Hi everyone! Thank you for checking out a new Release Radar. As I mentioned last week, I have added another new resource into the fold this year to help me compile this list each week. However, that has also added more cross-referencing to ensure that this list is as accurate as possible.
For example, there was a Disney+ title that was on one of the lists scheduled for release on Wednesday, Jan. 10th. I double-checked the release date to make sure it was correct, and it was, but the movie has no poster and no trailer either. I don’t think Disney is going to release something with A-list talent to their streaming service without having some basic advertising in place beforehand, so I struck that off the list.
That confirms my suspicions that multiple sources work off of a predetermined release calendar and don’t bother updating and/or adjusting every week to stay on top of changing release schedules. While that creates more work for me, it also lets me know that what I am doing is worth it to provide the most accurate movie release list that I can. Thanks for attending my soap box, and let’s get into what’s on deck for January 12th, 2024.
New In Theaters
The Beekeeper (+IMAX)
Director(s): David Ayer | Writer(s): Kurt Wimmer
Stars: Jason Statham, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Bobby Naderi
Cut from the John Wick cloth, David Ayer and Jason Statham deliver exactly as promised. There is an element to the physicality that I actually like better. I am surprised that these two haven’t worked together on something like this in the past but am hoping to see them do so again in the future. I see the reviews and ratings are on the lower side, but don’t let that dissuade you. It’s not Ayer’s darkest, but it still knows what it wants to do and has fun doing so. If I ever get tired of watching Statham whooping ass, put a fork in me.
*The Book of Clarence – Editor’s Pick*
Written & Directed by: Jeymes Samuel
Stars: LaKeith Stanfield, Anna Diop, RJ Cyler
I would watch Lakeith Stanfield do anything at this point and, fortunately, he is teaming back up with Jeymes Samuel after The Harder They Fall, which I enjoyed quite a bit. Just the idea of this character wanting to compete with the messiah for a following has me on board and then throw in David Oyelowo, Teyana Taylor, Alfre Woodard, James McAvoy, and Benedict Cumberbatch and you don’t need to say anything else. I was hoping to see this one Friday morning, but work got in the way. But that’s my Editor’s Pick for the week.
Mean Girls
Director(s): Samantha Jayne, Arturo Perez Jr. | Writer(s): Tina Fey
Stars: Angourice Rice, Reneé Rapp, Jon Hamm
Based on the stage musical which was based on the movie, comes a new movie musical of the same name. I like the original film and the musical is pretty good too, so I have no reason to suspect that I wouldn’t like this. The marketing did hide the fact that this was a musical, just like The Color Purple and Wonka, so we’ll see how people respond but I liked those two adaptations as well.
Pixar’s Soul (re-release)
Director(s): Pete Docter, Kemp Powers | Writer(s): Pete Docter, Mike Jones, Kemp Powers
Stars: Jamie Foxx, Tina Fey, Graham Norton
Pixar is making up for lost revenue as they are brining a few pandemic releases to theaters, starting with Soul.
Limited Release
The Windigo (Jan. 9th)
Director(s): Gabe Torres | Writer(s): Brent Jordan
Stars: Marco Fuller, Fivel Stewart, Tonantzin Carmelo
Not much of a trailer here. Something creepy in the woods. Is it a monster? Maybe, but I’m thinking maybe not.
Inshallah a Boy
Director(s): Amjad Al Rasheed | Writer(s): Delphine Agut, Rula Nasser, Amjad Al Rasheed
Stars: Mouna Hawa, Hitham Omari, Yumna Marwan
Not to say they aren’t getting made regularly, but I don’t see a lot of titles coming out of Jordan. This one looks good and pretty intense. I highly doubt I’s be able to find it in a theater near me, but I will add this to the list of things to check out when it hits digital distribution.
The Settlers
Director(s): Felipe Gálvez Haberle | Writer(s): Antonia Girardi, Felipe Gálvez Haberle, Mariano Llinás
Stars: Sam Spruell, Mark Stanley, Alfredo Castro
I love Westerns and I have enjoyed the pivot from the more traditional hero epics and revenge tales, to a deeper examination of those times and almost mythological themes and characters. This looks like a good one! Finding it will be the hard part, but I am in.
Household Saints (limited re-release)
Director(s): Nancy Savoca | Writer(s): Francine Prose, Richard Guay, Nancy Savoca
Stars: Tracey Ullman, Vincent D’Onofrio, Lili Taylor
This is a bit of a weirdly timed re-release, but here we are on the 31st anniversary.
I Did It My Way
Director(s): Jason Kwan | Writer(s): Sing-Yip Sau
Stars: Andy Lau, Ka-Tung Lam, Eddie Peng
I can’t pretend I’m not at least a smidge disappointed that they didn’t get the rights to the Frank Sinatra song. That said, it’s the type of crime thriller that gets pumped out on a regular basis in the states, so I am not surprised to see it coming from other countries as well.
Kalki 2898-AD
Written & Directed by: Nag Ashwin
Stars: Deepika Padukone, Prabhas, Amitabh Bachchan
This is how you make a teaser! Do I have any idea what is going on? Not in the slightest, but it looks like it’s going to be wild. Some theaters near me make room for Indian films, so I will have to check this out.
The Night They Came Home
Director(s): Paul G. Volk | Writer(s): James O’Brien, John A. Russo
Stars: Danny Trejo, Robert Carradine, Weston Cage
This is the kind of traditional Western I mentioned before. I know this is made on a low budget, but it has a cheap visual presence. It’s tough to say why exactly, but it just has that look to it. The cast isn’t bad with Danny Trejo, Brian Austin Green, Robert Carradine, and Nic Cage’s son Weston.
Hellhound
Director(s): Joshua Dixon
Stars: Louis Mandylor, Ron Smoorenburg, Vithaya Pansringarm
There is a very high percentage chance that I will never see this, but I am glad that this kind of B-movie is still being made. May they live forever.
Driving Madeleine (NYC/LA)
Director(s): Christian Carion | Writer(s): Cyril Gely, Christian Carion
Stars: Line Renaud, Dany Boon, Alice Issaz
Aww, this looks sweet. It’s important to acknowledge that life is many things to many different people and to represent the story of a generation beyond my years. There will probably be some tears shed along the way.
The Breaking Ice (New York)
Written & Directed by: Anthony Chen
Stars: Dongyu Zhou, Haoran Liu, Chuxiao Qu
This one is only out in very limited release but it’ll be one to keep an eye on beyond this weekend. I saw a lot of 2023 movies and there are a bunch of international films among what I would consider the best of the year, so I want to make an effort to see more like this when I can.
T.I.M. (+VOD)
Director(s): Spencer Brown| Writer(s): Spencer Brown, Sarah Govett
Stars: Georgina Campbell, Eamon Farren, Mark Rowley
Surprise, surprise. An artificial intelligence put in a humanoid body gets extra creepy. Okay, maybe it’s not a surprise but that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy a good combo of science fiction and erotic thriller. Let’s go.
Streaming & Digital
Destroy All Neighbors (Shudder)
Director(s): Josh Forbes | Writer(s): Mike Benner, Jared Logan, Charles A. Pieper
Stars: Kumail Nanjiani, Thomas Lennon, Alex Winter
I’ve got a big stupid grin on my face watching this trailer, so I definitely gotta check this one out. It’s surprising to see Kumail Nanjiani and Alex Winter in this, but that tells me a lot about the kind of fun this is going to be. If I hadn’t picked one already, this might just be my Editor’s Pick.
Lift (Netflix)
Director(s): F. Gary Gray | Writer(s): Daniel Kunka
Stars: Kevin Hart, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Sam Worthington
The cast is good, but this looks like every other Netflix action movie that leans on comedy. It could be entertaining but, I don’t have this ranked high on my to-do list, especially as I try to catch up with 2023. At least it knows what it is.
Role Play (Prime Video)
Director(s): Thomas Vincent | Writer(s): Seth W. Owen
Stars: Kaley Cuoco, David Oyelowo, Bill Nighy
A couple of years ago, I wouldn’t have even considered this. However, I have watched Kaley Cuoco do a lot of interesting work in recent years and she has range. Whether or not Amazon can just shoehorn her into being an action lead remains to be seen, but I am more inclined to give it a whirl.
Self Reliance (Hulu)
Written & Directed by: Jake Johnson
Stars: Jake Johnson, Anna Kendrick, Andy Samberg
I covered this one briefly last week when it was a one-night-only event, but it’s on Hulu now and it is right up my alley. It’s a contender for Editor’s Pick.
War Blade (VOD/Digital Jan. 9th)
Written & Directed by: Nicholas Winter
Stars: Joseph Millson, Michael McKell, Ronan Summers
They Turned Us Into Killers (VOD/Digital Jan. 9th)
Written & Directed by: Thomas Walton
Stars: Taryn Manning, Scout Taylor-Compton, Michael Berryman
This seems like a fun, late-night couch watch.
Norwegian Dream (VOD/Digital Jan. 9th)
Director(s): Leiv Igor Devold | Writer(s): Justyna Bilik, Gjermund Gisvold, Radoslaw Paczocha
Stars: Hubert Milkowski, Karl Bekele Steinland, Edyta Torhan
The music for the trailer gives this a compelling push. I can’t speak for the entirety of the film, but it looks like it’s shot really well and I am curious to see how other countries handle this kind of subject matter.
What Happened at 625 River Road? (VOD/Digital Jan. 9th)
Director(s): Devon Jovi Johnson | Writer(s): Devon Jovi Johnson, Allen Worrell
Stars: Francheska Pujols, Summer Foley, Silvana Jakich
This has that straight-to-video quality to it, but it’s a good trailer and the based on a true story element helps with indie horror.
Laced (VOD/Digital Jan. 9th)
Written & Directed by: Kyle Butenhoff
Stars: Kyle Butenoff, Mel Fair, Hermione Lynch
Okay, okay. I love the poster for this and it looks like a solid erotic horror/thriller. I wish it was streaming somewhere, but I don’t mind waiting it out.
Thanks for reading! Word of mouth is still the best way to help, so if you enjoy what I’m doing please tell somebody. And if you have a comment, I’d love to hear it! Likes, email subscriptions, and sharing go a long way too. As usual, be well, be safe, and have fun no matter how you get your movies!