Friday Releases: The Damned & 30th Anniversary Se7en

The Damned

Directed by: Þórður Pálsson
Studio: Vertical

Eva (Odessa Young), a 19th-century widow is tasked with making an impossible choice when, in the middle of an especially cruel winter, a ship sinks off the coast of her isolated fishing post. Eva and her crew must choose to either rescue the shipwrecked or survive the winter with their last remaining food. Facing the consequences of their choice and tormented by their guilt, the inhabitants wrestle with a mounting sense of dread and begin to believe they are all being punished for their choices.

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Se7en (30th Anniversary)

Directed by: David Fincher
Studio: New Line Cinema

When retiring police Detective William Somerset (Morgan Freeman) tackles a final case with the aid of newly transferred David Mills (Brad Pitt), they discover a number of elaborate and grisly murders. They soon realize they are dealing with a serial killer (Kevin Spacey) who is targeting people he thinks represent one of the seven deadly sins. Somerset also befriends Mills’ wife, Tracy (Gwyneth Paltrow), who is pregnant and afraid to raise her child in the crime-riddled city.

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Morgan Freeman, Brad Pitt, Kevin Spacey, Gwyneth Paltrow, Reg E. Cathey, R. Lee Ermey, Richard Roundtree
Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller
R (for grisly afterviews of horrific and bizarre killings, and for strong language)
USA (English)
127 minutes

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When It Rains In LA

Directed by: David M. Parks
Studio: Gravitas Ventures

The diversity of friends in LA is the escape for an Eastern European girl who had the horror of losing her sugar daddy boyfriend in her own country, until she is faced with the reckoning of the trauma she left behind… and the rain she unearthed coming to LA.

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Eric Roberts, Monroe Cline, Mike Ferguson, Leslie Stratton, Natasha Stricklin, Felix Merback
Crime | Horror | Thriller
R (for language and some violence)
USA (English)
80 minutes

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From Ground Zero

Directed by: Reema Mahmoud, Muhammad Al Sharif, Ahmed Hassouna, Islam Al Zeirei, Mustafa Kolab, Nidal Damo, Khamis Masharawi, Bashar Al-Balbisi, Tamer Nijim, Ahmed Al-Danaf, Alaa Islam Ayoub, Karim Satoum, Alaa Damo, Aws Al-Banna, Rabab Khamis, Etimad Washah, Mustafa Al Nabih, Hana Eleiwa, Wissam Moussa, Basel El-Maqousi
Studio: Watermelon Pictures

22 Palestinian filmmakers living through war capture their lives in Gaza following the attacks on October 7, 2023, revealing stories beyond the headlines. Through a blend of animation, documentary, and fiction, they create a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit. This film serves as a remarkable reflection of how art can thrive even in the darkest times, showcasing the enduring spirit and creativity that emerge amid ongoing devastation.

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Don’t Die: The Man Who Wants to Live Forever

Directed by: Chris Smith
Studio: Netflix

How far would you go to live forever — or even just slow down the aging process? This startling documentary by Chris Smith (Fyre, 100 Foot Wave) is told through intimate access to Bryan Johnson, a man who has dedicated his life to defy aging. Don’t Die: The Man Who Wants to Live Forever dives into the controversial wellness practices one man is using to maintain youth and vitality, and the effect this journey has on himself and those around him.

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Mac Davis, Bryan Johnson
Documentary
TV-14
USA (English)
88 minutes

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The Monster Beneath Us

Directed by: Sophie Osbourne
Studio: Vertical

A woman doesn’t take much notice when her young son mentions he has a new friend who lives in the basement of their country estate. However, as the boy spends more time in the dark, cold space under the house, her concern begins to turn to fear.

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Becca Hirani, Nicola Wright, Jennifer Lim, Marshall Hawkes, Jack Forsyth-Noble
Horror | International | Mystery | Thriller
Not Rated
UK (English)
103 minutes

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The Last Republican

Directed by: Steve Pink
Studio: Media Courthouse Documentary Collective

Displaying an unwavering commitment to putting country over self, Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger sacrificed his career and personal relationships by publicly demanding accountability for Donald Trump’s role in the January 6 insurrection. Filmed during Kinzinger’s final year in Congress, THE LAST REPUBLICAN reveals behind-the-scenes insights into the explosive January 6 committee hearings while delving into what drove him to take a stand as well as the lasting impact of his decision.

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Adam Kinzinger, Maura Gillespie, Sofia Kinzinger, Austin Weatherford
Documentary | Drama
Not Rated
USA (English)
90 minutes

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Dig Me No Grave

Directed by: Ranjeet S. Marwa
Studio: Buffalo 8

Trapped beneath a bear, aging hunter Scott is rescued by a mysterious stranger. In a remote cabin, survival transforms into a tense battle as hidden motives surface, escalating into a gripping fight for their lives and revealing long-buried secrets in this riveting tale of the wilderness.

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Warren Lee Hicks, James Jaysen Bryhan, Mark Strange, Carl Wharton, Chi Lam
Action | Adventure | International | Thriller
Not Rated
UK (English)
87 minutes

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Lady Like

Directed by: Luke Willis
Studio: Freestyle Digital Media

In this rags-to-riches origin story, drag superstar Lady Camden is catapulted into the spotlight when she becomes a contestant on RuPaul’s Drag Race. As she struggles with the new demands of fame, she must come to terms with a troubled childhood. The fairy-tale life of RuPaul’s Drag Race star, Lady Camden, shines in Luke Willis’ intimate and joyous documentary as it traces her launch to international fame while diving into a dark past that drove her to seek the fantasy of the performing arts. Narrated by fellow Drag Race star Nina West, director Luke Willis’ intimate documentary traces Camden’s journey, giving us a front-row-seat on her path to find her confidence, her chosen family, and to prove that embracing one’s vulnerable self and artistic core is critical to find healing.

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Lady Camden, Nina West, Shiloh Brody-Clarke, Maya Christou, Kyle Davidian
Documentary
Not Rated
USA (English)
87 minutes

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Honey Money Phony

Directed by: Biao Su
Studio: CMC Pictures

A working girl, suddenly finds herself burdened with a massive debt. A con artist with a long list of priors, encounters her. A pair of “con artist lovers,” a game of “deceptive love.”

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Chen Jin, Sunny Sun, Xueqin Li, Hao Liu, Yan Liu
Drama | International
Not Rated
China (Chinese)
115 minutes

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Aladdin 3477-1: The Jinn of Wisdom

Directed by: Matt Busch
Studio: Buffalo 8

In the year 3477, a resourceful Hong Kong thief’s obsession with the Princess of India propels him on a globe-trotting odyssey, where he crosses paths with an enigmatic ancient sage.

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Calhoun Koenig, Ammar Nemo, Jennifer Jelsema, Erik Steele, Jerry Hayes
Adventure | Fantasy | Sci-Fi
Not Rated
USA (English, German, Cantonese, Hindi)
118 minutes

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Isabel’s Garden

Directed by: Kit Rich
Studio: Iris Tuesday Productions

Career-obsessed Maya Carlile is determined to land the anchor position at the television network where she works. When her husband, Diego, dies in a car accident, Maya’s life takes an unexpected turn. Now helping to take care of Diego’s 15-year-old daughter, Isabel, alongside his ex-wife, she also finds herself suspended from her job. When Maya befriends Grace, a reclusive woman with a mysterious past, she becomes an integral part of Maya’s healing journey. Explore this hopeful and captivating story of ambition, loss, and the transformative power of chosen family.

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Karen David, Gabriela Flores, Valery M. Ortiz, Jayne Taini, Manuel Rafael Lozano
Drama
Not Rated
USA (English)
108 minutes

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