This Week’s Movie Menu (2 - 8 June 2025)

CAST: Ana de Armas, Anjelica Huston, Gabriel Byrne, Lance Reddick, Norman Reedus, Ian McShane, Keanu Reeves, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, Choi Soo-young, Catalina Sandino Moreno, David Castañeda

CREW: Len Wiseman (director), Shay Hatten (writer), Basil Iwanyk, Erica Lee and Chad Stahelski (producers), Tyler Bates and Joel J. Richard (composers), Romain Lacourbas (cinematographer), Jason Ballantine (editor)

PLOT: Eve (de Armas) is a ballerina who begins training as an assassin in order to avenge her father’s death, but soon becomes too involved in her mission – to where the legendary John Wick (Reeves) is brought in to subdue her…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

The world of John Wick expands with the franchise’s first feature spin-off, which focuses on a lethal new anti-hero in this universe of assassins
Ana de Armas kicks all kinds of butt under the direction of franchise newcomer Len Wiseman (though reshoots were overseen by regular director Chad Stahelski, who also produces)
In addition to the return of Keanu Reeves in the role of the Baba Yaga himself, look out for appearances from other familiar faces like Ian McShane, Anjelica Huston and the late Lance Reddick in his final role
As often with this series, the stunt work and choreography in the action sequences is beyond immense, and a firm reminder of why they’ve (finally) just recently announced the Oscar category for Stunt Design
With the wait for an announced fifth John Wick movie set to be a long one, this new dive into the wider world will more than tide audiences over

Ballerina is showing in cinemas from Friday 6 June 2025

What’s Showing in Cinemas This Week?

Clown in a Cornfield (dir. Eli Craig)

CAST: Katie Douglas, Aaron Abrams, Carson MacCormac, Kevin Durand, Will Sasso, Vincent Muller, Cassandra Potenza, Daina Leitold, Verity Marks, Ayo Solanke, Alexandre Martin Deakin

CREW: Eli Craig (director, writer), Carter Blanchard (writer), Marty Bowen, Terry Dougas, John Fischer, Wyck Godfrey and Paris Kassidokostas-Latsis (producers), Brandon Roberts and Marcus Trumpp (composers), Brian Pearson (cinematographer), Sabrina Pitre (editor)

PLOT: Quinn (Douglas) and her father (Abrams) move to the quiet Midwest town of Kettle Springs, which has fallen into economic despair since the closure of the local corn syrup factory. Soon, Quinn and her fellow residents are terrified by a masked killer in the guise of Frendo the Clown, the factory’s mascot, but it quickly becomes apparent that nothing is as it seems…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

This is no mere slasher movie, for it’s also a surprising and at times even shocking new genre entry with plenty of things to say
Director and co-writer Eli Craig, previously behind the horror cult classic Tucker & Dale vs. Evil, is at his most ambitious with the seemingly simple story of a town plagued by a masked serial killer
It still works as a straightforward slasher, with plenty of inventive and gory kills, intriguing characters who you don’t entirely want to see die, and of course a sinister new icon in Frendo the Clown
The less you know about this movie going in, the better, for there are twists and turns that are best left for you to discover in the cinema
In addition to being wholly surprised, you’ll be completely engaged with its fun slasher vibes that are as gory as anything you’d expect from the sub-genre

Clown in a Cornfield is showing in cinemas from Friday 6 June 2025

Dangerous Animals (dir. Sean Byrne)

CAST: Hassie Harrison, Jai Courtney, Josh Heuston, Ella Newton, Rob Carlton, James Munn, Michael Goldman, Liam Greinke, Jon Quested

CREW: Sean Byrne (director), Nick Lepard (writer), Chris Ferguson, Brian Kavanagh-Jones, Mickey Liddell, Troy Lum, Andrew Mason and Pete Shilaimon (producers), Michael Yezerski (composer), Shelley Farthing-Dawe (cinematographer), Kasra Rassoulzadegan (editor)

PLOT: Zephyr (Harrison), a surfer, is abducted by deranged serial killer Tucker (Courtney), and must try to find a way to escape before he can carry out his shark-centric ritual…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

This tense Australian psychological thriller makes sharks just as terrifying as they were when Jaws debuted fifty years ago
Jai Courtney delivers one of his most unhinged turns to date as a shark-obsessed serial killer with a terrifying method of disposing his victims
It was recently included in the Directors’ Fortnight section at last month’s Cannes Film Festival, making it the first Australian film among that particular line-up in over ten years
Some gripping filmmaking by director Sean Byrne amps up the tension as the sharks, and the arguably more dangerous monster on board a secluded boat, circle around a defiant final girl
You’ll come away with an all-new fear of sharks, and maybe even those who idolise them to utterly deadly degrees!

Dangerous Animals is showing in cinemas from Friday 6 June 2025

Falling Into Place (dir. Aylin Tezel)

CAST: Aylin Tezel, Chris Fulton, Samuel Anderson, Mike Noble, Olwen Fouéré, Alexandra Dowling, Rory Fleck Byrne, Juliet Cowan, Layo-Christina Akinlude, Michael Carter, Cian Barry, Alex Mason, Kevin Mains, Anna Russell-Martin, Kathryn Howden, Jerry Hoffmann, Eva J.M. Smith, Roddy Hart

CREW: Aylin Tezel (director, writer), John McKay, Yvonne Wellie, Jakob Weydemann and Jonas Weydemann (producers), Ben Lukas Boysen and Jon Hopkins (composers), Julian Krubasik (cinematographer), David J. Achilles (editor)

PLOT: Kira (Tezel), a German-born Londoner, takes a spontaneous trip to the seaside town of Skye, where she encounters Scottish man Ian (Fulton) who is attempting to escape from his own problems. They quickly strike up a connection, which last long after they head back to their own lives…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

German actor Aylin Tezel makes her filmmaking debut with a soft and touching romance that may just reaffirm your faith in love
Tezel also co-stars in the film alongside Chris Fulton, with whom she shares some tender chemistry that leaves a lasting impression
There are echoes of When Harry Met Sally and Richard Linklater’s Before trilogy in Tezel’s heartfelt script and direction
Some of Scotland’s luscious seaside locations double for the town of Skye, while certain scenes were filmed at an arts centre in the city of Glasgow
It looks to be a love story that may just break your heart and put it back together with its unique brand of charm and grace

Falling Into Place is showing in cinemas from Friday 6 June 2025

Goebbels and the Führer (dir. Joachim A. Lang)

CAST: Robert Stadlober, Fritz Karl, Franziska Weisz, Dominik Maringer, Moritz Führmann, Till Firit, Christoph Franken, Michael Glantschnig, Katia Fellin, Oliver Fleischer, Martin Bermoser, Wolfram Rupperti, Emanuel Fellmer, Johannes Rhomberg, Peter Windhofer, Sebastian Thiers, Sascha Göpel, Helene Blechinger, Raphaela Möst, Damien Erminio Ballasina, Franziska Lindenthaler, Raphael Nicholas, Samuel Fischer, Ferdinand Tuppa, Tomheinz Breitenecker, Alexander Diwiak, Andrea Kruzliaková, Stefanie Schietz

CREW: Joachim A. Lang (director, writer), Till Derenbach and Michael Souvignier (producers), Michael Klaukien (composer), Klaus Fuxjäger (cinematographer), Rainer Nigrelli (editor)

PLOT: During the final years of the Third Reich, Joseph Goebbels (Stadlober) – the Minister of Propaganda for Adolf Hitler (Karl) – plots the ultimate act of mass manipulation…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

The evils of Nazi Germany are dissected in this fascinating look at a major figure without whom Hitler would not have been able to rise to power
German actor Robert Stalober delivers a terrifying performance as Joseph Goebbels, best known as the man in charge of all Nazi propaganda, whether it be films or newsreels or photographs and beyond
The film, written and directed by Joachim A. Lang, blends dramatised scenes with real archival footage to show how eerily close to reality the narrative and imagery is
It has attracted severe controversy in Germany for its supposedly humanised depiction of the dictator and his propagandist, to where it ended up shooting in Slovakia after it was denied public funding
Most importantly, the film explores the catastrophic consequences of allowing harmful propaganda to thrive in its distortion of reality, making it a stern warning for today’s all-too familiar political climate

Goebbels and the Führer is showing in cinemas from Friday 6 June 2025

The Encampments (dirs. Kei Pritsker and Michael T. Workman)

CAST: Maya Abdallah, Jamal Joseph, Mahmoud Khalil, Grant Miner, Sueda Polat

CREW: Michael T. Workman (director, producer, cinematographer, editor), Kei Pritsker (director, producer, cinematographer), Munir Atalla and Matthew Belen (producers), Craig Birchfield (cinematographer), Mahdokht Mahmoudabadi (editor)

PLOT: In 2024, a group of students at New York’s Columbia University set up public encampments to protest the ongoing war in Gaza and the United States’ continued funding of Israeli artillery, and in doing so spark nationwide protests at other universities…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

This eye-opening documentary unveils the people behind one of the most remarkable displays of activism and protest in modern United States history
Filmmakers Kei Pritsker and Michael T. Workman cover the entire timeline of the protests, wherein students took a stand against the continued genocide in the Middle East
Among the numerous interviewees in the film are Columbia University professor Jamal Joseph and student Mahmoud Khalil, who was recently arrested and detained for his role in the protests, and currently faces deportation despite his permanent residency
Rapper Macklemore is also on board as an executive producer, and uses his music to further spread the film’s message of peace and common sense in this difficult situation
It’s an inspiring piece of work that, even in today’s dark and uncertain times, shows the power of solidarity and peoples’ right to protest

The Encampments is showing in cinemas from Friday 6 June 2025

What’s Showing At Home This Week?

Predator: Killer of Killers (dirs. Dan Trachtenberg)

CAST: Lindsay LaVanchy, Louis Ozawa Changchien, Rick Gonzalez, Michael Biehn

CREW: Dan Trachtenberg (director, producer), Micho Rutare (writer), John Davis, Ben Rosenblatt and Marc Toberoff (producers), Benjamin Wallfisch (composer), TBA (editor)

PLOT: Across several points in history, three human warriors – a Viking raider, a ninja in Feudal Japan, and a World War II fighter pilot – encounter the deadly Predator, which has set its sights on all of them as its prey…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

The Predator universe expands with a dazzling new animated anthology that shows just how deadly the titular monster can be
It was crafted largely in secret by director Dan Trachtenberg, who previously scored a franchise high with his 2022 entry Prey, and is due to return to this world for Predator: Badlands later this year
The animation, provided by visual effects company The Third Floor, isn’t afraid to get gory with its multi-history set-pieces, all while evoking a similar visual style to the Spider-Verse movies that becomes its own thing
Though little is known about the human characters facing off against the Predator this time around, they’re portrayed by a wide variety of capable voice actors, including Terminator and Aliens veteran Michael Biehn
It’s a grand new entry that will please long-time Predator fans before the eagerly anticipated new theatrical live-action entry, currently due out this October

Predator: Killer of Killers is streaming exclusively on Disney+ from Friday 6 June 2025

Straw (dir. Tyler Perry)

CAST: Taraji P. Henson, Sinbad, Sherri Shepherd, Teyana Taylor, Glynn Turman, Rockmond Dunbar

CREW: Tyler Perry (director, writer, producer), Angi Bones and Tony Strickland (producers), Dara Taylor (composer), Justyn Moro (cinematographer), Nick Coker (editor)

PLOT: Janiyah Wiltkinson (Henson), a poverty-stricken single mother, is pushed to the edge of her sanity by a world that is indifferent to her struggles, forcing her to make numerous choices that have life-changing consequences…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

Tyler Perry’s latest hard-hitting drama reunites the multihyphenate filmmaker with actor Taraji P. Henson, who previously lit up the screen in his 2018 thriller Acrimony
Henson excels once more as a single mother manoeuvring a harsh world that won’t give her or her family a chance, leading to some top acting moments from the powerhouse performer
She’s joined by an eye-catching ensemble that also includes Teyana Taylor (soon to be seen in Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another) and legendary comedian Sinbad, in a rare dramatic performance
As is often the case in one of Perry’s movies, expect some exceptionally dramatic turns and plenty of borderline exploitative misery, coupled with filmmaking that is continuously fascinating (for better or worse)
It may well be one of Perry’s strongest dramatic outings, a win that he needs after last year’s muddled war drama The Six Triple Eight – and certainly before he’s back again next month in the far more comedic Madea’s Destination Wedding

Straw is streaming exclusively on Netflix from Friday 6 June 2025

What’s Returning to Cinemas This Week?

Showgirls (dir. Paul Verhoeven)

CAST: Elizabeth Berkley, Kyle MacLaclan, Gina Gershon, Glenn Plummer, Robert Davi, Alan Rachins, Gina Ravera, Lin Tucci, Greg Travis, Al Ruscio, Patrick Bristow, William Shockley, Michelle Johnston, Dewey Weber, Rena Riffel, Melissa Williams, Ungela Brockman, Melinda Songer, Jim Ishida, Bobbie Phillips, Carrie Ann Inaba

CREW: Paul Verhoeven (director), Joe Eszterhas (writer), Charles Evans and Alan Marshall (producers), David A. Stewart (composer), Jost Vacano (cinematographer), Mark Goldblatt and Mark Helfrich (editors)

PLOT: In Las Vegas, young drifter Nomi Malone (Berkley) arrives with dreams of becoming a famous showgirl, and after initially finding work as a stripper, she slowly works her way up to the top…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

Paul Verhoeven’s legendary erotic movie makes a fabulous return to cinemas in celebration of its 30th anniversary
The film attracted significant attention at the time for its then-large budget of $45 million and nudity and sex so graphic that it was given the rare NC-17 rating, to this date making it the only such film to receive a wide release
Despite the hype, it became a box office bomb and was ripped to shreds by critics and audiences, to a point where Verhoeven personally showed up to accept the Razzies for Worst Picture and Worst Director
In recent years, there has been a significant critical revaluation of the film, with some viewers labelling it a smarter-than-expected satire of cutthroat Las Vegas politics, while others view it as a camp classic with dialogue and performances – particularly from lead Elizabeth Berkley – worth remembering
Whether you’re a fan or not, seeing Showgirls on the big screen with an audience is some of the most fun you could ever have watching a movie!

Showgirls is showing in cinemas from Friday 6 June 2025

The Piano Teacher (dir. Michael Haneke)

CAST: Isabelle Huppert, Annie Girardot, Benoît Magimel, Susanne Lothar, Anna Sigalevitch, Udo Samel, Cornelia Köndgen

CREW: Michael Haneke (director, writer), Veit Heiduschka (producer), Christian Berger (cinematographer), Nadine Muse and Monika Willi (editors)

PLOT: Erika Kohut (Hupert), a piano teacher in Vienna, enters a sadomasochistic relationship with her younger pupil Walter (Magimel), which quickly turns dangerous…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

As part of Curzon’s new season centred around Austrian filmmaker Michael Haneke, the auteur’s provocative 2001 feature is getting a nationwide theatrical re-release
The film saw Haneke collaborate with acclaimed French actor Isabelle Huppert for the first time, before later working together on numerous other films, including the Oscar-winning Amour
Adapting Elfriede Jelinek’s novel of the same name, Haneke does not dilute the racier aspects of the story, as well as some of the more disturbing parts
It was well-received by critics and audiences, and was awarded three prizes at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival including the Grand Prix, Best Actress for Huppert, and Best Actor for Benoît Magimel
To this day, Huppert’s deeply layered performance is widely considered one of the finest pieces of acting in a movie, with Oscar-winners such as Nicole Kidman, Jessica Chastain and Mikey Madison citing it as a major inspiration on their own work

The Piano Teacher is showing in cinemas from Friday 6 June 2025