This year’s biggest movie supervillain? Coronavirus. The pandemic caused studios to pull many of spring and summer’s most anticipated - and likely most entertaining - releases, from “Black Widow” to “Tenet” to the latest James Bond.
Studios pivoted many smaller features to video on demand (VOD). But as a viewer, I haven’t connected with some of these more, shall we say, “well-paced” offerings. For example, “The Invisible Man” remake makes suspense disappear. Workplace drama “The Assistant” is helpful as a sleep aid.
And while I’m itching to see director Judd Apatow’s latest comedy “The King of Staten Island,” in the words of my colleague Ben Flanagan, “I’m not paying 20 bucks for Pete Davidson,” referring to that film’s hefty VOD price and the “SNL” star in its lead role.
Still, there have been some fun, immersive new films hitting streaming lately. Particularly genre stuff like horror and sci-fi. Below are five moves now streaming that don’t suck and are worth a VOD rental this weekend - and can help hold you over until big-fun movies return.
"The Rental"
Rated R
88 minutes
$6.99 rental on Prime Video
Ever had sex while staying at an Airbnb and wondered, “How do I know there aren’t cameras hidden in the bedside lamp or ceiling fan? Is some weirdo watching us right now?” Well, welcome to your nightmare. The first film directed by Dave Franco - known for acting in movies like “Superbad” and “The Disaster Artist” and being James Franco’s less-hot brother - “The Rental” is clever contemporary horror. Two brothers, one a tech hotshot (“Downton Abbey” actor Dan Stevens) the other a career bonehead (Jeremy Allen White from Showtime’s “Shameless”), and significant others (Sheila Vand from “Argo,” and Alison Brie of “GLOW”) rent an awesome house on the coast for the weekend. What happens to them there is not awesome. “The Rental” is an impressive directorial debut from Franco, who also cowrote the screenplay. And the WTF ending is ripe for sequel.
"Archive"
Not rated
109 minutes
$6.99 rental on Prime Video
Moody 2009 Sam Rockwell astronaut drama "Moon" pre-echoed pandemic-like isolation more than a decade before coronavirus. Now, a conceptual artist who worked on "Moon," Gavin Rothery, has written and directed "Archive," an artificial intelligence-themed gem. "Archive" becomes increasingly stirring as it builds to twisty crescendo. Sequestered in a remote lab, scientist George Almore (Theo James from the "Divergent" film series) attempts to construct human-equivalent A.I. But his backstory and motives complicate things. That description and the film's trailer make "Archive" seem like cut-and-pasted "Ex Machina." But "Archive" is better than that. And the real deal. Also, keep an eye out for George's earlier A.I. prototype that nearly steals the movie.
"Arkansas"
Not Rated
116 minutes
$2.99 rental on Prime Video
Call it Greta Van Tarantino. Just like young band Greta Van Fleet’s lemon squeezing hard-rock sounds familiar to Led Zeppelin fans, classic Quentin buffs will recognize the underworld suspense-comedy vibe in “Arkansas.” “Kick-Ass”/”Hot Tub Time Machine” actor Clark Duke is director for “Arkansas” and also stars as a fast-talking swindler in the film. Other stars include Liam Hemsworth as a hunky/brainy hood and Vince Vaughan as a oddball drug kingpin. What, you say? Say what again, I dare ya.
"Proximity"
Not rated
121 minutes
$3.99 rental on Prime Video
More than a few Lucas-esque moments of adventure and wonder inhabit “Proximity.” Written and directed by Eric Demeusy, special effects creator on projects like “Stranger Things” and the title sequence for “Game of Thrones,” this sci-fi drama is a visual stunner. The plot revolves around a young NASA scientist Isaac (Ryan Masson) whose life is shaken like a maraca after an extraterrestrial abduction. Sure, the writing, execution and budget for a couple scenes feels more TV than feature. Still, “Proximity” is a fun nerd-con cult-fave in the making, with more heart than most sci-fi.
“We Summon the Darkness”
Rated R
91 minutes
$2.99 rental on Prime Video
Alexis (Alexandra Daddario from “True Detective” season one), Val (Maddie Hendrix) and Bev (Amy Forsyth) are exactly the kind of chicks dudes dream of meeting at a 1988 heavy-metal concert. Until those dudes end up on the wrong side of a Satanic ritual. Or is it? “We Summon the Darkness” also features Johnny Knoxville as a metal-hating TV preacher. “Summon” does a solid job of depicting late ’80s metal fans and culture, and balances psycho thrills and tension with irreverent humor. And the lean running time keeps the movie a romp instead of an endurance test. No need to play this film backwards searching for subliminal messages, “We Summon the Darkness” will have horror fans shouting at The Devil. And thriftier occultists take note: “Summon” is scheduled to hit Netflix in August.
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