Armed only with his mysterious mental connection to the feral minds of studio executives, the Movie Guru reveals just how good or bad this week's new releases will be:

Flower of Evil (NR)
Claude Chabrol takes another look at the dark underbelly of the French bourgeoisie in a thriller less Hitchcock than Altman. After graduating from college in Chicago, Francois (Benoit Magimel) returns to his family's Bordeaux estate to face their history of incest, Nazi sympathizing, political intrigue and murder—all revealed when anonymous notes start appearing at the house. The modern-day story intertwines with the events of 1944.
Prediction: The film has been praised for its mordant treatment of the French upper class, but you might find more satisfaction from New Wave pioneer Chabrol's other work.

Love Don't Cost a Thing (PG-13)
In this remake of 1987's Can't Buy Me Love, Nick Cannon plays the unpopular geek who fixes a cheerleader's car so that she'll pretend to be his girlfriend and he'll be popular. But will a new hairdo, stylin' clothes and a taste of social acceptance make Alvin forget his priorities?
Prediction: A remake of an adaptation? How many new twists can Shaw's Pygmalion withstand? (See My Fair Lady, Pretty Woman, The Princess Diaries, Can't Buy Me Love, blah, blah.)

Something's Gotta Give (PG-13)
An aging womanizer (Jack Nicholson) vacations in the Hamptons with his much younger girlfriend and has a Viagra-triggered heart attack. When his girlfriend returns to New York, he is nursed back to health by her divorced mom (Diane Keaton) and the doctor (Keanu Reeves) who saved his life. A love triangle ensues, leaving Jack to consider his attachment to the younger ladies and Diane to choose between two paramours.
Prediction: You want the truth? My parents will sooo love this movie. Jack Nicholson is an institution, but I'd rather pick up A Few Good Men on DVD.

Stuck on You (PG-13)
Matt Damon and Greg Kinnear star as conjoined twins, one of whom has dreams of making it big in Hollywood. They're cast on a sitcom with Cher, and the show becomes a hit.
Prediction: Looks like an over-the-top guilty pleasure. The latest Farrelly brothers installment is rated PG-13 for "crude and sexual humor." Duh.

Higher Calling

It has often been said that more people have been killed for the cause of religion than any other reason. This is a debatable proclamation to be sure. Nonetheless, whether it is zealous airplane hijackers or abortion clinic bombers, those who worship a higher power do often seem ready and willing to kill.

Such is the case in Frailty. Actor Bill Paxton's directorial debut is the story of two serial killers. The first is a Texas widower and father of two young sons. The second is his son, who carries on the family's dark work in adulthood.

All is well until an angel comes to visit the father during the night, bringing a strange mission from God. Dad is ordered to kill demons disguised as humans. He will be given a list of seven demons and the weapons with which to kill them.

The father wastes no time. He indoctrinates his sons into the mission, one who believes and one who doesn't. The unbelieving son is afraid to tell the authorities of his father's murders, but eventually finds a way to undermine the work.

Meanwhile, years later, one of the sons makes a visit to the FBI, convinced that his brother has started the killings anew. But all is not as it seems.

What makes Frailty's blend of Southern Gothic horror and Hitchcockian mystery so terrifying is that, until the end, you're never really sure if God is calling the shots. The father could be ready for an institution. Or he could be a new Abraham, obediently spilling blood for a heavenly cause.

For another look at religious fervor gone wrong, track down The Wicker Man. The thrills begin when mainland police sergeant Howie (Edward Woodward) receives a letter informing him of a girl's disappearance. The mysterious notice takes him to the Scottish island of Summerisle.

There he is confronted by erotic songs, phallic symbols, and a populace that seems to be hiding something. Howie continues to prod until he uncovers the island's dark pagan secret. Finally Howie finds himself the unwilling participant in an intricate island ritual, one that makes Children of the Corn seem like a Sunday school picnic.

—Lloyd Babbit

December 11, 2003 * Vol. 13, No. 50
© 2003 Metro Pulse