Sony Pictures has just launched Stage 6 Films, "a label that will acquire and produce films for theatrical and straight-to-DVD release." The Variety announcement reports that Stage 6 will focus mostly on the DVD market, and on films budgeted at $1 to $10 million dollars. They've got a lot of movies on the horizon, with some pretty big stars involved. Conspiracy is an action flick starring Val "Iceman" Kilmer, Gary "Lumbergh" Cole, and Jennifer "Hot" Esposito. Thomas Jane is acting in and directing Dark Country (hope it's not a punisher!). The Stone House is a horror film starring Shane West and JK "Schillinger" Simmons. The Lodger stars Alfred Molina, whom I always picture in his underwear singing "Sister Christian." And Felon brings us even more Kilmer thrills, with Stephen Dorff and Harold Perrineau in tow.

And you know when you're talking direct-to-DVD, you're talking about some really random sequels. Stage 6 has announced a prequel (a prequel?) to this year's pretty cool horror flick Vacancy. There will also be a second Starship Troopers sequel -- Starship Troopers: Marauder, with Casper "Van Dien" Van Dien, Boris Kodjoe, and Jolene Blalock. Wesley Snipes will star in a sequel to the absolutely terrible action movie The Art of War, which I will refer to as The Art of War 2: Seriously? And Center Stage 2 will capitalize on the public's love of melodramatic teen dance dramas. I must confess a special place in my heart for the original Stage, because it led to a memorable high school back seat rendezvous. Put that quote on your poster, Sony! "Stage 6 will also continue to leverage our vast library of studio films, as we have done with Daddy Day Camp and the I Know What You Did Last Summer franchise," threatens a Stage 6 executive.

Now this one's going to be a tricky flick to review, and here's why: If I go into a lot of details about the plot or rattle off a list of movies that The Passage borrows (and semi-steals) from, then I'm spoiling the whole package for anyone who wants to see the film. And even though I didn't exactly adore the flick, I certainly wouldn't think of ruining the thing for anyone. Suffice to say that any horror fan worth his salt will figure out where The Passage is headed after only about 25 minutes -- and then it goes precisely there. The scenery is handsome and the screenplay's not half-bad, but there's always something to be said for a little originality, and unfortunately that's one thing that The Passage lacks. Big time.

Stephen Dorff and Neil Jackson play a pair of thinly-drawn buddies who are spending some time in Morocco for a vague-yet-upsetting reason. (I'm not spoiling anything by saying that they're getting over a sad tragedy together.) But when Luke (Dorff) meets up with the stunningly beautiful Zahara (Sarai Givaty), his mopiness subsides for just a few minutes. So imagine our hero's excitement after Zahara invites him on an overnight trip to a far-away hotel. (Getting the clues yet?) Meanwhile, Adam (Jackson) stays behind and plans to meet up with the couple the next morning.

Needless to say, things don't even remotely go according to plan.

Stephen Dorff confuses me. He's done some work that I love, whether we're talking years ago with The Power of One, taking on Candy Darling for I Shot Andy Warhol or Waters movie mayhem like Cecil B. Demented. However, he's also a part of better-off-forgotten flicks like Deuces Wild and FeardotCom. He's one of those actors who is never completely written off, yet no one is expecting greatness either. What will become of his latest film? Well, that remains to be seen -- although most of his success is usually in idiosyncratic roles.

The actor's upcoming The Passage was penned by Neil Jackson, who played Marcus Van Sciver in the Blade television series. The thriller is about an American man who falls in love with a Moroccan woman, and finds out that his forbidden romance could prove deadly. Dorff stars along with Jackson, Israeli actress and model Sarai Givati (who recently made a guest appearance on CSI) and Khalid Benchagra, a Moroccan television star. A low-budget film (less than $5 million) financed by Silverwood Films, Passage is the cinematic directorial debut for British theater director Mark Heller. If you're hungry for more Dorff before this film hits the screen, you might be able to see him in prime-time this fall. He's got a television pilot on the pike from The Queen director, Stephen Frears. Called Skip Tracer, the CBS pilot is about a charming man who finds missing people for clients in Los Angeles.