“Long Weekend” stars Jim Caviezel (The Prisoner mini-series, “Outlander”, “The Passion of the Christ”) in a thrilling remake of the original 1978 Aussie picture that was a cult classic. This new version, directed by Jamie Blanks (“Urban Legend”, “Valentine”) endeavours to match it whilst updating the concept to fit in with current concern over the environment. Peter and Carla (Claudia Karvan) are an emotionally distant couple embarking on a long weekend in a remote, picturesque spot on Australia’s North Coast along with some friends.

The friends who were supposed to be joining them never arrive and Peter, Carla and their dog “Cricket” (aka Star the Border Collie) get lost and isolated in the wilderness. Rather than respecting the flora and fauna, the embittered pair instead opt to trash it, taking pot shots at the wildlife.  As their relationship continues to disintegrate, strange and terrifying things start to happen to them, as though some unseen dark spirit is willing nature to turn against them.

“Sin Nombre” (which means “without [a] name”) is a bit different from the films I normally choose to review on behalf of Cineology. It is an accessible, foreign art-house gangster film with a real heart. Édgar Flores stars as Willy, but he is better known by his gang title of El Casper. He is mixed up with a tough and very territorial Mexican gang called La Mara, most of the time doing their petty criminal work such as collecting “taxes” from local businesses (read: protection money).

However, occasionally he is also roped into more serious crimes like robbing already down-and-out waifs and strays, and killing rival gang members. La Mara is headed by Lil’ Mago (Tenoch Huerta), an utterly ruthless and sadistic killer who is covered from head to toe with gang tattoos. Second in command is El Sol (Louis Fernando Peña); each member of the gang from him down has fewer tattoos as if to signify their lower ranking in the organisation.