What's new at Odeon's this week : Thursday 12th September 2024

The sixth Cheltenham International Film Festival takes place in the English town of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire from Friday 13th through until Sunday 22nd September. The Cheltenham International Film Festival is a non-profit charity committed to celebrating the culture of cinema and the art of filmmaking. Bringing the finest independent films from across the globe to the community, by hosting live events with both emerging and acclaimed filmmakers, and actively engaging with young people from diverse backgrounds. Now in its sixth year, the festival has showcased hundreds of films—ranging from features and documentaries to shorts—while organising masterclasses, workshops, and discussions that have involved and inspired audiences in Cheltenham, so reads the official website.

This years Opening Night Film presentation is the British historical Sci-Fi romantic comedy film 'Timestalker' Written, Directed and starring Alice Lowe, and centres around Agnes (Lowe) as she falls in love with the wrong man and then gets reincarnated and falls in love with him over and over again, travelling through 1680's western Scotland, rural England in the 1790's, and 1980's Manhattan, and then an apocalyptic 22nd century. 

Cheltenham International Film Festival Best Film is open to emerging filmmakers with their first or second feature film on their C.V. The Best Film is selected by a jury made up of film professionals, media and local celebrities. This year the five films shortlisted for Best Film are as follows :-

* 'My Wonderful Stranger' - from Norway, France and Sweden this drama thriller is Directed by Johanna Pyykko. Ebba, a lonely 18-year-old who is looking after a luxurious house for a couple while they are on holiday, encounters a handsome man with a head wound at Oslo harbour. Upon learning that he is suffering from amnesia, she convinces him that they are lovers and brings him into her fantasy laden life. As he begins to regain his memory and dark facts about his past life emerge, the tables begin to turn. UK Premiere screening.

* 'Yurt' - from Turkey this drama film is Directed by Nehir Tuna in her feature film making debut. Set in the 1990's, we follow Ahmet, a 14-year-old from a privileged background, who is placed in a strict Islamic dormitory, a 'Yurt', to learn Muslim values. Ahmet’s sophisticated manners and attire alienate him from his peers, leading to tensions. However, his encounter with Hakan, a savvy street kid, becomes transformative. Together, they navigate the harsh environment of the dormitory, challenging its rigid masculinity and find joy and friendship outside its walls. UK Premiere.

* 'The Dreamer' - from France and Directed by Anais Tellenne in her first feature film outing. An eccentric artist finds beauty within the beast when her imposing, one-eyed caretaker becomes her muse – but their infatuation with each other manifests in very different ways.

* 'We Have Never Been Modern' - from Czechia and Slovakia this crime drama film is Directed by Matej Chlupacek. In 1930’s Czechoslovakia, the corpse of a newborn intersex child is found sitting in rubble at a newly built chemical plant. The factory director’s wife Helena sets out to solve the mystery, but as her investigation runs in parallel with her own pregnancy, her inquisitiveness places her in great danger as she links the body to a political cover up with implications for the whole community.

* 'Girls Will Be Girls' - from India and France this drama romance is Directed by Shuchi Talati in her filmmaking debut. Set in an Indian boarding school, this film explores the complex dynamic that evolves when A list head prefect Mira brings home her dashing study pal Sri. Her youthful mother Anila knows full well what is really going on, but tolerates their burgeoning relationship under her careful watch. Anila’s relationship with Sri soon turns flirtatious as she attempts to reignite a lost youth. A patriarchal society looks on with disapproval. 

For the full line up of all the films being showcased at this years Cheltenham International Film Festival, plus a whole bunch of other good stuff, you can visit the official website at : https://cheltfilm.com/

And so turning the attention back on this weeks seven new movies coming to a big screen Odeon near you, we kick off with a psychological thriller about how a dream holiday turns into a living nightmare when an American couple and their daughter spend the weekend at a British family's idyllic country estate. Then we turn to a Sci-Fi thriller in which a struggling father who purchases a domestic SIM to help care for his house and family, unaware she will gain awareness and turn deadly. Next up we have fantasy comedy film in which a curious four-year-old boy who, with his magic purple crayon, has the power to create a world of his own simply by drawing it. This is followed by a New Zealand offering following a woman who learns that life is not what it seems and a man who has closed himself off from the world; before an Aussie sports drama film set in the 1970's in Western Australia in the sweat-drenched world of tent boxing and centres around one boxers struggle to break free from the cycle of loss and regret. Up next is a French historical biographical drama film depicting the love story and romance between the painter Pierre Bonnard and his wife, model, and muse Marthe; before closing out the week with an American doco charting the seventeen day road trip across the US made by Will Ferrell and his long term good friend Harper Steele.

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

'SPEAK NO EVIL' (Rated MA15+) - this American psychological thriller film is Written for the screen and Directed by James Watkins whose previous film making efforts take in his debut in 2008 with 'Eden Lake', and which he would follow up with 'The Woman in Black' in 2012 and 'Bastille Day' in 2016. This film is a remake of the Danish film from 2022 Co-Written and Directed by Christian Tafdrup.

A dream holiday turns into a living nightmare when American couple Ben and Louise Dalton (Scoot McNairy and Mackenzie Davis respectively) and their daughter Agnes (Alix West Lefler) are invited to spend the weekend at the idyllic countryside cottage of British family Paddy (James McAvoy) and his wife Clara (Aisling Franciosi). The film is released in the US this week too.

'SUBSERVIENCE' (Rated MA15+) - is a Sci-Fi thriller offering from Director S. K. Dale in only his second feature film following 'Till Death' in 2021. When his wife Maggie (Madeline Zima) becomes sick, a struggling father Nick (Michele Morrone) buys a lifelike AI gynoid (a feminine humanoid robot) named Alice (Megan Fox) to help with the housework. Things seem fine until Alice suddenly becomes self-aware and wants everything its new family has to offer, including the affection of its owner. The film is released Stateside this week too. 

'HAROLD AND THE PURPLE CRAYON' (Rated PG) - this American fantasy comedy film is Directed by Carlos Saldanha in his live action feature film debut, and is based on the 1955 children's book by Crockett Johnson. It serves as a sequel to the original book, in which the adventurous Harold can make anything come to life simply by drawing it. When Harold (Zachary Levi) grows up with his magical purple crayon and draws himself off the book's pages and into the physical world, he soon learns his trusty crayon can set off more hilarious hijinks than he thought possible. However, when the power of unlimited imagination falls into the wrong hands, it will take all of his creativity to save both the real world and his own. Also starring Lil Rel Howery, Zooey Deschanel, Jemaine Clement and Alfred Molina, it was released in the US in early August, has so far grossed US$27M off the back of a US$40M production back and has generated largely unfavourable critical reviews.

'STRANDED PEARL' (Rated CTC) - this New Zealand action adventure romance film is Directed by Ken Khan and Prashanth Gunasekaran in both their only second feature film making effort following Khan's 2008 debut with 'Love Has No Language' and Gunasekaran's 2013 'Destina'. Here, after a storm leaves Julia (Kristy Wright) stranded on an island paradise, she must learn to cooperate with the only other person there, a quiet man called Sid (Aunanda Naaido). Unbeknown to Julia, Sid is on the run from the New Zealand Police, and has closed himself off from the world.

'KID SNOW' (Rated MA15+) - is an Australian sports drama film Directed by Paul Goldman who made his feature film Directing debut in 2002 with 'Australian Rules' and which he would follow up with the likes of 'All the Way' in 2003, and much more recently 'Ego : The Michael Gudinski Story' in 2023. Here, Kid Snow (Billy Howle) the down-and-out slugger with one last shot at the title on the tent boxing circuit after squandering his chance at glory in the Western Australia of the 1970's. Sunny (Phoebe Tonkin) is a single mother who walks into Kid’s life just as he’s offered a lucrative rematch with the champ who floored him ten years previously. The film saw its World Premiere at the Sydney Film Festival in early June this year. 

'BONNARD, PIERRE AND MARTHE' (Rated MA15+) - this French historical drama film is Written and Directed by Martin Provost whose previous feature film output includes 'Seraphine' in 2008, 'The Long Falling' in 2011, 'Violette' in 2013, 'The Midwife' in 2017 and 'How to Be a Good Wife' in 2020. Here, French painter, illustrator and printmaker Pierre Bonnard (Vincent Macaigne) wouldn't be the painter everyone knows if it weren't for his enigmatic wife, model and muse Marthe (Cecile de France). Indeed, the man nicknamed the 'Painter of Happiness' in his homeland portrayed his wife, a self-proclaimed aristocrat, in more than a third of his paintings. Devoted to Impressionism and abstraction, Bonnard founded the Nabis group with other artists in 1888. The film is set over four time periods - 'the early days' from when they first met in 1893, then 1914, 1918 and 1942. Pierre died in 1947 at the age of 79 and Marthe died in 1942 at the age of 72. The film saw its World Premiere screening at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival and was released in its native France in early January this year having so far grossed US$2.5M from a production budget of US$8.8M. 

'WILL & HARPER' (Rated M) - is an American documentary film Co-Written and Directed by Josh Greenbaum whose prior film credits include 'The Short Game' in 2013, 'Becoming Bond' in 2017, 'Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar' in 2021 and 'Strays' in 2023. When comedian, Producer and Actor Will Ferrell finds out his close friend of 30 years, writer Harper Steele, is coming out as a trans woman, the two decide to embark on a seventeen day cross-country road trip across the USA to process this new stage of their relationship in an intimate portrait of friendship and transition. The film saw its World Premiere showcasing at the Sundance Film Festival back in late January this year, with distribution rights subsequently acquired by Netflix. It has garnered generally positive critical 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 coming week.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

THE CROW : Tuesday 3rd September 2024.

I saw the MA15+ rated 'THE CROW' at my local multiplex earlier this week, and this American gothic superhero film is Directed by Rupert Sanders who made his Directorial debut with 'Snow White and the Huntsman' in 2012 and followed this up with 'Ghost in the Shell' in 2017. This film is a reboot of 'The Crow' film series, it is the fifth film in the franchise, and is the second film, after the 1994 original film Directed by Alex Proyas, to adapt the 1989 comic book series by James O'Barr. This film adaptation saw its World Premiere in New York City on 20th August, was released in the US on 23rd August, here in Australia on 29th August, and has generated negative reviews from critics and has bombed at the Box Office, grossing so far just US$18M globally from a production budget of US$50M.

The film opens with Shelly (FKA Twigs) receiving a video-text from her friend Zadie (Isabella Wei) that incriminates Vincent Roeg (Danny Huston), a crime lord posing as a musical aristocrat. Choosing to save the video, despite knowing that possessing it would mean her death, Shelly attempts to go into hiding but is pursued soon afterwards by Roeg's henchmen. They call off their pursuit when Shelly is arrested for drug possession. Meanwhile Eric (Bill Skarsgard), an addict with a far from ideal childhood, struggles to maintain a grip on his life, suffers nightmares at a rehab centre, and is relentlessly picked on by other patients and staff alike. Zadie is captured and interrogated by Roeg. He reveals that, centuries ago, he had made a pact with the Devil to send innocent souls to Hell in exchange for eternal life. He forces Zadie to kill herself by whispering incantations in her ear. 

Shelly, a musician suffering similar issues to Eric is sent to the same rehab centre where Eric is housed. The two quickly form a firm bond. When Marian (Laura Birn), Roeg's right-hand woman, suddenly appears at the institution, Shelly panics and convinces Eric to help her escape. Breaking through a laundry window and over razor wire, they take refuge in the vacant home of one of Shelly's friends who is away indefinitely in Antigua, and the two soon fall in love and attempt to live a carefree life together, but are soon found by Roeg's men and suffocated to death. 

Eric wakes in a purgatory-like disused rail yard where Kronos (Sami Bouajila), a spirit guide, explains that Eric will have to kill Roeg and all of his associates in order to be reunited with Shelly. Revived and possessing the ability to rapidly self-heal from injuries, Eric visits Sophia (Josette Simon), Shelly's mother, who accompanied Marian to the rehab centre. Sophia reveals that she made a deal with Roeg - wealth in exchange for Shelly's soul. After Eric leaves, Roeg visits Sophia to ask about Eric and then forces her to jump off the roof to her death when dissatisfied with her answers. Eric proceeds to hunt down and kill several of Roeg's men, and afterwards finds Shelly's phone with the incriminating video revealing that Roeg had previously forced Shelly to kill a woman, having whispered incantations into her ear. 

Suddenly doubting his love for Shelly, Eric loses his ability to heal and is again killed. Returned to the afterlife, Eric makes a deal with Kronos to take Shelly's place in Hell in exchange for another chance to kill Roeg. Kronos grants Eric his wish saying that he will forever be banished to the depths of Hell, that his blood will run black, but that his superhuman strength and his ability to self-heal will be returned. 

Roeg learns of Eric's supernatural abilities and orders Marian to lure him to them in order to seize Eric's powers. Eric tracks Marian to an opera house, brutally killing all of Roeg's henchmen with a Samurai sword to reach her, but not before being riddled with more bullets than you could possibly count, which of course he is immune to. Marian reluctantly states Roeg's location at his country estate before Eric decapitates her. 

Eric drives to Roeg's estate where a fight breaks out between them both with Roeg managing to subdue Eric and attempts to steal his powers before Eric is able to transport them both to the afterlife, where he quickly finishes Roeg who is then pulled down into the abyss of Hell, and saves Shelly's soul. After Shelly rises to the surface the lovers share a brief reunion, before Shelly is revived on the night of their deaths and mourns for Eric after Kronos, disguised as a medic, tells her that he gave his life for her. Eric willingly accepts his fate, content in his belief that their souls will one day be reunited.

Much has been written about this turkey of a movie that really we didn't need when we have the cult classic 1994 version featuring Brandon Lee who so tragically died during the films production. Here Director Rupert Sanders has opted for style over substance with this gothic revenge thriller and a slow paced hardly convincing love story that is heavy on the imagery and the visceral action sequences particularly in the third act, but light on in terms of plot points. Bill Skarsgard gives his all as the tortured lost soul hell bent on avenging the death of his beloved girlfriend and who is pumped so full of lead its a wonder he could walk and dispense with all those nasty followers of Roeg in such a violent bloodfest, but all the other characters are largely one dimensional. For those of us familiar with the original film, don't bother having your judgement clouded by this unnecessary reboot, and for those of us who aren't don't waste your money on the price of a cinema ticket when you can stream it in a couple of months for a lot less. 

'The Crow' warrants two claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a possible five claps.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 5th September 2024

The 49th annual Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) this year is held from Thursday 5th September through until Sunday 15th September. TIFF is dedicated to presenting the best of international and Canadian cinema and creating transformational experiences for film lovers and creators of all ages and backgrounds. As Canada's premiere home of cinema, TIFF offers screenings, lectures, discussions, festivals, workshops, events, professional development and opportunities to meet, hear and learn from filmmakers from Canada and around the world. TIFF is a not-for-profit cultural organisation with a mission to transform the way people see the world through film, so reads the official website. 

This years Opening Film is the comedy drama 'Nutcrackers' Directed by David Gordon Green and starring Ben Stiller, with the Closing Film being the Australian musical film 'The Deb' that is Co-Written, Co-Produced, Co-Starring and Directed by Rebel Wilson and also stars Shane Jacobson.

In the TIFF Tribute Awards this year the recipients include the Canadian Director, Producer, Screenwriter and Actor David Cronenberg as recipient of the Norman Jewison Award, and the American Actress Amy Adams as a recipient of the Performer Award. The Australian Actress and Producer Cate Blanchett has been announced as the recipient of the Share Her Journey Groundbreaker Award for women who have made a positive difference in the film industry, with the American Actress and Director Angelina Jolie having been announced as the recipient of the Jeff Skoll Award in Impact Media.

This year there are ten feature films competing for the Platform Award which spotlights films with high artistic merit and strong Directorial vision. All films in the Platform programme are eligible for this award, which will be selected by an international jury, comprising Atom Egoyan, Jane Schoenbrun and Hur Jin-ho. The winning filmmaker will receive a CAD$20K cash prize.

Those films are :-

* 'Daniela Forever' - from Spain and Belgium, this Sci-Fi romantic drama film is Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Nacho Vigalondo and stars Henry Golding.

* 'Daughter's Daughter' - from Taiwan and Directed by Huang Xi.

* 'Mr. K' - from Netherlands, Belgium and Norway, this surreal drama film is Written and Directed by Tallulah H. Schwab and stars Crispin Glover.

* 'Paying for It' - from Canada, this drama film is Co-Written and Directed by Sook-Yin Lee.

* 'Pedro Paramo' - from Mexico, this magic realism drama film is Directed by Rodrigo Prieto and stars Manuel Garcia-Rulfo.

* 'They Will Be Dust' - from Spain, Italy and Switzerland this musical tragicomedy is Co-Written for the screen and Directed by Carlos Marques-Marcet.

* 'Triumph' - from Bulgaria and Greece, this black comedy film is Co-Written, Co-Prodcued and Directed by Petar Valchanov and Kristina Grozeva and stars Maria Bakalova.

* 'Viktor' - from Ukraine and the USA and Directed by Olivier Sarbil.

* 'Winter in Sokcho' - from France and Directed by Koya Kamura.

* 'The Wolves Always Come at Night' - from Australia, Mongolia and Germany and Directed by Gabrielle Brady.

For the full line up of the other films strands being showcased at this years TIFF, plus the full descriptors of all films and a whole heap of other good stuff, you can go to the official website at : https://www.tiff.net         

Turning the attention back to this weeks all important five new movies coming to an Odeon near you, we kick off with a sequel that has been 36 years in the making that following a family tragedy, three generations of this family return home to Winter River, and still haunted by this ghost, the mother's life is turned upside down when her teenage daughter accidentally opens the portal to the Afterlife. Next up we have a comedy drama offering centering on a 93 year old grandmother who gets duped by a phone scammer pretending to be her grandson, and so she sets out on a treacherous quest across the city to reclaim what was taken from her. This is followed by an Aussie doco about arguably the greatest horse in Australian racing history – in all her equine glory! Then we turn to a French drama thriller in which a brilliant lawyer who lives with her husband and their daughters, gradually engages in a passionate relationship with her husbands son from a previous marriage, putting her career and family life in danger. And closing out the week we have an Indian biographical political drama about the incidents that take place under the leadership of Mrs. Indira Gandhi, one of the most powerful women in Indian history.

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

'BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE' (Rated M) - this American fantasy comedy horror film is Co-Produced and Directed by Tim Burton and is the sequel to Burton's 1988 film 'Beetlejuice' which grossed US$75M off the back of a US$15M production budget and garnered seven award wins (including the Academy Award for Best Make-Up) plus another eleven nominations from around the awards and festivals circuit. In the intervening years the film's success gave rise to an animated TV series, video games and a 2018 stage musical. 

Set thirty-six years after the events of the first film, the Deetz family return home to Winter River after Charles Deetz's unexpected death. Lydia Deetz (Winona Ryder reprising her role) life is turned upside down when her rebellious teenage daughter, Astrid (Jenna Ortega), discovers the mysterious model of the town in the attic and the portal to the Afterlife is accidentally opened, releasing Betelgeuse (Michael Keaton reprising his role). Also starring Catherine O'Hara (reprising her role as Delia Deetz), Justin Theroux, Monica Belluci, Willem Dafoe and Burn Gorman. The film saw its World Premiere showcasing as the Opening Night film presentation at last weeks Venice International Film Festival before its worldwide release from this week.

'THELMA' (Rated M) - is an American comedy-drama film Written, Directed and Edited by Josh Margolin in his feature filmmaking debut. The film Premiered at this years Sundance Film Festival in mid-January, and was released in the US in late June, having so far grossed US$10M having received generally favourable reviews. Here Thelma Post (June Squibb) is a 93-year-old grandmother who loses US$10K to a con artist over the phone. With help from a friend Ben (Richard Roundtree in his final film following his death in 2023) and his motorised scooter, she soon embarks on a treacherous journey across Los Angeles to reclaim what was taken from her. Also starring Fred Hechinger, Parker Posey, Clark Gregg and Malcolm McDowell. 

'A HORSE NAMED WINX' (Rated E) - this Australian sports documentary film is Directed by Janine Hosking whose prior documentary features take in the likes of her 2000 debut with 'My Khmer Heart' followed by 'Ballroom Babies' in 2005, 'Ganja Queen' in 2007, 'I'm Not Dead Yet' in 2011, 'The Eulogy' in 2018, and 'Knowing the Score' in 2023. This film then tells the story of Winx, a remarkable Australian racehorse, that etched her name in history with an extraordinary 33-race winning streak, cementing her status as a modern-day legend akin to the iconic Phar Lap. At the height of her fame, Winx became known as the 'people's horse'—an Australian icon who transcended her sport, joining the realms of fellow legends like Cathy Freeman and Sir Donald Bradman.

'LAST SUMMER' (Rated MA15+) - is a French erotic drama film Co-Written for the screen and Directed by Catherine Breillat and is a remake of the 2019 Danish film 'Queen of Hearts'. Anne (Lea Drucker) is a respected lawyer living in Paris with her husband Pierre (Olivier Rabourdin) and their two young daughters. Theo (Samuel Kircher), Pierre's 17-year-old son from a previous marriage, moves in, and Anne eventually begins an affair with him. In doing so, she risks jeopardising her career and losing her family. Theo is a fragile figure, and as time passes, the relationship turns destructive. The film was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, where it premiered in late May 2023, was released in its native France in mid-September last year, has so far grossed just over US$1M and has generated largely favourable reviews.

'EMERGENCY' (Rated CTC) - this Indian Hindi-language biographical political drama film is Directed and Co-Produced by Kangana Ranaut, based on a story written by Ranaut and also starring Ranaut in the lead role as Former Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi. The film centres around The Indian Emergency, which based on true events, was a 21-month period from 1975 to 1977 when Prime Minister Indira Gandhi imposed a state of emergency across India by citing internal and external threats to the country. The order bestowed upon the Prime Minister the authority to rule by decree, allowing elections to be cancelled and civil liberties to be suspended. For much of the Emergency, most of Gandhi's political opponents were imprisoned and the press were censored. More than 100,000 political opponents, journalists and dissenters were imprisoned by the Gandhi regime. 

With five 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-

BLINK TWICE : Tuesday 27th August 2024

I saw the MA15+ Rated 'BLINK TWICE' earlier this week, and this American psychological thriller film is Co-Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Zoe Kravitz in her Directorial debut. The film was released last week too in the US, has so far grossed US$17M from a production budget of US$20M and has generated largely positive critical reviews. 

Here animal-themed nail artist and casual cocktail waitress Frida (Naomi Ackie) works an exclusive fund raising gala event with her best friend Jess (Alia Shawcat). Frida encounters billionaire tech mogul, Slater King (Channing Tatum), who is hosting the event and who recently stepped down as CEO amid a very public apology for his past behaviour toward his employees. After their shift has finished, the pair put on their glad rags and crash the after party, where ultimately Slater invites her and Jess to join him on his private island. And so Slater and his entourage fly off to the island on his private jet.

There, Slater's assistant Stacy (Geena Davis) confiscates their phones. In attendance are Slater's friends and business associates, photographer Vic (Christian Slater), private chef Cody (Simon Rex), DJ Tom (Haley Joel-Osment), and graduate Lucas (Levon Hawke), as well as three female guests - Sarah (Adria Arjona), Camilla (Liz Caribel), and Heather (Trew Mullen). The women are treated with lavish rooms, gift bags of perfume, and a high end holiday experience, enhanced by gourmet meals, cocktails and fine wines prepared by Cody, and potent hallucinogenic drugs supplied by Vic.

Frida clashes with Sarah for Slater's attention while Jess observes lapses in her memory. Frida notices that the local workers all sport the same snake tattoo on their arm, and she has strange encounters with an older maid who doesn't speak English, yet appears to recognise her and calls her 'Red Rabbit'. Later, Rich (Kyle MacLachlan), Slater's therapist, visits and receives a gift in a red bag. During a night of partying and drugs, Jess is bitten by a non-venomous snake and later confesses to Frida she wants to leave. 

At breakfast, Frida notices that Lucas smells like the perfume the women are given. While the men are away on a fishing trip, Frida discovers a room with dozens of identical red gift bags all lined up neatly around the room on rows of shelves. She is then tricked into drinking the snake's venom from a bottle by the maid and shortly thereafter begins to remember strange events. She realises that Jess is missing, although the rest of the women do not. Alarmed, Frida investigates and learns a flower indigenous to the island capable of wiping memories has been inside the food and perfume gifted to them. Frida convinces Sarah of what is happening and gets her to drink the venom too, an antidote to the flower's effects.

The men return from their fishing trip later that afternoon, as Frida and Sarah grow increasingly agitated and concerned for their ongoing safety. The pair trick the other women, including Stacy, into drinking tequila shots laced with the venom to restore their memories. Frida sneaks into Slater's office to retrieve their phones, only to find they are out of power and out of service range. Her full memories return, revealing the men have been sexually assaulting the women and then wiping their memories using the flower. When Jess's memories could not be wiped due to the venom in her system from the earlier snake bite, they killed her. She also discovers polaroids featuring different women and men with red gift bags, revealing that Slater is inviting guests to rape people regularly and gifting them perfume to use when they are away from the island.

Frida and Sarah try to buy themselves time with varying degrees of success as Camilla and Heather's memories return, leading Camilla to stab Tom to death while Heather badly injures Vic by repeatedly slamming a marble chess board into his head, before being shot dead by Stan (Cris Costa), Slater's former US Marine security guard. Slater kills Camilla and the men take refuge in Slater's villa where Slater chastises Lucas for opting to be inactively complicit in the abuse by doing nothing to help the women. Stacy attacks Frida, preferring to be ignorant of the men’s behaviour before Frida stabs her to death. Frida runs into the woods behind the villa and is chased by Stan who catches up with her and holds her at gunpoint, but is then bludgeoned to death from behind by Sarah with a rock, who takes his gun. Cody makes his way to the woods but is shot dead by Sarah. In the villa, Lucas tries to run away but due to a trap set for Slater by Frida and Sarah, is mistakenly shot in the head. Following this, Slater traps Frida in the villa and binds her hands and gags her mouth. 

It is revealed that Frida was invited to the island the year before and experienced the same events, biting off Vic's little finger and scarring her temple when she fell against a rock before her memories were wiped. The maid had recognised Frida from her fingernails painted with red rabbits. Slater laughs off his recent apology in the media and exclaims that forgetting is better than forgiveness, before leaving to retrieve Sarah. While Slater is gone, Frida cuts through her hand bindings with a shard of broken glass, and laces his vape with the memory-erasing perfume. When Slater returns with Sarah he holds a kitchen knife to her throat, but the effects make him forget the previous events, back away from Sarah and cause him to panic upon seeing the dead and mutilated bodies strewn across the floor. Slater slips and knocks himself unconscious as the villa catches fire. The two women escape, leaving Vic to die but Frida saves Slater. 

Sometime later at a similar gala dinner as to the one that opened the film, Rich, who also assaulted Frida on the island, encounters Slater who is noticeably incoherent. It is revealed that Frida has married Slater and assumed his position as CEO, all the while drugging his vape with the flower to keep him compliant. As the event's guests congratulate Frida, Rich is apprehended by law enforcement officers.

For Zoe Kravitz Directorial debut, she has hit on a winner here proving her filmmaking talents both in front and behind the camera, leaving this Reviewer keen to see what she turns her mind to next. Here she ably ramps up the tension, leverages the suspense, throws in the occasional laugh before serving up a blood soaked ending with nods to 'The Menu' and 'Get Out' especially. Channing Tatum is right on form here as the disgraced CEO tech tycoon, and Naomi Ackie and Adria Arjona add weight and credibility through their performances too. A well crafted film, with on point sound design, a cracking soundtrack and a stacked cast of A-list talent, this film is worth searching out for the underlying messages it seeks to impart, the visual spectacle and its power to keep you talking after the credits have rolled.

'Blink Twice' merits four claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a possible five claps.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 29th August 2024

The 81st annual Venice International Film Festival is held this year from Wednesday 28th August to Saturday 7th September at Venice Lido in Italy. It is the world's oldest film festival and one of the 'Big Five' International film festivals worldwide, which include the Big Three European Film Festivals, being Venice, Cannes and Berlin, alongside the Toronto International Film Festival in Canada and the Sundance Film Festival in the United States. These festivals are internationally renowned for giving creators the artistic freedom to express themselves through film. 

This years Opening Film presentation is Tim Burton's fantasy comedy horror 'Beetlejuice Beetlejuice' starring Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Catherine O'Hara, Willem Dafoe, Monica Belluci, Jenna Ortega and Justin Theroux. Pupi Avati's Italian gothic horror film 'The American Garden' being the Closing Night Film.

French Actress Isabelle Huppert will serve as Jury President for the main competition, supported on the jury by, amongst others, James Gray (American filmmaker), Andrew Haigh (British filmmaker), Kleber Mendonca Filho (Brazilian filmmaker and Producer) and Julia von Heinz (German filmmaker).

There are twenty-one films in the Official International Competition all competing for the prestigious Golden Lion Award for the best film screened. Other awards include Grand Jury Prize awarded to the second best film; the Silver Lion awarded to the Best Director; the Special Jury Prize awarded to the third best film; the Volpi Cup awarded to the Best Actor and Best Actress; the Golden Osella awarded for the Best Screenplay and/or for the Best Technical Contribution and the Marcello Mastroianni Award to acknowledge an emerging Actor or Actress. Additionally, Australian filmmaker Peter Weir and American Actress Sigourney Weaver will receive the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement during the festival.

Included in the twenty-one films in official competition, are the following :-

* 'Babygirl' - from the USA and Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Halina Reijn and starring Nicole Kidman, Harris Dickinson, Antonio Banderas, Sophie Wilde and Jean Reno, and is about a high-ranking CEO who embarks on a forbidden romance with a captivating intern, who is significantly younger.

* 'The Brutalist' - from the USA, the UK and Hungary and Co-Written and Directed by Brady Corbet and starring Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Joe Alwyn, Alessandro Nivola, Jonathan Hyde, and Guy Pearce, and is about a Hungarian-born Jewish architect who survived the Holocaust, who after the end of World War II, emigrated to the US where he initially endures poverty and indignity, but he soon lands a contract with a mysterious and wealthy client, that will change the course of his life.

* 'The Order' - from the USA and Directed by Justin Kurzel and starring Jude Law, Nicholas Hoult, Tye Sheridan, Jurnee Smollett, Odessa Young and Marc Maron. In 1983, an Idaho-based FBI agent spots a pattern in recent bank robberies, counterfeiting operations and armoured car heists terrorising communities across the Pacific Northwest. He sets out to prove it is not the work of a traditional organised crime unit, but a radical group with a charismatic leader.

* 'Queer' - from Italy and the USA and Co-Produced and Directed by Luca Guadagnino and starring Daniel Craig, Drew Starkey, Jason Schwartzman and Lesley Manville. Set in 1940's Mexico City, it follows a man who, after fleeing from a drug bust in New Orleans, wanders around the city's clubs and becomes infatuated with a drug user - a discharged American Navy serviceman.

* 'Harvest' - from the UK, Germany and the USA and Co-Written for the screen, Co-Produced and Directed by Athina Rachel Tsangari and stars Caleb Landry Jones and Harry Melling and is set in England during the Middle Ages in a time of economic turmoil where local villagers scapegoat three strangers.

* 'The Room Next Door' - from Spain and Written and Directed by Pedro Almodovar and starring Tilda Swinton, Julianne Moore, John Turturro and Alessandro Nivola and is about the rift between a very imperfect mother and war correspondent and her resentful daughter, as well as with the former's relationship with a female author.

* 'Joker : Folie a Deux' - from the USA and Co-Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Todd Phillips and starring Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener,  Zazie Beetz and Steve Coogan. Two years after the events of 2019's 'Joker', Arthur Fleck, now a patient at Arkham State Hospital, falls in love with a music therapist. As the duo experiences musical madness through their shared delusions, Arthur's followers start a movement to liberate him.

* 'Maria' - from the USA, Italy and German and Directed by Pablo Larrain and stars Angelina Jolie as famed opera singer Maria Callas and is set during her final years in the 1970's when she was living in Paris.

For the other titles in the Main International Competition, plus the full line-up of all the other films being showcased both in and out of competition, you can visit the official website at : https://www.labiennale.org/en/cinema/2024

Looking at this weeks five new movies coming to a big screen Odeon close to you, we kick off with a Sci-Fi horror offering centering around a young family who are selected to test a new home device - a digital assistant, which as it learns the family's behaviours and begins to anticipate their needs, makes sure nothing, and no one, gets in her family's way. Then we turn to a horror drama film about two troubled high school students whose connection to their favourite television show drives them to question their reality and identities. Next up we have an Irish comedy drama film depicting the rise of a Belfast-based hip-hop trio; before a New Zealand adventure comedy drama about a newly introduced father and daughter who head out into the wilderness on a camping trip for the ultimate test of family bonding, watched from afar by a deadly black beast that could be the answer to all their woes. And closing out the week we have a British biographical drama film of when Brian Epstein set foot in the Cavern Club in November 1961 to watch The Beatles perform, he saw something no one else could, a glimmer of gold.

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

'AFRAID' (Rated M) - is an American Science-Fiction horror film that is Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Chris Weitz whose previous Directing credits take in his debut in 2001 with 'Down to Earth', then 'About a Boy' in 2002, 'The Golden Compass' in 2007, 'The Twilight Saga : New Moon' in 2009, 'A Better Life' in 2011 and 'Operation Finale' in 2018. This film is released Stateside this week too.

Curtis (John Cho) and his family are selected to test a revolutionary new device, a digital assistant called AIA, that takes smart homes to the next level. Once the unit and all its sensors and cameras are installed in the family home, AIA begins to learn everyone's behaviour and anticipate their needs, it soon becomes self-aware and makes sure nothing and no one gets in the family's way. Also starring Katherine Waterston, David Dastmalchian and Keith Carradine.

'I SAW THE TV GLOW' (Rated M) - this American horror drama film is Written and Directed by Jane 
Schoenbrun in what is described as the second entry to their Screen Trilogy, following the 2021 film 'We're All Going to the World's Fair'. Teenager Owen (Justice Smith) is just trying to make it through life in the suburbs when his classmate Maddy Wilson (Brigette Lundy-Paine) introduces him to a mysterious late-night TV show titled 'The Pink Opaque', which presents a vision of a supernatural world beneath their own. In the pale glow of the television, the friends view of their reality and identities begins to crack. The film has garnered universal critical acclaim and has so far grossed over US$5M.

'KNEECAP' (Rated MA15+) - is a comedy drama film that is written for the screen, based on a story conceived, and Directed by Rich Peppiatt in his feature film making debut although he has helmed two documentaries previously, the first 'One Rogue Reporter' in 2014 and 'Who Killed the KLF?' in 2018, plus a number of short films and TV series. When fate brings a Belfast teacher JJ O Dochartaigh (playing himself) into the orbit of self-confessed 'lowlife scum' Liam O Hannaidh (playing himself) and Naoise O Caireallain (playing himself), the needle drops on a hip-hop act like no other. Rapping in their native Irish language, under the bands name 'Kneecap' they soon lead a movement to save their mother tongue. The film saw its World Premiere screening at the Sundance Film Festival in mid-January this year, the first film in the Irish language to do so, where it won the NEXT Audience Award. The film was released in its native Ireland and in the US in early August, in the UK last week, has garnered generally positive critical reviews, and has so far grossed US$949K. It also stars Michael Fassbender.

'BOOKWORM' (Rated PG) - this New Zealand adventure comedy drama film is is based on a story, and Directed by Ant Timpson in his second feature film offering following 'Come to Daddy' in 2019. Here, Mildred's (Nell Fisher) life is turned upside down when her mother lands in hospital and her estranged Magician father, Strawn Wise (Elijah Wood), returns from the US to look after her. Strawn takes Mildred camping in the rugged New Zealand wilderness to seek out the mythical Canterbury panther, and the pair embark on the ultimate test of family bonding. The film was released in New Zealand earlier in August and has generated largely favourable reviews. Also starring Michael Smiley.

'MIDAS MAN' (Rated M) - is a British biographical film Directed by Joe Stephenson who made his feature film debut with 'Chicken' in 2015, the acclaimed 2018 documentary 'McKellen : Playing the Part' and 'Doctor Jekyll' in 2023. This film tracks how Brian Epstein (Jacob Fortune-Lloyd) rose to prominence by managing a series of popular recording artists including The Beatles, Cilla Black and Gerry and the Pacemakers before his sudden death in 1967 at the age of 32. Also starring Emily Watson and Eddie Marsan as Epstein's mother and father respectively, with Jay Leno and Eddie Izzard too.

With five 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-