What's new at Odeon's this week : Thursday 5th February 2026.

This years 55th International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR), is in full swing having opened on Thursday 29th January and running through until Sunday 8th February. This annual film festival is held at the end of January in various locations in Rotterdam, the Netherlands and is largely focused on independent and experimental films. Since its foundation in 1972, it has maintained a focus on independent and experimental filmmaking by showcasing emerging talents and established auteurs. The festival also places a focus on presenting cutting edge media art and arthouse film, with most of the participants in the short film programme identified as artists or experimental filmmakers. IFFR also hosts CineMart and BoostNL, for film Producers to seek funding.

The Opening Night feature film presentation this year, was 'Providence and the Guitar' from Portugal and is Co-Written and Directed by Joao Nicolau. Life's tough for traveling 19th Century performers Leon and Elvira. Between moody Police Officers, rival performers, and mischievous demons, they rely on newfound friends to keep faith in their art. The Closing Night film is 'Bazaar' from France and Directed by Remi Bezancon and centres on a crime writer and his film professor partner who are swept up in a real-life mystery when they begin to suspect their neighbour of murder. Both films are World Premiere screenings. 

IFFR’s trade mark competition - 'The Tiger Competition' celebrates the innovative and adventurous spirit of up-and-coming filmmakers from all over the world. The competition was founded in 1995 with the aim of discovering, raising the profile of and rewarding up-and-coming international film talent. The Tiger Award is accompanied by a €40K cash prize, to be shared between the Director and Producer of the winning film. Two Special Jury Awards worth €10K will also be presented for exceptional artistic achievement within the competition.

This years titles, competing for this prize, are as given briefly below :-
* 'La belle annee' - Directed by Angelica Ruffier and from Sweden and Norway.
* 'A Fading Man' - Directed by Welf Reinhart from Germany.

* 'The Gymnast' - Directed by Charlotte Glynn from the USA.
* 'A Messy Tribute to Motherly Love' - Directed by Dan Geesin and from the Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium.
* 'My Semba' - Directed by Hugo Salvaterra from Angola.
* 'Nangong Cheng' - Directed by Shao Pan from China.
* 'O profeta' - Directed by Ique Langa and from Mozambique, South Africa and Qatar.
* 'Roid' - Directed by Mejbaur Rahman Sumon from Bangladesh.

* 'Supporting Role' - Directed by Ana Urushadze and from Georgia, Estonia, Turkey, Switzerland and the USA.
* 'Unerasable!' - Directed by Socrates Saint-Wulfstan Drakos from Belgium, Thailand and Sweden.
* 'Variations on a Theme' - Directed by Jason Jacobs and Devon Delmar and from South Africa, Netherlands and Qatar.
* 'Yellow Cake' - Directed by Tiago Melo from Brazil.

For the full descriptors of the aforementioned films in the Tiger Competition, plus the other competitive strands being showcased, the full line of some 650 feature films and short films being screened and a whole bunch of other good stuff, you can go to the official website at : http://www.iffr.com/en/

And so looking ahead to this weeks seven new release movies coming to a big screen Odeon near you, we kick off with a Gothic romantic fantasy film which after his wife dies, a 15th century Prince renounces God and becomes a vampire, and centuries later in 19th century London, he sees a woman resembling his late wife and pursues her, sealing his own fate. This is followed by a comedy drama offering that tells the story of a marriage quietly imploding, and so the husband seeks new purpose in the New York comedy scene while the wife confronts the sacrifices she made for their family. Next we have an action thriller about a reclusive former assassin living on a remote island who must protect a young girl he rescues from a storm, drawing him into conflict with past enemies. Then we turn to the third and final chapter in horror franchise that see the only survivor from the previous films that has our protagonist squaring off against the masked killers one last time in a brutal, full-circle reckoning of survival and revenge. Following on we have a survival thriller film that after a catastrophic military disaster, the dead don't just rise, they hunt, and so a wife searches for her missing husband, but what she finds is far more terrifying. Up next is a sports film about the Republic of Ireland national football team and the eponymous Saipan incident between player and team Captain, and the Club Manager in the lead up to the 2002 FIFA World Cup; before closing out the week with a Japanese animated fantasy action film about the eponymous Princess who can cross time and space on a quest of vengeance after her father is murdered.

Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the seven latest release new films as Previewed below, or those doing the rounds currently on general release or as Reviewed and Previewed in previous Blog Posts here at Odeon Online, you are most welcome to share your movie going thoughts, opinions and observations by leaving your relevant, succinct and appropriate views in the Comments section below this or any other Post. We'd love to hear from you, and in the meantime, enjoy your big screen Odeon outing during the coming week.

'DRACULA' (Rated MA15+) - is an English language French Gothic romantic fantasy film based on Bram Stoker's 1897 novel 'Dracula'. This film is written for the screen and Directed by Luc Besson, whose previous feature film output takes in the likes of 'La Femme Nikita' in 1990, 'Leon : The Professional' in 1994, 'The Fifth Element' in 1997, 'The Messenger : The Story of Joan of Arc' in 1999, 'Lucy' in 2014, 'Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets' in 2017 and 'Dogman' in 2023. The film was released in France at the end of July last year, is released in the USA, Canada and here in Australia this week, has so far grossed US$6M and has generated mixed or average reviews. 

When a 15th-century Prince Vladimir of Wallachia (Caleb Landry Jones) witnesses the brutal murder of his wife Elisabeta (Zoe Bleu), he renounces God and damns Heaven itself. Cursed with eternal life, he is reborn as Dracula, an immortal warlord who defies fate in a blood-soaked crusade to wrench his lost love back from death, no matter the cost. On the verge of reuniting some four hundred years later with his reincarnated wife Mina Murray (Zoe Bleu) Dracula is hunted by a relentless priest (Christoph Waltz), sworn to end his immortal reign.

'IS THIS THING ON?' (Rated M) - this American comedy drama film is Co-Written for the screen, Co-Produced, Directed and stars Bradley Cooper in his third Directorial outing following 'A Star is Born' in 2018 and 'Maestro' in 2023, as well as his numerous acting and Producing credits. This film is based loosely on the life of English comedian John Bishop, who was given a story credit on the film, after he met Will Arnett and told him about the night he decided to become a stand-up comedian, and how ultimately it helped save his marriage. Here then, as their marriage quietly unravels, Alex (Will Arnett) faces middle age and an impending divorce, seeking new purpose in the New York comedy scene while his wife Tess (Laura Dern) confronts the sacrifices she made for their family, forcing them to navigate co-parenting, identity, and whether love can take a new form. Also starring Bradley Cooper, Andra Day, Sean Hayes and Ciaran Hinds. The film had its World Premiere as the closing film of the New York Film Festival on 10th October last year, was released in the US on 19th December, has so far grossed US$11M and has garnered generally positive critical reviews.

'SHELTER' (Rated M) - is a UK and USA Co-Produced action thriller film Directed by Ric Roman Waugh whose prior feature film output includes 'Felon' in 2008, 'Snitch' in 2013, 'Shot Caller' in 2017, 'Angel Has Fallen' in 2019, 'Greenland' in 2020, 'Kandahar' in 2023 and the yet to be released 'Greenland 2 : Migration' expected later this year. On a remote Scottish coastal island, a reclusive man, Mason (Jason Statham) rescues a young girl Jessie (Bodhi Rae Breathnach) from a deadly storm, drawing them both into danger. Forced out of isolation, he must confront his turbulent past while protecting her, sending them on a tense journey of survival and redemption. Also starring Bill Nighy and Naomi Ackie. The film had its World Premiere screening in London on 20th January and was released last week Stateside. 

'THE STRANGERS : CHAPTER 3' (Rated MA15+) - this American horror film is Directed by Renny Harlin whose previous feature film credits take in the more popular offerings including 'Die Hard 2' in 1990, 'Cliffhanger' in 1993, 'The Long Kiss Goodnight' in 1996, 'Deep Blue Sea' in 1999, 'Driven' in 2001, 'The Bricklayer' in 2023 and then 'The Strangers : Chapter 1' and 'The Strangers : Chapter 2' in 2024 and 2025 respectively. This film serves as the fifth instalment in 'The Strangers' film franchise and the final instalment in a new trilogy. Here, in this decisive and brutal conclusion to the trilogy, the survivors seeking rehabilitation from their past encounters with the masked strangers are thrust back into a fight for their survival. In their struggle, they uncover unsettling secrets that threaten to alter their fate, jeopardising their lives as the line between reality and peril blurs. Starring Madelaine Petsch as Maya the only survivor of the terrorising Strangers with Gabriel Basso, Ema Horvath and Richard Brake reprising their roles from the pervious instalment. The film premiered in Los Angeles in mid-January, and is released in the US this week too.

'WE BURY THE DEAD' (Rated MA15+) - is an Australian and US Co-Produced survival thriller film Written and Directed by Zak Hilditch, who made his feature film debut in 2003 with 'Waiting for Naval Base Lilly', and which he would follow up with his better known projects including 'These Final Hours' in 2013, '1922' in 2017 and 'Rattlesnake' in 2019. Here then, Ava Newman (Daisy Ridley), a desperate woman, searches for her husband in the aftermath of a catastrophic military experiment. Hoping to find him alive, Ava joins a 'body retrieval unit', but her search takes a chilling turn when the corpses she's burying start showing signs of life. Also starring Mark Coles Smith, Brenton Thwaites and Matt Whelan, the film had its World Premiere at SXSW in March last year, was released Stateside on 2nd January and here in Australia this week, has generated largely positive critical reviews, and has so far grossed US$4M. 

'SAIPAN' (Rated MA15+) - this sports film from Ireland is Directed by the husband and wife team of Glenn Leyburn and Lisa Barros D'Sa in their joint fourth feature film offering following 'Cherrybomb' in 2009, 'Good Vibrations' in 2012 and 'Ordinary Love' in 2019. Set in 2002, shortly before the FIFA World Cup in Japan and South Korea, the Irish national football team arrives on the Pacific island of Saipan where they are to bond and train before moving to Japan. But the management’s relaxed approach does not match team captain Roy Keane’s (Eanna Hardwicke) expectations, and so he decides to forfeit his place in the squad after a heated disagreement with the Irish manager Mick McCarthy (Steve Coogan). The Manchester United star player is here after all, to win it. The film had its World Premiere screening at TIFF in September last year, was released in its native Ireland on 1st January, the UK on 23rd January and here in Australia this week having garnered generally positive critical reviews.

'SCARLET' (Rated M) - is a Japanese animated fantasy action film that is Written and Directed by Mamoru Hosoda whose previous animated films as Director include 'The Girl Who Leapt Through Time' in 2006, 'Wolf Children' in 2012, 'The Boy and the Beast' in 2015, 'Mirai' in 2018 and 'Belle' in 2021. Inspired by the Shakespearean tragedy 'Hamlet', Scarlet (voiced by Mana Ashida), a medieval-era, sword-fighting Princess is on a dangerous quest to avenge the death of her father. After failing in her mission and finding herself fatally injured in a surreal world, she encounters an idealistic young man from our present day who not only helps her to heal but shows her the possibility of a future free from bitterness and rage. When confronted once more by her father’s killer, Scarlet faces her most daunting battle - can she break the cycle of hatred and find meaning in life beyond revenge? The film had its Premiere out of competition at the Venice International Film Festival in early September last year, was released in Japan on 21st November, and here in Australia and the US from this week, having generated largely favourable reviews.

With seven new release movie offerings this week to tempt you out to your local Odeon, remember to share your movie going thoughts with your other like minded cinephile friends afterwards here at Odeon Online. In the meantime, I'll see you sometime somewhere at your local Odeon in the week ahead.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

CHRISTOPHER LEE - dies aged 93 - R.I.P.

The great screen horror icon of the 20th Century, Christopher Lee, passed away last Sunday 7th June at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London after being admitted for respiratory problems and heart failure. He was 93 years of age. His wife of more than fifty years, and former model, Birgit Kroencke, withheld his passing for four days until his family and the closest friends had been notified.


Born Christopher Frank Carandini Lee in Belgravia, Westminster, London on 27th May 1922. At age six, his parents divorced. Some years later his mother remarried a banker and uncle to Ian Flemming (therefore Lee's step-cousin) - the author of the James Bond books, in which he would play the villain Scaramanga in the 1974 big screen adaptation of 'The Man with the Golden Gun' alongside Roger Moore. At nine, Lee moved to Summer Fields School in Oxford - a feeder school for Eton, but the young Lee missed out in the scholarship exam for Eton by just one point and so went to Wellington College instead. Up until Wellington he had acted in school plays regularly but hardly did so during these school years, and he didn't fare too well in sports either just getting by in racquet sports, fencing, but cricket was better. Nor did he like the school parades and weapons training, and by the summer term of 1939 with a year of study left to go his father was declared bankrupt and so his time at Wellington was cut short by a year.

Forced to seek employment and with little opportunities during the summer of 1939 he decided to go to the French Riviera, and passing through Paris en route, witnessed the last public execution by guillotine  on June 17th 1939. After a brief time in the South of France and with Europe on the verge of war, Lee returned to London where he secured a job as an office clerk for the transatlantic shipping company - United States Lines.

As war broke out he volunteered to join the Finnish Forces in the 1939 Winter War. After this and opon returning to London he joined the Home Guard and then the Royal Air Force where he was subsequently posted to South Africa and then Southern Rhodesia and then onto its capital city, then, Salisbury. Unable to fly because of headaches and blurred vision he joined the RAF Intelligence. This took him to Durban, onto Suez where he was actively involved in the North African Campaign before moving on to Malta and after its capture by the Eighth Army to Sicily. By the winter of 1943 he had moved into Italy, and joining up with Gurkhas saw active duty in the Battle of Monte Cassino - the gateway to Rome. Having been promoted to Flight Lieutenant and being able to speak fluent French and German he was seconded to the Central Registry of War Criminals and Security Suspects being tasked with helping to track down Nazi war criminals. He retired from military service in 1946 having also served time with the Special Operations Executive and the Long Range Desert Patrol, the precursor of the SAS but always kept those detailed a secret, as he was sworn to do.

Through some family connections it was suggested that he should consider acting as a career following the war and his military service. He was fortunate enough to be signed up initially by Rank Film Studio's on a seven picture deal making his big screen debut in 1947 in the Gothic Romance 'Corridor of Mirrors'. The 40's closed out with smaller roles and at times uncredited roles in a number of films, including 'Hamlet' with Laurence Olivier and 'Scott of the Antarctic'.

Throughout the 50's Lee starred in 42 films and 16 television series, some for extended episodes, and it was during this decade that saw his first outing with Hammer Studio's in the 1957 'The Curse of Frankenstein' in which he played Frankenstein's monster, with Peter Cushing as Baron Victor Frankenstein. Lee would go on to star with Peter Cushing in 24 films, and whilst they ofter were rivals and enemies in their film roles they became the closest of friends in life. Lee made the role of Count Dracula his own, starring as the Count in ten films throughout his career mostly for Hammer - 'Dracula : Prince of Darkness', 'Dracula has risen from the Grave', 'Taste the Blood of Dracula', 'Scars of Dracula', 'Dracula A.D. 1972' and 'The Satanic Rites of Dracula' in 1973 which was to be his last appearance. Lee worked with Hammer on other projects too that included 'The Mummy', ' The Hound of the Baskervilles', 'Rasputin, the Mad Monk', 'The Devil Rides Out' and 'To the Devil a Daughter'. Whilst many of the roles were questionable, there is no doubt that Hammer and Lee were in each others debt for the fame and fortune that each bought to the partnership.

The 60's closed out with 43 films and three television series including 'The Avengers' and 'The Alfred Hitchcock Hour'. The 70's brought horror fare still but a change in direction also with the likes of 'The Three Musketeers', 'The Four Musketeers', 'The Man with the Golden Gun', 'Airport '77' and '1941' whilst still giving us a fright in 'I, Monster' 'The Creeping Flesh', 'The Wicker Man', 'Horror Express', 'Castle of the Living Dead'. During this decade Lee made the decision to move to the US to shake off his Dracula mantle. With 27 films appearance s during the decade and appearances in several TV series including 'Charlie's Angels', 'The Far Pavilions', and 'Around the World in 80 Days' it was largely a forgettable decade!

The 90's saw a greater concentration on television than filmic fare that included longer schedules on series including 'The Tomorrow People', 'Street Gear', 'Ivanhoe', 'The New Adventures of Robin Hood', and 'Gormenghast', with movie offerings including 'Gremlins 2 : The New Batch' and 'Sleepy Hollow' his first collaboration with Tim Burton.

As 2000 clicked over so Lee seemed to take on a new lease of movie life, with roles in major franchises films - 'The Lord of the Rings' Trilogy playing Saruman in 'The Fellowship of the Ring', 'The Two Towers' and the extended version of 'Return of the King'. He would reprise the role in Peter Jackson's 'Hobbit' films follow-up 'An Unexpected Journey' and 'The Battle of the Five Armies'. The other significant role was in the Star Wars reboot playing Count Dooku in 'Episode II : Attack of the Clones' and 'Episode III : Revenge of the Sith'. During the decade too in between 'Rings' and 'Star Wars' there was further work with Tim Burton on 'The Corpse Bride' and 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' as well as 'The Golden Compass', 'Triage' and 'Glorious 39'.

The last five years saw no let up in Lee's output with roles in Martin Scorsese's 'Hugo', 'The Resident' - the first Hammer film in 35 years, 'Dark Shadows' and 'Alice in Wonderland' with Tim Burton once more and 'Burke and Hare' amongst others, with 'Angels in Notting Hill' completed last year and awaiting a release.

A staggering 278 film and television acting credits throughout eight decades of film making with 22 award wins and eight other nominations including the BAFTA Academy Fellowship win in 2011, and the British Film Institute Fellowship Award win in 2013. Additionally, over the years Lee has lent his voice talents to many video game characters that he has played on screen, to animated characters and in narrating television specials and documentaries. Also an accomplished musician with singer/songwriter credits on a number of films and album recordings including a very active interest in heavy metal music resulting in numerous accolades too.

In 1997 he was appointed a Commander of the Venerable Order of Saint John; in 2001 Commander of the Order of the British Empire 'for services to Drama' by HRH The Queen; in 2009 was made a Knight Bachelor 'for services to Drama and to Charity' by Prince Charles; and in 2011 was awarded the Bram Stoker Gold Medal (on the 164th anniversary of his birth) by the Trinity College Philosophical Society, of which Stoker was President.

Lee leaves a legacy of film making that is unsurpassed from the golden age of cinema with extraordinary output across many genres, but it will be for his indelible mark left on the horror genre that he will be most fondly remembered, and frequently referenced.

Christopher Lee - R.I.P.
1922 - 2015.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-