Neeson, Rajinikanth, abang bomba and more: what to watch in August
PETALING JAYA : July was
July was
quite a ride at the cinema, but now it's time to take a break from superheroes and buckle up for a fresh lineup.
From chilling horror flicks to a Rajinikanth starrer and even a locally made bomba film, here are seven releases this month to keep your eye out for.
1. 'The Naked Gun' (Aug 1)
When you think of Liam Neeson, comedy probably isn't the first thing that comes to mind. But now he's starring in this legacy sequel to the original comedy franchise that began in 1988.
The fourth instalment of 'The Naked Gun' sees Neeson as Lt Frank Drebin Jr – alongside Pamela Anderson as Beth Davenport – as he investigates the suspicious death of Beth's brother… only to stumble into a goofy tech conspiracy led by a villainous tech mogul.
Maybe a dose of slapstick humour is just what we all need to kick off the month!
2. 'House Mates' (Aug 1)
Here's a Tamil horror-comedy produced by actor Sivakarthikeyan's production house. Directed by newcomer T Raja Vel, 'House Mates' stars Darshan and Kaali Venkat, among others.
The plot follows a couple as they move into an old apartment – Darshan plays the newlywed husband – only to face supernatural disturbances: troubles that soon spill over to their neighbours.
Both families are soon forced to team up to uncover the ghostly mystery.
3. 'Weapons' (Aug 7)
Why did nearly 20 kids, all from the same classroom, suddenly wake up one night, leave their homes, and vanish into the darkness? That's the unsettling premise of this R-rated horror-thriller from 'Barbarian' director Zach Cregger.
The town's suspicion naturally falls on the children's teacher, played by Julia Garner, as she faces accusations from Archer (Josh Brolin), one of the grieving fathers.
'Weapons' is already generating buzz with its creepy trailer that shows children running with arms outstretched in a trance-like state – and it only gets freakier from there.
4. 'Freakier Friday' (Aug 7)
Speaking of freaky: Lindsay Lohan may not have the star power she once had, but she's back revisiting her iconic role in Disney's 'Freaky Friday' sequel.
In the 2003 hit, Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis played a daughter and mum who swapped bodies after a magical mishap.
This time, both characters are now mothers themselves. But when a fortune-teller's curse strikes again, it triggers a four-way body swap with their teenage daughters – leaving the mums scrambling to clear up the mess while the girls scheme to derail a wedding.
5. 'Coolie' (Aug 14)
The biggest release of the month has to be this star-studded Tamil film directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, known for 'Vikram' and 'Leo'.
Superstar Rajinikanth leads the cast as Deva, joined by Nagarjuna Akkineni as the main antagonist; plus Aamir Khan, Shruti Haasan, Upendra, Sathyaraj, and Soubin Shahir.
Details remain under wraps, with fan theories ranging from watch smuggling to time travel, sparked by the title teaser showing piles of gold watches.
While the director insists 'Coolie' is a standalone film outside his Lokesh Cinematic Universe, speculation continues. We'll just have to wait and see – but thankfully, not for long!
6. 'War 2' (Aug 14)
August is a busy month for Indian cinema, with another major release hitting theatres: 'War 2', the sequel to the 2019 blockbuster – one of Hindi cinema's highest-grossing films.
Produced by Yash Raj Films and now directed by Ayan Mukerji, the movie continues the YRF Spy Universe. Hrithik Roshan returns – presumably as rogue agent Kabir – joined by Telugu actor N T Rama Rao, Jr and Kiara Advani.
Set once again against a backdrop of globe-trotting espionage and spectacular action, 'War 2' promises even bigger stakes this time around.
7. 'Legasi: Bomba The Movie' (Aug 21)
The month of Malaysia's independence also brings a dose of national pride to local cinemas.
Produced by Astro and Shaw, this Malay action-drama is based on the popular 'Legasi' TV series about young firefighters. Directed by James Lee and Frank See, it stars local talents like Ben Amir, Nas-T, Henley Hii, and more.
The story follows Amir, a young firefighter who must confront past trauma and prove himself when a massive blaze engulfs the capital's tallest skyscraper, threatening countless lives.
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