Film Focus: ‘Final Destination Bloodlines,’ ‘The Ruse’ and The Weeknd
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Film Focus: ‘Final Destination Bloodlines,’ ‘The Ruse’ and The Weeknd

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Week of May 16-22, 2025

By M. Faust

OPENING THIS WEEK: 

23 (IRAVAI MOODU) (NR) Indian social drama based on three horrific mass killings of the past three decades: 1992 Ksunduru massacre, the 1993 Chilakaluripet bus burning, and the 1997 Jubilee Hills bomb blasts. Starring Jhansi, Pawon Ramesh, and Thagubothu Ramesh. Directed by Raj Rachakonda. Regal Elmwood

BLADE RUNNER: THE FINAL CUT (2017) (R) Of the seven different versions of the 1981 film that have been shown publicly, this one, running 117 minutes, is the most recent and the only one overseen by Ridley Scott. Starring Harrison Ford (whose narration has been removed), Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, Edward James Olmos, Daryl Hannah, William Sanderson, and Brion James. North Park

DD NEXT LEVEL (NR) A film critic becomes trapped inside the kind of movie he loves to ridicule in this Indian comedy. Starring Gautham Vasudev Menon, Santhanam, and Redin Kingsley. Directed by S. Prem Anand. Regal Elmwood

FINAL DESTINATION BLOODLINES (R) Horror sequel. Starring Tony Todd, Brec Bassinger, and Richard Harmon. Directed by Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein. AMC Maple Ridge, AMC Market Arcade, Dipson Amherst, Dipson Capitol, Dipson Flix, Dipson McKinley, Dunkirk Multiplex, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria, Spotlight Theater of Warsaw, Transit Drive-In (Fri-Sun)

HURRY UP TOMORROW (R) The Weeknd (aka Abel Tesfaye) stars in a feature length music video based on his new album. With Jenna Ortega and Barry Keoghan. Directed by Trey Edward Shults (It Comes at Night). AMC Maple Ridge, AMC Market Arcade, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

JAAR (NR) Nepalese historical drama set in the mid-1800s, when it was the right of a husband to execute a man who had an affair with his wife. Starring Saugat Malla, Anoop Bikram Shahi, Geetanjali Thapa. Directed by Phurba Tshering Lama. Regal Quaker

THE RUSE (R) An in-home caregiver fears for her life after being assigned to a mysterious elderly patient in a remote seaside home. Starring Veronica Cartwright, Michael Steger and Drew Moerlein. Directed by Stevan Mena (Brutal Massacre: A Comedy). Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker

SHAUNKI SARDAR (NR) A man returns from prison to find his former proteges transformed. Punjabi. Starring Guggu Gill, Guru Randhawa, Babbu Mann. Directed by Dheeraj Rattan. Regal Elmwood

NOW PLAYING:

#SINGLE (NR) What is it about Indian movies that the plot is kept such a secret until the film is actually in a theater? From the poster it appears to be come kind of romantic comedy. Starring Ivana, Sree Vishnu, and Vennela Kishore. Directed by Caarthick Raju. Regal Elmwood

THE ACCOUNTANT 2 (R) The return of Ben Affleck as a military-trained math savant who makes a living helping criminal groups hide their money. With Jon Bernthal, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, and J.K. Simmons. Directed by Gavin O’Connor, who helmed the original. AMC Maple Ridge, AMC Market Arcade, Dipson Capitol, Dipson Flix, Dipson McKinley, Dunkirk Multiplex, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

THE AMATEUR (PG-13) Rami Malek as an introverted CIA coder who goes rogue to avenge the death of his family. Co-starring Rachel Brosnahan, Laurence Fishburne, Jon Bernthal and Caitríona Balfe. Directed by James Hawes (One Life). Aurora, Regal Quaker, Transit Drive-In (Fri-Sun)

CLOWN IN A CORNFIELD (R) The titular menace strikes the residents of a small town in this horror movie adapted from a young adult novel. Starring Katie Douglas, Aaron Abrams, Carson MacCormac and Will Sasso. Directed by Eli Craig (Tucker and Dale vs Evil). AMC Market Arcade, Dipson Capitol, Dunkirk Multiplex, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria, Transit Drive In (Fri-Sun only)

DROP (PG-13) In this Blumhouse production, a widow (Meghann Fahy) goes out on a date only to have the evening disturbed by threatening text messages. With Brandon Sklenar and Violett Beane. Directed by Christopher Landon (Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse). Transit Drive In (Fri-Sun only)

FIGHT OR FLIGHT (R) Josh Hartnett as an American agent battling a planeful of international assassins on a flight from Bangkok to San Francisco. With Charithra Chandran, Katee Sackhoff. Directed by James Madigan. AMC Maple Ridge, AMC Market Arcade, Dipson Capitol, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria,

JULIET & ROMEO (PG-13) Pop musical adaptation of the famous tragedy. Starring Jamie Ward, Clara Rugaard, Ferdia Walsh-Peelo, Nicholas Podany, Rupert Graves, Jason Isaacs, Rebel Wilson, Rupert Everett, and Derek Jacobi. Directed by Timothy Scott Bogart (Spinning Gold). Dunkirk Multiplex

A MINECRAFT MOVIE (PG) Video game adaptation. Starring Jason Momoa, Jack Black, Sebastian Hansen, and Jennifer Coolidge. Directed by Jared Hess (Nacho Libre). AMC Maple Ridge, AMC Market Arcade, Dipson Capitol, Dipson Flix, Dipson McKinley, Dunkirk Multiplex, Joylan, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria, Transit Drive In (Fri-Sun only)

THE PENGUIN LESSONS (PG-13) Steve Coogan as a teacher at a private boys’ school in Buenos Ares in 1976 whose waning interest in life is revitalized when he becomes the protector of an injured penguin. With Jonathan Pryce. Directed by Peter Cattaneo (The Full Monty). Read M. Faust’s review here Regal Quaker

PRIDE & PREJUDICE (PG) 20th anniversary re-release of the luxuriantly sensual adaptation of Jane Austen’s famous 1813 novel of manners, morals, the marriage market and social status. Starring Keira Knightley, Matthew Macfadyen, Rosamund Pike, Donald Sutherland, Judi Dench and Brenda Blethyn. Directed by Joe Wright (Darkest Hour). North Park

SHADOW FORCE (R) An estranged couple with a bounty on their heads must go on the run with their son to avoid their former employer, a unit of shadow ops that has been sent to kill them. Starring Kerry Washington, Omar Sy, Jahleel Kamara and Mark Strong. Directed by Joe Carnahan (Narc). AMC Maple Ridge, AMC Market Arcade, Dipson Capitol, Dipson Flix, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

SINNERS (R) From director Ryan Coogler (Creed), a genre-mixing big budget movie starring Michael B. Jordan as twin brothers in the Jim Crow south who return to their Mississippi Delta hometown to open a juke joint. With Hailee Steinfeld, Miles Caton, and Delroy Lindo. AMC Maple Ridge, AMC Market Arcade, Dipson Amherst, Dipson Capitol, Dipson Flix, Dipson McKinley, Dunkirk Multiplex, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria, Spotlight Theater of Warsaw, Transit Drive In (Fri-Sun only)

THUNDERBOLTS (PG-13) The 36th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, concluding Phase 5. If that doesn’t mean anything to you, you can probably skip this. Starring Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Lewis Pullman, David Harbour and Wyatt Russell. Directed by Jake Schreier (Robot & Frank). AMC Maple Ridge, AMC Market Arcade, Dipson Amherst, Dipson Capitol, Dipson Flix, Dunkirk Multiplex, Hamburg Palace, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria, Spotlight Theater of Warsaw, Transit Drive In (Fri-Sun only)

UNTIL DAWN (R) The answer to the question, What if you crossed a slasher movie with Groundhog Day? (I have no idea who is asking these questions.) Starring Ella Rubin, Odessa A’zion, Michael Cimino and Peter Stormare. Directed by David F. Sandberg (Annabelle: Creation). Dipson Capitol, Dunkirk Multiplex, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Walden Galleria, Transit Drive In (Fri-Sun only)

ETC.

DAAGI—Bangladeshi drama about a man trying to find a short cut to fame and fortune. Starring Afran Nisho, Shahiduzzaman Selim, Tama Mirza S. Directed by Shihab Shahin. Thurs 7 pm. North Park

THE KILLERS (1946)— Film noir classic adapted from an Ernest Hemingway story starring Burt Lancaster as a gas station attendant whose murder sparks an investigation into his life, specifically his relationship with femme fatale Ava Gardner. With Edmond O’Brien, and Albert Dekker. Directed by Robert Siodmak (The Spiral Staircase). Tues 7:30 pm. Screening Room

NICKEL CITY TINSELTOWN—Free screening of a new documentary about the history of filmmaking in western New York. Directed by Adrian Esposito and Curt Markham. Fri. 7 pm. Screening Room

SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN (1952)—The one Hollywood musical that everyone likes, even people who hate musicals. A story parodying the movies’ transition from silents to sound is the backdrop for some still astonishing dance numbers featuring Gene Kelly and Donald O’Connor. With Debbie Reynolds, Jean Hagen, Rita Moreno and Cyd Charisse. Sat 8 pm. Screening Room

THEATER LOCATIONS AND WEBSITES

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