This Week’s Movie Menu (21 – 27 October 2024)

Halloween is almost upon us, but this week’s film releases are already here to terrify avid viewers, including a monstrous Marvel sequel, a sinister mother-in-law horror, and the big-screen return of not one but two slasher icons…

Movie of the Week

 

Venom: The Last Dance (2024, dir. Kelly Marcel)

CAST: Tom Hardy, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Juno Temple, Rhys Ifans, Peggy Lu, Alanna Ubach, Stephen Graham, Clark Backo, Cristo Fernández

CREW: Kelly Marcel (director, writer, producer), Avi Arad, Tom Hardy, Hutch Parker, Amy Pascal and Matt Tolmach (producers), Dan Deacon (composer), Fabian Wagner (cinematographer), Mark Sanger (editor)

PLOT: Eddie Brock (Hardy) and the symbiote Venom are forced to go on the run when they are hunted by foes from their respective worlds, forcing them to come to a potentially devastating decision that could change their dynamic forever…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

  • Tom Hardy coats himself in CGI symbiote goo for the third and final entry in the popular Spider-Man spin-off series
  • Kelly Marcel, a screenwriter on both previous Venom films, makes her directorial debut with the human/symbiote double-act’s most personal adventure to date
  • There’s some mysterious foes to keep an eye out for, including Chiwetel Ejiofor’s untrustworthy military soldier, and the infamous symbiote creator Knull
  • Expect plenty of the oddball humour and comic-book violence that made the last two films so successful, much of it carried by Hardy’s deep commitment to the out-there material
  • With promises of a sombre conclusion, who knows where (if anywhere) this franchise will end up going next?

Venom: The Last Dance is showing in cinemas from Friday 25 October 2024

What’s Showing in Cinemas This Week?

 

The Room Next Door (2024, dir. Pedro Almodóvar)

CAST: Tilda Swinton, Julianne Moore, John Turturro, Alessandro Nivola, Juan Diego Botta, Melina Matthews, Raúl Arévalo, Victoria Luengo, Esther McGregor, Alex Høgh Andersen, Alvise Rigo

CREW: Pedro Almodóvar (director, writer), Agustín Almodóvar (producer), Alberto Iglesias (composer), Eduard Grau (cinematographer), Teresa Font (editor)

PLOT: Martha (Swinton) and Ingrid (Moore) are close friends who reunite after years of little to no contact, after Martha makes a poignant request…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

  • Pedro Almodóvar, the iconic Spanish auteur, makes his English-language feature debut with a powerful and sweet study of friendship
  • Oscar-winners Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore put in a sublime pair of lead performances as women forced into an extremely emotional situation
  • It explores some heavy topics that may be upsetting for some viewers to initially handle, but Almodóvar ensures that they are executed with firm respect
  • The film won the Golden Lion prize at this year’s Venice Film Festival, marking Almodóvar’s first claiming of the top prize at a major international film festival
  • Containing many of the filmmaker’s recognisable trademarks within the English language, this is an Almodóvar film that will undoubtedly feel more universal than ever

The Room Next Door is showing in cinemas from Friday 25 October 2024

 

The Front Room (2024, dirs. Max Eggers and Sam Eggers)

CAST: Brandy, Kathryn Hunter, Andrew Burnap, Neal Huff, Mary Testa

CREW: Max Eggers and Sam Eggers (directors, writers), Babak Anvari, David Hinojosa, Julia Oh and Lucan Toh (producers), Marcelo Zarvos (composer), Ava Berkofsky (cinematographer), Eric Kissack and Benjamin Rodriguez Jr. (editors)

PLOT: Belinda (Brandy), a heavily pregnant woman, and her husband Norman (Burnap) attend the funeral of his father, where they receive an offer from Norman’s widowed mother Solange (Hunter): if the couple let her stay with them for her final days, then they will receive her hefty inheritance. However, Solange quickly makes Belinda’s life a living hell…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

  • Mother-in-laws have never been more terrifying than the one in this chilling psychological horror
  • The iconic Brandy co-stars opposite character actor Kathryn Hunter, the latter playing an old woman who’s far from friendly
  • It is the directorial debut of siblings Max and Sam Eggers – and if you think that surname is familiar, they are indeed the brothers of acclaimed auteur Robert Eggers!
  • They adapt the Susan Hill short story of the same name, but with some amendments that make the sinister premise more unpredictable
  • It’s bound to leave anyone who may be distrustful of their in-laws feeling even more so afterwards!

The Front Room is showing in cinemas from Friday 25 October 2024

 

Dahomey (2024, dir. Mati Diop)

CAST: Makenzy Orcel

CREW: Mati Diop (director, writer, producer), Judith Lou Lévy and Eve Robin (producers), Wally Badarou and Dean Blunt (composers), Joséphine Drouin-Viallard (cinematographer), Gabriel Gonzalez (editor)

PLOT: The stories behind numerous artefacts from the ancient West African Kingdom of Dahomey, which were put on display in a museum in Paris before being returned to Benin…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

  • Documentarian Mati Diop explores the rich history in what remains of an ancient African kingdom
  • The filmmaker blends fact and fiction to educate audiences about Dahomey’s significance, as well as its legacy more than a century since its demise
  • It won the coveted Golden Bear award at this year’s Berlin Film Festival, and has been selected as Senegal’s entry for this year’s International Feature Film Oscar
  • Haitian writer Makenzy Orcel provides narration for a section involving a statue of Dahomey’s King Ghézo
  • Though it’s not quite as action-packed as the last major film about the Kingdom of Dahomey – that being the Viola Davis historical drama The Woman King – it is still a fascinating look at important ancient history

Dahomey is showing in cinemas from Friday 25 October 2024

 

Black Box Diaries (2024, dir. Shiori Itō)

CAST: Shiori Itō

CREW: Shiori Itō (director, writer, producer), Hanna Aqvilin and Eric Nyari (producers), Mark De Gli Antoni (composer), Yuta Okamura (cinematographer), Ema Ryan Yamazaki (editor)

PLOT: Shiori Itō, a journalist in Japan, investigates her own sexual assault by a high-profile figure, and in doing so she exposes the flaws within her country’s judicial and societal laws…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

  • This powerful documentary sees journalist and filmmaker Shiori Itō put her own landmark case in the spotlight
  • Itō, whose assault at the hands of a prominent public figure launched a years-long search for justice, leaves no stone unturned as she dives deeper into the conspiracy surrounding the incident
  • Some shocking connections are made to powerful politicians, including then-Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who may have helped cover up the truth in favour of the perpetrator
  • We witness Itō encountering countless obstacles in her investigation, as well as resounding support in the wake of the #MeToo movement
  • It all highlights the disturbing truth that those in power are far less likely to feel the consequences of their actions than those without, but Itō’s resilience shows how easy it is to never give up on seeking accountability

Black Box Diaries is showing in cinemas from Friday 25 October 2024

What’s Showing At Home This Week?

 

Don’t Move (2024, dirs. Brian Netto and Adam Schindler)

CAST: Kelsey Asbille, Finn Wittrock, Daniel Francis, Moray Treadwell

CREW: Brian Netto and Adam Schindler (directors), T.J. Cimfel and David White (writers), Zainab Azizi, Alex Lebovici, Sam Raimi and Sarah Sarandos (producers), Mark Korven and Michelle Osis (composers), Zach Kuperstein (cinematographer), Josh Ethier (editor)

PLOT: Whilst hiking in the middle of the woods, Iris (Asbille) is suddenly injected with a paralytic agent by serial killer Richard (Wittrock), which will shut down her entire body in 20 minutes. Now, she must try and escape as she slowly loses her ability to walk, speak, and eventually move…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

  • This terrifying horror-thriller shows what it is to be trapped in an increasingly inescapable situation
  • Kelsey Asbille puts in a truly physical performance as she gradually decreases her body movements as the agent inside her character takes holds
  • Horror legend Sam Raimi is one of the producers, so you know that there is some seriously messed-up stuff also going on in this plot!
  • It all unfolds in real-time as the character tries to find ways to keep herself moving in order to not become the latest victim of Finn Wittrock’s devious murderer
  • You won’t be able to take your eyes off the screen as things get progressively worse for this growingly helpless character

Don’t Move is streaming exclusively on Netflix from Friday 25 October 2024

 

Canary Black (2024, dir. Pierre Morel)

CAST: Kate Beckinsale, Rupert Friend, Ray Stevenson, Saffron Burrows, Ben Miles, Goran Kostić, Michael Brandon, Charles Nishikawa

CREW: Pierre Morel (director), Matthew Kennedy (writer), Jeff Elliott, Carsten H.W. Lorenz, Sébastien Raybaud, Renee Tab, Christopher Tuffin and John Zois (producers), Jessica Rose Weiss (composer), Thierry Arbogast (cinematographer), Tania Goding (editor)

PLOT: After terrorists kidnap her husband (Friend), CIA operative Avery Graves (Beckinsale) is forced to betray her country by retrieving coveted intelligence that could, in the wrong hands, have dire consequences for the rest of the world…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

  • Kate Beckinsale is back in action hero mode as she fights her way through this intense spy thriller
  • She is teamed with director Pierre Morel, best known as the filmmaker behind the first Taken movie
  • Some lucrative action choreography provides endless thrills for the audience to get excited over
  • It also features one of the final performances of the late Ray Stevenson, who died shortly after filming
  • This is a real treat for anyone who craves some good old-fashioned action entertainment to cosy on up to

Canary Black is streaming exclusively on Prime Video from Thursday 24th October 2024

What’s Returning to Cinemas This Week?

 

A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984, dir. Wes Craven)

CAST: Heather Langenkamp, Robert Englund, Johnny Depp, Ronee Blakley, John Saxon, Amanda Wyss, Nick Corri, Leslie Hoffman, Joseph Whipp, Charles Fleischer, Lin Shaye

CREW: Wes Craven (director, writer), Robert Shaye (producer), Charles Bernstein (composer), Jacques Haitkin (cinematographer), Pat McMahon and Rick Shaine (editors)

PLOT: A group of teenagers, including Nancy Thompson (Langenkamp), find themselves mysterious targeted in their own dreams by an menacing figure known as Freddy Krueger (Englund), and must find a way to stop his murderous spree before it’s too late…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

  • Wes Craven’s iconic slasher is back on the big screen in celebration of its 40th anniversary
  • It marked the debut of the supernatural child killer Freddy Krueger (as portrayed by the equally legendary Robert Englund), who has become one of the most recognisable faces of the overall horror genre
  • The film became a huge critical and commercial success, launching a franchise filled with several sequels, a TV series, video games, and even a crossover with fellow slasher icon Jason Voorhees
  • It also launched then-new studio New Line Cinema into the stratosphere, earning it the nickname “The House That Freddy Built”
  • If you’ve never had the chance to experience this horrifying classic in cinemas, then now – and especially before Halloween – is the perfect opportunity

A Nightmare on Elm Street is showing in cinemas from Friday 25 October 2024

 

Watership Down (1978, dir. Martin Rosen)

CAST: John Hurt, Richard Briers, Michael Graham Cox, John Bennett, Ralph Richardson, Simon Cadell, Terence Rigby, Roy Kinnear, Richard O’Callahan, Denholm Elliott, Lynn Farleigh, Mary Maddox, Zero Mostel, Harry Andrews, Hannah Gordon, Nigel Hawthorne, Clifton Jones, Derek Griffiths, Michael Hordern, Joss Ackland, Michelle Price

CREW: Martin Rosen (director, writer, producer), Angela Morley (composer), Terry Rawlings (editor)

PLOT: A colony of rabbits, led by Hazel (Hurt) and his brother Fiver (Briers), escape their soon to be demolished warren and head toward a new safe haven, encountering many perils along the way…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

  • The groundbreaking British animated feature returns with an all-new 4K restoration
  • Adapted from Richard Adams’ book of the same name, the film has become a cult classic for its dark themes and emotional storytelling
  • Among the notable voice cast is screen legend John Hurt, as a rabbit plagued by premonitions, as well as the final performance of comedic actor Zero Mostel, as a friendly gull
  • It is perhaps most famous for its surreal imagery, as set to Art Garfunkel’s hit single “Bright Eyes”, which topped the UK charts after its release
  • Though it may be too intense for some, this is an animated classic that people of all ages should experience at least once in their lives

Watership Down is showing in cinemas from Friday 25 October 2024

 

Back to the Future Part II (1989, dir. Robert Zemeckis)

CAST: Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Thomas F. Wilson, Elisabeth Shue, Jeffrey Weissman, James Tolkan, Billy Zane, Casey Siemaszko, J.J. Cohen, Ricky Dean Logan, Darlene Vogel, Jason Scott Lee, Stephanie E. Williams, Flea, James Ishida

CREW: Robert Zemeckis (director), Bob Gale (writer, producer), Neil Canton (producer), Alan Silvestri (composer), Dean Cundey (cinematographer), Harry Keramidas and Arthur Schmidt (editors)

PLOT: Marty McFly (Fox) travels with Dr. Emmett Brown (Lloyd) to the futuristic year of 2015, where he picks up a sports almanac filled with useful knowledge about past sporting games, which soon falls into the hands of an elderly Biff Tannen (Wilson). Upon returning to 1985, Marty finds that Hill Valley has become corrupted by a now-powerful Biff, and that the only way to restore the proper timeline is to stop Biff from giving the almanac to his younger self in 1955…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

  • The first of two sequels to Robert Zemeckis’s all-time sci-fi classic is itself back on the big screen, for its 35th anniversary (and on the actual October 21st date, to boot!)
  • Filmed back-to-back with Part III – to be released the following year – the sequel transports viewers to a fantastical version of the then-futuristic year of 2015, filled with hoverboards, self-lacing shoes, and the holographic Jaws 19 (and yes, the shark still looks fake)
  • We also get to see a more horrifying alternate version of 1985, when Thomas F. Wilson’s Biff (aka the greatest movie bully of all time) has essentially become Donald Trump!
  • Zemeckis and writer/producer Bob Gale find fun and interesting ways to revisit the events of the previous film without feeling like a complete rehash
  • There’s plenty of big-screen entertainment for all, and neatly sets up events for the third and final movie in the beloved trilogy

Back to the Future Part II is showing in cinemas from Monday 21 October 2024

 

Halloween (1978, dir. John Carpenter)

CAST: Donald Pleasance, Jamie Lee Curtis, Nick Castle, Nancy Kyes, P.J. Soles, Charles Cyphers, Kyle Richards, Brian Andrews, John Michael Graham, Nancy Stephens, Arthur Malet, Mickey Yablans, Brent Le Page, Adam Hollander, Robert Phalen, Sandy Johnson, Peter Griffith, David Kyle Foster, Tony Moran, Will Sandin

CREW: John Carpenter (director, writer, producer, composer), Debra Hill (writer, producer), Dean Cundey (cinematographer), Charles Bornstein and Tommy Wallace (editors)

PLOT: Michael Myers (Castle), an incarcerated killer, escapes custody and heads back to his hometown of Haddonfield, where he stalks and sets his murderous focus on teenage babysitter Laurie Strode (Curtis) and her friends on Halloween night. Meanwhile, Michael’s psychiatrist Dr. Samuel Loomis (Pleasance) is in close pursuit of his patient…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

  • The original horror classic that launched not just its own franchise but the slasher subgenre as a whole is back on the big screen in time for the titular holiday
  • John Carpenter establishes a moody and unsettling atmosphere as the evil Michael Myers mercilessly slaughters anyone in his path
  • Donald Pleasance adds gravitas as the long-suffering Dr. Loomis, while Jamie Lee Curtis saw her stardom skyrocket following her turn in this movie (which she would reprise on several occasions in other sequels)
  • Originally made for a mere $300,000, the film’s enormous box office success essentially birthed the popularity of low-budget slashers throughout the following decades
  • Today, it is seen as one of the most influential movies of all time, inspiring numerous genre filmmakers that would go on to create their own frightening features to match its malicious spirit

Halloween is showing in cinemas from Friday 25 October 2024

That’s about it for this week – be sure to come back next week for a whole new set of movies to work up an appetite for!

Want to see our past menus?

Want to find a specific film?

Search for it in the box below:

Small Things Like These (2024, dir. Tim Mielants)

In 80s Ireland, a coalman makes a shocking discovery…

Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story (2024, dirs. Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui)

The extraordinary life and career of iconic Superman actor Christopher Reeve…

Heretic (2024, dirs. Scott Beck and Bryan Woods)

A sinister man subjects two missionaries to his twisted view of faith…

Juror #2 (2024, dir. Clint Eastwood)

Whilst on the jury for a murder trial, a man realises he may be the real perpetrator…

Anora (2024, dir. Sean Baker)

A New York sex worker becomes involved with a young Russian man…

The Front Room (2024, dirs. Max Eggers and Sam Eggers)

A pregnant woman becomes increasingly disturbed by her ailing stepmother-in-law…

The Room Next Door (2024, dir. Pedro Almodóvar)

Two old friends are reunited under difficult circumstances…

Venom: The Last Dance (2024, dir. Kelly Marcel)

Eddie Brock and his symbiote partner Venom go on the run…

Nightbitch (2024, dir. Marielle Heller) – BFI London Film Festival

An overworked mother finds herself transforming into a dog…

Julie Keeps Quiet (2024, dir. Leonardo Van Dijl) – BFI London Film Festival

A tennis prodigy mysteriously refuses to speak up in the wake of a scandal…

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