AFTERBURN : Tuesday 16th December 2025

I saw the MA15+ Rated 'AFTERBURN' earlier this week at my local multiplex, and this American post-apocalyptic action film is Directed by J.J. Perry in only his third Directorial outing following 'Day Shift' in 2022 and 'The Killer's Game' in 2024, although he has acted and performed stunt work and co-ordinated stunts and fight scenes in numerous feature films, TV movies and TV series over the years. This film is based on the Red 5 Comics graphic novel of the same name by Scott Chitwood, Paul Ens, and Wayne Nichols. The film has languished in development hell since 2008 when it was first announced that Tobey Maguire would Co-Produce 'Afterburn', and since then Antoine Fuqua, Tommy Wirkola and Jung Byung-gil have all been attached to Direct with J.J. Perry hired to Direct in early 2024. It was released in the USA in mid-September, cost US$57M to produce and has so far grossed US$833K.

Here, then we learn through the opening credits that six years ago a solar flare decimated the worlds technology, turned cities into gang ridden wastelands, toppled governments, and the rule of law no longer exists as we once knew it. We are first introduced to Jake (Dave Bautista) who pre-flare days was quite possibly the world's most acclaimed treasure hunter - there was nothing that he couldn't find, track down, and retrieve from land and sea. Then when the flare hit, he turned his very particular set of skills to working for the wealthy elite to continue his treasure hunting exploits for a hefty fee, with which he could fund his eventual escape from all the worlds ills on a sailing boat which he would live on, and sail around the world at his leisure. 

One such client is August Valentine (Samuel L. Jackson), the self-proclaimed King of England, retrieving valuable pre-flare objects, which as the film opens sees Jake retrieving a prized Stradivarius Violin dating back to the late 17th or early 18th centuries from an abandoned and overgrown penthouse somewhere in London. As he blows open the vault to retrieve the violin and exits he is greeted by five men all dressed in Police uniforms, who threaten him unless he hands over the case. Jake says joking, 'you're not the real Police are you?' to which the goons respond with a definitely not. A fight ensues and Jake takes them all out without breaking a sweat. 

In exchange for having his men finish the necessary repairs to Jakes dream boat, August requests him to travel into France to retrieve the Mona Lisa with the help of Drea (Olga Kurylenko), a member of a rebellion against the tyrannical warlord General Volkov (Kristofer Hivju) who rules over part of northern France with an iron fist, aided by his right hand man Gorynych (Daniel Bernhardt). Whist Jake is initially very reluctant, he agrees and is parachuted into lawless France and is left to locate Drea. 

He locates Drea and she escorts him to a makeshift church inside an old warehouse led by Father Samson (Kevin Eldon), who is also a member of the rebellion. Meanwhile, one of Volkov's henchmen Bird Skull (Phil Zimmerman) has spotted two very dodgy looking characters weaving through the crowd and track down Jake and Drea to the church. Bird Skull pulls up with a small army in tow, and demands that whoever is inside, come out. Father Samson tells Jake and Drea to take his specially modified all terrain buggy that is fully bullet proofed and get the hell outta dodge, while he goes outside. Needless to say Father Samson is gunned down, while Jake and Drea escape and successfully evade numerous goons on motorbikes, in pursuit vehicles and in tanks. Later, Bird Skull is standing in the town square being questioned by Volkov and Gorynych, and is summarily executed on the spot for allowing two people to evade capture from his small army, and the might of his military hardware.

Chased by Volkov's forces, the two discover it in a vault at Ouvrage Simserhof, a fort on the Maginot Line. It's revealed that the Mona Lisa that Jake is after is actually an American atomic bomb, sister to Fat Man (the atomic device detonated over the Japanese city of Nagasaki) and Little Boy (used in the bombing of Hiroshima), sought by both August and Volkov. 

As Drea and her men are loading up Mona Lisa onto the back of a truck, they are approached by Volkov and Gorynych aboard their train which pulls up outside the vault. Opening fire and killing almost everyone, Volkov has Mona Lisa hauled up on to his train. 

After Volkov captures the Mona Lisa, Jake boards his train, and sets about killing most of Volkov's henchmen single handedly and with relative ease it seems. He steals the bomb's stop plug, as Drea detonates several blocks of C4 explosive to the support structure of a viaduct, causing the railway bridge to collapse as the train is on it. Drea looks on from a safe distance as the train collapses into the valley below and explodes in several balls of flame killing Volkov, and his remaining goons. Drea mourns the loss of Jake, as he appears behind her and the pair embrace. 

Jake brings the stop plug to August and urges him not to recover the bomb from the gorge where it had ended up. August keeps up his end of the deal and Jake sets sail with Drea with whom he had fallen in love. In a mid-credits scene, August visits a vault where he keeps his prized artefacts, and hangs the stop plug on the frame of the real Mona Lisa.

'Afterburn' is just like any other post-apocalyptic man on a mission who gets the girl in the end, action spectacle thrill ride that we have seen countless times before. The characters are cardboard cut outs, the CGI effects are questionable, the performances are exactly what you would expect, the script is mediocre at best, and the plot formulaic. At a run time of 145 minutes, if there is nothing better to see at your local Odeon you can opt for this one, leave your brain at the door, and sit in an empty theatre (as my movie buddy and I did) and be reasonably entertained, but be prepared to forget about it as soon as you exit the theatre. 

'Afterburn' merits two claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a possible five claps. 

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new at Odeon's this week : Thursday 18th December 2025

The National Board of Review announced its full line up of award honourees on Wednesday 3rd December for a gala presentation ceremony due to take place in New York City on Tuesday 13th January 2026. Founded in 1909, each year the NBR and its select group of film enthusiasts, filmmakers, professionals and academics view over 250 feature films and take part in enlightening conversations with Directors, Actors, Producers and Screenwriters before announcing their choices for the best work of the year. 

This years winners and grinners are as given below :

* Best Film - 'One Battle After Another'.

* Best Director - Paul Thomas Anderson for 'One Battle After Another'.

* Best Actor - Leonardo DiCaprio for 'One Battle After Another'.

* Best Actress - Rose Byrne for 'If I Had Legs I'd Kick You'.

* Best Supporting Actor - Benicio Del Toro for 'One Battle After Another'.

* Best Supporting Actress - Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas for 'Sentimental Value'.

* Breakthrough Performance - Chase Infiniti for 'One Battle After Another'.

* Best Directorial Breakthrough - Eva Victor for 'Sorry, Baby'.

* Best Original Screenplay - Ryan Coogler for 'Sinners'.

* Best Adapted Screenplay - Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar for 'Train Dreams'.

* NBR Freedom of Expression Award - 'Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk'.

* Best Animated Feature - 'Arco'.

* Best International Film - 'It Was Just An Accident'.

* Best Documentary - 'Cover Up'.

* Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography - Autumn Durald Arkapaw for 'Sinners'.

* Outstanding Achievement in Stunt Artistry - 'Mission : Impossible - The Final Reckoning'.

For the Top 10 films, the Top 5 international films, the Top 5 documentaries and the Top 10 independent films being recognised, plus a whole lot of other good stuff, you can visit the official website at : https://www.nationalboardof review.org/award-years/2025/

Turning the attention then back on this weeks three new release movies coming to your local big screen Odeon, we kick off with an epic Sci-Fi action adventure film that is the third in the series which sees Jake and Neytiri's family grappling with grief after Neteyam's death, encountering a new, aggressive Na'vi tribe, the Ash People, who are led by the fiery Varang, as the conflict on Pandora escalates and a new moral focus emerges. This is followed by the story of two young men during World War I who set out to record the lives, voices and music of their American countrymen. And closing out the week we have an animated biblical musical drama film that charts the journey from his mother's songs to his clash with Goliath, this young lad's story from humble shepherd to anointed king tests the limits of faith, courage, and love-culminating in a battle for the soul of a kingdom.

Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the three 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 week ahead.

'AVATAR : FIRE AND ASH' (Rated M) - this American epic Sci-Fi film is Co-Written, Co-Produced, Directed and Co-Edited by James Cameron, and is the sequel to 2022's 'Avatar: The Way of Water' and the third instalment in the Avatar film series, which began with 'Avatar' in 2009, with those first two films grossing a total US$5.267B off the back of a combined production budget of US$587M. James Cameron made his feature film debut with 'Piranha II : The Spawning' in in 1982 which he would follow up with 'Terminator' in 1984, 'Aliens' in 1986, 'The Abyss' in 1989, 'Terminator 2 : Judgement Day' in 1992, 'True Lies' in 1994, and 'Titanic' 1997 before embarking on this monolithic film franchise.

A year after settling in with the Metkayina clan, Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri's (Zoe Saldana) family grapples with grief after Neteyam's death. They encounter a new, aggressive Na'vi tribe, the Mangkwan clan, also called the Ash People, led by the fiery tribe leader, Varang (Oona Chaplin), who has allied with Jake's enemy, Quaritch (Stephen Lang), as the conflict on Pandora escalates to devastating consequences. Also starring Sigourney Weaver, Joel David Moore, CCH Pounder, Giovanni Ribisi, Kate Winslet, Cliff Curtis, Edie Falco, Brendan Cowell, Jemaine Clement and David Thewlis. The film is released in the US this week too, with two additional sequels, 'Avatar 4' and 'Avatar 5', are in various stages of production and are scheduled to be released in 2029 and 2031, respectively. This instalment has the longest runtime of the series so far at three hours and seventeen minutes. 

'THE HISTORY OF SOUND' (Rated M) - is a period romantic drama film that is Co-Produced and Directed by Oliver Hermanus who made his feature film making debut with 'Shirley Adams' in 2009 which he would follow up with 'Beauty' in 2011, 'The Endless River' in 2015, 'Moffie' in 2019 and 'Living' in 2022. This film is based on the two short stories written by Ben Shattuck 'The History of Sound' and 'Origin Stories', with Shattuck also writing the Screenplay for this film. The film begins in 1917 and follows two young men - Lionel Worthing (Paul Mescal) and David White (Josh O'Connor), in the shadows of WWI who are determined to record the lives, voices and music of their American countrymen. As they begin to log the events, the pair fall in love. The film saw its World Premiere showcasing in the Palme D'Or competition at this years Cannes Film Festival in late May, before being released in the US in mid-September having so far grossed US$1M and garnering generally positive critical reviews.

'DAVID' (Rated PG) - this animated biblical musical drama film features the character of David from the Book of Samuel in the Old Testament, and is Written and Directed by Brent Dawes and Phil Cunningham. It is a follow-up to the five-part TV miniseries 'Young David' (there voiced by Brandon Engman, who reprises his voice role here), which tells the story of a young Israelite shepherd, poet and warrior (voiced by Phil Wickham) who is predestined to become the new King of Israel and embarks on a journey from beyond the shadow of an evil Philistine giant Goliath (Kamran Nikhad) to prove to his people that true power lies not in Saul's kingship (Adam Michael Gold) but in faith and freedom. The film is released Stateside too this week.

With three 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 coming week.

-Steve, at Odeon Online- 

NUREMBERG : Tuesday 9th December 2025

I saw the M Rated 'NUREMBERG' this week at my local multiplex, and this American psychological thriller historical drama film is Written for the screen, Co-Produced and Directed by James Vanderbilt in only his second Directorial outing following his 2015 'Truth', although he is perhaps best known as a prolific script writer and Producer of many Hollywood blockbusters and has worked with numerous top Directors. This film is based on the 2013 book 'The Nazi and the Psychiatrist' by Jack El-Hai. The film had its World Premiere in the Gala Presentations section of the Toronto International Film Festival in early September this year where it received a four-minute standing ovation, one of TIFF's longest standing ovations ever, and was released theatrically in the US in early November having received generally positive reviews from critics, and has so far taken US$20M at the Box Office.

The film opens on 7th May 1945, one day before Nazi Germany surrenders to the Allied forces, Reichsmarshall Hermann Goering (Russell Crowe), Hitler's former second-in-command, surrenders with his family to US forces in Austria. At the same time, Associate Justice Robert Jackson (Michael Shannon) is informed of Goering's arrest, which prompts a discussion with his secretary, Elsie Douglas (Wrenn Schmidt), about establishing an international tribunal to charge the surviving Nazi leadership with war crimes. Initially, the US is reluctant to support Jackson's plans preferring instead summary executions by hanging, however, Jackson persists by winning the support of Pope Pius XII (Giuseppe Cederna) by implying his knowledge of the latter's controversial relationship with the Nazi regime back in 1933.

Meanwhile, US Army psychiatrist Major Douglas Kelley (Rami Malek) is summoned to Bad Mondorf, Luxembourg, to evaluate the mental health of twenty-two Nazi leaders who are being held under Allied custody, including Goering, who have been selected for prosecution. Reporting to the Warden, Col. Burton Andrus (John Slattery), Kelley begins his assignment with the assistance of interpreter Sergeant Howard Triest (Leo Woodall). While initial meetings with Goering are civil, other prisoners such as Robert Ley (Tom Keune) and Julius Streicher (Dieter Riesle) respond with contempt and anger. Personally, using a series of cognitive tests and through conversation Kelley appraises Goering as intelligent yet highly narcissistic, and plans to use his notes of those discussions and meetings to write a tell-all book for personal gain, once his assignment is complete.

In time, Jackson and British barrister Sir David Maxwell Fyfe (Richard E. Grant) are made prosecuting counsels for the newly-established International Military Tribunal to be held in Nuremberg, Germany - which in turn, charges the detainees with crimes against peace, war crimes, crimes against humanity and conspiracy. In the lead up to the trial, Kelley and Goering interact well. Goering even helps Kelley examine former-Deputy Fuhrer Rudolf Hess (Andreas Pietschmann), in exchange for being allowed to write to his wife Emmy (Lotte Verbeek) and daughter Edda (Fleur Bremmer). Kelley also develops a rapport with them, acting as a courier for the exchange of letters between them and Goering. In private, Kelley is approached by Jackson to report the prisoners' legal defence to him in order to help steer the prosecution in the right direction. Kelley responds with the argument of Doctor and patient privilege, but is persuaded to comply with Jackson's wishes on the basis of the greater good.

Before the trial begins, Ley commits suicide by strangling himself in his cell. As a result Andrus summons psychologist Gustave Gilbert (Colin Hanks) to provide a second opinion. At the trial's beginning, Jackson delivers a strong opening statement highlighting the need for accountability, while Goering is silenced and instead ordered to enter a plea, to which he and the other prisoners plead not guilty. During adjournments, Kelley learns that Goering's family had been arrested in connection with his reported art thefts and requests Andrus to intervene. Goering later learns of this development from Gilbert, causing his and Kelley's relationship to sour. Outside the cell, in a specially designed enclosed walkway for the prisoners, Kelley and Gilbert get into a fist fight, and are hauled in front of Andrus, who asks Gilbert if he wishes to press charges against Kelley, to which he responds with a 'no'. 

When the trial recommences, the prosecution shows film footage displaying the regime's atrocities committed inside its numerous concentration camps, causing an upset Kelley to confront Goering, who had previously denied any knowledge of such actions. Goering continues his stance of unawareness, and resorts towards denying the atrocities or comparing them with alleged crimes committed by the Allies. Dismayed, Kelley proceeds to get drunk and unwittingly reveals his private discussions with Goering to Lila (Lydia Peckham), a journalist with The Boston Globe, who subsequently publishes the information as headline front page news. Infuriated, Andrus relieves Kelley and orders him out, but not before revealing that he was able to get Emmy and Edda released. 

While waiting at the train station to leave back to the US Kelley meets Triest who reveals that he is a German-born Jew, who grew up in Germany but was given a one way ticket to the US aboard a ship as a teenager to stay with a cousin in New York before settling in Detroit. After the Japanese invaded Pearl Harbour he waited to be called up, which eventually came in 1943, and he actively joined the war effort landing on the Normandy beaches two days after D-Day. While his younger sister was able to escape to Switzerland, his parents were sent to Auschwitz in 1942 and never survived.

Triest warns that the regime's cruelty went unchallenged because of a general impassivity towards evil, which compels Kelley to stay and submit all his private notes on Goering to Jackson and Fyfe - predicting that Goering plans to use the trial to defend the regime's conduct. True to his predictions, Goering is able to elude Jackson's cross-examination of him, and proceeds to declare that his decree of the Final Solution was actually intended as a 'complete and total solution' focused on the emigration of Germany's Jews rather than extermination. In turn, Jackson's ire towards Goering earns him a stern disapproval by the tribunal, prompting Fyfe to take over. Fyfe exploits Goering's vanity and goads him into overtly admitting his continued loyalty to Hitler despite the atrocities, which finally corners him. At the end of the trial, Goering, together with the remaining prisoners, are all sentenced to death by hanging.

Kelley pays Goering a final visit before leaving, where he comes to terms with Goering's true nature. On 15th October 1946, the night before his scheduled execution, Goering commits suicide by ingesting a cyanide capsule, much to Andrus' anger. The remaining executions proceed as scheduled with two journalists for the US (one of which is Lila), two from the UK, two from France and two from Russia being allowed to sit in and witness the proceedings. Streicher meanwhile, suffers a nervous breakdown in his cell, before Triest comes to his aid, and who had yearned to reveal his Jewish heritage to Streicher before his execution, but is instead compelled to gently assist him to the gallows.

Kelley, traumatised by his experiences at Nuremberg, returns to the US and publishes his tell-all book, '22 Cells in Nuremberg', and in a live radio broadcast loses his cool warning about the possibility of a future regime parallel to the Nazis in the US or any other country around the world. When he is marched out of the studio one of the presenters says to Kelley that disrespecting your country is no way to sell your book. The film's closing credits reveal that Kelley resorted to alcoholism, that his book was a failure and that he committed suicide in 1958 by ingesting cyanide just as Goering did. Triest managed to reunite with his sister and died at the age of 93 in 2016. Jackson's prosecutorial efforts at Nuremberg laid the foundation for international prosecution of war crimes.

'Nuremberg' is a well executed historical drama offering that is underpinned by an on point ensemble cast, with particular standout performances by Russell Crowe especially, and Michael Shannon and Richard E. Grant. As for Rami Malek's performance I can't help feeling he may have been miscast with his permanently pursed lips, almost vacant facial expression, his wild staring eyes and his magic tricks - where did that come from? Director James Vanderbilt has delivered us a gripping true story account of a trial that changed the course of history that is made all the more effective by including actual archival footage of the horrors uncovered when the Concentration Camps were liberated, which is central to the story here. The film serves as a timely reminder, 80 years on, of the horrors of war, and whether as a global community we have really learned anything from it, given the current geopolitical situation we currently finds ourselves in. 'Nuremberg' is certainly well worth the price of your movie ticket as a history lesson, for Russell Crowe's compelling performance, and as a conversation starter as I did with my 24 year old son. 

'Nuremberg' 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 11th December 2025.

This years 17th annual edition of the Les Arcs Film Festival runs from Saturday 13th through until Saturday 20th December, and is a ski resort located in Savoie, France, in the Tarentaise Valley town of Bourg-Saint-Maurice, in the French Alps. A major cultural event, the festival's aim is to promote the diversity of European cinema and showcase the many talents on the continent. Set in the heart of the Alps, in one of the most beautiful ski resorts in the world, the festival is an opportunity to enjoy the first snows and film screenings throughout the day in the presence of filmmakers and Actors. All this in a festive atmosphere with unforgettable evenings, entertainment, concerts and DJs! The festival offers an ambitious programme of around a hundred films from all over Europe.

This years Opening Ceremony feature film in 'Couture' from France and the USA and is Directed by Alice Winocour. In Paris, amid the hustle and bustle of Fashion Week, Maxine Walker (Angelina Jolie), an American film Director, receives news that will turn her life upside down. She then crosses paths with Ada (Anyier Anei), a young South Sudanese model who has left her country, and Angele (Ella Rumpf), a French make-up artist aspiring to a different life. Between these three women from such different backgrounds, an unexpected bond develops. Beneath the glamorous surface, a silent rebellion emerges - that of women who, each in their own way, are piecing together the threads of their own stories.

In the Feature Film Competition, there are eight films being showcased, as follows :-

* 'Father' - from Slovakia and Co-Written and Directed by Tereza Nvotova. A tragic mistake shatters the life of a devoted father, shaking his marriage and isolating him in guilt. As the threat of prison looms, he begins to question whether he deserves to go on living. But when he and his wife come to see that the tragedy was not a personal failure, but something rooted deep in the architecture of the human mind, a fragile path toward forgiveness begins to emerge. Even with this understanding, the question remains - can love survive what no heart was built to endure?

* 'I Swear' - from the UK and Written and Directed by Kirk Jones. The true story and challenging journey of John Davidson, a young man living with Tourette’s syndrome, a condition that was still little known in the 1980's. Starring Robert Aramayo, Maxine Peake, Peter Mullan, Shirley Henderson and Scott Ellis Watson.

* 'Little Trouble Girls' - from Slovenia and Directed by Urska Djukic. Lucia, an introverted young girl, joins her school’s choir and befriends Ana-Maria, who is popular and alluring. Confronted with an unfamiliar environment and the awakening of her sexuality, Lucia begins to question her beliefs and values, disrupting the harmony of the choir.

* 'Maspalomas' - from Spain and Written by Jose Mari Goenaga and Directed by Aitor Arregi and Jose Mari Goenaga. Under the blazing sun of Maspalomas, in the Canary Islands, Vicente has been enjoying a carefree retirement for twenty-five years. But an accident suddenly tears him away from his paradise. Repatriated to Donostia, he is placed by his daughter in a nursing home where time seems to stand still and ghosts from the past resurface. Once again forced to conceal his identity, he becomes obsessed with the single idea of escape … and reclaiming the freedom of Maspalomas.

* 'Mr. Nobody Against Putin' - from Denmark and Written and Co-Directed by David Borenstein, and photographed, narrated, starring and Co-Directed by Pavel 'Pasha' Talankin. The film follows Talankin working in a school at Karabash, a poor mining town near the Ural Mountains. While recording his students Talakin also documents the Putin administration movements to control public perception during the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war.

* 'Silent Friend' - from Germany and Written and Directed by Ildiko Enyedi. In a botanical garden, a tree watches and observes, a patient witness to the passing centuries. In 1908, it watches Grete, who struggles to find her place in a world that ignores her. In the 1970's, it sees Hannes awaken to love and to the world of plants. Today, the old tree speaks with Tony in its secret language. Around it, some are searching, others are meeting. The tree remains, a silent friend, living in a time far greater than theirs. Starring Lea Seydoux.

* 'Solomamma' - from Norway and Co-Written and Directed by Janicke Askevold. Edith, in her forties, wants to get pregnant using an anonymous sperm donor. Five years later, she accidentally discovers the donor's identity, Niels, a successful video game developer who lives not far from her home, and her curiosity prompts her to arrange a meeting under the pretext of writing a profile about him and his tech company.

* 'Three Goodbyes' - from Italy and Co-Written and Directed by Isabel Coixet. After what seemed like a trivial quarrel, Marta and Antonio break up. Marta reacts to the breakup by closing in on herself. The only symptom she cannot ignore is her sudden lack of appetite. Antonio, a chef on the upswing, throws himself into his work. Yet although he is the one who left Marta, he cannot get over her. When Marta discovers that her lack of appetite has more to do with her own health than the pain of separation, everything changes: the taste of food, the music, the desire, the certainty of the choices she has made. Starring Alba Rohrwacher.

The Guests of Honour at this years festival are Isabelle Adjani, one of the most award-winning French actresses of her generation; award-winning German Spanish Actor and Producer Daniel Bruhl has been involved in several critically acclaimed film and television projects; and Tarik Saleh the Swedish television Producer, animator, publisher, journalist and film Director.

For more information on the other film strands being showcased, plus the focus country this year being the films of Greece, and a whole bunch of other good stuff, you can visit the official website at : https://www.lesarcs-filmfest.com/en

This week we have five new feature films coming to your local Odeon, kicking off with a supernatural biblical thriller about the childhood of Jesus as recounted by Thomas the Apostle in the Infancy Gospel of Thomas. Then we turn to a seasonal Christmas slasher horror offering that is a remake of a 1984 film of the same name, that sees a demented Santa go on a killing spree every Christmas Eve. Next up is a satirical war film in which an aspiring actress working for a military role-playing facility, posing as a fictional country that could be anywhere in the middle-east, sees this casting as a stepping stone to Hollywood greatness, until she falls for an ex-soldier playing the part of an insurgent. This is followed by a comedy drama about an idealistic young woman who must juggle her family and work life, the people you love and how to survive them. And closing out the week is a French animated action comedy that has a crew of animal bandits who embark on a routine swindle, but they unwittingly they find themselves caught up in a train heist.

Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the five 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 week ahead.

'THE CARPENTER'S SON' (Rated MA15+) - this supernatural thriller film is Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Lofty Nathan who first burst on to the scene with his biographical documentary film '12 O'Clock Boys' in 2013 and which he would follow up with 'Harka' in 2022. The film gains its inspiration  from the Infancy Gospel of Thomas, about the childhood of Jesus, by Thomas the Apostle.

A remote village in Roman-era Egypt explodes into spiritual warfare when a carpenter Joseph (Nicolas Cage), his wife Mary (FKA twigs) and their teenage son Jesus (Noah Jupe) are targeted by supernatural forces. Joseph and his family have lived for years under threat, clinging to their faith and traditions. But a stopover in a small settlement unleashes growing chaos when a mysterious stranger (Isla Johnston) tries to entice young Jesus to abandon his devout father’s rules. With every pull of temptation, the boy is lured into a forbidden world, as a terrified Joseph comes to the realisation that demonic forces are at work. Violent, unnatural events inexplicably follow Jesus, and he begins to experience nightmarish visions of the future. Finally, he learns the fearsome truth about his new playmate, as well as the child’s real name! The film was first released in Argentina in late October before being released in the US in mid-November, having so far grossed just US$142K and generating mixed or average reviews at best.

'SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT' (Rated MA15+) - is a slasher horror film Written and Directed by Mike P. Nelson and is the second remake of the 1984 film of the same name following 'Silent Night' in 2012, and is the seventh film in the series. Of those first six films only the first two and the last instalment in 2012 had a theatrical release with films 3, 4 and 5 going straight to video. The production budget for those three films came in at US$4.75M recouping US$2.76M, so why anyone thinking this film is a good idea is beyond me! That said, when young Billy Chapman (Logan Sawyer) witnesses his parents' grisly murder on Christmas Eve at the hands of Santa, it ignites a lifelong mission to spread holiday fear. Every Christmas, now the adult Billy (Rohan Campbell) dons the jolly red suit and flowing white beard and delivers a blood-soaked massacre to feed his twisted sense of justice. This Christmas Eve, Billy wants to know 'Have you been naughty?'. The film saw its World Premiere screening at Fantastic Fest in late September this year, is released this week also in the US, and has garnered generally positive critical reviews.

'ATROPIA' (Rated CTC) - this American war satire film is Written and Directed by Hailey Gates in her feature film making debut. Set on the eve of Bush's 'surge', the bloodiest year of the war, Fayruz (Alia Shawkat) is the star thespian of Atropia, a fake country the US military has devised for immersive training. Though she takes great pride in her work, Fayruz believes her tenure here is but a stepping stone on the way to an illustrious acting career in Hollywood. When she meets Abu Dice (Callum Turner), an experienced soldier playing the role of an insurgent, their romance quickly threatens their respective ambitions and questions their allegiance to the military and Atropia's purpose. Also starring Tim Heidecker, Chloe Sevigny, Chloe East and Tim Blake Nelson. The film saw its World Premiere screening at this years Sundance Film Festival in late January, and is released this week too in the US having so far generated mixed or average critical reviews.

'ELLA McCAY' (Rated M) - is an American political comedy drama film Written, Co-Produced and and Directed by James L. Brooks whose prior feature film output includes his 1983 debut with 'Terms of Endearment' which he would follow up with the likes of 'Broadcast News' in 1987, 'As Good as It Gets' in 1997, 'Spanglish' in 2004 and 'How Do You Know' in 2010. Here, set in an unnamed North American state an idealistic 34-year-old lieutenant governor Ella McCay (Emma Mackey) juggles familial issues and a challenging work life while preparing to take over the job of her mentor, the state's longtime incumbent governor (Albert Brooks), who suddenly accepts a cabinet position in the incoming Obama administration. Also starring Jamie Lee Curtis, Jack Lowden, Kumail Nanjiani, Ayo Edebiri, Julie Kavner, Rebecca Hall, and Woody Harrelson, the film is released this week too in the USA. 

'PETS ON A TRAIN' (Rated PG) - this French animated action comedy film is Directed by Benoit Daffis and Jean-Christian Tassy. When a crew of animal bandits embark on a routine swindle, they find themselves caught up in a high-tech train heist. It's up to Falcon (voiced by Wyatt Bowen in the English language version), a petty thief raccoon, and Rex (Tristan D. Lalla), a righteous police-dog, to save the animals aboard this high-speed runway train. The film had its World Premiere at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in mid-June this year, was released in its native France in early July and in the USA in mid-October, having so far recovered US$11M from its US$14.2M production budget. 

With five 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 coming week.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-                       

BLACK PHONE 2 : Tuesday 2nd December 2025

I finally got around to seeing the MA15+ Rated 'BLACK PHONE 2' this week, and this American supernatural horror film is Co-Written for the screen, Co-Produced and Directed by Scott Derrickson and is a sequel to the 2021 film that took US$162M at the global Box Office off the back of a US$17M production budget, and was also Directed by Scott Derrickson. The film Premiered at Fantastic Fest on 20th September, was released in the US and here in Australia on 17th October, has garnered generally favourable critical reviews, and has so far grossed US$132M off the back of a US$30M production budget. 

The film opens in Alpine Lake Camp, Colorado in the winter of 1957 when extreme blizzard conditions cut off the camp. A teenage girl named Hope Blake is seen at a payphone anxiously talking to a girl on the other end, but the call ends abruptly with too much static on the line. She exits the phone booth and walks back to her cabin. We then fast forward to 1982, four years after Finney Blake (Mason Thames) was kidnapped by the Grabber (Ethan Hawke) in the basement of the house across the street from where he lived, and whom he successfully killed. His fifteen year old sister Gwen (Madeleine McGraw) begins having dreams where she sees murders that happened at Alpine Lake Camp in 1957. During one such dream, she receives a call from her mother Hope (Anna Lore), who at the time of the 1957 murders was having similar dreams. 

Gwen convinces Finney and her good friend Ernesto (Miguel Mora), the brother of the late Robin Arellano who fell victim to the Grabber's earlier killing spree, to travel to Alpine Lake Camp. A heavy blizzard traps them there with the camp supervisor Armando (Damian Bichir), his niece Mustang (Arianna Rivas), and two camp employees, Kenneth (Graham Abbey) and Barbara (Maev Beaty). Because of the acute snowstorm all the other employees have left, and all other groups cancelled their bookings. The three kids begin investigating what Gwen's dreams might mean.

On the second night, Finney answers a call on the camp's dead payphone, this time from the Grabber. Speaking from death, the Grabber vows revenge on his sister then on him, blaming Finney for forcing him to kill his own brother and for ending his life. Within minutes, Gwen is violently attacked in her dream while sleepwalking into the camp kitchen, by the Grabber. 

Armando, Mustang, Kenneth and Barbara all rush to her aid while hearing the commotion unfolding in the kitchen, to witness an unseen force tossing Gwen around the place like a rag doll. Finney, Ernesto, and Mustang manage to save her from being hurled into an incinerator, as the image of the Grabber slinks back into the darkness.

The shaken group gathers in the camp's chapel. Finney says that he spoke to the Grabber on the camps payphone to which Armando responds that the phone booth hasn't worked for at least the last decade. Barbara says that Gwen is possessed by the Devil, which Gwen immediately refutes. Gwen deduces that they must find the long lost bodies of the Grabber's first three victims from Alpine Lake Camp in order to loosen his power over the dream state. The group deduces that the bodies of young lads Felix (Simon Webster), Cal (Shepherd Munroe) and Spike (Chase B. Robertson), must be beneath the frozen over nearby Lake Maru.

As they investigate further, they discover that Armando, Hope, and the Grabber (back then known as Wild Bill Hicock, because he hung his tool belt low and loose around his waist like the famous Cowboy) had all known each other at the camp long ago. That night, Gwen dreams of the Grabber. He reveals to her that her mother Hope did not commit suicide and he actually killed her, staging it to look like a self-inflicted hanging in the garage of their family home, only to be discovered by her distraught father Terrence (Jeremy Davies) who has always blamed himself for her death. He then attempts to kill Gwen, with a slash to the lower arm sustained in the dream manifesting in reality. She manages to gain power in her dream and fight back against the Grabber, before being woken up by Finney and Ernesto. 

Meanwhile, Armando is searching for the boys' bodies. Later that night while Armando is alone in his office he hears the Grabbers voice speaking to him over the camp's two way radio. The lights then go out, and using a flashlight he sees the Grabbers face imprinted in snow on his office window. The next day, Terrence arrives, having borrowed a snowplough from his place of work to get there, with the thought that the four of them would head straight home. Gwen confronts both Terrence and Finney on their abuse of alcohol and drugs to avoid thinking about their traumatic pasts. Gwen says she is staying to defeat the Grabber and put the murdered boys to rest, and Finney and Terrence reluctantly agree to stay also having been told some painful home truths. 

Later, joined by Kenneth and Barbara, the group returns to the frozen lake to again search for and recover the three missing boys. Gwen prays to Jesus to keep her alive and succeed in her mission to find the boys. As night falls on the lake, an exhausted Gwen falls asleep again and is attacked by the Grabber, and who approaches on ice skates wielding his axe. The Grabber also attempts to murder Finney, Terrence, and the others present. During the ongoing struggle, Gwen locates the boys' skeletal remains in barrels beneath the ice which she pushes to the surface, so removing the Grabber's power. Finney, Gwen, and the spirits of the murdered boys attack the Grabber causing him to fall on the ice twice, and losing hold of his axe which slides to Gwen's feet. Gwen then implants his axe in his forehead, and then Finney smashes the Grabbers face hard against the ice numerous times. Gwen then uses the axe again to chop off his lower leg which is being held by the decomposed remains of one of the boys, as he is dragged into the frozen lake by Finney, and dragged down into the depths by the spirits of the three boys. The next day, as Gwen, Finney and Ernesto prepare to leave with Terrence, Gwen answers a call on the payphone, in which Hope tells Gwen that she is proud of her and her brother, that she is in a beautiful place and the three boys are by her side. 

With 'Black Phone 2' Director and Co-Writer Scott Derrickson has crafted a more than reasonable follow up to its 2021 predecessor. The frozen mountains, forests and lakes of Colorado in mid-winter is an effective backdrop to the film that makes for an engaging story with a few jump scares and well paced action sequences that take the Grabber from his suburban setting back to his very roots where his appetite for murdering young kids all began. The relationship between the teenagers is well carried through and we see more of the story arc between Gwen, Finney, their father and to a lesser extent their late mother that helps fill the gaps left after the first film. As for the Grabber, now that he has descended into the depths of Hell and returned to wreak revenge on the person who put him there, Ethan Hawke puts in a commanding performance, aided by some scene stealing set pieces. You could easily be forgiven for thinking that this is a blatant rip off of the 'Nightmare on Elm Street' franchise which sees Freddy Krueger manifest himself through your dreams, but given that over forty years has passed since that first entry into that series, I think that the team of Writers, Producers and Director can rest easy that they have made something fresh and that stands on its own two skates.

'Black Phone 2' merits four claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a possible five claps.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-