Moviefone Editorial

Tag: siena-agudong

Amazon Commissions Mike Flanagan’s ‘Carrie’ Series
Sissy Spacek in ‘Carrie’. Photo: United Artists.

Preview:
- Mike Flanagan’s ‘Carrie’ series is official at Amazon and Prime Video.
- Summer H. Howell is close to a deal for the lead role.
- The show will be a new adaptation of the classic Stephen King story.
For the last few years, aside from his big screen work, Mike Flanagan has been creating compelling horror tales for Netflix, including the likes of ‘Midnight Mass,’ ‘The Haunting of Hill House,’ and ‘The Fall of the House of Usher.’

But back in 2022, Amazon tempted Flanagan and producing partner Trevor Macy’s company Intrepid Pictures away with a lucrative, exclusive, multi-year overall series deal.

This is what the duo said at the time:

“Amazon is a studio that we have long admired. Their commitment to engaging in groundbreaking series and content aligns with the ethos of what we have built at Intrepid. We are looking forward to working with the entire Amazon team as we bring our brand of genre productions to the service and audiences around the globe.”

And since the deal took shape, the pair has been quietly developing several projects, with the first now officially emerging, after being announced as in the works in October.

Amazon has officially ordered a series based on Stephen King’s novel ‘Carrie,’ which has previously been brought to screens a few times.

The most famous adaptation is Brian De Palma’s 1976 movie, which starred Sissy Spacek as the title character. A remake by Kimberly Peirce, starring Chloë Grace Moretz, landed in theaters in 2013.

There was also a 2002 TV movie version handled by David Carson, with Angela Bettis in the lead. Oh, and 1999 saw an attempt to craft a sequel, with ‘The Rage: Carrie 2,’ which didn’t feature the character, but continued the story after her death.

Given his history, we have faith in Flanagan coming up with something much more successful than the more recent efforts. Ready the blood bucket!

What’s the story of the ‘Carrie’ TV series?

(L to R) Sissy Spacek and Betty Buckley in ‘Carrie’. Photo: United Artists.

‘Carrie’ is Stephen King’s 1974 debut novel. Set in the town of Chamberlain, Maine, the plot follows Carrie White, a friendless high school girl from an abusive religious household who discovers she has telekinetic powers.

According to the official spiel, the show is described as, “bold and timely reimagining of the story of misfit high-schooler Carrie, who has spent her life in seclusion with her domineering mother. After her father’s sudden and untimely death, Carrie finds herself contending with the alien landscape of public High School, a bullying scandal that shatters her community, and the emergence of mysterious powers.”

Who will star in the ‘Carrie’ TV series?

Summer H. Howell in ‘Hunter Hunter’. Photo: IFC Midnight.

According to Variety, Summer H. Howell is nearing a deal to star in Flanagan’s series as Carrie.

Howell has form in the horror genre, having starred in the ‘Child’s Play’ franchise films ‘Curse of Chucky’ and ‘Cult of Chucky.’

She has also appeared in genre films such as ‘Hunter Hunter,’ ‘Spirit in the Blood,’ ‘Time Cut,’ and ‘Harland Manor,’ as well as multiple episodes of the scary anthology series ‘Channel Zero.’

On the lighter side of things, she starred in the Disney+ film ‘Clouds,’ which was based on the acclaimed memoir ‘Fly a Little Higher: How God Answered a Mom’s Small Prayer in a Big Way’ by Laura Sobiech.

Siena Agudong in ‘Upside-Down Magic’. Photo: Disney Channel.

In more confirmed news, Siena Agudong has landed the role of popular high schooler Sue Snell.

In the novel and subsequent film adaptation, Sue initially joins in bullying Carrie but later decides to try to befriend her. Amy Irving played the character in the original film and ‘The Rage: Carrie 2,’ with Kandyse McClure and Gabriella Wilde playing her in subsequent ‘Carrie’ movies.

Agudong most recently starred in the Tubi movie ‘The QB and Me,’ which she also executive produced. She was also the female lead in Kevin Smith’s coming-of-age film ‘The 4:30 Movie.’

‘Carrie’ TV series: The Executives Speak

Sissy Spacek in ‘Carrie’. Photo: United Artists.

With the show now officially announced, team Amazon is naturally happy to talk about it.

Here’s Vernon Sanders, head of television for Amazon MGM Studios:

“ ‘Carrie’ is an iconic story that has withstood the test of time with continued cultural relevance. With Mike Flanagan at the helm and the accomplished team assembled including executive producer Trevor Macy this provocative series is sure to captivate our global customers.”

What else is Mike Flanagan working on?

(L to R) Executive Producer/Director Mike Flanagan, Executive Producer/Director Michael Fimognari in ‘The Fall of the House of Usher.’ Photo: Eike Schroter/Netflix © 2023.

Flanagan’s current movie is another King-derived project, ‘The Life of Chuck.’

Starring the likes of Tom Hiddleston, Mark Hamill, Matthew Lillard, Karen Gillan, Molly C. Quinn, David Dastmalchian and Chiwetel Ejiofor, it’s described as “a life-affirming, genre-bending story based on Stephen King’s novella about three chapters in the life of an ordinary man named Charles Krantz.”

‘The Life of Chuck’ will be on screens on June 6th.

He’s also in pre-production on a new movie based on classic horror ‘The Exorcist,’ having taken over shepherding that particular franchise for Universal from David Gordon Green.

And beyond that, he wrote the script for DC Studios and Warner Bros.’ ‘Clayface’ movie, which has ‘Speak No Evil’ filmmaker James Watkins in the director’s chair.

When will the ‘Carrie’ TV series be on screens?

Eight episodes of the show have been ordered and production is scheduled for this summer in Vancouver, but there is no official premiere date for ‘Carrie’ just yet.

(L to R) Bruce Greenwood as Roderick Usher, Executive Producer/Director Mike Flanagan in ‘The Fall of the House of Usher.’ Photo: Eike Schroter/Netflix © 2023.

List of Mike Flanagan Movies and TV Shows:
- ‘Absentia‘ (2011)
- ‘Oculus‘ (2014)
- ‘Hush‘ (2016)
- ‘Before I Wake‘ (2018)
- ‘The Haunting of Hill House‘ (2018)
- ‘Ouija: Origin of Evil‘ (2016)
- ‘Gerald’s Game‘ (2017)
- ‘Doctor Sleep‘ (2019)
- ‘The Haunting of Bly Manor‘ (2020)
- ‘Midnight Mass‘ (2021)
- ‘The Midnight Club‘ (2022)
- ‘The Fall of the House of Usher‘ (2023)
- ‘The Life of Chuck‘ (2024)
Buy Mike Flanagan Movies on Amazon
sfcyURbr
April 11, 2025
‘The 4:30 Movie’ Interview: Director Kevin Smith
RHkHGf6f
Available on digital beginning October 1st is ‘The 4:30 Movie,’ directed by Kevin Smith, and starring Austin Zajur, Nicholas Cirillo, Reed Northrup, Siena Agudong, Jason Lee, Kate Micucci, Justin Long, Genesis Rodriguez, and Ken Jeong.

Related Article: Movie Review: ‘The 4:30 Movie’

Director/Writer Kevin Smith behind the scenes of the Romantic Comedy, ‘The 4:30 Movie’, a Saban Films release. Photo courtesy of Ralph Bavaro.

Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking over Zoom with ‘Clerks‘ and ‘Chasing Amy‘ writer and director Kevin Smith about his new film “The 4:30 Movie,” a semi-autobiographical, warmly nostalgic look at a teen romance that blossoms in the seats of a local movie theater in the summer of 1986.

You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interview with Kevin Smith.

Director/Writer Kevin Smith behind the scenes of the Romantic Comedy, ‘The 4:30 Movie’, a Saban Films release. Photo courtesy of Ralph Bavaro.

Moviefone: To begin with, how are you feeling about the response to the movie so far?

Kevin Smith: So good, man, no complaints. It’s a nice byproduct when people like the movie. Never the aim but never not the aim. It’s never like, “I want to make something people hate.” But it’s nice when you make something and people are like, “Yeah, good on you.”

(L to R) Reed Northrup, Nicholas Cirillo and Austin Zajur in director Kevin Smith’s ‘The 4:30 Movie’. Photo: Saban Films.

Moviefone: Are the events of this film sort of ripped right from the pages of the Kevin Smith biography?

Kevin Smith: Yeah. I mean, look, the events of every movie I’ve ever made are pretty much ripped from the pages of the Kevin Smith biography with the exception of ‘Dogma.’ Even parts of that are pretty autobiographical. I’m not a very inventive storyteller or filmmaker. I crib from real life all the time, and this movie is absolutely no exception. The first scene [in which the teen lead calls the Chinese restaurant where his crush works], that long phone conversation, that literally happened and that’s almost verbatim the things that I said in terms of making a big order and then saying “Six and a half almond cookies and your hand in marriage.” Stuff like that came right out of real life. There are moments where Brian David, our main character, is riding around talking into his tape recorder — I lifted that from recordings of me doing the exact same thing. I cribbed liberally from my real life to make this flick. But to be fair, I do that with all the flicks.

(L to R) Reed Northrup as Belly, Austin Zajur as Brian David and Nicholas Cirillo as Burny in the Romantic Comedy, ‘The 4:30 Movie’, a Saban Films release. Photo courtesy of Ralph Bavaro.

Moviefone: You filmed this in the theater that was your local cineplex as a kid — which you ended up buying and turning into Smodcastle Cinemas. Was the theater in danger of closing before you jumped in?

Kevin Smith: In fact, the other day was the two-year anniversary of us taking over officially and it becoming Smodcastle Cinemas. This was a movie theater I grew up going to in my childhood. My father would take me there, I’d go there with my family, I’d go there with my friends on the weekend. It’s in the neighboring town, Atlantic Highlands [New Jersey], right next to where I grew up. Post-COVID, like many movie theaters, they fell on pretty hard times. There are multiplexes all around us with better seating and bigger, better quality but this was our local community theater. Me and my friends got together and bought it to keep it going. It’s over 100 years old so we were like “Let’s try it for another 100.” But when we bought it, one of the first things I realized is I got a free set. I can make a whole-ass movie here. This is a location for heaven’s sakes. Naturally being the guy who made ‘Clerks,’ it’s like “Do I make a movie about what it’s like to work in a movie theater?” I never did that myself so that would be like pretending or stolen valor. So I was like “You know what I can do? Tell a story about all the times that I hopped theaters as a kid.” Our parents would drop us off for the matinee and then come pick us up at 10:00 at night, and only give us two bucks to go to the movies, man. You pay for one movie and then you snuck into another and then you snuck into another and you kept going. So I figured with this location I can tell that story. There’s something cheeky about making a movie in a movie theater about movies and stuff. It’s not so much cheeky as affectionate. Obviously, movies have been a big part of my life. So much so they shaped my adulthood. Where I saw them, where I ingested those movies, that gets the shout-out this time around. I’ve been shouting out movies my whole life and it’s time to shout out where I saw those movies. At the same time, it could be a free commercial for Smodcastle Cinemas — two birds, one stone, or two birds, one seed as my kid said.

Ken Jeong as Manager Mike in the Romantic Comedy, ‘The 4:30 Movie’, a Saban Films release. Photo courtesy of Ralph Bavaro.

Moviefone: Finally, is it your policy as the owner now to look the other way if people sneak in and out of the auditoriums?

Kevin Smith: 100%. In the end credits of ‘4:30 Movie’ I tell people, “Smodcastle Cinemas, go visit. Pay for one movie, hop around, go see as many movies you want. If you get caught tell Ernie I said it was okay.” As a film exhibitor I know how tough it is to get asses in seats, man. We had ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ open a couple of weeks ago, I asked Smodcastle keeper Ernie O’Donnell, the guy that runs the place, “How’d we do with ‘Beetlejuice’?” He goes, “Friday we had 50 tickets, Saturday we had 100.” That’s the whole day. That’s good for a brand-new movie for us. Really the stuff that tends to do well at our theaters is retro screenings. So like “Hey man, I’m going to show ‘Tusk’ and Justin Long’s here. Hey, we’re going to show ‘Mallrats’ and Jason Lee’s here.” I could sell out those screenings and stuff. But when it comes to just selling real movies on the daily they’ll prefer to go to other movie theaters that have the better seating and s**t like that. So anything to get people to head to our theater is a good thing. Hopefully, them going, “What, there was a movie shot here?” is just one more reason for them to come visit. This is a temple that taught me my craft. The thing that I would eventually spend my life doing, my vocation, was born by sitting in those seats. I sat in those seats with people that I dearly love, some of whom are not even around anymore, like my father. Keeping it alive, man. It started as like, “Hey, I’m a filmmaker, this makes sense having a movie theater.” Quentin [Tarantino]‘s got one. It’s a little harder to run a movie theater in suburban New Jersey in terms of getting talent to come out. When you’re in Hollywood people just live here. But I’ve been able to bring Hollywood to the theater over the course of the last two years. No more so than when we brought cameras in and started rolling. Now for the rest of my life, or as long as we own that movie theater, I’ll always be able to play ‘The 4:30 Movie’ there on a Sunday at 4:30 from now until the end of time. It’ll never stay in other movie theaters. Maybe they’ll do retro or rep house screenings of it one day. But in our theater it will always live. Very rarely does a movie theater get to be like, “The whole movie was shot here.” We’ll showcase that forever.
JYJoYvRnTKNAbpJIzM4GZ3
What is the plot of ‘The 4:30 Movie’?

Three teenage friends (Austin Zajur, Nicholas Cirillo and Reed Northrup) map out an afternoon outing to the local cineplex in the summer of 1986, but their plans to sneak into a new R-rated movie could be disrupted by the irritating theater owner and a host of other characters — not to mention one of the boys bringing his dream girl to the cinema as well.

Who is in the cast of ‘The 4:30 Movie’?
- Austin Zajur as Brian David
- Nicholas Cirillo as Burny
- Reed Northrup as Belly
- Siena Agudong as Melody Barnegat
- Justin Long as Stank
- Jason Lee as Brian’s dad
- Kate Micucci as Melody’s mom
- Genesis Rodriguez as Usher
- Ken Jeong as Manager Mike
(L to R) Siena Agudong as Melody Barnegat and Austin Zajur as Brian David in the Romantic Comedy, ‘The 4:30 Movie’, a Saban Films release. Photo courtesy of Ralph Bavaro.

Other Kevin Smith Movies:
- ‘Clerks‘ (1994)
- ‘Mallrats‘ (1995)
- ‘Chasing Amy‘ (1997)
- ‘Dogma‘ (1999)
- ‘Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back‘ (2001)
- ‘Jersey Girl‘ (2004)
- ‘Clerks II‘ (2006)
- ‘Zack and Miri Make a Porno‘ (2008)
- ‘Cop Out‘ (2010)
- ‘Red State‘ (2011)
- ‘Tusk‘ (2014)
- ‘Yoga Hosers‘ (2016)
- ‘Jay and Silent Bob Reboot‘ (2019)
- ‘Killroy Was Here‘ (2022)
- ‘Clerks III‘ (2022)
Buy Tickets: ‘The 4:30 Movie’ Movie Showtimes

Buy Kevin Smith Movies on Amazon
kqRE39Fd
October 4, 2024
Movie Review: ‘The 4:30 Movie’
(L to R) Reed Northrup as Belly, Nicholas Cirillo as Burny and Austin Zajur as Brian David in the Romantic Comedy, ‘The 4:30 Movie’, a Saban Films release. Photo courtesy of Ralph Bavaro.

Opening in theaters September 20th is ‘The 4:30 Movie,’ written and directed by Kevin Smith and starring Austin Zajur, Nicholas Cirillo, Reed Northrup, Siena Agudong, Jason Lee, Kate Micucci, Justin Long, Genesis Rodriguez, and Ken Jeong.

Related Article: Director Kevin Smith Talks ‘Clerks III’ and the Legacy of the Franchise

Initial Thoughts

(L to R) Siena Agudong as Melody Barnegat and Austin Zajur as Brian David in the Romantic Comedy, ‘The 4:30 Movie’, a Saban Films release. Photo courtesy of Ralph Bavaro.

Moving away from the deconstructed horror and near-nihilistic meta comedy of his past few films (including the pure despair of his last one, ‘Clerks III’), Kevin Smith seems to be in a much better mood with ‘The 4:30 Movie,’ a semi-autobiographical teen comedy that draws heavily from his own early life and finds just enough of a sweet spot between his usual tasteless humor and some genuinely earnest coming-of-age romance to keep the film interesting and perhaps even attract a few new viewers to his walled cinematic garden.

Smith’s latest joint benefits from nice performances by his young cast as well, which partially counteracts his usual tendency to park the camera and let scenes roll on for too long. At the same time, he can’t help but include a bunch of his trademark raunchy humor, and the list of guest stars from the vast canon of his View Askewniverse can be equal parts distracting, irritating, and funny.

Story and Direction

Director/Writer Kevin Smith behind the scenes of the Romantic Comedy, ‘The 4:30 Movie’, a Saban Films release. Photo courtesy of Ralph Bavaro.

For those of us of a certain age who grew up in the New York/New Jersey area – as Kevin Smith did – “The 4:30 Movie” was a holy after-school ritual every day. Broadcast on the local ABC-TV affiliate (Channel 7, back in the prehistoric days when cable was something you towed a car with and streaming was what rain did down your windows), the program fit both theatrical and made-for-TV films into a daily 90-minute timeslot. The show’s themed weeks, in which it would show all five ‘Planet of the Apes’ films or a string of Godzilla features, were an essential part of many grade-schoolers’ film education.

We suspect Smith was a fan of that ‘4:30 Movie’ too, but that’s not the nostalgia that his new film ‘The 4:30 Movie’ harvests, sadly. Instead, the title refers to the showtime of a new R-rated film playing at the local multiplex in the New Jersey town of Atlantic Highlands (near where Smith grew up) that three friends – film-obsessed Brian (Austin Zajur), ladies’ man Burny (Nicholas Cirillo), and seemingly dim yet observant Belly (Reed Northrup) – plan on sneaking into after paying to see an earlier PG movie they’ve watched before. But there’s a new wrinkle to the plan: Brian has also invited his crush Melody (Siena Agudong) along. After failing to go to second base (with her encouragement and permission) in her pool last summer, Brian has remained infatuated with Melody and wants to take her on a proper date…with his two best friends along for the trip.

‘The 4:30 Movie’ takes place in the summer of 1986, right in the midst of Smith’s teen years and clearly inspired by events from his own life (the film was shot at the cineplex in which it takes place, which Smith now owns). As with all Smith films, the plot is only a loose framework on which to hang a bunch of character interactions and random incidents, most of which feature walk-ons from Smith regulars like Rosario Dawson, Jason Lee, Justin Long, Harley Quinn Smith, and of course ‘Clerks’ stalwarts Jeff Anderson, Brian O’Halloran, and Jason Mewes (spoiler alert: they don’t play their regular characters here, but the movie is very much set in the View Askewniverse).

Ken Jeong as Manager Mike in the Romantic Comedy, ‘The 4:30 Movie’, a Saban Films release. Photo courtesy of Ralph Bavaro.

There are plenty of moments, characterizations, and jokes in ‘The 4:30 Movie’ that fall flat, just as there are others that are crude or, in the case of the overbearing, self-important multiplex owner Manager Mike (Ken Jeong), borderline offensive. But there is a sweetness at the heart of the movie, exemplified by the relationship between Brian and Melody. He is shy, horny, and immature, but respectful where it counts, while she is self-possessed, confident, wise beyond her years, and direct in her eagerness to be Brian’s girlfriend. Their blooming romance comes into direct collision with Brian’s relationship to his two bros, Burny and Belly, with Burny in particular having a dim view of the female species that one hopes he’ll eventually grow out of. The situation brings the friendship between the three to a head, changing their dynamic in ways they don’t see coming.

Those are the best parts of ‘The 4:30 Movie,’ where Smith hits at some genuine emotional truth among teenagers who are just starting to brush up against the feelings and experiences that mark their transition to adulthood. Smith’s empathy for that, as well as his genuine affection for the time, place, and cultural zeitgeist in which the film is set, makes this one of his better movies in recent years. The rest of it – the inert camerawork, staid compositions, jokes that just dangle helplessly in the air – in a weird way, they’re part of the charm too this time.

The Cast

(L to R) Reed Northrup, Nicholas Cirillo and Austin Zajur in director Kevin Smith’s ‘The 4:30 Movie’. Photo: Saban Films.

Whether it’s the aging semi-professional slackers of ‘Clerks III’ or the insipid leads of ‘Yoga Hosers,’ Kevin Smith has a knack for casting people it can sometimes be difficult to watch. With ‘The 4:30 Movie,’ however, his two leads – Austin Zajur as Brian and Siena Agudong as Melody – are two of his better choices. Agudong in particular is a potential star in the making, radiating intelligence, charisma, and warmth, while Zajur is quite effective himself as a teen pulled in several directions while trying to find his own.

Nick Cirillo and Reed Northrup both show their own flashes of wit and depth as Brian’s friends, with Northrup in particular having a standout scene late in the game. As for the rest of the cast – well, it’s a wonder than Ken Jeong manages to eke out some memorably funny lines and even a moment of humanity or two as the otherwise abrasive Manager Mike, while Genesis Rodriguez gets a brief spotlight as a box office cashier with a secret of her own. Everyone else – Smith’s usual coterie of pals and repertoire players – more or less walks through and waves.

Final Thoughts

(L to R) Reed Northrup as Belly, Austin Zajur as Brian David and Nicholas Cirillo as Burny in the Romantic Comedy, ‘The 4:30 Movie’, a Saban Films release. Photo courtesy of Ralph Bavaro.

As we said above, ‘The 4:30 Movie’ is not likely to be a game-changer for Kevin Smith – he might gain a few more viewers for this one, but his style of filmmaking is what it is, and his fanbase is pretty much entrenched. When you sit down for a Kevin Smith film, you know what you’re going to get, and you’re either open to navigating that or not.

Having said that, this movie does have a lot more warmth to it that his last few outings, and while Smith always pours his heart into his films, that heart comes through a little more clearly here. It’s an ode to what he himself describes in a long end-credits thank-you list as a “happy childhood,” and there are moments that many of us can relate to here (including sneaking from the PG movie into the R-rated one). Now we’d like to see a film about ABC’s “4:30 Movie” as well.

‘The 4:30 Movie’ receives 6.5 out of 10 stars.
JYJoYvRnTKNAbpJIzM4GZ3
What is the plot of ‘The 4:30 Movie’?

Three teenage friends (Austin Zajur, Nicholas Cirillo and Reed Northrup) map out an afternoon outing to the local cineplex in the summer of 1986, but their plans to sneak into a new R-rated movie could be disrupted by the irritating theater owner and a host of other characters — not to mention one of the boys bringing his dream girl to the cinema as well.

Who is in the cast of ‘The 4:30 Movie’?
- Austin Zajur as Brian David
- Nicholas Cirillo as Burny
- Reed Northrup as Belly
- Siena Agudong as Melody Barnegat
- Justin Long as Stank
- Jason Lee as Brian’s dad
- Kate Micucci as Melody’s mom
- Genesis Rodriguez as Usher
- Ken Jeong as Manager Mike
Director/Writer Kevin Smith behind the scenes of the Romantic Comedy, ‘The 4:30 Movie’, a Saban Films release. Photo courtesy of Ralph Bavaro.

Other Kevin Smith Movies:
- ‘Clerks‘ (1994)
- ‘Mallrats‘ (1995)
- ‘Chasing Amy‘ (1997)
- ‘Dogma‘ (1999)
- ‘Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back‘ (2001)
- ‘Jersey Girl‘ (2004)
- ‘Clerks II‘ (2006)
- ‘Zack and Miri Make a Porno‘ (2008)
- ‘Cop Out‘ (2010)
- ‘Red State‘ (2011)
- ‘Tusk‘ (2014)
- ‘Yoga Hosers‘ (2016)
- ‘Jay and Silent Bob Reboot‘ (2019)
- ‘Killroy Was Here‘ (2022)
- ‘Clerks III‘ (2022)
Buy Tickets: ‘The 4:30 Movie’ Movie Showtimes

Buy Kevin Smith Movies on Amazon
kqRE39Fd
September 22, 2024
Kevin Smith Announces New Comedy ‘The 4:30 Movie’
(L to R) Reed Northrup, Nicholas Cirillo and Austin Zajur in director Kevin Smith’s ‘The 4:30 Movie’. Photo: Saban Films.

Preview:
- Kevin Smith has shot new comedy ‘The 4:30 Movie’.
- A new coming-of-age saga about three teen friends, it’s set in 1986.
- Smith will tour the movie this summer ahead of a theatrical release.
Kevin Smith has made a career riffing on pop culture and channeling nostalgia, along with a steady stream of stoner gags.

With his time in the ‘Clerks’ universe apparently over for a while, Kevin Smith has turned his attention to an original movie. His latest, ‘The 4:30 Movie’, might sound like it’s headed back in a weed direction (but it’s not ‘The 4:20 Movie), but is instead founded upon his own teenage love of cinema.

And now the coming-of-age movie has a distribution deal, with Saban Films.
JYJoYvRnTKNAbpJIzM4GZ3
What’s the story of ‘The 4:30 Movie’?

Set in the summer of 1986, the coming-of-age comedy follows three sixteen-year-old friends (played by Austin Zajur, Nicholas Cirillo and Reed Northrup) who spend their Saturdays sneaking into movies at the local multiplex. But when one of the guys also invites the girl of his dreams (Siena Agudong) to see the latest comedy, each of the teens will learn something serious about life and love before the credits roll.

Who else is in ‘The 4:30 Movie’?

Justin Long as Hap Jackson in the thriller, ‘House of Darkness,’ a Saban Films release. Photo courtesy of Saban Films.

To support the young leads, Smith has recruited several returning veterans of his other movies and some new faces. The other cast includes Ken Jeong, Sam Richardson, Genesis Rodriguez, Justin Long, Jason Lee, Rachel Dratch, Kate Micucci, Adam Pally, Harley Quinn Smith and Method Man.

Related Article: Director Kevin Smith Talks ‘Clerks III’ and the Legacy of the Franchise

What has Kevin Smith said about his new movie?

‘Clerks III’ director and writer Kevin Smith.

As with the original ‘Clerks’, which was famously shot at night in the convenience store where Smith worked in his 20s, ‘The 4:30 Movie’ utilized the Smodcastle Cinema that the director owns. A cinema, in fact, in New Jersey where he used to visit as a teenager himself.

This is what he told Deadline:

“The day we bought Smodcastle Cinemas, I not only reclaimed an integral piece of my childhood, I also suddenly had access to a visually interesting and cost-free movie location! So I started writing a personal paean to the past for us 70’s and 80’s kids –– the pre-information generation who grew up without the Internet, when romance and relationships required much more than a swipe to get started, and the idea of asking out someone you had a crush on was as terrifying as the looming threat of nuclear war.”

When will ‘The 4:30 Movie’ be in theaters?

Smith is returning to a release policy that has worked for him in the past –– he’s taking the new movie out on a roadshow tour this summer. Then, it’ll be released nationwide in theaters, but a date has yet to be announced.

Director/Writer Kevin Smith on the set of the comedy, ‘Clerks III,’ a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of John Bayer/Lionsgate.

Other Kevin Smith Movies:
- ‘Clerks‘ (1994)
- ‘Mallrats‘ (1995)
- ‘Chasing Amy‘ (1997)
- ‘Dogma‘ (1999)
- ‘Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back‘ (2001)
- ‘Jersey Girl‘ (2004)
- ‘Clerks II‘ (2006)
- ‘Zack and Miri Make a Porno‘ (2008)
- ‘Cop Out‘ (2010)
- ‘Red State‘ (2011)
- ‘Tusk‘ (2014)
- ‘Yoga Hosers‘ (2016)
- ‘Jay and Silent Bob Reboot‘ (2019)
- ‘Killroy Was Here‘ (2022)
- ‘Clerks III‘ (2022)
Buy Kevin Smith Movies on Amazon
3WjkxuNn
April 3, 2024
TV Review: ‘Resident Evil’

(L to R) Lance Reddick as Albert, and Paola Nunez as Evelyn in ‘Resident Evil.’ Netflix © 2022.

Released July 14th on Netflix, ‘Resident Evil’ stars Tamara Smart, Siena Agudong and Lance Reddick, following the three in the past, amid a corrupt biotech company and the future, after a worldwide zombie apocalypse has decimated the planet.

Developed for TV by Andrew Dabb (‘Supernatural’), the show follows a very interesting premise of taking place both in the future and in the past. We see sisters Jade (Smart) and Billie (Agudong) in the past as they move into New Raccoon City, a futuristic corporate city with their father, fan favorite Albert Wesker (Reddick).

While in the future, an older Jade (Ella Balinska) is just trying to survive the zombie outbreak that has taken over the world, while being hunted by Umbrella at the same time.

The story jumps between these two time periods with little to no warning, and while it can totally be jarring for some, I found it to be a great way for the show to give parallels in characters and events in the story, and you never feel like you’re missing anything important either.

The tension ramps up rather quickly, as a terrifying event causes the sisters to be thrown into the dark and nightmarish tests and weapons that Umbrella are making, in just the first episode.

(L to R) Siena Agudon as young Billie and Tamara Smart as young Jade in ‘Resident Evil.’ Netflix © 2022.

Tamara Smart and Siena Agudong, who play the teenage version of Billie and Jade, absolutely kill their roles and make you care about these kids and feel nervous for what is in store for them.

This is where one of the first problems with the show occurs. It’s obvious that whatever is happening in the past-futuristic New Raccoon City, such as the start of the outbreak and the sisters discovering what the biotech company is hiding from everyone, is so much more interesting than the generic aftermath of a zombie invasion that is happening in the future.

It makes half of the show pretty boring in comparison, as you dredge through the future timeline, hoping for the time skip to happen and we see more of the bright horror of New Umbrella and the girl’s unraveling the mystery.

Though, a lot of the cast here is one of the best parts of the show. Huge callouts going to Lance Reddick as Albert Wesker. Normal viewers will not understand the significance of his character, but fans of the franchise will have a great, new take on him and his personality.

He’s both a loving father to his daughters and a mysterious, terrifying scientist in his own right. Reddick owns any scene that he’s in, and his ability to jump between the two personas is a sight to witness.

(L to R) Lance Reddick as Albert in ‘Resident Evil.’ Photo. Netflix © 2021

The settings of New Raccoon City and the destroyed ruins of future London are both different in color pallet and in emotion. You have the flashbacks showing us a stark white, clean-cut metropolis run by the biotech company, and then the destroyed roadways and underground tunnels of the zombie-infested future-specifically Europe.

One can argue it’s a great representation of the different genres of horror, gory violence of zombies and the fear of the unknown, blinded by white buildings and ominous test animals, all mixed in with the normal white-picket fence neighborhoods.

But, with the inevitable video game adaptations come the question most held by the fan base; how much does ‘Resident Evil’ take from the source material? Honestly, I wouldn’t say the show takes anything major. Not something someone, who has never played the games, would be confused by if they were to go into the show.

Most of what the show takes is the monsters, creatures like Lickers, the giant spider and even the giant caterpillar seen in many of the trailers. They’re not creatures that are tied to just one game in the franchise but are used to rather cool effect in the show’s fight scenes. The CGI being placed in full view, making them terrifying and viscerally plausible.

If you’re going into the ‘Resident Evil’ show expecting a straight-up remake of the games, this isn’t it. While some lore elements were kept, that is going into end of the season spoiler territory which I won’t do here. Even then, no boulder punching or giant tall vampire ladies kneeling through doors.

Ella Balinksa as Jade in ‘Resident Evil.’ Photo: Marcos Cruz. Netflix © 2022.

It’s not a perfect adaptation, not by any means. While some characters are interesting, the dialogue and some of the things they do in the story really baffle you. It’s like the show was leaning in way too much to the fact the characters are teenagers, which not many people are going to fall in love with.

How you enjoy the ‘Resident Evil’ show is dependent on how you look at. For fans of horror stories with blood, gore and giant mutated monsters, it’s an interesting take on the formula and you will most likely get an okay time out of it, with some caveats.

For fans of the game, though, it’s yet another disappointing (yet intriguing) take on the series and its mythos.

Netflix’s ‘Resident Evil’ gets 3 out of 5 stars.

‘Resident Evil.’ Netflix © 2022.

July 31, 2022
New ‘Resident Evil’ Images Offer Plot Details

‘Resident Evil.’ Netflix © 2022.

Following on from the most recent teaser last month, we now have new pictures of the various characters from Netflix’s ‘Resident Evil.’

This eight-episode series, adapted from the hugely popular video games, is partly set the year 2036. 14 years after the spread of Joy caused so much pain, Jade Wesker (‘Charlie’s Angels’ Ella Balinska) fights for survival in a world overrun by the blood-thirsty infected and mind-shattering creatures. In this absolute carnage, Jade is haunted by her past in New Raccoon City, by her father Albert’s (Lance Reddick) chilling connections to the sinister Umbrella Corporation but mostly by what happened to her sister, Billie. She’s helped by her husband Raj (Ahad Raza Mir).

And then there’s the 2022 story, in which the 14-year-old Wesker sisters move with their family to New Raccoon City where they’re forced to endure adolescence in a manufactured, corporate town, one with dark secrets. While Reddick occurs across both time periods, the sisters here are played by Tamara Smart and Siena Agudong.

Talking with Entertainment Weekly, show-runner Andrew Dabb expounded on the various characters. “Jade is snarky and snappy, but at the same time, deep down, she is a person that takes things very seriously in a crisis,” he says. “Because of how she was brought up, she put up a lot of walls. Jade is someone who walks around in a suit of armor.” We’re not sure we blame her!

(L to R) Siena Agudon as young Billie and Tamara Smart as young Jade in ‘Resident Evil.’ Netflix © 2022.

As for Billie, Dabb has this to say: “You’ve got a character who is really caring and maybe a little less forthright than her sister, but also someone that’s struggling with some of her own demons. This is a character that cares deeply about people and about animals. She’s someone who is vegan and someone who supports PETA. She’s the kind of person who doesn’t step on an ant. She takes it outside.”

And then there’s the dual timeline idea, a first for the adaptation of the source material. “The hope is they build, one off the other. The idea is you’ll see things in the future storyline,” says Dabb. “You’re like, ‘Wait! How did that happen?’ And then that episode, or a couple of episodes later, you’ll get the answer. In some ways, the future storyline itself is a mystery. How did people get here? How did these relationships change? And it’s all explained, but it’s explained in a way that we’ve jigsawed it together. If you’re watching it, you’ll be able to see how all the threads start to weave together as we move through the story.”

Netflix’s ‘Resident Evil’ will land on the streaming service on July 14th, so get ready for all manner of infected and undead creatures to come stalking, running and, just possibly, exploding across your screen.

(L to R) Lance Reddick as Albert, and Paola Nunez as Evelyn in ‘Resident Evil.’ Netflix © 2022.

Ella Balinksa as Jade in ‘Resident Evil.’ Netflix © 2022.

Ella Balinksa as Jade in ‘Resident Evil.’ Photo: Marcos Cruz. Netflix © 2022.

Siena Agudong as young Billie in ‘Resident Evil.’ Photo: Netflix © 2021.

(L to R) Connor Gossati as Simon and Tamara Smart as young Jade in ‘Resident Evil.’ Photo: Marcos Cruz/Netflix © 2021.

Ahad Raza as Arjun in ‘Resident Evil.’ Photo: Netflix © 2021.

June 3, 2022