Jackals

Director Kevin Greutert

Genre Horror | Thriller

Cast Deborah Kara Unger, Stephen Dorff, Johnathon Schaech, Nick Roux

Rating Unrated

Release Date September 1st, 2017 (Limited)

“Set in the 1980s, an estranged family hires a cult deprogrammer to take back their teenage son from a murderous cult, but find themselves under siege when the cultists surround their cabin, demanding the boy back.”

From director Kevin Greutert, who directed Saw VI and worked as an editor on The Titanic, as well as horror films the Strangers and Jessabelle, Jackals is a throwback horror film of the slasher variety following a families battle with a sadistic cult. The cast includes Deborah Kara Unger, Stephen Dorff, Johnathon Schaech, and Nick Roux. Check out the trailer below!!

Renegades

Director Steven Quale

Genre Action | Thriller

Cast J.K. Simmons, Sullivan Stapleton, Sylvia Hoeks, and Ewen Bremner

Rating PG-13

Release Date September 1st, 2017 (Limited)

“A team of Navy SEALs discover an underwater treasure in a Bosnian lake.”

From director Steven Quale (Final Destination 5, Into the Storm), Renegades is an action thriller starring J.K. Simmons, Sullivan Stapleton, Sylvia Hoeks, and Ewen Bremner. Check out the official trailer below.

The Purge: Election Year

Director James DeMonaco

Genre Action | Horror | Sci-Fi

Cast Frank Grillo, Elizabeth Mitchell, Mykelti Williamson, Raymond J. Barry

Rating R

Release Date July 1st, 2016

“Two years after choosing not to kill the man who killed his son, former police sergeant Barnes has become head of security for Senator Charlene Roan, the front runner in the next Presidential election due to her vow to eliminate the Purge.”

The Purge films have a unique and creative premise that I feel could be remade over and over again, and to me that is a good thing. The first two Purge films were very entertaining, each one different in its own way but both the same overall premise and thrill-ride like execution. After watching the latest trailer for The Purge: Election year I must say I am even more excited than I was before. Director and writer James DeMonaco looks to have put together a high quality script and the same unsettling atmosphere we have come to expect from The Purge films. Check out the official trailer below and get excited for 4th of July weekend!

Want more? Check out Official Trailer #2 below. You're welcome.

The Legend of Tarzan

Director David Yates

Genre Action | Adventure

Cast Alexander Skarsgard, Margot Robbie, Ella Purnell, Christoph Waltz

Rating PG-13

Release Date July 1st, 2016

“Tarzan, having acclimated to life in London, is called back to his former home in the jungle to investigate the activities at a mining encampment.”

Margot Robbie is in absolutely everything these days and you will not hear me complaining that's for sure. She is joined by former star of HBO's True Blood Alexander Skarsgard for the new The Legend of Tarzan film releasing in theaters this summer. The film will debut in Real 3D and IMAX 3D. Check out the official trailer below.

Need more? Check out the official trailer #2 below.

The BFG

Director Steven Spielberg

Genre Adventure | Family | Fantasy

Cast Rebecca Hall, Mark Rylance, Bill Hader, Jermaine Clement

Rating Unrated

Release Date July 1st, 2016

“A girl named Sophie encounters the Big Friendly Giant who, despite his intimidating appearance, turns out to be a kindhearted soul who is considered an outcast by the other giants because unlike his peers refuses to eat boys and girls.”

Directed by the man himself Steven Spielberg, The BFG is the second adaptation of Robert Dahl's The Big Friendly Giant. The film stars Rebecca Hall, Mark Rylance, Bill Hader, and Jermaine Clement. After being in development for 25 years (crazy right?!) The BFG will finally hit theaters early this summer. Check out the official trailer below.

Want to see more? Check out the newly released official trailer #2 for The BFG below.

Our Kind of Traitor

Director Susanna White

Genre Thriller

Cast Ewan McGregor, Damian Lewis, Naomie Harris, Stellan Skarsgard

Rating R

Release Date July 1st, 2016

“A couple find themselves lured into a Russian oligarch’s plans to defect are soon positioned between the Russian Mafia and the British Secret Service, neither of whom they can trust.”

“When Peter and his girlfriend, Gail, cross paths with the charismatic Dima on their Moroccan holiday, the forceful Russian is quick to challenge Peter to a friendly game of tennis. But this innocuous contest is not all it seems - Dima is a long-time servant of the Russian mafia, whose new boss, ‘The Prince’, wants him and his family dead. His only hope is to ask the unsuspecting Peter to broker him sanctuary with the British intelligence services, in return for exposing a vein of corruption that runs right to the heart of the City of London. Soon they find themselves on a tortuous journey through Paris to a safe house in the Swiss Alps and, with the might of the Russian mafia closing in, begin to realise this particular match has the highest stakes of all.”

Swiss Army Man

Director Dan Kwan, Daniel Scheinert

Genre Adventure | Comedy | Drama

Cast Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Daniel Radcliffe, Paul Dano, Timothy Eulich

Rating R

Release Date June 24th, 2016

“A hopeless man stranded in the wilderness befriends a dead body and together they go on a surreal journey to get home.”

“Hank, stranded on a deserted island and about to kill himself, notices a corpse washed up on the beach. He befriends it, naming it Manny, only to discover that his new friend can talk and has a myriad of supernatural abilities...which may help him get home.”

See below for the infamous Red Band trailer.

Cell

Director Tod Williams

Genre Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Cast Samuel L. Jackson, John Cusack, Isabelle Fuhrman, Stacy Keach

Rating R

Release Date July 8th, 2016

“When a mysterious cell phone signal causes apocalyptic chaos, an artist is determined to reunite with his young son in New England.”

“When a strange signal pulsates through all cell phone networks worldwide, it starts a murderous epidemic of epic proportions when users become bloodthirsty creatures, and a group of people in New England are among the survivors to deal with the ensuing chaos after.”

The film is based on Stephen King's 2006 novel of the same name. King announced in 2009 that he had created a screenplay for the movie and had created a new ending based on reader complaints about the book's original ending. Check out the trailer below. 

Marauders

Director Steven C. Miller

Genre Action

Cast Bruce Willis, Christopher Meloni, Dave Bautista, Adrian Grenier

Rating R

Release Date July 1st, 2016

“An untraceable group of elite bank robbers is chased by a suicidal FBI Agent who uncovers a deeper purpose behind the robbery-homicides.”

Directed by Steven C. Miller (whoever the heck that is), Marauders looks like it could be what Triple 9 was trying to be, an intense bank heist thriller with plot packed full of conspiracy and corruption. Wishful thinking? Maybe, but let's hope not. Marauders stars Bruce Willis, Christopher Meloni (Law & Order), Dave Bautista (Guardians of the Galaxy), and Adrian Grenier (Entourage). And just in case you were wondering, according to the Cambridge English Dictionary a Marauder is a person or animal that goes from one place to another looking for people to kill or things to steal and destroy. Makes sense. Check out the intense official trailer below. 

Satanic

Director Jeffrey G. Hunt

Genre Horror

Cast Sarah Hyland, Marc Barnes, Sarah Mamet, Steven Krueger

Rating R

Release Date July 1st, 2016

“Four friends on their way to Coachella stop off in Los Angeles to tour true-crime occult sites, only to encounter a mysterious young runaway who puts them on a terrifying path to ultimate horror.”

From director Jeffrey G. Hunt, Satanic is an R-rated horror film starring Sarah Hyland (Modern Family), Marc Barnes, Sarah Mamet (Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising), and Steven Krueger (Escape Plan, Goosebumps). Check out the trailer below.

Carnage Park

Director Mickey Keating

Genre Action | Crime | Horror

Cast Ashley Bell, Pat Healy, James Landry Hebert, Michael Villar

Rating Unrated

Release Date July 1st, 2016

“After botching an ill-conceived bank robbery in a desolate California town, two wannabe crooks flee the scene with a hostage and lead the local lawmen on a dangerous high-speed chase.”

Directed by Mickey Keating, Carnage Park looks to be a gruesome indie flick that could very well develop into a cult classic if the initial feedback from critics holds any weight. The film stars Ashley Bell, Pat Healy, James Landry Hebert, and Michael Villar. Check out the trailer below.

Undrafted

Director Joseph Mazzello

Genre Comedy | Drama | Family

Cast Tyler Hoechlin, Aaron Tveit, Joseph Mazzello, James Belushi

Rating Unrated

Release Date July 15th, 2016

“When twelve ragtag teammates set out to play what should be a meaningless summer intramural baseball game, it ends up becoming the most important game of their lives.”

Undrafted is directed by actor Joseph Mazello (who also stars in the film), known for his roles in The Social Network and the first two Jurassic Park films, this will serve as his directorial debut for a full-length film. Undrafted stars Tyler Hoechlin, Aaron Tveit, Joseph Mazzello, and James "Jim" Belushi.

Don't Think Twice

Director Mike Birbiglia

Genre  Comedy | Drama

Cast Keegan-Michael Key, Gillian Jacobs, Mike Birbiglia, Chris Gethard

Rating R

Release Date July 22nd, 2016

“When a member of a popular New York City improv troupe gets a huge break, the rest of the group - all best friends - start to realize that not everyone is going to make it after all.”

Don't Think Twice is directed by Mike Birbiglia, and is only his second feature-film. He is primarily an actor and screenwriter and also plays a role in this film. He recently played the husband of Amy Schumer's sister in the hilarious comedy Trainwreck. Don't Think Twice has an intriguing cast of comedians including Keegan-Michael Key, Gillian Jacobs, Mike Birbiglia, and Chris Gethard. Check out the trailer below.

Independence Day: Resurgence

Director Roland Emmerich

Genre Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

Cast Jeff Goldblum, Liam Hemsworth, William Fichtner, Jessie Usher

Rating Unrated

Release Date June 24th, 2016

“Two decades after the first Independence Day invasion, Earth is faced with a new extra-Solar threat. But will mankind’s new space defenses be enough?”

“We always knew they were coming back. After ‘Independence Day’ redefined the event movie genre, the next epic chapter delivers global spectacle on an unimaginable scale. Using recovered alien technology, the nations of Earth have collaborated on an immense defense program to protect the planet. But nothing can prepare us for the aliens’ advanced and unprecedented force. Only the ingenuity of a few brave men and women can bring our world back from the brink of extinction.”

The Shallows

Director Jaume Collet-Serra

Genre Drama | Thriller

Cast Blake Lively, Oscar Jaenada, Sedona Legge

Rating PG-13

Release Date June 24th, 2016

“In the taut thriller The Shallows, when Nancy (Blake Lively) is surfing on a secluded beach, she finds herself on the feeding ground of a great white shark. Though she is stranded only 200 yards from shore, survival proves to be the ultimate test of wills, requiring all of Nancy’s ingenuity, resourcefulness, and fortitude.”

I love Blake Lively, that is a fact I will fully admit. She was fantastic in Savages and I thought she was incredibly beautiful in The Age of Adaline. I'm not sure how I feel about her becoming shark food but the trailer for The Shallows looks intense so I may have to suck it up. Check out the official trailers below.

Want to see more? Below is the extended and official trailer #2.

Still not satisfied?! Below is the extremely intense shark attack trailer #3.

Free State of Jones

Director Gary Ross

Genre Action | Biography | Drama

Cast Matthew McConaughey, Keri Russell, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Mahershala Ali

Rating R

Release Date June 24th, 2016

“As civil war divides the nation, a poor farmer from Mississippi leads a group of rebels against the Confederate army”

“Set during the Civil War, Free State of Jones tells the story of defiant Southern farmer, Newt Knight, and his extraordinary armed rebellion against the Confederacy. Banding together with other small farmers and local slaves, Knight launched an uprising that led Jones County, Mississippi to secede from the Confederacy, creating a Free State of Jones. Knight continued his struggle into Reconstruction, distinguishing him as a compelling, if controversial, figure of defiance long beyond the War”

Hunt for the Wilderpeople

Director Taika Waititi

Genre Comedy | Drama

Cast Sam Neill, Julian Dennison, Rima Te Wiata, Rachel House

Rating PG-13

Release Date June 24th, 2016 (Streaming on Hulu & Netflix)

“A national manhunt is ordered for a rebellious kid and his foster uncle who go missing in the wild New Zealand bush.”

Directed by Taika Waititi (Flight of the Conchords, Boy, What We Do in the Shadows), Hunt for the Wilderpeople is an infectious comedy with a New Zealand twist. It stars Sam Neill (Jurassic Park), Julian Dennison, Rima Te Wiata, and Rachel House. I love Flight of the Conchords and personally I can't seem to get enough of New Zealand comedy. Check out the official trailer below.

Wiener-Dog

Director Todd Solondz

Genre Comedy

Cast Charlie Tahan, Greta Gerwig, Zosia Mamet, Danny DeVito

Rating R

Release Date June 24th, 2016

“Chronicles the life of a dog as it travels around the country, spreading comfort and joy.”

Directed by actor director Todd Solondz, Wiener-Dog is a quirky comedy starring Charlie Tahan, Greta Gerwig, Zosia Mamet, and everyone's favorite little guy Danny DeVito. Check out the trailer below.

The Neon Demon

Director Nicolas Winding Refn

Genre Horror | Thriller

Cast Christina Hendricks, Keanu Reeves, Elle Fanning, Jena Malone

Rating Unrated

Release Date June 24th, 2016

“When aspiring model Jesse moves to Los Angeles, her youth and vitality are devoured by a group of beauty-obsessed women who will take any means necessary to get what she has.”

From visionary director Nicolas Winding Refn (Drive, Only God Forgives), The Neon Demon stars Christina Hendricks (Drive, Dark Places), Keanu Reeves, Elle Fanning (Super 8, Maleficent) and Jena Malone (Pride & Prejudice. Into The Wild). Check out the trailer below.

The Phenom

Director Noah Buschel

Genre Drama | Family | Sport

Cast Ethan Hawke, Paul Giamatti, Louisa Krause, Johnny Simmons

Rating Unrated

Release Date June 24th, 2016

“A Major League rookie pitcher loses control over his pitching and is sent down to the minor leagues, where he begins sessions with an unorthodox sports psychologist. In the process, hidden conflicts with his overbearing father are brought to light.”

Directed by Noah Buschel, The Phenom includes a well-known cast consisting of Ethan Hawke, Paul Giamatti, Louisa Krause, and Johnny Simmons. I love sports movies, especially the ones that can really get the juices flowing. My guess is The Phenom will either be pretty damn good, or a complete bust. Here's to hoping for the latter. Check out the trailer below.