August has developed a reputation as a month entirely devoted to Hollywood's dumping ground, the less-regarded output from major studios.
Looking over these films, though, we see a lot of upcoming fun this week!
All six releases that we've chosen to cover have something to recommend them, even if they're not getting a huge, wide theatrical release. And one of the more pleasant surprises is arriving via Video On Demand platforms.
Below, please check out our selection of what to expect this week, whether in movie theaters, On Digital, or On Demand, including a re-release of a classic Korean zombie thriller.
The End of Oak Street
The film opens Friday, August 14, only in movie theaters, via Warner Bros..
There is something about dinosaurs, evidently. Anne Hathaway and Ewan McGregor star. David Robert Mitchell (It Follows) wrote and directed. Look for our review later this week.
Official synopsis: "After a mysterious cosmic event rips Oak Street from suburbia and transports their neighborhood to someplace unknown, the Platt family soon discovers that their very survival depends on them sticking together as they navigate their now unrecognizable surroundings."
The Wrong Girls
The film opens Friday, August 14, only in movie theaters, via Neon Releasing.
Kristen Stewart, Alia Shawkat, and Lakeith Stanfield lead the cast. Dylan Meyer directed. Look for our review later this week.
Official synopsis: "Two codependent best friends living paycheck to paycheck and bong rip to bong rip get caught in a case of mistaken identity that throws their lives into chaos."
The Rivals of Amziah King
The film opens Friday, August 14, only in movie theaters, via Black Bear.
Matthew McConaughey stars in a film directed by Andrew Patterson (The Vast of Night), introducing Angelina LookingGlass, with Kurt Russell. Look for our review later this week.
Official synopsis: "Deep within the backwoods of rural Oklahoma, charismatic and musically gifted Amziah King herds a bluegrass-playing band of misfits while overseeing the premier honey-making operation in town. When Amziah's estranged foster daughter unexpectedly returns, Amziah leaps at the possibility to renew connection and create a family business. But the honey game is ruthless, and Amziah's rivals threaten to destroy everything he has built."
Feed
The film opens Friday, August 14, On Digital and On Demand, via Saban Films.
Five young people head for a weekend away in a lovely Irish home. Little do they know that evil lurks in the woods nearby, perhaps "the first vampire ever recorded." Don't they know they're in an Irish horror film? Look for our review of this disquieting thriller later today.
The Birthday Party
The film will be available Friday, August 14, in movie theaters, On Digital and On Demand, via Quiver Distribution.
Willem Dafoe leads the cast as a wealthy businessman. Vic Carmen Sonne, Joe Cole, and Emma Suárez also star. Look for our review later this week.
Official synopsis: The Birthday Party is set against the beautiful Mediterranean landscape and an extravagant birthday party. A ruthless multi-millionaire in charge of a business empire, will entirely lose his grip on any sense of right and wrong when he tries to control the lives of those around him whatever the cost, leading to a heartbreaking clash with his daughter."
Train to Busan 10th Anniversary
The film opens Friday, August 14, only in movie theaters, via Wll Go USA.
And you thought snakes on a plane were bad.
Our 2016 review by Korea-based Pierce Conran, who no longer travels on trains: "For his live-action debut Train to Busan, indie animation director Yeon Sang-ho, whose films The King of Pigs and The Fake have drawn international acclaim, has taken the zombie thriller, stuck it into the claustrophobic confines of a train, and taken aim at Korea's government and its hierarchical divides. A tense and inventive mix of genre thrills and social anxiety, Train to Busan is a Korean blockbuster with an unusually clear focus."
Official synopsis: "Yeon Sang-ho's global phenomenon Train to Busan arrives back in theaters to celebrate its 10th Anniversary. What begins as a simple birthday trip for a father and daughter turns into a high-octane fight for survival when a zombie outbreak ravages South Korea. Trapped on a speeding train, they must navigate a landscape of terror to reach safety. Experience the relentless action and heart-wrenching drama on the big screen like never before."
Opening This Week celebrates the cinematic experience, in movie theaters and at home.