‘The Killing of a Sacred Deer’ seeks retribution
For their follow-up to “The Lobster,” actor Colin Farrell and Greek filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos reteam for “The Killing of a Sacred Deer,” a thriller that’s even stranger and darker than their previous outing. Farrell plays a successful surgeon who is living a happy life with his wife (Nicole Kidman) and kids when he is forced to confront a teenager (Barry Keoghan) whose deceased father was once Farrell’s patient.
“Killing” is less a story of revenge than an unrelenting saga of retribution. That the movie is largely set in antiseptic hospitals and modern residences only adds to its creepiness factor. Expect to be shocked and awed by this one. On Amazon, Google, iTunes, Movies Anywhere and Vudu
Also New to VOD and Streaming
Jawbone: For a movie that doesn’t break any new ground, this fight drama delivers one gut punch after another. British actor Johnny Harris, who wrote and produced, stars as a boozy ex-boxer who, under the guidance of a kindly gym owner (Ray Winstone), tries to revive his career with an unlicensed match. Director Thomas Napper loads the film up with plenty of sweaty close-ups and gripping training montages but it’s the final fight sequences which really get the blood pumping. Shot with handheld cameras, the scenes are so raw and immediate, you’ll feel as if you’re in the ring with the grapplers. On Amazon, Google, iTunes, Movies Anywhere and Vudu Unseen: Directed by Laura Paglin, this true crime documentary chronicles the sickening story of Cleveland serial killer Anthony Sowell who was able to murder 11 women and rape countless others without drawing the attention of police. Paglin doesn’t spend too much time on Sowell, preferring to interview the handful of survivors who miraculously escaped his house of horrors. Even though many of these women filed police reports, they were all but ignored. “Unseen” is compelling from start to finish. On Amazon, Google, iTunes, Movies Anywhere and Vudu Cook Off: A buffet of bad jokes, this mockumentary aims to do for food contests what Christopher Guest’s “Best in Show” did for dog shows but the results are as dismal as week-old leftovers. Cathryn Michon, Wendi-McLendon Covey, Niecy Nash, Diedrich Bader and a cameo-ing Melissa McCarthy are among the contestants vying for the million dollar prize. A subplot involving Michon’s boyfriend (Gary Anthony Williams) discovering he’s gay is mildy amusing. But “Cook Off” is half-baked, at best. On Amazon, Google, iTunes, Movies Anywhere and Vudu One Day At A Time: Season 2: In this revamp of the classic Norman Lear sitcom of the 1970s, it’s a Cuban-American family navigating the stresses of everyday life. Justina Machado stars as the recently separated, former military mom who is raising her teen daughter Elena (Isabella Gomez) and tweener son Alex (Marcel Ruiz) with the help of her old school Cuban-born mom (Rita Moreno) and Dirty Money:
Teen Title
My Entire High School Sinking Into The Sea: you’re in the mood for a sweet treat of an animated fantasy, check out this unique cartoon from Dash Shaw that blends together disaster movies and teen angst dramas for a smart look at the craziness of being a teenager. Jason Schwartzman stars as a yearbook muckraker who uncovers an administration cover-up that lands him in plenty of trouble, at least until his school begins to sink and he leads them on a roof escape. Lena Dunham, Susan Sarandon and Maya Rudolph also lend their voices to the ‘toon. On Amazon, Google, iTunes, Movies Anywhere and Vudu
For The Kids
A Dog and Pony Show: Step right up for this family film about a famous performing circus dog named Dede who gets left behind when the circus leaves town. She’s adopted by the lonely Billy but will Dede get along with Billy’s other animals, including a sleepdeprived rooster, a gassy cow and a hypochondriac horse? On Amazon, Google, iTunes, Movies Anywhere and Vudu Napping Princess: