This month’s movies offer plenty of action and even sees actors young and old starring in genre-defying roles. Consider your adrenaline rush fixed!
Scheduled release: Now showing
Director: Wes Ball
Cast: Dylan O’Brien, Kaya Scodelario, Will Poulter
The “dystopian future” storyline has been thrown around a lot these days, with movies like The Hunger Games and Divergent offering glimpses into not-so-happy universes. Offering a different take is The Maze Runner, with a cast that comprises of males who aren’t quite the alpha male leading characters we’re accustomed to seeing. Don’t be too quick to write them off though, as the trailer shows that these young men have ample amounts of brawn too.
Based on the bestselling novel by James Dashner, this movie centers around Thomas (Dylan O’Brien), a teen who wakes up in a trapped maze with other boys of the same age group. Thomas has no recollection of anything but his own name, and he has to survive the dangers that lurk in the maze while figuring out a means to escape the labyrinth. Keep an eye out for the mysterious creatures known as the Grievers. The trailer doesn’t show much but we have an inkling these creatures are giant spiders.
Scheduled release: 18 September
Director: James DeMonaco
Cast: Frank Grillo, Carmen Ejogo, Zach Gilford
What if ordinary folk were given the opportunity to get rid of someone or exact revenge on an enemy, with no consequences whatsoever? That’s the idea that the sequel to The Purge brings to the table, and the portrait they paint is one of tremendous bloodshed and merciless killing.
In The Purge: Anarchy, a couple driving home experience a car breakdown just as the annual Purge – where people are free to harm anyone for 12 hours – commences. They cross lines with a police officer who’s out for revenge against the man who killed his son, as well as a mother and daughter duo who run from their home after it’s been attacked. These unfortunately five band together as they do their best to survive a night that they can’t wait to be over.
Scheduled release: 18 September
Director: Scott Frank
Cast: Liam Neeson, Dan Stevens, David Harbour
We first marveled at Liam Neeson’s ability to kick ass during Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. It took him a couple of years after that to return to the action genre, but he’s been steadily showing audiences his immense action-role capabilities, capping it off with this year’s Non-Stop. Well guess what, the talented Irishman returns to amaze with this mystery thriller that has him with a gun in his hand yet again and a stone-cold expression that sends shivers down our spines.
Playing the role of unlicensed private investigator Matthew Scudder, Liam’s character dispenses justice when he gets hired by a drug kingpin to investigate the kidnapping and murder of the latter’s wife. Sounds like a Taken spin-off? Doesn’t matter, we’d pay money to see Liam Neeson put the pain on the bad guys any day of the week.
Scheduled release: 18 September
Director: David Michôd
Cast: Guy Pearce, Robert Pattinson, Scoot McNairy
Robert Pattinson has clearly moved on from the comfort zone that the Twilight series created, exchanging the glow of a vampire for the grit of a vagabond in The Rover. Of course, it helps that his co-star is Guy Pearce, an actor who has yet to be typecast after over two decades in Hollywood.
A decade after a global economy collapse, hardened loner Eric (Guy Pearce) pursues the gangsters who stole his car, the one and only possession he has in a world turned upside down. The Australian outback is the perfect setting for the film, as Eric catches up with one of the gang members, Rey (Robert Pattinson), and forms an uneasy partnership with him. As a man with nothing to lose, Eric is clearly not one to be trifled with.
Scheduled release: 25 September
Director: Antoine Fuqua
Cast: Denzel Washington, Marton Csokas, Chloë Grace Moretz
60-year-old actor Denzel Washington was intent on becoming a journalist, but instead carved a notable career for himself playing iron-willed characters like Malcolm X. Following in Liam Neeson’s footsteps, Denzel has included action movies as part of his career résumé despite being past the supposed prime age for such roles.
In The Equalizer, Robert McCall (Denzel Washington) has put his past behind him, turning the page and dedicating himself to a new life. When he meets Teri (Chloë Grace Moretz), a young girl controlled by Russian gangsters, Robert knows he can’t sit idly by, and embarks on a path that sees him dealing punishment to those who attempt to put their hands on Teri. Call it paternal or professional instincts; Robert doesn’t care.