The last week of trailers brought us a murder mystery, a horror, a car flick, a survival drama, a period piece, a kids film, a documentary and a series of experimental films — and, honestly, if nothing in here intrigues you, then maybe movies just aren’t your thing. Have you considered that?
Here’s what you need to know about the trailers released in the past seven days.
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Murder on the Orient Express
Usually I’m immediately deterred from any film Johnny Depp is in, but this remake of Murder on the Orient Express also stars Daisy Ridley, Leslie Odom Jr., Michelle Pfeiffer, Josh Gad, Penelope Cruz, Judi Dench, and Kenneth Branagh. That’s a stellar cast.
Based on the Agatha Christie novel, the film tells of thirteen strangers on a train who all find themselves suspects in a murder investigation. What should be investigated, though, is the use of Believer by Imagine Dragons in this trailer — and how on earth Branagh will act passed that moustache.
Murder on the Orient Express is in South African cinemas 24 November.
It Comes At Night
In this hyper-stylised final trailer, It Comes At Night promises a horror full of Sylvia Plath analogies and childish giggles at the title.
The film is produced by A24, the makers of Moonlight, Room, Ex Machina, The Lobster and The Witch, and looks set to be a horror that doesn’t fall for generic tropes.
It Comes At Night does not have a South African release date yet, but will be out in the US 9 June.
Baby Driver
The final trailer for South by Southwest darling Baby Driver is not skilled in the subtleties of the humblebrag, but it looks like it may just live up to the hype, so it’s forgiven.
The film stars Ansel Elgort as Baby, a getaway driver who uses music to focus. When he falls in love and decides he wants out, mob boss Kevin Spacey reels him back in.
Baby Driver will appear in South African cinemas 4 August.
The Mountain Between Us
The Mountain Between Us is based on the eponymous novel by Charles Martin, and tells the story of Dr. Ben Payne and photojournalist Alex Martin, strangers who end up stranded in the wintery mountains of Utah, USA.
Kate Winslet is once again in icy water, and it doesn’t look good for Idris Elba. Apparently no one told him she has a record of letting men die in the cold so she can live. Elba doesn’t deserve this — and neither does his dog, who has a 5% chance of survival if disaster films are anything to go by.
Get those tissues ready for 20 October.
Victoria & Abdul
Victoria & Abdul tells the story of “an unlikely friendship” between Queen Victoria and her Indian servant Abdul.
As the monarch grows older, and those she loves passes away, she finds it difficult to live within the confines of her position. But as her and Abdul deepen their friendship, Victoria is allowed to see the world (and her humanity) in a new light.
Though the story seems sweet enough, the trailer offers a glorified view of colonialism that may dirty an otherwise interesting concept. See if it tackles the tough topics on 29 September.
Paddington 2
Paddington is back, and this time he’s wasting bucket loads of water (way to taunt the Capetonians, little bear.)
The sequel features a very British returning cast of Peter Capaldi, Sally Hawkins, Hugh Bonneville, Julie Walters, Ben Whishaw and Imelda Staunton. It also adds Hugh Grant and Brendan Gleeson to the mix.
Paddington 2 reaches South African shores 5 January 2018.
Oats Studios’ Volume 1
South African director Neill Blomkamp has released the trailer for his series of experimental short films for Oats Studios that will be released on game distribution platform Steam.
As we wrote previously on Memeburn, the trailer is “complete with forlorn children, visions of the world post-Donald Trump, and of course our alien overlords.”
There is no premiere date as yet.
The Putin Interviews
Director Oliver Stone has interviewed Russian President Vladimir Putin numerous times over the past two years, and the footage is soon to be released in the form of The Putin Interviews.
The interviews will take the shape of a four-night television event on Showtime, and will feature questions about whether Russia is an authoritarian state, if the US would be dominant in a “hot war,” and if Russia hacked the US election.
The Putin Interviews will be released on Showtime from 12 June, and it is unclear if it will be available for purchase after broadcast.
