brimming with volatile power, could he be the key to thwarting the Fatal Five? An epic battle against ultimate evil awaits! Special Features abound on Roadshow’s Blu-ray & 4K Ultra-HD with an Audio Commentary, two Fatal Five centric featurettes, a sneak peak at the upcoming BATMAN: HUSH and a couple episodes from the DC vault! 

Grim Pickings is written weekly by Jarret Gahan.