This weekend's new releases

Hatchet Hour

A case of mistaken identity leads to murder in ‘Hatchet Hour’. The perpetrator, an ambitious lawyer, fears the impact the act will have on her career at a prestigious law firm and turns to her best friend to help her dispose of the body. Fiery and ambitious lawyer Belle (Erica Wessels), mistakes an acquaintance for an assailant in her home and shoots him – killing him instantly. Knowing that a criminal charge will destroy her promising career at a top legal firm – never mind how her legendary lawyer father will react – Belle decides to get rid of the body and destroy the evidence. She turns to her best friend Jade (Petronella Tshuma) to help her destroy the body. When Jade fails to convince Belle to report the matter, they heave the body into Belle’s car and drive up to the Kruger National Park, hoping to dump the body, leaving it – and the bullets which could pin the murder on her – at the mercy of scavengers and predators. The act sets in motion a chain of events that force Jade to confront the horror of the situation – and question her friend’s behaviour. When Jade’s boyfriend Izzy (Adam Croasdell) – no friend of Belle’s – starts to get suspicious, Belle must do everything in her power to stop events spiralling out of control.

Eintlik Nog Baie

Jay (André Lötter) is a guy at a crossroads in his life and when he meets Ally (Marisa Drummond), his life is changed forever in the most dramatic way. It is based on the screenplay, Ally, created by Jarrod de Jong (The Blanket, Die Laaste Ure, Babalas). “With an intimate cast of seasoned actors, Eintlik Nogal Baie’s storyline is loaded with a good balance of romance, comedy, suspense, tragedy and full of charisma,” says de Jong.

The story is about Jay van Niekerk, an attractive, but introverted comic book animator who has his life meticulously planned out. Life catches up with him and brings him to a crossroad in his life when he meets Ally and his life is changed forever in the most dramatic way. “Viewers should definitely bring enough tissues,” adds de Jong. The film is written by Jarrod de Jong and Pieter Oosthuizen, produced by Jarrod de Jong and directed by Jacques Brand.

Doctor Strange

Dr. Stephen Strange’s (Benedict Cumberbatch) life changes after a car accident robs him of the use of his hands. When traditional medicine fails him, he looks for healing, and hope, in a mysterious enclave. He quickly learns that the enclave is at the front line of a battle against unseen dark forces bent on destroying reality. Before long, Strange is forced to choose between his life of fortune and status or leave it all behind to defend the world as the most powerful sorcerer in existence.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe opens up a host of new, electrifying stories with ‘Doctor Strange’.

Julieta

Julieta (Emma Suarez) is a middle-aged woman living in Madrid with her boyfriend Lorenzo. Both are going to move to Portugal when she casually runs into Bea, former best friend of her daughter Antia, who reveals that she is living in Switzerland married and with three children. With the heart broken after 12 years of total absence of her daughter, Julieta cancels the journey to Portugal and she moves to her former building, in the hope that Antia someday communicates with her by sending a letter. Alone with her thoughts, Julieta starts to write her memories to confront the pain of the events that happened when she was a teenager (Adriana Ugarte) and met Xoan, a Galician fisherman. Falling in love with him, Julieta divides her time between the family, the job and the education of Antia until a fatal accident changes their lives. Slowly decaying in a depression, Julieta is helped by Antia and Bea, but one day Antia goes missing suddenly after a vacation with no clues on where to find her. Spanish film written and directed by Pedro Almodóvar.

Hell or High Water

A divorced father and his ex-con brother commit several bank robberies to save their family’s West Texas farm from foreclosure while two Texas Rangers are set to catch both brothers. The lawmen follow leads and set up a surveillance spot in order to put an end to the bank robbery spree. One robbery turns violent resulting in a shoot-out between the bank robbers and legally armed town residents. A car chase ensues between the townspeople and the criminals. The Texas Rangers make their way to the scene along with local law enforcement. A final showdown occurs on the mountain ridge. Directed by David Mackenzie, with Chris Pine and Ben Foster.

When the Bough Breaks

John and Laura Taylor (Morris Chestnut and Regina Hall) are a young, professional couple who desperately want a baby. After exhausting all other options, they finally hire Anna (Jaz Sinclair), the perfect woman to be their surrogate – but as she gets further along in her pregnancy, so too does her psychotic and dangerous fixation on the husband. The couple becomes caught up in Anna’s deadly game and must fight to regain control of their future before it’s too late.

For more information on the latest releases, visit www.writingstudio.co.za