The Barbenheimer craze continues to go strong into its second weekend, so the odds of either of those films being unseated at the top of the box office is highly unlikely. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of good alternatives to check out this weekend.
New In Theaters
Dinsey’s Haunted Mansion
Director(s): Justin Simien | Writer(s): Kate Dippold
Stars: LaKeith Stanfield, Rosario Dawson, Danny DeVito, Owen Wilson
Maybe I am surprisingly interested in this one, but you had me at LaKeith Stanfield! I seeing this one Friday night in 4DX so that says a lot about my interest level.
*Sympathy for the Devil (+VOD) – Editor’s Pick*
Director(s): Yuval Adler | Writer(s): Luke Paradise
Stars: Nicolas Cage, Joel Kinnaman
If you are unfamiliar with me thus far, you should know that I give Nicolas Cage preferential treatment but seeing him play the charismatic villain is always a joy! So, for a couple of reasons, it gets my Editor’s Pick. I dunno if he’s actually the devil in this one, but I am holding out hope.
Limited Release
Talk To Me
Director(s): Danny & Michael Philippou | Writer(s): Danny & Michael Philippou, Bill Hinzman | Concept: Daley Pearson, Sophia Wilde, Alexandra Jensen, Joe Bird, Otis Dhanji, Miranda Otto, Zoe Terakes, Chis Alosio, Marcus Johnson, Alexandria Steffensen
Stars: Sophie Wilde, Joe Bird, Alexandra Jensen
I saw this one on Thursday and it sets a sharp, visceral tone early and crafts some interesting parallels along the way. While it does some of its horror elements very well, it runs into some walls that it’s unable to scale and doesn’t actually get into the thing I found most interesting. You should still see it if you are interested though.
The Beasts
Director(s): Rodrigo Sorogoyen | Writer(s): Isabel Peña, Rodrigo Sorogoyen
Stars: Maria Foïs, Denis Ménochet, Luis Zahera
There is an ominous and tense tone set in this trailer and that’s more than enough to get my curiosity. The music and cinematography both appear to be well handled and I like that there are things left to the imagination. I’m in.
Bobi Wine: The People’s President
Director(s): Moses Bwayo, Christopher Sharp
Stars: Barbie Kyagulanyi, Bobi Wine
This is the second documentary from Uganda in two weeks that I want to see. From music star to opposition party leader to a political prisoner…this is must-see stuff.
Kokomo City
Director(s): D. Smith
Stars: Daniella Carter, Koko Da Doll
The secret lives of trans sex workers are exposed. Some people are about to have their business in the streets, but if it hits a nerve it’s because the kind of raw filmmaking that needs to be told.
Sons of Summer
Director(s): Clive Fleury | Writer(s): Phillip Avalon, Greg Clayton
Stars: Isabel Lucas, Temura Morrison, Joe Davidson
I hope it is better than it looks because I like Temura Morrison, but this looks like the dime-a-dozen thriller that comes out basically every week.
Susie Searches
Director(s): Sophie Kargman | Writer(s): William Day Frank, Sophie Kargman
Stars: Kiersey Clemons, Alex Wolff, Jim Gaffigan
I previewed this one when it was salted for VOD a month ago, but here we are again and I have no idea how we got here. This kinda looks like a kids’ movie that I would have seen on Nickelodeon back in the day, with the teenage detective and the cliche voice-over, but I think that is all subterfuge here. It’s not rated, but it seems much more like an indie-noir with a young cast than it does a low-hanging, aimed-at-kids detective story. I’m in.
The Unknown Country
Written & Directed by:
Director(s): Morrisa Maltz | Writer(s): Lily Gladstone, Morrisa Maltz, Lainey Bearkiller Shangreaux, Vanara Taing
Stars: Lily Gladstone, Raymond Lee, Richard Ray Whitman
Lily Gladstone is going to have a monster breakout year with this and then Killers of the Flower Moon, and Reservation Dogs. Not only is she starring in this, she co-wrote and it’s great to see these kinds of films getting a bigger platform. I’m in.
War Pony
Director(s): Gina Gammell, Riley Keough | Writer(s): Franklin Sioux Bob, Bill Reddy, Gina Gammell, Riley Keough
Stars: Iona Red Bear, Ta-Yamni Long Black Cat, Wilma Colhof
This one is oozing the kind of indie filmmaking spirit that I love and it’s another native story. It’s going to be a busy week if I can find this one.
The Essential Church
Written & Directed by: Shannon Halliday
Stars: Scott W. Atlas, Voddie Baucham Jr., Jay Bhattacharya
I can imagine this is going to be inflammatory. I’m not a religious person and I don’t support the unchecked power of religious entities, but I also surely don’t support the unchecked power of the state. So, this should be an interesting examination of government overreach whether or not you adhere to any religion.
The Mistress
Written & Directed by: Greg Pritikin
Stars: John Magaro, Chaston Harmon, Aylya Marzolf
Are we witnessing a John Magaro bump? I hope so! I did not expect this to be a haunting thriller, but that’s much more interesting than I expected. I’m game.
Shrapnel
Director(s): William Kaufman | Writer(s): Chad Law, Johnny Walters
Stars: Cam Gigandet, Jason Patric, Efrain Villa
When I mentioned the weekly generic thrill that gets pumped out, this is the kind o movie I was talking about. Cam Gigandet and Jason Patric may elevate an otherwise low-bar project, but I will pass for now.
Streaming & Digital
Unknown: Cosmic Time Machine (Netflix July 24th)
Director(s): Shai Gal
Stars: Joe Biden, Amber Straughn, Alyssa Pagan
I only recently caught on to this Unknown series of movies. I’m always interested in space but now that the government is basically acknowledging the presence of extraterrestrial entities this takes on a lot more. Like why am I even doing this? Are the aliens going to take my recommendations?
Justice League: Warworld (VOD July 25th)
Director(s): Jeff Wamester | Writer(s): Jeremy Adams, Ernie Altbacker, Josie Campbell
Stars: Jensen Ackles, Ike Amadi, Troy Baker
I tend to like all of the DC animated movies and Warworld is exactly what I want to see out the property. I didn’t care for the most recent Batman one I watched, but I have higher hopes for this.
Resident Evil: Death Island (VOD July 25th)
Director(s): Eiichirô Hasumi | Writer(s): Makoto Fukami
Stars: Matthew Mercer, Nicole Tompkins, Kevin Dorman
I just recorded a Bad Movies We Love episode on the 2002 live-action Resident Evil and I have a soft spot for that, but the animated films always line up closer with the source material that I truly love. I will watch this for sure!
Take The Ice (VOD July 25th)
Director(s): Rachel Koteen
Stars: Blake Bolden, Patrick Burke, Kate Cimini
My love for movies and hockey colliding…say no more.
After the Bite (MAX July 26th)
Director(s): Ivy Meeropol | Writer(s): Seth Bomse, Ivy Meeropol
Stars: Lisa Sette, Greg Skomal, Megan Winton
I love Jaws but the stakes are going to be raised when it revolves around real attacks and the real people affected by shark attacks.
Happiness for Beginners (Netflix July 27th)
Director(s): Vicky Wright | Writer(s): Vicky Wright, Katherine Center
Stars: Ellie Kemper, Luke Grimes, Nico Santos
I want to give this one some slack, but there’s always the possibility it’s going to hang itself with that rope. It could be interesting, and having the couch watch bonus always helps.
Paradise (Netflix July 27th)
Director(s): Boris Kunz ,Tomas Jonsgärden, Indre Juskute | Writer(s):Simon Amberger, Peter Kocyla, Boris Kunz
Stars: Numan Acar, Iris Berben, Aleyna Cara
This is the kind of Sci-Fi that gets my spider-sense tingling and after seeing Jung_E recently on Netflix, I am even more curious to pop this one on and kick my feet up!
The Lady of Silence: The Mataviejitas Murders (Netflix July 27th)
Director(s): Maria José Cuevas | Writer(s): MIguel Léon
Stars: Alejandra Alday, Anselmo Apodac, Antonio Baranda
Netflix butters its bread with true crime documentaries, so I know that the quality is going to be good on these even if the story isn’t something that pops out to me. This is exactly the kind of thing I watch with my fiance.
Miraculous: Ladybug and Cat Noir
Director(s): Jeremy Zag | Writer(s): Bettina Lopez Mendoza, Jeremy Zag
Stars (voices): Annouck Hautbois, Benjamin Bollen, Antoine Tomé
I have never heard of this series before, but I guess it’s popular enough to have a built-in audience. Could be a good family option this week.
The Slumber Party (Disney+)
Director(s): Veronica Rodriguez| Writer(s): Eydie Faye, Jen Malone
Stars: Darby Camp, Titus Burgess, Paula Pell
For a Disney+ movie, this one looks surprisingly adult and that’s a good thing.
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