What's new at Odeon's this week : Thursday 23rd April 2026.

The 69th San Francisco International Film Festival (SFFILM) occurs this year from Friday 24th April through until Monday 4th May. The SFFILM Festival is the longest-running film festival in the Americas bringing the most innovative films from around the globe to the Bay Area since 1957. The programme features eleven days of hand-selected films, world class talent, captivating Festival Talks, an Industry Summit for filmmakers, College Days, and Schools at the Festival exclusively for local students. Audiences visit to find singular movies from the latest and greatest filmmakers. We teach kids about the world through film and movie-going. And we make sure independent filmmakers get their stories to the big screen. SFFILM invests in the entire cycle of the cinema experience. From world-class festivals to accessible education programmes to grants for working filmmakers, we fuel every aspect of a thriving film culture. So reads the official website.

This years two Opening Night Film presentations are 'Late Fame' from the USA and Directed by Kent Jones and tells the story of when a retired poet’s forgotten writings capture the attention of a vibrant NYC group, admiration, longing, and desire stir in this heartfelt, witty meditation on ambition and second chances. Willem Dafoe and Greta Lee star. And the second is 'The Invite' from the USA and Directed by Olivia Wilde where two San Francisco couples meet for a casual get-to-know-one-another dinner but instead find themselves traversing surprising boundaries of intimacy and relationships. Penelope Cruz, Olivia Wilde, Edward Norton, and Seth Rogen star. Closing out this years SFFILM Festival is a very special Star Wars Day (May the Fourth) screening of 'Star Wars : Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back' from 1980 and Directed by Irvin Kershner.

In the Global Visions Competition, the following titles are being showcased :-

* 'The World of Love' - from South Korea and Directed by Yoon Ga-eun. Boisterous and unshakable, a young girl’s harmonious world unravels after a public clash and anonymous letters force her to confront long-buried truths, testing her sense of self and resilience.

* 'Risa and the Wind Phone' - from Argentina and Directed by Juan Cabral. In a small town where the dead call from an abandoned phone booth, a young girl discovers she alone can hear them, setting off a whimsical quest to help spirits—and find her father.

* 'Memory of Princess Mumbi' - from Kenya and Directed by Damien Hauser. In this futuristic Sci-Fi mockumentary, a filmmaker repurposes footage shot in the African nation of Umata as a love letter to the life of Princess Mumbi.

* 'Those Who Whistle After Dark' - from Turkey and Directed by Pinar Yorgancioglu. Retired Melih drifts through life as his wife and daughter pursue risky professional schemes. When ghostly figures appear, domestic absurdity spirals in this offbeat, comic, and charming portrait of family life.

* 'Salvation' - from Turkey and Directed by Emin Alper. This tense and visually striking drama explores the explosive consequences when territorial rivalries ignite in a remote Turkish mountain village.

* 'The Fox King' - from Malaysia and Directed by Woo Ming Jin. Twin brothers try to make a life for themselves with scant resources as they reel from their mother’s death.

* 'Ungrateful Beings' - from the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Poland, Slovakia, Croatia and France, and Directed by Olmo Omerzu. What begins as a summer crush evolves into a snowballing disaster as a recently separated father desperately tries to reconnect with his kids.

* 'Inside Amir' - from Iran and Directed by Amir Azizi. A young man hovers on the precipice of a major life change, biking through his beloved Tehran as he awaits a visa approval.

For the details of the other two competitive strands - the Spotlights Documentary Competition and the Spotlights New Directors Competition, and the low down on the other sections being showcased, plus a whole bunch of other good stuff, you can visit the official website at : http://www.sffilm.org

Turning the focus then back on this weeks seven hot new release movies coming to your local big screen Odeon, we launch with a musical drama biopic following the life of American singer Michael Jackson, covering the period from his involvement in the Jackson 5 in the 60's to his early solo career, taking in his hit albums 'Off The Wall', 'Thriller' and 'Bad'. Then we turn to a sport action drama offering in which a once-feared MMA champion is pulled back in for the fight of his life after years away from the cage, when his younger brother is put in danger. This is followed by a Japanese psychological horror film where strange events plague a young man as he searches for the exit in an endless subway tunnel. Next up we have a Australian romantic comedy drama film about an isolated young couple who have moved from the big city to the remote countryside lose control of a joke about imaginary friends. Then we have a French historical drama focusing on the origin story of the protagonist from Victor Hugo's Les Miserables, that follows this man's release from prison in 1815 and his transformative encounter with a kindly and forgiving Bishop. Following on is a Moroccan film about a woman who fights to keep her childhood house in Morocco after her daughter decides to sell it; and closing out the week we have a Japanese animated film in which a dying prisoner reflects on his final summer of freedom in 1986, when he lived with a woman and her son surrounded by Housenka flowers.

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

'MICHAEL' (Rated PG) - 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 earlier this month and is released in the US this week too, having cost in the region of US$200M to produce.

This cinematic portrayal of the life and legacy of one of the most influential artists the world has ever known, telling the story of Michael Jackson's life beyond the music, tracing his journey from the discovery of his extraordinary talent as the lead of the Jackson Five, to the visionary artist whose creative ambition fuelled a relentless pursuit to become the biggest entertainer in the world. Highlighting both his life off-stage and some of the most iconic performances from his early solo career, the film gives audiences a front-row seat to Michael Jackson as never before. Starring Michael's nephew Jaafar Jackson in the title role and in his film debut, with Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson (father), Nia Long as Katherine Jackson (mother), Miles Teller as John Branca (entertainment lawyer and manager) and 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. Juliano Krue Valdi stars as the young Michael.

'BEAST' (Rated MA15+) - is a sports action drama film is Co-Produced and Directed by Tyler Atkins in only his second feature film making effort following 'Bosch & Rockit' (aka 'Ocean Boy'). Here, after years away from the cage, and now working as a commercial fisherman, the once-feared MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) champion Patton James (Daniel MacPherson) is pulled back in for the fight of his life when his younger brother is put in danger. Reuniting with the trainer Sammy (Russell Crowe) who once made him a legend, he commits to one final showdown against the reigning title-holder Xavier Grau (Bren Foster), a brutal fighter determined to dismantle the ex-champ's legacy in front of the world. Pushed to his breaking point, the contender's stakes are simple - win, or lose everything he's built. The film also stars Luke Hemsworth and Amy Shark, and was released Stateside earlier this month and has so far grossed US$1M.

'EXIT 8' (Rated M) - this Japanese mystery psychological horror film is Co-Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Genki Kawamura, and is based on the 2023 video game 'The Exit 8'. A man, credited only as 'The Lost Man' (Kazunari Ninomiya) is trapped in a endless sterile subway passageway and must set out to find Exit 8. The rules of his quest are simple - do not overlook anything out of the ordinary. If you discover an anomaly, turn back immediately. If you don’t, carry on. Then leave from Exit 8. But even a single oversight will send him back to the beginning. Will he ever reach his goal and escape this infinite corridor? The film had its Premiere showcasing at the Midnight Screenings of last years Cannes Film Festival in mid-May, and was released in its native Japan in late August last year. The film has received positive reviews from critics and has so far grossed US$41M.

'ALPHABET LANE' (Rated M) - this Australian romantic comedy drama film is Written, Co-Produced and Directed by James Litchfield in his feature film making debut. Here, Anna (Tilda Cobham-Hervey) and Jack (Nicholas Denton) are a young couple who have recently moved to rural New South Wales from Sydney. With the reality of their new situation failing to live up to their expectations, as a joke they invent imaginary neighbours to cope with their growing loneliness. As letters begin to arrive from their new friends, what started out as a joke soon comes to take over their entire relationship. Also starring Henry Nixon, Alan Dukes and Lily Stewart.

'JEAN VALJEAN' (Rated M) - is a French drama film Co-Written and Directed by Eric Besnard and based on the first one hundred pages of the classic Victor Hugo novel 'Les Miserables'. The film focuses on the specific chapter of the novel where Jean Valjean (Gregory Gadebois) is turned away by society after serving nineteen years of hard labour in prison, and his release in 1815. Issued with identification that forever sees him branded a criminal and ostracised, Jean is not surprised to be repeatedly turned away as he seeks refuge for the night. Desperate, he unknowingly knocks at the door of the house of Monseigneur Bienvenu (Bernard Campan), who lives simply with his sister Baptistine (Isabelle Carre) and a lone servant Magloire (Alexandra Lamy). Against all odds, Bienvenu invites him in. On this crucial night, Jean will face a choice that will define his future. The film saw its release in its native France in mid-November last year, and has been releasing progressively in other territories since.

'CALLE MALAGA' (Rated M) - this Spanish language drama film is Co-Written and Directed by Maryam Touzani, in her third feature film outing following 'Adam' in 2019 and 'The Blue Caftan' in 2022. Seventy-nine-year-old Maria Angeles (Carmen Maura) lives an independent existence in the Spanish quarter of Tangier, Morocco. When her daughter Clara (Marta Etura), a nurse who is facing emotional turmoil and economic difficulties, arrives from Madrid to pressure her into selling the family home, where Maria has lived all her life, the stable trajectory of María's life is thrown off course, until she rediscovers her city and unexpectedly finds a romantic spark that will change her life. The film had its World Premiere in the Venice Spotlight section at last years Venice International Film Festival in late August where it won the section's Audience Award. It was released in France in mid-March, in Spain earlier this month, having generated mostly positive critical reviews.

'THE LAST BLOSSOM' (Rated PG) - is a Japanese animated film that is Co-Written and Directed by Baku Kinoshita. Here, and elderly former Yakuza inmate serving a life sentence, awaits a lonely death in his solitary prison cell, until a voice calls out to him. It belongs to a balsam flower, Housenka (voiced by Pierre Taki) that speaks like a human. Through their 'conversation', the old man begins to reflect on the life he’s led. The film was released in Japan in mid-October last year, and is released here in Australia this week. 

With seven 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-

UNDERTONE : Tuesday 14th April 2026.

I saw the M Rated 'UNDERTONE' earlier this week, and this Canadian horror film is Written and Directed by Ian Tuason in his feature film making debut. The film saw its Premiere screening at the Fantasia International Film Festival in late July last year, where it won the gold audience award for Canadian films. The film was released Stateside in mid-March, has generated largely positive critical reviews, cost US$500K to produce, and has so far grossed US$20M in Box Office receipts.

Evangeline 'Evy' Babic (Nina Kiri) is a young woman with a seemingly devout Catholic upbringing, living alone with her comatose mother (Michele Duquet), for whom she is the main caregiver. She and her friend Justin (voiced by Adam DiMarco) run 'The Undertone', a supernatural podcast where they report on such other worldly and paranormal occurrences, which Evy dismisses largely as fake while Justin is the believer. One day, Justin is sent an anonymous email containing a seemingly random string of letters and ten audio files, which they play on their podcast, and seek to gain some clarity. Justin is based in the UK, and so Evy dials into him at 3:00am in the mornings, given the time zone differences.

The files were recorded by a couple named Mike (voiced by Jeff Yung) and Jessa (voiced by Keana Lyn Bastidas), the latter of whom talks in her sleep, which Mike hopes to capture evidence of. In the first recording, Jessa sings 'London Bridge' in her sleep, which Justin then plays backwards and insists he can hear her saying 'Mike, kill all'. This leads Evy to research hidden messages in children's songs, and she becomes agitated when she discovers that playing 'Baa, Baa, Black Sheep', her favourite childhood song, in reverse reveals the message 'lick the blood off'. 

Evy later learns that she is six weeks pregnant. At her mother's bedside, Evy informs her of the pregnancy, but then admits that she feels unfit to be a mother. She later schedules an appointment at a local women's clinic. Playing additional recordings from Mike and Jessa reveal Jessa speaking what at first sounds like gibberish, but when played backwards reveals 'come in, Abyzou'. Through research, Evy and Justin learn that Abyzou is a demon in Mediterranean and European folklore who was said to cause miscarriages and drive mothers to murder their own children out of jealousy, as she herself was infertile. Evy notices increasingly strange occurrences around her, including her still-unconscious mother moving on her own, lights flickering around the house, the kitchen tap switching on of its own volition, and a small statue of the Virgin Mary that Evy placed in the closet out of the way reappearing in other parts of the house.

After recording the first eight audio tapes for their podcast they decide to make this a two parter and finalise the last segment by playing the final two audio recordings. In the final recording, Jessa insists she has to 'warn' someone who is 'listening', seemingly referring to Evy. Justin attempts to respond to the sender, only for the email to be automatically sent back to him as undeliverable. A caller claiming to be Mike and Jessa's neighbour reveals that the couple were found dead in their home at the foot of their staircase with plastic bags over their heads and crayon drawings of babies all over their walls. The autopsy revealed that Jessa was pregnant at her time of death. Another caller demands to speak to 'Mary' - the name Evy previously said she had always wanted to give her hypothetical child - and does not relent when Justin insists there is nobody there by that name. A final caller named Abby (voiced by Sarah Beaudin) begs for help in calming her incessantly crying child, ultimately murdering the infant despite Evy and Justin pleading with her not to. Evy then confesses that her mother has died, and that she killed her. 

Evy rushes upstairs, with the walls of the house now covered in black and red coloured crayon drawings of Abyzou and dead, bloodied infants. She rushes into her mothers bedroom where there is a neatly made up and empty bed, with the small statue of the Virgin Mary placed in the centre of the bed on the crisp clean sheets. She sees her mother standing in the bathroom, who turns and glides slowly towards her  seemingly attacking while screaming for her to stop.

Here first time feature Director Ian Tuason has crafted a modest little film that has Nina Kiri as the only walking and talking character on screen; an unassuming single suburban house location (which incidentally is the very house that Ian Tuason grew up in); weird camera angles and black screens to heighten the sense of dread; and an auditory experience that is sure to send shivers down the spine. With nods to that 2007 horror classic 'Paranormal Activity', the Director has here substituted the couple who set up a camera to document what is haunting them, for a recoding device set up by a couple to listen in on what is haunting them. The resulting sound design played back to the audience via this Podcast is top notch and is best heard in a theatre where the sound quality will far exceed anything you can get at home. However, all of that said, I left the theatre feeling just a little underwhelmed, as very little happens in between recording Evy's and Justin's Podcast episodes, and when the somewhat abrupt ending arrives it barely pays off. The film is devoid of jump scares or jolts to the system that make you sit bolt upright and pay attention, and despite the positives if does follow familiar genre types. I read somewhere that this could be the first instalment in a planned trilogy, and if so then the Director could be forgiven for that inconclusive ending, but if not . . . 

'Undertone' 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 16th April 2026

The 18th Milwaukee Film Festival takes place this year from Wednesday 16th April, up to and including Thursday 30th April, in the US city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Named one of the coolest film festivals in the world by MovieMaker Magazine, the Milwaukee Film Festival is one of the Midwest’s largest film festivals, and one of Milwaukee’s most-beloved cultural events. Founded in 2008, Milwaukee Film is a community-powered arts nonprofit organisation dedicated to creating world-class cinematic experiences that entertain, educate, and engage curious audiences. It is the fifth largest film festival in the US in terms of attendance, the number of films screened and festival length, and is proud to be known for its world-class hospitality. The Milwaukee Film Festival spotlights bold new voices, acclaimed filmmakers, unique stories, and work made in Milwaukee that resonates far beyond the screen. So reads the official website.

This years Opening Night film presentation is 'Ueck', from the USA and this documentary is Directed by Steve Farr and Michael T. Vollmann. Milwaukee legend, Bob Uecker, the former Major League baseball player, Hall of Fame sportscaster, comedian, and Actor has seen it all and made us laugh along the way. Though Ueck passed away in January 2025, this documentary persists as a testament to his legacy, giving audiences intimate access to his life, work, family, and friends, amplifying his humour and heart for future generations. The Closing Night film is 'Power Ballad' from the USA and is Co-Written, Co-Produced and Directed by John Carney. When Rick (Paul Rudd), a past-his-prime wedding singer, meets fading boy-band star Danny (Nick Jonas) during a gig, the two bond over music and a late-night jam session. But when Danny turns one of Rick’s songs into the hit that reignites his career, Rick sets out to reclaim the recognition he believes he deserves. 

The Centrepiece film is 'The Big Cheese', and this documentary is Co-Produced and Directed by Sara Joe Wolansky. In the high-pressure world of international cheesemongering, Adam Moskowitz aims to send the first American to claim the top prize at the Mondial du Fromage competition in France. While the European model for this 'sommelier of cheese' profession eclipses its stateside counterpart in societal support, Moskowitz, and his alter-ego Mr. Moo, believe scrappy American ingenuity can take the wheel.

In the North American Independents Programme, there are thirteen titles being showcased, detailed in brief as follows :-

* 'Blue Heron' - from Canada and Hungary this drama film is Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Sophy Romvari is her feature film Directorial debut. 

* 'Carolina Caroline' - from the USA and Directed by Adam Carter Rehmeier and starring Samara Weaving, Kyle Gallner and Kyra Sedgwick.

* 'Erupcja' - from the USA and Poland this drama romance film is Co-Written, Co-Produced, photographed, Directed and Edited by Pete Ohs and stars Charli XCX, Will Madden and Lena Gora.

* 'I Want Your Sex' - from the USA and this comedy film is Co-Written, Co-Produced, Directed and Edited by Gregg Araki, and stars Cooper Hoffman, Mason Gooding, Olivia Wilde, Daveed Diggs and Charli XCX.

* 'If I Go They Will Miss Me' - from the USA, this drama film is Written, Directed and Edited by Walter Thompson-Hernandez.

* 'Late Fame' - from the USA this drama film is Directed by Kent Jones and stars Willem Dafoe, Greta Lee and Edmund Donovan.

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

* 'Mad Bills to Pay' - from the USA and this comedy drama film is Written and Directed by Joel Alfonso Vargas.

* 'Maddie's Secret' - from the USA this comedy film is Written, Co-Produced, Directed and stars John Early, with Eric Rahill, Kate Berlant, Conner O'Malley and Vanessa Bayer.

* 'She's The He' - from the USA, this comedy is Written, Directed and Co-Edited by Siobhan McCarthy.

* 'Space Cadet' - from Canada this family animated film is Directed by Kid Koala.

* 'The Travel Companion' - from the USA, this comedy film is Co-Written, Co-Produced and Co-Directed by Travis Wood and Alex Mallis, and starring Tristan Turner, Anthony Oberbeck and Naomi Asa.

* 'Vanilla' - from Mexico, and this drama comedy film is Written and Directed by Mayra Hermosillo.

For the descriptors of the aforementioned films, plus the details of the other films strands being showcased, plus a whole bunch of other good stuff, you can visit the official website at : http://www.mkefilm.org

Turning the attention then back to this weeks four new movies coming to your local big screen Odeon, we kick off with a supernatural horror film in which a young girl wakens in a 3,000 year old sarcophagus having been missing for eight years, and while her parents joy at having their daughter back, this quickly turns into a living nightmare. Next up is an action offering in which an interim lawman in a small mid-western American town covering up a massive criminal conspiracy. This is followed by a British crime thriller where an unexploded WWII bomb is discovered on a busy construction site in the city of London, as chaos ensues when the military and police begin a mass evacuation. And closing out the week we have a French drama offering about the daily life of an indifferent Frenchman, who is shaken by the death of his mother and a fateful encounter on a beach in 1930's Algeria.

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

'LEE CRONIN'S THE MUMMY' (Rated MA15+) - this American supernatural horror film is Written and Directed by Lee Cronin in only his third feature film making outing following 'The Hole in the Ground' in 2019 and 'Evil Dead Rise' in 2023. This film is a reimagining of 'The Mummy' series which began way back in 1932 with the Universal Studio's 'The Mummy' right up to the most recent iteration in 2017 with 'The Mummy' as part of Universal's planned and subsequently ditched Dark Universe series, when the film was panned by critics and was a Box Office failure. 

The young daughter, Katie Cannon (Natalie Grace), of a journalist Charlie Cannon (Jack Reynor) disappears into the desert without a trace. Some eight years later, the broken family is shocked when she is returned to them, as what should be a joyful reunion turns into a living nightmare. Also starring Laia Costa as Charlie's wife Larissa and Veronica Falcon as Larissa's mother Carmen. The film is released Stateside this week too. 

'NORMAL' (Rated CTC) - is an American action film that is Directed by Ben Wheatley whose prior feature film making efforts take in his debut in 2009 with 'Down Terrace' and which he would follow up with the likes of 'A Field in England' in 2013, 'High Rise' in 2015, 'Free Fire' in 2016, 'Happy New Year, Colin Burstead' in 2018, 'Rebecca' in 2020 and 'Meg 2 : The Trench' in 2023. Here, for Sheriff Ulysses (Bob Odenkirk, who also Co-Wrote the story and is Co-Producer), his provisional posting to the quaint Midwestern American town of Normal, Minnesota, was meant to be a welcome respite from both his marital woes and recent moral injuries in the line of duty. But when a botched bank robbery interrupts the municipality's tranquil pace, a dark secret is inadvertently exposed, and Ulysses soon discovers that the town is anything but its namesake. Also starring Henry Winkler and Lena Headey. The film Premiered in the Midnight Madness programme at the Toronto International Film Festival in early September last year, and is released in the US this week also.

'FUZE' (Rated M) - this British crime thriller heist film is Co-Produced and Directed by David Mackenzie whose previous feature film Directorial output includes 'Young Adam' in 2003, 'Hallam Foe' in 2007, 'Perfect Sense' in 2011, 'Hell or High Water' in 2016, 'Outlaw King' in 2018 and 'Relay' in 2024. Here, set in modern day London, the film unfolds after an unexploded World War II bomb is unearthed at a busy construction site, forcing a massive citywide evacuation. Amid the escalating tension and chaos, a daring criminal operation is set in motion, one that uses the evacuation as cover for a meticulously planned heist. As authorities race against time to contain the crisis, alliances blur and moral boundaries are crossed. Starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Theo James, Sam Worthington, Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Honor Swinton Byrne. The film Premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in early September last year at the Gala Presentations section, was released in the UK earlier this month, and has generated mixed or average critical reviews.

'THE STRANGER' (Rated M) - is a French drama film Written and Directed by Francois Ozon, whose prior prolific film output take in the likes of 'Water Drops on Burning Rocks' in 2000, '8 Women' in 2002, 'Swimming Pool' in 2003, 'Potiche' in 2010, 'In the House' in 2012, 'Frantz' in 2016, 'Everything Went Fine' in 2021, 'Peter von Kant' in 2022, and 'When Fall is Coming' in 2024. This film is based on the 1942 novel of the same bane by Albert Camus. Here, set in Algiers, in 1938, Meursault (Benjamin Voisin), a quiet and unassuming employee in his early thirties, attends his mother's funeral without shedding a tear. The next day, he begins a casual affair with Marie (Rebecca Marder), a work colleague. He quickly slips back into his usual routine. However, his daily life is soon about to be disrupted by his neighbour, Raymond Sintes (Pierre Lottin), who draws Meursault into his shady dealings. Until one blisteringly hot day, a tragic event occurs on a beach. The film saw its World Premiere screening at the Venice International film Festival in early September last year where it was in official competition for the Golden Lion, it then opened in France in late October and only now is it released here in Australia having so far grossed US$7M and garnered universal critical acclaim. 

With four 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-

THEY WILL KILL YOU : Tuesday 7th April 2026

I saw the MA15+ Rated 'THEY WILL KILL YOU' earlier this week at my local multiplex, and this American horror action comedy film is Co-Written and Directed by Kirill Sokolov who made his feature film Directorial debut with 'Why Don't You Just Die!' in 2018 and which he would follow up with 'No Looking Back' in 2021. The film Premiered at SXSW in mid-March, was released Stateside and here in Australia towards the end of last month, has so far grossed US$16M from a US$20M production budget and has garnered mixed or average critical reviews.

They film opens with two sisters - the older Asia Reaves (Zazie Beetz) and her much younger sibling Maria running into a 24/7 convenience store in the pouring rain, looking to evade their abusive father. However, he tracks them down as the pair run into the night and back out into the rain. The father gives chase, aided and abetted by a friend of his in a car which pulls up directly in front of the fleeing sisters, causing them to stop dead in their tracks. Asia pulls a gun at her advancing father, and shoots him. He slumps to the ground and she flees the scene as Police cars converge sirens and lights blaring, leaving her father grabbing at the ankle of young Maria hampering any chance she had of escape. Asia is arrested, and Maria returns to the abusive custody of her father. 

Fast forward ten years and Asia arrives at the front door of The Virgil, again in the pouring rain late one evening. The Virgil is an exclusive high rise apartment block in New York City, that is long past its hey day, but is nonetheless seen as exclusive and very private by its residents. She is welcomed by Irish building manager, Lilith Woodhouse (Patricia Arquette), who explains that the Virgil is over one hundred years old and is occupied by the wealthy and elite. She is shown to her living quarters and told to make herself at home. 

While sleeping, several masked intruders, including residents Kevin Sullivan (Tom Felton) and Sharon Vanderbilt (Heather Graham), break in and attack Asia. They are shocked to discover Asia is armed and highly skilled at defending herself (a skill that we later learn she picked up in prison) managing to kill all of the assailants. Asia confronts Lilith and demands the location of Maria, who works as a maid at the Virgil. Asia's attackers resurrect, forcing her to seek refuge in the building's myriad old wooden ventilation ducting system. 

Kevin and Sharon chase down Asia through the ducting system, all of them scrambling along on all fours, but Asia manages to dispatch Sharon with a shotgun blast to the head. Asia is saved by Lilith's husband, Ray (Paterson Joseph), who explains that The Virgil was built as a temple to Satan, and the residents have been made immortal by performing human sacrifices. The two travel up a floor, unaware they are being followed by Sharon's responsive eyeball. 

The two meet with a now adult Maria (Myha'la), who reveals she is aware of what is happening at The Virgil and has no desire to leave. Maria further berates Asia for abandoning her ten years ago, at a time when she needed her most. Asia knocks her unconscious, but she and Ray are attacked by the cultists. Asia and Maria escape up a floor via a dumbwaiter, while Ray is captured and tied up by Lilith and Sharon, whose head has started to grow back.

Exiting the dumbwaiter in the kitchen, Asia and Maria confront each another. Maria explains she fled their father shortly before he died from cancer two years ago now, working at downbeat motels until she was hired at The Virgil. Although she was initially due to be a sacrifice, she was spared and now enjoys the relative comfort of the building. Lilith demands that all residents and staff track down the sisters. Maria saves Asia from a cultist before being captured. 

Asia pursues the cultists into a grand dining room and slaughters most of them with a burning axe. The two try to climb up a fire escape via the elevator shaft, but are ambushed by Lilith and the cultists. Lilith reveals that, to gain immortality, Maria must make a sacrifice, that of the maid Asia was posing as.

The sisters and Ray are taken to the top floor, where the cultists summon Satan, who possesses the severed head of a pig to communicate, with the names of the immortal cultists written on its skin. The pig removes Ray's name from its skin and forces Lilith to murder him, permanently killing Ray. It then instructs Maria to write her name and kill Asia. Instead, Maria writes Asia's name and kills herself by slitting her own throat. Now immortal, Asia repeatedly kills Kevin, Sharon, and the cultists. Lilith allows the severed pig head to take over her body and fights with Asia, who overpowers her, removes the head and kicks her headlong landing on the spike upon which the pigs head was mounted. She douses the pig's head and sets it on fire, so burning off the names, and then promptly kicks the burning head mounted on a trolley down the hallway past all the cultists and down the elevator shaft where it erupts into a ball of flame, which results in the cultists all dying from their injuries. She then flees with Maria's body.

Reuniting with her private investigator cum lawyer (Angus Sampson), Asia places Maria's body in the backseat of his car, where she resurrects within a few minutes. Asia shows her that she has cut off her name from the pig's head and changed the letters from Asia to Maria. Now reunited, the sisters drive off as the top floor of the Virgil explodes.

In only his third feature film outing, here Director Kiril Sokolov has delivered us a gore fest that draws nods from other genre bending films, most recently 'Ready or Not 2 : Here I Come', reviewed here at Odeon Online only last week. Here the similarities are palpable - two estranged sisters reuniting after a prolonged period of absence from each others lives, the secret cabal of devil worshippers, and the elitist wealthy upper class knobs Hell bent on the sisters demise by whatever means possible. Even the closing lines of each film are near identical! Zazie Beetz plays her role for all its worth, as do Tom Felton, Heather Graham and Patricia Arquette. The kills are inventively staged, the fight sequences are well choreographed, the blood and gore are ramped up to eleven, and for a relatively brisk 94 minute runtime, the film doesn't outstay its welcome. But all of that said, I came out of the movie theatre thinking that this is just the same old same old that we have seen many times before, but for lovers of the genre it is sure to please.

'They Will Kill You' 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 April 2026

The 45th Istanbul Film Festival takes place this year from Thursday 9th through until Sunday 19th April, in the Turkish capital city of Istanbul. The Festival was first presented as a film week in the summer of 1982, within the framework of the International Istanbul Festival. In 1983, under the title 'International Istanbul Film Days', thirty-six films were shown in one month. Beginning in 1984, the event became a separate activity and was shifted to April. Accredited by FIAPF (International Federation of Film Producers Associations) in 1989 as a 'specialised competitive festival', the 'film week' thus was renamed the Istanbul Film Festival. In 2025, starting with its 44th edition, Istanbul Film Festival restructured its programme to emphasise its international character. The festival's official selection was reorganised to comprise three competitive sections - the international Golden Tulip Competition, New Perspectives to include only debut or second feature-length titles from Turkiye, and the Short Film Competition. The Festival provides a broad showcase for recent Turkish film productions, and thus represents a rewarding medium where filmmakers from Turkiye and abroad get together. The Festival draws a special interest to world classics, presenting retrospectives, and curated sections included in its official selection which comprises around 130 titles each year, making it the most comprehensive film festival in Turkiye. The Istanbul Film Festival has, over the past 44 years, presented Istanbul audiences with a total of some 6,600 films, showcasing the cinema of 131 countries, and attracting an approximate attendance of 4,575,000. So reads the official website.

The Opening Night Gala Film presentation is 'Three Goodbyes', from Italy and Spain and is Co-Written and Directed by Isabel Coixet and stars Alba Rohrwacher.

In the Golden Tulip Competition are the following fifteen titles :-

* 'Rose of Nevada' - from the UK this mystery thriller film is Written, photographed, Directed, Edited and Scored by Mark Jenkin, and stars George MacKay and Callum Turner. In a derelict fishing village, a boat mysteriously appears in the old harbour. The Rose of Nevada, lost at sea with all hands thirty years ago, has returned. For the few who remember, it’s a sign. The Rose of Nevada must go out to sea again, maybe then the luck of the devastated village will turn. A new crew boards the ship, but something is amiss.

* 'Dead Dogs Don't Bite' - from Turkiye, this drama film is Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Nuri Cihan Ozdogan.

* 'Resurrection' - from France and China, this drama film is Co-Written, Co-Produced, Directed and Co-Edited by Bi Gan.

* 'Summer Beats' - from France this coming of age drama is Co-Written and Co-Directed by Lise Akoka and Romane Gueret.

* 'LifeLike' - from Turkiye, Greece and Romania this drama film is Written and Directed by Ali Vatansever.

* 'Memory of Princess Mumbi' - from Kenya, Switzerland and Saudi Arabia this Sci-Fi romantic adventure film is Written, Co-Produced, photographed, Directed and Edited by Damien Hauser.

* 'Renovation' - from Lithuania, Latvia and Belgium, this drama film is Written and Directed by Gabriele Urbonaite.

* 'Those Who Whistle After Dark' - from Turkiye, Bulgaria and Germany this supernatural thriller is Co-Written, Co-Produced, Directed and Co-Edited by Pinar Yorgancioglu.

* 'Lali' - from Pakistan, this supernatural comedy drama film is Co-Written and Directed by Sarmad Sultan Khoosat. 

* 'Only Rebels Win' - from France, Lebanon and Qatar, this romantic drama film is Written and Directed by Danielle Arbid.

* 'Hen' - from Germany, Greece and Hungary this drama film is Co-Written and Directed by Gyorgy Palfi.

* 'Rose' - from Austria and Germany, this drama film is Written and Directed by Markus Schleinzer, and stars Sandra Huller. Amidst the turmoil of the Thirty Years’ War in the 17th century, a mysterious soldier appears in a secluded Protestant village somewhere in Germany. Small and quiet, his face disfigured by a scar, this stranger declares himself the heir of a long-abandoned farmstead and produces a document to support his claim to the suspicious villagers. With time, he overcomes their doubts and shows himself to be a hard-working, God-fearing man, becoming part of the community in a quest for acceptance made up of impossible deceit.

* 'Hear The Yellow' - from Turkiye, this drama film is Co-Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Banu Sivaci.

* 'On the Dry Rock' - from Turkiye, this docudrama film is Co-Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Yesim Ustaoglu.

* 'The Last Shore' - from Belgium, France and Qatar, this documentary film is Directed by Jean-Francois Ravagnan.

For the descriptors of the aforementioned films in main competition for the Golden Tulip, plus the full details of other film strands being showcased, and a whole lot of other good stuff, you can visit the official website at : http://www.film.iksv.org/en

Looking ahead to this weeks seven latest release new movies coming to your local big screen Odeon, we kick off with a drama offering that follows a Palestinian family across three generations during the time spanning from the 1948 days of Nakba to the 2020's under Israeli occupation. Then we turn to a RomCom in which a woman crashes at an empty Italian villa, posing as the owner's fiancee, before she discovers an unexpected romance that may transform her life. Next up is a road trip drama about three friends drawn to a rural commune where old wounds threaten to surface. This is followed by an Aussie comedy musical about two teenage girls attending a debutante ball in a small rural town, and then we have a Canadian horror offering in which the host of a popular paranormal podcast becomes haunted by terrifying recordings mysteriously sent her way. And closing out the week we have a pair of animated films - the first from Spain that sees two Irish orphans journey by train across America, encountering villains and heroes, and they make an extraordinary friend while searching for a new home. And the second is from New Zealand and Canada and is a live-action/animation hybrid about a young boy who copes with loss by talking to the everyday objects in his life.

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

'ALL THAT'S LEFT OF YOU' (Rated M) - is a Co-Produced drama film between the countries of Germany, Cyprus, Palestine, Jordan, Greece, Qatar and Saudi Arabia and is Written, Co-Produced, Co-Stars and Directed by Cherien Dabis, who made her feature film Directing debut with 'Amreeka' in 2009 which she would follow up with 'May in the Summer' in 2013. In the meantime she has Directed episodes of TV shows including 'The Sinner', 'Ozark', 'Little Voice' and 'Only Murders in the Building'. The film had its World Premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in late January 2025, was released in Germany in late November 2025, and is released this week here in Australia having garnered generally positive critical reviews, and so far collecting US$1M in Box Office takings. It is Co-Executive Produced by Javier Bardem and Mark Ruffalo, and has picked up six award wins and another five nominations from around the awards and festivals circuit. 

In the Occupied West Bank of the 1980's, a Palestinian teenager is swept into a protest that changes the course of his family's life. Reeling from its aftermath, his mother, Hanan (Cherien Dabis), shares the story that led them to that fateful moment. Spanning seven decades, this epic drama traces the hopes and heartaches of one uprooted family, revealing not only the scars of displacement, but the unbreakable spirit of survival.

'YOU, ME & TUSCANY' (Rated PG) - is an American RomCom that is Directed by Kat Coiro who made her feature film Directing debut in 2011 with 'Life Happens' and which she would follow up with other titles including 'A Case of You' in 2013 and 'Marry Me' in 2022. In this film we find a free-spirited, young cook named Anna (Halle Bailey) makes a brash decision to become a squatter in an abandoned Tuscan villa owned by a man she barely knows, leading to a whole new world of adventure, lies, and love when she meets Michael (Rege-Jean Page), the homeowner's cousin. The film is released Stateside this week too.

'EVERYTHING GROWS IN EDEN' (Rated MA15+) - this Australian drama film is Written, Co-Produced, photographed, Directed and Edited by Jack Johnston in his feature film making debut. The film follows Lily (Sophie Reynolds), a young woman struggling to find her place in inner-city Melbourne, as she tries to support her best friend Shane (Cameron Mighell) through a difficult time in his life, when she promises to take him to an alternative mental health retreat near her hometown. But when their volatile mutual friend joins the trip, the journey instead leads them on an unexpected detour to a rural commune where hidden truths and unresolved tensions begin to surface. The film was made for just AU$9K.

'THE DEB' (Rated M) - is an Australian coming of age comedy musical film Co-Produced, Co-Starring and Directed by Rebel Wilson, in her feature film Directorial debut. It is based on the stage musical of the same name by Hannah Reilly and Meg Washington. Here, High School outcast Taylah Simpkins (Natalie Abbott) is certain that the upcoming Debutante Ball ‘the Deb,’ is her one chance to redefine herself and become the popular girl once and for all. When her cynical cousin from the city, Maeve Barker (Charlotte MacInnes), is sent to Taylah’s drought stricken small farm town of Dunburn as punishment for staging a protest at her own city High School, she thinks the ball is a farce and immediately tries to disrupt the status quo. In their search for the spotlight, Taylah and Maeve dig deep to find self-acceptance, and a date to the Deb. Also starring Julian McMahon and Shane Jacobson. The film Premiered in mid-September 2024 as the closing film of the Toronto International Film Festival, and has been mired in controversy and legal disputes ever since, resulting in its delayed release. 

'UNDERTONE' (Rated M) - this Canadian horror film is Written and Directed by Ian Tuason in his feature film making debut. Here, Evy (Nina Kiri), a woman who hosts a paranormal podcast with her friend Justin (Adam DiMarco), where she is the skeptic to his believer. After Evy moves back home to become the caregiver to her dying mother (Michele Duquet), she and Justin are sent recordings by a married couple experiencing paranormal noises in their home, drawing Evy into fear and paranoia. The film saw its Premiere screening at the Fantasia International Film Festival in late July last year, where it won the gold audience award for Canadian films. The film was released Stateside in mid-March, has generated largely positive critical reviews, cost US$500K to produce, has so far grossed US$19M in Box Office receipts.

'BUFFALO KIDS' (Rated PG) - is a 2024 Spanish animated adventure film directed by Pedro Solis and Juan Jesus Garcia. Two parentless Irish siblings Tom and Mary (Conor MacNeill and Alisha Weir) arrive in New York City in 1886 via ocean liner and quickly find themselves on a wild, cross-country journey aboard an orphan train where they meet an extraordinary new friend who will change their lives forever. Fuelled by curiosity, friendship, and teamwork, their dangerous and discovery-filled quest will introduce them to devious villains, unexpected heroes, and surprising adventures in their heart-warming and hilarious search for a home. The English language version has the voice talents of MacNeill and Weir as well as Gemma Arterton, Sean Bean and Stephen Graham. The film premiered at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in mid-June 2024, was released in its native Spain in mid-August 2024, in the UK in mid-October 2024, the USA in early February this year and only now does it arrive in Australia having so far grossed US$10M at the worldwide Box Office.

'I, OBJECT' (Rated CTC) - this New Zealand and Canadian Co-Produced live-action animated film is Written, Co-Produced, and Directed by Andrew Niccol, whose previous feature film Directing credits take in his debut with 'Gattaca' in 1997, 'Simone' in 2002, 'Lord of War' in 2005, 'In Time' in 2011, 'The Host' in 2013, 'Good Kill' in 2014 and 'Anon' in 2018. He also wrote the screenplay and Co-Produced 1998's 'The Truman Show'. Here then, a ten year old boy Tom (Bentley Storteboom) is struggling to connect with anyone after the death of his father, and becomes fascinated with the everyday objects around him, and envisions himself speaking to them, as they reveal their true identities to him. Starring Karl Urban, Jemaine Clement, Anna Faris and Skywalker Hughes.

With seven 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-