This piece was originally posted in November, but with 2013 nearly upon us…why not dust it off?
My annual “most anticipated” list is upon us – I’m just switching up the headline to make it a bit more personal as the following titles, yes, represent the movies I’m eager to see in 2013. Now, I’ve done this long enough to know I have to set down certain criteria or run the risk of comments like, “You idiot! What about [insert title here]? I’m excited about it and you should be, too!”
Here is how this list breaks down.
The following represent films that have locked release dates. It also represents films I have not seen – that means You’re Next and Maniac are off the list (but both come recommended). If it’s not on the list, I’ve either seen it or I just don’t give a damn. There are some films that are either shooting now or are in post-production that are likely to hit in the latter half of 2013, but that’s not for certain, so those are off the list, too. I’ll make mention of a few “in the works” titles I’m curious about at the end.
That said, head inside for my random thoughts on what is to come and what’s getting me excited. We’ll start with my #1 pick…
Evil Dead
Release Date: April 12, 2013
What the hell? Yes, the remake that took so much heat when it was first announced is likely my most anticipated horror film of next year. Why? Because it should not look as good as it does. With the teaser trailer assuaged any fears that this might be a complete disaster. I love the look of it and it doesn’t appear to be pulling any punches. Will it be the “most terrifying film” I’ll ever experience? The jury’s still out, but I’m willing to put some trust in director Fede Alvarez who has the producing team of Sam Raimi, Rob Tapert and Bruce Campbell (the original Evil Dead team) at his back. I sincerely doubt that this trio would allow a shoddy re-telling to be created.
World War Z
Release Date: June 21, 2013
The zombie genre is dead, man! I don’t believe so. Not for a second. As long as The Walking Dead continues to be successful, as long as zombie novels, gaming apps and comic books continue to gobble up your dollars and as long as there’s some social subtext to exploit, the zombie genre is not going anywhere. It may subside, but it will always be around, waiting for its next big resurgence. And while the undead are proving to be more popular on television than on the big screen these days, I’m going to bet that World War Z finds its audience – in spite of its delays and rumors of shooting troubles and over-inflated budget. I’m fascinated by the notion of a studio-funded zombie film. The teaser trailer shows us that the movie is going to stray from the source material and the horde of zombies look like some CGI abortions that escaped from I Am Legend, yet my interest level is high. If there’s any film that has the chance to present wide-scale zombie mayhem, it’s this one. I want to see every ounce of production money on that screen.
Pacific Rim
Release Date: July 12, 2013
Guillermo’s latest…OHMYGODGIANTMONSTERSANDROBOTS! This is honestly a no-brainer and the only selection from this list that you can’t constitute as a “horror” film. But it’s Guillermo del Toro. And it’s giant monsters. And it’s giant robots. Furthermore, it’s motherf**kin’ Jax from Sons of Anarchy co-piloting one of those giant robots to lay the beatdown on those giant monsters. If there’s one regret I had about not fully attending Comic-Con this year it’s missing out on the Pacific Rim panel which supposedly kicked copious amounts of ass.
I’m hoping “epic” won’t even begin to describe this monster melee. We can always depend on Del Toro’s creativity to permeate the designs and action – the question is, for me at least, does the script present us characters to truly stand behind in this adventure?
Watch the trailer here. I leave you with this synopsis:
Legions of monstrous creatures, known as Kaiju, start rising from the sea and begin a war that would takes millions of lives and consumes humanitys resources for years on end. To combat the giant Kaiju, a special type of weapon was devised: massive robots, called Jaegers, which are controlled simultaneously by two pilots whose minds are locked in a neural bridge. But even the Jaegers are proving nearly defenseless in the face of the relentless Kaiju. On the verge of defeat, the forces defending mankind have no choice but to turn to two unlikely heroes-a washed up former pilot (Charlie Hunnam) and an untested trainee (Rinko Kikuchi)-who are teamed to drive a legendary but seemingly obsolete Jaeger from the past. Together, they stand as mankinds last hope against the mounting apocalypse.
