THE END OF OAK STREET : Tuesday 18th August 2026.

I saw the M Rated 'THE END OF OAK STREET' earlier this week, and 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 was released last week too in the US, cost in the region US$85M to produce and has so far grossed US$64M having garnered generally positive critical reviews along the way. 

The film opens on a scene of a street party on Oak Street in the town of Flowervale, Michigan, on what appears to be a beautiful sun drenched summers day. We are quickly introduced to Denise Platt (Anne Hathaway) and her husband Greg (Ewan McGregor) and their mid-teenage daughter Audrey (Maisy Stella), their younger son Brian (Christian Convery) and their dog Starbuck. The couple's marriage is somewhat strained, and Denise privately contemplates divorce, while Greg, having lost his regular job within the last few weeks secretly works as a local pizza delivery driver just to earn a few bucks until he can get back on his feet. 

Sometime later, Denise who is an aspiring novelist takes a draft of her first novel to local neighbour Mrs. Huddleston (Anne Gee Byrd) for a proof read, and who thinks her novel has merit and should continue writing. Before Denise leaves, Mrs.Huddleston invites her into her backyard to observe a peculiar looking plant that has suddenly sprouted up in the last three days and stands about six feet tall. Denise takes a photograph and at the library, the librarian, Mrs. Valcourt (Emily Kuroda), identifies the plant as a species that went extinct two hundred million years ago. The next morning, a big pile of animal dung subsequently appears in neighbour Mel Jacobs (P.J. Byrne) yard, and he fumes at Denise and Greg saying that it is their kids doing. Greg defuses the matter by offering to help Mel clean up the mess. Radio broadcasts report increased solar-flare activity. During a storm later that night, Greg returns home from a pizza delivery, when a huge white light suddenly engulfs Oak Street, joined by a change in atmospheric pressure, and a power and water outage. The next day still none the wiser as to what, how or why last nights incident occurred, Denise, Greg and their two kids leave their house to search for Starbuck, who has gone missing from his outdoor kennel. 

They soon discover that Oak Street is seemingly surrounded by a prehistoric landscape from which dinosaurs emerge, and kill people throughout the neighbourhood. The family proceeds to board up their windows and Audrey theorises that the flashes of light were wormholes that transported the entire neighbourhood millions of years into the past. 

Holed up in their home, the family gather to discuss their situation. Denise seems to accept their fate that they could potentially be stuck there for the rest of their lives, while Greg believes in the power of divine intervention and that God will help them find a way back to their normal lives. 

That night, Greg reveals he knows Denise is considering divorce, and confronts her about her draft manuscript which he says he has read and is about their life and struggles together, while also coming clean about losing his job. Meanwhile, Brian sees Starbuck outside his bedroom window and ventures outside to get him, with Audrey following. They witness Mel being killed by pterosaurs on the roof of his house. They encounter Jeannette Christiansen (Jordan Alexa Davis), Brian's neighbourhood crush, who joins them after revealing her parents have been killed. Elsewhere, Denise and Greg, while trying to find the children, see a flash of light and follow it to a house containing a wormhole. They refuse to leave without their children, and the wormhole disappears. A herd of dinosaurs pursue them, but they take shelter in a car, reconcile, reunite with the children, and offer to look after Jeannette.

The following morning, an Allosaurus attacks the group homing in on Denise. Greg comes to her rescue but is subsequently killed protecting the others, who are able to flee, obviously distraught and heartbroken over the sudden death of their husband and father. They observe the wormhole again in the distance above Mrs. Valcourt's house and make their way onto the roof. They observe that the wormhole appears and disappears at regular intervals. Jeannette jumps in and disappears, but when Brian attempts to follow, he misses the opening and falls to the ground injuring his leg in the process. A Tropeognathus grabs at his leg, but Starbuck appears and attacks the creature. The group attempt to take shelter inside Mrs. Valcourt's house, but it is infested with erythrosuchids, one of which Mrs. Valcourt manages to shoot dead with a shotgun before being overwhelmed and killed by the others. Escaping back to the roof, the group then to jump into the wormhole together.

Jumping through the wormhole together, the three come crashing down into a swimming pool in the pouring rain. The irate owner comes out screaming for the three to get the hell outta there, while Denise shouts 'what year is it?' 'What sort of a question is that? the home owner yells back, 'it's 1982!' Having returned about twenty minutes before Oak Street is transported mysteriously away, Denise calls from a local phone box, a handful of Oak Street residents to leave the neighbourhood prior to the white light appearing, while Jeannette runs to warn her parents. Denise also contacts Greg to make his next pizza delivery to a distant bus stop, where they will be waiting. When Greg arrives, he is embraced by Denise and his kids. The white light appears again, engulfing the suburb as Oak Street disappears and is replaced by the prehistoric landscape. Two years later, the military and authorities have contained the area while scientists study both the prehistoric environment and its wildlife in attempts to determine how and why the wormholes appeared. Denise has become a hero for warning residents and has published a book titled 'The End of Oak Street', based on her experiences, which has made the family moderately well off financially. The film ends with the Platts and the Christiansens enjoying a barbecue together, with a pair of matching Jeannettes.

'The End of Oak Street' as a creature feature harkens back to the halcyon days of Spielberg's 'Jurassic' offerings, in as much as the marauding dino effects are well realised, the action sequences will maintain your interest, and the Platt's family dynamics are relatable. That said, I felt that the background CGI was questionable, some of the dialogue clunky, and the behaviour of the characters is at times ambiguous. For a throwback film of the ilk that trademarked the 1980's and early '90's, this disposable popcorn movie is sure to please despite the plot holes, and at a brisk running time of 99 minutes it doesn't outstay its welcome. 

'The End of Oak Street' 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 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-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 20th June 2019.

The 66th annual Sydney Film Festival drew to a close on Sunday 16th June, marking an end to another hugely successful festival that showcased more than 300 award winning films, dramas, documentaries, thrillers, animations, comedies, cross-genre experiments and art house cinema from across the world. As reported last week, twelve films are selected for the Official Competition, which celebrates 'courageous, audacious and cutting-edge' cinema with a $60,000 cash prize.

The winner of this years Official Competition line up and the proud recipient of the AU$60K cash prize went to renowned South Korean Director Bong Joon-ho for his latest feature offering 'Parasite', which also picked up the Palme d'Or at Cannes last month. The film tells the story of the an all unemployed lower class family (the Kim's) that take a peculiar interest in a wealthy and glamorous family (the Park's) for their livelihood, until they get entangled in an unexpected incident that threatens to upend the Kim's newfound level of comfort. The film goes on general release in Australia on 27th June.

Indigenous Director Erica Glynn was awarded the Documentary Australia Foundation Award for Australian Documentary's AU$10K cash prize for 'She Who Must Be Obeyed Loved', a celebration of the life of her mother, the trailblazing Indigenous filmmaker Alfreda Glynn from the heart of the country. This prize acknowledges excellence in documentary production with up to ten films of any length being selected for the competition.

For the full wrap up of this years Sydney Film Festival, you can visit the official website at : https://www.sff.org.au/

This week there are six new feature films to entice you out to your local Odeon on a cool Winter's evening. We kick off with two animated feature films, both of which are sequels to hugely successful prior instalments - the first is the fourth in a franchise that had its beginnings almost 25 years ago now about the life and exploits of toys behind closed doors when kids and adults aren't watching, and the second is the second film in a newer franchise that is about the life of pets behind closed doors when kids and adults aren't watching. We then move to a case of a missing person and one guys dogged determination to get to the bottom of the disappearance that takes him down all sorts of rabbit holes. Next up is a reboot of a mildly successful but enduring slasher horror offering that first saw the light of day back in 1988, involving a possessed child's doll that has been updated to an out of control robot doll, that nonetheless has bloody murder and mayhem most foul reprogrammed in to its memory banks. We then close out the week with two acclaimed foreign language offerings - the first a German film spanning three generations that sees a budding painter who falls for a fellow artist whose father is the keeper of a very dark and damaging secret. The second is a French film about an elderly woman who wakes up one day and decides that it will be her last, and so sells all her worldly possessions on her front lawn much to the bewilderment of her daughter who come home for the first time in twenty years having caught wind of her mothers madness.

Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the six latest release new movies as Previewed below, or those doing the rounds currently on general release and 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.

'TOY STORY 4' (Rated G) - and continuing with this hugely popular and acclaimed computer animated comedy offering that first graced our big screens back in 1995, we have the fourth feature film instalment in the franchise that has spawned a limited series of television specials under the banner of 'Toy Story Treats', short animated films under the headline 'Toy Story Toons', a straight to video film, three 'Disney on Ice' productions, a musical, video games, merchandise, theme park rides and comic books. The first three films in the series were made for a collective US$320M and grossed a total Box Office haul worldwide of US$1.97B. This film is Directed by Josh Cooley in his feature film debut, taking over from John Lasseter who Directed the first two and Lee Unkrich the third. John Lasseter and Andrew Stanton were among the talent who dreamt up the story for all four films. The film saw its Premier screening on 11th June and goes on general release in the US and here in Australia this week.

And so turning back to the story behind 'Toy Story 4' which is set a couple of years after Andy gave his toys to Bonnie. Woody (voiced once again by Tom Hanks), Buzz (voiced again by Tim Allen) and the rest of the toys are faced with a problem when Bonnie creates a new toy from arts and crafts, named Forky (voiced by Tony Hale). Forky suffers an identity crisis about being a toy, which the others try to help him understand how to be one. As Bonnie and her family go on a road trip, Forky escapes and Woody goes to save him, becoming separated from the group near a small town. As Buzz and the others try to help find Woody, Woody finds Bo Peep (voiced by Annie Potts) among other toys in the town's antique shop, and she gives him a new outlook on what being a toy is really about. Also starring the voice talents of Joan Cusack, Don Rickles, Estelle Harris, Timothy Dalton, Laurie Metcalf, Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele, Keanu Reeves, Christina Hendricks, Mel Brooks, Carol Burnett, Carl Reiner and Betty White amongst notable others.

'THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS 2' (Rated PG) - continuing with the animated genre, this American computer animated comedy film produced by Illumination, is Directed by Chris Renaud, with Jonathan del Val, and is the sequel to 2016's 'The Secret Life of Pets' which was also Directed by Renaud and grossed US$876M off the back of a US$75M production budget. This is the tenth animated feature from this Studio since its founding in 2007, and since this films release in the UK on 24th May and the US on 7th June, it has grossed US$158M off the back of an US$80M investment. Featuring the voice talents of Patton Oswalt, Eric Stonestreet, Kevin Hart, Harrison Ford, Tiffany Haddish, Ellie Kemper, Pete Holmes and Dana Carvey amongst others, this film reunites all the pets from the first instalment and some new ones too. Here we find Max the terrier, who must learn to cope with some major life changes when his owner, Katie marries Chuck and has a baby, Liam. When the family takes a road trip out to the country, nervous Max has numerous run-ins with canine-intolerant cows, hostile foxes and a scary turkey. Luckily for Max, he soon catches a break when he meets Rooster, a gruff Welsh Sheepdog who tries to cure the lovable pooch of his neuroses.

'UNDER THE SILVER LAKE' (Rated MA15+) - this American neo-noir mystery thriller is Directed by David Robert Mitchell and follows up his second feature film, the highly acclaimed horror 'It Follows' in 2014. Here Sam (Andrew Garfield) lives in the Sliver Lake district of Los Angeles leading a largely aimless, lazy and jobless life with more than an avid interest in conspiracy theories and finding hidden meanings in our everyday culture. One day he befriends his beautiful neighbour Sarah (Riley Keough), who invites him to come over the next day. However, when he drops by he discovers that she and her roommates moved out during the night. Sam becomes obsessed with finding what happened to Sarah. Obsessed with finding out the truth behind Sarah's sudden disappearance, and through a series of seemingly random yet connected encounters, he inadvertently stumbles across an elusive and dangerous large scale conspiracy. The film saw its World Premiere screening back in May 2018 at the Cannes Film Festival, where it was in competition for the Palme d'Or. It was released in the US in mid-April this year and has divided critics with some praising its originality, Direction, soundtrack, cinematography, and Garfield's performance while others found the script confusing, too cryptic, and lacking substance. The film has so far grossed US$2M.

'CHILD'S PLAY' (Rated MA15+) - this American horror slasher film is Directed by Lars Klevberg and is seemingly a remake and a reboot of the original 1988 film of the same name that spawned a whole host of sequels taking off with 'Child's Play 2' in 1990, 'Child's Play 3' in 1991, 'Bride of Chucky' in 1998, 'Seed of Chucky' in 2004, then 'Curse of Chucky' in 2013, and 'Cult of Chucky' in 2017, and a TV series planned for next year. The films original premise was on Chucky, a notorious serial killer who escapes death by performing a voodoo ritual to transfer his soul into a 'Good Guys' doll. The plot here harks back more to the original film. Having moved to a new city, young Andy Barclay (Gabriel Bateman), a lonely 13-year-old deaf boy with a hearing aid, receives a special present from his widowed mother Karen (Aubrey Plaza) - a seemingly innocent Buddi doll (voiced by Mark Hamill) that becomes his new best friend. When the doll suddenly takes on a sinister life of its own, Andy unites with other local children to stop the deadly toy from wreaking bloody murder most foul. In this film, unlike the original, Chucky is portrayed as an out of control hi-tech robot doll, rather than one that is possessed. Also starring Brian Tyree Henry, the film is released Stateside this week too.

'NEVER LOOK AWAY' (Rated M) - is a 2018 German drama film directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck. It was nominated for a Golden Lion at the 75th Venice International Film Festival where it saw its World Premier screening in September last year, and for a Golden Globe by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. It was also nominated for two Academy Awards earlier this year in the Best Foreign Language Film and Best Cinematography categories. With a running time of just over three hours, the film has been lauded by audiences and Critics alike with some stating that it is the best movie they have ever seen! And so to the story, which is based loosley on the early life of famed German artist Gerhard Richter, here portrayed as Kurt Barnert (Tom Schilling) whom we are first introduced to at the tender age of six. As the years progress and Kurt enrols at the Dresden Art School he meets and falls in love with Ellie Seeband (Paula Beer) whose father holds a dark and devastating secret from his past, and vows to end their relationship.

'CLAIRE DARLING' (Rated M) - here this French foreign language film is Directed by Julie Bertuccelli and based on the best selling novel 'Faith Bass Darling's Last Garage Sale' by Lynda Rutledge. In the small country village of Verderonne, in the Oise, on the first day of Summer Claire Darling (Catherine Deneuve) wakes up convinced that today will be her last day. She then decides to rid her house of all her possessions from prized and valuable antiques, to art works, to personal mementos, family heirlooms, everyday furniture and bric-a-brac which she has accumulated over many many years and which she subsequently decides to sell for a song. The objects so loved resonate with her tragic and flamboyant life with pertinent moments seen in flashback. This last act of apparent madness brings back her daughter Marie (Chiara Mastroianni, and the real life daughter of Catherine Deneuve) whom she has not seen for 20 years, who is naturally perplexed by her mothers current state of mind. The film has generated largely positive Reviews.

With six new release movies 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 in the week ahead, at your local Odeon.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 14th May 2015.

You can tell that there's not a school holiday in sight, because this week it's all largely adult fare that is arriving on our cinema screens. For those of us of a discernible age and taste this weeks offerings are dramatic, comedic, horrific, scientific and futuristic leaving just romantic out in the cold. With all the other great cinematic content out there too currently there is something for just about everyone, so choose away and enjoy your movie.

First up then is one of the must-see movie events of the year that is retooled, reimagined and rebooted 30 years after the last offering in this ever cult popular franchise; then we move to the realms of scientific engineering and A.I. and a new take on a genre seen way back when in Fritz Lang's 'Metropolis'; and next up an American Horror offering that proffers something new, fresh, and deadly creeping steadily and stealthily ever closer. From here we head east to Tokyo and then west to  Minnesota in search of fabled treasure that could be fact, or fiction or something in between; and finally a dramedy of Royal proportions that might just bend the historic truth a little!

Five new offerings, two of which I must confess hit our screens last week on a limited release and are showing in selected cinemas around your local area I'm sure. Nonetheless check out any one of these, or those others still doing the rounds, and drop us all an opinion of your experience in the Comments Box below this, or any other Post.

MAD MAX : FURY ROAD (Rated MA15+) - Max Rockatansky first hit our cinema screens way back in 1979 when a young George Miller Directed and Co-Wrote the script for a near future dystopian police thriller set in our own backyard, but which of course could have been just about anywhere. 'Mad Max' made at the time for just AU$400K it grossed US$100M globally and for a long period was the most commercially successfully film of all time on a dollar for dollar basis, and, it launched the career of a young Mel Gibson in the lead role. Inevitably a sequel followed and in 1981 'Mad Max : The Road Warrior' followed again with Mel Gibson and again critically and commercially successful with George Miller at the helm once more. 1985 saw the last outing for Gibson and Max in 'Mad Max : Beyond Thunderdome' with Tina Turner and this film was the weakest of the three despite Miller returning once again. That was 30 years ago and George Miller is back Directing, Producing and  Co-Writing this fourth instalment which has spent the last 25 years in development hell, but has got there finally with a production budget of US$150M . . . and the long wait is over!

This time around Tom Hardy is 'Mad' Max Rockatansky and we are set in 2060 after civilisation as we once knew it has all but collapsed and Max's family were mown down by a motorcycle gang back when things first started to go belly-up! Max comes across Furiosa (Charlize Theron) attempting to cross an expanse of desert with a band of former female captors known as 'The Five Wives' all on the run from an evil Warlord King Immortan Joe (Hugh Keays-Byrne ['Toecutter' from the original 'Mad Max']) and his bloodthirsty violently fuelled henchmen 'The War Boys' who collectively rule over the desert kingdom known as 'The Wasteland'. King Joe wants the wives back for breeding purposes, and having taken Max captive the only salvation for Max and Furiosa is to join forces and navigate themselves out of the treacherous desert, fight for their very lives and overcome much adversity, souped up vehicular carnage, and a deadly relentless foe so that they may continues their journeys and their lives as they had originally planned. Also starring John Howard, Megan Gale, Nicholas Hoult, and Zoe Kravitz this is already getting much positive press and is worthy of your cinema dollar for sure.

EX MACHINA (Rated MA15+) - Alex Garland is probably best known for his novel 'The Beach' which was made into a movie in 2000 starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Directed by Danny Boyle. Since then he has written screenplays for '28 Days Later', 'Halo', 'Sunshine', 'Dredd' and 'Never Let Me Go', and now he has written the story and Screenplay and served as Director for the first time on 'Ex Machina'. The story surrounds Caleb (Domhnall Gleeson) a 26 year old coder working at the worlds largest Internet search engine company who wins an internal lottery competition to spend a week at the remote hideaway home of the company's reclusive CEO Nathan (Oscar Isaac). Upon arrival Caleb is persuaded to take part in a strange experiment conversing with a beautiful artificially intelligent female robot, Amy (Alicia Vikander) built by Nathan. As the week passes Caleb becomes more attached to Ava as she demonstrates all the traits of a human being, but, there are other forces at work here and where will this lead as Nathan and Ava battle it out for the upper hand and Caleb is caught in the middle of this human/robot triangle. Made for a lean US$17M this has already made US$24M and garnered much positive acclaim for Garlands Directorial dexterity, his story and the nuanced performances he has created.

IT FOLLOWS (Rated MA15+) - Co-Written, Produced and Directed by David Robert Mitchell this is supernatural horror chiller made on a budget of just US$2M and so far grossing US$17M. The story is a simple one. A malign entity is passed from one person onto another through sexual intercourse and once the designated victim is cursed he or she will be followed slowly, steadily but surely until the evil spirit being eventually catches up and dispenses with its victim in ways that are shocking and deadly. The 'follower' though could be anybody, and you won't necessarily see them and 'it' won't necessarily be obvious until it's all too late. When Jay (Maika Monroe) has the curse passed onto her by her one time boyfriend Hugh (Jake Weary) she soon goes into panic mode and rallies around her close friends for protection, safety and comfort from the ever approaching relentless follower that they attempt to thwart knowing that it is always only a few steps behind!

KUMIKO : THE TREASURE HUNTER (Rated PG) - Written and Starring David and Nathan Zeller, Produced by Nathan Zeller and Directed by David Zeller this film has been kicking around for 15 months since its release at The Sundance Film Festival in January 2014. Starting off in Tokyo, Kumiko (Rinko Kikuchi) is approaching 30, leaves a lonely existence, has a boss she despises, a job she hates, colleagues who intimidate her and a mother who is overbearing. The only pleasure she gets from life is watching a VHS copy of the Coen Brothers 1996 film 'Fargo' from which she convinces herself that the video is in reality a map to the treasure buried in the snow covered ground at the beginning of that film. And so Kumiko travels to Minnesota in search of a mythical treasure and along the way encounters various locals who unwittingly aid her journey and her quest, and, help her to discover things about herself, what is real, and what is imagined. An intriguing and thought provoking voyage of discovery.

A ROYAL NIGHT OUT (Rated M) - It is 1945 and peace has broken out across Europe as the British nation celebrate V.E Day (Victory over Europe). As festivities and celebrations ring out countrywide two young Princess girls urge their parents to allow them to venture out and join the happy throng undercover as common folk for a once in a lifetime experience of freedom and frivolity . . . to a degree. The two young Princess's in question happen to be Princess Elizabeth (Sarah Gadon) and Princess Margaret (Bel Powley) and they must seek permission from Father King George (Rupert Everett) and Queen Elizabeth (Emily Watson). After some reluctance Mum & Dad allow the young Royals to dress up in their glad rags and hit the big city under the watchful gaze of two chaperone's. But of course as the night wears on and our young Royal revellers get the party taste of excitement, exuberance and danger so things go awry as the flavour of a little alcohol, a little dancing and a little romance come their way - but not with too serious a consequence upon the young heir to the throne and her sister! Directed by Julian Jarrold - check out this history lesson . . . maybe!

Again, five films to get you out there to your local independent theatre or multiplex, and what better way that to while away a few hours gazing up at a giant screen in the dark with a bunch of like minded people. When you have seen your film of choice, contribute freely at Odeon Online - we'd love to hear from you!

Movies - see as many as you can!

-Steve, at Odeon Online-