As we head into late August, things are starting to cool down a bit and the films arriving at the box office aren’t as big as they were, say, a month ago. This week’s offerings give us a new action-thriller and a horror flick, but will they be enough to topple the mighty Expendables? Let’s take a look …
What’s The Scoop: Horror hound Eli Roth (Hostel, Cabin Fever) produces this low-budget scare about a troubled evangelical minister who lets a documentary crew film his final exorcism. There’s a little Paranormal Activity mixed with Blair Witch mixed with some pretty solid reviews, all of which ain’t a bad thing.
Why It Might Win The Weekend: For some reason late August feels like a good time to release a horror film. The Halloween remake had success here, and though Piranha 3D didn’t make a ton of money, it earned enough to stage a sequel. Plus exorcism movies starring freaky little white girls are awesome!
What’s The Scoop: A group of successful bank robbers find their latest $20 million job threatened by a hard-boiled detective who’s growing closer to apprehending them.
Why It Might Win The Weekend: We’re looking at a hot young cast full of somewhat familiar names like Hayden Christensen, Idris Elba, Chris Brown, Jay Hernandez, Zoe Saldana and Matt Dillon. Seems like a recipe for success, though a low-profile marketing campaign may leave audiences unaware of the attractive ensemble.
My Prediction: I don’t think The Expendables has another weekend in it, and it feels like the time of year for a horror flick to come out on top. My pick is The Last Exorcism for the win.
What about you? Which movie do you think will win the weekend?
