January is the cruelest month for movies based on books—or movies in general, for that matter. The weakest releases typically happen in the early months of the year, far away from the summer and holiday blockbuster seasons. But there are always exceptions to the rule, and there are bound to be a couple of gems tossed in with the dross. Read on to see which of the following films might kick the January curse!
Coming This January
Three Christs
Based on the true story of three patients in a Michigan mental institution, each of whom thought he was Jesus Christ. Pioneering psychologist Dr. Alan Stone decided that instead of drugging or isolating them, he would put the three men together in the same room to directly confront their delusions. If that sounds like a good time to you, go check out this film!
The Informer
Special Ops soldier Peter Koslow is jailed after getting into a fight while trying to protect his wife. In exchange for an early release from prison, he becomes an informant for the FBI and must take down The General, a powerful New York crime boss. He ultimately runs afoul of the mob, the Feds, and the NYPD. He also runs afoul of me because I hate generic action flicks.
Dolittle
Another iteration of Hugh Lofting’s children’s book about a doctor who shuns human patients in favor of animals. He is so in tune with animals, he can even talk with them! But the fact that this movie hasn’t been screened for critics and is being released in January even though it stars RDJ leads one to fear that it might be a real stinkeroo. Let’s hope that the title doesn’t predict what this movie will “do” at the box office.
Color Out of Space
Based on H.P. Lovecraft’s favorite short story. It was also the first of his major tales to combine science fiction and horror. In the story, a meteorite crashes into the front yard of a farmhouse, gradually infecting the family that lives there and transforming their quiet lives into a technicolor nightmare. Early reviews are praising the film as a wacky psychedelic horror flick with a fun B movie vibe. Sounds like a refreshing way to blast into 2020!
The Turning
Based on Henry James’ horror novella The Turn of the Screw, in which a young governess is hired to care for two disturbed orphans on a remote estate in Maine. Nanny Kate soon learns of the tragic fate of the previous governess, who had an affair with another employee that ended in both of their deaths. Do the ghostly figures she starts seeing want to harm the children? Can Nanny Kate protect them? Or is she just a nut?
Gretel and Hansel
Based on the classic fairy tale chronicled by the Brothers Grimm. I can’t find out a thing about this movie, but apparently, they felt the need to switcheroo the title? I’m assuming it’s in an attempt to be “woke” and give Gretel (who is the hero of the piece) top billing at last. Well, okay, I guess. But it has a better ring the other way around.
We hope you’ll read at least one of these books and then go see the film. Happy New Year, happy reading, happy January!