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Thriller

Message from the King (2016)

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Message from the king

Summary

A mystMessage from the Kingerious outsider named Jacob King from South Africa arrives in Los Angeles to avenge his younger sister’s death.

Genre : Thriller
Country : USA/UK/Belgium

Cast :
Chadwick Boseman : Jacob King
Luke Evans : Wentworth
Alfred Molina : Preston

Director :
Fabrice du Welz

My opinion on “Message from the King”

“It’s Bianca.
She’s got a brother.
He’s in town, says he has what we’ve been looking for.
He’s out of control, Mike.
You told me Bianca was not a problem anymore.
Bianca isn’t a problem anymore. I’m afraid that’s his problem.”

Those who imagine the Los Angeles metropolis to be idealistically beautiful, they should adjust that view after watching “Message from the King”. The less beautiful part of Los Angeles is used here. An impoverished neighborhood where the vast majority of residents live in poverty and where crime and drugs are an obvious part of society. Ash gray ghettos full of human suffering. And that’s being emphasized by drizzly weather. The crowded mortuary is a reflection of these fading slums. A collection of nobodies who died because of an overdose, madness (drowned in a bathtub as an imaginary fish) and gang violence.

Message from the King

All you need is a bicycle chain.

This is what Jacob King (Chadwick Boseman) faces when he arrives in L.A. The reason why he’s staying in the city of angels is the sudden disappearance of his younger sister Bianca (Sibongile Mlambo). Soon he discovers the sore situation his sister got herself into and what it did to her : she earned a spot in the mortuary with a name tag on her big toe. The search for the murderers of his younger sister brings him in touch with all kind of figures. Trish (Natalie Martinez) the loyal neighbor points him in the right direction after which he meets a violent gang of Balkan criminals run by a certain Zico (Lucan Melkonian). Then there’s the rich dentist Wentworth (Luke Evans) and the wealthy movie producer Preston (Alfred Molina). And let me tell you. Some of them are getting to know the bicycle chain he just bought, in a less pleasant way.

Message from the King

Cape Flat.

For Jacob, these L.A. neighborhoods probably still look like charming neighborhoods compared to where he comes from. His sister Bianca, his deceased brother Isaac and Jacob himself, lived the largest part of their life in South Africa in the Cape Flat townships, a sandy area south of Cape Town and better known as “Apartheid’s dumping ground”. A dilapidated community where gangs rule. Both in the slums and in prison. Such as “The Number Gangs”. Isaac was a member of this notorious gang, until his death. Reason enough for Bianca to turn her back on her home country and to seek salvation in the United States.

Message from the King

I’ll be damned. It’s directed by a Belgian.

You could say this movie is a cheaper version of “The Equalizer” with Boseman having an equal personality as Denzel Washington. A cold-blooded but alert person who has control over his violent eruptions and who accurately follows the traces to solve the criminal puzzle in the end. However, the ultimate motive remains quite mysterious. Perhaps the only minus I could find in this hard-core, ultra-dark movie. In fact, it’s an ordinary revenge film that differs slightly from others because of its quirky atmosphere and tone. And afterwards I discovered the film was directed by a fellow countryman : Fabrice du Welz. Maybe that’s why this movie displays a kind of willfulness.

Message from the King

Why hesitate? Go watch it!

Even though this action-flick is soaked by cliché elements (corrupt policemen, a cunning politician and a prostitute (TeresaLights OutPalmer) who plays the Good Samaritan), you can speak of a stylish end product. No explicit violence scenes (the result is usually more explicit than the action itself) and a few star-like interpretations like that of Teresa Palmer. But especially Chadwick Boseman impressed. A man with few words, but hard negotiating techniques. From the very first instance, I was fascinated by him. In my opinion, this is yet again a rough diamond that simmers on Netflix undiscovered. Don’t let anybody stop you from watching this when you bump into it somewhere, because this will surely surprise you.

My rating 7/10
Links : IMDB

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Apple TV+

Jake Gyllenhaal Sets Streaming Debut in J.J. Abrams ‘Presumed Innocent’ for AppleTV+

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Many stars are currently pivoting to more TV and streaming work as AppleTV+ is becoming one of the more prestigious streamers to attract stars. Harrison Ford, Henry Cavill, Gary Oldman, Leonardo DiCaprio, Reese Witherspoon, Meryl Streep and Edward Norton are just SOME of the names coming to the service or already appearing in projects for AppleTV+ and they’re about to add another Oscar nominee to their ranks. 

According to Deadline, Jake Gyllenhaal (Nightcrawler, Brokeback Mountain) is set to lead the dramatic limited series, Presumed Innocent for AppleTV+. He will also act as an executive producer on the project alongside J.J. Abrams (Lost, Star Trek) and his Bad Robot banner. Additionally, David E. Kelley (Big Little Lies, The Practice) will write and act as Showrunner on the series for the streamer. Presumed Innocent is based on a 1987 novel that was also adapted as a feature film in 1990 starring Harrison Ford telling the story of an awful murder that stirs controversy within the Chicago Prosecution Office as there is a presumption that one of their own committed the crime. 

Gyllenhaal will play Rusty Sabich in the series who is described as a passionate prosecutor who is accused of killing a close colleague when evidence begins to point to him as the premiere suspect. The series being reimagined by Kelley, will explore obsession, sex, politics and the limits of love as the accusations start to tear apart Rusty from his family. 

The Oscar and Tony-nominated actor most recently voiced the lead character in Disney’s Strange World and will next appear in Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant alongside Antony Starr and Emily Beecham. Additionally, Gyllenhaal has a ton in the works including the video game film adaptation of The Division for Netflix which is based on the famous Tom Clancy franchise. However, none may be more highly anticipated than the remake of Road House. The latter will star Gyllenhaal filling the role originally played by the late, great Patrick Swayze. Road House will be helmed by Doug Liman and also star Daniela Melchior, Billy Magnussen and mark the big-screen debut of MMA superstar, Conor McGregor.

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Thriller

Don’t Worry Darling – Official Trailer | Warner Bros.

A psychological thriller about a 1950s housewife whose reality begins to crack, revealing a disturbing truth underneath.

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Genre: 

Thriller

Release Date:

September 23, 2022

Director:

Olivia Wilde

Cast: 

Florence Pugh; Harry Styles; Olivia Wilde; Gemma Chan; KiKi Layne; Nick Kroll; Chris Pine

Plot Summary:

A psychological thriller about a 1950s housewife whose reality begins to crack, revealing a disturbing truth underneath.

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HORROR

Scream | Official Trailer

A new installment of the ‘Scream’ horror franchise will follow a woman returning to her home town to try to find out who has been committing a series of vicious crimes.



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Genre:

Horror, Mystery, Thriller

Release Date:

January 14, 2022

Director:

Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett

Cast:

Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, David Arquette

Plot Summary:

A new installment of the ‘Scream’ horror franchise will follow a woman returning to her home town to try to find out who has been committing a series of vicious crimes.

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