"We're not critics. We're professional fan-girls." --- This blog is dedicated to movies and the entertainment industry. We use random selection to bring into light the best and worst of streaming films and entertainment news.
Streaming Service: Hulu Movie Name/Year: Not Okay (2022) Genre: Comedy, Drama Length: 1h 40min Rating: R Production/Distribution: Makeready, Searchlight
Pictures, Disney+, Hulu Director: Quinn Shephard Writer: Quinn Shephard Actors: Zoey Deutch, Mia Isaac, Dylan O’Brien, Nadia Alexander, Tia
Dionne Hodge, Negin Farsad, Embeth Davidtz, Brennan Brown, Karan Soni, Dash
Perry Blurb from IMDb: An ambitious young woman
finds followers and fame when she poses as the survivor of a deadly attack, but
she soon learns that online notoriety comes with a terrible price.
Selina’s Point of View: I had my
reservations about Not Okay from the moment I saw the trailer. The main
character was painted as a rich white girl that wanted pity for her privilege.
I was immediately turned off to her. Turns out, she
was not misrepresented. At the very
beginning of the film, she talks about how she regrets not being there for
9/11. From there on out, she was unredeemable to me. In fact, my immediate
thought was that she sounded like Lena Dunham. I was a little amused that the
movie then picked up on that and told her that was not someone to aspire to. I respected that.
Going into it, I believed
I knew exactly where Not Okay was heading and how it would end. After all,
movies tend to end in a way where the awful characters that pull stunts like
the one in this film learn their lesson but get rewarded anyway. I hate that
because it doesn’t seem to deter the offending action. I was very
surprised when that was not what happened. The ending of Not
Okay made sense. It made a lot more sense than the endings of these films
ever seem to. It was done so correctly, that it elevated the rest of the film. I wish I could
say that it made me happy I watched, but it just felt like a couple of good
moments in a sea of cringe. There was exactly
1 likeable character in the entire flick. Everyone else was so utterly annoying
and up their own ass, that was impossible to care. The fact that the ending was
good, doesn’t excuse the fact that I sat through an hour and a half of nonsense
first.
Some people may be able to watch everything in context, but it just didn’t work
for me.
Production/Distribution:
Studio Colorido Co., Twin Engine, Netflix Director: Hiroyasu
Ishida Writers: Hiroyasu
Ishida, Hayashi Mori Actors: Asami
Seto, Ayumu Murase, Bin Shimada, Daiki Yamashita, Inori Minase, Kana Hanazawa,
Mutsumi Tamura, Nana Mizuki, Yumiko Kobayashi Genre: Adventure,
Drama, Animation Rated: PG Length: 1h 59minutes IMDb Blurb: Follows two childhood friends who drift into
a mysterious sea with an entire housing complex. I’m pretty excited about the slate of movies releasing during
the month of September. There are so many interesting films coming out that I
had a really hard time whittling down to what would appear in my list this time
– and what order the titles would appear in. Some productions that got big reactions
from me during our trailer stream earlier in August didn’t even make the cut…by
the narrowest of margins. Jumping right in, I wanted to start with this Netflix anime
offering. There was one other anime-style movie set with a September release as
well. Though, it will be getting a limited theater release before hitting
digital and Blu-ray. I opted to list Drifting
Home, as it will have more of a wide availability immediately. The selection for Drifting
Home also came down to my interest in the stories themselves. This seems
like a concept I haven’t quite seen before; whereas the other film felt like a
slight trek into a horror-genre version of another existing movie. I wanted to
lean into the new experience this time, rather than re-treading familiar
territory. Drifting Home
created all sorts of burning questions for me that compel me to watch. How did
the world – or at least the region the movie is set within - get flooded this
way? I am hoping there’s some explanation of how buildings can turn into boats,
but I’m down for suspending a little disbelief there if the rest of the story
is on point. While co-writer and director Hiroyasu Ishida (Rain Town, Sonny Boy & Dewdrop Girl,
Penguin Highway) is relatively new to directing full-length features, his
debut movie released in 2019 is sitting at an impressive 100% critics
score and 76% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. That gives me hope. Of course, along with the intriguing story teased in the
trailer for Drifting Home and the beautiful animation, there’s a phenomenal cast on board. I took a little dive
into the filmographies of the cast members and found that every one of them has
some extensive anime voice acting experience. For example, Daiki Yamashita (Sailor Moon Crystal, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu
no Yaiba, My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising) voices the lead role of Izuku
Midoriya in My Hero Academia (2016-).
Every cast member has participated in multiple well-known modern anime staples,
and some have voiced roles in a few of the OG titles. Netflix generally doesn’t disappoint when it comes to its
animation selections, so I’m excited to see what this one offers. 19 - Brahmastra Part
One: Shiva (9/9)
Production/Distribution:
Dharma Productions, Double Negative (DNEG), Fox STAR Studios, Prime Focus, Star
Studios, Starlight Pictures, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Amazon Prime
Video Director: Ayan
Mukherjee Writers: Hussain
Dalal, Ayan Mukherjee Actors: Alia
Bhatt, Amitabh Bachchan, Mouni Roy, Nagarjuna Akkineni, Ranbir Kapoor Genre: Action,
Adventure, Fantasy Rated: Unrated Length: 2 hours IMDb Blurb: This is the story of Shiva who sets out in
search of love and self-discovery. During his journey, he has to face many evil
forces that threaten our existence. Selina and I were fairly blown away by the trailer for Brahmastra
Part One: Shiva. We both love a good Bollywood story now and again – they just
tend to be prohibitively long to sit through more often than not. This
particular movie, however, is sitting pretty right at the 2-hour mark and feels
entirely feasible for our fleeting attention spans. Aside from not sporting an overly long runtime, Brahmastra Part One: Shiva looks
absolutely stunning from a cinematic perspective. The colors were vivid, the
story was fairly clear even though we didn’t have subtitles on the original
trailer we watched, and the effects were out of this world. One would sincerely hope that the alleged most expensive
Bollywood movie ever made – to the tune of roughly $2 billion (converted) –
would have all the bells and whistles that kind of budget allows, and all of it
executed to perfection. Let me tell you, I have a feeling that this movie is as
close to that outcome as one generally gets – if the trailer was an accurate
representation. This is also the first installment of what should be a
trilogy, so if Brahmastra Part One: Shiva
delivers, fans will have at least 2 more films to eagerly anticipate in the
future. Hopefully, the next 2 won’t suffer the same delays in production and
release that this first movie has. (It’s been in the works since its announcement
in 2014 – earning the moniker of longest-delayed Indian movie.) Brahmastra Part One:
Shiva continues to rack up a list of “firsts,” as it is also reported to be
the beginning of India’s first cinematic universe, dubbed the “Astraverse.” At this time, it is unclear when Brahmastra Part One: Shiva will become available for streaming
after its theater run; however, with Disney as its distributor, you can
probably expect it to eventually appear on Disney+.
18 - End of the Road (9/8)
Production/Distribution:
42, Edmonds Entertainment, Flavor Unit Entertainment, Serendipity Productions,
Twisted Pictures, Netflix Director: Millicent
Shelton Writers: Christopher
J. Moore, David Loughery Actors: Beau
Bridges, Queen Latifah, Chris Bridges (Ludacris), Aaron Valentine, Amie
MacKenzie, Efrain Villa, Frances Lee McCain, Jesse Luken, Keith Jardine, Micah
McNeil, Mychala Lee, Phuong Kubacki, Shaun Dixon, Tabatha Shaun, Travis Hammer Genre: Action,
Crime, Drama Rated: R Length: 1h 29minutes IMDb Blurb: In this high-octane action thriller, a
cross-country road trip becomes a highway to hell for Brenda and her family.
Alone in the New Mexico desert, they have to fight for their lives when they
become the targets of a mysterious killer. Netflix seems to be really going out of its way to drop a
mountain of content into September. End
of the Road is among the films that had a last-minute released trailer, so
we weren’t able to discuss this one on our stream. Immediately, End of
the Road caught my attention with its cast. Queen Latifah (Maya and the Three, The Equalizer, Hustle)
and Chris "Ludacris" Bridges (Show
Dogs, The Fate of the Furious, John Henry) are both as fun to watch in
their cinematic roles as they are while performing music. They have a great range
and generally add something special to the projects that they’re involved in.
When you add a film veteran such as Beau Bridges (The Mountain Between Us, Galveston, Homeland) into the mix as well,
there’s a framework for the potential of a really entertaining experience. I do feel I need to address the fact that ‘things going awry
during a road trip through the desert’ isn’t the most original concept. It’s
been done so many times before. End of
the Road, however, seems to at least add a new element or so to the
equation. We’ve got a family down on their luck, just trying to get a new start
in Houston – and they make some unfortunate decisions along the way out of
desperation. We’re in a period where it’s not quite the end of summer and not quite the beginning of fall. The pumpkin spice is beginning to flow and
all the spooky decorations are emerging in stores. There are a lot of horror
and thriller-type offerings coming out in advance of the scary season. For those
in the mood for some good old-fashioned summer action-thrillers, here’s a good
example of general entertainment value to scratch that itch. End of the Road is
also Millicent Shelton’s (Black-ish,
9-1-1, Titans) full-length feature directorial debut. She’s directed for
the small screen for some time now and contributed to some heavyweight
programs, at that; so I’m eager to see how she approaches this story. When it comes down to it, if you have a Netflix
subscription, it wouldn’t hurt to give End
of the Road a shot. If it isn’t a fit, there are plenty more new titles
being added in September. 17 - Gigi & Nate (9/2)
Production/Distribution:
Free Turn, Tempo Productions Limited, Roadside Attractions, Hulu Director: Nick
Hamm Writer: David
Hudgins Actors: Charlie
Rowe, Diane Ladd, Hannah Alligood, James Belushi, Josephine Langford, Marcia
Gay Harden, Mishel Prada, Tara Summers, Welker White, Zoe Margaret Colletti Genre: Drama,
Family Rated: PG-13 Length: 1h 54minutes IMDb Blurb: A young man's life is turned upside down
after he is left a quadriplegic. Moving forward seems near impossible until he
meets his unlikely service animal, Gigi - a curious and intelligent capuchin
monkey. Gigi and Nate is
one of those movies that you just know is going to be full of ALL THE FEELS.
The little capuchin monkey is absolutely adorable and the story just
intrinsically has a lot of heart. Have your box of tissues handy – this one might be more than
a pocket pack can handle. It’s a tragedy when someone makes one of those ‘young and
dumb’ mistakes that we all have as we grow up – and it results in an injury that
turns the world upside down for the rest of their life. Though, this seems to
be one of the more positive outcomes of that sort of situation. The trailer
seemed to indicate that the young paralyzed man, played by Charlie Rowe (Red Band Society, Salvation, Rocketman),
does speaking engagements to raise awareness for either people with
disabilities or cautionary tales for teens. Speaking of the cast, it will be great to see Jim Belushi (The Defenders, Twin Peaks, Wonder Wheel)
on the big screen in a family movie. I really enjoy Marcia Gay Harden (Code Black, Moxie, The Morning Show) in
mom-type roles. Josephine Langford (Wish
Upon, After, Moxie) has a busy month with both Gigi and Nate, and her other movie After Ever Happy (2022) releasing in September. Let’s be real though, the monkey is the center of attention
in this movie. I love a good animal companion story. They always put me on a
rollercoaster and stomp on my heart a few times before they give me a hug, but
I can’t resist. I’d own a small zoo if I had the resources to do so, so I’m all
in on movies like this (provided that the animals involved are treated
correctly – and there’s no evidence otherwise here). I feel it’s also a bonus that this particular narrative is
based on a true story. I have a feeling I’m going to be doing some more
googling on this in the near future to find out more. I digress… When you can
connect a cinematic experience to real events and people, that tends to make it
more powerful. Gigi and Nate is
releasing directly to theaters. On-Demand information was not readily available
at the time of this article; however, this movie will be available on Hulu when
it is eligible for streaming due to a recent deal between the provider and
Roadside Attractions. 16 - Blonde (9/28)
Production/Distribution:
Plan B Entertainment, Netflix Director: Andrew
Dominik Writers: Andrew
Dominik, Joyce Carol Oates Actors: Adrien
Brody, Ana de Armas, Bobby Cannavale, Caspar Phillipson, Garret Dillahunt,
Julianne Nicholson, Lucy DeVito, Rebecca Wisocky, Sara Paxton, Scoot McNairy,
Toby Huss, Xavier Samuel Genre: Biography,
Drama, Mystery Rated: NC-17 Length: 2h 46minutes IMDb Blurb: A fictionalized chronicle of the inner life
of Marilyn Monroe. Marilyn Monroe (Gentlemen
Prefer Blondes, Don’t Bother to Knock, Some Like It Hot) was one of the
most iconic figures of the golden age of cinema. She was the queen of the
silver screen and is still talked about to this day as an indelible feature of
pop culture. There was such intrigue about her untimely death, as well. At
least 14 movies have been made about her life between the 1960s and present-day
– this production included. Blonde will be the
2nd adaptation of the titular book by Joyce Carol Oates (Small Avalanches, The Gathering Squall,
Foxfire: Confessions of a Girl Gang). Before viewing Blonde, we should take into account that this is a fictional work.
Oates has made a point to specifically point that out so that the tale would
not be taken as an actual biography. While actual events from Monroe’s life are
depicted in the movie, we should take the overall story with a grain of salt. Blonde has been
quite the passion project for writer and director Andrew Dominik (The Assassination of Jesse James by the
Coward Robert Ford, Killing Them Softly, Mindhunter), as he’s been
developing the film since 2008. He’s also reportedly gone on record mentioning
that this film was the one he wanted most to make. I’m highly curious to see
what approach he took to this story and how it’s presented in the production,
as it’s said that there is very little dialogue in Blonde. Dominik has called it “an avalanche of images and events.” Even without a lot of dialogue, there is still a stellar
cast on board. That brings us to the first of the 2 big items that stand out
like the proverbial elephant in the room. Ana de Armas (The Night Clerk, Deep Water, No Time to Die) is taking on the role
of Marilyn here. The trailer does offer us a snippet of dialogue between
herself and Bobby Cannavale (Jolt, Nine
Perfect Strangers, Sing 2). While Armas has worked very hard to get
Monroe’s soft breathy voice right, there’s still an unmistakable trace of
Armas’ Cuban accent underneath. While that has been putting some screening
audiences off, I frankly don’t care and can only encourage moviegoers to
overlook that one tidbit of the performance because I think Armas is nailing
the essence of the character otherwise. Finally, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that this is,
indeed, an NC-17 movie. (It is, in fact, the first NC-17 of the decade and the
first to be released to a streaming service.) The director was surprised, as he
thought he’d delivered just a strong R rating, but this is where we’re at. Definitely
don’t bring the kids along for this one. Some of the reasoning for this rating may come from
potential abuse situations depicted on screen, as well. Monroe’s story wasn’t
always the glitz and glamour of the screen – and the trailer made it clear that
this story is digging into the darker and grittier side of it. Blonde is a bit on
the long side, however, since it is releasing on Netflix that makes it easy to
pause for an intermission if necessary. Everything else aside, from what I gathered from the
trailer, Blonde looks gorgeous as a
film and I can’t help but be fascinated by the Marilyn Monroe story. That makes
this a must-watch for me. 15 - A Jazzman's
Blues (9/23)
Production/Distribution:
Tyler Perry Studios, Netflix Director: Tyler
Perry Writer: Tyler
Perry Actors: Amirah
Vann, Bailey MB, Brad Benedict, Brent Antonello, E. Roger Mitchell, Lana Young,
Lauren Buglioli, Milauna Jemai, Ryan Eggold, Solea Pfeiffer Genre: Drama,
Romance Rated: R Length: 2h 7minutes IMDb Blurb: Follows an investigation into an unsolved
murder unveiling a story full of forbidden love, deceit and a secret. I wasn’t kidding when I said Netflix is cranking out volume
this month. This next entry on September’s list is also dropping on Netflix.
When we watched the trailers on stream, we were worried that a Tyler Perry
(Acrimony, Ruthless, Bruh) production didn’t have marketing or a trailer out yet.
Thankfully, it was just the usual delay associated with Netflix releases.
Sometimes the trailers hit just a handful of weeks out from the release date. While heavy drama generally isn’t my preferred genre of
choice at the moment, I was moved by the trailer for A Jazzman's Blues. I do enjoy a good story about star-crossed
lovers now and again. This particular one is set in the Deep South 1940s. There
was so much Spanish moss in the trailer that I almost felt my hair to make sure
some hadn’t fallen and gotten tangled in it. I enjoyed the concept of the main character, “Bayou,”
channeling his emotions into music. Jazz isn’t quite always my musical genre of
choice, either – but if it’s not too discordant, I can generally roll with it.
I’m interested in both how things turn out for the people and the music
involved. 14 - Raven's Hollow (9/22)
Production/Distribution:
828 Media Capital, Cinevilla Studio, Creativity Capital, Raven's Hollow,
Planeta Inform Film Distribution, Shudder Director: Christopher
Hatton Writers: Christopher
Hatton, Chuck Reeves Actors: Callum
McGowan, Callum Woodhouse, David Hayman, Kate Dickie, Kyle Rowe, Mathis
Landwehr, Melanie Zanetti, Michael Guest, Oberon K.A. Adjepong, William Moseley Genre: Thriller Rated: Unrated Length: 1h 38minutes IMDb Blurb: West Point cadet Edgar Allan Poe and four
other cadets on a training exercise in upstate New York are drawn by a gruesome
discovery into a forgotten community. Edgar Allan Poe is one of my favorite authors. His work is
quite literally classic. When the trailer revealed that this story would follow
the author of The Raven to a place called Raven’s
Hollow and supernatural shenanigans would ensue, I was sold instantly.
Whether or not this film has any basis in Poe’s background, I really don’t mind
either way. With October just right around the corner, I’m down for
starting to filter in more dark and spooky stories already. (I know, we’re
talking September still – but it’s never too early to plan for Halloween!) I’m not entirely familiar with the director for this
production, but I do recognize a few of the cast members – primarily, William
Moseley (Friend Request, The Royals,
Saving Paradise), who is playing none other than Poe, himself. He’s
certainly come a long way from the Chronicles
of Narnia (2005-2010) movies. Raven’s Hollow is
set to release directly to Shudder. 13 - Smile (9/30)
Production/Distribution:
Paramount Players, Temple Hill Entertainment, Paramount Pictures, Paramount
Pictures Germany, Paramount Pictures International, United International
Pictures (UIP), Universal Pictures International (UPI) Director: Parker
Finn Writer: Parker
Finn Actors: Caitlin
Stasey, Gillian Zinser, Jessie Usher, Judy Reyes, Kal Penn, Kevin Keppy, Kyle
Gallner, Rob Morgan, Scot Teller, Sosie Bacon Genre: Horror Rated: R Length: 1h 55minutes IMDb Blurb: After witnessing a bizarre, traumatic
incident involving a patient, Dr. Rose Cotter starts experiencing frightening
occurrences that she can't explain. Rose must confront her troubling past in
order to survive and escape her horrifying new reality. Smile has been
creeping me out since I saw the brief teaser trailer that was before Top Gun: Maverick (2022) in the theater.
It was certainly effective because I wanted to know more about the movie – and
what was up with the crazy smile-thing going on. Well, now I know a bit more and I’m no less unsettled by the
answers. I am, however, looking forward to watching this movie and seeing the
whole story unfold. While putting information together for this article, I
learned that not only is this the full-length feature debut for writer and
director Parker Finn (The Hidebehind,
Laura Hasn't Slept), but this film is actually an expanded adaptation of
his own original short. I think it’s cool when up-and-coming talent gets to
take their work to the next level. The original treatment of the story won
several film festival awards and was nominated for others. Caitlin Stasey (All
Cheerleaders Die, Reign, Kindred Spirits) is set to reprise her role from
the short, Laura, who is the patient seeking help from her therapist - as
shown in the trailer for Smile. It’s
sad that I already know the outcome for her character, but I will still enjoy
seeing her in this movie all the same. Sosie Bacon (Scream:
The TV Series, 13 Reasons Why, Traces) is playing the role of the
traumatized therapist who seemingly inherits the smile monster from Laura. She
seems to be a really great fit for the role, from what I can tell. There are a
few other recognizable actors among the cast as well, such as Kal Penn (The Girl in the Photographs, Designated
Survivor, Mira: Royal Detective), Jessie T. Usher (Survivor's Remorse, Shaft, The Boys), and Kyle Gallner (American Sniper, The Cleansing Hour, Ghosts
of War). The way the monster that no one else can see is passed from
one person to another and inexorably follows its prey called to mind putting It Follows (2014) and The Ring (2002) in a blender. I can’t
wait to see how this all plays out. Smile is releasing
directly to theaters initially. While On-Demand information was unclear at the
time of this article, look for this title on Paramount+ when it becomes
eligible for streaming. 12 - Vesper (9/30)
Production/Distribution:
Rumble Fish Productions, Natrix Natrix, 10.80 Films, Ev.L Prod, Chantier Films,
Condor, Filmfinity, Koch Films, Leone Film Group, Movie Cloud, Plaion Pictures,
Pris Audiovisuais, Shaw Organisation, Shaw Renters, Signature Entertainment,
T&B Media Global, The Klockworx, IFC Films Directors: Kristina
Buozyte, Bruno Samper Writers: Kristina
Buozyte, Brian Clark, Bruno Samper Actors: Eddie
Marsan, Edmund Dehn, Melanie Gaydos, Raffiella Chapman, Richard Brake, Rosy
McEwen Genre: Adventure,
Sci-Fi, Drama Rated: Unrated Length: 1h 52minutes IMDb Blurb: After the
collapse of Earth's ecosystem, Vesper, a 13-year-old girl struggling to survive
with her paralyzed father, meets a woman with a secret who will force her to
use her wits, strengths and bio-hacking abilities to fight for the possibility
of having a future. I’m a sucker for a futuristic post-apocalyptic dystopian
sci-fi flick, and Vesper precisely
fits that description. Naturally, I’m very excited to give it a whirl, so to
speak. I find the little drone companion fascinating and I am dying to find out
the story of what has happened to Earth (if they’re even still ON Earth), and
the origins of the crazy alien plants. While I might not exactly be the biggest fan of some of
their early work, writer and director duo Kristina Buozyte (Park '79, Vanishing Waves, ABCs of Death 2:
K is for Knell) and Bruno Samper (Kolekcioniere,
Vanishing Waves, ABCs of Death 2: K is for Knell) have shown real
dedication to getting this production off the ground, as they’ve been working
on it for apparently around 6 years. I’m looking forward to seeing the payoff. The trailer for Vesper
already has me invested in the story and the setting is captivatingly
interesting. I want to know more about the large structures that look like they
have roots or pipes going down into the ground in a similar fashion. For all of
the ‘alien landscape’ of the setting, the production reportedly didn’t use any
green screens during filming. They didn’t avoid CGI entirely, however, as it
was necessary for some of the special effects of such things as the plants and
drone. I really admire a team that strives for realism within the fantasy in
this digital age. Tangible physical set pieces and effects are still great
foundation blocks to build with. The more immersive everything is, the easier
it is to suspend disbelief, after all. Vesper is
releasing directly to theaters and digital On Demand initially. It is unclear
at this time where and when it will become available for streaming. IFC Films,
however, tend to often land on Shudder, so keep your eyes peeled there in 45
days or so from the premiere date. 11 - Barbarian (9/9)
Production/Distribution:
BoulderLight Pictures, Hammerstone Studios, Almost Never Films Inc., Regency
Enterprises, Vertigo Entertainment, 20th Century Studios Director: Zach
Cregger Writer: Zach
Cregger Actors: Bill
Skarsgård, Devina Vassileva, Georgina Campbell, J.R. Esposito, Jaymes Butler,
Justin Long, Kalina Stancheva, Kate Bosworth, Kurt Braunohler, Matthew Patrick
Davis, Richard Brake, Sara Paxton, Sophie Sörensen, Trevor Van Uden, Zach
Cregger Genre: Thriller, Horror Rated: R Length: 1h 42minutes IMDb Blurb: A woman staying at an Airbnb discovers that
the house she has rented is not what it seems. The trailer for Barbarian
gave me chills. The story weaves a picture of the worst-case scenario for an
AirBNB double-booking imaginable – or something close to it. The Reddit horror
stories of people finding secret rooms or hidden annexes within their homes
with other people hiding and/or living in them also come to mind. Barbarian brings us a nightmare
amalgamation of both. Another factor that has me really excited about Barbarian is the cast. I will watch just
about anything that Bill Skarsgård (It,
Deadpool 2, The Devil All the Time) is in. I have so many questions
regarding his character in this movie, also. Does he know about what’s going on
beneath the house? Is he in on it? If so, is it of his own volition or is he
being forced somehow? But wait, there’s more! Barbarian
also has Georgina Campbell (King Arthur:
Legend of the Sword, Black Mirror, Krypton), Justin Long (Ghost Team, Jay and Silent Bob Reboot, Lady
of the Manor), Richard Brake (Game of
Thrones, The Rhythm Section, Bingo Hell), and Kate Bosworth (Before I Wake, The Immaculate Room, Along
for the Ride) among the cast. I’m dying to know how everyone fits into the
story. We only really see Skarsgard and Campbell clearly in the trailer and
just a brief flash of Long. What the hell is up with those videotapes and this
mystery ‘process’ that they mention? So many questions. Barbarian is set
to release to theaters and likely On Demand. Streaming information for this
film is not yet available at the time of this article.
10 - Jeepers
Creepers: Reborn (9/18)
Production/Distribution:
Black Hangar Studios, Orwo Studios, 101 Films, Screen Media Films, Shaw
Organisation, Splendid Film, VVS Films Director: Timo
Vuorensola Writer: Sean-Michael
Argo Actors: Sydney
Craven, Imran Adams, Jarreau Benjamin, Matt Barkley, Peter Brooke, Ocean
Navarro,Gary Graham, Gabriel Freilich, Georgia Goodman, Terry Bird, Helen
Lauren, Alexander Halsall, Jodie Mcmullen, Joseph Tanner Paul Genre: Horror,
Mystery, Thriller Rated: R Length: 1h 28minutes IMDb Blurb: Forced to travel with her boyfriend, Laine,
she begins to experience premonitions associated with the urban myth of The
Creeper. Laine believes that something supernatural has been summoned - and
that she is at the center of it all. I have a lot of nostalgic feels for the original Jeepers Creepers (2001) and its 2003
sequel. I was devastated to learn about the whole fiasco regarding the Creeper’s
creator, Victor Salva (Powder, Jeepers
Creepers, Jeepers Creepers 2). I’m not going to get into that here, but his
involvement with the franchise tarnished it for the film industry and fans
alike. My guilty pleasure enjoyment of these creature features makes it easier
for my ADHD brain to forget on occasion – much as I forgot while we were doing
our trailer stream. Out of sight, out of mind, after all. I digress… The point I’m making is that there is no need to worry about
that sort of issue for this new sequel. Salva is not involved in any way with
the project whatsoever. Now that we’ve addressed the elephant in the room, let’s
move on to the good stuff – Jeepers Creepers:
Reborn. The trailer really gave me hope that this new film will
reinvigorate this franchise. I adore the concept of incorporating the horror
faire and the escape room elements. Fans of the Creeper shouldn’t worry,
though. Just because the creator of the franchise isn’t involved anymore, it
doesn’t mean that everything will change. We won’t hear the titular song in
this one because of copyright and royalty agreement issues – but they have
offered us something new that fits the theme of this new movie. I’m crossing my
fingers that it works well. We will see items and set pieces that call back to
the prior films, as well as the 2018 comic series, though, as well as scars on
the Creeper reflecting prior battles. For those that have lost interest in the original movies due
to the scandal surrounding their creator, you might be able to get away with
watching this sequel and getting the bare-bones explanation of the Creeper to
understand what’s going on. Unfortunately, there would be a lot to miss out on
in the way of the aforementioned Easter Egg references as a tradeoff. Jeepers Creepers:
Reborn is releasing to theaters and Digital On Demand services, however
streaming information is unknown at the time of this article. 9 - Lou (9/22)
Production/Distribution:
Bad Robot, Netflix Director: Anna
Foerster Writers: Maggie
Cohn, Jack Stanley Actors: Allison
Janney, Greyston Holt, Jaycie Dotin, Jurnee Smollett, Logan Marshall-Green,
Marci T. House, Matt Craven, Ridely Asha Bateman, Roman Mitichyan, Toby Levins Genre: Action,
Drama, Crime Rated: R Length: 1h 47minutes IMDb Blurb: A storm rages. A young girl is kidnapped.
Her mother teams up with the mysterious woman next door to pursue the
kidnapper, a journey that tests their limits and exposes shocking secrets from
their pasts. Lou is another
Netflix offering for September that I’m fairly chomping at the bit to see. I
love the fact that the ex-military or special-ops type character is a badass
woman in this film. That role stereotype usually involves some buff male action
star or former stunt guy. I’m near giddy that Lou turns that on its head. In addition to that, the cast looks phenomenal. Allison
Janney (Troop Zero, Bombshell, Mom)
was a great choice to play the titular character. I would absolutely believe
that this lady has been through some shit in her life. I love her deadpan
delivery and have really enjoyed her comedy work in the past. I think it serves
her well in Lou, shading some of the
more tense moments with a hint of levity. (I had a giggle during the trailer
when her answer to a question was “girl scouts.”) Jurnee Smollett (Birds
of Prey, Lovecraft Country, Spiderhead) is also amazing. I’ve enjoyed her
in every role I’ve seen her in. She fits the mom role well. I was invested in
every moment these ladies were on the screen and their adventures look
harrowing and exciting as they embark on the rescue mission. Aside from the fabulous
femme fatales involved with the production, there are a few among the male cast
worth noting. We have reason to expect good things from Logan Marshall-Green (Prometheus, Sand Castle, Upgrade),
Greyston Holt (See No Evil 2, Bitten,
Riverdale), and Matt Craven (White
House Down, Awakening the Zodiac, Sharp Objects). I’m really curious to learn more about Lou’s background and why events have unfolded the way they have. If
you’re still looking for that action movie rush in September, Lou is a good candidate to satisfy that
craving. 8 - My Best Friend's
Exorcism (9/30)
Production/Distribution:
Endeavor Content, Gotham Group, Amazon Prime Video Director: Damon
Thomas Writers: Grady
Hendrix, Jenna Lamia Actors: Amiah
Miller, Ashley LeConte Campbell, Cathy Ang, Chris Lowell, Clayton Royal
Johnson, Cynthia Evans, Elsie Fisher, Erin Ownbey, Michael Wayne Foster, Nathan
Anderson, Rachel Ogechi Kanu Genre: Comedy, Horror Rated: R Length: 1h 36minutes IMDb Blurb: The year is 1988. High school sophomores
Abby and Gretchen have been best friends since fourth grade. But after an
evening of skinny-dipping goes disastrously wrong, Gretchen begins to
act...different. She's moody. She's irritable. And bizarre incidents keep
happening whenever she's nearby. Abby's investigation leads her to some
startling discoveries-and by the time their story reaches its terrifying
conclusion, the fate of Abby and Gretchen will be determined by a single
question: Is their friendship powerful enough to beat the devil? The trailer for My
Best Friend's Exorcism wasn’t available at the time of our stream, so there
was no one around to hear me cackle with glee as I watched it. I’ll be honest,
the 80s vibes and the Tiffany “I Think We’re Alone Now” playing in the
background had me sold on this film within the first few seconds. I rarely ever pass up a chance to get my 80s nostalgia on. My Best Friend’s Exorcism is definitely
no exception. This movie looks gloriously campy and hilarious – while offering
a few good horror moments as well. This is one of those times I really don’t mind that I didn’t
really recognize most of the cast beyond a fleeting thought of “have I seen
them in something before?” I didn’t even feel the burning need to look that
answer up. I just know I want to see this movie ASAP. Let me tell you, I’m over
the moon that this is an Amazon Prime original feature, so it’s going to be
releasing directly to the streaming service. I am now counting down the days.
Ok, well maybe not that far, but I am really excited. If you love 80s horror, you’re probably going to get a lot
out of My Best Friend’s Exorcism. 7 - Don't Worry
Darling (9/23)
Production/Distribution:
New Line Cinema, New Line Productions, Vertigo Entertainment, Warner Bros.,
Warner Bros. Pictures Germany, Warner Bros. Pictures Mexico, Warner Bros.
Pictures, Warner Bros. Singapore Director: Olivia Wilde Writers: Katie
Silberman, Carey Van Dyke, Shane Van Dyke Actors: Chris
Pine, Dita Von Teese, Douglas Smith, Florence Pugh, Gemma Chan, Harry Styles,
Kate Berlant, KiKi Layne, Nick Kroll, Olivia Wilde, Sydney Chandler, Timothy
Simons Genre: Mystery, Thriller Rated: R Length: 2h 2minutes IMDb Blurb: A 1950s housewife living with her husband in
a utopian experimental community begins to worry that his glamorous company may
be hiding disturbing secrets. OK so here’s the thing. I have wanted to see Don’t Worry Darling since the first time
I saw the trailer. I’m intrigued as to what’s really going on beneath the shiny
surface of this “utopian” community. I feel I need to take a moment to address yet another elephant
in the room. (Pink elephants maybe?) The director of Don’t Worry Darling has become embroiled in a scandal. It generally
only reflects on them as an individual and not on the actual movie, so I’m
simply going to omit discussing that particular person and the details of the
brouhaha at hand. It’s also a matter of that individual’s honesty and integrity
and not a criminal matter. So. That being said, let’s move along. I adore Florence Pugh (Fighting
With My Family, Midsommar, Black Widow) and think that Don’t Worry Darling makes a brilliant pairing of her with Harry
Styles (iCarly, Dunkirk, Eternals)
for these roles. Their screen chemistry, as far as the trailers have shown, is
off the charts. Chris Pine (Spider-Man:
Into the Spider-Verse, The Contractor, All the Old Knives) is also an
excellent choice for the ‘boss’ who is likely hiding something sinister
regarding the community. I got a real The
Stepford Wives (2004) vibe from some of the scenes teased in the trailer as
well. Regardless, I am really looking forward to watching Don’t Worry Darling as soon as I can.
This movie will be releasing directly to theaters and digital On Demand. Look
for it on HBOMax after the 45 day window elapses. 6 - The Woman King (9/16)
Production/Distribution:
Entertainment One, Jack Blue Productions, JuVee Productions, TriStar
Productions, Welle Entertainment, Sony Pictures Releasing Argentina, Sony
Pictures Releasing International, Sony Pictures Releasing, United International
Pictures (UIP), Universal Pictures International (UPI) Director: Gina
Prince-Bythewood Writer: Maria
Bello, Dana Stevens Actors: Adrienne
Warren, Hero Fiennes-Tiffin, Jayme Lawson, John Boyega, Jordan Bolger, Lashana
Lynch, Masali Baduza, Shaina West, Sheila Atim, Thuso Mbedu, Viola Davis Genre: Action,
Drama, History Rated: PG-13 Length: 2h 6minutes IMDb Blurb: A historical epic inspired by the true
events that happened in The Kingdom of Dahomey, one of the most powerful states
of Africa in the 18th and 19th centuries. The trailer for The
Woman King was absolutely breathtaking. The cinematography for this film
looked amazing, the costuming was on point, and the action sequences were fire. There’s an unbelievable cast involved with this true story
of fierce African warriors. Viola Davis (Lila
& Eve, Fences, The First Lady), John Boyega (Pacific Rim: Uprising, Star Wars: Forces of Destiny, Breaking),
Lashana Lynch (Brotherhood, Captain
Marvel, No Time to Die), and Hero Fiennes Tiffin (After, The Silencing, First Love) are just some of the stand-out
names contributing to this production. I also believe that this tale is in good hands with director
Gina Prince-Bythewood (Love &
Basketball, The Secret Life of Bees, The Old Guard). She has successfully
given us stories about badass women already in the past – The Woman King is stepping it up to the next level. The Woman King
will be releasing exclusively to theaters initially. Information about On
Demand rental was not available at the time of this article. This film should
reportedly become available for streaming in mid-October, but it is not clear
at this time which service will carry the title. 5 - Do Revenge (9/16)
Production/Distribution:
Likely Story, Netflix Director: Jennifer
Kaytin Robinson Writers: Celeste
Ballard, Jennifer Kaytin Robinson Actors: Austin
Abrams, Camila Mendes, Cassady McClincy, Eliza Bennett, Maia Reficco, Maya
Hawke, Paris Berelc, Rish Shah, Sophie Turner, Talia Ryder Genre: Comedy Rated: TV-MA Length: 1h 58minutes IMDb Blurb: Drea and Eleanor agree to go after one
another's bullies. The trailer for Do
Revenge had me in stitches. This was partially from the comedic content
within the teaser and the rest because of how self-aware this production is of
its own grammatically incorrect name. If you were tuned into our trailer
stream, you might have caught a little extra bit of hilarity from that moment.
I was laughing so hard I couldn’t breathe. Aside from that, I love that Do Revenge feels like a fresh concept. It’s a teen movie, but I don’t
think I’ve seen one with this particular spin before. Besides, haven’t we all
fantasized a little bit about getting revenge on bullies that have tormented
us? At least here we can experience the catharsis vicariously through the
screen. I’m curious to see just how far these girls are willing to take this
particular gambit. In addition to that, the cast looks phenomenal as well. Maya
Hawke (Italian Studies, Fear Street: Part
One - 1994, Stranger Things) and Camila Mendes (Coyote Lake, Dangerous Lies, Riverdale) fit these lead roles so
well. There are more stand-out names among the rest of the cast, too. Among
those are: Sophie Turner (Game of Thrones,
Survive, The Staircase), Rish Shah (Emmerdale
Farm, To All the Boys: Always and Forever, Ms. Marvel), Paris Berelc (Confessional, Alexa & Katie, 1Up),
and Cassady McClincy (Love Simon, Castle
Rock, The Walking Dead). I’ve enjoyed all of them in their past work and am
looking forward to seeing which characters they inhabit within this comedy. Do Revenge will be
releasing directly to Netflix. 4 - See How They Run (9/30)
Production/Distribution:
Searchlight Pictures, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Walt Disney Studios
Motion Pictures Argentina, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Germany Director: Tom
George Writer: Mark
Chappell Actors: Adrien
Brody, David Oyelowo, Harris Dickinson, Pippa Bennett-Warner, Reece Shearsmith,
Ruth Wilson, Sam Rockwell, Saoirse Ronan, Shirley Henderson, Sian Clifford Genre: Mystery,
Comedy Rated: PG-13 Length: 1h 38minutes IMDb Blurb: In the West End of 1950s London, plans for a
movie version of a smash-hit play come to an abrupt halt after a pivotal member
of the crew is murdered. See How They Run
has me happy on so many levels. I used to watch Agatha Christie movies with my mom
when I was little, as well as shows like Murder,
She Wrote (1984-1996) and Columbo
(1971-2003). These gumshoe mysteries with a side of comedy feel like snuggling
into a warm blanket. I got a taste of a more serious mystery earlier in the
year with Death on the Nile (2022),
and now we’re due for something to tickle the funny bone as we get down to
who-done-it. The trailer had me in stitches. Sam Rockwell (Trolls 2: World Tour, The One and Only Ivan,
The Bad Guys) as the lead detective having to reign in the over-eager Saoirse
Ronan’s (Brooklyn, Mary Queen of Scots,
The French Dispatch) constable character is exactly the dynamic that I didn’t
realize I needed in my life right now. The rest of the cast is ridiculously stacked with talent, as
well. Adrien Brody (Bullet Head, Peaky
Blinders, Clean), Ruth Wilson (How to
Talk to Girls at Parties, True Things, His Dark Materials), and David
Oyelowo (The Cloverfield Paradox, Don't
Let Go, Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway) are just a few notable participants in
this caper. The second that Ronan’s character said the body was “staged,”
I was sold. If there’s any way I can catch See
How They Run in the theater, I’m going to try to do so. See How They Run
will be releasing to theaters as well as digital On Demand. Streaming details were
unavailable at the time of this article. 3 - The Munsters (9/27)
Production/Distribution:
Capital Arts Entertainment, Hero Squared, Spookshow International, Universal
1440 Entertainment, Netflix, Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (UPHE) Director: Rob
Zombie Writer: Rob
Zombie Actors: Butch
Patrick, Cassandra Peterson, Catherine Schell, Daniel Roebuck, Dee Wallace,
Jeffrey Daniel Phillips, Jorge Garcia, Pat Priest, Richard Brake, Sheri Moon
Zombie, Sylvester McCoy Genre: Fantasy,
Comedy, Family Rated: PG Length: 1h 50minutes IMDb Blurb: Reboot of "The Munsters", that
followed a family of monsters who moves from Transylvania to an American
suburb. As we hit the top 3 movies releasing in September, I have to
quell my internal urge to give my reasoning as merely “duh.” While these movies don’t require any further up-selling to
reach my must-see list, I suppose a little further explanation as to why would
be in order. The Munsters
promises to be a colorful romp of spooky fun paying homage to the classic show
originating in the 1960s. In fact, Pat Priest (My Favorite Martian, Perry Mason, Here Come the Munsters), who
played Marilyn Munster in The Munsters
(1964-1966), will have a cameo in this new version – though, not as her
original character. Honestly, the minute someone told me Rob Zombie (The Devil's Rejects, Halloween, 31) was
going to be directing a Munsters movie, I was on board. This is going to be the
very first movie of Zombie’s to not receive an R rating. This is history,
folks. I honestly don’t think this film could be in better hands than his. To further cement this film into the spooktacular, Elvira
herself, Cassandra Peterson (Scooby-Doo:
Return to Zombie Island, Shoplifters of the World, Dota: Dragon's Blood),
has a role in The Munsters as well. Normally, at this point I’d say ‘shut up and take my money,’
but The Munsters will be releasing
directly to Netflix, and I’m already a subscriber. 2 - Hocus Pocus 2 (9/30)
Production/Distribution:
David Kirschner Productions, Walt Disney Pictures, Disney+ Director: Anne
Fletcher Writer: Jen
D'Angelo Actors: Belissa
Escobedo, Bette Midler, Dan Finnerty, Doug Jones, Froy Gutierrez, Hannah
Waddingham, Kathy Najimy, Lilia Buckingham, Sam Richardson, Sarah Jessica
Parker, Tony Hale, Whitney Peak Genre: Fantasy,
Comedy, Family Rated: PG Length: 1h 44minutes IMDb Blurb: Three young women accidentally bring back
the Sanderson Sisters to modern day Salem and must figure out how to stop the
child-hungry witches from wreaking havoc on the world. Hold on to your broomsticks and dock your Roombas. The
moment that fans of the original Hocus
Pocus (1993) movie have been waiting for is finally here – well…at least at
the end of September, it will be. We’re finally getting our sequel! It just makes me want to go… amok amok amok! Seriously, though, it is exciting news that Disney is
bringing back the Sanderson sisters for another round of magical mischievous
madcap. Better yet, the original cast of Bette Midler (Parental Guidance, The Addams Family, The Glorias), Kathy Najimy (Younger, Single All the Way, Duncanville),
and Sarah Jessica Parker (All Roads Lead to Rome, Here and Now, And
Just Like That...) are returning to reprise their roles. If you haven’t seen the first movie yet, you have time
between now and the end of the month to catch up! Hocus Pocus 2 will be releasing directly to Disney+. 1 - Clerks III (9/13)
Production/Distribution:
View Askew Productions, BondIt Media Capital, Destro Films, SModcast Pictures,
Eagle Pictures, Fathom Events, Lionsgate UK, Lionsgate, Metropolitan Filmexport Director: Kevin
Smith Writer: Kevin
Smith Actors: Austin
Zajur, Ben Affleck, Brian O'Halloran, Fred Armisen, Jason Mewes, Jeff Anderson,
Justin Long, Kevin Smith, Lisa Hampton, Marilyn Ghigliotti, Rosario Dawson,
Sarah Michelle Gellar, Scott Schiaffo, Trevor Fehrman Genre: Comedy Rated: R Length: 1h 55minutes IMDb Blurb: Dante, Elias, and Jay and Silent Bob are
enlisted by Randal after a heart attack to make a movie about the convenience
store that started it all. If you’re a fan of Kevin Smith’s (Hollyweed, Jay and Silent Bob Reboot, Killroy Was Here) movies – this is a must-see. That’s really the crux of anything I could say about this production. I am
ticking down the moments until I can enjoy this one with my husband and
19-year-old.
