The Definitive Guide to Living in the Capital , Cairo , Egypt

This Wednesday, cinemas across Cairo are set to welcome in the week’s new films, which this week offer a little bit of something for – well, not everyone, but at least for fans of jumpy horrors, mindless action and fantasy films. Here’s what to expect.

XXX: The Return of Xander Cage

What’s it About? This one’s a little weird, but we’re sure there’s an explanation. After saving the world from terrorists in 2002’s xXx, Ice Cube stepped into Vin Diesel’s shoes in xXx: State of the Union, with the sequel explaining that Diesel’s Xander Cage had died. The third entry into the series sees Cage return after faking his death (obviously) to help the CIA retrieve a powerful weapon known as Pandora’s Box from the bad guy of the piece, Xiang.

Why it Might be Good: This is a tough one. Though they might have made money, the first two films were universally panned, but on the bright side of things, few actors carry this kind of fast-paced, explosion-heavy action film like Diesel, who you can’t help but like. Samuel L. Jackson is back, too.

Why it Might be Bad: Well, because the first two were.  xXx is no Bourne, so don’t expect any complex thriller elements – just forgettable, in-your-face action clichés.

A Monster Calls

What’s it About? Based on the novel of the same name, this could be one of the surprise hits of this still very early year. A Monster Calls plays out like an anthology of sorts, telling of a young boy whose mother is terminally ill. One night, a tree-like monster visits him and tells him that he will return each night to tell him three stories – which he goes on to do.

Why it Might Be Good: Described as a dark fantasy movies, A Monster Calls promises to visually impress, while the cast is another big selling point – Sigourney Weaver, Felicity Jones, Liam Neeson and the very underrated Toby Kebbell star. It’s a film that has come out of left field and who doesn’t love a good coming-of-age story?

Why it Might Be Bad: Coming-of-age stories can often be over-elaborate and complicated in trying to be, for lack of a better word, deep. There are lessons to be learned and epiphanies to be found in the film, but it could all very easily crumple into a preachy and pretentious piece.

Within

What’s it About? Like so many horror-thriller films in the last decade, the set-up is all very simple. A family of three move into a a new, picture-perfect home, only to find that they’re not alone. That’s it.

Why it Might be Good: Hmmm. Another tough one. Well, for horror fans, this has the potential to tick all the boxes – they’re not the best or most innovative boxes, but boxes nonetheless. This is one for filmgoers looking for a quick fright and thrill.

Why it Might Be Bad: Because we’ve heard it all before! Haunted house thrillers are a dime a dozen these days and this one doesn’t seem to necessarily be offering anything different. Apart from the mildly successful Michael Vartan – who many might now from TV show Alias and the cringingly awful Monster-in-Law – there are no big names attached.

The Bye Bye Man

What’s it About? Another seemingly innocuous horror, The Bye Bye Man is based on horror novel, The President’s Vampire – or to be more precise one particular chapter. The story follows the legend of the Bye Bye Man, who three friends discover is the figure behind a string of ‘unspeakable acts’.

Why it Might Be Good: One of the more interesting things the ever-so saturated horror genre can do is introducing new baddies. How the Bye Bye Man is conceived and written is the key to the success of the whole film.

Why it Might Be Bad: The whole friends go up against a dark, evil figure after their own curiosity leads them to him is one of the oldest trick in the horror book. As mentioned, if the Bye Bye Man as a character is a dud, then the whole film will be.

Stay tuned for all the info you need for this week’s new films with the Cairo 360 Cinema Guide – showing times, cinema locations, reviews and more.