Movie of the Week

• Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

Cinemas

• Starve Acre
• Firebrand
• Red Rooms
• Knock Out Blonde: The Kellie Maloney Story
• The Whip
• Emergency

Streaming/On-Demand

• Rebel Ridge
• Damaged
• My First Film
• And Mrs.

Re-Releases

• Spider-Man: Homecoming
• The Third Man

CAST: Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara, Jenna Ortega, Justin Theroux, Monica Bellucci, Willem Dafoe, Burn Gorman, Arthur Conti, Filipe Cates

CREW: Tim Burton (director, producer), Alfred Gough and Miles Millar (writers), Dede Gardner, Tommy Harper, Jeremy Kleiner and Marc Toberoff (producers), Danny Elfman (composer), Haris Zambarloukos (cinematographer), Jay Prychidny (editor)

PLOT: A family tragedy brings Lydia Deetz (Ryder) back to the town of Winter River, where thirty-six years prior she was terrorised by the supernatural bio-exorcist known as Betelgeuse (Keaton). However, when Lydia’s rebellious daughter Astrid (Ortega) unknowingly opens a portal to the Afterlife, the anarchic demon is summoned to cause havoc in both realms…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• After years in development, the sequel to Tim Burton’s breakout hit is finally summoned to give audiences everywhere a good fright
• Michael Keaton is back as the titular demon, as are Winona Ryder and Catherine O’Hara as the long-suffering Deetz family
• The newer cast members, including Monica Bellucci, Willem Dafoe and Jenna Ortega all add plenty of character to this much-anticipated follow-up
• It’s a real back-to-basics moment for Burton, who employs plenty of hand-crafted practical effects to bring this modern-day sequel closer to the aesthetic of the 1988 original
• After years away from filmmaking (and since his last movie was Dumbo, can you blame him?), this should bring Burton back to the top of Hollywood’s most visionary directors

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is showing in cinemas from Friday 6 September 2024

CAST: Matt Smith, Morfydd Clark, Arthur Shaw, Erin Richards, Robert Emms, Sean Gilder

CREW: Daniel Kokotajlo (director, writer), Emma Duffy, Juliette Howell and Tessa Ross (producers), Matthew Herbert (composer), Adam Scarth (cinematographer), Brenna Rangott (editor)

PLOT: In 1970s Yorkshire, Richard (Smith) and Juliette (Clark) live an idyllic life in the rural countryside with their young son Owen (Shaw). However, when Owen begins displaying some unusual behaviour, the couple’s life is thrown into disarray…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• BAFTA-nominated filmmaker Daniel Kokotajlo is back with a follow-up feature that is absolutely unnerving in nature
• Kokotajlo adapts Andrew Michael Hurley’s novel of the same name, which deals with folk horror in ways that few other storytellers have
• Matt Smith and Morfydd Clark deliver a pair of emotional turns as a couple faced with devastating challenges, both personal and (possibly) supernatural
• There is plenty of style that helps to give this terrifying story an aesthetic not too dissimilar to 70s classics like The Wicker Man and Don’t Look Now
• Its unpredictable twists and shocking turns further solidify Kokotajlo as a filmmaking force to be reckoned with

Starve Acre is showing in cinemas from Friday 6 September 2024

CAST: Alicia Vikander, Jude Law, Eddie Marsan, Ruby Bentall, Bryony Hannah, Sam Riley, Maia Jemmett, Amr Waked, Erin Doherty, Junia Rees, Patsy Ferran, Patrick Buckley, Mina Andala, Paul Tinto, Mia Threapleton, Simon Russell Beale, Linnea Martinsson, Ashley Reynolds, Lisa Pyk Wirstrom, Ian Drysdale, Edward Harrison, Norman Bowman, Jason Baughan, Anna Mawn

CREW: Karim Aïnouz (director), Henrietta Ashworth and Jessica Ashworth (writers), Carolyn Marks Blackwood and Gabrielle Tana (producers), Dickon Hinchliffe (composer), Hélène Louvart (cinematographer), Heike Parplies (editor)

PLOT: In Tudor England, Katherine Parr (Vikander) agrees to become the sixth wife of the tyrannical King Henry VIII (Law). When he is called to fight oversees, Henry appoints Katherine as Regent to rule in his absence, putting her in the crosshairs of the King’s suspicious courtiers, as well as that of the increasingly paranoid monarch, forcing Katherine to make drastic steps in order to ensure her survival…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• The lesser-known story of King Henry VIII’s sixth wife is given a thrilling and uncompromising big-screen interpretation
• Alicia Vikander commands the screen as wife no. 6 Katherine Parr, while a near-unrecognisable Jude Law puts in a terrifying performance as the notorious monarch himself
• Writer siblings Henriette and Jessica Ashworth, who previously wrote the romantic drama Tell It to the Bees, focus on Parr’s dutiful responsibilities as Regent amidst the rise of Protestantism in England
• It competed for the Palme D’Or at last year’s Cannes Film Festival, where it won significant attention for its radical post-modern look at these historical figures
• With fierce performances and a rather suspenseful story to hook its viewers, this is one history lesson that will have your full attention

Firebrand is showing in cinemas from Friday 6 September 2024

CAST: Juliette Gariépy, Laurie Babin, Maxwell McCabe-Lokos, Charlotte Aubin, Guy Thauvette, Frédérick De Grandpré, Pierre Chagnon, Elisabeth Locas, Natalie Tannous, Sébastien Beaulac, Rebecca Makonnen, Maxim Martin, Richard Turcotte, Stanley Hilaire, Marie-Gabrielle Ménard

CREW: Pascal Plante (director, writer), Dominique Dussault (producer), Dominique Plante (composer), Vincent Biron (cinematographer), Jonah Malak (editor)

PLOT: Kelly-Anne (Gariépy) is a lonely woman who is fascinated with the high-profile trial of serial killer Ludovic Chevalier (McCabe-Lokos), and soon finds herself drawn to the dark web, where she becomes obsessed with locating a missing piece of video evidence that could determine Chevalier’s guilt or innocence…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• This disturbing psychological thriller from Canada explores the dangerous side to parasocial connections with public figures
• Its focus on serial killer “groupies” opens up an alarming world of morbid curiosity where lines are very easily crossed
• Juliette Gariépy’s lead turn as one of said groupies is haunting, especially as her character dives deeper into areas that nobody in their right mind would find appealing
• The film was awarded numerous accolades like Best Film and Best Performance at last year’s Fantasia Film Festival, the Montreal-based event that showcases the latest in low-budget genre filmmaking
• It is chilling stuff to behold, with sequences and reveals that will surely leave a lasting impression on your soul

Red Rooms is showing in cinemas from Friday 6 September 2024

CAST: Kellie Maloney, Chelsea Brickham, Amy Wade, Nora Eschenheimer, Scout Lyons, Aoife Keane, Fred Sullivan Jr., Sissy O’Hara, Colin Cassidy

CREW: Tom DeNucci, Seth Koch, and Rick Lazes (directors, writers, producers), Mark Foris, Nick Koskoff, Paul Luba, Chad A. Verdi and Chad Verdi Jr. (producers), David Bateman (composer), Branden James Maxham and Michael Sanders (cinematographers), Robbie Savage Jr. (editor)

PLOT: In 2014, renowned boxing manager Kellie (fka Frank) Maloney makes the shocking announcement that she is to receive gender reassignment surgery, which ignites a personal journey towards self-acceptance…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• The inspiring story of a trailblazing transgender figure is retold in a thrilling mix of documentary and dramatized formats
• Kellie Maloney recounts her illustrious career as boxing manager to sporting greats like Lennox Lewis, before revealing some intimate moments from her life-changing transition
• The widespread effect of her decision, including the ways in which it initially left a negative impact members of her family, are shown in often heartbreaking detail
• Its exploration of themes such as self-denial and the ultimate path toward self-acceptance will resonate with audience members who may share their own transgender identity
• Ultimately, it’s an uplifting tale of overcoming extraordinary personal odds to finally feel comfortable in one’s own body, which in a world of increasing hostility toward the trans community is sorely needed

Knock Out Blonde: The Kellie Maloney Story is showing in cinemas from Friday 6 September 2024

CAST: Shian Denovan, Gala Wesson, Tom Knight, Daniel Davids, Ray Bullock Jnr, Meg Fozzard, May Cunningham, Aislinn De’Ath, Rachel Dobell, Claire De Boer, Tamara Ritthaler, Erina Mashate, Adam Azarti, Nigel Thomas, Nigel Thomas, Ralph Bogard, Tom Blake, Dan March, Dennis Good

CREW: Christopher Presswell (director, writer, producer, cinematographer), Forgács W. András (writer), Jonathan Armandary (composer), Anthony Fitzgerald (editor)

PLOT: Sadie (Denovan), a full-time carer for her disabled sister Emily (Fozzard), is concerned by the government’s new plans to introduce a devastating new wave of welfare reforms known as Independence Credit. To stop the legislation from taking effect, Sadie rounds up an unlikely team, including her local MP Michael Harrington (Knight), to pull off a daring heist on the House of Parliament, which involves outsmarting the ruthless party whip Damian Wilson (Bullock Jnr)…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• It’s the people’s time to shine in this heist comedy that shows the ineffectiveness of ruling bodies
• A ragtag team of undervalued British citizens form a likeable unit as they plot a meaningful mission
• The plot references a number of deeply unpopular welfare reforms that previous UK governments had been responsible for rolling out
• Production was initially delayed by the pandemic, forcing director Christopher Presswell to use a much smaller crew and more digital sets to complete certain sequences
• With its noble intentions, this could be a fun experience for anyone who’s ever thought about getting their own back against certain powerful political figures

The Whip is showing in cinemas from Wednesday 4 September 2024

CAST: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Ashok Chhabra, Mahima Chaudhry, Milind Soman, Vishak Nair, Satish Kaushik, Larry Newyorker, Richard Bhakti Klein, Scott Alexander Young, Christophe Guybet, Adhir Bhat, Mannveer Choudharry, Zeba Hussain, Cyrille Mansuy, Raju Kumar

CREW: Kangana Ranaut (director, producer), Ritesh Shah (writer), Renu Pitti (producer), G.V. Prakash Kumar (composer), Tetsuo Nagata (cinematographer), Rameshwar S. Bhagat (editor)

PLOT: In 1975, Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi (Ranaut) declares a state of emergency in response to the growing political unrest across the country…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• The defining period of Indira Gandhi, to date India’s only female Prime Minister, is dramatized to powerful and often shocking degrees
• In addition to starring as Gandhi herself, Kangana Ranaut also directs and produces the movie
• Interestingly, Ranaut is a political figure herself, having been elected to the Indian parliament in the recent elections as a member of the Lok Sabha (the lower house of India’s parliament)
• The filmmaker sheds light on her subject’s many divisive decisions during her time in office, which explain why she is still regarded as one of India’s most powerful figures
• Those eager to learn more about foreign politics, and particularly about significant events that few others talk about, will be eager to check out this film

Emergency is showing in cinemas from Friday 6 September 2024

CAST: Aaron Pierre, AnnaSophia Robb, Emory Cohen, James Cromwell, Don Johnson, Zsane Jhe, David Denman

CREW: Jeremy Saulnier (director, writer, producer, editor), Neil Kopp, Vincent Savino and Anish Savjani (producers), Brooke Blair and Will Blair (composers), David Gallego (cinematographer)

PLOT: Terry Richmond (Pierre), an ex-Marine, arrives in the town of Shelby Springs to post bail for his cousin, but finds his life savings unjustly seized by the corrupt police chief Sandy Burnne (Johnson). Along with court clerk Summer (Robb), Terry uncovers a deep-rooted conspiracy that is enabling Burnne and his crooked force to assert control over the town…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• Jeremy Saulnier, the filmmaker behind acclaimed gritty thrillers like Blue Ruin and Green Room, is back with a fierce new slice of entertainment
• His film explores corruption in its ugliest of forms, including the kind that allows trusted services like law enforcement to work against the very people they have sworn to protect
• Aaron Pierre leads a firm ensemble cast that includes respected character actors Don Johnson and James Cromwell
• As with Saulnier’s previous films, expect some shocking violence to accompany some exceptionally tense sequences
• It’s a thrilling throwback to grimy films from the 80s and 90s that showcased the very worst that humanity can be

Rebel Ridge is streaming exclusively on Netflix from Friday 6 September 2024

CAST: Samuel L. Jackson, Vincent Cassel, Gianni Capaldi, Laura Haddock, John Hannah, Kate Dickie, Brian McCardie, Elaine C. Smith, Brian Pettifer, Mark Holden

CREW: Terry McDonough (director), Paul Aniello and Gianni Capaldi (writers, producers), Koji Steven Sakai (writer), Roman Kopelevich (producer), Andrea Ridolfi (composer), Matthias Poetsch (cinematographer), Sean Albertson, Luis de la Madrid and Kurt Nishimura (editors)

PLOT: Dan Lawson (Jackson), a Chicago detective, is called to Scotland where a deranged serial killer is terrorising the locals, and whose pattern matches the one that Lawson investigated years ago. Partnered with fellow DCI Glen Boyd (Capaldi), Lawson sets out to find the killer before he strikes again…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• Screen legend Samuel L. Jackson hops across the pond for a sinister and engrossing Scotland-set crime thriller
• Co-writer and producer Gianni Capaldi also co-stars in the film as a fellow detective that Jackson teams up with, while French icon Vincent Cassel also has a substantial supporting role
• It is directed by Terry McDonough, who has had previous success directing episodes of acclaimed shows like Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul
• There are some frightening sequences that show the utter ferocity of the serial killer at large, which more often than not makes for thrilling entertainment
• Fans of crime cinema can look forward to all the hallmarks of the genre as they sit down to experience a fun bit of escapism

Damaged is streaming exclusively on Prime Video from Wednesday 4th September 2024

CAST: Odessa Young, Devon Ross, Cole Doman, Jane Wickline, Philip Ettinger, Eamon Farren, Eleanore Hendricks, Sage Ftacek, Jackson Anthony, Seth Steinberg, Hailey Gates, Sarah Michelson, Abram Kurtz, Ruby Max Fury

CREW: Zia Anger (director, writer), Billy Feldman (writer), Riel Roch Decter and Taylor Shung (producers), Ashley Connor (cinematographer), Joe Bini and Matthew Hannam (editors)

PLOT: Filmmaker Vita (Young) revisits the chaotic shoot of her first feature, a semi-autobiographical drama about a young woman who runs away after falling pregnant…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• Visionary filmmaker Zia Anger blends genre and style in a unique dissection of her earliest work
• Anger incorporates her actual process on a since-abandoned feature entitled Always All Ways, Anne Marie, in addition to recreating it via actors including Assassination Nation star Odessa Young
• The project stems from a piece of audio-visual performance art that Anger live-streamed to viewers during the pandemic
• Her studious and self-critical film opens up plenty of honest discussions about the creative and practical journey of making a movie
• Unusual both in style and substance, it’s bound to become an underground favourite for those seeking out a fresh new piece of meta filmmaking

My First Film is streaming exclusively on MUBI from Friday 6 September 2024

CAST: Aisling Bea, Colin Hanks, Billie Lourd, Peter Egan, Divian Ladwa, Susan Wokoma, Paul Kaye, Harriet Walter, Omari Douglas, Elizabeth McGovern, Sinead Cusack, Arthur Darvill, Samuel Barnett, Nish Kumar

CREW: Daniel Reisinger (director), Melissa Bubnic (writer), Michael D’Alto, Dan Hine, Simon Horsman and Jeffrey Soros (producers), Jason Fernandez (composer), Murren Tullett (cinematographer), Matt Villa (editor)

PLOT: Gemma (Bea), a woman living in London with her American fiancé Nathan (Hanks), is shocked to find him dead shortly before their wedding day. She decides to go through with the wedding anyway, which brings her into conflict with the laws of the land and the objections of her friends and family…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• A romantic comedy with a somewhat morbid twist, this film contains some unexpected heart and passion to see itself through
• Aisling Bea leads a cast that includes American faces like Colin Hanks and Billie Lourd, as well as esteemed British character actors like Harriet Walter and Paul Kaye
• The love between Bea and Hanks’s characters is so powerful that it’s incredibly easy to understand why the former would go to such extreme lengths for the sake of their union
• You’ll get plenty of the familiar rom-com attributes while also wiping away some tears during the more tender moments of grief
• It could well become this generation’s Four Weddings and a Funeral, especially with its heartwarming themes and endearing characters

And Mrs is available to rent/buy on digital platforms from Monday 2 September 2024

CAST: Tom Holland, Michael Keaton, Jon Favreau, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, Donald Glover, Laura Harrier, Tony Revolori, Bokeem Woodbine, Tyne Daly, Marisa Tomei, Robert Downey Jr., Garcelle Beauvais, Jennifer Connelly, Hemky Madera, Gary Weeks, Logan Marshall-Green, Michael Chernus, Michael Mando, Christopher Berry, Kenneth Choi, Hannibal Buress, Martin Starr, Selenis Leyva, Tunde Adebimpe, John Penick, Isabella Amara, Jorge Lendeborg Jr., Josie Totah, Angourie Rice, Abraham Attah, Tiffany Espensen, Michael Barbieri, Ethan Dizon

CREW: Jon Watts (director, writer), John Francis Daley, Christopher Ford, Jonathan Goldstein, Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers (writers), Kevin Feige and Amy Pascal (producers), Michael Giacchino (composer), Salvatore Totino (cinematographer), Debbie Berman and Dan Lebental (editors)

PLOT: After the events of Captain America: Civil War, Peter Parker (Holland) returns to his mundane high school existence while also grasping the responsibilities of being his alter-ego Spider-Man, under the tutelage of his new mentor Tony Stark (Downey Jr). However, when a threat emerges in the form of scavenger-turned-criminal Adrian Toomes aka The Vulture (Keaton), Parker must find a way to save the day while also proving to those around him that he’s just more than a mere kid with superpowers…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• After making his scene-stealing MCU debut in Captain America: Civil War, Tom Holland’s lovable take on the famed webslinger headlines his first in-universe movie (made possible through an agreement between Disney’s Marvel Studios and Sony, which owns distribution rights)
• Director Jon Watts brings the action back to Peter Parker’s high school roots, with the introduction of several memorable teen characters like Zendaya’s MJ and Jacob Batalon’s loyal sidekick Ned
• Michael Keaton shines as an intimidating take on the classic Spidey villain known as the Vulture, while Robert Downey Jr. offers some wise(ass) advice as Tony Stark
• It blends formidable superhero action with John Hughes teen comedy, with surprisingly worthwhile results
• The film’s warm reception with critics and audiences cemented this new Spider-Man’s position in the MCU, paving the way for many other future appearances in this hero-dominated universe

Spider-Man: Homecoming is showing in cinemas from Friday 6 September 2024

CAST: Orson Welles, Joseph Cotten, Valli, Trevor Howard, Paul Hoerbiger, Ernst Deutsch, Erich Ponto, Siegfried Breuer, Hedwig Bleibtreu, Bernard Lee, Wilfrid Hyde-White

CREW: Carol Reed (director, producer), Graham Greene (writer), Alexander Korda and David O. Selznick (producers), Anton Karas (composer), Robert Krasker (cinematographer), Oswald Hafenrichter (editor)

PLOT: In post-war Europe, American writer Holly Martins (Cotton) arrives in Allied-occupied Vienna to work for his friend Harry Lime (Welles), only to find that Lime has unexpectedly died. Holly stays in the city to investigate Lime’s death, only to fall for his late friend’s lover Anna Schmidt (Valli), before then uncovering the shocking truth…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• The classic film noir returns to the big screen in time for its milestone 75th anniversary
• Screen legend Orson Welles takes on a memorable supporting role under the direction of the equally legendary filmmaker Carol Reed
• Filming took place amidst the actual then-ruins of post-war Vienna, which accompanied by the harsh visual style emphasised the growing cynicism during those early days of the Cold War
• It is fondly remembered for its atmospheric black-and-white cinematography, which was heavily influenced by German expressionism, and also earned the film its only Academy Award
• Many consider it to be one of the greatest films of all time, with notable filmmakers like Akira Kurosawa and Martin Scorsese labelling it as one of their most essential go-to movies

The Third Man is showing in cinemas from Friday 6 September 2024