Unhinged, the upcoming thriller headlined by Russell Crowe, will open July 1, as the first major movie release when theaters reopen. The coronavirus has altered the way daily life is experienced on a global scale, and Hollywood certainly hasn’t been exempted. Major releases continue to be shuffled around, with long-running sagas such as the Marvel Cinematic Universe staring down uncertainty as a result of ongoing delays. The movie business has been at least temporarily altered in other ways, with big titles like Artemis Fowl being made available to Disney+ due to theater closures. The Oscars have also announced new rules, many of which were put in place as a result of the pandemic.
Originally planned to premiere in September of this year, Unhinged is hoping to be the first major release to signal a sense of normalcy for moviegoers. The film is described as a timely thriller, seeking to explore the "balance of a society pushed to the edge." Centering around road rage and leading to a "terrifying conclusion," Unhinged stars Caren Pistorius as Rachel, who is running late when she has an encounter at a traffic light with a stranger (Crowe), who feels "powerless and invisible." Rachel soon "finds herself and everyone she loves the target of a man" who decides to teach her "a series of deadly lessons." Directed by Derrick Borte, and written by Carl Ellsworth, Unhinged promises to escalate into "a dangerous game of cat and mouse" between Rachel and the stranger. The film also stars Jimmi Simpson and Gabriel Bateman.
Solstice Studios is now announcing that America’s movie theaters will show Unhinged as their first new film on July 1st. Solstice, which produced the film, notes that the move comes in response to a new poll that shows 80% of Americans want to go to the movies in July. The release of the thriller in the U.S. is slated to follow or coincide with multiplexes reopening in nations across the globe, including Australia, China, The Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Hong Kong, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Taiwan. The poster and trailer for Unhinged can be viewed below.
The plans to reopen theaters across the U.S. will "comply with all state public health department guidelines." Measures will include socially distant seating, capacities limited to 25-50%, and staggered showtimes to reduce crowding and allow for increased cleaning. Mark Gill, President and CEO of Solstice Studios, noted in a statement that the decision was reached to release Unhinged on July 1 after extensive consultation with the National Association of Theater Owners. “Those conversations have convinced us there is a way to meet pent up demand for the theatrical experience safely,” Gill said.
The decision makes sense. Unhinged, despite boasting a recognizable premise and an Academy Award-winning lead in Crowe, is not a huge blockbuster on the level of other features that have been postponed by COVID-19. With a lack of competition, as well as the stated eagerness for a return to multiplexes, Unhinged will look to make the best of an unusual situation. At the same, it will be an early test of whether audiences are ready to embrace familiar routines.
Source: Solstice Studios