1. Snitch (Summit Entertainment, 2,511 Theaters, 112 Minutes, Rated PG-13): Dwayne Johnson has built quite the eclectic career for himself. One of the rare professional wrestlers that has grown a long-lasting film presence through appearing not only in action films , but also in comedies (Be Cool), family fare (The Game Plan) and inspirational dramas (The Gridiron Gang). He is as comfortable in the lead, sharing the screen with a co-lead or in a supporting role. He might not be the biggest name in action films since Schwarzenegger, but he has consistently worked.
He’s playing the sole lead in this one, acting in the role of a father who must go undercover for the DEA to infiltrate a drug ring in order to clear his son’s name.
While it might not be the most original concept, Johnson has surrounded himself with a great group of actors (Susan Sarandon, Barry Pepper, Benjamin Bratt, David Harbour, Jon Bernathal) that the final product should rise above the what you’d typically expect from a film like this.
2. Dark Skies (Dimension Films, 2,313 Theaters, 97 Minutes, Rated PG-13): Personally, I saw the trailer to this film and I was impressed. I thought there were a few good scares in there, and a pretty creepy vibe throughout.
I also thought the film was going to be about a supernatural possession, more Poltergeist than anything else. Apparently not, because it is about an outer space alien who takes a special interest in a suburban family, especially their children. I mean, the fact that demons might have singled out one particular family to terrorize has been done before, but it is far easier to explain that space aliens.
I think it’s hard to get aliens to work in a horror sense (outside of the Aliens franchise, that is). Add to that the fact that the film’s PG-13 rating, and there is nothing to draw me in.
