If you're a fan of science fiction horror movies and tense action thrillers then you're about to have a great week. Shudder and RLJE Films debut their latest film Ash in theaters and it's already earning rave reviews, with particular praise going toward lead actress Eiza González. Then, Nosferatu star Bill Skarsgård and Anthony Hopkins go head-to-head in a crazy action film where Skarsgård's character gets trapped inside of a modified sports car in a fight for his life.
Also in theaters is the sci-fi thriller The Assessment starring Elizabeth Olsen and Alicia Vikander; and the latest in public domain horror: Popeye the Slayer Man. On Netflix, the latest thriller from Train to Busan director Yeon Sang-ho, while Paramount+ debuts true crime drama series Happy Face.
These projects and more are all being released this week in theaters or on various streaming platforms, so here's the rundown on what you need to know to watch them all!
Happy Face (Paramount+, Mar. 20)
Dennis Quaid plays the Happy Face Killer, Keith Hunter Jesperson, in this true crime drama series premiering this Thursday. Based on the popular podcast of the same name by Jesperson's real-life daughter Melissa Moore and her autobiography Shattered Silence, Happy Face is about Melissa's (Annaleigh Ashford) life after realizing that her father was a serial killer who murdered several women in the 1990s. The first two episodes premiere this week, followed by one a week after that until the May 1 finale.
Bloody Axe Wound (Shudder, Mar. 21)
Killing is the Bladecutt family business. Funnily enough, like Happy Face, Bloody Axe Wound is another movie about a teenage girl learning about her father's bloody past. A Shudder comedy-horror film and a coming-of-age story, Bloody Axe Wound follows young Abbie (Sari Arambulo) as she tries to navigate growing pains along with her family's dark and bloody traditions. Billy Burke stars as Abbie's dad, Roger, a serial killer who makes a profit off of filming his kills.
The Assessement (Theaters, Mar. 21)
A sci-fi thriller that initially debuted at last year's Toronto International Film Festival, The Assessment stars Elizabeth Olsen and Himesh Patel as a couple keen on becoming parents. Set in the near future, Mia (Olsen) and Aaryan (Patel) must undergo an intense series of tests facilitated by a strict assessor (Alicia Vikander). As the tests become increasingly uncomfortable, Mia and Aaryan begin to question everything about their relationship. The Assessment received great reviews out of TIFF and Vikander was nominated at the British Independent Film Awards.
Ash (Theaters, Mar. 21)
Eiza González is earning rave reviews for her leading performance as a lone astronaut waking up on a distant planet to discover her entire crew dead. Directed by Flying Lotus, Ash is the latest movie from Shudder and RLJE Films to hit theaters. After waking up in her desolate landscape, Riya (González) runs into one other person, a man named Brion (Aaron Paul), claiming to be her only chance at survival. Riya must decide whether or not he can be trusted. To stream on Shudder at a later date.
Revelations (Netflix, Mar. 20)
The latest movie from Hellbound creators Yeon Sang-ho and Choi Gyu-seok is a twisted tale about a pastor and a detective trying to solve the same missing-persons case. The pastor believes he has received a "divine" calling to punish the person responsible, causing them to butt heads with the case's detective. Oscar-winner Alfonso Cuarón executive produced the film.
Locked (Theaters, Mar. 21)
Bill Skarsgård is a car-jacker in this English remake of the Argentinian action-thriller film 4x4. Skarsgård's character, Eddie, finds himself in a terrifying predicament when he unknowingly targets a sociopath (Anthony Hopkins) and gets trapped inside of the man's heavily-modified vehicle, fighting for a way out. Sam Raimi produced this one, so it'll definitely be worth a watch.
Popeye the Slayer Man (Theaters, Mar. 21)
A group of friends sneak into an abandoned spinach-canning factory to see if the truth about the "Sailor Man" haunting is real and get way more than they bargained for upon arrival. If you haven't already guessed from the title, this is another public domain horror movie and 1428 Elm previously chatted with one of its stars!