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Joshua
Documentary filmmaker George Ratliff co-writes and directs this eerie psychological thriller about a disturbed 10-year-old and the family he tears apart.

I must say, these kinds of movies often make me cringe – there is nothing more obnoxious than a hyper-intelligent child with malicious intentions.  It’s been done.  It’s never believable.  But despite these preconceptions, this film could actually be intriguing.  First of all, it stars Sam Rockwell, one of the most charismatic, natural actors to grace the screen.  Secondly, the trailer doesn’t allude to some level of wickedness in which the child is wielding a knife or swearing – a decision that could keep the film within the realm of plausibility.

Prediction: Where Joshua succeeds in performance and story will be overshadowed by the overused cliché that a child raised in a normal, loving home will turn on his family and become someone to fear.

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Fido
Canadian Andrew Currie co-writes and directs this indie flick about 1950s middle-class suburbia in a world where zombies are kept as slaves.

Now, this movie has potential!  Apparently riding the heels of Shawn of the Dead, Fido seems to continue with the idea that zombies and comedy equal big laughs.  Of course, nothing can be truly said before the film is in wide release and audiences and critics weigh in, but the trailer looks like a microcosm of the 91-minute feature, showing the outrageous concept without blowing its wad with all the funny moments. 

Prediction: Fido will be a charming, witty, cult-comedy gem.  This preview just shot it to the top of my to-see list.  Look for it this summer – hopefully, in a theater near you.

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