Happy Halloween everybody! It’s time for this week’s Film Roundup, where we take you through the biggest new cinema releases and why you should be excited for them. This week we have Hugh Grant vs some Mormons, a sex worker vs her Russian in-laws, Nicholas Hoult vs his conscience and Christopher Reeve vs paralysis.
Usual disclaimer: unless otherwise stated, I haven’t seen these films. All of my opinions are based on trailers, early reviews and other rumours and buzz.
Heretic
The only horror film on the schedule this week, Heretic tells the story of two Mormons (Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East) who call on a house owned by Hugh Grant’s Mr Reed. Although he seems friendly and welcoming at first, they start to realise that he’s not been honest about his intentions when inviting them in. Forced into a labyrinthine trap in his cellar, the Mormons must find a way to escape Mr Reed’s clutches without losing their faith in the process.
Hugh Grant seems to be having fun lately. His recent roles have included a cartoonish villain in Paddington 2, a roguish private investigator in The Gentlemen, a villainous rogue in Dungeons & Dragons, and a cartoonish oompa loompa in Wonka. They’ve all been magnificently hammy performances designed to shake off the image of his bumbling rom-com persona from earlier in his career, while retaining the twinkle-eyed charm. That charm is on full display here too, and even when it starts to evaporate as his true intentions are revealed, it’s hard to imagine that Mr Reed is going to be anything less than a likeable baddie.
I don’t know Chloe East too well, but Sophie Thatcher has popped up in a number of projects I’ve enjoyed, including Yellowjackets and MaXXXine. She was also one of the colourful bikers in The Book of Boba Fett, but we can forgive her for that. They both look like they’ve captured the naïve innocence of a sheltered existence that has left them woefully unprepared for whatever shenanigans Mr Reed has waiting for them.
As discussed in our latest podcast episode, A24 have a great history of smart, effective horror films, and this looks like another perfect example of that. It’s an examination of the power of faith, wrapped up in a twisty suspenseful drama. Definitely one to watch.
- Heretic on IMDB
- Heretic on Rotten Tomatoes
Anora
Anora (Mikey Madison), a sex worker in New York, is hired by Ivan (Mark Eidelshtein) mostly for her ability to speak Russian. The two fall for each other, and when Ivan – the ridiculously wealthy son of a Russian oligarch – suggests that he could stay in America if they get married, Anora agrees to a shotgun wedding in Vegas. But Ivan’s family is less than pleased with the match, and use all their power and resources to get it annulled.
Mikey Madison has been in a few big films, including Once Upon A Time… In Hollywood and the 2022 Scream requel, but this is easily her biggest role to date and it looks like she’s grabbed it by the horns. It’s clear from the trailer that she’s thrown herself into the character, wheeling from brash party girl to vulnerable young woman who’s in over her head. All the reviews have been heaping praise on her, and on the film in general – a modern, grown-up fairytale that takes what is, at its heart, a well-worn romance movie trope (parents don’t approve of shotgun wedding) and makes it feel fresh and reinvigorated. I think this looks great, and if you’re a romance fan who’s been waiting patiently for the October horror season to come to an end, this is definitely one for you.
- Anora on IMDB
- Anora on Rotten Tomatoes
Blitz
In Blitz, the excellent Saoirse Ronan plays Rita, a young mother living in London who sends her son George (Elliott Heffernan) away to the English countryside to escape the bombing in WW2 only to learn that he never arrived at his destination. Instead, George is determined to make his own way home to his mum.
It doesn’t feel that long ago that I was singing Saoirse Ronan’s praises when she appeared in The Outrun, so I won’t bang on about her again – suffice it to say that she is one of the best actresses working today and I’ve never seen her give a bad performance. It does feel slightly odd hearing her do a London accent here, but I’m sure you’ll quickly get used to it. The Blitz cast also includes Harris Dickinson, Stephen Graham, Paul Weller and Kathy Burke – a fine roundup of British talent.
The central conceit of a child going missing, especially after his own mother had to send him away for his own protection, is every parent’s worst nightmare. The fact that there are Nazis dropping bombs all over the shop only makes it all the more terrifying. Yet there seem to be some lighter moments here too, judging by the trailer, and writer-director Steve McQueen has more than enough talent to balance the dark with the light.
Blitz is only getting a limited cinema release before moving over to Apple TV+, so if you want to get in a sentimental mood ready for Remembrance Day and don’t have an Apple subscription, make sure you catch this one while you can.
- Blitz on IMDB
- Blitz on Rotten Tomatoes
Juror #2
Justin (Nicholas Hoult) is called for duty in a violent murder case. But as the details of the crime are read out, they start to become familiar, and Justin realises that he may have had more to do with the victim’s death than he knew. Should he say something and give away his own guilt? Or should he keep quiet and let an innocent man take the blame?
Nicholas Hoult is always very watchable, and there’s another strong supporting cast here including Toni Colette, J K Simmons and Chris Messina. It’s a courtroom drama centred around one man’s moral quandary, so expect a slow burn, but this sounds like it could be quite gripping. I’m intrigued to see whether it ends the way I expect it to, or whether director Clint Eastwood has come up with a satisfying conclusion that doesn’t feel too morally preachy. Part of me is hoping the conclusion will be Justin leaping into the middle of the courtroom and belting out a full rendition of Who Am I from Les Miserables (“If I speak, I am condemned/ If I stay silent, I am damned…”), but it seems unlikely. Maybe as an alternative ending on the DVD – the Juror #24601 Cut, if you will…
Like all the releases this week, Juror #2 has had some decent reviews – if you like a powerful, introspective drama then you should definitely find the time for this one.
- Juror #2 on IMDB
- Juror #2 on Rotten Tomatoes
Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story
Before James Gunn restarts the DCEU and David Corenswet steps into the blue suit and red cape, this documentary takes a look at the original Superman actor, Christopher Reeve, and his life before and after a disastrous riding accident that left him paralysed from the neck down. With testimonials from his family, plus fellow actors including Glenn Close, Whoopi Goldberg and Jeff Daniels, the film charts his charity work and explores what it really means to be a hero.
This looks like it’s going to be uplifting and heartwarming, especially the part about his friendship with Robin Williams and the connection they found over their respective internal battles. It feels like there could be a strong likelihood of an Oscar nomination next year, as the Best Documentary category rarely has an opportunity to put something so high profile in the running (and the fact that it’s about a Hollywood actor overcoming difficulties to do something worthy can’t hurt). Docs don’t tend to hang around in the cinema for long, so if this is one you’re interested in then make sure you keep an eye out for it.
- Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story on IMDB
- Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story on Rotten Tomatoes
If you only see one film this week
It’s Halloween, so I have to go for the thinking man’s horror, Heretic.
Still in cinemas and worth a watch
- Venom: The Last Dance
- The Wild Robot – every bit as beautiful and life-affirming as you’d want it to be, with a perfectly-written mother-son relationship at its core and some surprisingly detailed sci-fi ideas going on in the background that I hope will get fleshed out in the now-confirmed sequels. Plus it has a grumpy beaver voiced by Matt Berry. All films need a grumpy beaver voiced by Matt Berry.
- Smile 2
Trailer of the week
For the last time this year, I’m letting Halloween choose for me – the trailer of the week this week is a horror film coming out on Valentine’s Day next year named Heart Eyes. Directed by the same people as the very entertaining Freaky, this is a slasher pic about a killer who targets loved-up couples – following in the grand tradition of knife-wielding maniacs who hate anyone who has sex (seriously – if you ever find yourself in a horror movie, do yourself a favour and keep it in your pants until the killer’s been dealt with…). I’ll stop harping on about horrors next week, promise…
Leave a Reply