Movie of the Week

• PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie

Cinemas

• The Miracle Club
• Sumotherhood
• Lies We Tell
• Dalíland
• Spooky Night: The Spirit of Halloween
• Smoke Sauna Sisterhood
• Cassius X: Becoming Ali
• Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour

Streaming/On-Demand

• The Burial
• Slotherhouse
• Dangerous Waters
• Haunting of the Queen Mary

Re-Releases

• Friday the 13th
• Mean Streets
• Frozen

CAST: Mckenna Grace, Taraji P. Henson, Marsai Martin, Christian Convery, Kim Kardashian, North West, Saint West, Chris Rock, James Marsden, Kristen Bell, Finn Lee-Epp, Ron Pardo, Lil Rel Howery, Serena Williams, Alan Kim, Brice Gonzalez, Luxton Handspiker, Christian Corrao, Callum Shoniker, Nylan Parthipan, Kim Roberts

CREW: Cal Brunker (director, writer), Bob Barlen (writer), Laura Clunie, Jennifer Dodge and Toni Stevens (producers), Pinar Toprak (composer), Ed Fuller (editor)

PLOT: When a mysterious asteroid crash-lands in Adventure City, home to the heroic canine group PAW Patrol, it gives the young pups crystals that grants them superpowers, transforming them into the Mighty Pups. However, their arch-nemesis Mayor Humdinger (Pardo) breaks out of jail, and teams up with scientist Victoria Vance (Henson) to steal the pup’s crystals for themselves…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• The second feature-length adventure featuring everyone’s favourite pups is their most heroic and adventurous yet
• All your favourite characters are here, from the noble police puppy Chase, to the ever-devious Mayor Humdinger
• As with the previous film, there are plenty of high-profile guest voices, including Taraji P. Henson, Chris Rock, James Marsden, and even tennis icon Serena Williams
• Reality TV fans will be excited to know that not only is Kim Kardashian in this movie, but her children North and Saint West, also feature in small roles
• It’s a perfectly pleasant cinema treat for families, just in time for the upcoming half-term

PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie is showing in cinemas from Friday 13th October 2023

CAST: Laura Linney, Kathy Bates, Maggie Smith, Stephen Rea, Anges O’Casey, Mark McKenna, Niall Buggy, Hazel Doupe, Mark O’Halloran, Lesley Conroy, Brenda Fricker

CREW: Thaddeus O’Sullivan (director), Joshua D. Maurer (writer, producer), Timothy Prager and Jimmy Smallhorne (writers), Larry Bass, Chris Curling, Aaron Farrell, John P. Gleeson, Oisín O’Neill and Alixandre Witlin (producers), Edmund Butt (composer), John Conroy (cinematographer), Alex Mackie (editor)

PLOT: In 1967, Lily (Smith), Eileen (Bates) and Dolly (O‘Casey) are three generations of women living in the small working-class community of Ballygar in Dublin, where they are close friends. When they win a pilgrimage to the sacred French town of Lourdes, their excitement is dampened by the unexpected arrival of their estranged friend Chrissy (Linney), who has returned for her mother’s funeral, and joins the women on their journey as they contend with their past mistakes…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• This delightful comedy-drama is a pleasant excuse to watch some of the most legendary actors working today do what they do best
• Said legends include Dame Maggie Smith, Kathy Bates, and Laura Linney in roles that are worthy of their iconic acting status
• The film takes its viewers on a wondrous spiritual journey from the streets of Dublin to the holy city of Lourdes in France
• It’s already become a mini-hit in the US, where audience demand was so large for the mid-July release that distributors even brought it back in more cinemas a month later!
• As inoffensive and gentle as they come, it’s a strong choice to take your parents or grandparents to see

The Miracle Club is showing in cinemas from Friday 13th October 2023

CAST: Adam Deacon, Jazzie Zonzolo, Richie Campbell, Eddie Kadi, Jennifer Saunders, Peter Serafinowicz, London Hughes, Ed Sheeran, Kevin Bishop, Danny Sapani, Leomie Anderson, Jaime Winstone, Vas Blackwood, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, Jeremy Corbyn, Denise Van Outen, Charlie Sloth, Tamzin Outhwaite, Babatunde Aléshé, Jammer, Megaman

CREW: Adam Deacon (director, writer, producer), Jazzie Zonzolo (writer, producer), Michael Vu (writer), Finn Bruce (producer), Simon Stolland (cinematographer), Ash White and Mark Williams (editors)

PLOT: Riko (Deacon) and Kane (Zonzolo), two friends struggling to make it in life, turn to crime in order to pay their debts, only to be publicly humiliated in the process. However, a misunderstanding brings them to the attention of a tough East London firm, which puts both of them in the firing line…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• The long-awaited follow-up to the cult British urban spoof Anuvahood brings back all the silliness for a brand-new crazy adventure
• BAFTA-winner Adam Deacon makes his comeback to the film world, after a prolonged absence due to struggles with mental health
• In addition to starring, Deacon also co-writes and directs this parody of the gritty dramas that made his name, including Kidulthood and Shank
• There’s a serious who’s-who of British talent popping up in various small roles, from Jennifer Saunders to Ed Sheeran to, in perhaps the most surprising cameo of the year, former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn!
• Coming at a time when the urban Brit flick has practically disappeared, it will be interesting to see how, or even if, this parody can still keep up with the times

Sumotherhood is showing in cinemas from Friday 13th October 2023

CAST: Agnes O’Casey, David Wilmot, Holly Sturton, Chris Walley, Eleanor Methven, Grainne Keenan, Mark Doherty, Elaine O’Dwyer, John Olohan, Kieran Roche

CREW: Lisa Mulcahy (director), Elisabeth Gooch (writer), Ruth Carter (producer), Aza Hand (composer), Eleanor Bowman (cinematographer), Weronika Kaminska (editor)

PLOT: In 19th century Ireland, newly orphaned 18-year-old Maud (O’Casey) lives alone in an isolated manor, having inherited her father’s large fortune. When her charming but devious Uncle Silas (Wilmot) is anointed Maud’s guardian, he and his family attempt to lay claim to Maud’s wealth, only for them to severely underestimate the lengths that Maud will go to in order to protect herself…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• This dark gothic historical thriller plays a number of psychological tricks on the audience to keep them guessing at every turn
• It is adapted from the classic gothic novel Uncle Silas by J. Sheridan Le Fanu, who was also known for subversive vampire horror Carmilla (which was recently adapted into a feature)
• Agnes O’Casey, who can also be seen in this week’s The Miracle Club, delivers a stern lead performance opposite her charismatic co-star David Wilmot as the sinister Uncle Silas
• There are strong whiffs of Lady Macbeth, the dark historical thriller that turned Florence Pugh into a star, with its harsh and unforgiving tendencies
• Its themes of oppression, gaslighting and further psychological torture make it a highly relevant piece of feminist cinema to keep an eye out for

Lies We Tell is showing in cinemas from Friday 13th October 2023

CAST: Ben Kingsley, Barbara Sukowa, Christopher Briney, Rupert Graves, Alexander Beyer, Andreja Pejić, Suki Waterhouse, Ezra Miller, Avital Lvova, Mark McKenna, Zachary Nachbar-Seckel, Joella Hinson-King, Paul Hilton, Irina Leoncio, Alberto Maneiro, Matthew James Ovens, Merce Ribot, Jack Shalloo, Gavin Spokes

CREW: Mary Harron (director), John Walsh (writer), Daniel Brunt, Chris Curling, Edward R. Pressman, Sam Pressman and David O. Sacks (producers), Edmund Butt (composer), Marcel Zyskind (cinematographer), Alex Mackie (editor)

PLOT: In 1970s New York, gallery assistant James (Briney) is assigned to help the celebrated surrealist artist Salvador Dalí (Kingsley) with a new art show. James soon becomes immersed within the bohemian lifestyle of the artist, as well as his unorthodox marriage to his wife Gala (Sukowa), but as he continues to follow Dalí during his late-career surge, he begins to see a much different portrait of the man…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• The eccentric world of legendary artist Salvador Dalí is the focus of this fittingly oddball historical drama
• Ben Kingsley portrays the Spanish figure himself, and look out for a turn by a certain DC superhero as the younger version of Dalí
• Mary Harron, the director best known for cult classic American Psycho, returns after a five-year absence to bring this film to reality
• The bohemian art scene of the 70s is touched upon with all its hedonism and cult-like worship of exterior thinkers
• Those fascinated with the strange but timeless works of this artist will be most interested in this more grounded take on the man behind the madness

Dalíland is showing in cinemas from Friday 13th October 2023

CAST: Donavan Colan, Jaiden J. Smith, Dylan Martin Frankel, Marissa Reyes, Rachael Leigh Cook, Christopher Lloyd, Marla Gibbs

CREW: David Poag (director), Billie Bates (writer), Noor Ahmed, Michael Hagerty and Shannon Houchins (producers), Jordan Lehning (composer), Andy Kugler (cinematographer), Joel Griffen (editor)

PLOT: Jake (Colan), Bo (Smith) and Carson (Frankel) are three young friends who, upon discovering that a new Halloween store has opened up in town, dare each other to spend a night locked inside. However, they soon discover that the store is haunted by the angered spirit of an evil man named Alec Windsor (Lloyd), leaving the friends to find a way to survive the night, as well as the store’s numerous animatronics that Windsor has possessed…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• This family-friendly horror delivers plenty of Goosebumps-style scares that are frightfully fun
• It was produced in partnership with Spirit Halloween, the popular American store chain that annually sells Halloween costumes and props
• The focus on its young cast brings about charming comparisons to the likes of The Goonies, Monster Squad and Gremlins
• Some of the more familiar faces in this cast include former teen star Rachael Leigh Cook, and the legendary Christopher Lloyd as the evil spirit at its centre
• It’s the perfect film for families to go and see to get in the mood for this year’s Halloween festivities

Spooky Night: The Spirit of Halloween is showing in cinemas from Friday 13th October 2023

CAST: Kadi Kivilo

CREW: Anna Hints (director, writer, editor), Marianne Ostrat (producer), Edvard Egilsson and EETER (composers), Ants Tammik (cinematographer), Qutaiba Barhamji, Hendrik Mägar, Martin Männik and Tushar Prakash (editors)

PLOT: A group of women gather together at a remote smoke sauna, where they share their deepest secrets and describe intimate encounters as they wash the shame from their bodies and reemerge with a renewed sense of community…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• The joys of womanhood are shared in this unique and innovative new Estonian documentary
• A relaxing woodland sauna is the setting for a number of personal tales recited for the camera (and it might just be enough to inspire a similarly relaxing getaway of your own!)
• It often presents various parts of the female body within a non-sexualised and liberating context
• The film’s director, Anna Hints, was awarded the Directing Award in World Cinema Documentary at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, where it debuted to universal praise
• A safe space is provided for women who can relate to the everyday struggles of societal sexism that are talked about here

Smoke Sauna Sisterhood is showing in cinemas from Friday 13th October 2023

CAST: Muhammad Ali, Jim Lampley, Attallah Shabazz, Dee Dee Sharp, Thomas Hauser, Jerry Izenberg, Robert Lipsyte

CREW: Muta’Ali Muhammad (director), Jevon Frank and Robert Neill (producers), Ollie Howell (composer), Marcos Durian (cinematographer), Charlie Robinson (editor)

PLOT: The story of boxer Cassius Clay, whose rise from working-class rookie to influential world heavyweight champion ranks among the most fascinating in the history of the sport, as is his induction into the Nation of Islam and henceforth being known as Muhammad Ali…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• One of the greatest athletes of all time is the subject of an informative and celebratory new documentary from filmmaker Muta’Ali Muhammad, which is based on Stuart Cosgrove’s book of the same name
• The film mixes together archival footage of Muhammad Ali’s numerous victories in the boxing ring with interviews of people who knew him best
• His publicised campaigning for civil rights, his friendship with iconic activists Elijah Muhammad and Malcolm X, and his subsequent conversion to Islam all form central topics throughout the film
• Some of the notable interviewees include Malcolm X’s daughter Attallah Shabazz, and sports journalist Jerry Izenberg
• Fans of the legendary boxer might learn something new about the self-proclaimed “greatest”

Cassius X: Becoming Ali is showing in cinemas from Friday 13th October 2023

CAST: Taylor Swift

CREW: Sam Wrench (director), Taylor Swift (producer, composer), TBA (cinematographer), TBA (editor)

PLOT: Worldwide music sensation Taylor Swift performs several of her best-known songs to a sold-out stadium during her “Eras” tour…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• Taylor Swift does what she does best on the big screen, in this enlivening recording of her sold-out performance at the SoFi Stadium in California
• The release of this movie is highly unconventional, as Swift bypassed major studios to make a deal directly with exhibitors to screen the film, which will see them receive 43% of the box-office earnings as a result
• So far, the gamble is paying off massively, with pre-sale tickets breaking records left and right, with a projected opening weekend that’s north of $100 million in the US alone
• It has vastly scrambled the film release schedule, with numerous films like The Exorcist: Believer swapping release dates to get out of its way, and even the likes of Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon abandoning its planned limited run around the same time
• No matter what, it will give Swift fans unable to attend the tour in person a much-needed opportunity to experience it with their own eyes, and a chance to sing along to some of the singer’s greatest hits

Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour is showing in cinemas from Friday 13th October 2023

CAST: Jamie Foxx, Tommy Lee Jones, Jurnee Smollett, Mamoudou Athie, Bill Camp, Dorian Missick, Pamela Reed, Amanda Warren, Jim Klock, Alan Ruck, Billy Slaughter, Lance E. Nichols

CREW: Maggie Betts (director, writer), Doug Wright (writer), Jamie Foxx, Jenette Kahn, Celine Rattray, Adam Richman, Robert Shriver, Trudie Styler and Datari Turner (producers), Michael Abels (composer), Maryse Alberti (cinematographer), Jay Cassidy and Lee Percy (editors)

PLOT: In 1995, personal injury lawyer Willie E. Gary (Foxx) is hired by bankrupt funeral homeowner Jerry O’Keefe (Jones), who is suing businessman Raymond Loewen (Camp) as a result of a contractual dispute. As Gary sets out to expose the corporate corruption that had wronged his client, he develops an unlikely bond with O’Keefe that helps them through their legal woes…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• This zippy and witty legal drama dramatizes the eye-opening case that brought a top-ranking company to its knees
• Jamie Foxx is on charismatic form as real-life lawyer Willie E. Gary, while Tommy Lee Jones provides some strong support as his wronged client Jerry O’Keefe
• It is the sophomore narrative feature for director and co-writer Maggie Betts, who previously won acclaim for her religious drama Novitiate
• Betts and co-writer Doug Wright based the film on a 1999 New Yorker article of the same name, which detailed the unexpected revelations that came from the original trial
• Filled with good-hearted humour and captivating courtroom thrills, you’ll want to plead guilty for enjoying it too much!

The Burial is streaming exclusively on Prime Video from Friday 13th October 2023

CAST: Lisa Ambalavanar, Stefan Kapičić, Rudi Rok, Sydney Craven, Olivia Rouyre, Bianca Beckles-Rose, Tiff Stevenson, Tiana Upcheva, Grace Patterson, Kelly Lynn Reiter, Sutter Nolan

CREW: Matthew Goodhue (director), Bradley Fowler (writer, producer), Mark David (producer, cinematographer), Cady Lanigan (producer), Sam Ewing (composer), Mike Mendez (editor)

PLOT: College girl Emily Young (Ambalavanar) seeks to win an upcoming election to determine the next president of her sorority, so she adopts an adorable sloth named Alpha in an attempt to gain hearts and votes. However, when a number of bodies begin to pile up, Emily realises that the killer is none other than her cuddly new mascot…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• Falling right into the category of “wait, is this real?!” horror movies is this outrageous horror-comedy with a killer sloth
• Don’t let the animal’s cuteness fool you, as it turns out to be a vicious killer that’s capable of hilariously gory murder that gets a laugh and a shock every time
• The project reportedly originated from screenwriter Bradley Fowler coming up with the dumbest idea that he could think of for a horror movie script
• There’s a healthy mix of practical effects, including puppetry used to bring the sloth to life, to give it the vibe of something like Gremlins
• It knows fully well of how silly its concept is, and makes the most of it while still giving the viewer a fun time

Slotherhouse is streaming exclusively on Paramount+ from Thursday 12th October 2023

CAST: Odeya Rush, Saffron Burrows, Ray Liotta, Eric Dane, Sala Baker, Omid Zader, Alexya Garcia, Thalia Besson, Roy Elghanayan

CREW: John Barr (director, cinematographer), Mark Jackson (writer), Marc Goldberg and Suza Horvat (producers), Zak McNeil (composer), Emma Gaffney and Roger Cropley II (editors)

PLOT: 19-year-old Rose (Rush) and her mother Alma (Burrows) are invited by Alma’s new boyfriend Derek (Dane) to accompany him on a sailing trip to Bermuda. However, when a vicious attack ends in tragedy, Rose sets out to exact vengeance and uncover Derek’s dark past, as well as his connection to a mysterious Captain (Liotta)…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• This gripping survival thriller is brutal in its pursuit of cold-blooded revenge
• Young actor Odeya Rush delivers a fierce lead performance that puts her in the same category as fellow action heroes like John McClane and Ellen Ripley
• Sadly, it is one of the final movies to feature actor Ray Liotta, who passed away during the filming of this movie
• Shot in the luscious Dominican Republic, there are some gorgeous landscapes to offset the tense sequences
• With its surprising and even bleak turns, this is a survival/revenge thriller like few before it

Dangerous Waters is available to rent/buy on digital platforms from Friday 13th October 2023

CAST: Alice Eve, Joel Fry, Lenny Rush, Angus Wright, Jim Piddock, Will Coban, Tim Downie

CREW: Gary Shore (director, writer), Laurie Cook, Nicholas Ferrall, Jason Newmark, Thorsten Schumacher, Nigel Sinclair, Lars Sylvest and Brett Tomberlin (producers), Tiffany Ashton, Jason Livesay and Nolan Livesay (composers), Isaac Bauman (cinematographer), Colin Campbell (editor)

PLOT: In modern-day California, Erin (Eve) and Patrick (Fry) visit the famed RMS Queen Mary with their young son Lukas (Rush), only for the family to be drawn into the ship’s dark and supernatural history…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• The notorious RMS Queen Mary, known for its reported paranormal activity, is the setting for this terrifying new supernatural horror
• The ship’s disturbing past and its touristic present collide in a decades-spanning story detailing some of the most horrifying stories to emerge from the vessel
• Alice Eve and Joel Fry give some suitably scared performances, along with popular new talent Lenny Rush (a recent BAFTA winner for his hilarious work in the hit show Am I Being Unreasonable?)
• The film’s writer and director Gary Shore uses plenty of in-camera tricks and clever plot twists to keep the viewer thoroughly engaged in the time-bending story
• It’s a must-watch for paranormal enthusiasts who are eager to have some of their theories about the famously haunted ship represented on the screen!

Haunting of the Queen Mary is available to rent/buy on digital platforms from Monday 9th October 2023

CAST: Betsy Palmer, Adrienne King, Harry Crosby, Laurie Bartram, Mark Nelson, Jeannine Taylor, Robbi Morgan, Kevin Bacon, Peter Brouwer, Rex Everhart, Ronn Carroll, Walt Gorney, Willie Adams, Debra S. Hayes, Sally Anne Golden, Ari Lehman

CREW: Sean S. Cunningham (director, producer), Victor Miller (writer), Harry Manfredini (composer), Barry Adams (cinematographer), Bill Freda (editor)

PLOT: A group of summer camp counsellors gather to reopen the infamous Camp Crystal Lake, where a young boy named Jason drowned several years prior. However, the counsellors soon start to be murdered by a mysterious figure, out for deadly revenge…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• The first entry in the iconic slasher franchise is back to commemorate yet another Friday the 13th on our calendar year – and in the Halloween month of October, no less!
• Witness the beginning of a deadly crusade at Camp Crystal Lake, home to the hockey-masked serial killer himself Jason Voorhees (though he may or may not even be in this particular movie…)
• Look out for some recognisable faces such as golden age actor Betsy Palmer in a, let’s say, rather important role, and most famously a young Kevin Bacon in one of his first roles
• Although reviews at the time were mixed, with most critics condemning the level of violence, it has since become a staple in slasher movie cinema alongside John Carpenter’s Halloween and A Nightmare on Elm Street
• Its enormous box office success – it made more than a hundred times its $550,000 budget – inspired numerous sequels, all with various out-there concepts from a supernatural resurrection, to a boat trip to New York, to a showdown against Freddy Krueger, to even venturing into outer space!

Friday the 13th is showing in cinemas from Friday 13th October 2023

CAST: Harvey Keitel, Robert De Niro, David Proval, Amy Robinson, Victor Argo, Richard Romanus, Cesare Danova, George Memmoli, Jeannie Bell, Harry Northup, David Carradine, Martin Scorsese

CREW: Martin Scorsese (director, writer), Mardik Martin (writer), Jonathan T. Taplin (producer), Kent Wakeford (cinematographer), Sid Levin (editor)

PLOT: In the Little Italy neighbourhood of New York, Charlie (Keitel) works as a debt collector for his powerful mafioso Uncle Giovanni (Danova), but he finds himself torn between his family duties and his own morals. However, Charlie is soon dragged into a dangerous situation by his friend, the volatile small-time hood Johnny Boy (De Niro) who owes money across town…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• The classic gangster thriller from legendary director Martin Scorsese is back in cinemas to celebrate its 50th anniversary
• Despite being Scorsese’s third film (after Who’s That Knocking at My Door and Boxcar Bertha), it is considered the first to display many of the auteur’s famous trademarks, and was also the first to make waves among audiences
• It is also Scorsese’s first collaboration with actor Robert De Niro, who would later appear in several of the filmmaker’s other classic films including Taxi Driver and Raging Bull (which he won an Oscar for)
• Along with Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather from a year earlier, this film helped to kick-start a new wave of Italian-American mobster movies
• With Scorsese’s latest film Killers of the Flower Moon out next week (featuring his tenth collaboration with De Niro), there isn’t a better time to dig deep into the filmmaker’s earliest hit

Mean Streets is showing in cinemas from Friday 13th October 2023

CAST: Idina Menzel, Kristen Bell, Jonathan Groff, Josh Gad, Santino Fontana, Alan Tudyk, Ciarán Hinds, Chris Williams, Maia Wilson, Paul Briggs, Maurice LaMarche, Jennifer Lee

CREW: Jennifer Lee (director, writer), Chris Buck (director), Peter Del Vecho (producer), Christophe Beck (composer), Jeff Draheim (editor)

PLOT: In the kingdom of Arendelle, sisters Elsa (Menzel) and Anna (Bell) are reunited after being forced apart during their childhood. However, when Elsa’s mysterious ice powers are revealed to the world, she inadvertently curses the kingdom to a prolonged winter, leading Anna on a mission with friendly ice salesman Kristoff (Groff) and talking snowman Olaf (Gad) to convince Elsa to reverse the curse…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• The final film in Disney’s season of re-releases commemorating the company’s 100th anniversary is none other than the worldwide phenomenon itself
• Based loosely on Hans Christian Anderson’s story The Snow Queen, the film broke several box office records and ushered in a new creative era for Disney
• Its enormous success has spawned a major new franchise, including everything from sequels to theme park attractions to stage musicals and so much more
• The cast of unforgettable characters, the poignant themes of sisterhood and feminism, and of course the incredibly catchy soundtrack (including THAT earworm of a showstopper)
• Ten years on from its original debut – has it been that long already?! – it remains a modern Disney classic in every sense

Frozen is showing in cinemas from Friday 13th October 2023