DIGGER : Tuesday 6th October 2026.

I saw the MA15+ Rated 'DIGGER' earlier this week, and this US, UK and Mexican Co-Produced satirical black comedy film is Co-Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, whose previous feature film making credits take in his 2000 debut with 'Amores perros' and which he would follow through with '21 Grams' in 2003, 'Babel' in 2006, 'Biutiful' in 2010, 'Birdman' in 2014, 'The Revenant' in 2015, and 'Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths' in 2022. This film came in at a production cost of somewhere between US$125 and US$180M, was released internationally last week, and has so far grossed just US$25M with critical opinion proving divisive.

The film follows Digger Rockwell (Tom Cruise, who also Co-Produces here), an oil baron and 'the most powerful man in the world' who colludes with US President Compson (John Goodman) to allow Digger's company, Rockwell United, to extract oil in Alaska and Greenland. After repeatedly ignoring warnings of methane gas escaping beneath the Greenland oil field, Digger learns from Sandy Clarkson (Danny Kirrane) the safety officer on the ground at the Greenland site, that one such pocket has exploded, dislodging an ice shelf the size of Philadelphia and sending it across the North Sea headed toward Europe. 

Scientist and Head of Environmental Safety for Digger's company Dr. Nirav Ganesh (Riz Ahmed) warns that its collision with Norway in the next three days or so (depending on sea conditions, the prevailing winds etc.) will cause massive tsunami waves across the North Sea and wipe out much of coastal Norway. Compson and Digger instead establish a media information firewall to buy them time gambling on the slight possibility that the shelf will drift into the Atlantic Ocean and melt. The pair discuss Compson's failing health due to rectal cancer. 

An interruption brought by a prop failure reveals that Digger is actually Curtis Markson, the lead Actor in 'Fossil Fools', a satirical stage play about the supposed tycoon. Everything seen to this point has been part of a dress rehearsal before the shows Premiere. During pauses between scenes, Curtis learns from his wife Agatha (Annabel Mullion) that a plane carrying his daughter has disappeared after encountering an extreme hurricane. One of the shows Producers, Kenny (Jesse Plemons), offers to locate her using his private intelligence network, and requests his daughter's mobile phone number from Digger in order to track her whereabouts.

Back in full dress rehearsal mode, the ice shelf strikes Europe, inundating major Northern European cities. The USA and Rockwell United are summoned before a meeting of the European Parliament. Vice President Eddie (Michael Stuhlbarg) stands in for Compson, who is undergoing surgery for his cancer, and promises American support for Europe, but is jeered out of the meeting. Dr. Ganesh follows him revealing a litany of uncomfortable truths about Digger's oil exploration methods, and is equally jeered out of the meeting. Digger then fronts up to the gathered throng of European Parliamentarians and claims complete responsibility for the disaster, but argues neither he nor his company can be blamed for the world's dependence on oil (which he describes as the Mother's Milk of the Earth) as he has only been fulfilling the world's insatiable demand. His speech incites the Parliament attendees to begin fighting with each other instead of attacking him. Afterward, a now-drunk Ganesh tells Digger that an even larger ice shelf has broken away from a Russian glacier and is heading toward Alaska across the Arctic Circle.

Digger and Ganesh inform the recovering Compson, who is still heavily drugged, of this second break away ice shelf. Compson proposes launching nuclear weapons at China as a distraction. Military Chief of Staff Fitzgerald (Robert John Burke) instead suggests using the weapons against the ice shelf. Ganesh objects that the attack will merely fragment it without slowing its progress, but Compson publicly sanctions the strike. Ganesh's prediction proves correct, with twenty or so smaller but still equally as dangerous chunks breaking off.

Meanwhile, Curtis becomes increasingly disturbed by the play's excesses and eventually has a melt down on stage in a heated argument with Hannah (Sophie Wilde) the Director of the stage play, and in front of the entire cast and crew, accusing it of misrepresenting real events and trivialising the suffering of generations impacted by those responsible. Kenny reveals that he is Digger's nephew and has bought the rights to Fossil Fools, believing that the play will both allow him to move past his bitterness toward his uncle and give the public a healthy, humorous and satirical way to process their collective grief. Now understanding what his performance means, Curtis finishes the rehearsal. 

After the ice shelf disaster, Digger and his family retreat to his converted offshore platform. Five years later, Eddie has succeeded Compson as President following the latter's death. He halts all funding and military protection for the platform, resulting in most of Digger's employees immediately deserting him, stealing his food, gold, and boats. Driven into severe delusion, Digger attempts to bully God into creating more food to sustain the remaining occupants. 

Unsuccessful, he scatters the ashes of his beloved cat of twenty plus years Maggie, before jumping into the ocean he helped to pollute, and sinking to the bottom. The audience viewing the play cheers Digger's death and Curtis's performance with a standing ovation. Curtis's wife arrives to congratulate him and reveals that their daughter is safe, thanks to Kenny's help. The theatre management then announces a 'Level 4' condition outside. The audience members put on manufactured breathing masks, exit the theatre, and enter a dystopian flooded and devastated city patrolled by armed soldiers, robots, and drones. 

The film also stars Sandra Huller as Emma Rockwell, Digger's half sister and business partner; Emma D'Arcy as Lina, Digger's trusted and seemingly indispensable assistant; Burn Gorman as the Defence Secretary of Staff; and Stephen Wright as Reverend Moore, the President's spiritual advisor. 

It's easy to see why and how 'Digger' has divided critics and audiences alike, and why it has thus far failed at the global Box Office. On the one hand it's a looking glass right into the current political administration's climate deniers, their stance on whole scale oil exploration, their ability to create fake news and palm it off to the masses as the truth, and a society that is in a state of rapid decline, and that is a sad indictment of the times we find ourselves in. On the other hand it's a film of big bold satirical ambition that is visually stunning, has some laugh out loud touches and at it's core offers us a standout performance from Tom Cruise playing totally against type in a role not seen since 2008's 'Tropic Thunder' as Les Grossman, and is worthy of an Academy Award nod next March. And Tom is ably supported by his fellow Actors also worthy of a mention, not least John Goodman, Riz Ahmed, Sandra Huller and Jesse Plemons, who all have their moments to shine. 

'Digger' 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 8th October 2026.

The 70th annual British Film Institute London Film Festival this year runs for twelve days from Wednesday 7th October through until Sunday 18th October, in the English capital city of London. Founded in 1957 the festival runs for two weeks every October, and showcases over 240 feature length films and 150 shorts films across various sections, multiple strands, and a number of competitions. The festival presents the opportunity to view the world’s best new films, series and immersive storytelling, and the chance to delight in the undiscovered, as all feature films and series are being shown in the UK for the first (and sometimes the only) time. Films are screened at various venues around London including BFI Southbank, BFI IMAX, Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall and the Institute of Contemporary Arts. 

This years Opening Night Gala film presentation is 'Elsinor' from the UK and this biographical drama film is Directed by Simon Stone. Andrew Scott is a towering presence in this singular account of Scottish Actor Ian Charleson’s life, capturing the moment when he faced his own mortality as he prepared to play Hamlet at the Royal National Theatre in the final months of his life, and the odds he faced in preparing for and performing the role while seriously ill from AIDS. Also starring Olivia Colman, Billie Piper, Johnny Flynn, Juliet Stevenson, Peter Mullan and Luke Thompson. The Closing Night Gala film screening is 'The Debut' from the USA and this musical comedy film is Written Co-Produced, Directed and also stars Jesse Eisenberg. It also stars Julianne Moore as as shy and retiring New Jersey housewife Mona Friedman, who auditions for a part in a fictional musical ('Nosy Neighbours') run by the strong-willed and enigmatic Director Jerry Blankenbuehler (Paul Giamatti). Also starring Halle Bailey.

The BFI London Film Festival Awards are a celebration of the most innovative new films and showcase an incredible range of talent from across the world. There are four competitive sections - the Official Competition for the Best Film Award recognising inspiring, inventive and distinctive filmmaking; the First Feature Competition for the Sutherland Award recognising the most original and imaginative Directorial debut; the Documentary Competition for the Grierson Award recognising feature length documentaries with integrity, originality and social or cultural significance; and the Short Film Competition recognising short-form works with a unique cinematic voice. Vying for the Best Film Award under the Official Competition heading, are the following titles, summarised in brief as below :-

* '7 Miles Out' - from the UK and Written and Directed by Carol Morley, and is an adaption of her semi-autobiographical eponymous novel of the same name. The film follows Anne Westbourne (Lucy Halliday), who, after losing her father in tragic circumstances, finds solace and trouble in the Manchester music scene of the 1970's and '80's. Also starring Aidan Gillen, Gemma Whelan and Clare Grogan. World Premiere.

* 'Act 3' - from Ireland and the UK and Written and Directed by Christine Molloy and Joe Lawlor. Molloy and Lawlor engage in a witty and moving conversation that explores family history and their latest project, a film about groundbreaking artists Claude Cahun and Marcel Moore. As they analyse this decades-long relationship, they identify parallels between these two artists and their own lives.

* 'The Difficult Bride' - from France, Bangladesh, Portugal, Norway and Germany, and Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Rubaiyat Hossain. Zaineen (Zaineen Chowdhury Karim) is very excited about her upcoming wedding. But she soon bristles under the many planned makeovers intended to make her thinner, fairer, sleeker and more bride-like. Resistance takes root in her body and she experiences strange changes and omens.

* 'Glaxo' - from Brazil and Argentina and Co-Written and Directed by Benjamin Naishtat. Four young men in the provincial Argentine city of Chivilcoy find their lives disrupted when a retired Police Officer and his glamorous young wife move into the area. Add two visiting American Mormons into the mix, along with a volatile political situation, and tensions soon escalate.

* 'The Idiot(s)' - from Germany and Poland and Co-Written and Directed by Małgorzata Szumowska and Michał Englert, and is based on the novel 'The Gambler Wife : A True Story of Love, Risk and the Woman Who Saved Dostoyevsky' by Andrew D. Kaufman. Anna Dostoevsky (Aimee Lou Wood) loves her husband Fyodor (Johnny Flynn). Fyodor loves his wife, but he also loves gambling and booze. Living in self-imposed exile in Germany, Fyodor’s biggest obstacle to creative progress is himself. Anna tries desperately to rid him of his procrastination so he can deliver a new novel and they can avoid destitution. Also starring Vicky Krieps. 

* 'Imperium' - from Germany, France, Italy and Lithuania and Written, Directed and Co-Edited by Sergei Loznitsa. The film follows a visual journey across the Soviet Union, built entirely from archival footage shot between 1970 and 1973, and shifts into territories where different traits, beliefs and ethnographic features emerge, revealing the powerful grip of an empire over its people.

* 'Kettice' - from Italy, and Written and Directed by Giovanni Tortorici. Giulio (Salvatore Gallina), a dissatisfied sixteen-year-old, drifts through life with no enthusiasm for his education or his future, much to his family’s dismay, particularly his endlessly frustrated mother (Monica Bellucci).

* 'Look Back' - from Japan and Written, Directed and Edited by Hirokazu Kore-eda. Aspiring manga artist Fujino (Natsuki Deguchi) meets Kymoto (Aju Makita), a shy admirer of her work. Seemingly opposites, they create the perfect team with their shared love of the form. But as their work draws praise and attention, they find themselves confronted with decisions that threaten their artistic collaboration.

* 'My Notes on Mars' - from Hungary and Austria and Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Lili Horvat. A talented scientist, Margot (Mackenzie Davis) goes missing while hiking with her husband Sam (Rupert Friend). Weeks later, she reappears at the family home, but is not herself; all memories, save for those of her recent research on Mars, have mysteriously disappeared.

* 'Woman Unknown' - from Denmark, Sweden and Latvia, and is Co-Written and Directed by May el-Toukhy. Set in the aftermath of World War II, a young nanny and housemaid, Marie (Mathilde Arcel) prepares to marry her wealthy employer Christian (Carsten Bjornlund), while harbouring a secret.

For the full low down on the other competitive sections being showcased, plus the thematic strands being screened and a whole lot of other good stuff, you can go to the official website at : http://www.whatson.bfi.org.uk/lff

Turning the attention then back on this weeks big screen releases coming to your local Odeon, we launch with a legal thriller in which a Facebook engineer and a Wall Street Journal reporter blow the whistle on the social network's most guarded secrets. Then we have a supernatural psychological horror offering where an eight-year-old girl living in a home with marital problems, confronts a sinister entity which emerges from her closet. Next up there is a drama film set in rural New Zealand, where a fourteen-year-old girl is caught between her own burgeoning sexual curiosity and acceptance from an older group of girls, and as she delves deeper into rebellion, she starts to leave behind a trail of destruction. This is followed by a documentary in which a filmmaker applies lessons from a Hallmark movie writing workshop to pitch a documentary about concrete. Turning next we have a music concert film from 27th July 1986, where Queen performed at Budapest’s Nepstadion in front of 80,000 ecstatic fans - now beautifully remastered in 4K with a powerful new audio mix. Following on we have a New Zealand documentary that paints a nuanced portrait of Kiwi Tongan rugby union superstar Jonah Lomu, history's youngest All Black, whose legend remains a beacon for Pasifika pride. Then we close out with a pair of animated feature films, the first is a monster fantasy comedy film that follows Stitch Head, a small creature awoken by a Mad Professor in a castle to protect the professor's other creations from the townspeople of Grubbers Nubbin; and then we have a Spanish adventure comedy film that sees Tad, his girlfriend Sara and their three good friends embark on an adventure after Tadeo accidentally unleashes an ancient spell.

Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the eight 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 SOCIAL RECKONING' (Rated M) - this American legal thriller film is Written and Directed by Aaron Sorkin whose prior feature film making credits are 'Molly's Game' in 2017, 'The Trial of the Chicago 7' in 2020, 'Being the Ricardo's' in 2022, as well as being credited as the Writer for such films as 'A Few Good Men', 'The American President', 'The Social Network', 'Moneyball' and 'Steve Jobs'. This film is the sequel to 2010's biographical drama film 'The Social Network' Directed by David Fincher and portrays the founding of the social networking website Facebook, and stars Jesse Eisenberg as Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg. That film cost US$40M to produce and went on to gross worldwide US$225M.

This film tells the true story of how Frances Haugen (Mikey Madison), a young Facebook engineer, enlists the help of Jeff Horwitz (Jeremy Allen White), a Wall Street Journal reporter, to go on a dangerous journey that ends up blowing the whistle on the social network's most guarded secrets, in his shocking expose 'The Facebook Files'. Also starring Jeremy Strong as Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Burr, Wunmi Mosaku, Billy Magnussen and Betty Gilpin. The film is released this week too in the US.

'OTHER MOMMY' (Rated MA15+) - is an American supernatural psychological horror film Directed by Rob Savage who made his feature length Directing debut with 'Strings' in 2012, and would follow this up with 'Host' in 2020, 'Dashcam' in 2021 and 'The Boogeyman' in 2023. This film is based on the 2024 novel 'Incidents Around the House' by Josh Malerman. Here, Bela (Arabella Olivia Clark) lives in a house with parents experiencing marital stress and starts an unsettling relationship with a paranormal presence coming from her closet. She calls the entity 'Other Mommy' because it looks uncannily like her real mother, Ursula (Jessica Chastain). The entity is not supposed to leave Bela's room, but it eventually breaks that rule, stalks the family, and tries to manipulate Bela into letting it take over her body. Also starring Jay Duplass as Russ, Bela's father and Ursula's husband, and Karen Allen. The film is released Stateside this week too.

'BIG GIRLS DON'T CRY' (Rated MA15+) - this New Zealand drama film is Written and Directed by Paloma Schneideman in her feature film making debut. Set in rural New Zealand in the small beach side town of Omaha in 2006, over one transformative summer, 14 year-old Sid Bookman (Ani Palmer) discovers desire, identity and the internet, as she imitates the people she longs to be loved by. Also starring Noah Taylor and Rain Spencer. The film had its World Premiere screening in the World Dramatic Competition at this years Sundance Film Festival in late January, and has garnered generally positive critical reviews. 

'THE HISTORY OF CONCRETE' (Rated M) - is an American documentary film Directed and starring John Wilson in his feature length Directorial debut. After attending a workshop on how to write and sell a Hallmark movie, filmmaker John Wilson attempts to utilise the same commercial formula to create and sell a documentary about the history of concrete. The project evolves into a humorous and philosophical exploration of urbanism, the built environment, and the mundane textures of American life. But his foundation soon begins to crumble, literally and figuratively, as he struggles to balance artistic freedom with the realities of the modern film industry. The film had its Premiere showcasing at this years Sundance Film Festival in late January, was released Stateside in mid-September, has so far grossed US$1.3M, and has garnered universal critical acclaim.

'QUEEN BUDAPEST' (Rated G) - this concert film is of the performance at the Nepstadion in Budapest, Hungary on 27 July 1986 by the British rock band Queen. It was part of 'The Magic Tour', the band's final tour with their original lead singer Freddie Mercury (who died in late 1991 at the age of 45). Queen were one of the few bands from Western Europe to perform in the Eastern Bloc during the Cold War, and the film had a limited theatrical release in Eastern Bloc countries in 1987 and 1988. The concert was physically released on VHS and Laserdisc in the UK and Japan in early 1987 under the original title 'Queen Live In Budapest'. The concert was restored in 4K Ultra HD with a new dynamic audio mix in 2026 and will be reissued for its 40th anniversary under the title 'Queen : Budapest'. It is also scheduled for release in cinemas including IMAX on 7th October 2026 followed by 2-CD, DVD, Blu-ray and 3LP Vinyl releases on 30th October.

'LOMU' (Rated PG) - is a New Zealand and UK Co-Produced biographical sports documentary film Directed by Gavin Fitzgerald and Via Mafile'o. Gavin Fitzgerald's previous feature length documentary output are 2017's 'Conor McGregor : Notorious', 2019's 'Liam Gallagher : As It Was' and 2022's 'Million Dollar Pigeons', and Via Mafile'o has Directed her only feature length documentary 'For My Father's Kingdom' in 2019. Here, the Director's offer up an intimate and heartfelt character study about the legendary New Zealand All Black professional rugby union player, Jonah Lomu, tracing his Tongan upbringing, meteoric rise to fame, and the complicated personal and health battles he faced at the pinnacle of world rugby. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential players in the history of the sport, and as one of the most talented sportsmen of all time. Lomu passed away in late 2015 aged 40 having battled nephrotic syndrome, a rare kidney disorder that would extinguish his stupendous, record-setting career. The film Premiered on 1st August in Auckland. 

'STITCH HEAD' (Rated PG) - this animated monster fantasy comedy film is an international Co-Production between Germany, Luxembourg, India, and the UK and is Written and Directed by Steve Hudson based on the 2011 graphic novel of the same name by the British author Guy Bass. High above the little town of Grubbers Nubbin looms Castle Grotteskew. Here, in his haphazard laboratory, the maddest of all mad professors (voiced by Rob Brydon) brings his latest monstrous creations to life. Watching, hidden in the shadows, is the professor’s first, long-forgotten creation, Stitch Head (voiced by Asa Butterfield). A tiny, strange-looking fellow made up of bits, pieces, and spare parts, he is quite a sight to behold, with his bald, round head covered in a patchwork of stitches, and mesmerising eyes. Stitch Head splits his time between keeping the castle safe & the other monsters hidden. It is a job he undertakes with care & precision, until one day a tired-looking freak show comes to town, led by its desperate owner Fulbert Freakfinder (voiced by Seth Usdenov). The show is in dire need of a new attraction and when Freakfinder meets humble Stitch Head, he knows he has found his star. The film saw its World Premiere at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in mid-June 2025, was released in the USA in late October last year, in the UK in mid-February this year and only now is it released here in Australia, having garnered mixed or average critical reviews, and so far grossing US$8M from its production budget of US$30M. 

'TAD AND THE MAGIC LAMP' (Rated PG) - is a Spanish animated adventure comedy film that is Directed by Enrique Gato whose previous film making credits in this franchise are the short introductory films 'Tadeo Jones' in 2004 and 'Tadeo Jones and the Basement of Doom' in 2006, which he would follow up with the full length feature films 'Tad, the Lost Explorer' in 2012, then 'Tad the Lost Explorer and the Secret of King Midas' in 2017 and 'Tad the Lost Explorer and the Emerald Tablet' in 2022, with 'Capture the Flag' in between being released in 2015. The plot follows the adventures of Tadeo Jones ([Tad Stones for the English speaking world] and voiced by Oscar Barberan) and Sara (voiced by Michelle Jenner) after they became parents of Oli. They come across the genie in the magic lamp that, upon a wish made by their pal Momia (voiced by Luis Posada), takes them back in time. They are forced to take measures to prevent history from taking a different course and returning home safely. The film was released in its native Spain in late August. 

With eight 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-

HEART OF THE BEAST : Tuesday 29th September 2026

I saw the M Rated 'HEART OF THE BEAST' earlier this week, and this American survival thriller film is Co-Produced and Directed by David Ayer who made his feature film Directorial debut with 'Harsh Times' in 2005, and which he would follow up with the likes of 'Street Kings' in 2008, 'End of Watch' in 2012, 'Fury' in 2014, 'Suicide Squad' in 2016, 'Bright' in 2017, 'The Beekeeper' in 2024 and 'A Working Man' in 2025. This film was released in Australia and the US last week, having been shown out of competition at the recent San Sebastian International Film Festival on 22nd September, has garnered generally positive critical reviews and has so far grossed US$56M from its US$82M production budget. 

The film opens up with what appears to be a stray German Shepherd dog stood in the middle of a deserted road somewhere in Alaska on a bright sunny day. A young woman (Anna Lambe) pulls up close by in her Ford pick-up truck, gets out of the car and walks gingerly toward the still motionless canine, looking on at the approaching woman. We then back track one week to a light sea plane flying high above the Alaskan mountain tops and glaciers, piloted by former Special Forces Officer James Belmont (Brad Pitt, who also Co-Produces here) and his retired combat dog Odin (Uber). Eventually, Belmont lands their plane on a remote lake, and sets up camp for the night. Both retired veterans suffer from PTSD and vivid nightmares from their time spent in combat missions in the world's more volatile hot spots. 

The next day, while out exploring the surrounding forest, Belmont cautiously encounters Watkins (J.K. Simmons), an outgoing stranger. They strike up, at first, an uneasy conversation, and Watkins sets up camp next to Belmont and they talk into the night around a camp fire and knocking back a few Belgian beers, about how they all came to be in this remote part of the world, and what they did in their past lives. The next morning, Watkins departs at day break in his kayak, and leaves Belmont a book in exchange for a beer he had taken from the camp overnight, highlighting a particular passage. 

Later that same morning, and with a storm closing in Belmont and Odin pack up and depart by plane, and flying above the clouds to get out of the storm front. Mid-flight however, Belmont suffers a heart attack and collapses unconscious at the controls, and losing altitude the plane descends rapidly into a heavily wooded forest and crashes into a lake coming to rest upside down in about five metres of water. Odin is ejected from the Cessna Skywagon plane during the crash. Belmont swims free to the nearby lake shore and goes in search of Odin, finding him nearby, weak but still alive. He returns to the wreckage and dives down to salvage his gear. After a day or so Odin's condition improves, and so the pair set out on foot to hike back to the nearest road and hence civilisation, which is about 58 miles away, according to Belmont's calculations.

During their journey, they are confronted by a huge grizzly bear, which Odin faces down until it retreats. They later reach a precarious moss covered wooden bridge like structure made up of two long fallen trees that spans a valley with a fast flowing river below. Belmont slips and Odin has to be swung to safety, but in doing so Belmont falls into the rapids below, and being carried downstream he sustains various knocks to his head and gets his arm wedged between rocks and breaking it. Odin chases Belmont as he is carried downstream, and when he reaches calmer waters, Odin drags him to shore, then helps him reset the compound fracture to his lower arm. Using the First Aid kit that Odin carries with him in a vest, Belmont bandages himself up and places his injured arm in a sling. 

Continuing their hike back to the road, they come to a clearing in the forest and in the near distance, they spot a pack of grey wolves attacking a moose calf, so they decide to retreat, and take the long way round to avoid alerting the wolves of their presence. However, the pair are subsequently stalked and then ambushed by the pack of wolves. Belmont attempts to fend off the attack using a spear and a hunting knife, while Odin attacks the wolves, although Belmont is pulled in all directions by three attacking wolves and is severely bitten in the stomach, but in the process he kills the alpha male. Belmont then patches up his stomach wound again using the First Aid kit, and continues onward. They reach a swamp which they must wade through to get to the road that lies in the distance beyond. Suffering from two serious wounds, Belmont becomes trapped under a downed tree truck in the brown murky water, but emerges the other side gasping for air. 

Weakened and unable to continue, they come to rest on a rocky outcrop. Belmont writes a note recording his final wishes for Odin, along with an account of their ordeal, and clear instructions that Odin suffers PTSD, his eating habits, his favourite games, and the commands that he responds to, but warning never to say the word 'bite' unless in the event of an emergency or if you should be in danger, for Odin, it was revealed early on, has titanium teeth thanks to an insurgent hurling a brick at Odin during his active duty and which took his teeth out. Belmont shot that insurgent in the head. Belmont also leaves the rest of his money for whoever takes Odin in, and says not to come looking for his body as he has given himself up to the wilderness. Belmont bleeds out from his wounds overnight and dies and Odin stays with him until the morning. Odin leaves his side and reaches the nearby road, where he is found by the young woman in the Ford pick-up truck, who reads Belmont's note. She embraces him, and he jumps in the vehicle and the pair drive off together. 

In a pre-credits scroll, we are told that some three thousand combat dogs served in active duty in modern times and helped save thousands of soldiers lives. Upon retirement those dogs are rehomed with caring and loving families. 

In crafting 'Heart of the Beast' Director David Ayer has given us perhaps his most pared back movie yet. Beautifully and astutely filmed in and around Queenstown, South Island, New Zealand standing in for the Alaskan wilderness, this film has tense and exciting set pieces, paired with moments of real tenderness and emotion that shows the very real bond that exists between man and his canine best friend. Two battle hardened souls that have witnessed the worst man can do and the best that man can do too, and who just want to spend their lives together in peace, quiet and as far away from those war torn locations as possible. Brad Pitt delivers a compelling performance, but this film belongs to Uber, who deserves a Best Actor nomination at the 2027 Academy Awards or at least the Palm Dog Award at next years Cannes Film Festival. Bring a pack of Kleenex tissues, because the ending is a real tear jerker, and for dog owners everywhere, you'll understand why. 

'Heart of the Beast' merits four claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a possible five claps.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new at Odeon's this week : Thursday 1st October 2026.

The 49th annual Mill Valley Film Festival (MVFF) takes place this year from Thursday 1st October through until Sunday 11th October. Presented by the California Film Institute, the MVFF has developed a reputation for launching new films and creating awards-season buzz. MVFF has earned a reputation as a 'filmmakers' festival' by celebrating the best in American independent and world cinema alongside high-profile and prestigious award contenders. It takes place each October in Mill Valley, a city in Marin County, California, USA located about 14 miles (23 kms) north of San Francisco and 52 miles (84 kms) from Napa Valley, and welcomes more than 200 filmmakers, representing more than fifty countries, each year. This year there are 96 feature films (including thirty documentaries and nine feature length animated films) and eighty shorts, in what is described as one of the most diverse programmes yet.

This years Opening Night film presentation is 'Wild Horse Nine' from the USA and Chile and Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Martin McDonagh and starring John Malkovich, Sam Rockwell, Parker Posey, Steve Buscemi, Tom Waits and Mariana di Girolamo. The Centrepiece film is 'I Play Rocky' from the USA and Co-Produced and Directed by Peter Farrelly and starring Anthony Ippolitto, Toby Kebbell, P.J.Byrne, AnnaSophia Robb, Matt Dillon and Jay Duplass. The Closing Night film is 'The Debut' from the USA and Written, Co-Produced, Directed and starring Jesse Eisenberg with Paul Giamatti, Julianne Moore, and Halle Bailey. 

Playing in the Spotlight section of this years festival, there are nine titles, as shown below in brief :-

* 'All of a Sudden' - from France, Japan, Belgium and Germany and Co-Written and Directed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi. Marie-Lou (Virginie Efira) is the director of a nursing home in the Parisian suburbs who attempts to introduce a humane care technique known as Humanitude, in spite of resistance. Her life is changed when she meets a terminally ill Japanese playwright named Mari Morisaki (Tao Okamoto).

* 'Elsinore' - from the UK and Directed by Simon Stone. This biographical drama film centres on Scottish Actor Ian Charleson (Andrew Scott) and focuses on his performances as Hamlet at the National Theatre in the final months of his life, and the odds he faced in preparing for and performing the role while seriously ill from AIDS. Also starring Olivia Colman, Billie Piper, Johnny Flynn, Juliet Stevenson and Peter Mullan. 

* 'Gentle Monster' - from Austria, Germany and France and Written and Directed by Marie Kreutzer. Here, Lucy Weiss (Lea Seydoux) a successful pianist who must confront Philip (Laurence Rupp) her husband's shocking crimes. Also starring Catherine Deneuve. 

* 'Josephine' - from the USA and Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Beth de Araujo. After eight-year-old Josephine (Mason Reeves) witnesses a brutal assault in Golden Gate Park, she begins to experience fear and paranoia, while her parents, Mum Claire (Gemma Chan) and Dad Damien (Channing Tatum) struggle with how to help her. 

* 'La Bola Negra' - from Spain and France, and Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi. Weaving together three interconnected stories spanning nearly a century into a deeply moving meditation on memory, love, and the lives history tried to erase, the film moves between wartime Spain in 1932 and 1937 and the present in 2017, gradually revealing the emotional threads connecting lives marked by bloodshed, persecution, and the quiet wounds left by intolerance. Starring Penelope Cruz and Glenn Close.

* 'Misty Green' - from the USA and Written, Co-Produced, Directed and starring Chris Rock. Award-winning Actress Misty Green (Rosalind Eleazar), stuck in the throes of a fading career, revisits her past and addresses her personal demons as she tries for a comeback after reconnecting with her former talent agent Randy (Topher Grace). Also starring Adam Driver, Daniel Kaluuya, Anna Kendrick and Ice-T. 

* 'Mouse' - from the USA and Written by Kelly O'Sullivan, Co-Produced by Alex Thompson and Directed by Kelly O'Sullivan and Alex Thompson. When Callie Bell (Chloe Coleman) and Minnie Dunn's (Katherine Mallen Kupferer) relationship is upended on the eve of their senior year, Minnie forms a complicated friendship with Callie's mother, Helen (Sophie Okonedo). Also starring Tara Mallen, Iman Vellani and David Hyde Pierce. 

* 'Paper Tiger' - from the USA and Written, Co-Produced and Directed by James Gray. Two brothers - Gary Pearl (Adam Driver) and Irwin Pearl (Miles Teller) pursue a lucrative business opportunity in 1980's Queens, New York City only to find themselves caught up in a scheme involving the Russian mafia, which ends up terrorising their suburban family and puts their own sibling bond to the test. Also starring Scarlett Johansson.

* 'Possible Love' - from South Korea and Co-Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Lee Chang-dong. A story of two married couples - a laid-off worker and his spouse Ho-Seok and Mi-ok (Sul Kyung-gu and Jeon Do-yeon respectively), and a documentary filmmaker and her spouse Ye-ji and Sang-wo (Cho Yeo-jeong and Zo-in Sung respectively) crossing paths to film a documentary and facing their different lives and hidden desires. The film had its Premiere in the Main Competition at this years Venice International Film Festival on 6th September, where it won the Grand Jury Prize and the FIPRESCI Prize.

The Mind The Gap Award honours filmmakers and others who have made a significant commitment to advancing gender equity in film and in our lives. This years MTG Award, Director is presented to Marie Kreutzer for 'Gentle Monster' and the MTG Award, Groundbreaking Work goes to Sophie Okonedo for 'Mouse'. 

For the details of the other section included in this years line up, plus a whole lot of other good stuff, you can go to the official website at : http://www.mvff.com

Turning the focus then back to this weeks four new movies coming to a big screen Odeon near you, we kick off with a black comedy in which the world's most powerful man sets out to prove that he can literally save the world from a disaster he created. This is followed by a psychological erotic thriller in which a struggling writer is hired to ghostwrite the remaining books in a successful series for a renowned author, who is left incapacitated by a mysterious accident. Then we have a survival monster horror offering that sees a team of doctors embarking on a local mission in the Amazon rainforest, but it soon becomes clear that not everybody, or everything, is happy to see them. And, closing out the week we have a Chinese animated comedy detective story in which an unlikely duo are forced to team up to investigate a bizarre murder case that threatens this fantastical mechanised city's peace where humans and demons co-exist, and uncovers deeper secrets.

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.

'DIGGER' (Rated MA15+) - is a US, UK and Mexican Co-Produced black comedy film Co-Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, whose previous feature film making credits take in his 2000 debut with 'Amores perros' and which he would follow through with '21 Grams' in 2003, 'Babel' in 2006, 'Biutiful' in 2010, 'Birdman' in 2014, 'The Revenant' in 2015, and 'Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths' in 2022. This film came in at a production cost of US$125M and is released internationally this week, with early critical reviews proving divisive.

The film follows Digger Rockwell (Tom Cruise, who also Co-Produces here), an oil baron and 'the most powerful man in the world' as he attempts to prove himself humanity's saviour and fix a disaster he unleashed before it destroys everything. Also starring John Goodman as POTUS, Riz Ahmed, Sandra Huller, Michael Stuhlbarg, Jesse Plemons, Robert John Burke, Emma D'Arcy, Burn Gorman, Sophie Wilde and Pip Torrens. 

'VERITY' (Rated MA15+) - this American psychological erotic thriller film is Co-Produced and Directed by Michael Showalter whose previous feature film Directing credits take in the likes of his debut with 'The Baxter' in 2005 and which he would follow up with other titles including 'Hello, My Name Is Doris' in 2015, 'The Big Sick' in 2017, 'The Lovebirds' in 2020, 'The Eyes of Tammy Faye' in 2021, 'The Idea of You' in 2024 and 'Oh. What. Fun.' in 2025. This film is based on Colleen Hoover's novel of the same name published in 2018. Hired to be a ghostwriter for renowned author Verity Crawford (Anne Hathaway), Lowen Ashleigh's (Dakota Johnson) assignment takes a dark turn when she discovers chilling autobiographical notes. As she wrestles with disturbing and twisted confessions about Verity's husband Jeremy Crawford (Josh Hartnett), she soon finds it hard to separate fiction from reality, manipulation from attraction, and opportunity from obsession.The film cost US$40M to produce, and is released internationally this week. 

'BEWARE BOIUNA' (Rated MA15+) - is a US and German Co-Produced survival monster horror film that is Directed by Mike P. Nelson who made his feature film debut Co-Directing with four others on 'Summer School' in 2006 and went on to Direct in his own right 'The Domestics' in 2018, 'Wrong Turn' in 2021, and 'Silent Night, Deadly Night' in 2025. Here, Deep in the Amazon rainforest along the Curuca River, a routine humanitarian medical mission turns into a desperate struggle for survival when the group's presence awakens the 'Boiuna' - a colossal, ancient mythical serpent determined to reclaim its domain. Starring Kiana Madeira, Jessica Rothe and Logan Marshall-Green, the film Premiered at Fantastic Fest in mid-September and is released in the USA and here in Australia this week. 

'DEMON AGENT' (Rated PG) - this Chinese animated comedy detective film is Co-Written and Directed by Cheng Teng, and is set in the fantastical and magnificent city of Chang’an, a city woven with gears and mechanisms, and home to both humans and demons living side by side beneath its upturned eaves. Di Shao (voiced by Lei Songran), a genius young man aspiring to become 'Chang’an’s Number One Detective', possesses exceptional crime-solving skills and a sharp tongue; while Asa (voiced by Zhang Cheng), a rookie wolf demon constable, is formidable in martial arts yet kind-hearted. A bizarre murder case forces these two adversaries to team up, embarking on a hilarious and bickering detective journey. As clues point to the heart of the city, can this unreliable duo protect the joyful daily life of this fantastical city? And what earth-shattering secret lies hidden behind the bustling and prosperous Chang’an? The film was released in its native China in late August, and is released in select theatres this week here in Australia. 

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-