Katie Wright Movies

An unexpected visit from one of his siblings forces a man to examine his own life, as well as his sister's wild streak, in this independent comedy drama. Sam (Lawrence Michael Levine) is almost 30 years old and living in New York City as he helps his parents get through their divorce. Sam is an artist whose career seems poised to rise or fall at any moment, and he struggles to stay focused on his work while he juggles the attentions of several women. One day, his younger sister, Gabi (Sophia Takal), arrives unannounced and declares she's going to be living with him for the next several months; Gabi is a 20-year-old college student who fancies herself a performance artist but seems to have a shaky grasp of creative discipline. Gabi's performance pieces include playing Twister in the nude and having a man smear whipped cream on her while she's in the nude; Sam is not at all comfortable with Gabi's lack of enthusiasm for clothes or gainful employment, and he's increasingly frustrated with her lack of responsibility. However, Sam sees a reflection of himself in Gabi as he wrestles with his inability to commit to a relationship. Directed by Lawrence Michael Levine and Sophia Takal (who also play Sam and Gabi), Gabi on the Roof in July received its world premiere at the 2010 Cinequest Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Teenage burnouts and post-modern slasher films are both raked over the satiric coals in the blood-soaked comedy Idle Hands. Anton (Devon Sawa) is a cheerful but exceedingly non-ambitious 17-year-old stoner who lives to stay buzzed, watch TV, and moon over Molly (Jessica Alba), the beautiful girl who lives next door. However, it turns out that the old cliché about idle hands being the devil's playground has a kernel of truth after all; there's a demonic beast living in his house that has already decapitated Anton's mom and dad (though it takes him a while to notice), and now the Dark Lord Himself has taken possession of Anton's right hand. Before he's entirely aware of what's happening, Anton's demon hand has killed his two best friends, Mick (Seth Green) and Pnub (Elden Henson), though both come back as zombies to keep Anton company. Can Randy (Jack Noseworthy), local metalhead and expert on all things Satanic, figure out what the Evil One has planned next for Anton's digits? Will traveling demon slayer Debi (Vivica A. Fox) vanquish the possessed in time? And most important, will Anton get to go to the big dance with Molly before his hand starts causing trouble again? Director Rodman Flender certainly knows the genres he parodies here; he cut his teeth in horror working for exploitation legend Roger Corman and directed the film Bloody Mutilators as well as episodes of the TV series Tales From The Crypt, while more recently he immersed himself in teenage culture directing episodes of the TV series Party of Five and Dawson's Creek. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

An angry and unstable youth lashes out against the school he believes has destroyed his future in this made-for-TV drama inspired by a true story. Jason Copeland (Rick Schroder) is a teenager teetering on the edge of emotional collapse; he was kicked out of high school for poor grades, he hasn't been able to find a job, and living at home with his bitter and demanding mother has become intolerable. One day, Jason snaps and decides to take revenge against the teachers who he believes ruined his life. He grabs a couple of guns and a stockpile of ammunition and invades his old high school, killing several teachers and students and then taking 62 kids hostage. Among the students being held at gun point are Aaron (Freddie Prinze Jr.), a bright but rebellious student who is having his own problems at school, and Samantha (Katie Wright), whose father is a deputy with the local police department. As Skip Fine (Henry Winkler), generally regarded as less than the brightest penny in the local police force but the only one with training in hostage negotiation, tries to talk Jason out of taking any more lives, Aaron and Samantha try to convince Jason from the inside that letting the students go and giving himself up would be the best thing to do. Hostage High was originally screened on American television under the title Detention: The Siege at Johnson High. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

In this drama, two young women, desperate to be fashion-model thin, make an inadvertently deadly pact to lose weight. When one of the girls takes their promise too far, her mother must fight to save her. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

Old feelings of hurt and betrayal resurface and renew a bitter rift between two long-time girlfriends when one learns that the other seduced her 18-year-old son. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

In this Australian romance, a teenage girl falls in love over the phone and finds the courage to pursue her dreams. The film is set in Albury an area fraught with teenagers from wealthy families. Shy young Lex has a crush on Dai, who is taken. He cannot talk to her in person and so one night gives her a call. He calls again. And again. Each time their calls get longer and more romantic. Lex is very supportive and helps her after she considers suicide. It is Lex that encourages her to defy her domineering father and enroll in a design course. The two do not actually meet until the final scene. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi