THE INVITE : Tuesday 14th July 2026.

I saw the MA15+ Rated 'THE INVITE' at my local independant Odeon this week, and this American comedy film is Directed by Olivia Wilde in her third feature film Directorial outing following 'Booksmart' in 2019 and 'Don't Worry Darling' in 2022. In addition, she has many acting roles in the likes of 'The Girl Next Door' in 2004, 'Alpha Dog' in 2006, 'Cowboys & Aliens' in 2011, 'People Like Us' in 2012, 'Deadfall' also in 2012, 'Rush' in 2013, 'Her' in 2013, 'The Lazarus Effect' in 2015, 'Love the Coopers' in 2015, 'Life Itself' in 2019 and 'Richard Jewell' in 2019, and due for release at the end of this month 'I Want Your Sex'. This film is an English language remake of the Spanish film 'The People Upstairs' Directed by Cesc Gay. The film had its Premiere showcasing at this years Sundance Film Festival in late January, saw its wide release Stateside, the UK and here in Australia last week, has so far grossed US$15M and has garnered universal critical acclaim.

Failed musician Joe (Seth Rogen) arrives home from work having ridden his fold-up bicycle all the way across town only to collapse on the floor the moment he walks in the door, suffering from an aching back. He soon learns that his stay-at-home wife Angela (Olivia Wilde) has invited their upstairs neighbours, divorcee Pina (Penelope Cruz) and widower Hawk (Edward Norton), over for dinner at their apartment, and they are due to arrive in about fifteen minutes. Angela has laid on a lavish spread of cut deli meats and cheeses, and has prepared a souffle which she places in the oven to bake off. Joe and Angela's marriage is on thin ice and they bicker and argue constantly, most recently over the loud sex noises they hear from upstairs every night. Joe plans to confront the couple, but Angela, who is desperate to make friends with their neighbours, demands he keep calm and does not broach the subject.. 

Pina and Hawk arrive at the apartment as Joe and Angela are in mid-argument. Unprepared to host a dinner party, Angela makes several awkward mistakes, such as not having any wine, not checking Pina's dietary restrictions for she doesn't eat meat, cheese or gluten products, and she also burns the souffle which goes straight in the bin. Meanwhile, Joe openly aggravates the couple, but is surprised to see they are impressed by his brutally honest nature. 

The group eventually warm to one another, over a bottle of vintage French red wine gifted to them as a wedding present which they were hoping to save for a special occasion. Joe however, still resents his neighbours for their noise and is deeply troubled when he learns Hawk has seen Angela naked through a window that looks down from their apartment into theirs.

As the evening progresses Pina and Hawk apologise for the noise they make during sex and reveal to Joe and Angela that they participate in regular group sex sessions which is the reason for the noise. Joe and Angela are titillated by this revelation. Pina admits that she and Hawk came to the dinner party hoping to invite Joe and Angela to have group sex with them. Joe and Angela are eager, but Pina, who is a psychoanalyst and sexologist, is unsure after seeing the couple constantly at each others throats throughout the evening. Instead, they decide to swap partners. However, Angela is too nervous to initiate sex with the former fire fighter Hawk, and Joe falls backwards into a bookshelf in his study while dancing with Pina and puts his back out.

Another argument breaks out between Joe and Angela, and he rebukes their neighbours. Pina gets the couple to talk about their relationship, and learns of the resentment they have to each other and the fact they have not had sex in a year. Pina suggests the couple should separate instead of sticking together for the sake of their twelve year old daughter, Maggie, who is away for the night, or find a way to reframe their relationship, as the current status appears to have run its course. Angela and Joe seemingly agree to separate, and discuss their next moves, but upon returning from the kitchen, discover Pina and Hawk have left. Joe returns to his office and plays his piano for the first time in years, with Angela retreating to Maggie's bedroom, but eventually she joins him at the keys. When they have finished playing their musical piece, Angela rests her head on Joe's shoulder.

Here Actress and Director Olivia Wilde has crafted a mature aged comedy that is a throw back to the adult sex comedies of the late '70's and '80's while updating the story with all the emotional heft, laugh out loud moments of razor sharp humour, and modern day sensibilities that make for an engaging time at the movies. The four Actors here all share the screen in equal measure, all have their own pitch perfect lines of dialogue, and all have their moment to shine individually and collectively. This is a film that almost any married couple will be able to relate to at some level, as it is thought provoking in its study of human relationships, the fragility of such and the prospect of second chances. If observing two couples experience the most tense, uncomfortable and stressful supposed dinner party of their middle-aged lives is for you, then you won't be disappointed in this cringe-worthy yet thoroughly engaging film. 

'The Invite' 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 16th July 2026.

The 9th Malaysian International Film Festival (MIFFest) takes place this year from Saturday 18th July through until Saturday 25th July, in the Malaysian capital city of Kuala Lumpur. Since its establishment in 2016, MIFFest has offered a range of opportunities and platforms for filmmakers to showcase their work and connect with industry professionals. Set against Malaysia’s vibrant backdrop, MIFFest aims to be the premier cinematic hub in Southeast Asia. The one-week festival provides a platform for creatives to showcase their work, nurtures emerging talent, and features exceptional films from around the world. MIFFest opens a window to the world, offering audiences the chance to embark on a cinematic journey through films from diverse countries and cultures. At MIFFest, we believe in the power of film to inspire, connect, and transform . . . . . so reads the official website.

This years Opening Film presentation is 'BAGA : Tomorrow Belongs To No One' from Malaysia and Written, Produced and Directed by Ariff Zulkarnain. Set in a conservative seaside village on Malaysia’s East Coast, BAGA follows Jani and Melur, two young lovers trapped between inherited realities and dreams of escape. When an unexpected pregnancy forces them into a difficult choice, Jani turns to the drug trade in a desperate attempt to secure their future. As love collides with addiction, poverty, and tradition, the couple must confront the cost of survival in a community where opportunities are scarce and every choice carries consequences. The Closing Film is 'Yellow Letters' from Germany, France and Turkey and is Co-Written and Directed by Ilker Catak. Life is good for Derya and Aziz, a celebrated artist couple from Turkey, until an incident at their play’s premiere. Suddenly targeted by the state and struggling to balance their ideals with life’s necessities, their marriage is pushed to a breaking point.

In the Official Competition - the Malaysia Golden Global Awards recognises filmmakers for their significant performances throughout the entire year, in the categories of Best Film, Director, New Director, Actor, Actress, Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress, Screenplay and Cinematography, as well as the Lifetime Achievement Award, the Audience Choice Award, the New Hope Award and the Award for Excellent Achievement in Film. There are ten feature films, as shown in brief below :-

* 'Ah Girl' - from Singapore and this coming-of-age drama is Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Ang Geck Geck Priscilla. 

* 'Aisha Can't Fly Away' - from Egypt, France, Germany, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Sudan, this drama is Co-Written and Directed by Morad Mostafa.

* 'Becoming Human' - from Cambodia, and this drama film is Written and Directed by Polen Ly.

* 'Broken Voices' - from the Czech Republic, this drama film is Written and Directed by Ondrej Provaznik. 

* 'Girl' - from Taiwan and this drama film is Written and Directed by Shu Qi.

* 'Lucky Lu' - from the USA and Canada and this social drama film is Written and Directed by Lloyd Lee Choi.

* 'Riverstone' - from Sri Lanka, this drama film is Co-Written and Directed by Lalith Rathnayake.

* 'Silent Rebellion' - from Switzerland, Belgium and France, this drama film is Co-Written and Directed by Marie-Elsa Sgualdo.

* 'The Red Hangar' - from Chile, Argentina and Italy, this political thriller film is Co-Produced and Directed by Juan Pablo Sallato.

* 'The Waves Will Carry Us' - from Malaysia and Taiwan, this drama film is Written and Directed by Lau Kek-Huat.

For the summaries of the aforementioned films in Official Competition, plus the full details of the other films being showcased, and a whole lot of other good stuff, you can go to the official website at : http://www.miffest.com.my

Turning the attention then back to this weeks two new movies coming to your local big screen Odeon, we kick off with a much hyped, eagerly awaited and hotly anticipated fantasy action film based on an ancient Greek poem in which following the Trojan War, the protagonist here faces a dangerous voyage back to his homeland meeting various mythical creature during his ten year journey back to reunite with his wife and son. And this followed by a CGI animated offering that is the third cinematic adaptation from an acclaimed novella of the mid-twentieth century which follows an animal revolution as pigs seize power and the farm descends into a ruthless dictatorship as the truth is rewritten and dissent is crushed.

Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it either of the two 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 ODYSSEY' (Rated M) - is an epic fantasy action film Written, Produced and Directed by Christopher Nolan, who I'm sure requires no introduction, suffice to say his prior screen credits include his 1998 feature debut with 'Following' which he would follow up with the likes of 'Memento' in 2000, the Batman 'Dark Knight' trilogy from 2005 until 2012, 'Inception' in 2010, 'Interstellar' in 2014, 'Dunkirk' in 2017, 'Tenet' in 2020 and 'Oppenheimer' in 2023. This film is an adaptation of Homer's ancient Greek epic poem the 'Odyssey', that together with his 'Illiad' are regarded as the foundational works of ancient Greek literature. With a production budget estimated to be in the region of US$250M, the film is among the most costly of Nolan's career, and the first to be shot entirely on IMAX's 70mm film cameras. The film saw its World Premiere screening in London earlier this month, and is set for a worldwide release this week. 

The film follows Odysseus (Matt Damon), the legendary Greek king of Ithaca, on his ten year long and perilous journey home following the Trojan War, chronicling his encounters with mythical beings such as the Cyclops Polyphemus (Bill Irwin), Sirens, and the nymph Calypso (Charlize Theron), while attempting to reunite with his wife, Penelope (Anne Hathaway) and his son Telemachus (Tom Holland). Also starring Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong'o, Zendaya, Benny Safdie, Jon Bernthal, John Leguizamo, Samantha Morton, Himesh Patel, Corey Hawkins, Mia Goth, Logan Marshall-Green, Elliot Page and James Remar. 

'ANIMAL FARM' (Rated PG) - this animated comedy film is Co-Produced, Directed and stars Andy Serkis, the acclaimed English Actor and film maker whose prior Directorial credits take in 'Breathe' in 2017, 'Mowgli : The Legend of the Jungle' in 2018, 'Venom : Let There Be Carnage' in 2021 and the upcoming 'Lord of the Rings : The Hunt for Gollum' slated for a 2027 release. His film acting credits are many and varied, perhaps best known however, for his animation and voice work for computer-generated characters such as Gollum in 'The Lord of the Rings' film trilogy (2001–2003) and 'The Hobbit : An Unexpected Journey' in 2012, 'King Kong' in the eponymous 2005 film, and Caesar in the 'Planet of the Apes' reboot series (2011–2017). This film is loosely based on the 1945 novella by George Orwell, and is the third adaptation of the novella, following the 1954 animated film and the 1999 live-action film. Here then, the film traces how a movement for equality is systematically corrupted. As the pigs consolidate control, truth is erased, dissent is crushed, and the farm descends into a ruthless dictatorship, so fulfilling Orwell’s warning about the dangers of communism. Starring the voice talents of Seth Rogen, Gaten Matarazzo, Kieren Culkin, Glenn Close, Steve Buscemi, Woody Harrelson, Jim Parsons and Kathleen Turner. It premiered at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in early June 2025, and was released in the USA and Canada on 1st May this year having so far grossed US$6M from a production budget of US$35M and has garnered generally negative critical reviews. It is released here in Australia, the UK and Ireland this week. 

With just two 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-

MICHAEL : Tuesday 7th July 2026

I finally got around to seeing the PG Rated 'MICHAEL' which was released here in Australia on 23rd April. This American biographical musical drama film is Directed by Antoine Fuqua, whose previous feature film credits take in the likes of his debut in 1998 with 'The Replacement Killers' which he would follow up with 'Training Day' in 2001, 'Tears of the Sun' in 2003, 'Shooter' in 2007, 'Olympus Has Fallen' in 2013, 'Southpaw' in 2015, 'The Magnificent Seven' in 2016, and 'The Equalizer' trilogy in 2014, 2018 and 2023. He has also helmed a number of documentaries over the years including 'What's My Name : Muhammad Ali' in 2019. This film Premiered in Berlin on 10th April having cost in the region of US$200M to produce, but has since gone on to gross US$992M at the global Box Office despite fairly negative critical reviews. It is the highest grossing biographical film of all time, and the second highest grossing film of 2026 at the time of writing. In late May this year it was announced that a sequel was already in development. 

In 1966 in Gary, Indiana, steel factory worker Joseph Jackson (Colman Domingo) assembles his sons Jackie (Nathaniel Logan McIntyre), Tito (Judah Edwards), Jermaine (Jayden Harville), Marlon (Jaylen Lyndon Hunter), and his youngest son Michael (Juliano Krue Valdi), aged eight, into the musical band the Jackson 5, with Michael on lead vocals. 

After months of grueling rehearsals, involving corporal punishment from Joseph when their routine doesn't go according to his strict guidelines, the Jackson 5 perform at gigs until Suzanne De Passe (Laura Harrier) discovers them in Chicago in 1968, and they are signed with Motown a year later. 

Their albums top the charts, and they sell out concerts across the US, allowing them to move from their small house to the Hayvenhurst mansion in Encino, California, in 1971. Motown founder Berry Gordy (Larenz Tate) believes Michael has the potential to make it big as a solo artist - a notion that Joseph won't even entertain, for his focus sits squarely on the Jackson 5.

We then fast forward to 1978, and Michael (Jaafar Jackson) signs with Epic Records for his first solo album as an adult, 'Off the Wall' produced by Quincy Jones (Kendrick Sampson). Despite its success, Michael's solo career is held back by Joseph, who believes he is solely responsible for his children's success and fortunes. Michael is forced to continue touring with his brothers on the Triumph Tour (from July to September 1981 in the US and Canada). 

Feeling insecure about his appearance and developing vitiligo (a chronic autoimmune disorder that causes patches of skin to lose pigment or colour), Michael undergoes rhinoplasty surgery to alter the size and shape of his nose. Following an argument with Joseph, he takes advice from his bodyguard, driver and close friend, Bill Bray (KeiLyn Durrel Jones) to create his own path in life. In 1981, he hires John Branca (Miles Teller) as his lawyer and manager, and has him fire Joseph by fax.

Michael visits sick children in hospitals and experiments with ideas for his next album, which is set for release in 1982. After watching a news report on the Crips/Bloods gang war in his home studio, he hires members of both gangs to appear in his music video for 'Beat It'. 

'Thriller', the album, is released and breaks worldwide sales records while Michael delivers a groundbreaking performance of 'Billie Jean' at Motown 25. Michael and Branca head to New York to ask the CBS Records president, Walter Yetnikoff (Mike Myers), to have MTV play Michael's music videos, despite the network not playing videos by black artists, for fear of upsetting their largely white middle class American audience. MTV agrees to give him airtime after Yetnikoff threatens to pull the CBS Records catalogue out of the network, including such famed artists as Bruce Springsteen, Cyndi Lauper and Bob Dylan.

While Michael basks in the limelight of his global success, Joseph has a private meeting with the boxing promoter Don King (Deon Cole) and proposes the 1984 Victory Tour to reunite his sons. King offers Joseph a PepsiCo sponsorship deal, provided that Michael tours with the Jacksons, to which Michael objects. While the Jacksons film a Pepsi commercial in late January 1984, a spark from the staged pyrotechnics sets Michael's hair on fire, resulting in third-degree burns and nerve damage to his scalp. 

He was rushed to Brotman Medical Centre for extensive medical treatments. Instead of suing, he reached an out-of-court settlement with Pepsi for US$1.5M, which he donated the entire sum to Brotman Medical Centre to fund a newly established burns unit. In the hospital, comforted by his mother Katherine (Nia Long), Michael, when he is well enough, meets with the other patients as he considers his options on whether to get involved with the Victory Tour.

Once Michael recovers, he agrees to tour with his siblings. During the final show at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on 9th December 1984, they perform 'Human Nature' and 'Working Day and Night'. Michael announces it is the last time the Jacksons will perform together, much to the surprise of his siblings and severing his ties finally with Joseph—much to his fathers horror. Michael performs his first solo tour, the Bad World Tour (from mid-September 1987 through until the end of January 1989, and takes in 123 shows), and at Wembley Stadium in July 1988 to an ecstatic crowd, and over the course of seven sold out concerts he promotes his seventh studio album 'Bad' released in 1987. 

Also starring Jamal R. Henerson, Tre Horton, Rhyan Hill, Joseph David-Jones and Jessica Sula as Jermaine, Marlon, Tito, Jackie and La Toya - Michael's older siblings respectively. 

Charting the early life and the golden era of Michael Jackson, the self proclaimed 'King of Pop' is here offered up in a sanitised version of his life that is a celebration of his music, his dance, and perhaps to a lesser extent his mark on fashion, and his desire to make the world a better place through the power of his music. And on that level this film succeeds, backed up by top notch performances from Juliano Valdi and Jaafar Jackson as the younger and older Michael respectively, Colman Domingo as the controlling and seemingly never satisfied Joseph Jackson, and first rate production values in recreating his song and dance routines, and some of the most iconic performances from his early solo career. For fans of Michael Jackson, this film is sure to please, but if your are looking for more of what made MJ really tick and the truth behind the legend, then you will be left wanting. This film doesn't tell us anything that we didn't already know about the man, and on that front the film is a let down. Having said that, a title card before the end credits roll tells the audience that 'His Story Continues' and as we now know a sequel is in the works which you would like to believe will hopefully answer all of those unanswered questions and address the big elephant in the room. 

'Michael' merits three claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a possible five claps. 

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new at Odeon's this week : Thursday 9th July 2026.

This years 23rd Golden Apricot International Film Festival (GAIFF) takes place between Sunday 12th July and Sunday 19th July. It was established in 2004 in Yerevan, the capital and largest city in Armenia, with the co-operation of the 'Golden Apricot' Fund for Cinema Development and the Armenian Association of Film Critics and Cinema Journalists. The Festival is dedicated to the theme of Crossroads of Cultures and Civilisations, and features a multitude of films representing various nations and religions, collectively depicting the richness of the human experience. GAIFF is different from other film festivals as it is smaller in scale and hence more intimate, nevertheless it garners international attention and respect. Earlier this year, GAIFF was granted accreditation by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF), joining the global network of internationally recognised film festivals, which now includes forty-nine accredited festivals across twenty-nine countries.

The films are presented in two international competition sections: features and documentaries. The Golden Apricot (grand prize) and the Silver Apricot (special mention) are awarded in each category. The Armenian Panorama is the pan-Armenian competitive section of the festival for films produced by filmmakers of Armenian descent. GAIFF also has three sections outside of competition to showcase more outstanding films - Non-competitive, Retrospective and Tribute. Competing for the Golden Apricot Award for the Best Film in the International Competition, are the following twelve features, given as below, in brief :-

* 'Babystar' - from Germany and Co-Written and Directed by Joscha Bongard. 

* 'Father' - from Slovakia, Czech Republic and Poland and Co-Written and Directed by Tereza Nvotova. 

* 'Hair, Paper, Water . . . ' - from Belgium, France and Vietnam and Written and Directed by Nicolas Graux and Minh Quy Truong, photographed by Nicolas Graux, and Co-Sound Engineered and Edited by Minh Quy Truong.

* 'London' - from Austria, and Co-Written, Directed and Co-Edited by Sebastian Brameshuber.

* 'No Good Men' - from Germany, France, Norway, Denmark and Afghanistan, and Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Shahrbanoo Sadat.

* 'Outliving Shakespeare' - from Armenia and the Nethwerlands, and Directed by Inna Sahakyan, Ruben Ghazaryan, and Co-Written and Co-Produced by Inna Sahakyan.

* 'Past Future Continuous' - from Iran, Norway and Italy and Written and Directed by Morteza Ahmadvand and Firouzeh Khosrovani, and Co-Produced by Firouzeh Khosrovani.

* 'The Currents' - from Switzerland and Argentina and Written and Directed by Milagros Mumenthaler.

* 'The Lion at My Back' - from Cyprus, Luxembourg and Greece and Co-Written, Produced and Directed by Tonia Mishiali. 

* 'The Mechanics of Borders' - from Canada and Co-Written and Directed by Hubert Caron-Guay.

* 'The Moon Is a Father of Mine' - from Georgia, Germany, Luxembourg, Bulgaria, Czech Republic and Turkey, and Co-Written, Co-Produced and Directed by George Ovashvili.

* 'Tristan Forever' - from Switzerland and Written and Directed by Tobias Nolle and Loran Bonnardot, and photographed and Edited by Tobias Nolle.

For the more detailed summary of the above highlighted films in the International Competition, plus the other competitive sections and strands bring showcased, together with a whole bunch of other good stuff, you can visit the official website at : http://www.gaiff.am

Turning the focus then back to this weeks six new release movies coming to your local big screen Odeon this week, we begin with a comedy in which a couple who's marriage is already on thin ice, and when they invite their enigmatic upstairs neighbours for a get to know you dinner party, the night spirals into unexpected places. This is followed by a supernatural horror that is the sixth offering in this franchise and quite probably the most brutal yet, in which following the death of her husband, a woman seeks comfort with her in-laws in their remote family home, and as one by one they are transformed into Deadites, so turning the gathering into a family reunion from hell. Next up we have another supernatural horror offering where a lovelorn medical student, becomes terrorised by a sinister force after taking part in an obscure weight-loss craze that involves consuming human ashes. Then we turn to a drama film about an elderly Catholic nun in the Philippines whose faith is challenged by institutional corruption and cover-ups after witnessing a construction worker's fatal accident. Following on we have coming-of-age autobiographical drama film where, in order to secure her education, an eighteen year old woman must find her birth family, and so guided by her mother's diary, she travels to the coast and uncovers buried secrets and long-hidden shames of the past. And closing out the week we have a live action remake of two hugely successful animated feature films from the recent past, where, leaving her island for the first time, this young girl embarks on an epic seafaring adventure to restore prosperity to her people.

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.

'THE INVITE' (Rated MA15+) - this American comedy film is Directed by Olivia Wilde in her third feature film Directorial outing following 'Booksmart' in in 2019 and 'Don't Worry Darling' in 2022, as well as her many acting roles in the likes of 'The Girl Next Door' in 2004, 'Alpha Dog' in 2006, 'Cowboys & Aliens' in 2011, 'People Like Us' in 2012, 'Deadfall' also in 2012, 'Rush' in 2013, 'Her' in 2013, 'The Lazarus Effect' in 2015, 'Love the Coopers' in 2015, 'Life Itself' in 2019 and 'Richard Jewell' in 2019. This film is an English language remake of the Spanish film 'The People Upstairs' Directed by Cesc Gay.

Joe (Seth Rogen) and Angela's (Olivia Wilde) marriage is on thin ice. When they invite their enigmatic upstairs neighbours Hawk (Edward Norton) and Pina (Penelope Cruz) for a dinner party, the night spirals into unexpected places. Have they reignited the spark or lit the match that burns it all down? The film saw a limited release in US cinema's on 26th June before going wide from this week too, having seen its World Premiere showcasing at the Sundance Film Festival in late January this year. It has so far grossed US$1.5M.

'EVIL DEAD BURN' (Rated R18+) - is an American supernatural horror film that is Co-Written and Directed by the French film maker Sebastien Vanicek, whose only other feature film Directing output was 2023's 'Infested'. This film serves as the third standalone entry, after 2013's 'Evil Dead' and 'Evil Dead Rise' in 2023, and the sixth instalment overall in the 'Evil Dead' film series. Those first five films in the series have grossed US$300M from combined production budgets of US$47M. Sam Raimi, the series creator, returns in the capacity of Co-Producer. Following the loss of her husband, a woman seeks solace with her in-laws in their secluded family home. As one by one they are transformed into Deadites, turning the gathering into a family reunion from hell, she comes to discover that the vows she took in life live on . . . even in death. Starring Souhelia Yacoub, Tandi Wright, Hunter Doohan, Luciane Buchanan, Erroll Shand and George Pullar. In April 2024, it was announced that another mainline film is currently in development, which was later titled 'Evil Dead Wrath', with Francis Galluppi as the Writer and Director. Principal photography began in late February this year, in Auckland, New Zealand, with the film scheduled for release in early April 2028.

'SACCHARINE' (Rated MA15+) - this Australian supernatural horror film is Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Natalie Erika James who made her feature film debut with 'Relic' in 2020 and would follow this up with the prequel film to 1968's 'Rosemary's Baby' with 'Apartment 7A' in 2024. After succumbing to an obscure weight-loss craze involving the eating of human ashes, lovelorn medical student Hana (Midori Francis) finds herself terrorised by the ghost of the person she's eating. Also starring Danielle Macdonald, Madeleine Madden and Robert Taylor. The film had its World Premiere screening at the Midnight section of this years Sundance Film Festival in late January, was released in the USA in late May, has so far grossed US$116K and has generated mixed or average critical reviews. 

'FIRST LIGHT' (Rated M) - is a Co-Production between the Philippines and Australia and is Written and Directed by James J. Robinson in his feature length debut. Set in a decaying convent in the mountains of Luzon in the Philippines, the film follows Sister Yolanda (Ruby Ruiz), a middle-aged Catholic nun whose faith is shaken by a tragic accident, in which a young construction worker dies. As pressure mounts from the Church and state to suppress the truth, she finds herself questioning the ethical standards and the institution she has devoted her life to. The film had its World Premiere in August 2025 at the Melbourne International Film Festival, where it won the AU$50K Blackmagic Design Best Australian Director Award. It was released in the Philippines toward the end of last month, and has garnered positive critical reviews. 

'ROMERIA' (Rated MA15+) - this Spanish and French coming-of-age autobiographical drama film is Written and Directed by Carla Simon in her third feature length outing following 2017's 'Summer 1993' and 'Alcarras' in 2022. Here, 18 year-old Marina (Llucia Garcia) , who travels to the glittering seaside town of Vigo determined to uncover information on her deceased biological father. Gradually tracking down his siblings, she slowly learns uncomfortable secrets about her parents' unconventional life and turbulent past. The film saw its World Premiere showcasing at the Cannes Film Festival in late May 2025 where it was in competition for the Palme d'Or, cost US$3.6M to produce, has so far grossed US$3M and has received favourable critical reviews. 

'MOANA' (Rated PG) - is an American musical adventure film, and is a live-action adaptation of Disney Animation's 2016 film of the same name. It is the third instalment and the first live-action film in the 'Moana' franchise, and is Directed by Thomas Kail in his feature film making debut. Those first two animated feature films grossed US$1,7B at the worldwide Box Office off the back of combined production budgets of US$300M, making this live action offering a shoe-in. Prompted by a summons from the ocean, Moana (Catherine Laga'aia, in her feature film debut) departs her home island of Motunui for the first time and travels past its barrier reef. Accompanied by the demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson, reprising his role from the previous two animated films and also taking a Co-Producer credit here), she undertakes a voyage aimed at recovering the well-being of her community. Also starring Rena Owen, John Tui, Frankie Adams, and Jemaine Clement. The film is released this week also in the US.

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-

SUPERGIRL : Tuesday 30th June 2026.

I saw the M Rated 'SUPERGIRL' earlier this week, and this American superhero film is based on the titular character from DC Comics. The film is Directed by Craig Gillespie and is the second film in the DC Universe (DCU), following 2025's 'Superman' which was Written and Directed by James Gunn - the joint CEO of DC Studios with Peter Safran, and starred David Corenswet as the Man of Steel. Craig Gillespie's prior feature film making credits take in his 2007 debut with 'Mr. Woodcock', and which he would follow up with the likes of 'Lars and the Real Girl' also in 2007, 'Fright Night' in 2011, 'I, Tonya' in 2017, 'Cruella' in 2021 and 'Dumb Money' in 2023. This film forms part of the DCU's 'Chapter One : Gods and Monsters', and as recently as last month Peter Safran commented that Supergirl would have a major role in the future of the DCU beyond her return in the Superman follow-up film 'Man of Tomorrow' scheduled for release on 9th July 2027. This film had its World Premiere screening in Brooklyn, New York on 22nd June, and was released worldwide from the 25th June onward. It has so far grossed US$79M from a production budget somewhere in the region of US$180M, and has generated mixed or average reviews.

The film opens in the present day with Kara Zor-El aka Supergirl (Milly Alcock) celebrating her 23rd birthday, with her dog Krypto by travelling to several planets across the galaxy and drinking excessively, getting drunk and waking up the next morning with the mother of all hang overs - a routine she repeats frequently it seems. Her elder cousin Clark Kent aka Superman (David Corenswet) calls her often, out of concern that she is spending way too much time off-world and seemingly unable to settle on planet Earth.

During one such off planet stops, Supergirl encounters Ruthye Marye Knoll (Eve Ridley), the last survivor of her family who were murdered by the Brigand leader Krem of the Yellow Hills (Matthias Schoenaerts), who heads up a group of space pirates and human traffickers. Ruthye requests Supergirl's assistance in her quest for vengeance, but is denied. Krem hijacks Supergirl's ship together with several other Brigands, and shoots Krypto with a poisonous dart when he tries to stop them. Upon learning that Krypto has only three days left to live, Supergirl decides to pursue Krem to retrieve an antidote that he keeps on person, while also reluctantly taking on Ruthye as her companion.

After a brief run-in with the Sklarian Raiders, a group of all female space pirates, aboard an interstellar bus, Supergirl interrogates them and learns of Krem's location on the planet Bilquis. There, Supergirl and Ruthye learn from a local couple, Bomar (Kadiff Kirwan) and Mareck (Thalissa Teixeira), that the Brigands have been kidnapping young women to force them to be their brides. Mareck attempts to drug Supergirl to trade her and Ruthye to the Brigands in exchange for their daughter Sarna (Asha Soetan), but Supergirl resists and fights the Brigands, and is assisted by the bounty hunter Lobo (Jason Momoa), who is targeting the Brigands' lieutenant Drom Baxton (Diarmaid Murtagh). 

During the battle, Supergirl stops Ruthye from killing Krem, allowing him to escape after killing Bomar and his family. A guilt-ridden Supergirl decides to go after Krem alone, and is escorted by several local aliens to the Brigands' location on the planet, Barenton. However, Supergirl is weakened by the planet's green sun, and is tended to by Ruthye, who secretly followed her and who pulls her into a cave and out of the way of the harmful green suns rays, but not out of danger.

In a moment between Supergirl and Ruthye we learn of Kara's backstory. During the destruction of the planet Krypton, scientist Zor-El (David Krumholtz) and his wife Alura (Emily Beecham) evacuate along with many Kryptonians to Argo City, where Zor-El activates a force field system that separates a chunk containing the city from the planet, preventing it from being destroyed when its core explodes. However, before doing so the infant Kal-El is shipped off to Earth in a pod. Eight years later, Alura gives birth to her and Zor-El's daughter, Kara. Eventually, it is discovered that the separation of Argo City exposed a mineral known as 'Kryptonite', which is slowly killing the citizens through radiation. After Alura dies from Kryptonite poisoning, Zor-El decides to send the ten year old or so Kara and her puppy Krypto off in a pod bound for Earth, where she will join her older cousin. Upon landing, and unable to speak the Earth language, they are greeted by Kal-El, who is living a double life as Clark Kent and Superman. Although she is unable to understand, Superman tells Kara that her powers will very soon start to kick-in. Kara later tries to adjust to her new life on Earth, and in Metropolis, while also adopting the alias 'Supergirl'.

Ruthye is later kidnapped by the Brigands after she exits the cave to fetch a drink of water for Supergirl, and is taken to their ship, where Lobo is also imprisoned. Ruthye manages to escape her cell and free Lobo, but is caught by Krem as she makes it topside. She is then saved by Supergirl, who has managed to recover after the planet rotates to a yellow sun. 

With Lobo's aid, Supergirl defeats the Brigands and frees the captive women on board. She pleads with Ruthye to not kill Krem, convincing her that it would not ease her pain, and if she did then that is something she would have to live with for the rest of her life.

As Ruthye walks away, Supergirl picks up her sword and uses it to kill Krem herself. She recovers the antidote and returns to Krypto, saving him in time. Later, as Supergirl bids a tearful farewell to Ruthye, she relents and invites her to join her aboard her retrieved ship in celebrating the rest of her 23rd birthday week. Sometime later, Supergirl reunites with Superman on Earth, where she states her wish to stay indefinitely, reaffirming that the planet is now her home.

This DCU second instalment represents solid enough entertainment, but it is fairly predictable, derivative and offers up nothing that we haven't really seen before. Milly Alcock as the titular Supergirl plays the sassy blond with attitude and a penchant for hard liquor and kicking ass, with conviction and determination, and it will be interesting to see what she does next with the character, and under a different Director. As for the other principle cast, Jason Momoa is well cast as Lobo and you can tell he was relishing the role, but Eve Ridley as Ruthye lapsed more than once into her native English language that she sounded more royal than the Princess of Wales, and was sidelined with seemingly nothing to do but twiddle her thumbs while the action played out around her. Matthias Schoenaerts character of Krem is a one dimensional villain leading a group of other one dimensional villains who serve as nothing more than the keeper of an antidote with which to revive the obviously CGI created Krypto, and they all naturally buy the farm in the end. It's a serviceable enough introduction to Supergirl, but the plot is paper thin, the CGI FX at times questionable, and the film is shot to a large extent in dark muted tones that makes it hard to discern what is happening on screen. 

'Supergirl' warrants three claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a possible five claps.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-