Submitted by: kirkland on Saturday October 30th, 2004 at 04:31 PM EST

Halloween is Sunday, and Hollywood is ready for another weekend of fright.

But while Lions Gate Films' "Saw" and the second week of Sony Pictures' reigning champ "The Grudge" should attract their share of fans, the likely winner for the frame is anything but horror fare. Instead, Universal Pictures' biopic about the late Ray Charles is on track to take the top spot.

"Ray," which Universal acquired in March from Denver billionaire Philip Anschutz's Bristol Bay Prods., features a remarkable performance from Jamie Foxx, who spent 14-hour days with his eyes sealed shut to make his performance more realistic. The Oscar buzz is deafening.

Halloween should help the scary "Saw" from director/co-writer James Wan. The R-rated gorefest sees Leigh Whannell, the film's other co-writer, and a doctor (Cary Elwes) waking to find themselves chained up in a bathroom with only hacksaws to get them out -- assuming that one is willing to hack off a limb. Primarily drawing in young males, the film's restrictive rating will prevent it from reaching the numbers seen by "The Grudge," which astounded watchers with its $39 million opening last weekend. "Saw" is likely to land in the $8 million-$10 million range.

New Line Cinema bows the controversial "Birth" from director Jonathan Glazer ("Sexy Beast") in 550 theaters. Starring Nicole Kidman as a woman who's led to believe that her husband has been reincarnated as a 10-year-old boy (Cameron Bright), "Birth" has received mixed reviews, and it's questionable how well it will perform during the frame. Kidman's performance has been primarily well-regarded, but her bathtub scene with Bright has become quite controversial.

» Read full story @ Reuters