Quentin Tarantino’s KILL BILL: THE WHOLE BLOODY AFFAIR unites Volume 1 and Volume 2 into a single, unrated epic – presented exactly as he intended, complete with a new, never-before-seen anime sequence. Uma Thurman stars as The Bride, left for dead after her former boss and lover Bill ambushes her wedding rehearsal, shooting her in the head and stealing her unborn child. To exact her vengeance, she must first hunt down the four remaining members of the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad before confronting Bill himself. With its operatic scope, relentless action, and iconic style, THE WHOLE BLOODY AFFAIR stands as one of cinema’s definitive revenge sagas – rarely shown in its complete form, and now presented with a classic intermission.
KILL BILL: THE WHOLE BLOODY AFFAIR stars Uma Thurman, Lucy Liu, Vivica A. Fox, Michael Madsen, Daryl Hannah, Gordon Liu, Michael Parks, and David Carradine as “Bill.” The film is produced by Lawrence Bender, written and directed by Quentin Tarantino, based on the character of “The Bride” created by Q&U.
Releasing on December 5, 2025, the runtime is 281 minutes (including a 15-minute intermission).
NEON. Photo by Peter Andrews. Copyright The Spectral Spirit Company
By Michelle McCueand Marc Butterfield
Director Steven Soderbergh has returned to the big screen with a riveting tale of a haunting in his latest movie, PRESENCE.
Coming in at 85 minutes, this ghost story is unlike anything you’ll see all year. An unusual, unnerving, and heart-wrenching thriller, it stars Lucy Liu, Chris Sullivan, Eddy Maday and Callina Liang.
Filmed from the supernatural being’s POV, the presence is there before the family even moves into their new home. It witnesses this dysfunctional family’s most intimate uncomfortable moments. It navigates the family’s new house at supernatural speed. It pays unusual attention to Chloe, who’s two friends have mysteriously died, and who’s neither her mother’s, Rebekah, nor her brother’s, Tyler, favorite. It’s only her father, Chris, who supports her and believes her story that she senses something in the house, especially her bedroom. This ghost wants and needs something and as time goes on, the presence pieces together how it might accomplish its goal.
PRESENCE is the second film collaboration of Soderbergh and screenwriter David Koepp, first being the 2022 KIMI. The movie is in the same vein as THE SIXTH SENSE, THE OTHERS and A GHOST STORY. Audiences should not go into this with thoughts of THE CONJURING or INSIDIOUS and its assuredly not a found footage film akin to PARANORMAL ACTIVITY or BLAIR WITCH PROJECT. This is not a by-the-numbers horror movie.
Soderbergh has said in an interview, “Presence came out of when we were talking about doing a remake of the 1944 ghost movie The Uninvited. And after coming up with some really fun stuff, we abandoned that over the third act reveal.”
Both Soderbergh and Koepp have had their own real-life brushes with what could be the supernatural.
“Presence grew out of something that happened in the house I own with Jules [Asner, Soderbergh’s wife] in Los Angeles. It is a true fact that somebody died in this 4 house before we moved in. It is a rumor that the person that died in this house was a mother, killed by her daughter. We were aware of this when we bought the house. From that point on, there were the occasional weird “Did I turn that light off?” moments. I never felt threatened by this. I wasn’t afraid of it. It didn’t really register at all. And it probably would’ve just kind of petered out if not for the fact that we had a house sitter who was watching TV one evening; there’s a long hallway that leads to the bedroom, and this person felt some sort of presence, looked up, and saw the figure of a woman cross the end of the hallway into the bedroom. The house sitter instinctively shouted Jules’ name. And immediately realized Jules wasn’t there. That’s why they’re house sitting. And she immediately called Jules. Who then relayed what we had heard. And the house sitter responded, “ Why didn’t you tell me that?” When I hear such stories, I think, “Why doesn’t this stuff happen to me? This sounds super exciting.” And I began thinking along the lines of a presence in a house, and the new person or people come into the house, how would the presence feel about that? I wrote that up, roughly, and sent it to David.”
Koepp added, “For a time I lived in Langham in New York. A big creepy old building on 74th and Central Park West. I was watching TV one night and looked down a hall and saw a figure move past when no one should have been there. And I never had an experience like that. I found it really weird and striking because no one was down there and surely I saw a figure cross the end of the hall. Several months later I mentioned it to my then 17-year-old son, Nick. “Oh yeah, I had this thing when I saw,” and before I finished he says, “At the end of the hall, down from the living room.” And I was like, no way.”
During the film, the family calls in someone who can feel spirits and it’s in these scenes where the exposition between the family and this psychic hints at how and why their house is haunted. This ghost she can sense is a little fearful, doesn’t know when and where they are — hides in Chloe’s closet a lot and is also very curious. This is a movie where the script and the brilliant words from Koepp are very important and he plays by typical “ghost” rules, which leads to a jaw dropping ending.
It explains a lot that Soderbergh’s mother was a parapsychologist. “if you want to picture my mom, she’s Beatrice Straight in Poltergeist. Not only did she kind of look like Beatrice Straight, but she wasn’t in the least bit loony. She was a normal person, but her whole life revolved around these kinds of explorations. I’ve also had to acknowledge things that have happened in my life that have been odd and synchronous in a way that is hard to account,” says Soderberg.
Directed, edited and filmed by Soderbergh, another element is the score that effectively sets the tone and mood. It’s not the type of score you would expect from a supernatural thriller with loud booming, jump scare-like cues and bravo to composer Zack Ryan for not taking that typical trope with his sobering piano motifs. Take a listen to the film’s haunting soundtrack, featuring original score: http://soundtracks.lnk.to/presence
Theater goers will be discussing the movie long after the credits have rolled and Soderbergh’s use of long, methodical tracking shots of the ghost wandering around, doing poltergeist things and preventing disaster is really inspired. It demands repeat viewings. Ultimately the film fascinatingly explores grief, loneliness, regret and redemption through authentic, dynamic performances, culminating in a genius, yet emotional ending. PRESENCE is the first must-see film of 2025.
It’s there before the family even moves in. It witnesses the family’s most intimate uncomfortable moments. It navigates the family’s new house at supernatural speed. It pays unusual attention to Chloe, the teenage girl who’s neither her mother’s nor her brother’s favorite. It wants — no, it needs — something. And as time goes on, the presence pieces together how it might accomplish its goal. An unusual, unnerving, and emotional thriller from writer David Koepp and director Steven Soderbergh.
In theaters on January 24 and starring Lucy Liu, Julia Fox and Chris Sullivan, watch the brand new trailer for PRESENCE.
The film sits at 88% on Rotten Tomatoes. In her Sundance Film Festival 2024 review, Tomris Laffly says the movie “takes us back to the timeless cinematic basics of sad ghosts with unfinished business and delivers something formally fresh that renews the supernatural genre.”
In a recent LA Times interview with Soderberg, the filmmaker doesn’t believe in ghosts, “an unlikely perspective from the son of a parapsychologist, his mother Mary Ann. Growing up in the South, the filmmaker witnessed “a revolving door of people who were very into paranormal experiences and ideas of visitation.” These days, his barometer for belief correlates to A&E series “Celebrity Ghost Stories,” on which famous people recount their encounters with the realm beyond.
“These stories are pretty wild,” he says in complete seriousness. “The Jeff Ross story is really disturbing.” The director says he once met the comedian and asked him about it.
“You could tell he was still carrying it around,” he says. “So if you ask me ‘Well, do you believe in ghosts?’ I can only say I believe Jeff Ross was telling the truth. Given what has been my life experience, that’s as far as I can go. I believe the people on that show are not lying.”
Photo by Peter Andrews, Copyright The Spectral Spirit Company, Callina Liang (Chloe), Chris Sullivan (Chris), Eddy Maday (Tyler), Lucy Liu (Rebekah), and Julia Fox (Cece) in “Presence” directed by Steven Soderbergh
An aging hitman (Christoph Waltz) is forced to train a young prodigy (Cooper Hoffman) when his employer moves to replace the old guard. But when they learn they are being betrayed, the unlikely pair turns into a lethal team – with their double-crossing bosses in their sights. Lucy Liu also stars in this action-packed comedy.
From director Simon West (CON AIR, LARA CROFT: TOMB RAIDER and THE EXPENDABLES 2), catch the new trailer for OLD GUY.
The film premiered at the Newport Beach Film Festival on October.
OLD GUY opens in Select Theaters and On Digital February 21, 2025.
Take those jack o’lanterns to the dumpster, it’s Christmas time, at least according to the multiplex (and Thanksgiving gets very little screen time other than PLANES, TRAINS, AND AUTOMOBILES). One such flick is already getting moviegoers in the “spirit” with the modestly budgeted THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER packing them in after only a week. Well, it’s time for the big studios to load up your stocking with lots of action and firepower. Hey, we get plenty of holiday comedies and romances, so how about a butt-kickin” Kringle? That’s the formula for this, an expansion of the movie within a movie “The Day the Reindeer Died” from the opening of 1988’s SCROOGED, along with lotsa’ laughs in between explosions and a heartful message snuck in. Hopefully, it comes together like a warm fruitcake (and probably tastier) in RED ONE.
Unlike many holiday tales (especially variants of “A Christmas Carol”), this one begins with a flashback as little Jack O’Malley sours the eggnog by debunking the Santa mythos at a big family gathering. Jump cut to now as Santa Claus AKA Nick (J.K. Simmons) is listening to the gift lists from a long line of kids in a busy mall. Luckily a very big, buffy helper/elf named Callum (Dwayne Johnson) is there to make things go smoothly. When the line ends, the two are whisked through a secret exit because this Nick is the “real deal”. He likes to speak with the kiddos to get in the proper mood before he’s on his rounds the next day. And thanks to the secret government agency M.O.R.A. (Mythological Oversight and Restoration Authority) headed by Zoe Harlow (Lucy Liu), they head to the North Pole, through the invisible force field that hides Santa’s workshop where Mrs. Claus (Bonnie Hunt) is working with various creatures (including a talking polar bear) on making all the presents. Meanwhile, the now adult Jack (Chris Evans) is using his criminal skills to nab a top-secret piece of tech for an unknown client. Oh, it turns out that Callum is indeed an E.L.F. (Enforcement Logistics and Fortification), who is planning on retiring after centuries on the job. But something is off, as he sees several lights go out on the big tower. Oh no, they’ve been breached and a heavily equipped band of raiders has grabbed Nick. They’ve got to find him in order to save Christmas. Zoe points him to Jack, and after picking up his pre-teen son from school (things are strained after the divorce), he’s “detained” by the ELF squad. Callum and Jack must team up to find the tech buyer. The squabbling duo embarks on a worldwide trail that leads them to Santa’s half-brother Krampus (Kristofer Hivju) who has a connection to a powerful witch named Gryla (Kernan Shipka) who will stop at nothing to turn all those yuletide dreams into unending nightmares if Callum and Jack don’t thwart her plans in time.
The big “draw” in this bombastic holiday havoc is probably Johnson, though there’s not much to Callum. He’s there to look intimidating and cool (usually with some rockin’ shades) and to try and convince us that this is his last “big show”. Sure, his action “moves” are quite impressive, but he’s mainly a “straight man” counterpoint to Evans (attempting to tarnish his “shield”) as the cynical wise guy Jack. It’s admirable that he’s veering into “bad guy” (maybe a rascally rogue) territory, but he’s saddled with a trite character arc that we can see coming down Candy Cane Lane. Simmons seems to be having the most fun as the “jacked” St. Nick (lots of time in the weight room), and his scenes with the kids delight, but unfortunately, he’s “out of the picture” for the bulk of action (a nice special effects heavy stunt sequence in the finale almost makes up for that). The forever fierce Liu is always welcome on the big screen, though here she mainly barks orders into monitors and is a version of “the guy at the desk”, until her time to show off her fighting skills in the finale. As for the terrific comic actors involved, the wonderful Hunt is there to chide Santa and wring her hands in worry, while Nick Kroll mugs up a storm as an underworld kingpin who’s afraid of Shipka’s Gryla. Perhaps this is a big promotion from teen witch Sabrina, but not nearly as wicked as Sally Draper in “Mad Men”, as she vamps it up in several slinky black Halloween cast-off costumes. A much more engaging villain is Hivju, delivering the snark and menace as the towering Krampus who deserves a spin-off sequel.
Calling the shots on this holiday hybrid flick is Jake Kasdan, who had guided Johnson in the two recent JUMANJI reboots. And there is a sense of satiric fun in the big set-ups in the first act. This is particularly true in the new spins on the Kringle legend dreamt up by screenwriters Chris Morgan and Hiram Garcia as Santa’s village becomes an artic Wakanda (why not do a bit of Marvel “borrowing” since two MCU vets are in the cast), full of cool gizmos to streamline the “delivery day” and answer those kid queries (thinking ANT-MAN style antics). But by the time the “Nick-napping” occurs, we’re weary of the often stilted CGI effects, from the small minion-like workers to that lumbering polar bear (in his own E.L.F. vest) to a trio of snowmen assassins who wandered out of a video game. I’ll toss a few kudos to those who decided to forgo motion-capture for Krampus and instead out Hivju in an “old school” prosthetic full body makeup and kin (reminding me of Tim Curry in 1985’s LEGEND). But then the story gets bogged down with long chases, silly bits of business that fall flat (especially in the “contest” at Krampus castle), and the hamfisted heartstring ‘tugging in changing Jack’s deadbeat dad ways. This all contributes to its over two-hour runtime (a hundred minutes would help loads), which could make the lil’ ones squirm, though there are some horrific scenes that could scare and a leering shot of bikini babes on the beach. Maybe those are aimed at the teenagers, but they probably won’t care for the sentimentality and the bits of myth whimsy. This isn’t the big lump of coal that the trailers promised, but it’s doubtful that Buddy the Elf, Jack Skellington, Ralphie, or even THE SANTA CLAUSE will be displaced as a year-end classic by RED ONE.
After Santa Claus – Code Name: RED ONE – is kidnapped, the North Pole’s Head of Security (Dwayne Johnson) must team up with the world’s most infamous bounty hunter (Chris Evans) in a globe-trotting, action-packed mission to save Christmas. Directed by Jake Kasdan, the film also features Lucy Liu, Kiernan Shipka, Bonnie Hunt, Kristofer Hivju, Nick Kroll, Wesley Kimmel and J.K. Simmons.
Amazon MGM Studios will release RED ONE theatrically in the US on November 15, 2024.
Before screenings of TRANSFORMERS ONE this weekend, moviegoers got a special surprise – a brand new trailer for RED ONE.
Starring Dwayne Johnson, Chris Evans, Lucy Liu, Kiernan Shipka, Bonnie Hunt, Kristofer Hivju, Nick Kroll, Wesley Kimmel and J.K. Simmons, RED ONE takes place when Santa Claus – Code Name: RED ONE – is kidnapped and the North Pole’s Head of Security (Dwayne Johnson) must team up with the world’s most infamous bounty hunter (Chris Evans) in a globe-trotting, action-packed mission to save Christmas.
Perfect non-traditional flick for the holiday season. Director Jake Kasdan has worked with Johnson on Jumanji: The Next Level (2019) and Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017).
Amazon MGM Studios will release RED ONE theatrically in the US on November 15, 2024, and worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures internationally this November.
After Santa Claus – Code Name: RED ONE – is kidnapped, the North Pole’s Head of Security (Dwayne Johnson) must team up with the world’s most infamous bounty hunter (Chris Evans) in a globe-trotting, action-packed mission to save Christmas.
Starring Dwayne Johnson, Chris Evans, Lucy Liu, Kiernan Shipka, Bonnie Hunt, Kristofer Hivju, Nick Kroll, Wesley Kimmel and J.K. Simmons, check out the trailer now.
Directed by Jake Kasdan (JUMANJI: WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE, BAD TEACHER, SEX TAPE, JUMANJI: THE NEXT LEVEL), Amazon MGM Studios will release RED ONE theatrically in the US on November 15, 2024 and worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures internationally this November
Opening in IMAX®, Dolby Cinema and all premium large formats.
Highland Film Group announced today that it has locked distribution deals in key international territories in all media for the action comedy OLD GUY starring two-time Academy Award winner Christoph Waltz (No Time to Die, Big Eyes, Inglourious Basterds), Lucy Liu (Strange World, Shazam! Fury of the Gods) and Cooper Hoffman (Paul Thomas Anderson’s Licorice Pizza).
Directed by Simon West (The Expendables 2, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, The Mechanic) and written by Greg Johnson (The Last Son), Highland Film Group has sold the rights to OLD GUYto SND Films for France, Square One Entertainment GmbH for Germany, Vertigo Releasing and Lumiere Ventures for the UK, YouPlanet Pictures for Spain, Blue Swan Entertainment for Italy, Spentzos Film for Greece, NOS Lusomundo Audiovisuais for Portugal, SF Studios for Scandinavia, Vertical Entertainment for Eastern Europe, Aqua Group for Turkey, Falcon Films for the Middle East, Forum Film for Israel, California Filmes for Latin America, MovieCloud for Taiwan, Filmfinity for South Africa and Village Road Show for Australia and New Zealand.
Aging contract killer Danny Dolinski (Christoph Waltz) still believes he’s the best at what he does. Stuck at a dead end but vying for the love of club manager Anata (Lucy Liu), Danny is thrilled when The Company pulls him back in the field, but only to train Gen Z newcomer Wihlborg (Cooper Hoffman), a prodigy assassin with an attitude. The mismatched pair is asked to eliminate top members of a competing crime syndicate and, in the process, uncover their employer’s true motive: removing the old guard in a full takeover. However, The Company didn’t anticipate that Danny’s experience coupled with the kid’s brilliance would create such an unlikely bond between the two, enabling them, with crucial help from Anata, to turn it all back on The Company.
The film is produced by Jib Polhemus (The Last Son, The Expendables 2), Martin Brennan (One Way, Zone 414), West and R.U. Robot Studio’s Petr Jákl (Medieval,The Last Full Measure). Hal Sadoff (The Nice Guys, Orphan: First Kill) and Norman Golightly (Lord of War, Ghost Rider) will produce on behalf of Dark Castle Entertainment. The film is executive produced by R.U. Robot Studio’s Martin J. Barab, Blue Rider Pictures’ Walter Josten (Around the World in 80 Days, Holes) and Aperture Media Partners’ Jared Underwood, Andrew Robinson and Dan Mandel. Hannah Leader and Frank DeMartini serve on the production legal team.
Production recently wrapped in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Highland Film Group is co-financing the action comedy and handling worldwide rights. OLD GUY was filmed on location in Northern Ireland with support from Northern Ireland Screen.
“We are delighted to be working with such talented actors as two-time Academy Award winner Christoph Waltz, rising talent Cooper Hoffman and Lucy Liu in this fantastic action-packed comedy,” said Highland Film Group’s CEO Arianne Fraser. “With the help of our wonderful international partners, we look forward to introducing global audiences to this phenomenal project led by director Simon West,”added COO Delphine Perrier.
Check out the brand new trailer for director David F. Sandberg’s (“Shazam!,” “Annabelle: Creation”) SHAZAM! FURY OF THE GODS.
Hitting theaters on March 17, the film continues the story of teenage Billy Batson who, upon reciting the magic word “SHAZAM!,” is transformed into his adult Super Hero alter ego, Shazam.
Bestowed with the powers of the gods, Billy Batson and his fellow foster kids are still learning how to juggle teenage life with having adult Super Hero alter-egos. But when the Daughters of Atlas, a vengeful trio of ancient gods, arrive on Earth in search of the magic stolen from them long ago, Billy—aka Shazam—and his family are thrust into a battle for their superpowers, their lives, and the fate of their world.
Check out the trailer breakdown HERE with Sandberg where he talks about dragons, the daughters of Atlas and the magic word.
“Shazam! Fury of the Gods” stars returning cast members Zachary Levi (“Thor: Ragnarok”) as Shazam; Asher Angel (“Andi Mack”) as Billy Batson; Jack Dylan Grazer (“It Chapter Two”) as Freddy Freeman; Adam Brody (“Promising Young Woman”) as Super Hero Freddy; Ross Butler (“Raya and the Last Dragon”) as Super Hero Eugene; Meagan Good (“Day Shift”) as Super Hero Darla; D.J. Cotrona (“G.I. Joe: Retaliation”) as Super Hero Pedro; Grace Caroline Currey (“Annabelle: Creation”) as Mary Bromfield / Super Hero Mary; Faithe Herman (“This Is Us”) as Darla Dudley; Ian Chen (“A Dog’s Journey”) as Eugene Choi; Jovan Armand (“Second Chances”) as Pedro Pena; Marta Milans (“White Lines”) as Rosa Vasquez; Cooper Andrews (“The Walking Dead”) as Victor Vasquez; with Djimon Hounsou (“A Quiet Place Part II”) as Wizard.
Joining the cast are Rachel Zegler (“West Side Story”), with Lucy Liu (“Kung Fu Panda” franchise) and Helen Mirren (“F9: The Fast Saga”).
The film is directed by David F. Sandberg (“Shazam!,” “Annabelle: Creation”) and produced by Peter Safran (“Aquaman,” “The Suicide Squad”). It is written by Henry Gayden (“Shazam!,” “There’s Someone Inside Your House”) and Chris Morgan (“Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw,” “The Fate of the Furious”), based on characters from DC; Shazam! was created by Bill Parker and C.C. Beck. Executive producers are Walter Hamada, Adam Schlagman, Richard Brener, Dave Neustadter, Victoria Palmeri, Marcus Viscidi and Geoff Johns.
Joining director Sandberg behind-the-camera are director of photography Gyula Pados (the “Jumanji” franchise), production designer Paul Kirby (“The Old Guard,” “Jason Bourne”) and editor Michel Aller (“Shazam!,” “The Nun”). The music supervisor is Season Kent (“DC League of Super-Pets,” “The Addams Family 2”) and the music is by Christophe Beck (“Free Guy,” “Frozen II”).
Visual effects supervisors are Bruce Jones (“Aquaman,” “It”) and Raymond Chen (“Alita: Battle Angel,” “The Meg”). The costume designer is Louise Mingenbach (“Jumanji: The Next Level,” “Godzilla: King of the Monsters”).
New Line Cinema presents A Peter Safran Production of A David F. Sandberg Film, “Shazam! Fury of the Gods,” which is set to open in theaters internationally beginning 15 March 2023 and in North America on March 17, 2023
