Limited and VOD Releases: Below Average Releases

April 28, 2017

Harold and Lilian: A Hollywood Love Story

It is not a good week for limited releases. Only two of the films on this week’s list are earning any level of buzz, Below Her Mouth and Rupture. However, both are earning bad reviews and are playing on VOD, so their box office chances are nearly zero. There are a couple of documentaries earning 100% positive reviews at the moment, Bang! The Bert Berns Story and Harold and Lilian: A Hollywood Love Story. If you like roc ‘n’ roll, check out the former. If you are a cinephile or if you are a regular on this site, then check out the latter.

Bang! The Bert Berns Story - Reviews
A documentary about Bert Berns, who wrote and / or produced some of the biggest hits in rock ’n’ roll history. There are only seven reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, but all seven are positive, so that’s great news.

Below Her Mouth - Reviews
Video On Demand
A Canadian film about a couple of women who have a passionate affair. This is one of only two film on this week’s list that is earning any real buzz that I’ve heard, but the reviews are bad and the film is playing on VOD, so its box office chances are nearly zero.

Buster’s Mal Heart - Reviews
Rami Malek plays a man on the run who survives in the wilderness. This man also dreams that is he adrift at sea. He realizes that both of these lives are real. The film’s reviews are good, but not great, with too many critics saying the film’s central gimmick is too, well, gimmicky. It is worth checking out, but maybe wait until you can rent it.

A Dark Song - Reviews
Video on Demand
A grieving mother turns to the dark arts after her son is murdered. The film is earning some of the best reviews of the week, but it is the wrong genre and it is playing on VOD, so its box office chances are nearly zero. On the other hand, if you want to see a new movie, but don’t want to leave the house, then spending $6 to rent this one is a great deal.

Harold and Lilian: A Hollywood Love Story - Reviews
Harold Michelson was a storyboard artist and his wife Lillian Michelson, was a Hollywood researcher. Together they helped create a lot of iconic movies, but were mostly uncredited for their work. There are only nine reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, but all nine are positive, so it could do well with cinephiles.

Obit. - Reviews
A documentary about the people who write the obituaries at the New York Times. The reviews are great, but documentaries rarely have mainstream appeal.

One Week and a Day - Reviews
A Jewish couple are dealing with depression after their son succumbs to cancer. This is one of only a few films on this week’s list earning stunning reviews, but its a foreign-language film with very little box office potential outside of the art house circuit.

Rupture - Reviews
Video on Demand
A woman is kidnapped and tortured by a group of people who think she is an alien and only by experiencing her worst fears will her true nature come out. The film is earning louder buzz than just about any other film on this week’s list. Even so, it is the wrong genre for limited release, its reviews are terrible, and it is playing on VOD, so its box office chances are nearly zero.

Secondary VOD Releases:
Displacement - Reviews - Video on Demand
Voice From the Stone - Reviews - Video on Demand
Only two secondary VOD releases on this week’s list. Voice From the Stone could be worth a $7 rental. Displacement is apparently free for Amazon Prime users. I can’t tell for sure, because I’m Canadian and it is only available in the United States.

Filed under: Limited Releases, VOD Releases, Home Market Releases, Voice From the Stone, Rupture, Below Her Mouth, Shavua ve Yom, A Dark Song, Obit, Buster’s Mal Heart, Displacement, Bang! The Bert Berns Story, Harold and Lillian: A Hollywood Love Story, Rami Malek, Noomi Rapace, Harold Michelson, Lillian Michelson