For the most part, I really like the people over at Lionsgate, and when they have a film they really like, they are completely unafraid to show it to critics.
But they do have a few habits I am less fond of. For example, if they buy a movie for distribution, they will pull it from festivals so that no one can see it. I'm frustrated with them right now over the film “Maggie,” which was announced as part of the line-up for the 2014 edition of the Toronto International Film Festival.
I'm trying to remember if there's ever been another Arnold Schwarzenegger film that's played a festival. I don't think so. This was a lovely surprise when it was announced. I don't know director Henry Hobson at all, and the same is true of John Scott, the film's writer. I like the premise, though. A man whose daughter has been bitten and is turning into a zombie decides that he's going to protect her, no matter what. When you cast Arnold Schwarzenegger in that role and you have him play it looking like he actually does now, embracing the age, that's a big choice. That's potentially very cool.
Today, we've got our first trailer, and right away, I like whatever Hobson's doing. I don't think i've seen this movie before, and I've seen a lot of zombie movies. I've seen more zombie movies than I ever thought I would way back when I first saw “Dawn Of The Dead.” I've read zombie fiction. I've watched zombie TV shows. I've played zombie games. Hell, I just downloaded “Dying Light” for my XBox earlier tonight. And despite my familiarity with the genre, I don't think I've seen someone tell the story that it looks like “Maggie” tells.
We'll find out soon enough. The film plays at Tribeca, and then it's in theaters and on demand on May 8th.