What's new at Odeon's this week : Thursday 17th October 2024

The 31st annual Austin Film Festival takes place this year from Thursday 24th October through until Thursday 31st October, in Austin, Texas, USA. The Austin Film Festival, since its inception in 1994,  furthers the art and craft of storytelling by inspiring and championing the work of writers, filmmakers, and all artists who use written and visual language to tell a story. We were the first organisation of its kind to focus on the writer’s contribution to film and television, and we pursued this focus with the intention of creating not only a community for writers to engage with one another, but to build a bridge from craft to career. We have been lucky enough to build a family of storytellers from multiple mediums, who come together in both a pursuit and celebration of story. Currently in our 31st year, we are best known for our annual Film Festival and Writers Conference which plays host to the largest screenwriters conference in the world, featuring over 200 panelists and panels that, along with film and television, now also explore storytelling mediums such as plays, podcasts, and digital series. Partnered with a film programme that has welcomed artists on the front lines of shaping culture, we are proud not only of our festival’s ability to celebrate story at such a scale, but the opportunities it provides for story development and career advancement - so reads the official website.

This years Opening Night Film presentation is 'The Piano Lesson' from Writer and Director Malcolm Washington, stars Samuel L. Jackson, John David Washington, Corey Hawkins and Danielle Deadwyler and centres around a family who clash over an heirloom piano. The battle between brother and sister, one hopes to sell it, the other refuses to give it up, unleashes haunting truths about how the past is perceived and who defines a family legacy. The Closing Night Film is 'The Room Next Door' Written and Directed by Pedro Almodovar and stars Julianne Moore and Tilda Swinton. Here Ingrid and Martha were close friends in their youth, when they worked together at the same magazine. Ingrid went on to become an autobiographical fiction novelist while Martha became a war reporter. After years of being out of touch, they meet again in an extreme but strangely sweet situation.

Of the twenty-two feature films being presented in the 'Marquee' section the following titles are included, among others :-

* 'The Knife' - from the USA and Written, Directed and starring Nnamdi Asomugha with Melissa Leo, Aja Naomi King and Manny Jacinto.

* 'Unstoppable' - from the USA and Directed by William Goldenberg and starring Jharrel Jerome, Jennifer Lopez, Don Cheadle, Bobby Cannavale and Michael Pena. 

* 'September 5' - from the USA and Co-Written and Directed by Tim Fehlbaum and starring Peter Sarsgaard, John Magaro and Ben Chaplin.

* 'The Brutalist' - from the USA, the UK and Hungary and Co-Written and Directed by Brady Corbet and starring Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce and Joe Alwyn.

* 'Lake George' - from the USA and Written and Directed by Jeffrey Reiner and starring Shea Whigham, Carrie Coon, Glenn Fleshler and Max Casella.

* 'Bird' - from Ireland and Written and Directed by Andrea Arnold and starring Nykiya Adams, Franz Rogowski and Barry Keoghan.

* 'The Order' - from the USA and Directed by Justin Kurzel and starring Jude Law, Nicholas Hoult, Tye Sheridan, Jurnee Smollett and Marc Maron.

* 'A Real Pain' - from the USA and Written, Directed and starring Jesse Eisenberg with Kieran Culkin. 

* 'Blitz' - from the UK and Written and Directed by Steve McQueen and starring Saoirse Ronan, Paul Weller, Elliott Heffernan and Harris Dickinson.

* 'Nickel Boys' - from the USA and Co-Written and Directed by RaMell Ross and starring Ethan Herisse, Brandon Wilson, Hamish Linklater, Fred Hechinger, Daveed Diggs, and Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor.

* 'The Last Showgirl' - from the USA and Directed by Gia Coppola and starring Pamela Anderson, Jamie Lee Curtis, Dave Bautista, Brenda Song, Kiernan Shipka and Billie Lourd.

* 'Maria' - from the USA and Directed by Pablo Larrain and starring Angelina Jolie, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Alba Rohrwacher, Pierfrancesco Favino and Valeria Golino.

* 'Nightbitch' - from the USA and Written and Directed by Marielle Heller and starring Amy Adams, Scoot McNairy, Arleigh Patrick Snowden, Emmett James Snowden and Zoe Chao.

For the full synopsis of these films, plus the others in the Marquee section and the other film strands being showcased, together with a whole bunch of other good stuff, you can go to the official website at : https://austinfilmfestival.com/

This week to tease you out to your local Odeon, there are no fewer than nine new release movies coming to a big screen close to home, kicking off with a crime thriller about a man diagnosed with a rapidly evolving form of dementia, and so this contract killer gets the chance to redeem himself by saving the life of his estranged son. Then we have a horror offering about a global pop sensation who is about to embark on a new world tour, and who begins to experience increasingly terrifying and inexplicable events. Next up is an Aussie drama in which a desperate woman kidnaps and enforces rehab on her violent brother in a last-ditch effort to save their lives. This is followed by a Vietnamese fantasy horror inspired by the famous fairy tale Tam Cam, this reimagining follows Cam, the half-sister of Tam, as she navigates a dark and twisted world filled with familiar yet terrifying new characters and elements. Then we turn to a German biographical film about Hilde Coppi, who along with her husband Hans Coppi belonged to Red Orchestra, a German resistance group to Nazism. Following on, we have an Aussie doco taking us from the Tiwi Islands to Melbourne, Victoria and back again, as four young women who seek to make it in elite sport must face uncertain futures; before another Aussie offering - this time an animated feature about how after a series of misfortunes, a snail-collecting, melancholic misfit learns how to find confidence within herself amid the clutter of everyday life. Next is an American historical drama that takes us back to 19th century New England where courage, hope, war, and true love collide in a tale of epic proportions, before closing out the week with a long thought to be lost documentary from an acclaimed Director that charts the recording, promotion and touring of this popular Rock & Roll bands fifth studio album in 1982.

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

'KNOX GOES AWAY' aka 'ASSASSINS PLAN' aka 'A KILLER'S MEMORY' (Rated M) : is an American crime thriller film Co-Produced, Directed and starring Michael Keaton who made his Directorial debut in 2008 with 'The Merry Gentleman'. This film saw its World Premiere screening at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2023, had a limited cinema release in the US in mid-March this year, has so far grossed US$654K and has garnered mixed critical reviews.

The film follows a contract killer John Knox (Michael Keaton) with a rapidly evolving form of dementia, who vows to spend his final days attempting to redeem himself by saving the life of his estranged adult son Miles (James Marsden). The film also stars Ray McKinnon, Marcia Gay Harden and Al Pacino.

'SMILE 2' (Rated MA15+) - this American psychological supernatural horror film is Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Parker Finn, who also helmed the 2022 first instalment 'Smile' in his feature film debut which went on to gross US$217M worldwide from a production budget of US$17M. Here then, about to embark on a new world tour, global pop sensation Skye Riley (Naomi Scott) begins to experience increasingly terrifying and inexplicable events. Overwhelmed by the escalating horrors and pressures of fame, she must face her dark past to regain control of her life before it spirals out of control. Also starring Rosemarie DeWitt, Kyle Gallner, Lukas Gage and Raul Castillo. It is released in the US this week too.

'HE AIN'T HEAVY' (Rated MA15+) - is an Australian drama film Witten and Directed by David Vincent Smith in his feature film making debut. Here, Jade (Leila George) has never been able to travel overseas. She’s too worried about her meth-addicted brother Max (Sam Corlett), always on call to take him to hospital or provide first aid after he’s self-harmed. In desperation, she finally confines Max in a room inside the rural house left by their grandmother. But then Jade’s mother (Greta Scacchi) arrives, and she’s appalled that her son is caged up like an animal. This film is based on the short film by Smith from 2019 'I'm Not Hurting You', and it saw its World Premiere screening at this years Sydney Film Festival in June. 

'THE SISTERS' (Rated MA15+) - this Vietnamese fantasy horror thriller film is is Co-Written and Directed by Tran Huu Tan and centres around a  series of unexplained missing cases and disturbing deaths which start to occur in a faraway village when the Chief's dead daughter comes back to life, unveiling shocking secrets of the village's Forest Demon and the ritual of human sacrifice related to the prosperity of the Chief's family. Staring Cuong Quoc as the Village Chief and Lam Thanh My and Rima Thanh Vy as the sisters Cam and Tam respectively. 

'FROM HILDE, WITH LOVE' (Rated MA15+) - is a German autobiographical film Directed by Andreas Dresen and is based on true events set in early 1942 in Berlin, where Hilde Coppi (Liv Lisa Fries), a young medical assistant, became part of a rebel group that was later known as the 'Red Orchestra'. There she met and fell in love with Hans Coppi (Johannes Hegemann), who later became her husband. They enjoyed a wonderful summer together, despite the danger of their activities and the risk of being caught. Eventually captured by the Gestapo, Hilde was imprisoned while pregnant. She gave birth to a son in Barnimstrasse women's prison, and soon after, she was condemned to death. In her final months, being a mother gave her the strength to face her destiny. The film saw its Premiere screening at this years Berlin International Film Festival back in February and is released in its native Germany this week too.

'LIKE MY BROTHER' (Rated G) - this Australian documentary film is Directed by Sal Balharrie and Danielle MacLean and is Written by Sal Balharrie. This personal portrayal of the lives of four Indigenous Australian girls from the remote Tiwi Islands, whose love for football propels them to dare to dream - to shatter conventions, tread uncharted territories, and shoulder the hope of a community in their pursuit to play in the AFLW (Australian Football League Womens). Filmed over six years, the documentary follows Freda, Jess, Julie, and Rina as they face the challenges of social and physical obstacles in their way. Their shared aspiration turns into a reality for some, but those lucky enough to realise their dream are quickly confronted by the profound cultural shift of relocating to Melbourne, to become elite athletes, playing for the Essendon Football Club. Throughout their journey, the players are tested by the delicate balance between their love for footy and the obligations to family and their community back home.

'MEMOIR OF A SNAIL' (Rated M) - is an Australian adult stop-motion animated tragicomedy film Written, Produced and Directed by Adam Elliot, whose five films, both shorts and a feature, have collectively participated in over seven hundred film festivals and have received over one hundred awards, including an Academy Award for 'Harvie Krumpet' in 2003. This is Elliot's second feature film following 'Mary and Max' in 2009. Here, Grace Pudel (voiced by Sarah Snook) is a lonely misfit with an affinity for collecting ornamental snails and an intense love for books. At a young age, when Grace is separated from her fire-breathing twin brother Gilbert (voiced by Kodi Smitt-McPhee), she falls into a spiral of anxiety and angst. Despite a continued series of hardships, inspiration and hope emerge when she strikes up an enduring friendship with an elderly eccentric woman named Pinky (Jacki Weaver), who is full of grit and lust for life. The film also stars the voice talents of Eric Bana, Magda Szubanski, Tony Armstrong and  Nick Cave. It had its World Premiere at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in mid-June this year where it won the Cristal Award for a Feature Film.

'THE HOPEFUL' (Rated PG) - this US and Australian Co-Produced drama film is Co-Produced and Directed by Kyle Portbury in only his second full length film offering following his documentary 'The Mountain Within' in 2009. Here, following the War of 1812, William Miller (Bill Lake) sets off on a quest for meaning that unravels a profound truth with the power to transform everything. His revelation sparks a fire in Ellen Harmon (Tommie-Amber Pirie), who braves fierce resistance to champion the cause. And through her witness the message begins to take hold. Her preaching grows beyond prophecy and develops into a more holistic vision for how Christians should live and worship. We see blossoming the seeds of a new global movement of faith - the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

'TOM PETTY : HEARTBREAKERS BEACH PARTY' (Rated M) - is a1983 Tom Petty documentary once believed to be lost, and Directed by Academy Award winner Cameron Crowe in his Directorial debut. The documentary was filmed in 1982 and 1983 as Petty’s band recorded, promoted, and toured their fifth studio album, 'Long After Dark'. Heartbreakers Beach Party had been unavailable for years until a 16mm print was found earlier this year and restored to include nineteen minutes of archival footage and commentary from Crowe himself. In addition to Crowe and Petty, members of the Heartbreakers—Mike Campbell, Howie Epstein, Stan Lynch, and Benmont Tench—and Stevie Nicks all appear in the doco. The film is getting a very limited release - showing for two nights only on 17th and 20th October in selected cinema's. 

With nine 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-

JOKER : FOLIE A DEUX - Tuesday 8th October 2024

I saw the MA15+ Rated 'JOKER : FOLIE A DEUX' earlier this week, and this American musical psychological thriller film is Co-Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Todd Phillips and is the sequel to 2019's 'Joker' - also Directed by Todd Phillips which grossed US$1.08B off the back of a production budget of about US$65M. Loosely based on DC Comics characters, 'Joker' received numerous accolades, including two Academy Award wins at the 92nd Academy Awards for Best Actor (Phoenix) and Best Original Score out of eleven nominations including Best Picture, becoming the first DC film to do so. This film Premiered at this years recent Venice International Film Festival where it was in official competition, and was released in the US last week too. Coming in at a US$200M budget cost, it has divided critics, much like 'Joker' before it, has generated mixed or average reviews, and has so far grossed US$121M.

Set sometime in the early '80's and two years after the events of the first film, Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix), is now a patient at Arkham State Hospital in Gotham City, and is awaiting trial for the five murders he committed back then. His lawyer, Maryanne Stewart (Catherine Keener), has in mind to argue in his defence that Arthur has dissociative identity disorder and that his 'Joker' personality was responsible for the crimes. Meanwhile, head security guard at the hospital Jackie Sullivan (Brendan Gleeson) often shares a joke with Arthur and one day takes him over to the other side of the hospital where less dangerous patients are housed, to join a music therapy session, for his recent good behaviour. While there, his attention is drawn to Harleen 'Lee' Quinzel (Lady Gaga), who is part of the group of singers. The pair strike up a private conversation while Jackie's attention is elsewhere, and Lee tells Arthur that she grew up in the same neighbourhood as he did, had an abusive father who died in a car crash, and was committed by her mother to the hospital after burning down her parents' apartment building. Lee also expresses her admiration for the Joker's crimes and personality, and saying that she watched a TV movie about Arthur/Joker twenty times and that is was great.

One evening during a screening of a film, Lee starts a fire by igniting a box of matches and dropping it into a piano. The flames very quickly take hold and all the patients and staff evacuate outside. Lee and Arthur are caught trying to escape, and Arthur is placed in solitary confinement for two weeks. 

Lee visits him at night to say she is being released because he is such a bad influence on her, but she promises to attend his trial, and they have sex. During an interview with television personality Paddy Meyers (Steve Coogan), Arthur sings to Lee through the television screen, only serving to deepen her love for him. On the day of the trial, Assistant District Attorney Harvey Dent (Harry Lawtey) calls witnesses who dismiss Arthur's claims of insanity. During a break, Maryanne reveals to Arthur that Lee was actually a psychiatry student who grew up in the Upper West Side, and her father, a doctor, is alive, and that she comes from a reasonably well off family. Additionally, she voluntarily committed herself at Arkham, checked herself out, and never burned down an apartment building. 

When Arthur confronts Lee with these new found details, she confesses that everyone lies, and her lies were an effort to get close to Arthur. She also announces to him that she is pregnant and has moved into his old apartment building to create a home for them both for when he is freed.

The next day at the trial, Arthur openly dismisses Maryanne and makes it known that he wishes to represent himself. After bringing Arthur's former clown co-worker Gary Puddles (Leigh Gill) and former neighbour with whom he had an imagined relationship Sophie Dumond (Zazie Beetz) to the stand, Dent rests his case. Arthur, visibly affected by Puddles testimony, offers no defence, although, during his speech, he mentions the Arkham guards in a negative light, by calling them stupid and fat.

Upon returning to Arkham, he is taken to the shower room by head guard Jackie Sullivan and two other guards, where he is brutally beaten before being dragged back to his cell partially naked. Ricky (Jacob Lofland), an inmate and friend of Arthur, verbally confronts the guards, resulting in Jackie strangling him to death. Arthur overhears this from his nearby cell.

During his closing address in court the next day in which Arthur is fully made up as Joker, a devastated Arthur renounces his Joker persona, taking full responsibility for his actions, and stating that he in fact killed six people - his mother was the last one whose face he smothered with a pillow suffocating her. Upon hearing this devastating news Lee storms out of the courtroom, and the jury finds Arthur guilty of first-degree murder. As the foreman reads the verdict, a car bomb explodes immediately outside the courthouse, killing and injuring numerous attendees and scarring half of Dent's face. In the ensuing chaos, two followers also dressed in full Joker garb, help Arthur escape by bundling him into a car.

Arthur jumps from the car and runs through the streets of Gotham eventually encountering Lee outside his old apartment, but she rejects him for renouncing his Joker persona, tells him that she's not pregnant and bids him goodbye as she walks away. The Police arrive, apprehend Arthur and return him to Arkham. The next day, a young patient approaches Arthur and begins to tell him a joke with the punchline being that he repeatedly stabs Arthur in the stomach. As Arthur bleeds out and soon dies from his wounds, the patient takes the knife he just used on Arthur and carves a smile on his face while laughing maniacally.

'Joker : Folie a Deux' was originally intended as a stand alone film and not the sequel we see here. Perhaps had that been the case critic and audience reviews would have been a whole lot more favourable. That said, for me this film also failed to live up to expectations after the mega success of its 2019 predecessor. While the performances of Phoenix and Gaga are on point (although Gaga is a little under utilised here), the plot meanders along without getting very far at all, and the film struggles to decide if it is a musical, a drama, a comedy, a psychological thriller or a super-villain offering. The production values are nonetheless very good, and while the musical interludes are more often that not a continuation of the scene in which they are set, they are at times over bearing and over used. Save yourself the price of your cinema entry and wait for it to arrive on your preferred streaming service. 

'Joker : Folie a Deux' 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 10th October 2024.

The 68th British Film Institute London Film Festival this year runs from Wednesday 9th October through until Sunday 20th October. Overall the programme still retains the 'festivals' feel, it also now shows new discoveries from 'important and exciting talents' in world cinema. Whilst it continues to be first and foremost a public festival, it is also attended by large numbers of film professionals and journalists from all over the world. Importantly, it offers opportunities for people to see films that may not otherwise get a UK screening along with films that will get a release in the near future.

This years Opening Gala film presentation is the World Premiere screening of 'Blitz' - an historical drama film Written, Produced and Directed by Steve McQueen, and is about a defiant young boy, George (Elliott Heffernan) who goes on an adventure in London during World War II only to find himself in immense peril, while his distraught mother (Saoirse Ronan) searches for him. The Closing Gala film is 'Piece by Piece' - an American animated documentary film Co-Produced and Directed by Morgan Neville, and documents Pharrell Williams's life and musical career, incorporating Williams's faith and expressing his artistry by means of Lego.

The following films were selected for the Galas Section, which screens World, European, and British Premieres :-

* 'Blitz' - as referenced above.

* 'Piece by Piece' - as also referenced above.

* 'Elton John : Never Too Late' - from the USA and Directed by R. J. Cutler and David Furnish.

* 'We Live in Time' - from the UK and France and Directed by John Crowley.

* 'Joy' - from the UK and Directed by Ben Taylor.

* 'Hard Truths' - from the UK and Spain and Directed by Mike Leigh.

* 'That Christmas' - from the UK and Directed by Simon Otto.

* 'Anora' - from the USA and Directed by Sean Baker.

* 'The Apprentice' - from the Canada, Denmark and Ireland and Directed by Ali Abbasi (refer Preview below).

* 'Bird' - from the UK, France, Germany and the USA and Directed by Andrea Arnold.

* 'Conclave' - from the UK and the USA and Directed by Edward Berger.

* 'Emilia Perez' - from France and Directed by Jacques Audiard.

* 'Maria' - from Italy, Germany and the USA and Directed by Pablo Larrain.

* 'Nightbitch' - from the USA and Directed by Marielle Heller.

* 'The Room Next Door' - from Spain and Directed by Pedro Almodovar.

In Official Competition, the following films will compete for the Best Film Award :-

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

* 'Bring Them Down' - from Ireland, the UK and Belgium and Directed by Christopher Andrews.

* 'The Extraordinary Miss Flower' - from the UK and Directed by Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard.

* 'Four Mothers' - from Ireland and the UK and Directed by Colin Thornton and Darren Thornton.

* 'Living in Two Worlds' - from Japan and Directed by Mipo O.

* 'Memoir of a Snail' - from Australia and Directed by Adam Elliot.

* 'On Becoming a Guinea Fowl' - from Zambia, the UK and Ireland and Directed by Rungano Nyoni.

* 'Thank You for Banking With Us' - from Palestine and Germany and Directed by Laila Abbas.

* 'Under the Volcano' - from Poland and Directed by Damian Kocur.

* 'Vermiglio' - from Italy, France and Belgium and Directed by Maura Delpero.

* 'The Wolves Always Come at Night' - from Australia, Mongolia and Germany and Directed by Gabrielle Brady.

For the full synopsis of the aforementioned films, plus those other films in Official Competition and the out of competition strands, you can go to the official website at : https://whatson.bfi.org.uk/lff

Turning the attention then back on this weeks six new movies coming to a big screen Odeon near you, we launch with a crime comedy caper set on a sleepy East Coast island community which is corrupted by a handful of eccentric characters when a bag of cash is found at a murder scene. This is followed by a biographical drama about a former President of the USA in his much younger days back in the 1970's when he seeks independence from his father's influence, and so with a notorious lawyers support, he enters Manhattan real estate and becomes a leader. Next up is a drama offering about a construction worker who joins a local theatre's production of 'Romeo and Juliet', only for the drama onstage to start mirroring his own life. Then we turn to an American Superhero horror film in which Hellboy and a rookie agent in the 1950's are sent to the Appalachian Mountains, where they discover a remote community dominated by witches and led by a sinister local demon. Then we have the third instalment in a slasher horror franchise that sees Art the Clown unleash chaos on the unsuspecting residents of Miles County as they peacefully drift off to sleep on Christmas Eve; before closing out the week with an intensely moving documentary of Actor, father, and activist Christopher Reeve, before and after his accident that left him paralysed, as recounted by family and friends.

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 week ahead.

'GREEDY PEOPLE' (Rated MA15+) - this American crime comedy film is Co-Produced and Directed by Potsy Ponciroli whose previous feature film credits take in his 2012 debut with 'Super Zeroes' which he would follow up with 'Old Henry' in 2021. This film was released in the USA in late August and this week in Australia having generated mixed or average reviews along the way.

Here then the eclectic residents of a small, picturesque island town must navigate a sensational murder and the discovery of a million dollars, leading to a series of increasingly bad decisions which upend the once-peaceful community. Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Himesh Patel, Lily James, Tim Blake Nelson, Traci Lords, Jim Gaffigan and Simon Rex.

'THE APPRENTICE' (Rated MA15+) - is a biographical drama film Directed by Ali Abbasi whose prior feature film making credits are his debut with 'Shelley' in 2016, then 'Border' in 2018 and 'Holy Spider' in 2022. Here, set during the early years of Donald Trump's business career as a real estate businessman, the film focuses on the relationship of Trump (Sebastian Stan) and Roy Cohn (Jeremy Strong), a New York City prosecutor known for working with Senator Joseph McCarthy during the Second Red Scare. Also starring Maria Bakalova as Ivana Trump and Martin Donovan as Fred Trump. The film saw its World Premiere screening at the Cannes Film Festival in late May this year, is released in the US and here in Australia this week, cost US$16M to produce and has generated mixed or average reviews.

'GHOSTLIGHT' (Rated M) - this American drama film is Directed by Kelly O'Sullivan and Alex Thompson and is Written by O'Sullivan and Co-Produced by Thompson. When melancholic construction worker Dan Mueller (Keith Kupferer) finds himself drifting from his wife Sharon (Tara Mallen) and teenage daughter Daisy (Katherine May Kupferer), he discovers community and purpose in a local theatre's production of Romeo and Juliet. As the drama onstage starts to mirror his own life, he and his family are forced to confront a personal loss.

'HELLBOY : THE CROOKED MAN' (Rated MA15+) - is an American Superhero horror film Co-Written and Directed by Brian Taylor and based on the Dark Horse Comics character Hellboy created by Mike Mignola. This is the second reboot of the Hellboy film series and is the fourth live-action entry in the franchise after 'Hellboy' in 2004 and 'Hellboy II : The Golden Army' both Directed by Guillermo del Toro and starring Ron Perlman as Hellboy, and then 'Hellboy' in 2019 this time Directed by Neil Marshall with David Harbour as Hellboy. In this reboot, set in the 1950's, Hellboy (Jack Kesy) and a rookie BPRD (Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defence) agent Bobbie Jo Song (Adeline Rudolph) are stranded in rural Appalachia, and discover a small community haunted by witches, led by a local devil with a troubling connection to Hellboy's past - The Crooked Man (Martin Bassindale). The film saw a limited theatrical release in international markets, beginning in Belgium in late June and the UK in late September with its US release through direct-to-VOD from this week. It has so far grossed US$1.3M from a production budget of US$20M.

'TERRIFIER 3' (Rated R18+) - this American Christmas slasher horror film is Written, Co-Produced, Directed and Edited by Damien Leone and is the sequel to 2022's 'Terrifier 2' and the third instalment in the 'Terrifier' series, all of which have been Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Leone. The first two films in the franchise grossed US$19.4M off the back of combined production budgets of just US$285K. Five years after surviving Art the Clown's (David Howard Thornton) Halloween massacre, Sienna Shaw (Lauren LaVera) and her younger brother Jonathan (Elliot Fullam) are struggling to rebuild their shattered lives. As the holiday season approaches, they try to embrace the Christmas spirit and leave the horrors of the past behind. But just when they think they're safe, Art the Clown returns, determined to turn their holiday cheer into a new nightmare. The festive season quickly unravels as Art unleashes his twisted brand of terror, proving that no holiday is safe. The film Premiered at Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas in mid-September, and is released Stateside and here in Australia this week, having cost US$2M to produce and has received generally positive critical reviews. 

'SUPER/MAN : THE CHRISTOPHER REEVE STORY' (Rated M) - is a documentary film about the life of American Actor Christopher Reeve following his horse riding accident in late May 1995 at an equestrian competition which left him paralysed from the neck down, and his subsequent work as an activist for disability rights. The film was Directed by Ian Bonhote and Peter Ettedgui, who also co-wrote the script, with Bonhote also taking a Co-Producer credit. Its title is a reference to Reeve's role as Superman in the four 'Superman' films spanning from 1978 through to 1987. The film saw its Premiere in mid-January this year at the Sundance Film Festival, and received a limited theatrical release in the US in late September and is scheduled for a wide release in the US and Australia from this week, and has garnered universal critical acclaim. Christopher Reeve died on 10th October 2004 at the age of 52. 

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 coming week.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

NEVER LET GO : Tuesday 1st October 2024.

I saw the MA15+ Rated 'NEVER LET GO' earlier this week at my local multiplex, and this American survival horror film is Directed by the French filmmaker Alexandre Aja who made his English language Directorial debut in 2006 with 'The Hills Have Eyes' and which he would follow up with 'Mirrors' in 2008, 'Piranha 3D' in 2010, 'Horns' in 2013, 'The 9th Life of Louis Drax' in 2016, 'Crawl' in 2019 and 'Oxygen' in 2021. The film was released in the US in late September, has so far grossed US$10M from a production budget of US$20M and has generated mixed or average reviews.  

Here then, a woman known to us as only 'Momma' (Halle Berry) and her two young children Nolan (Percy Daggs IV) and Samuel (Anthony B. Jenkins) live in a cabin in a remote wilderness. Momma, tells her children that a supernatural force known as 'The Evil' spread across the world, causing it to end and leaving them as the only survivors. Momma is plagued by visions of supernatural entities while she sleeps and during her waking hours, that her sons cannot see, yet which they believe to be real. The family spends their days foraging and hunting for food. To prevent the Evil from touching them, which Momma says ensures possession, the family tether themselves with long ropes when they leave the house, connecting them back to the building. The boys must also chant a daily prayer to the house in thanks for it keeping them safe from the Evil.

One day, while out searching for food, Samuel and Nolan get into an argument and Nolan steps on Samuel's rope, causing Samuel to fall, get disconnected from his rope, and break his ankle. Nolan unties himself in an attempt to rescue Samuel before the boys are rescued by Momma, who encounters the Evil in the form of her mother although the children do not see it. As Samuel recovers from his fall, Nolan, who has started to disbelieve his mother's claims, questions him on what he saw but Samuel quickly dismisses his suspicions. Nolan's doubts continue to grow.

A brutal winter of heavy rains and bitter cold forces the family to use up just about all of their stockpiled food, resulting in them being unable to grow or hunt for any new food. Meanwhile, Momma's visions intensify, including seeing the boys' father and her husband, whom she killed, along with her own mother and father as well as that of a mutilated Nolan. Sensing discontent from her sons, Momma tells them about her old life in the city and shows them two old Polaroid photos she retained, and an old Polaroid Instamatic camera with one single photo left.

Now having completely run out of their reserves of food and forced to eat thinly shredded tree bark which Momma seasons with salt, pepper and maple syrup, she then states that they need to kill and eat the family dog. Nolan is horrified and, when Momma takes the dog into the greenhouse to kill him with her crossbow, he cuts Momma's rope and locks her inside, believing that she will see the Evil is not real. Instead, Momma encounters the Evil in the form of her mother, and so slashes her own throat with a shard of glass and commits suicide in front of Nolan. Samuel blames Nolan for causing Momma's death. As they continue to starve alone, Samuel's behaviour becomes more erratic and threatening.

Using the extra free rope from his mother, Nolan travels further out of the woods and comes across a deserted stretch of road. He screams for help. Returning to the house, he later encounters a hiker (Matthew Kevin Anderson) who has heard his calls for help. As the hiker grows increasingly concerned over Nolan's story and living conditions, Samuel confronts him with his mothers crossbow. Although Nolan and the hiker try to defuse the situation, Samuel shoots the hiker. Nolan follows the hiker as he calls 911 and succumbs to his wounds before retrieving his backpack filled with food. That night, a young girl (Mila Moragn) arrives at the property claiming to be the hiker's daughter and confronts Samuel. Noticing that Samuel has her father's torch, she flees as he chases after her, but Samuel's rope gets tangled around some trees, and so he untethers himself. The girl reveals herself to be the Evil and touches Samuel, as he becomes instantly possessed.

Back at the house, Samuel, now exhibits the same erratic behaviour as Momma had, and tries to kill Nolan. Samuel sets the house alight as Nolan is confronted by the Evil in the form of Momma. Nolan drags Momma into a small underfloor bunker in the house that gives shelter to the pair of them from the fire. The Evil sheds Momma's skin to reveal a snake-like creature that dissipates as Nolan clings on to it. The fire burns the house down and Samuel takes the last photo with the Polaroid with him in the foreground and the burning cabin in the background. Paramedics arrive and retrieve Nolan from the burnt out remains of the house. As he is flown away in a helicopter, Nolan asks where Samuel is and sees that he too has been rescued. The helicopter reaches a nearby town, revealing that Momma had been lying to them all along. Samuel quietly whispers to Nolan 'She loves me more' as the Polaroid he took is shown, revealing the Evil with its hand resting on his shoulder.

'Never Let Go' is not a horror film in the pure sense of the word, more of a taught and tight psychological thriller that delivers few jump scares or truly horror inducing moments, but there is nonetheless a sense of dread and fear woven into the atmospheric storyline. The film is however, saved by three stand out performances from Berry, Jenkins and Daggs, and when the ending comes it feels rushed and incomplete leaving the viewer with more questions than answers. That said, as recently as last month, Halle Berry confirmed the studio's plans to develop the film into a horror franchise, with the Actress expressing interest in the idea, while confirming that stories for a prequel and sequels had been written. 

'Never Let Go' merits three claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a possible five claps.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-