Pontypool
Nowadays, it's hard for anyone to come up with a new twist on the zombie genre. But first-time screenwriter Tony Burgess and director Bruce McDonald (Degrassi: The Next Generation) have found one. The zombie virus in this small independent film is spread by the English language, and starts off as a fixation on words before degenerating into cannibalism and murder, which is bad news for the radio station employees trapped in the center of the small Canadian town of Pontypool. Stephen McHattie (Watchmen) stars as a fallen shock-jock stuck reading school closings, and is one of only a handful of actors in the film, which is fine by me, because I could watch that man read the obituaries. Which he does, and how. It starts Friday in limited theatres, but you can watch it tomorrow on IFC on-demand.

Killshot
I haven't seen this movie, and I'm wondering if I should even bother, since it's sat on a shelf since 2005, and has been edited down to 84 minutes, for some reason. Seems like a shame, since it's based on an Elmore Leonard novel and directed by John Madden (Shakespeare in Love). Still, look at that cast! Mickey Rourke, Joseph Gordon Levitt, Diane Lane, Thomas Jane and Rosario Dawson? I might have to take the risk.

Powder Blue
Speaking of great casts, how about this one: Forest Whitaker, Kris Kristofferson, Patrick Swayze, Ray Liotta, Sanaa Lathan, Lisa Kudrow and Jessica Biel. Impressive, right? Well, as impressive as it may be, I'm not sure how much I want to watch an interwoven narrative about Los Angelenos brought together by fate. Frankly, I'm kinda tired of those. What? Jessica Biel plays a stripper? Sold American.

Land of the Lost: The Complete Series
Want to make sure you know everything you need to know about Land of the Lost before the movie opens next week? You're gonna need a whole lot of psychotropic drugs. Or, you could just watch the complete TV series. Same result, really.

Law & Order: SVU -- The Ninth Year
I can't believe this show has been on for nine years. Actually, since I occasionally catch an early episode on TV, and Benson and Stabler look like they're 19, I can believe it. Still, who wants to own this much pedophilia and sex-related crime in one DVD collection? Wouldn't you rather buy Designing Women: The Complete First Season? It probably doesn't have anywhere near as many sex crimes. Hell, even The Closer: The Complete Fourth Season probably only has one or two incidents of necrophilia, and even those are delightfully quirky.

New in Town
Renee Zellweger, as you've never seen her before! ...I mean, as you've always seen her before!

Forever Strong
C'mon, you know you've been looking for a movie about rugby starring Gary Cole and Sean Astin. Stop denying it.

Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus
Hey, guess what didn't come out last week like it was supposed to? I'll give you a hint: it features a giant octopus.