I finally started to feel better and made my way back to the movies for the first time in about a month. I really hope I allow myself enough time to write about that at some point in the near future, but I have a big hole to dig myself out of when it comes to recent releases and that hole is about to get bigger. The first official October movie weekend has a ton that I want to see, so let’s jump in.
Wednesday, Oct. 5th
Mr. Harrigan’s Phone (Netflix)
Written & Directed by: John Lee Hancock | Short Story: Stephen King
Starring: Donald Sutherland, Jaeden Martell, and Kirby Howell-Baptise
An awkward teen befriends an old man and they bond over learning/teaching how to use the first iPhone. The brand isn’t central to the story, but the technology is. When the old man dies, the kid puts the phone in the casket with him as a gesture of their friendship. Later, as the boy continues to get bullied he calls the number of his dead friend to just leave a message. The problem is, he gets a call back. This is very Stephen King and I like that. Jaeden Martell is a fine young actor and John Lee Hancock is a skilled filmmaker as well, so I think this can work. The couch bonus is good for this one too!
Thursday, Oct. 6th
Deadstream (Shudder)
Written & Directed by: Joseph and Vanessa Winter
Starring: Joseph Winter, Melanie Stone, and Jason K. Wixom
This isn’t the first time a found footage style horror film has set up shop at a haunted house and it won’t be the last. In this case, an annoying YouTuber/influencer who tries to scare himself for likes decides to go big in a famous haunted house. Turns out, he pissed off the wrong ghosts. I have seen low-budget efforts try and fail in this space before, but what I loved seeing here is self-awareness. This is a horror movie, but it’s also a comedy, and that allows it to navigate some well-tread ground without necessarily being derivative. I also love projects where people are all in and that’s the case for Joseph Winter who stars in the lead and wrote and directed alone with Vanessa winter. There’s a pretty good chance I will indulge with this one on Shudder over the weekend.
Terrifier 2 (Theaters)
Written & Directed by: Damien Leone
Starring: Griffin Santopietro, Lauren LaVera, Jenna Kanell, and David Howard Thorton
I never saw the first Terrifier but I have heard about its brutality. Art the Clown has been part of Damien Leone’s work since The 9th Circle short film in 2008 and I am glad to see that he is still at the helm here. That lets me know that this is being made with intent rather than licensed out for profit’s sake. I think I have to catch up and watch All Hallows’ Eve and the first movie, but I am interested in checking out this sequel.
Friday, Oct. 7th
Amsterdam (Theaters)
Written & Directed by: David O. Russell
Starring: Christian Bale, Margot Robbie, John David Washington, and many more
Easily the most talent-heavy film of the weekend, early box office returns have not been promising despite the A-list of A-lists. Early critical response hasn’t been good either and there’s a reasonable chance that opinions of David O. Russell as a person likely have something to do with that. All that said, I am definitely going to see this movie. It’s not so much the star power here that makes it appealing, it’s the quality of those stars’ skill that’s intriguing. Even among them, I am most excited to watch Christian Bale, Andrea Riseborough, Anya Taylor-Joy, Michael Shannon, and Timothy Olyphant. At this point, I’ve seen the negativity so it’s an informed consent situation.
Hellraiser (Hulu)
Director: David Bruckner
Writers: Ben Collins, Luke Piotrowski, David S. Goyer (story)
Starring: Jamie Clayton, Odessa A’zion, Adam Faison
“Momma raised a Hellraiser!” Song lyrics aside, I did grow up watching the original Hellraiser movies on late-night cable at an age when I definitely probably shouldn’t have been. Since this is a Hulu production, I see the jokes calling Pinhead a Disney Princess now and I can get down with that but, contrary to my own childhood, this isn’t for kids. I considered doing a watch party of this for my film club, but some people couldn’t wait a day to get cozy with the new cadre of cenobites. I am 100% watching this even if it’s horrible. Since it is for a new generation that didn’t grow up with the originals, I am hoping it can carve its own identity from this new flesh.
Last Flight Home (Theaters)
Written & Directed by: Ondi Timoner
One family confronts the death of its patriarch but discovers and celebrates his incredible life in the process. No matter how natural the process is, seeing your parents age into vulnerability at the end of their lives isn’t easy. It looks like this film aims to reconcile the joy of this person’s life with the pain of their death. I imagine this one will hit very close to home for me having lost both of my birth parents already at a fairly young age, but I think there is value in the telling of this story and I am glad Ondi Timoner took the time to make it.
Piggy (Theaters + VOD)
Written & Directed by: Carlota Pereda
Starring: Claudia Salas, Carmen Machi, and Laura Galán
The trailer for this Spanish film immediately grabbed my attention. Sara is overweight, bullied, and teased by a group of pretty and popular girls, so the themes of body shaming are readily apparent. However, when a stranger arrives in town and abducts the girls who shamed her, in her trauma and vengeance, Sara turns a blind eye to witnessing the kidnapping. But now, she’s complicit. There is a lot of thread to unravel with this one and I am glad it’s on video-on-demand because I would probably have a hard time finding it.
Project Wolf Hunting (Theaters)
Written & Directed by: Hongsun Kim
Starring: Seo In-Guk, Dong-Yoon Jang, and Dong-il Sung
A group of prisoners, being transported from the Philippines to South Korea, stage a prison break at sea. However, there is something even more sinister lurking aboard the ship and once it’s unleashed, there’s no way out for anyone. This sounds like the kind of crazy entertaining Korean cinema that I like.
Significant Other (Paramount+)
Written & Directed by: Dan Berk and Robert Olsen
Starring: Maika Monroe, Jake Lacy, Teal Shere
A young couple, backpacking in the Pacific Northwest, finds out the hardway that they shouldn’t be there. The trailer for this one is very creepy and, best I can tell, it looks like some kind of bodysnatchers situation going on. Maika Monroe gave on of my favorite performance this year in The Watcher and this is a good set up for her to deliver once again. It’s not listed as horror, but it sure looks exceedingly creepy. I have had Dan Berk and Robert Olsen’s Villains on one of my watchlists for a while and I guess it’s time to give that a watch too, but I am glad I have easy access to their latest.
TÁR (Theaters)
Written & Directed by: Todd Field
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Noémie Merlant, and Nina Hoss
Cate Blanchett is a fantastic actress, but I am not always compelled to see her work. I was ready to just gloss over this one but the trailer stopped me in my tracks and gave me goosebumps. It’s not technically horror (I think), but it still looks super intense and weird! Think Whiplash but with maybe a massive psychological break. Like dissociative identity type of massive. This is the third feature from Todd Field who is probably most recognizable from his acting roles like Nick Nightengale in Eyes Wide Shut but has made some really powerful and introspective films so far. The stage is set for a virtuoso performance from Blanchett and I don’t want to miss out. Even with all the horror movies on deck, this trailer is the one that gave me legit chills.
Triangle of Sadness (Theaters)
Written & Directed by: Ruben Östlund
Starring: Thobias Thorwid, Harris Dickinson, Charlbi Dean, and Woody Harrelson
I love a good dark comedy, so when I saw writer/director Ruben Östlund won the Palme d’Or at Cannes my sense perked up. The story follows a the passengers on a cruise for the super wealthy that sinks and removes the value of status and money from its passengers. The trailer makes it seem like the majority of the film takes place on the ship, so it’s tough to tell how far down the rabbit hole this one is willing to go in regards to shade of darkness for its humor. This is on the shortlist for things I would make the journey to theaters for this weekend.
What Else Is New…
Luckiest Girl Alive (Netflix)
Director: Mike Barker | Writer: Jessica Knoll
Starring: Mila Kunis, Chiara Aurelia, and Finn Witrock
I have wanted to see more stuff like this on Mila Kunis’ plate and perhaps there has been, but I have been doing these Release Radars for a while and don’t recall anything specific. Here she plays a successful, New York professional who’s life fall apart when dark secret from her past in unearthed. This isn’t the first story that follows those plot points this year, so maybe there’s a trend starting, but there is room for a unique experience here. I am interested, if not over enthusiastic, but happy that it’s available for me on Netflix.
Pretty Problems (Theaters + VOD)
Director: Kestrin Pantera | Writers: Michael Tennant (screenplay), Britt Rentschler (story), Charlotte Ubben (story)
Starring: Britt Rentschler, Michael Tennant, and J.J. Nolan
As I mentioned earlier, I enjoy a good dark comedy and I am always a fan of people who are all-in on their projects. Writers Britt Rentschler, Micahel Tennant, and Charlotte Ubben, all star in this story about couple who gets invited to an upscale weekend escape by some eccentric rich folks where where things get progressively more bizarre. This was antoher one I thought I would breeze right by, but it looks funny and I am willing to give it a go. Plus, the VOD access is a bonus.
The Visitor (Theaters)
Director: Justin P. Lange | Writers: Simon Boyes, Adam Mason
Stars: Finn Jones, Jessica McNamee, Victoria Harris
As I was watching the trailer, I knew I had seen the lead before. Low and behold, it’s Finn Jones who I saw plenty of in Iron Fist and Defenders. It has been a while since those ended and I hadn’t seen him since, but this is a chance for him to breakout with a horror role. A young man moves back to his childhood home and finds a painting of a man who looks just like him. The more he pulls at that thread, the more he sees the image around and a dark secret permeates the town. I like the premise, so it’s going to be all about execution for this one.
Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile (Theaters)
Directors: Josh Gordon, Will Speck | Writers: Will Davies, Bernard Waber (books)
Starring: Constance Wu, Javier Bardem, and Scoot McNairy
In a vacuum, Constance Wu, Javier Bardem, Scoot McNairy, and Brett Gelman would generally be enough to pique my interest. In reality, no matter how good this movie ends up being, chances are slim to none that I ever see it. This is obviously directed at kids and families and the book series by Bernard Waber will likely have a certain audience, but that audience isn’t me. That’s perfectly okay. If you have kids and want to go to the movies this week, this is probably your best bet.
Catherine Called Birdy (Amazon)
Written & Directed by: Lena Dunham | Original Book by: Karen Cushman
Starring: Bella Ramsey, Billie Piper, and Andrew Scott
I previewed this one a week or so ago but didn’t take the leap when this one was in its theatrical window. I am much more inclined to gamble now that it’s home on Amazon.
Thanks for reading! I still believe word of mouth is 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! Liking, subscribing, and sharing go a long way too. As usual, be well, be safe, and have fun no matter how you get your movies!