I got so overwhelmed last week that I just ran out of time to do the Release Radar, so my apologies. Naturally, there is part of me that wants to go back and cover everything that I missed, but I don’t have time for that either and it’s the last release weekend of the month so we may as well focus on that.
October 26 (Wednesday)
The Good Nurse (Netflix)
Director: Tobias Lindholm | Writer: Krysty Wilson-Cairns
Starring: Jessica Chastain, Eddie Redmayne, and Nnamdi Asomugha
This is the kind of film that is going to make my blood boil and scare the shit out of me at the same time. It’s not defined as a horror film but it’s scarier than most of what I see elsewhere, especially when you factor in that it’s based on a true story. It reminds me of the Dr. Death podcast and it is just a terrifying look at the lack of accountability across the medical community and hospital system in instances, yes multiples, such as this. Director Tobias Lindholm is coming off the strength of Another Round and working with Jessica Chastain and Eddie Redmayne for this, so I know it’s going to be good, I just don’t know if I’m ready to do that heavy lifting at the moment.
October 28 (Friday)
Prey for the Devil (Theaters)
Director: Daniel Stamm | Writers: Robert Zappia, Todd R. Jones, Earl Richey Jones
Starring: Jacqueline Byers, Virginia Madsen, and Colin Salmon
Possession, demonic or otherwise, is one of those things in the horror genre that always gets my attention. There is something about the lack of bodily autonomy that I find much more frightening than ghosts, slow-moving stabby guys, and many other horror staples. This story is focused on the first nun to perform an exorcism rather than the victim of the possession, like many of my favorites, so it’s more of a modern take on the original The Exorcist. Whether or not that works out remains to be seen, but it’s got enough visual appeal to get me over the hump and give it chance.
All Quiet on the Western Front (Netflix)
Director: Edward Berger
Writers: Edward Berger, Lesley Paterson, Ian Stokell, Erich Maria Remarque (novel)
Starring: Felix Krammerer, Albrecht Schuch, Aaron Himler
This isn’t the first movie adaptation of Erich Maria Remarque’s novel. The 1930 version won Oscars for Best Picture and Best Director and there was also a TV Movie in the 70s that was well-received and had a very good cast, so the bar is set pretty high. The trailer shows off some great cinematography and it seems like the kind of epic story I would want to see on the big screen, so while I appreciate its accessibility on Netflix, I am hoping it’s not a detraction. I will be checking it out though.
Armageddon Time (Theaters)
Written & Directed by: James Gray
Starring: Anne Hathaway, Jeremy Strong, Banks Repeta, Jaylin Webb, and Anthony Hopkins
Anthony Hopkin’s powerful presence sets a heavy tone in the trailer for this film about a family pursuing the American Dream while being both the subject of and perpetrator of cultural prejudice. I am assuming there’s some mild political commentary as Ronald Reagan being called a schmuck upon winning the presidency is featured in the trailer, but it seems to be more about how this family and this young boy, played by Banks Repta, navigate that climate. I like a lot of director James Gray’s work and the cast here is excellent, plus it’s nice to see a depiction of 1980s America that isn’t fetishized.
Call Jane (Theaters)
Director: Phyllis Nagy | Writers: Hayley Schore, Roshan Sethi
Starring: Elizabeth Banks, Sigourney Weaver, Chris Messina
This movie tells the story of a woman who has to seek an underground abortion after being denied access. After her experience, she joins the underground organization to help provide access to others. This is obviously a very pertinent subject and I initially thought it was based on a true story, but it’s actually “inspired by” true events. It can still be effective as a piece of dramatized fiction, but it seems like there is more than enough substance to not go that route. I really like the cast and I may get around to it eventually but, if you are interested in the subject matter and want the real story, just watch the HBO documentary The Janes that came out earlier in the year.
*Holy Spider (Theaters) – Editor’s Pick*
Director: Ali Abbasi | Writers: Ali Abbasi, Ashin Kamran Bahrami, Jonas Wagner
Starring: Zar Amir-Ebrahimi, Mehdi Bajestani, Arash Ashtiani
There is a serial killer stalking sex workers on the streets of the holy city of Mashhad in Iran, claiming to be removing sinners in the name of god. A female journalist dives deep into that world and puts herself in danger to try and stop it. This one looks intense! The subject matter may be a bit too much for some but I like the intersection of religious zealotry and modern Iran. Plus, good crime thrillers are usually entertaining.
The Lair (Theaters + VOD)
Director: Neil Marshall | Writers: Charlotte Kirk, Neil Marshall
Starring: Charlotte Kirk, Jonathan Howard, and Jamie Barber
Director Neil Marshall had been doing a lot of TV over the last decade or so, and the good news is that he’s getting back to making horror films. The bad news is he returned to the big screen to make the 2019 Hellboy that nobody asked for. Naturally, it was met with negative reviews but his follow-up feature was met with even more. I haven’t seen either of those but the success of The Descent seems really distant, now 17 years ago. On the bright side, this seems to pull from Aliens in the sense that there’s a female lead taking a group of marines back to a place she found that has creatures that need killing. I am not expecting much, but it could be a guilty pleasure kind of watch.
Run Sweetheart Run (Amazon)
Director: Shana Feste | Writers: Shana Feste, Keith Josef Adkins, Kellee Terrell
Starring: Ella Balinska, Pilou Asbæk, and Clark Gregg
Pilou Asbæk has one of those faces that says, “I am going to be the villain of this story.” It has never failed in anything I have watched with him and I am glad to see writer/director Shana Feste just lean into his charismatic villainy. Blind dates are a frightening proposition for women to begin with and using that as a vehicle for a horror story fits the narrative. This one hasn’t been well reviewed but I am inclined to give it more of a chance with its Amazon Prime release.
Wendell & Wild (Netflix)
Director: Henry Selick
Writers: Henry Selick, Jordan Peele, Clay McLeod Chapman (book)
Starring (voice): Lyric Ross, Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele
If you are looking for something for a younger Halloween audience, this is going to be your go-to. Yes, it involves a couple of demons that use a 13-year-old girl to summon them, but it’s definitely for kids. It looks and feels a lot like The Nightmare Before Christmas with Jordan Peele and Keegan-Michael Key comedy mixed in. If you’ve already burned through Hocus Pocus 2 and other family-oriented Halloween flicks, this is a good option.
WHAT ELSE IS NEW…
TÁR (Expands)
Written & Directed by: Todd Field
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Noémie Merlant, and Nina Hoss
I previewed this one a week or so ago, but its limited availability and lengthy run time have been a hurdle. The good news is one of those is eliminated as TÁR gets its wide release.
Till (Expands)
Director: Chinoye Chukwu
Writers: Michael Reilly, Keith Beauchamp, Chinoye Chukwu
Starring: Danielle Deadwyler, Jalyn Hall, Haley Bennett, and Frankie Faison
This historical drama, based on the true story of Emmett Till, is also getting its expanded release this week. I am a little surprised that this one even when into limited release at all, but it did come at a time when the market was mostly saturated with horror films taking up screens.
ParaNorman (10th Anniversary Re-release – Theaters)
Directors: Chris Butler, Sam Fell | Writer: Chris Butler
Starring (voices): Kodi Smit-McPhee, Anna Kendrick, Christopher Mintz-Plasse
It’s the 10th anniversary of Paranorman. So, if you want a kid-friendly theater experience for Halloween this is it.
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