What's new at Odeon's this week : Thursday 20th August 2026.

The 54th edition of the Norwegian International Film Festival is held this year from Saturday 22nd August through until Friday 28th August in the town of Haugesund in Rogaland County, Norway, on the southwest coast of the country. The town, with a population of 47,000, lies about 60 kms north of the city of Stavanger and about 120 kms south of the city of Bergen. The festival goes back to 1973 and is therefore the oldest one in Norway, and as such has for several decades celebrated film and film art by being a meeting place for the Norwegian and Nordic film industry and the general public. The festival is an arena for film-professional and film-political discussions and a display window for national and international cinema.

The Opening Film presentation is the Norwegian film 'Beloved' Directed by Erik Poppe and centres around Asle and Gerd who meet in a small coastal town on Norway's westernmost edge, facing the open sea. They have a son, and for a time their happiness seems complete. But Asle, a sailor, is restless and drawn back to the sea, while Gerd remains in the village, alone with their child. The distance between them grows, raising the question - how much distance can love endure?

Amanda, the national film award, saw the light of day in 1985. At the outset it was a film and TV award, but from 2005 and onwards it became a pure film award. For the first 20 years the ceremony was – except for the Nordic Amanda in 1993 – a co-operative effort between the Norwegian International Film Festival and the TV channel NRK. The awards recognise achievements across Norwegian cinema, including Acting, Directing, Screenwriting and technical filmmaking disciplines. The Amanda competition covers Norwegian feature films, theatrical documentaries and short films made for public exhibition. The Amanda Award consists of a statuette designed by the sculptor Kristian Kvakland.

There are six films in competition for the Amanda Award as follows :-

* 'A Mouse Hunt for Christmas' - this comedy family film from Norway is Directed by Henrik Martin Dahlsbakken. A family from the city has borrowed their aunt's abandoned house to celebrate an old-fashioned Christmas in the country, unaware that the house is already inhabited! A very unusual family of mice have also decorated and are ready for Christmas, and they are not interested in visitors. So there is only one thing to do - set the traps, sharpen your senses and defend the house with whiskers, clever inventions and mouse powers.

* 'Don't Call Me Mama' - from Norway this drama film is Co-Written and Directed by Nina Knag. Eva, a respected teacher and married to the town's Mayor, has her life turned upside down when she meets the young asylum seeker Amir, a talented poet who awakens feelings she cannot control. What begins as a mentorship develops into a forbidden relationship with increasingly serious consequences. What will happen to Eva's family, career and reputation?

* 'Flophouse America' - from Norway and the Netherlands, this documentary film is Directed by Monica Stromdahl. In a rarely intimate portrait, we meet 12-year-old Mikal, who was born and raised in the hotel room he shares with his substance-addicted parents. Mikal's greatest wish is for them to stop drinking. But what does it take for someone to truly change? As a result of the housing crisis in the USA, many move into cheap, dilapidated hotels—the so-called 'flophouse' hotels. Three years of footage have become an uncompromising and unforgettable film, dedicated to children in vulnerable situations.

* 'Seasiders - Tales from a Rugged Coast' - from Norway this documentary film is Directed by Elin Sander, Elisabeth Kleppe, Henrik Hylland Uhlving, and Produced by Elin Sander and Elisabeth Kleppe. This is a nostalgic, witty, and wild tribute to life along the Norwegian coast, and to the people who have clung to islands, islets, and fishing villages since time immemorial, and has been assembled from unique archival treasures spanning nearly a hundred years.

* 'Sentimental Value' - from Norway, this drama film is Directed by Joachim Trier. Sisters Nora and Agnes reunite with their estranged father, Gustav, a once-renowned director who offers Nora a role in what he hopes will be his comeback film. Nora turns it down, but soon discovers he's given the part to an eager young Hollywood star. The two siblings must now navigate a complicated relationship with Gustav while dealing with an American actress dropped right into the middle of their complex family dynamics. Starring Renate Reinsve, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Stellan Skarsgard and Elle Fanning. Academy Award winner.

* 'Trango' - from Norway and this documentary film is Co-Produced and Directed by Christopher Carvasal. Inspired by one of the greatest feats in climbing history, the legendary climber Robert Caspersen and his team embark on an adventure to the Himalayas with a dream of being the first to ascend one of the world’s highest cliffs, Trango Pulpit. The Norwegian expedition of 1984 was groundbreaking - a milestone in international climbing history - but it also had a dark side that would cast a shadow over the entire climbing community. Trango chronicles two expeditions 15 years apart, exploring the extreme risks, personal sacrifices, and the lifelong pursuit of achieving impossible dreams in the world’s most brutal mountain terrain.

For the complete line-up of feature films, documentaries and short films being showcased, plus a whole bunch of other good stuff, you can go to the official website at : http://www.filmfestivalen.no

Turning the focus back to this weeks big haul of nine new movies coming to your local big screen Odeon, we begin with a neo-Western crime thriller in which this beekeeper, musician, and anchor of his community, reunites with former foster daughter after many years apart, and fends off threats to his honey producing business. Then we have a biographical psychological drama film from a first time Director where a woman, after an abusive childhood, escapes into competitive swimming, sexual experimentation, toxic relationships, and addiction before finding her voice through writing. Next up we have an Icelandic family comedy drama offering that captures a year in the life of a family as the parents navigate their separation. Following on we have a biographical comedy drama film that sees nineteen-year-old Anthony Bourdain stumble into the chaotic world of a restaurant kitchen, setting off a summer that shapes the course of his life. Then we turn to an action thriller where, framed for the murder of his billionaire boss, a vengeful man uncovers an international conspiracy as he battles a gang of thugs aboard a cargo ship. Next is a comedy film that has three friends going on a spa weekend that descends into chaos when their disastrous friend joins. To follow we have a supernatural horror offering that is the sixth instalment in this franchise and here sees a young mother raising her daughter in the house she grew up in, discovers she can travel into a place where she possesses an ability to bring what lives there back to the real world. And closing out the week we have two musical films - the first a coming of age road trip comedy in which three buddies drive cross-country in a van, causing mayhem and mischief while racing to LA for their big break - opening for Green Day on New Year's Eve; before wrapping up with a doco that explores the world of Metallica through the lives of their fans, including the band members themselves. 

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 coming week.

'THE RIVALS OF AMZIAH KING' (Rated M) - this American neo-Western crime thriller film is Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Andrew Patterson in only his second feature film offering following 2019's critically acclaimed 'The Vast of Night'. This film had its World Premiere screening at the South by Southwest Film & TV Festival in mid-March 2025 and is scheduled for a wide cinema release in the US this week also. It has generated largely favourable critical reviews. 

Set deep within the backwoods of rural Oklahoma, charismatic and musically gifted Amziah King (Matthew McConaughey) herds a bluegrass-playing band of misfits while overseeing the premier honey-making operation in town. He is also the unofficial Mayor of his rural community. When Amziah's estranged foster daughter Kateri (Angelina LookingGlass) unexpectedly returns, Amziah leaps at the possibility to renew connection and create a family business. But the honey game is ruthless, and Amziah's rivals threaten to destroy everything he has built. Also starring Kurt Russell, Scott Shepherd, Rob Morgan, Tony Revolori, Cole Sprouse and Owen Teague. 

'THE CHRONOLOGY OF WATER' (Rated R18+) - is an American biographical psychological drama film Co-Produced, Written and Directed by Kristen Stewart, in her feature film Directorial debut, and is based on the 2011 memoir of the same name by Lidia Yuknavitch. Here, a young woman, Lidia Yuknavitch (Imogen Poots) finds escape from an abusive home through competitive swimming in the 1980's. After her athletic dreams are derailed, she navigates love, loss, addiction, sexuality, and her own self-destructive impulses while discovering her voice, and healing, through the transformative act of writing, and the power of water to heal. Also starring Thora Birch, Michael Epp, Earl Cave, Tom Sturridge, Charlie Carrick, Jim Belushi and Susannah Flood. The film had its World Premiere in the Un Certain Regard section of last years Cannes Film Festival in mid-May 2025, was released Stateside in early December last year, in the UK in early February this year, has so far grossed US$363K and has received generally positive reviews from critics.

'THE LOVE THAT REMAINS' (Rated MA15+) - this Icelandic family comedy drama film is Written, photographed and Directed by Hlynur Palmason who made his feature film Directorial debut in 2017 with 'Winter Brothers' and thereafter 'A White, White Day' in 2019 and 'Godland' in 2022. Here, Anna (Saga Garoarsdottir), an artist, and Magnus (Sverrir Guonason), a fisherman, live with their three children and charismatic sheepdog (Panda) in the quiet grandeur of the Icelandic countryside. As the fractures in their marriage come to the surface, the couple try to hold onto the afterimages of a life together and make sense of a deep and lingering devotion. The film had its World Premiere in the Cannes Premiere section of the Cannes Film Festival in mid-May 2025, where the lead animal Actor, Panda, won the Palm Dog Award. It was released in its native Iceland in mid-August last year and only now does it get a showing in Australia, having generated positive critical reviews.

'TONY' (Rated MA15+) - is an American biographical comedy drama film that is Co-Written and Directed by Matt Johnson whose prior film making credits take in his debut in 2013 with 'The Dirties' and which he followed up with 'Operation Avalanche' in 2016, 'BlackBerry' in 2023 and 'Nirvana The Band The Show The Movie' in 2025. In 1975, a 19-year-old Anthony Bourdain (Dominic Sessa) wants to be a writer but takes a summer job at a Cape Cod restaurant in Provincetown, Massachusetts, learning under the tutelage of a Brazilian-born restaurateur, known only as Chef (Antonio Banderas). The film is based on the early chapters of Bourdain's 2000 memoir 'Kitchen Confidential'. Also starring Emilia Jones, Rich Sommer and Leo Woodall. The film saw a limited release in the US from 7th August before going wide from this week also, and has generated positive critical reviews.

'MUTINY' (Rated MA15+) - this UK and US Co-Produced action thriller film is Directed by Jean-Francois Richet whose previous feature film making credits take in his debut with 'Inner City' in 1995, and which he would follow up with the likes of 'Assault on Precinct 13' in 2005, 'Blood Father' in 2016, 'The Emperor of Paris' in 2018 and 'Plane' in 2023. Here, after witnessing his billionaire boss's murder and being framed for the crime, Cole Reed (Jason Statham, who also Co-Produces here) boards a cargo ship on a one-man crusade to avenge his boss's death only to discover an international conspiracy. Also starring Annabelle Wallis, Jason Wong and Adrian Lester. The film is released Stateside this week too.

'SPA WEEKEND' (Rated M) - is an American comedy film Written and Directed by Jon Lucas and Scott Moore whose previous Directorial pairing have given us '21 & Over' in 2013, 'Bad Moms' in 2016, 'A Bad Moms Christmas' in 2017 and 'Jexi' in 2019. This film follows three best friends, Jane (Leslie Mann), Coco (Michelle Buteau) and Sophie (Anna Faris), as they embark on some much needed and welcome pampering during a luxury spa break in Palm Springs. But when their train wreck friend, Mel (Isla Fisher), turns up, the relaxation quickly descends into chaos with hilarious consequences. The film is released this week too in the US.

'INSIDIOUS : OUT OF THE FURTHER' (Rated M) - this American supernatural horror film is Written and Directed by Jacob Chase, who made his feature film debut with 'The Four-Faced Liar' in 2010 and which he would follow through with 'Come Play' in 2020, and 'Bad Boy' in 2025. This film serves as a sequel to 2023's 'Insidious : The Red Door', and is the sixth instalment in the 'Insidious' franchise, with the first five films in the series grossing a total US$732M at the worldwide Box Office off the back of combined production budgets amounting to just US$43M. Gemma (Amelia Eve), a young mother raising her daughter in her childhood home, discovers she can travel into the Further, a purgatorial realm of lost souls. When something evil comes after her, she realises she can bring what lives there back to the real world. Once the demons realise her power, our world becomes their playground. Also starring Brandon Perea, Maisie Richardson Sellers and Lin Shaye, and is released this week also in the US.

'NIMRODS : A GREEN DAY COMEDY' (Rated MA15+) - is an American coming of age road comedy film that is Written and Directed by Lee Kirk who made his feature film debut with 'The Giant Mechanical Man' in 2102 and would follow this up with 'Ordinary World' in 2016. This film is based on 'Green Day's' limited success as an American rock band before the release of their breakout album 'Dookie' in 1994. In the film, three teenagers travel from Kansas City to Los Angeles under the false pretense that their band 'Analog Dogs' is opening for Green Day on New Year's Eve. The film stars Mason Thames, Mckenna Grace, Fred Armisen, and Green Day as themselves - Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt and Tre Cool, had its World Premiere screening at TIFF in mid-September last year, was released in the USA last week, and has garnered generally positive reviews.

'METALLICA SAVED MY LIFE' (Rated CTC) - this documentary film is Written, Co-Produced and Directed. by Jonas Akerlund - a Swedish filmmaker and musician who is best known for his work in music videos, and for helming a number of concert and documentary films plus the feature films 'Spun', his debut, in 2002, 'Horsemen' in 2009, 'Small Apartments' in 2012, 'Lords of Chaos' in 2019 and 'Polar' in 2019. This film documents die-hard fans of Metallica and how the band give each of them a sense of identity and hope. It covers four decades of fandom and the found family each has from other Metallica 
fans. What connects them all together is the sense of community, and one fan summarises it as 'Metallica is all of us together. It belongs to all of us'. The film also covers some of the struggles the band has gone through, like James Hetfield's (the bands singer and guitarist) insecurity and time in rehabilitation. Also starring other band members Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett and Robert Trujillo. The film Premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in mid-June 2025, and only now does it get a limited showing in Australia. 

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 week ahead.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

ICE CREAM MAN : Tuesday 11th August 2026.

I saw the R18+ Rated 'ICE CREAM MAN' this week, and this American slasher horror film is Co-Written, Co-Produced, Directed and starring Eli Roth, whose prior Directorial credits take in the likes of his debut with 'Cabin Fever' in 2002, then 'Hostel' in 2005, 'Hostel : Part II' in 2007, 'The Green Inferno' in 2013, 'Knock Knock' in 2015, 'Death Wish' in 2018, 'Thanksgiving' in 2023 and 'Borderlands' in 2024. The film was released Stateside last week too, and this is the first film in Eli Roth's founded horror label 'The Horror Section', has garnered generally negative critical reviews and has so far grossed US$4M from a production budget of US$5.5M.

The film opens up at a little league baseball game in the town of Bayleen Bay on a warm summer's day four days or so before the summer holiday break. Right on cue an ice cream truck pulls up close by as the game comes to an end, and many of the children rush over to the truck to avail themselves of the cooling sweet treats. The truck is seemingly owned and operated by a mysterious silent man. Jared Mayfair (Charlie Zeltzer) is lactose-intolerant and so avoids eating the treats and is unsettled by the Ice Cream Man, whom he sees following him as he cycles his way home. He also notices the children who have eaten the treats are in a trance like state, and watching old black and white cartoon videos depicting the cartoon mascot on the truck whose head swivels round as if watching him. 

Much later that night, the truck drives through the neighbourhood with its seemingly innocuous tune playing through the loudspeaker awakening the children who have previously that day eaten the ice creams. Possessed, they proceed to gruesomely murder their parents in all manner of gory ways. The next day, Jared and fellow classmates Tommy (Shiloh O'Reilly) and Mia (Kiori Mirza Waldman), who have also not eaten the treats, notice a strange behaviour in their fellow school mates. The truck arrives at the school, and the children suddenly begin killing their teachers and any other adults in town in the most violent ways possible, while force-feeding treats to any non-possessed children. 

Jared, Tommy, and Mia manage to evade their murderous classmates and barricade themselves in the school. In the meantime, Jared's teenage sister Lizzie (Sarah Abbott) wakes up in the morning having eaten the ice cream intended for Jared the day before and is partially paralysed and unable to move her arms. She is able to manoeuvre herself off her bed and make her way to her bathroom where she plunges her electric toothbrush down her throat to induce her to vomit up the treat. When Jared calls for help, Lizzie instructs him to meet her at the local church before some neighbourhood children attack the house. Lizzie's ex-boyfriend Chris (Dylan Hawco) saves her and both drive to the church. 

As Bayleen Bay descends into blood soaked and burning chaos, Jared, Tommy, and Mia escape from the school and seek refuge in the church's basement. There they discover a walk-in freezer filled with the Ice Cream Man's treats and find the local priest (Benjamin Byron Davis) hiding behind the stacked up boxes.

The priest explains that the Ice Cream Man is Jonathan Smiley (Ari Millen), a once kind-hearted man who visited Bayleen Bay decades ago and was unjustly blamed for hurting local children to cover up the actions of the town's predatory priests. Jared's grandfather, an influential lawyer at the time, ran the case against Jonathan, and the children were pressured to lie, which led to Jonathan's conviction. While in prison, Jonathan had been visited by a necromancer who promised him to take revenge on the town in exchange for his soul.

To stop Jonathan, the kids must kill the necromancer and the siren accompanying him in his unmarked grave, buried on the far reaches of the cemetery under an old tree. First they have to chop off the necromancer's head, and then remove its hood and have the head stare into the eyes of Jonathan, without looking at the head themselves. When Jonathan arrives at the freezer, the priest sacrifices himself to give the kids enough time to run. Jared, Tommy, and Mia reunite with Lizzie and Chris and convince them to drive to the cemetery to find the necromancer's grave. As they dig up the bodies, the children kill Chris before force-feeding treats to Mia and Tommy, so possessing them too. Cornered by Jonathan, Jared and Lizzie stab the bodies in the grave, and dismember the necromancers head. Lizzie hears a phone ringing under the garments of the siren, and removing its hood reveals to be her own mother Alison (Karen Cliche). Lizzie then calls out to Jared, who by now is holding up the head of the necromancer and has removed its hood too, revealing it to be his father Marty (Eli Roth). The priest is revealed to be the necromancer, having tricked them to help finish the job for Jonathan, for while Jared's grandfather was the convicting lawyer who helped put Jonathan in prison, his young son and future wife were two of the children who lied on the stand in the court room and were also instrumental in sending Jonathan away. 

While the guilt-ridden and heavily traumatised Jared and Lizzie are left surrounded by the violence and wreckage, Jonathan leaves the now-decimated Bayleen Bay in his ice cream truck with the possessed children trailing behind, his revenge complete as he goes to wreak terror on the unsuspecting populace of the next town.

For all the blood, gore, gruesome killings, viscera and murderous mayhem inflicted on unsuspecting adults by their seemingly walking dead children, this film is sure to please the die hard fans of this genre, and which Eli Roth is renowned for (think. 'Cabin Fever', 'Hostel 1 and 2' and 'The Green Inferno' in particular). Putting that aside however, this film is nothing more than a splatterfest without any real semblance of plot or storyline, one dimensional characters, poor dialogue, barely adequate performances, a completely uninspiring antagonist who from memory doesn't utter a single word of dialogue throughout the whole 86 minute runtime and a complete lack of any sense of suspense or tension or even the occasional jump scare. The practical effects are reasonably well executed here and they come thick and fast in the first hour or so in a relentless binge of chopped up bodies, decapitations, smashed in heads, and entrails being pulled from still living victims, amongst many other creative kills that Director Roth has a penchant for, but in the end it just becomes repetitive and tedious.

'Ice Cream Man' 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 13th August 2026.

The 79th edition of this years Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) runs from Thursday 13th through until Wednesday 19th August in the capital city of Scotland, Edinburgh, UK. The Edinburgh International Film Festival is the world’s oldest continually running film festival and, in 2024, relaunched as a brand new entity with a new board of industry leaders. Honouring 70+ years of festival history, EIFF showcases the very best filmmaking talent in a re-energised format that is rooted in a local Scottish context whilst embracing the international diversity of creative expression. EIFF’s August fixture runs in parallel to a host of creative festivals taking place in Edinburgh, including The Fringe, Edinburgh International Festival, Edinburgh International Book Festival, Edinburgh International Art Festival, Edinburgh International TV Festival, and many more, which sell millions of tickets to cultural connoisseurs from around the world. A global player celebrating the very best that cinema has to offer in a modern, energised context, the core strategy of the revitalised Festival is to embed within the wider cultural offering taking place in Edinburgh in August, embracing the sense of discovery, experimentation and cross-arts collaboration . . . so reads the official website.

This years Opening Night feature film is 'The Incomer' from the UK and Directed by Louis Paxton. Raised on a remote Scottish island, oddball siblings Isla (Gayle Rankin) and Sandy (Grant O’Rourke) spend their days hunting, squabbling and telling stories. But when nervy council official Daniel (Domhnall Gleeson) arrives on the island intent on moving them along, the pair must wrestle with the threat and exciting possibilities of the mainland. Also starring John Hannah, Michelle Gomez and Emun Elliott. International Premiere.

The Closing Night film is 'Bel' from the UK and is Directed by Louise Lockwood. This documentary portrait of Beldina Odenyo, the Kenyan-Scottish musician, singer and songwriter, who performed under the stage name, 'Heir of the Cursed' and worked across Scotland’s theatre and poetry communities. After her acclaimed performance at the Scottish Album of the Year Awards in 2021, Bel took her own life, leaving behind raw, intimate video diaries and a hard drive full of original songs of great beauty. World Premiere.

EIFF is poised to accelerate the discovery of new talent through its two centrepiece competitions - The Sean Connery Prize for Feature Filmmaking Excellence, which carries a cash prize of UK£50K, and The Thelma Schoonmaker Prize for Short Filmmaking Excellence, which carries a cash prize of UK£15K, both decided by audience vote.

There are ten films all competing for the Sean Connery Prize, as given in brief below :-

* 'Out There' - from the UK and this comedy drama Sci-Fi film is Written and Directed by Simon Ryninks. A 16 year-old Welsh girl in a small seaside town in Wales in 1999 becomes convinced her father was abducted by aliens. Alongside her sceptical best friend she enlists a local UFO expert to solve the mystery. Starring Nerys Amber Stocks, Michael Sheen, Aneurin Barnard, and Tom Moya. World Premiere.

* 'The State of Us' - from the UK, this comedy drama film is Written by Jake Harvey and Directed by Ollie Gardner and Jake Harvey. Frankie breaks his best friend Taylor out of a hospice for one final night out. When their riotous journey through Bradford spirals into chaos, both boys must face the one goodbye they're not ready for. Starring Samuel Bottomley, Callum Scott Howells and Frances Barber. World Premiere.

* 'Pretty Babies' - from the USA, this drama film is Written and Directed by Tyler-Marie Evans. Two teenage girls run away to Hollywood to chase their dreams of becoming famous actresses. Their pursuit leads them into prostitution, trapping them in the dark underbelly of the sex work industry as they journey from Texas to California. Starring Ashley Benson, Emily Alyn Lind, Madelaine Petsch, Sadie Stanley. World Premiere.

* 'Capsized' - from the USA, this comedy drama film is Written and Directed by Lindsey Ryan. Nicole's (Sarah Catherine Hook) discovery of an eviction notice shatters her family's houseboat vacation, forcing them to confront their patriarch's troubles, lost homes, and fractured identities through a turbulent journey of self-discovery and redemption. Also starring Rhys Ifans and Lily Rabe. World Premiere.

* 'Snapshot' - from the UK, this horror thriller film is Directed by Joseph Archer. Set in 1888 Whitechapel, London, it follows an all-ladies ghost-hunting society investigating murders they believe are committed by a monster rather than Jack the Ripper. Starring Cathy Wippell, Hazel Rogers, Lydia Helen, Nadia Lamin, Rosie-Bella Johnson and Tom Stourton. World Premiere.

* 'Mission' - from the UK, this drama thriller is Written and Directed by Paul Wright. Alienated Dylan (George MacKay) throws off the shackles of his solitary life in an attempt to experience the highs and lows of existence chasing life before death. Also starring Rosy McEwen. World Premiere.

* 'The Mad World of Harvey Kurtzman' - from Canada and the UK, this documentary film is Directed by Bart Simpson. A vivid, immersive and visually striking portrait of the founder of the satirical publication Mad magazine and its far-reaching influence on some of the most prominent artists of our time. Kurtzman’s commitment to integrity and challenging the status quo with humour, edge and resilience is a hymn for our times. With contributions from Terry Gilliam, Stan Lee and Robert Crumb among others. World Premiere.

* 'Sacred Creatures' - from Canada and Italy, this comedy drama film is Co-Written and Directed by Frieda Luk. An unstable young woman who believes she's experienced a spiritual awakening reunites with her two estranged siblings in rural Italy, where she attracts a group of eccentric followers and turns her family's life upside down. Starring Olivia Luccardi, Antonio De Matteo and James Cusati-Moyer. World Premiere.

* 'First Zone' - from the Netherlands, this Sci-Fi film is Directed by Thom Lunshof. Living out existence in an abandoned wind turbine high above an endless ocean, ultra tough Fenna (Hadewych Minis) has become used to surviving alone in the aftermath of a climate catastrophe. But when a violent storm separates her from home, she embarks on an odyssey across the vast wetlands of a post-apocalyptic landscape. World Premiere.

* 'Skintown' - from Ireland and the UK, this comedy drama film is Directed by Kieron J. Walsh. Set in 1994, it follows two best friends from Enniskillen who plot an escape during the IRA ceasefire, immersing themselves in local rave culture, drugs, and gangland antics. Starring Chris Walley and Jack Rowan. World Premiere.

For the details of the other film strands being showcased, and a whole bunch of other good stuff, you can visit the official website at : http://www.edfilmfest.org

Turning the focus back on this weeks four new movies coming to a big screen Odeon near you, we launch with a Sci-Fi survival film in which a family and their entire neighbourhood are inexplicably transported to a land inhabited by prehistoric creatures, and to survive they must learn to face their potentially deadly foe together. This is followed by a RomCom in which two New Yorkers search for love on the one night of the year when sex is legal between unmarried people. Then we have a French drama film which follows the investigation of a Police shooting during a riot in Paris, and based on true events. And closing out the week we turn to an animated Chinese and American produced film centring on one Tom Cat and Jerry Mouse as they navigate another world having been transported there by a magical compass they came across during a chase at a museum. 

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.

'THE END OF OAK STREET' (Rated M) - this American Sci-Fi survival film is Written, Co-Produced and Directed by David Robert Mitchell who made his feature film Directing debut with 'The Myth of the American Sleepover' in 2010 and has since had only two other features, 'It Follows' in 2014 and 'Under the Silver Lake' in 2018. This film is released this week too in the US and cost US$85M to produce. 

After a mysterious cosmic event rips Oak Street from suburbia and transports the entire neighbourhood to someplace unknown but populated with prehistoric creatures the Platt family - Mum Denise (Anne Hathaway), Dad Greg (Ewan McGregor), daughter Audrey (Maisy Stella) and son Brian (Christian Convery) soon discover that their very survival depends on sticking together as they navigate their now unrecognisable surroundings.

'ONE NIGHT ONLY' (Rated M) - is an American romantic comedy film that is Co-Produced and Directed by Will Gluck who made his debut feature film with 'Fired Up!' in 2009, and which he would follow up with the likes of 'Easy A' in 2010, 'Friends with Benefits' in 2011, 'Annie' in 2014, 'Peter Rabbit' in 2018, 'Peter Rabbit 2 : The Runaway' in 2021, and 'Anyone But You' in 2023. Two love-starved strangers - Allie (Monica Barbaro) and Owen (Callum Turner) who crash into each other in an ever-so-slightly fictionalised New York City on the one night of the year when single people are allowed to have sex. Recently dumped Owen and hopeful romantic Allie might be the only two singles in the city looking for more than just a quick encounter. They both feel a spark when they meet, but a series of missteps and side quests complicate their night, keeping them apart. As they each race toward and away from each other across the city, they just might discover that the one thing they want most is closer than they think. Also starring Maya Hawke, Julia Fox and Molly Ringwald, the film was released Stateside last week, has generated mixed critical reviews and has so far grossed US$6.1M from a production budget of US$25M. 

'CASE 137' (Rated M) - this French crime drama film in Co-Written and Directed by Dominik Moll whose prior feature film Directing credits include 'Harry, He's Here to Help' in 2000, 'Lemming' in 2005, 'The Monk' in 2011, and 'The Night of the 12th' in 2022. Based on true events, here, Stephanie Bertrand (Lea Drucker), a Police Officer working for Internal Affairs, is assigned to a case involving a young man severely wounded during a tense and chaotic demonstration in Paris. While she finds no evidence of illegitimate Police violence, the case takes a personal turn when she discovers the victim is from her hometown. The film had its World Premiere in the main competition at last years Cannes Film Festival on 15th May 2025, where it was nominated for the Palme d'Or, was released in its native France in mid-November and has generated largely positive critical reviews.

'TOMMY & JERRY : FORBIDDEN COMPASS' (Rated PG) - is a Chinese-American Co-Produced computer-animated science fantasy comedy film directed by Zhang Gang, based on the Tom and Jerry theatrical cartoon series created by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera. It is the eighteenth instalment in the 'Tom & Jerry' film series and this story unfolds during a chase in a museum, where Tom and Jerry accidentally activate a magical compass that transports them to another world. On their journey home, they meet a group of new companions and become embroiled in a conflict against mysterious forces. The English dubbed version has the voice talents of Eric Bauza as Tom Cat and Ben Diskin as Jerry Mouse. The film was released in China in early August last year and is out in the US in early September this year.

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-

SPIDER-MAN : BRAND NEW DAY - Tuesday 4th August 2026.

I saw the M Rated 'SPIDER-MAN : BRAND NEW DAY' this week, and this American Superhero film is based on the Marvel Comics character Spider-Man and is the 38th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). It is the fourth instalment in the MCU 'Spider-Man' series following 'Spider-Man : Homecoming' in 2017, 'Spider-Man : Far From Home' in 2019 and 'Spider-Man : No Way Home' in 2021. These first three films, all starring Tom Holland as the web-slinging hero, grossed a total US$3.94B at the global Box Office off the back of combined production budgets of US$535M. This instalment is Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton who made his feature film debut with 'I Am Not a Hipster' in 2012, and which he would follow up with the likes of 'Short Term 12' in 2013, 'The Glass Castle' in 2017, 'Just Mercy' in 2019, and 'Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings' in 2021 - also an MCU offering. This film is part of the MCU's 'Phase Six' which began with 'The Fantastic Four : First Steps' released in mid-2025. 'Spider-Man : Brand New Day' had its Premiere in Los Angeles on 27th July and was released in the US, here in Australia and all major territories last week. The film has garnered generally positive reviews from critics and has grossed US$1.18B at the global Box Office off the back of a US$225M production budget becoming the second-highest opening weekend gross of all time worldwide, the highest opening weekend gross of all time in the USA and Canada, and the highest grossing film of 2026 to date. 

Following Dr. Stephen Strange's spell at the end of the last instalment - 'Spider-Man : No Way Home', the world has forgotten that Peter Parker (Tom Holland) exists. Four years later, Parker anonymously protects New York City but has deliberately distanced himself from those he used to know and love. This self imposed seclusion also extends to his former girlfriend Michelle 'MJ' Jones-Watson (Zendaya) and his best friend Ned Leeds (Jacob Batalon). Later, while speaking on his mobile phone to NYPD Detective Jean DeWolff (Liza Colon-Zayas), Parker intercepts a message about a tank running amok through the city streets heading for the Department of Damage Control (DODC) building. The driver had been telepathically possessed, and the telepath is able to body hop from person to person to help Mac Gargan (aka Scorpion [Michael Mando]), an enhanced criminal Parker previously captured, to escape. Parker enquires with Yelena Belova (aka Black Widow [Florence Pugh]) at a city bathhouse she uses as her office, who tells him someone has repeatedly attacked the DODC in search of 'V-Max'. Parker questions DODC director Bill Metzger (Tramell Tillman) at his office, who claims to have no knowledge of this V-Max.

Parker meets with Ned and MJ, who have moved back to New York after graduating from MIT at a house warming party in MJ's apartment, but fail to recognise him. Parker returns home distressed, and wakes up the next morning with heightened senses and organic webs coming out of his wrists. He tracks down Gargan, now possessed by the telepath, who tries to break back into the DODC. The telepath mocks him, and Parker reacts with uncharacteristic violence, brutally beating Gargan and inadvertently injuring a responding Police Officer. 

Hoping to control his new mutations, Parker visits Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) to enquire about the inhibitor device that uses siRNA to control his alter ego, the Hulk. On Banner's suggestion, Parker makes his own inhibitor to limit his powers, while also working on a second 'universal inhibitor' to suppress the telepath's abilities. Before Parker can finish, the telepath finds him and, after learning about MJ, possesses her and tricks Parker into revealing his true identity. 

After the telepath leaves MJ, Parker takes her to Frank Castle's (aka Punisher [Jon Bernthal]) hideout to keep her safe. With Castle's equipment and MJ's insight, Parker completes both inhibitors, and discovers that the telepath is named Jean Grey (Sadie Sink). When Jean attacks the DODC again, this time in person and using a possessed Hulk, Parker subdues her using his universal inhibitor, and turns her over to the DODC. Before losing consciousness, Jean mentions someone named Sara. 

Metzger claims that Sara is a recently deceased colleague Jean learned about while possessing his mind. When Parker returns to Castle's hideout, MJ confronts him with the letter she found but which he never delivered, that Parker had written for her and Ned to explain the spell that erased their memories. He explains himself and declares his love for MJ, but she responds that she does not know him and therefore does not love him. Despite this, she invites him to her apartment, where they and Ned spend time bonding.

After hearing MJ recount how she is unable to remember anything while being telepathically possessed, Parker realises that Metzger lied to him. He contacts Yelena, who learns from redacted DODC files that Sara (Olivia Booth-Ford) is Jean's sister, another telepath who was kidnapped by the DODC. Metzger meanwhile has begun experimenting on Jean's mind, as she realises 'V-Max' is the fading text on the label on the air conditioning vent above the holding cell, the last thing Sara saw before she died. Enraged, Jean psionically locks the area around her for a radius of about a mile from where she sits. 

Parker, who is still resistant to her abilities, enters the DODC to stop her. Jean rebuffs him and possesses a large group of the Hand ninjas, who have been working for the DODC. Initially overwhelmed, he removes his inhibitor and embraces his mutations, using his new abilities to defeat the Hand. Parker allows Jean to enter his mind, where she finds a memory of his aunt May (Marisa Tomei), who accepted his abilities and loved him for himself. Parker offers Jean understanding over her loss and shields her from Castle, who tries to shoot her from outside using a long range rifle, sustaining a near-fatal wound.

Parker wakes up in the hospital with Castle, who explains that Jean kept him alive while in critical condition. From his hospital bed he sees that the walls are adorned with get well soon wishes from his legion of fans, many of which have also gathered outside the hospital to catch a glimpse of their superhero. In the aftermath, a guilt-ridden Jean quietly leaves the city, Metzger disappears, and the DODC comes under investigation. Parker, placing fresh flowers beside his Aunt May's gravestone, vows he does not need to be alone to be Spider-Man. Seeing Ned again, he introduces himself using their old handshake, a gesture which Ned reciprocates and acknowledges his old friend simply saying 'Peter?' 

With 'Spider-Man : Brand New Day' Director Destin Daniel Cretton has delivered us a MCU instalment that doesn't feel as convoluted, over paced, chock full of otherworldly CGI or has many of us suffering from Superhero fatigue. Instead what we have here is a story of loneliness, isolation, emotion, charm, wit, energy, drive and the obligatory well executed action sequences that all add up to an enjoyable night at the movies. Tom Holland has matured and settled into the role in this his fourth outing as your friendly neighbourhood webslinger, who inhabits his character with conviction and who wears his heart well and truly on his sleeve. Zendaya and Jacob Batalon as returning MJ and Ned respectively all add an emotional depth to this film perhaps not seen in previous outings, Jon Bernthal as the Punisher adds a brutal and at times comedic interlude to the proceedings and Sadie Sink as Jean Grey the antagonist turned protagonist lands a grounded performance and I'm sure we'll see her again in future MCU offerings. Overall, its not surprising to see the Box Office receipts for this film or the largely positive critical press, and maybe, just maybe, this film will revitalise the recently flagging MCU.

'Spider-Man : Brand New Day' merits four claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a possible five claps.  

-Steve, at Odeon Online-