Lionsgate is releasing the straight-to-VOD movie, “Rogue.” The big sell for this film is that it is led by Megan Fox. In it, the 34-year-old actress plays a soldier who leads her special ops team in Africa with the goal of rescuing war prisoners. However, their mission takes a turn for the worst when they find out that they are being hunted by, no joke, deadly lionesses.
This is B-horror-thriller territory, but, more importantly, it’s the first Megan Fox-led movie since … 2009’s uber-underrated “Jennifer’s Body.” Fox, an Aughts “sex symbol,” has had her career hampered down by, what I believe to be, blacklisting courtesy of studio execs. Why? Well, a 2009 interview with Jimmy Kimmel didn’t help. In the now resurfaced interview, Fox cited the problematic treatment she encountered while auditioning for “Bad Boys II” and called out the rampant sexism running rampant in Tinsel Town.
Ever since then, she’s had cameo appearances in “This is 40,” and The Dictator,” and also ended up starring as Alice in the 2014 “Teenage Mutant Nina Turtles” adaptation,” ditto its 2016 sequel “Out of Shadows.” Other than that, zilch, nada, zippo.
With all that being said, please, do yourself a favour and rent “Jennifer’s Body” — it’s a hoot and a total modern-era feminist classic. It was shunned upon release, the critics hated it, but its reputation has gained considerable traction during the #MeToo era.
“Rogue” is directed by M.J. Bassett. Alongside Fox, “Rogue” has a cast that includes Jessica Sutton, Calli Taylor, Brandon Auret, Adam Deacon, and Sisanda Henna. The film will be released by Lionsgate on VOD on August 28.
Alongside Blanchett, the film features a wildly eclectic ensemble including Dave Bautista, Lily-Rose Depp, Riley Keough, Léa Seydoux, Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Chris Pine