NZ International Film festival preview - even more films to see

With the Whanau Marama New Zealand International Film Festival opening in Wellington on 31st July before shifting around the country, last minute choices are being made to spend time in the dark of the matinee.

Lucy Lawless' powerful documentary Never Look Away is one of those that should be on people's lists.

Her directorial debut turns the lens on someone who spent their life squarely behind the camera, choosing to tell other stories rather than her own. Margaret Moth may be a name unfamiliar to some - but with her jet-black spiky hair and her penchant for heading to warzones to film, the former CNN camerawoman will probably be on the tongues of many a festival-goer.

Heading to places like Iraq, Georgia, Palestine, and Rwanda, Moth's desire to capture the zeitgeist and the unfolding terrors falls second place to tales of the impact she had on the lives of those who knew her - both intimately and professionally. Lawless' tale is one steeped in tragedy, but not once does the story become mawkish. From frank footage from the zones to a few poignant on-camera moments from Moth herself later in life, the film allows others to tell her story without crucially robbing her of her voice.  

Christchurch-set festival opener Head South is a fairly conventional crowdpleaser story of Angus a kid discovering punk music in the Garden City's heady and hedonistic 70s and 80s. Brilliantly mining both the snobbery of music and the joy felt when stumbling across a new act, Ed Oxenbould is the right mix of naive and on the cusp needed for this comical floundering tale of a boy who talks himself into forming a band.

Solid support comes from Márton Csókás as his father and singer Benee as the shopgirl who can actually play music; but Head South is more about capturing what makes music and fandom tick as director Jonathan Oglivie crafts a good-natured tale as old as time.

True crime continues to be popular as a genre, and Aussie film The Speedway Murders mines a rich vein as first-time filmmakers Luke Rynderman and Adam Kamien examine the 1978 murder of four fast food workers in the US.

But rather than concentrate on gory details and OTT reconstructions, the pair recreate the scenes and the theories with their four principal cast, the workers themselves to tell the tale. Stylistically different from a genre that's saturated much of our cultural obsession, the unsolved case is presented in a way that's engaging and humanising, rather than gauche and garish. Sadly, you won't come away knowing whodunnit in a last-minute twist reveal, but the journey remains a poignant one to take and shows there's still life in true crime - if it's done with compassion and integrity.

Closing out this round of previews, two films that share a common thread - beauty.
More specifically, the horror of the pursuit of beauty.

New Zealand film Grafted dips its toes into the horror of acclimatising to a new life for Wei whose scientist father dies in the name of research.

With both father and daughter affected by a birth mark on their faces, he tries to find a skin grafting cure to help. Drawing a parallel between transplanting skin and being transplanted into a new life, director Sasha Rainbow ploughs a path toward social horror, with elements of Mean Girls early on before shifting viciously and quickly into full-on horror territory via Face/Off.

It's not entirely successful in parts, thanks to both budgetary restraints and a seeming reticence to embrace the horror edges early on.

But when it goes full tilt into its premise and doesn't hold back, Grafted tells an enjoyably relatable story with characters so rarely seen in the genre in a New Zealand-setting and with a New Zealand cast.
It's gloriously nuts in parts and is all the better for it.

Talking of gloriously nuts, closing night film The Substance is, in its final act, as deranged as they come - but on reflection, its final shot is something close to thematic perfection.

Demi Moore plays fading starlet Elizabeth Sparkles who is replaced by unctuous Hollywood exec Harvey (played with gleeful OTT by Dennis Quaid), who's after a younger model for better ratings.

Angry and bitter at being rejected by Hollywood standards she previously soared from, Elizabeth is offered the chance to become a younger model of herself - if she plays by the rules of a backstreet treatment. As Sue (Margaret Qualley) becomes the hottest thing, the lines are blurred and Elizabeth finds herself in a quandary.

From leering camera work to extreme close ups of body parts, via some Cronenberg-esque body horror, The Substance is a takedown of Hollywood's double standards over beauty.

Anchored by both a stoic and committed Moore and Qualley, Coralie Fargeat's film could stand to maybe lose 20 minutes (and its extended finale may test some and prompt walkouts) but those who remain with this visceral and potentially seminal festival experience will find the perfect allegory for the current times we live in.

For the full film festival programme, visit nziff.co.nz.

NZ International Film festival preview - the films to see

With the wet weather showing no signs of abating, it can mean only one thing - the return of Whanau Marama New Zealand International Film Festival.

The 2024 edition may be a little slimmer than the usual, but that doesn't mean there are no less treats involved in this year's event.

Here is a selection of films that need to be seen during the event:

Birdeater: The sense of unease is palpable in Australian directors Jack Clark and Jim Weir's debut. As Louie and his ex-pat fiancee Irene gear up for their wedding, Louie suggests she accompany him with her on the stag do. In theory, it's an idea anyone would baulk at - but Irene agrees, setting in motion a chain of events that are unsettling and upsetting in equal motion.

Best watched without being spoiled, Birdeater could stand to lose maybe 20 minutes of its two hour runtime, but in truth, this Aussie debut is one of the festival's best. Its ideas fester after the film has ended, and while it's pitched as a horror, this is no Australian outback terror - the horrors lie closer to home, thanks to some strong performances within the stags' group and also Clark and Weir's desire to yank the rug from under you without warning.

More of a palette cleanser compared to Birdeater, the Oscar-nominated crowdpleasing The Teachers' Lounge posits a simple theory. Chiefly, what if the beliefs you hold aren't quite strong enough in the face of the overwhelming snowball rolling down the hill toward you. 

Leonie Benesch is Carla an idealistic immigrant teacher who is shocked one day to find two of her students forced to name another student they believe is stealing from within the school. The reality is that everyone is at it - even with a teacher taking money from the coffee donation jar. 

However, when Carla pushes back against the rapidly escalating series of events, she finds her values caught in the crossfire. It's easy to see why director İlker Çatak's film is so engrossing - the morally grey areas of the story quickly blur into the finer edges, with the situation feeling like something many of us could be caught in. The introspective question of what you would do is lost within the reality of others' behaviour - it's a compelling and watchable drama from beginning to slightly mawkish end.

Equally compelling and definitely watchable, Irish movie Kneecap comes flying out of the gate with tremendous energy and thankfully for audiences, doesn't let up.

Director Rich Peppiatt’s second film cocks a snook at traditional Irish films set in the Troubles and laughs in the face of sectarian violence stereotypes with a Trainspotting-esque burst of music and frustration as it follows the rise of Irish language hiphop group Kneecap.

Members Naoise and Liam stumble across the support of a local teacher and end up being the flashpoint for a nation struggling to find its own voice and a youth looking for an outlet. 

This is utterly enjoyable stuff; ignore the comparisons to the Beastie Boys, and settle in for a cleverly constructed origin tale that puts its own heroes in the spotlight, and chooses to don an Irish balaclava rather than swathe them in a cloak. But look beyond the boisterous energy and you'll find an honest and heartfelt paean to the protection of indigenous language.

This year's family film is a sweetly silent animated movie that follows a young no-longer-kitten-not-quite-cat who's caught up in a post apocalyptic flood event. Worry not, this is not a feline Mad Max, but a sincere tale of cross-race cooperation for survival. Thrust onto a boat with a boisterous just-wants-to-be-loved Labrador, a capybara, a Lemur obsessed with shiny things and a tall bird, the group negotiates the waters and encounters.

Latvian director Gints Zilbalodis crafts a wonderfully emotive story that's fuelled solely by animal voices - sure, there are some emotional strings being pulled from time to time, but with a beautiful soundtrack that conveys menace and adoration, this is a journey to dive headfirst into - and a story that screams to be seen and heard on the biggest screen possible. Just a warning - there will be tears.

There are also tears in Didi - but those tears are of self-recognition and nostalgia in Sean Wang's vibrant but familiar coming-of-age story. Izaac Wang plays 13-year-old Chris Wang, who's on the cusp of many things facing teenagers - his first crush, negotiating friendships, dealing with family life.

It may be a bit of an Asian American experience in parts, but the social faux pas from Wang are universal, the awkwardness all-too-familiar and the missteps somewhat painful to watch. While the school and friends side forms most of the movie, the more interesting elements of this crowd-pleaser are to be found within the family dynamics. From a sister moving away to a mother stewing with uncertainty, there's fertile drama to be mined here. But no matter how sensitively constructed, Didi is a more enjoyable hangout experience than a fully-formed drama.

For more on the 2024 NZIFF head to nziff.co.nz.

Doctor Who - The Collection season 15: Blu Ray Review

Released by Madman Home Entertainment

Quite frankly, the Doctor Who The Collection sets are really the only way to watch what is now being deemed the show's classic era.

This latest pulls together a run of six stories from the 1970s Doctor played by Tom Baker and his companion Leela, played by Louise Jameson.

From a trapped-in-a-lighthouse with a killer story to the return of the Sontarans, this run of stories delivers what you would both want and expect from 70s budget restrictions.

But while the quality of stories is high with only minor exceptions (hello, Underworld), what's not in doubt us the love that's gone into the set.

From a bespoke booklet to hundreds of pages of PDF notes, through to updated info text and effects that can be switched on fir some episodes, the care is evident.

While DVD extras from the original releases have been brought over and tidied, it's new docos from the team that make it soar. From a 90 minute chat with Jameson to a season overview of the show's producer at the time, each offers a compelling reason to own the set

Granted it may be for fans only in some ways, but when the compassion shines like this, it's well worth investing in a set like this.

Disney Lorcana Sets 1-4 Review

To many, it would appear trading card games are relatively impenetrable unless you're fully au fait with all the laws of the games, the lore of the game and have a myriad of people to play with.

In a marketplace that's already crowded by the likes of Pokemon and Magic The Gathering, there's a feeling that unless you're in, then you're undoubtedly out.

However, with that in mind, and with the widespread knowledge of Disney characters and stories, the Disney Lorcana sets of cards are undoubtedly a good place to start for newbies - and better still, families as well.

And Disney's Team Lorcana who developed the games are painfully aware of that as well, with each basic set coming with simple instructions on how to start the game, the best deck to start and play, and where to go from there.

From a deck of 60 cards (helpfully provided across the four different sets) containing preconstructed decks with a specific card list, the game opens up its simple way of playing. The game benefits from a play as you learn mentality which initially makes the first game a little trickier to navigate with friends, but once you're into the basics of playing, it starts to make sense.

With chapters containing over 200 cards, there's no chance of items running short during any gameplay - characters can attack one another or quest, and given winners are selected by getting 20 lore ahead of your opponent, there's a bit of strategy needed too. From placing the deck down on a surface, you draw out 7 cards to form your starting hard - and your opponents do the same too, and away you go.

With attack cards that are emerald and ruby-based, you can play a more aggressive game; sapphire and steel cards are less attuned to attacking and offer a strong counterpoint to gameplay. With beautiful Disney-based artwork across the sets (fourth set Ursula's return leans heavily on purple hues, whereas Into the Inklands has a more sandy colour base), there's a distinct feeling of difference between the groups and the cards.

Perhaps disappointingly for those who are looking for it, there's less of a theme to the game itself. In terms of story, there doesn't seem to be one, and it's simply a case of questing and attacking until your lore hits 20.

Maybe more of use to many is the Lorcana app, which helps you to track lore and keep score of the game - though a pen and paper work just as well. The game's keen to embrace two styles of thought for its gameplay, and in broadening out by using an app, it's scoring more points to those who are a bit more intuitive on that front.

The game does require a bit of concentration initially, and while there are similarities to Top Trumps in terms of who has the higher scores exerting more damage, the Disney Lorcana gameplay has evolved slightly and will be accessible to those looking for a strategic challenge.

Ultimately, the Disney Lorcana sets will satiate those who enjoy card-based games, and will possibly entice others who've never played before. With characters you recognise and artwork that appeals, this certainly is a good starting point for many - hopefully with a myriad of properties for Disney to explore, future sets will broaden out across genres and encourage others into its fold.

What's on Neon in August

Here's everything that's streaming on Neon in August.

Industry Season 3 - August 12

A group of young graduates compete for permanent positions at a top investment bank in London. The boundaries between colleague, friend, lover, and enemy soon blur as they become embroiled in a culture defined by sex, drugs, and ego.
Stars: Kit Harrington, Myha'la, Marisa Abela, Harry Lawtey, Ken Leung

Wheel Blacks: Bodies on the line - August 18

This three-part docuseries follows New Zealand's wheelchair rugby team in their bid to qualify for the Paris Paralympics.
Despite having to rely on fundraising, charity, and volunteers, these Kiwi underdogs are determined to rise to the challenge.

Movies:
Anyone But You - August 21

After an amazing first date, Bea and Ben's fiery attraction turns ice cold - until they find themselves unexpectedly reunited at a destination wedding in Australia. So, they do what any two mature adults would do: pretend to be a couple.

Starring: Sydney Sweeney, Glen Powell

Mean Girls - August 6

A new musical twist on the classic hit film. Cady Heron is welcomed into the top of the social food chain by the elite group of popular girls called The Plastics. But then she makes the major misstep of falling for the queen bee’s ex-boyfriend.
Stars: Angourie Rice, Reneé Rapp, Auli'i Cravalho, Christopher Briney, Jaquel Spivey, Avantika , Bebe Woo

Bob Marley: one Love - August 28

The powerful story of Bob Marley, the legendary Jamaican musician who overcame tremendous adversity on his journey to create revolutionary songs, inspiring generations through his message
of love and unity.
Stars: Kingsley Ben-Adir, Lashana Lynch, James Norton, Quan-Dajai Henriques, Nolan Collignon, Nia Ashi

The Iron Claw - August 10

The true story of the inseparable Von Erich brothers, who made history in the intensely competitive world of professional wrestling in the 1980s. Through tragedy and triumph, the brothers seek larger than-life immortality on the biggest stage in sports.
Stars: Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, Harris Dickinson, Maura Tierney, Lily James, Holt McCallany, Stanley Simons

What's on Disney+ in August

Here's everything that's streaming on Disney+ in August.

27 August

Only Murders in the Building: Season 4 - Star Original Series

Premiere

In season four of “Only Murders in the Building”, our amateur podcasting trio wrestles with the shocking events at the end of season three surrounding Charles’ stunt double & friend Sazz Pataki. Questioning whether she or Charles was the intended victim, their investigation leads them all the way to Los Angeles where a Hollywood studio is readying a film about the Only Murders podcast. As Charles, Oliver & Mabel race back to New York, they embark on an even more epic journey — traversing their building’s courtyard to delve into the twisted lives of the Arconia’s West Tower residents.

2 August

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes - Disney+ Premiere

Director Wes Ball breathes new life into the global, epic franchise with this action-adventure spectacle from 20th Century Studios. Set several generations in the future following Caesar’s reign, apes are living harmoniously as the dominant species — and humans have been reduced to living in the shadows. As a new tyrannical ape leader builds his empire, one young ape undertakes a harrowing journey that will cause him to question all that he has known about the past and to make choices that will define a future for apes and humans alike.

23 August

The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat - Star Original Movie

Premiere

The movie follows lifelong best friends Odette (Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor), Barbara Jean (Sanaa Lathan), and Clarice (Uzo Aduba) known as “The Supremes”, who share the unbreakable bonds of sisterhood from decades of weathering life’s storms. Through the joys and sorrows of life, marriage and children, happiness and blues, love and loss, new shades of heartbreak and illness threaten to stir up the past when the trio sees their bond put to the test as they face their most challenging times yet.

14 August

Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures: Season 2 - Disney+ Original Series

Premiere

The young Jedi take on new missions across the galaxy as they try to stop the rise of the pirates!

19 August

OceanXplorers

National Geographic Series - Premiere

From James Cameron, the series takes audiences aboard the OceanXplorer, the most advanced research vessel ever built, to investigate the farthest frontiers of the world’s oceans. Armed with advanced technology, a handpicked team of intrepid explorers and scientists embark on a global odyssey to solve some of the ocean’s greatest mysteries through the lives of its animals and their ecosystems.

Also in August…

2 August - Shorts

Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures (Shorts): Season 2

Documentaries

Elway to Marino

Four Days in October

Guru of Go

The Legend of Jimmy The Greek

Muhammad and Larry

Rodman: For Better or Worse

Tommy

7 August

Star Original

International

The Zone: Survival Mission: Season 3 - Series

FX's American Horror Stories: Instalments 1-2

Science of Stupid: Seasons 1-8

FX's A Teacher

Grown-ish: Season 6

ZOMBIES: The Re-Animated Series

8 August

Series

International

Are You Sure?!

9 August

Special

Protecting Paradise: The Story of Niue

Clotilda: The Return Home

12 August - Star Original

Solar Opposites: Season 5

14 August

Star Original

International

The Tyrant

International

Macross Dynamite 7

Series

Grand Cayman: Secrets in Paradise

Wu-Tang: An American Saga: Seasons 1-3

American Crime Story: Impeachment: Season 3

16 August

Movies

International

Macross Fb7 Listen to My Song!

International

Macross 7: The Galaxy is Calling Me!

20 August

Star Original

Muslim Matchmaker

21 August

Star Original

Betrayal: The Perfect Husband: A Father's Secret: Season 2

28 August

Series

The Incredible Pol Farm

New Episodes

Criminal Minds: Season 17 Finale 2 August

Futurama: Season 12 New episodes weekly on Mondays

The Boss: Season 2 New episodes weekly on Fridays

Code Geass: Roze of the Recapture New episodes weekly on Fridays

The Fable New episodes weekly on Sundays

My Name is Gabriel New episodes on 17, 24, 31 August

NO WAY OUT: The Roulette 2 x new episodes weekly on Wednesdays, finale 21 August

Mission: Yozakura Family New episodes weekly on Sundays

Land of Tanabata New episodes weekly on Thursdays, finale 8 August

Mickey Mouse Funhouse: Season 3 5 x new episodes 14 August

Marvel's Spidey and his Amazing Friends: Season 3 New episodes 7, 14, 21 August

Firebuds: Season 2 4 x new episodes 14 August

Morphle and the Magic Pets 15 x new episodes 7 August

SuperKitties: Season 2 4 x new episodes 28 August

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare: Review

Cast: Henry Cavill, Alan Ritchison, Alex Pettyfer, Eiza Gonzalez, Henry Golding, Rory Kinnear, Babs Olsunmokun
Director: Guy Ritchie

Guy Ritchie's relatively straight take on a war story lacks the whistles and bells needed for such a tale and it unfortunately shows during this 2 hour drama that really does feel like it's missing some vital ingredients.

With a promising start that sets the scene nicely, the film's desire to thread a tale of derring do for a small group of plucky fighters out to sink a Nazi U-boat during the 1940s just doesn't quite live up to its admittedly charismatic start.

Perhaps in some ways, it's good to see a Guy Ritchie film that doesn't go overboard, but there's a distinct feeling the film just has little else to offer outside of the kind of movie you can have on in the background and not fully pay attention to.

Cavill's extremely muted as the leader of the squad in the undercover mission after displaying some real charisma early. More of the frisson of excitement is provided by Eiza Gonzalez and Babs Olsunmokun's characters and their infiltration spy side missions.

More successful are the bursts of action that populate swathes of the film. If you're after a film that's about killing Nazis, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare certainly provides on that front. Equally the attention to period detail and costuming is second to none, with wartime attire offering more than enough visual thrill to compensate for a more lacklustre narrative.

However, ultimately Ritchie's film fails to fully grasp what makes a good war mission movie soar - a smattering of tension, a cast you care about and a threat to life that feels tangible - consequently, it doesn't deliver a spectacle deserving of its subject matter. 

Extremely muted and wildly undeserving, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare hints at future installments - but based on this, it's just not strong enough to warrant seeing them recalled for any further action.

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare is streaming on Prime Video now.

Deadpool and Wolverine: Movie Review

Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin, Matthew MacFadyen
Director: Shawn Levy

Ryan Reynolds returns as the motor-mouth Wade Wilson for yet another outing - but for the first time, Reynolds' wise-cracking, fourth-wall breaking antihero is joining the Disney universe. However, he's not alone in the ride into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Despite trying to join the Avengers in Earth-616, Wade Wilson finds himself rejected. Lacking purpose, he gives up on being Deadpool until the Time Variance Agency (from Disney+ show Loki) shows up on his doorstep on his birthday, saying they need his help.

Abducted, Deadpool is offered a chance in his eyes to redeem himself as the self-confessed Marvel Jesus and bring life to the fracturing timelines...

To say more about Deadpool and Wolverine's (admittedly slight) plot is to rob it of its many reveals.

Needless to say Levy and a team of five writers have pulled together a love letter to both the Marvel and the 20th Century Fox Universe, with a slew of cameos and unexpected moments to thrill fans of the genre. (A moment even Deadpool self-referentially tells nerds to get their sock out to cope with their excitement).

But, if the humour occasionally grates by hitting low-hanging fruit and staying there, and if the pace feels a little bit of a lag over a near 130 minutes run time as the continuing asides fall from his mouth, what Deadpool and Wolverine manages to do is to make essentially what was becoming tired feel somewhat fresh again. However, there are moments when the humour feels a little forced and the script lacks some of the looseness that has previously been brought to table - no doubt thanks in large part to the actors' strike constraints.

Yet, deep within the film Reynolds and Jackman's bond is evident. From continual fights and bickering between the two to a glowering nihilistic Wolverine from Jackman, the chemistry in this Odd Couple companionship is there from the get-go. Of the pair, Jackman is the more successful, having to reinvent yet again another version of the X-Men favourite - but there's a despondency and resentment that Jackman brilliantly mines here to great effect, and which Logan's harder-edge and rating have clearly influenced. (And the script doesn't hold back either, with one moment referencing Jackman's recent divorce).

However, there's a respect for the characters - both the main and the cameos that borders on reverential; at times, the story feels more like it's going for sentiment and saccharine having blown plenty of its cinematic load on some gory, all-out action scenes.

Corrin's take on their character feels both familiar, yet new, exuding menace when needed in the brief appearances she makes as the unsettling antagonist - though the less said about their final moments the better. It's in moments like this, the script's weaker edges come to the fore.

Maybe a tighter edit could have reined in some of Deadpool and Wolverine's less alive moments (which really feel their weight as the story goes on) as it borders on too indulgent (but Marvel famservice) - but as a distinctive love letter to a world, Deadpool and Wolverine strikes the right tone. While it's best to go in cold for maximum enjoyment, the characters will win you over.

It's bitterly ironic for a character who spends so much of his time snarking and poo-pooing sentiment, that Deadpool and Wolverine's central message of mattering to others and heart comes so close to saccharine overload in the final moments. Though, on reflection, perhaps that's Deadpool's ultimate joke on all of us - that no matter what we feel or think, this film and its main character - much like the Marvel Cinematic Universe's legion of fans - just want to be loved.

What's on Prime Video in August

Here's everything that's streaming in August on Prime Video.

Get ready for action in August with the highly anticipated second season of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. The Dark Lord Sauron has been unleashed and is working his evil, pushing friendships and alliances across Middle-earth to the brink as darkness spreads and an epic battle begins – launching 29 August.

John Cena and Awkwafina team up in Jackpot! to stay alive in near-future California where winning a multi-billion dollar ‘Grand Lottery’ comes with a killer catch launching on 15 August.

In an action-adventure thrill ride, Kiwi, KJ Apa stars in One Fast Move as a young man chasing his dream of becoming a professional motorcycle racer, launching 8 August.

Meanwhile, J.J. Abrams, Matt Reeves and Bruce Timm reimagine the Batman mythology as executive producers on the new animated series Batman: Caped Crusader launching 1 August.

For a touch of romance, catch new K-Drama No Gain No Love exclusively on 26 August – starring Shin Min-a and Kim Young Dae.

Or, relive the summer with Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell in Anyone But You.

THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RINGS OF POWER

SEASON TWO AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY FROM THURSDAY 29 AUGUST 

In Season Two of The Rings of Power, Sauron has returned. Cast out by Galadriel, without army or ally, the rising Dark Lord must now rely on his own cunning to rebuild his strength and oversee the creation of the Rings of Power, which will allow him to bind all the peoples of Middle-earth to his sinister will. Building on Season One’s epic scope and ambition, the new season plunges even its most beloved and vulnerable characters into a rising tide of darkness, challenging each to find their place in a world that is increasingly on the brink of calamity. Elves and dwarves, orcs and men, wizards and Harfoots… as friendships are strained and kingdoms begin to fracture, the forces of good will struggle ever more valiantly to hold on to what matters to them most of all… each other.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season Two stars Morfydd Clark, Charlie Vickers, Robert Aramayo, Owain Arthur, Ismael Cruz Córdova, Charles Edwards, Markella Kavenagh, Tyroe Muhafidin, Leon Wadham, Maxim Baldry, Trystan Gravelle, Ema Horvath, Sophia Nomvete, Lloyd Owen, Megan Richards, Dylan Smith, Benjamin Walker, Daniel Weyman, Sara Zwangobani, Gabriel Akuwudike, Zates Atour, Ben Daniels, Amelia Kenworthy, Nia Towle, Nicholas Woodeson, Sam Hazeldine, Oliver Alvin-Wilson, Stuart Bowman, Gavi Singh Chera, William Chubb, Kevin Eldon, Will Keen, Selina Lo, Calam Lynch, with Ciarán Hinds, Rory Kinnear, and Tanya Moodie.

JACKPOT!

AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY THURSDAY 15 AUGUST 

In the near future, a ‘Grand Lottery’ has been newly established in California - the catch: kill the winner before sundown to legally claim their multi-billion dollar jackpot. When Katie Kim (Awkwafina) moves to Los Angeles, she mistakenly finds herself with the winning ticket. Desperate to survive the hordes of jackpot hunters, she reluctantly joins forces with amateur lottery protection agent Noel Cassidy (John Cena) who will do everything in his power to get her to sundown in exchange for a piece of her prize. However, Noel must face off with his slick rival Louis Lewis (Simu Liu), who also seeks to collect Katie’s commission at all costs. Jackpot! is directed by Paul Feig and written by Rob Yescombe.

Jackpot! stars Awkwafina, John Cena, Ayden Mayeri, Donald Elise Watkins, Sam Asghari, Murray Hill, with Simu Liu and Machine Gun Kelly.

BATMAN: CAPED CRUSADER

SEASON ONE AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY FROM THURSDAY 1 AUGUST 

Welcome to Gotham City, where the corrupt outnumber the good, criminals run rampant and law-abiding citizens live in a constant state of fear. Forged in the fire of tragedy, wealthy socialite Bruce Wayne becomes something both more and less than human—the BATMAN. His one-man crusade for justice attracts unexpected allies within the GCPD and City Hall, but his heroic actions spawn deadly, unforeseen ramifications.

The series is a reimagining of the Batman mythology through the visionary lens of executive producers J.J. Abrams, Matt Reeves and Bruce Timm. Based on DC characters, Batman: Caped Crusader hails from Warner Bros. Animation, Abrams’ Bad Robot Productions and Reeves’ 6th & Idaho. Along with Abrams, Reeves and Timm, Batman: Caped Crusader executive producers include Ed Brubaker, James Tucker, Daniel Pipski, Rachel Rusch Rich, and Sam Register.

Batman: Caped Crusader stars the voices of Hamish Linklater, Jamie Chung, Diedrich Bader, Christina Ricci, Minnie Driver, Mckenna Grace, Eric Morgan Stuart, Michelle C. Bonilla, Krystal Joy Brown, John DiMaggio, Paul Scheer, Reid Scott, Tom Kenny, Jason Watkins, Gary Anthony Williams, Dan Donohue, David Krumholtz, Haley Joel Osment and Toby Stephens.

ONE FAST MOVE

AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY THURSDAY 8 AUGUST 

One Fast Move is an action-adventure thrill ride about a young man down on his luck who seeks out his estranged father to help him pursue his dream of becoming a professional motorcycle racer. With the help of his small town love interest and a motorcycle shop owner who moonlights as his mentor, he begins to break down the walls that his father’s absence had built up.

One Fast Move stars KJ Apa, Eric Dane, Maia Reficco, Edward James Olmos, Austin North

THE SHAKEDOWN

AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY THURSDAY 8 AUGUST

When his mistress threatens to expose the secret of their affair, a respected insurance broker seeks the help of his underworld brother to save his reputation.

The Shakedown stars Carl Beukes, Emmanuel Castis, Julia Anastasopoulos, Berenice Barbier, Milton Schorr, David Isaacs and Zander Tyler.

THE MALLORCA FILES

SEASON THREE AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY FROM THURSDAY 8 AUGUST 

Set on the sun-drenched and glamorous island of Mallorca, The Mallorca Files centers around ambitious British detective Miranda Blake (Elen Rhys, Consent, The One That Got Away) and her laid-back German partner Max Winter (Julian Looman, The Ibiza Affair, Constellation) who make up the perfect team – if only they could see it. In Season 3, amid high-stakes adventures, treasure hunts, arson, kidnappings, and murders, Max and Miranda’s personal tensions and odd-couple partnership are put to the test.

The Mallorca Files Season Three stars Elen Rhys, Julian Looman, Maria Fernandez Ache, Enrique Arce, Philippe Brenninkmeyer, Charlie Higson, Michael Jibson, David Mora, Elena Saurel, Leonor Watling, Francesc Corbera

NO GAIN NO LOVE

AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY FROM MONDAY 26 AUGUST 

When it comes to family, love, or work, Son Hae-yeong (Shin Min-a) has encountered loss after loss. In order to change her luck, Hae-yeong ends up seeking a fake wedding with her neighbourhood convenience store employee, Kim Ji-uk, played by Kim Young Dae (The Forbidden Marriage, Moon in the Day) to avoid missing out on a promotion. Kim Ji-uk is known for being a model neighbourhood citizen and works night shifts at a convenience store. A local hero who cannot ignore others in need, he agreed to Hae-yeong’s ridiculous proposal to be her fake groom for her fake wedding. Furthermore, the series features second lead actors Lee Sang-yi as third-generation chaebol Bok Gyu-hyun who is the CEO of the company where Hae-yeong works and Han Ji-hyun (Cheer Up, The Penthouse) who plays Nam Ja-yeon, a popular R-rated web novel writer and Hae-yeong's family-like friend and roommate.

Directed by Kim Jung-sik (Strong Girl Nam-soon; Work Later, Drink Now), No Gain No Love is written by Kim Hye-young (Her Private Life).

No Gain No Love stars Shin Min-a, Kim Young-dae, Lee Sang-yi, and Han Ji-Hyun.

THE BEEKEEPER

AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY FRIDAY 23 AUGUST

One man's brutal campaign for vengeance takes on national stakes after he is revealed to be a former operative of a powerful and clandestine organization known as "Beekeepers."

The Beekeeper stars Jason Statham, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Bobby Naderi, Josh Hutcherson and Jeremy Irons.

ANYONE BUT YOU 

AVAILABLE FROM WEDNESDAY 21 AUGUST

In the edgy comedy Anyone But You, Bea and Ben look like the perfect couple, but after an amazing first date something happens that turns their fiery hot attraction ice cold -- until they find themselves unexpectedly thrust together at a destination wedding in Australia. So they do what any two mature adults would do: pretend to be a couple.

Anyone But You stars Sydney Sweeney, Glen Powell, Dermot Mulroney and Darren Barnet.

A SACRIFICE AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY FROM FRIDAY 2 AUGUST 

Inspired by Nicholas Hogg’s 2015 novel Tokyo Nobody, A Sacrifice is an emotionally turbulent story that follows American social psychologist Ben Monroe who is investigating a local Berlin cult connected to disturbing events. While he immerses himself in his work, his rebellious teenage daughter, Mazzy, becomes embroiled with a mysterious local boy who introduces her to the city’s underground party scene. As their two worlds head toward a dangerous intersection, Ben will need to race against the clock in order to save his daughter.

A Sacrifice stars Eric Bana, Sadie Sink and Sylvia Hoeks.

BEACON 23 SEASON TWO AVAILABLE FROM FRIDAY 2 AUGUST 

Beacon 23 takes place in the farthest reaches of the Milky Way. Season One followed Aster (Lena Headey), a government agent, and Halan (Stephan James), a stoic ex-military man, whose fates became entangled after they found themselves trapped together inside one of many Beacons that served as a lighthouse for intergalactic travelers. In Season Two, Beacon 23 is now little more than a prison with Aleph onboard, and The Artifact provides more questions than answers. Without a clear path forward, the inhabitants of Beacon 23 must rely on each other, but their conflicting agendas may get in the way.

Beacon 23 Season Two stars Stephan James, Natasha Mumba, Lena Headey, Eric Lange, Wade Bogert-O'Brien and Ellen Wong.

What's on DocPlay in August

Here's what's on DocPlay in August.

Swan Song

22 July 2024

This August, explore conversation-starting documentaries: Sorry/Not Sorry sheds new light on the experiences of women who spoke up about comedian Louis C.K.’s sexual misconduct; four-part series Swan Song immerses audiences in a new production of Swan Lake by the National Ballet of Canada; and Westall 66, from Australian director Rosie Jones (The Family) explores the mystery of the 1966 UFO sighting.

Flyways |  5 Aug  | Australian

Narrated by Mia Wasikowska, Flyways tells the journey of migratory shorebirds, and the extinction level threats they face traversing their ancient flyways.

Westall 66  |  8 Aug  |  Australian

In 1966, in the Australian suburb of Westall (Victoria), hundreds of students, teachers and local residents witnessed a UFO hover overhead for several minutes, land and take off again at incredible speed. These witnesses revisit their extraordinary experience as tenacious sleuth Shane Ryan goes back to find an answer to the mystery. Directed by Rosie Jones (The Family).

Swan Song (series)  |  12 Aug  |  DocPlay Exclusive

Take an immersive look inside The National Ballet of Canada as it mounts a legacy-defining new production of Swan Lake. With full access to the creative process, this four-part series delves into the lives of the dancers as they push themselves to their limits to stage one of the most significant nights in their careers and company’s history.

Sorry/Not Sorry  |  12 Aug  |  DocPlay Exclusive

Through candor and surprising humor, Sorry/Not Sorry sheds new light on the nuanced experiences of three women who spoke up about comedian Louis C.K.’s sexual misconduct over the years. The film invites viewers to question whose stories and whose art we value, and at what cost. Directors Caroline Suh and Cara Mones are available for interview request.

Jerry Lewis: The Man Behind the Clown  |  15 Aug

This entertaining documentary chronicles the remarkable life and work of one of the most iconic comic performers and filmmakers of our time.

The Narrow Bridge  |  29 Aug  |  Australian

The Narrow Bridge is an eye-opening film about trauma and healing that follows four individuals, Palestinian and Israeli, who have each suffered unimaginable grief—the loss of a loved one to violence—but who manage to use their misfortunes to find a way to healing and reconciliation.

Drive-Away Dolls: Blu Ray Review

Cast: Margaret Qualley, Geraldine Viswanathan, Beanie Feldstein, Colman Domingo, Bill Camp, Matt Damon, Pedro Pascal

Director: Ethan Coen

Ethan Coen's latest, a bawdy and brash road trip movie, is a film that, thanks to its appealing messiness, will test your limits in more ways than one.

Despite only mustering a brisk 84 minutes in length, large swathes of this odd couple LGBT comedy road trip feel padded out filled by unnecessary quirks and visuals by a director who's a little unsure of what he wants to do.

Qualley and Viswanathan star as flatmates Jamie and Marian. Polar opposites - Jamie is a fast talking and fast and loose woman about town and Marian an uptight celibate - the pair find themselves on a road trip to Tallahassee to drop off a car.

But by confusion, they end up picking up a car that contains a very precious cargo - a suitcase with mysterious contents - and also pick up a pair of desperate thugs keen to get the case first.

Both are running from something - Jamie, a break up with Sukie her policewoman girlfriend and Marian, on the run from the tedium of daily life and desperate for a change of scene.  Yet Coen doesn't quite seem to know what to do with them, frequently filling escalating screwball proceedings with occasionally lingering shots of women or using Qualley's star-making turn and accent to enliven what transpires.

As with any Coen film, there are a number of quirky characters, who range from dim-witted to being overly precise with words - this is a world of extremes where misunderstandings are prevalent and contrived for the plot. But despite the excellent chemistry between Qualley and Viswanathan, there are too many moments when the story's freewheeling feels like it's overplayed and overcooked; yet bizarrely, there are parts when thanks to numerous cameos and distractions, much of it feels undercooked. It's rooted in the 90s in many way, and even the obsession with the case channels Pulp Fiction in more ways than one.

Yet, Drive-Away Dolls is a film of opposites in many ways, but while it's to be commended for presenting the kind of movie where the women are playing as freely as their male counterparts often do in the genre, you can't help but feeling Ethan Coen's storytelling prowess isn't nearly as strong here as it should - or could - have been.

What's streaming on Shudder in August

Here's everything that's streaming on Shudder in August.

Late Night with the Devil – Shudder Original
Film Premieres on Shudder and AMC+ Saturday 10 August

October 31, 1977. Jack Delroy’s syndicated talk show ‘Night Owls’ has long been a trusted companion to insomniacs around the country, but a year on from the tragic death of Jack’s wife, ratings have plummeted. 

Desperate to turn his fortunes around, Jack plans a Halloween special like no other, unaware he is about to unleash evil into the living rooms of America.

Starring

David Dastmalchian (Oppenheimer) and Laura Gordon (Reckoning).


Hell Hole – Shudder Original

Film Premieres on Shudder and AMC+ Friday 23 August

The newest film from the Adams Family, the filmmaking team behind Hellbender, Hell Hole centers on an America-led fracking crew that uncovers a living French soldier frozen in time from a Napoleonic campaign, whose body hosts a parasitic monster.

Starring Toby Poser, John Adams, Max Portman and Anders Hove.

Horror’s Greatest – Shudder Original

Series Premieres on Shudder and AMC+ Tuesday 27 August

Celebrating the very best the genre has to offer, Horror’s Greatest is a deep dive into everything we love about horror. From fresh looks at classics to unearthing scores of hidden gems, this series has something for every fright film enthusiast. A gallery of ghoulish pros, including actors, directors, writers, composers, and special effects artists, draw on their unique knowledge to answer the big questions: What are the must-see films in horror’s many sub-genres? What’s the appeal of horror tropes, and how do today’s filmmakers subvert our expectations? What shape does horror take in countries outside of the United States? The answers encompass the breath of the nightmares we watch for our entertainment.

Dancing Village: The Curse Begins – Shudder

Exclusive
Film Premieres on Shudder and AMC+ Friday 16 August

A shaman instructs Mila to return a mystical bracelet, the Kawaturih, to the “Dancing Village,” a remote site on the easternmost tip of Java Island. Joined by her cousin, Yuda, and his friends Jito and Arya, Mila arrives on the island only to discover that the village elder has passed away, and that the new guardian, Mbah Buyut, isn’t present. Various strange and eerie events occur while awaiting Mbah Buyut’s return, including Mila being visited by Badarawuhi, a mysterious, mythical being who rules the village. When she decides to return the Kawaturih without the help of Mgah Buyut, Mila threatens the village’s safety, and she must join a ritual to select the new “Dawuh,” a cursed soul forced to dance for the rest of her life.

The Last Drive-In With Joe Bob Briggs

New Episode Premieres Exclusively on AMC+ and Shudder Sunday 18 August

On The Last Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs, Joe Bob, Darcy the Mail Girl, and the rest of The Last Drive-In crew invite fans for a watch party featuring a pair of eclectic films from horror  classics to cult favorites.

The Coffee Table

Film Premieres on Shudder and AMC+ Monday 5 August

Jesus and Maria are a couple who have just become parents, and they decide to buy a new coffee table, a decision that will change their existence.

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree: PS5 Review

Developed by FromSoftware
Published by Bandai Namco
Platform: PS5

Shadow of the Erdtree carries on Elden Ring's tradition of being punishingly hard and forcing you to consider every single move and choice you make during your campaign.

Essentially a mini-Elden Ring shrunk down to one map and truncated to only punish you over a 20-hour period, the game's raison d'etre is inherently obvious to those who've played the game before.
With exceptionally difficult to beat bosses - just above 10 of them in total - inhabit the Land of Shadow - and you can only access the game if you've beaten the base game's Radahn and Mohg bosses.

From Software does a little more hand holding this time around, and perhaps the purists who have satiated themselves on Elden Ring's more obtuse edges will feel a little disappointed with the lack of freedom.

But what's clear about this DLC is that it's anything but a rushed out release, just birthed to bolt on to the original game without care and consideration.

Every element of the DLC is draped in the game's DNA, but with newer characters, creatures and locations, it does feel like diving into the original game once again - a feeling that's both overwhelmning and a little bit thrilling.
Yet perhaps this is also a problem for those not coming to the game from years of practice and perfection behind them.

It's unforgiving in parts and while there are elements scattered around that could help, it's worth realising that this isn't a DLC for non-players of the base game - and even in parts, hardcore players of the original will struggle with if Elden Ring is not their constant thing.
Fitting wonderfully within its sub-genre, but continuing From Software's MO of seemingly punishing its players with challenges, Shadow of the Erdtree represents both the very best of the genre and also the hardest of it as well.

Watcher: DVD Review

Gaslighting, stalking, paranoia, a serial killer and Romania all combine for director Chloe Okuno's stunning thriller Watcher, starring It Follows' Maika Monroe.

Monroe is Julia, a young American wife who relocates to Bucharest with her Romanian-speaking husband for his new job. Overwhelmed by a new city, and illiterate in the new language, Julia soon begins to feel alienated despite her best attempts. 

It's a feeling further heightened by the fact she spies someone spying on her from the building opposite her own. Her paranoia's soon increased by news of a serial killer who beheads their victims in her neighbourhood and a series of incidents where she appears to be followed.

Dismissed by her husband as overreacting, Julia soon finds herself in an escalating situation both of her own making and of her circumstance.

Watcher is a thrillingly taut movie that takes its time to breathe, and gives its story space to settle in.

It's anchored by the uneasy performance of Monroe as Julia, a woman seemingly unravelling, in an aesthetic of unease. With elements of Rear Window and the recent Prime Video flick The Voyeurs, Watcher flips the expected on its head to brilliantly compelling effect.

The opening sequences see the camera pulling out through the window, switching from the pair making love to an unnerving feeling of voyeurism - but not once does Watcher ever become sleazy. Okuno's desire to give the movie space to breathe and the doubts to take root proves to be fertile fruit for flipping the narrative as Julia first becomes the watched, then the watcher. And that's not with even mentioning the gaslighting going on throughout, and a subtle takedown of both male behaviour and authority figures.

Throw in a couple of well-orchestrated scares, and Watcher becomes a deeply unsettling psychological thriller that's one of the essential films of the 2022 Film Festival.

Robot Dreams: DVD Review

An-all ages animation that may be one of the sweetest and simplest stories told, Robot Dreams is awash with colourful creations and a vibrancy that's hard to deny.

Spanish writer-director Pablo Berger (Blancanieves) adapts Sara Varon’s graphic novel about a dog who feels lonely in the city of New York into something quite heartbreaking at points.

Dog lives in 80s New York, longing for connection and surrounded by others in the city whose lives have been brought together. Answering an advert for a robot companion, Dog finds his world opened up suddenly by possibilities as the pair wander around the city. 

But when circumstance separates them, the two find their lives irrevocably changed.

Dialogue-free and left only to come alive with the sounds and music of the city, Robot Dreams is a delight - a colourful paean to loneliness and overcoming it with resilience and finding the joy in others. Moving and unnecessarily uncomplicated, Robot Dreams' simple animation and beautifully unfiltered sentiment will break even the most of cynical of hearts.

Retaining a cartoon strip aesthetic, the film's pace comes from its engaging appeal and the eternal tale of friendship. To say it's not groundbreaking in many ways feels like a disservice, but in truth, the uncomplicated tale is much more effective because of the way the narrative unfolds.

Final scenes are bittersweet, mixed as they are with joy and sadness - there won't be many an adult who won't take a deeper meaning over relationships and the ebb and flow of time from this film, and there won't be many children who will adore the characters and be inspired to provide them with further adventures at home via drawings and imagination.

Luigi's Mansion 2 HD - Nintendo Switch Review

Developed by Next Level Games
Published by Nintendo
Platform: Nintendo Switch

Luigi's Mansion 2 HD sees Mario's sidekick return once again for more pump and dump ghostbusting action.

With the Dark Moon shattered and ghosts unleashed into Evershade Valley, it's up to Luigi to suck them all out of existence and save the day, and his kidnapped brother.

So, armed with his trusty Poltergust 5000 and a light to stun the ghosts, Luigi ventures out into the world to save the day and discover what has happened to Mario during the shattering of the moon.

Spread over five different mansions, each of which hold different mission-based levels, the game certainly has a prolonged possibility of appeal that's hard to ignore.

With simple control systems and puzzles to solve, the game's simplicity is hard to deny. But that's not say it's a simple game and to dismiss it for being so - merely to demonstrate its point of entrance is universal to fans and those who've not experienced the original.

While graphically the game has been swathed in HD, it doesn't feel like it takes full advantage of a new coat of pixelated paint, with portions still feeling like the original.

That's no bad thing because the colourful and vibrant world is one to explore and play in.

If it seems similar to a Ghostbusters kind of game vibe, then that's because it is - and it has to be said, this busting makes you feel good over its 20 hours or so of gameplay.

Perhaps its desire to follow the 2013 original and not really massively do-over what's there from a visual point of view could be seen as an oversight, but Luigi's Mansion 2 is perfectly solid family nostalgia-led fare that raids one of Nintendo's lesser-known characters and shows he can more than keep up with his brother.

Gladiator II trailer is here

From legendary director Ridley Scott, Gladiator II continues the epic saga of power, intrigue, and vengeance set in Ancient Rome. 

Years after witnessing the death of the revered hero Maximus at the hands of his uncle, Lucius (Paul Mescal) is forced to enter the Colosseum after his home is conquered by the tyrannical Emperors who now lead Rome with an iron fist. 

With rage in his heart and the future of the Empire at stake, Lucius must look to his past to find strength and honour to return the glory of Rome to its people.

Gladiator II releases in cinemas November 14.

Concord: PS5 Review

Published by Firewalk Studios
Developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment

Platform: PS5

Concord's beta shows a game that mixes Overwatch with Guardians of the Galaxy against a series of colourful maps. In many ways, it doesn't deviate from its initial trailer ethos - except with the addition of some truly gorgeous cutscenes.

Yet, while gameplay is fast and matchmaking effective, it has yet to really show a point of difference to the plethora of free to play shooters that already exist, even if it's aiming for a lower price point.

Chiefly while gunplay among the Freerunners characters is different depending on each player, the game still suffers from a degree of balance issues. Those with fast shooting guns are more likely to rack up kills compared to heavier artillery. 

Certainly, if those classes are pitted against each other, unless there is an assist going on, the outcome is somewhat inevitable, meaning gameplay can become frustrating.

Also, the game seems to be confused when it comes to storyline and motivation.

Brawl, one of the options of the beta, sees teams of five versus five with a motive of stealing trading cards from each other. It's an odd match idea and while it doesn't detract from the gameplay, it does seem wildly obtuse over motivations - it's not a fatal flaw, but a lack of an overarching picture as to why trading cards other than it's the Freegunners' way as the voiceover says, feels unusual at best.

Thankfully games are only 10 minutes long or whoever gets to 30 kills first up. They're pacy, frenetic and thanks to different map design, entertaining enough. And certainly when you're on a killing streak, they're quite addictive.

A second gameplay mode that sees you taking cargo and exporting it again brings the pace, and offers as much of a thrill too - though while it's a series of games within an overall match, it's a shorter period in total.

Concord's characters are colourful enough to differentiate themselves and there are enough choices in the rosters. But there's a lack of in-game powerups to help you beat the odds (potentially not a bad thing) meaning the characters themselves are the reason to engage.

Perhaps worryingly, if Concord wants to stand out (aside from its lower price point) it does need to have more than decently realised cutscenes and characters. Its gunplay and pace are just enough, but it does need to show more depth when it finally releases. But for now, the BETA is a solid window into its world - and time will tell what the full game has to offer.

Concord's BETA is live now on PlayStation 5 and PC - check details online for more information.

Marvel Studios debuts trailer and poster for Captain America: Brave New World

Anthony Mackie Wields the Shield on February 13, 2025

Marvel Studios shared the teaser trailer and poster for “Captain America: Brave New World,” featuring Anthony Mackie as Captain America. The Falcon, played by Mackie in previous MCU films, officially took on the mantle of Captain America in the finale of “The Falcon and The Winter Soldier,” on Disney+ in 2021.

After meeting with newly elected U.S. President Thaddeus Ross, played by Harrison Ford in his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut, Sam finds himself in the middle of an international incident. He must discover the reason behind a nefarious global plot before the true mastermind has the entire world seeing red.

“Captain America: Brave New World” stars Anthony Mackie, Danny Ramirez, Shira Haas, Xosha Roquemore, Carl Lumbly, with Giancarlo Esposito, Liv Tyler, Tim Blake Nelson, and Harrison Ford. The film is directed by Julius Onah and produced by Kevin Feige and Nate Moore. Louis D’Esposito and Charles Newirth serve as executive producers.

Marvel Studios’ “Captain America: Brave New World” opens in New Zealand Cinemas on February 13, 2025.

Longlegs: Movie Review

Cast: Maika Monroe, Blair Underwood, Nicolas Cage, Alicia Witt
Director: Oz Perkins

Potentially the victim of its own incredible trailer campaign, writer / director Oz Perkins' weirdly unsettling Longlegs won't be for everyone.

With its quirks, occasional crash cuts and potential desire to show it all early on (needless to say more of its potentially polarising finale), the elevated horror's movie seems to be more about singular moments than an entire whole.

Monroe is rookie FBI agent Lee Harker, who appears to share some kind of connection with a cultist serial killer called Longlegs (Cage, in some kind of prosthetics heavy homage to Justin Hawkins of The Darkness, T-Rex's Marc Bolan and Heath Ledger's Joker) who has killed 10 families over 30 years - despite never being seen at their homes.

So, with deadlines creeping in until his next potential kill, and deemed a "half[-psychic" Harker is assigned the case....but finds her past may hold the key to what's happening.

Longlegs thrives on an atmosphere of unease, its story drip fed over a series of parts rather than one continual narrative.

Perkins' desire to shoot scenes from afar and on angles leads to a feeling of upending expectations and a desire to keep audiences unsure about what's going on. But with homages to Manhunter and Silence of the Lambs - former US President Bill Clinton's visage looms large in many FBI-set scenes - Longlegs struggles to remove itself from the shadows of its forebears.

Equally, Cage's performance benefits more from the adage of "don't show, tell" and the ultimate reveal of the creepy character feels like a formative let down for the narrative. While it may perhaps be a victim of its own hype, Perkins' film delivers some requisite jump scares in a fairly new way; but its resolution feels more head-scratching than terrifying.

It's more interested in rug-pulling, in depriving the senses (Monroe's FBI Agent says she's suffering from insomnia, and every line of her visage demonstrably points to it) and just trying to unsettle you - but Longlegs is a singular experience, destined for cult love rather than widespread fervent admiration.

Gloomy, grey, washed out and haunting, Longlegs may have a muddled denouement and a desire to not go further but its journey towards resolution is one that greatly benefits from Monroe's performance and will provoke reaction once the lights finally go up.