Kam's Kapsules for movies opening August 10, 2018

 

Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun 

by Kam Williams

OPENING THIS WEEK

WIDE RELEASES

BlacKkKlansman (R for pervasive profanity, racial epithets, disturbing violence, sexual references and mature themes) John David Washington (Denzel's son) stars as the title character in Spike Lee's Cannes Grand Prize-winning adaptation of African-American detective Ron Stallworth's memoir about infiltrating the Ku Klux Klan in 1979. With Adam Driver, Laura Harrier, Topher Grace, Harry Belafonte, Alec Baldwin and Corey Hawkins.

Dog Days (PG rude humor, suggestive content and mild epithets) Ensemble comedy, set in L.A., revolving around a group of strangers whose lives serendipitously intersect with the help of their pet pooches. Cast includes Vanessa Hudgens, Eva Longoria, Nina Dobrev, Finn Wolfhard and Thomas Lennon.

The Meg (PG-13 for action, peril, profanity and bloody images) Sci-fi thriller revolving around a deep sea diver (Jason Statham) recruited by a research scientist (Winston Chao) to rescue the crew of a disabled submarine sitting on the ocean floor where it is being circled by a 75-foot long, prehistoric shark thought to be extinct. With Bingbing Li, Rainn Wilson, Ruby Rose and Jessica McNamee.

Slender Man (PG-13 for profanity, terror, disturbing images, crude sexual references and mature themes) Adaptation of the creepy internet legend about a skinny stalker with a featureless face (Javier Botet) responsible for the mysterious disappearance of countless kids. Co-starring Joey King, Jaz Sinclair, Taylor Richardson and Talitha Bateman.

INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN

BuyBust (Unrated) High-body count crime thriller, set in Manila, about a narcotics detective (Anne Curtis) forced to shoot her way out of the city's most dangerous slum after surviving the slaughter of the rest of her squad by crooked cops and a drug cartel. With Brandon Vera, Victor Neri and Arjo Atayde. (in Filipino, Tagalog and English with subtitles)

Madeline's Madeline (Unrated) Newcomer Helena Howard makes her screen debut as the title character of this psychological thriller as a troubled teen actress encouraged by a theater director (Molly Parker) to allow her dysfunctional relationship with her mother (Miranda July) to influence her performance in a play. With Julee Cerda, Okwui Okpokwasili, Sunita Mani and Curtiss Cook.

A Prayer before Dawn (R for rape, violence, drug use, sexuality, nudity and pervasive profanity) Adaptation of British boxer Billy Moore's (Joe Cole) memoir about being forced to fight in Muay Thai tournaments to gain his freedom from a Bangkok prison. Supporting cast includes Komsan Polsan, Pornchanok Mabklang and Nicolas Shake. (In English and Thai with subtitles)

Pretty Bad Actress (Unrated) Crime comedy about a fledgling actress (Heather McComb) forced to save herself when she's kidnapped after an audition. Support cast includes Jillian Bell, Danny Woodburn, Amy Buchwald and West Liang.

Skate Kitchen (R for pervasive profanity, drug use, nudity and graphic sexuality) Coming-of-age drama about a suburban teen (Rachelle Vinberg) befriended by female skateboarders in NYC. With Nina Moran, Jaden Smith, Ardelia Lovelace and Kabrina Adams.

Summer of '84 (Unrated) Suspense thriller about a teenager (Graham Verchere) who recruits his friends to help monitor the cop next-door neighbor (Rich Sommer) he suspects is the serial killer terrorizing their town. Cast includes Judah Lewis, Caleb Emery and Cory Gruter-Andrew.