TOGETHER : Tuesday 5th August 2025

I saw the MA15+ Rated 'TOGETHER' this week at my local multiplex, and this Australian and US Co-Produced horror Sci-Fi romance film is from Writer and Director Michael Shanks in his feature film making debut. The film saw its World Premiere showcasing at the Sundance Film Festival in late January this year, went on general release in Canada, the UK, the US, here in Australia and a handful of other territories from last week and for the rest of the world throughout August, September and October. The film has so far grossed US$14M from a production budget of US$7M, and has generated positive critical reviews. 

The film opens with a search party looking for a missing couple Simon and Keri lost it is believed in remote woodland. Two tracker dogs enter an underground cavern and both drink what appears to be fresh water from a well. The owner of the dogs returns them to his house later that evening after the search is called off, locking them inside a pen in the yard for the night. The dogs, sit patiently observing each other. Later that night the owner is woken by strange noises coming from the outdoor pen. He takes a flashlight and investigates what the commotion is all about, only to be horrified by the scene in front of him, as the two dogs have fused together as one. 

We then cut to an apartment in which Millie (Alison Brie) and her long term boyfriend Tim (Dave Franco [real life married couple Franco and Brie who also both Co-Produce here]) are hosting a leaving party with their closest friends as Millie has secured a job in the country teaching elementary school English, while Tim is a struggling musician. At the party, Tim gives a stilted speech after which Millie gets down on one knee and proposes marriage to him, to which he hesitates to reply only embarrassing her. 

Having moved into their new home in an isolated house in the country, the pair one fine day decide to go for an exploratory hike through the woods. However, a rainstorm closes in and the pair quickly become drenched through and lose their bearings. Tim falls into a cave partially concealed by undergrowth and Mille follows. With the rain pouring down they decide to camp inside for the night, and light a fire. Tim drinks from a pool in the cave, says it's fresh water and is good to drink, and fills a water bottle for Millie.

Upon waking up the next morning, Tim and Millie find their legs partially stuck together but dismiss the incident after separating, with Tim saying that it's just mildew. Tim begins to experience episodes where he becomes inexplicably and almost magnetically physically drawn to Millie, confusing and frustrating them both. Millie's coworker from the school, Jamie (Damon Herriman), shows up at their home to welcome them to the neighbourhood, and she invites him in for an impromptu dinner, which Tim cooks because Millie can't. The couple recollect their experience at the cave, which Jamie explains was a New Age church before it caved in some years ago. 

Millie drops Tim off at the train station for a gig, because Tim can't drive and doesn't have a license. She tells him to enjoy his night of freedom and to not worry about coming home, to which he reluctantly agrees. As the train pulls up Tim experiences another episode and drags himself to Millie's workplace, leaving his guitar and his gear on the platform. An outraged Millie confronts him in a boys toilet block whereupon they have sex in a cubicle, after which their genitals become stuck together. After they painfully force themselves to separate, Jamie who by now has entered the boys toilet having been alerted by a young lad, tells Millie to clean herself up as he sees blood running down her leg. As he turns to leave he sees Tim feet as he steps down from the toilet bowl having tried to conceal himself. Millie later visits Jamie's house to apologise. In the ensuing conversation, she begins to open up about some of the problems she and Tim have been facing in their relationship. Jamie relates Plato's theory of the nature and origin of eros and encourages her not to let go of her 'other half', then reminisces on his relationship with his seemingly deceased husband. Millie leaves quickly after spotting a disoriented Tim lurking outside looking in.

Tim visits a doctor, who dismisses his symptoms as panic attacks brought on by a sudden change in their surroundings and their new more relaxed lifestyle. He prescribes Tim muscle relaxant pills before mentioning that a local couple, Simon and Keri, recently went missing in the locale. Using data extracted from their social media photos, Tim discovers that they visited the same cave he and Millie fell into after noticing the same symbols surrounding the cave on their uploaded posts. Tim unsuccessfully tries to convince Millie that the two of them may suffer whatever fate Simon and Keri did. 

That night, Millie suggests to Tim that should sleep in separate bedrooms, but later they are supernaturally drawn together, causing their bodies to contort in unnatural ways until their arms become fused. They manage to prevent further fusion after consuming Tim's pills in a panic before passing out. 

Tim awakens bound to a chair with Gaffer Tape, where Millie saws through their fused limb with a battery powered hand saw. With both their arms heavily bandaged, Millie decides to drive them to the hospital, but realises she had left her keys at Jamie's house. Tim promises to wait for her while she retrieves them, but secretly returns to the cave in an attempt to locate Simon and Keri, and finds them partially fused together as a grotesque humanoid. 

Meanwhile, Millie enters Jamie's house after seemingly finding no one at home, and finds a small TV playing, in what appears to be a walk-in-robe, the wedding tape of two men she does not recognise, and featuring the depiction of a ritual in which the men appear to fuse together. Jamie appears out of the darkness and is revealed to be the result of that fusion. He promises that they are happier after 'becoming whole' and implores Millie to complete the fusion process with Tim. When she resists, he cuts her arm down lengthways the same way his constituents had their arms cut in the tape, before she is able to escape.

Millie reunites with Tim in the driveway of their home. He attempts to commit suicide by slitting his throat to save Millie, despite her pleading with him not to. Her wound from Jamie nearly causes her to fatally bleed out, but Tim saves her by fusing his arm to her wound. Accepting their fate, the two affirm their mutual love, strip down naked and slow dance to '2 Become 1' by Millie's favourite pop group The Spice Girls, embracing as they fuse together into a singular being. That following Sunday Millie's parents arrive as planned for lunch. They clang the door bell with a physical bell retrieved from the cave, and are greeted by a seemingly normal, androgynous person, that is a mix of Millie's and Tim's facial characteristics, who says simply 'Hi!'. 

Here first time feature film Director Michael Shanks has delivered us an impressive debut that is at once darkly humorous, anxiety inducing, and a bold examination of codependency, paranoia and a seemingly unwavering reliance upon the devil you know. Real life partners Dave Franco and Alison Brie prove that they are up for anything as their bodies contort, writhe and ultimately bond together to become one, and their on (and clearly off) set chemistry shines in their performances. This film won't be for everyone, but for fans of body horror, a tight and taught script, and squirm inspiring practical effects, 'Together' is up there as a must see for aficionado's of the genre.

'Together' merits four claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a possible five claps.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new at Odeon's this week : Thursday 7th August 2025

This years 73rd Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) launches on Thursday 7th August and runs through until Sunday 24th August, in Victoria's capital city Melbourne, Australia. MIFF’s 73-year history significantly contributes to Melbourne’s standing as a cultural city. With its ongoing commitment to the collective festival experience being open to all, MIFF has contributed to community and connectedness in Melbourne. Audiences come to MIFF for its bold, diverse and adventurous programming. There is delight in the shared cinema experience and in seeking to discover something new about the self or the world. MIFF is an independent not-for-profit organisation that has been continuously running since 1952, making it the premier film festival in Australia and one of the world’s oldest film festivals, alongside Cannes and Berlin. Presenting a curated global programme of innovative screen experiences and the world’s largest showcase of exceptional Australian filmmaking, MIFF is an accessible, iconic cultural event that provides transformative experiences for audiences and filmmakers alike, so reads the official website.

This years Opening Night Gala film presentation is 'If I Had Legs I'd Kick You' from the USA and this drama film is Written and Directed by Mary Bronstein and starring Rose Byrne (who won the Berlinale Silver Bear for her Best Leading Performance), Conan O’Brien, Danielle Macdonald and A$AP Rocky. With her life crashing down around her, Linda (Rose Byrne) attempts to navigate her child’s mysterious illness, her absent husband, a missing person, and an increasingly hostile relationship with her therapist.

The flagship Bright Horizons Award celebrates filmmakers on the ascent, featuring an extraordinary international line-up of first and second-time filmmakers, chosen from within the Bright Horizons film competition. Awarding A$140K to the winner, it is one of the most substantial film prizes in the world.

There are ten feature films within this section, and they are as follows :-

* 'April' - from France, Italy and Georgia and Written and Directed by Dea Kulumbegashvili. Australian Premiere.

* 'First Light' - from Australia and the Philippines and Written and Directed by James J. Robinson. World Premiere.

* 'If I Had Legs I'd Kick You' - from the USA and Written and Directed by Mary Bronstein. Australian Premiere.

* 'The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo' - from Germany, France, Belgium, Spain and Chile and Written and Directed by Diego Cespedes. Australian Premiere.

* 'A Poet' - from Germany, Colombia and Sweden and Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Simon Mesa Soto. Australian Premiere.

* 'Renoir' - from Japan, the Philippines, France, Singapore and Indonesia and Written and Directed by Chie Hayakawa. Australian Premiere.

* 'The Rivals of Amziah King' - from the USA and UK and Directed by Andrew Patterson and starring Matthew McConaughey and Kurt Russell. Australian Premiere.

* 'Sound of Falling' - from Germany and Co-Written and Directed by Mascha Schilinski. Australian Premiere.

* 'Urchin' - from the UK and Written and Directed by Harris Dickinson. Australian Premiere.

* 'A Useful Ghost' - from Thailand and Written and Directed by Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke. Australian Premiere.

For the full synopsis of the above named films in the Bright Horizons Competitive strand, plus the other feature, documentary, animated and short films being showcased at this years Melbourne International Film Festival, plus a whole bunch of other good stuff, you can visit the official website at : https://miff.com.au/

Turning back to this weeks six hot new release movies coming to your local big screen Odeon, we kick off with a mystery horror offering of when all but one child from the same class mysteriously vanish on the same night at exactly the same time, a community is left questioning who or what is the reason for their sudden and unexplained disappearance. This is followed by a sword and sorcery offering telling the story of a young girl who rises from the ashes of tragedy to become the most feared warrior woman of all time - the She-Devil with a Sword. Then we turn to a fantasy comedy film about a mother and daughter who discover that lightning may indeed strike twice as they navigate the myriad challenges that come when two families merge. Next up we have a psychological drama thriller about how after their mother suffers a fatal overdose, two sisters fear that the foster system will separate them and decide to hide the body. And closing out the week we have a pair of doco's - the first takes eight kids on the ultimate school excursion - a road trip across Europe to seek solutions to the climate crisis; and the second reveals a superfan's intensely personal connection to this iconic rapper and that artist's profound influence, while also exploring fandom's power to forge identity and community.

Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the six latest release new films as Previewed below, or those doing the rounds currently on general release or as Reviewed and Previewed in previous Blog Posts here at Odeon Online, you are most welcome to share your movie going thoughts, opinions and observations by leaving your relevant, succinct and appropriate views in the Comments section below this or any other Post. We'd love to hear from you, and in the meantime, enjoy your big screen Odeon outing during the coming week.

'WEAPONS' (Rated MA15+) - this American mystery horror film is Written, Co-Produced, Directed and Co-Scored by Zach Cregger, whose prior feature film making output are 'Miss March' in 2009, 'The Civil War on Drugs' in 2011 and the critically and commercially successful horror thriller 'Barbarian' in 2022. The film is released in the US from next week, and cost US$38M to produce. 

Seventeen children from Justine Gandy's (Julia Garner) class all leave their homes in Maybrook and disappear at exactly 2:17 AM. Though only one child Alex Lilly (Cary Christopher) from the class didn't vanish, Justine herself counts as one of two people from the classroom who didn't, and so the community is left questioning who or what is behind their disappearance. Justine needless to say becomes the #1 suspect. Also starring Josh Brolin, Alden Ehrenreich, Benedict Wong and Amy Madigan. 

'RED SONJA' (Rated MA15+) - is an American sword and sorcery film Directed by M. J. Bassett whose previous feature film making credits take in her debut in 2002 with 'Deathwatch' followed by the likes of 'Wilderness' in 2006, 'Solomon Kane' in 2009, 'Silent Hill : Revelation' in 2012, 'Inside Man : Most Wanted' in 2019, 'Rogue' in 2020 and 'Endangered Species' in 2021. This film is a reworking of the 1985 film of the same name that starred Brigitte Nielsen (then Mrs. Sylvester Stallone) in the title role. Here then, captured, chained and forced to fight for survival, barbarian huntress Red Sonja (Matilda Lutz) must battle her way through the blood-soaked pits of a tyrant's empire while rallying an army of outcasts to reclaim her freedom and take down Dragan the Magnificent (Robert Sheehan) and his ruthless bride, Dark Annisia (Wallis Day). The film is released in the US on 15th August. 

'FREAKIER FRIDAY' (Rated PG) - this fantasy comedy film is Directed by Nisha Ganatra who saw her feature film Directorial debut with 1999's 'Chutney Popcorn' which she would follow up with 'Fast Food High' in 2003, 'Cake' in 2005, 'Late Night' in 2019 and 'The High Note' in 2020. This film is a sequel to the 2003 film 'Freaky Friday' which grossed US$161M off the back of a US$26M production budget, and is the seventh film in the franchise which began in 1976 with 'Freaky Friday' and starred Jodie Foster and Barbara Harris in the two lead roles in which a mother and her daughter switch their bodies, and they get a taste of each other's lives. Here then, 22 years after Tess Coleman (Jamie Lee Curtis, who also Co-Produces here) and Anna (Lindsay Lohan) endured an identity crisis, Anna now has a daughter and a soon-to-be stepdaughter. As they navigate the challenges that come when two families merge, Tess and Anna discover that lightning might strike twice. The film is released Stateside on 8th August.

'WHAT WE HIDE' (Rated CTC) - is an American psychological drama thriller film Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Dan Kay in only his second feature film outing following 'Way Off Broadway' in 2001. After their mother suffers a fatal overdose, two sisters Spider (Mckenna Grace) and Jessie (Jojo Regina) fear that the foster system will separate them, and decide to hide the body. But with the local sheriff asking questions and their mum's drug dealer lurking, their future becomes uncertain, as their lie may be discovered and they must decide how far they are willing to go to keep their secret. Also starring Dacre Montgomery, Forrest Goodluck and Jesse Williams. The film gets a limited released in the US at the end of this month. 

'FUTURE COUNCIL' (Rated PG) - this Netherlands and Australian documentary film is Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Damon Gameau whose previous feature length doco's are 'That Sugar Film' in 2014 and '2040' in 2019. As millions of children around the world become increasingly frustrated by the dire lack of action to protect the planet and their future, with their only avenue to express these concerns has been protesting on the streets. And so Damon Gameau invites eight passionate, curious, and very funny children on an epic adventure across Europe in a school bus powered by biofuel. Their mission is to better understand the planet’s predicament, explore solutions and, most importantly, take the conversation from the streets, into the boardrooms of some of the world’s most influential companies. This inspiring and rollicking journey results in the children forming a Future Council to advise and collaborate with the world's most powerful companies. It is a coming-of-age journey that dares to imagine a brighter future.

'STANS' (Rated M) - this American documentary film is Co-Produced and Directed by Steven Leckart in his feature length debut. Released in 2000, and now twenty-five years following on from hip-hop icon Eminem’s song 'Stan', about an obsessed fan who takes his admiration for the rapper too far, the landscape of fandom has completely changed. Flipping the music documentary format on its head, Stans follows not just Eminem’s artistic trajectory, but that of his most loyal superfans, with the film offering an entertaining and vibrant look at the modern nature of fandom and how social media has irrevocably changed the relationship between artists and their audience. The film is released worldwide this week at select movie theatres for a limited time only screening.

With six new release movie offerings this week to tempt you out to your local Odeon, remember to share your movie going thoughts with your other like minded cinephile friends afterwards here at Odeon Online. In the meantime, I'll see you sometime somewhere at your local Odeon in the week ahead.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

THE FANTASTIC FOUR : FIRST STEPS - Tuesday 29th July 2025

I saw the PG Rated 'THE FANTASTIC FOUR : FIRST STEPS' this week at my local multiplex, and this American action adventure Superhero film is based on the Marvel Comics Superhero team The Fantastic Four. It is the 37th film in the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) and is the first film in Phase Six of the MCU. This is the second reboot of the 'Fantastic Four' franchise, with the first two films coming in 2005 with 'Fantastic Four' and its sequel in 2007 'Fantastic Four : Rise of the Silver Surfer' both Directed by Tim Story, with the first reboot coming in 2015 with 'Fantastic Four' this time Directed by Josh Trank. Those first three films in the series grossed a total of US$803M at the global Box Office from combined production budgets of about US$350M, although the 2015 offering tanked both commercially and critically, resulting in a planned 2017 sequel being removed from the production schedule. This film is Directed by Matt Shakman in only his second feature film offering following 'Cut Bank' in 2014, although he has Directed numerous episodes of TV series since 2002 right up until 2023. The film was released in the US last week too, has grossed so far US$250M from a US$200M production budget, has generated largely positive critical reviews, and a sequel is already in the works.

We learn early on that this film is set on Earth 828 and it is 1960 when Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal), his wife Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby), his best friend Ben Grimm (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) and Sue's younger brother Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn) begin a mission into outer space, during which they are all exposed to cosmic rays. Upon returning to Earth, they all have new found superpowers with Reed assuming the mantle of Mr. Fantastic and can stretch any part of his body to great lengths. Sue becomes the Invisible Woman and can generate force fields and turn invisible. Ben, as The Thing, whose skin has been transformed into a layer of orange rock, granting him superhuman strength and durability, and Johnny as the Human Torch can control fire and fly. 

Collectively they become the Superhero team known as 'The Fantastic Four'. Four years later, the team have become celebrities and are highly regarded as the world’s protectors, engaging in philanthropic and diplomatic efforts through the Future Foundation, which was established by Sue Storm and which has achieved global demilitarisation and peace. One evening over a family dinner, Reed and Sue reveal to Ben and Johnny that they are expecting a child.

The Silver Surfer (Julia Garner) arrives on Earth and declares that the planet has been marked for destruction by Galactus (Ralph Ineson), a gigantic planet-destroying God-like cosmic being - the sole survivor of a dead universe that existed before the creation of Earth-828. Reed studies the disappearance of other planets to verify this claim, and the team decides to find Galactus before he comes to Earth. 

They track the Silver Surfer's energy signature and use faster-than-light (FTL) travel to reach a new planet. As they arrive, the planet is destroyed by Galactus's ship from the inside out, and the team is captured. Galactus reveals to them that he has a voracious hunger which has driven him to consume planets for millennia. He senses that Reed and Sue's unborn child has enormous cosmic power and would be able to take on Galactus's hunger, which he has grown tired of and wants to be free. Galactus offers to spare Earth in exchange for the child. The very thought of this induces Sue to go into labour. The team naturally refuses and escapes from the ship. They are followed by the Silver Surfer, who destroys their FTL system. They use the gravity from a black hole to delay the Silver Surfer in hot pursuit, and slingshot themselves back to Earth. Sue gives birth to a boy whom she names Franklin, on the way. 

The Four (sorry, now five) return to Earth a month later. Reed speaks of their encounter during a press conference. Their decision to save one child over the billions of other people on Earth leads to a public outcry, with many calling for Franklin to be sacrificed to Galactus. Johnny begins to decipher the Silver Surfer's native language, using his interactions with her, and some deep space transmissions Reed intercepted from her planet, and others that Galactus destroyed. 

As Galactus approaches and protests against the Fantastic Four escalate, Sue takes Franklin to meet with a large crowd of protesters outside their HQ - the Baxter Building. She explains that they will not sacrifice their child, but they will also not give up on the rest of humanity. Using a teleportation system that he has been working on, Reed devises a plan to build large teleportation bridges across Earth so they can transport the entire planet to another solar system where Galactus cannot reach them. Through the Future Foundation, Sue rallies the world's nations into building the bridges in every major city, and in rapid time, while conserving the energy ultimately needed to power them up.

With Galactus arrival imminent, Reed activates the bridges across the globe. As they are almost fully activated, the Silver Surfer returns and begins destroying them. Johnny and Ben stop her from destroying the last bridge in Times Square. He uses her native language to identify her as Shalla-Bal which catches her off-guard. She explains that she chose to become Galactus's herald in exchange for his sparing her world, Zenn-La. Johnny plays transmissions from the planets she helped Galactus destroy, and Shalla-Bal flees. 

Using Franklin as bait, the team plans to lure Galactus to the last bridge and teleport him away instead to a galaxy far far away. But, they only have 37 seconds to do so from when the portal first opens up to when it closes. Sue negotiates with Harvey Elder aka Mole Man (Paul Walter Hauser), a former enemy turned ally of the Fantastic Four, to evacuate the citizens of New York City to his underground city of Subterranea. Galactus makes his way through the city and captures Franklin, avoiding the team's bridge trap. 

Sue uses all of her power to push him towards the portal with a force field while Reed rescues Franklin. Johnny attempts to sacrifice himself to give Galactus a final push into the portal, but is stopped by Shalla-Bal. She pushes Galactus in herself, and the portal closes behind them. Sue dies from her supreme efforts, and is grieved over by Reed where she fell. Reed places Franklin on her chest, and she is revived. As she holds Franklin close, Sue comments to Reed that their son is more powerful than the two of them. The world celebrates their victory. 

Remain in your seat for a mid-credits scene set four years later, which sets the tone for the next time we'll see the Fantastic Four in 'Avengers : Doomsday' set for release in December 2026.

I have to say that I went into 'The Fantastic Four : First Steps' with fairly low expectations given the previous instalments, but came out having been pleasantly surprised. Positively, the fact that Marvel have decided to not go for the traditional origin story but instead have cast this Superhero team as fully formed and globally accepted heroes from the get go is a plus, as is the departure by Marvel to set this film in a futuristic retro 60's style aesthetic. And to this end the costume design, the set design elements, the production values and the music score all compliment each other. This film also has an underlying message of parental love, the ties that bind a family together, the sense of teamwork that exists between the four and the larger global community, and an unwavering feeling of hope and optimism that will conquer even the darkest of days. The principle cast have all been well chosen for what they individually and collectively bring to their roles, and they all seem to bond well as Marvel's 'first family of Superheroes' with each given their own time to shine and contribute to a package that is greater than the sum of its parts. Whilst the plot follows fairly traditional beats, the ending where good thwarts evil against the odds is all too predictable and our team of Superheroes live to fight another day, here Kevin Feige and the guys at Marvel Studios have delivered us probably the best entry in the MCU in recent years, and that's a reassuring turns of events from a studio that had appeared to have lost its way.

'Fantastic Four : First Steps' merits four claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a possible five claps.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new at Odeon's this week : Thursday 31st July 2025.

The 14th BlackStar Film Festival takes place this year from Thursday 31st July through until Sunday 3rd August in the US city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. BlackStar creates the spaces and resources needed to uplift the work of Black, Brown and Indigenous artists working outside of the confines of genre. The festival does this by producing year-round programmes including film screenings, exhibitions, an annual film festival, a filmmaker seminar, a film production lab, and a journal of visual culture. These programmes provide artists opportunities for viable strategies for collaborations with other artists, audiences, funders, and distributors. The festival prioritises visionary work that is experimental in its aesthetics, content, and form and builds on the work of elders and ancestors to imagine a new world. BlackStar elevates artists who are overlooked, invisibilised or misunderstood and celebrate the wide spectrum of aesthetics, storytelling and experiences that they bring to new audiences, as well as place it in dialog with other past and contemporary work, so reads the official website.

This year there are 90+ films being showcased from around the world, including twenty World Premiere screenings and thirteen North American Premieres. Those films being screened in the Feature Narrative section are as given below :-

* 'Don't Cry, Butterfly' - from Vietnam, Singapore, Philippines and Indonesia, and is Directed by Du'o'ng Dieu Linh. Tam, a hardworking staff member at a wedding venue, finds out about her husband’s affair on live TV. Instead of confronting him, she seeks to win back his love with the help of a powerful spell master.

* 'Sugar Island' - from Spain and the Dominican Republic, and Directed by Johanne Gomez Terrero. Makenya, a Dominican-Haitian teenager, navigates an unwanted pregnancy and the harsh labour that defines her world.

* 'Hanami' - from Switzerland, Portugal and Cape Verde and Directed by Denise Fernandes. On a remote volcanic island that everybody wants to leave, little Nana learns how to stay.

* 'Next Life' - from the USA and Mexico and Co-Produced, Directed, photographed and Edited by Tenzin Phuntsog. A Tibetan family seeks moments of 'temporary happiness' while living in exile in suburban America. As their father suffers from a mysterious inner pain rooted in childhood trauma, they turn to Buddhist teachings on death and rebirth. North American premiere.

* 'Compensation' - from the USA and is Co-Produced, Directed and Co-Edited by Zeinabu Irene Davis. A portrait of the struggles of Deaf African Americans and the complexities of loving relationships at the bookends of the 20th century.

* 'All That's Left of You' - from Germany, Cyprus, Palestine, Jordan, Greece, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Directed by Cherien Dabis. After a Palestinian teen gets swept up into a West Bank protest, his mother recounts their family’s story of hope, courage and relentless struggle that led them to this fateful moment.

* 'White House' - from Brazil and Directed by Luciano Vidigal. De is a Black teenager from Chatuba, a Rio de Janeiro favela. He receives the news that his grandmother, Almerinda, is in the terminal stage of Alzheimer’s disease. He and his two best friends, Adrianin and Martins, decide to make the most of the last days of life with her.

* 'Viet and Nam' - from Vietnam, Philippines, Singapore, France, Netherlands, Italy, Germany, and the US, and Directed by Minh Quy Truong. In the underground coal mines, Nam and Viet, young miners, face danger and darkness. One prepares to leave for a new life, but they must find Nam’s father’s remains, a soldier lost in a faraway forest, retracing the past through memories.

* 'Carissa' - from South Africa and Co-Produced and Directed by Jason Jacobs and Devon Delmar and Edited by Devon Delmar. A young woman who dreams of leaving small village life to live in the city breaks away from her grandmother’s home only to be drawn into the care of her grandfather’s mountain rooibos plantation.

* 'Sabbatical' - from South Africa and Directed by Karabo Lediga. A banker returns unannounced to her childhood home and her overbearing mother, whom she hardly visits. Unbeknownst to her mother, a life-changing secret brought her back, threatening to upend their relationship forever. North American premiere.

* 'Love, Brooklyn' - from the USA and Co-Produced and Directed by Rachael Abigail Holder. Three longtime Brooklynites navigate careers, love, loss and friendship against the rapidly shifting landscape of their beloved city.

* 'Killer of Sheep' - from the USA and Directed, photographed and Edited by Charles Burnett. A mosaic of Black life in the Watts neighbourhood of Los Angeles, where Stan, a father worn down by his job in a slaughterhouse, and his wife seek moments of tenderness in the face of myriad disappointments. Released in 1977 this is a Retrospective premiere.

For the full schedule of the other film strands being showcased, plus a whole lot more good stuff, you can go to the official website, at : https://www.blackstarfest.org/festival/

This week we have six new movies coming to your local big screen Odeon, starting off with an Aussie horror film in which after moving to the countryside, a supernatural encounter starts to transform a couple's love, their lives, and their flesh. Next up we have an American action comedy that has a group of gun totting mercenary types take a lavish wedding hostage, but, they have no idea what they are in for as the Maid of Honour is actually a secret agent. Then we turn to a French comedy drama offering about a retiree living in Burgundy who expects her grandson for the holidays but a mistake ruins her plans, and she falls into a depression until her best-friend's son is released from prison. This is followed by an American comedy drama film that tells a story of love, friendship, grief and healing, about a New York based writer who adopts a Great Dane that belonged to a late friend and mentor. Then, we have another French comedy drama film about how a specialist in modern art, receives a letter according to which a painting by Egon Schiele had been discovered in Mulhouse, in the Alsace region of France. And closing out the week we have an Aussie doco about a remarkable Christian hymn, written in ancient Greek musical notation during the time of the Roman Empire, and how it has been resurrected for the modern era.

Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the six latest release new films as Previewed below, or those doing the rounds currently on general release or as Reviewed and Previewed in previous Blog Posts here at Odeon Online, you are most welcome to share your movie going thoughts, opinions and observations by leaving your relevant, succinct and appropriate views in the Comments section below this or any other Post. We'd love to hear from you, and in the meantime, enjoy your big screen Odeon outing during the coming week.

'TOGETHER' (Rated MA15+) - is an Australian and US horror Sci-Fi romance film from Writer and Director Michael Shanks in his feature film making debut. The film saw its World Premiere showcasing at the Sundance Film Festival in late January this year, goes on general release in Canada, the UK, the US, here in Australia and a handful of other territories from this week and for the rest of the world throughout August, September and October. 

Years into their relationship, Tim and Millie (real life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie, who also both Co-Produce here) find themselves at a crossroads as they move to the country, abandoning all that is familiar in their lives except each other. With tensions already flaring, a nightmarish encounter with a mysterious, unnatural force in a remote cave threatens to corrupt their lives, their love, and their flesh as that strange mystery substance creates a disturbingly powerful magnetic attraction between them. Also starring Damon Herriman. The film has generated positive critical reviews.

'BRIDE HARD' (Rated M) - this American action comedy offering is Directed by Simon West whose previous feature film making credits include his Directing debut in 1997 with 'Con Air' which he would follow up with the likes of 'The General's Daughter' in 1999, 'Lara Croft : Tomb Raider' in 2001, 'The Mechanic' in 2011, 'The Expendables 2' in 2012 and 'Wild Card' in 2015. Here, Sam (Rebel Wilson) is a world-class secret agent but a terrible maid of honour. After blowing off bridal duties for an international spy mission, she's demoted to bridesmaid at her childhood best friend's wedding. What should've been a weekend of reconnecting and celebration turns into a five-star death trap when armed mercenaries crash the big day. Sam's the only one who can save the bride, and hopefully earn back the trust she lost along the way. Dodging bullets and trying not to ruin the floral arrangements, Sam takes on the ultimate wedding crasher, realising that sometimes the toughest mission isn't taking down the bad guys, but showing up for the people who matter the most. Also starring Anna Camp, Da'Vine Joy Randolph and Stephen Dorff. The film was released in the US on 20th July and has garnered generally negative press. 

'WHEN FALL IS COMING' (Rated M) - is a French comedy drama film Co-Written and Directed by Francois Ozon whose prior feature film credits most recently are 'Summer of 85' in 2020, 'Everything Went Fine' in 2021, 'Peter von Kant' in 2022 and 'The Crime is Mine' in 2023 with 'L'Etranger' currently in production for a 2026 release. Here then, Michelle (Helene Vincent) is enjoying a peaceful retirement in a Burgundy village, close to her longtime friend Marie-Claude (Josiane Balasko). When her Parisian daughter Valerie (Ludivine Sagnier) drops off her son Lucas (Garian Erios) to spend school vacation with his grandma, Michelle, stressed out by her daughter, serves her toxic mushrooms for lunch. Valerie quickly recovers, but forbids her mother from seeing her grandson anymore. Feeling lonely and guilty, Michelle falls into a depression, until Marie-Claude's son gets out of prison. The film was released in its native France in early September last year, on limited release in the UK from mid-March and the US early April and only now is released in Australia having so far grossed US$6.7M at the Box Office and generating largely positive critical reviews.

'THE FRIEND' (Rated M) - this American comedy drama offering is Co-Written, Co-Produced and Co-Directed by Scott McGehee and David Siegel, the pairing of which have given rise to other features including their 1993 debut with 'Suture' followed by 'The Deep End' in 2001, 'Bee Season' in 2005, 'Uncertainty' in 2008, 'What Maisie Knew' in 2012, and 'Montana Story' in 2021. This film is based on the 2018 novel by Sigrid Nunez. Writer and teacher Iris (Naomi Watts) finds her comfortable, solitary New York life thrown into disarray after her closest friend and mentor Walter (Bill Murray) dies suddenly and bequeaths her his beloved 70kg weighing Great Dane. The regal yet almost uncontrollable beast, named Apollo (Bing), immediately creates practical problems for Iris, from furniture destruction to eviction notices, as well as more existential ones, his looming presence constantly reminding her of her friend's problematic choices in both life and death. Yet as Iris finds herself unexpectedly bonding with the animal, she begins to come to terms with her past, her lost friend, and her own creative inner life. Also starring Carla Gugino, Constance Wu and Owen Teague. The film has so far grossed US$4.2M since its release in the US and Canada in early April this year, and has garnered generally positive press.

'THE STOLEN PAINTING' (Rated M) - is a French comedy drama film Co-Written and Directed by Pascal Bonitzer who made her feature film Directorial debut with 'Encore' in 1996 and would follow this up with other titles including 'Nothing About Robert' in 1999, 'The Great Alibi' in 2008, 'Looking for Hortense' in 2012, 'Right Here Right Now' in 2016 and 'Spellbound' in 2019. Set in present day Paris, brash forty-something year old Andre Masson (Alex Lutz), a hotshot modern art appraiser at prestigious high-end auction house Scottie’s, receives word that a painting by Egon Schiele may have been found in a young factory worker’s home in the Alsatian city of Mulhouse. Though highly sceptical, Andre travels to view the canvas with his ex-partner Bettina (Lea Drucker) who is also an expert valuator, only to be convinced of its authenticity as a masterwork long assumed destroyed by Nazi's during WWII. For Andre, the ramifications of this once-in-a-lifetime find for his career and for his contentious relationship with his less-than-reliable intern Aurore (Louise Chevillotte), will prove both unexpected and transformative. The film was released in in France in early May 2024, has worked the US film festival circuit in the meantime and only now does it get a release date here in Australia, having so far grossed US$2.8M.

'THE FIRST HYMN' (Rated G) - this Australian documentary film is Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Mark Hadley in his screen debut. This is the story of an ancient scrap of papyrus uncovered in the deserts of Egypt that contains the remnants of the oldest known Christian hymn. In its lyrics Professor John Dickson discovers evidence of beliefs some say Christians never held this early in history. However, uncovering this ancient treasure is only the first step. With the help of world-renowned Christian composers, Chris Tomlin and Ben Fielding, Professor Dickson sets out on an epic journey to record the First Hymn as a modern worship song for the new millennium.

With six new release movie offerings this week to tempt you out to your local Odeon, remember to share your movie going thoughts with your other like minded cinephile friends afterwards here at Odeon Online. In the meantime, I'll see you sometime somewhere at your local Odeon in the week ahead.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-