New Videos: September 2024

Inside Out 2

Inside Out 2 returns to the mind of newly minted teenager Riley just as headquarters is undergoing a sudden demolition to make room for something entirely unexpected: new Emotions! Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust, who’ve long been running a successful operation by all accounts, aren’t sure how to feel when Anxiety shows up. And it looks like she’s not alone.

rated pg for some thematic elements.

“…showcases Pixar back at the top of their game, telling a sweet and uplifting story in a truly creative way, steering their audience through many of the emotions represented on screen and perhaps even inspiring a little self-reflection among them.” – Sean Farrell, AFPL Journal

“It was a tall order to match the brilliance of Inside Out, but the sequel meets the challenge on every level.” – Richard Roeper, Chicago Sun-Times

“Rejecting all Hollywood trends pointing the other way, Inside Out 2 goes for the penetrating over the shallow every time, never allowing the premise to devolve into a mere gimmick.” – Kyle Smith, Wall Street Journal

Bad Boys: Ride or Die

The world’s favorite Bad Boys are back with their iconic mix of edge-of-your seat action and outrageous comedy but this time with a twist: Miami’s finest are now on the run.

rated r for strong violence, language throughout, and some sexual references.

“This violent franchise has rarely felt so assured, so relaxed and knowingly funny.” – Robert Daniels, New York Times

“These two actors, with nothing matching but their goatees, have a spiky bromantic chemistry. They don’t just ping off one another’s lines — they lock and load each other.” – Owen Gleiberman, Variety

“Bad Boys: Ride or Die provides a much more entertaining package than what came before, with thrilling and inventive action direction from Adil & Bilall. Yes, it’s as over the top and silly as ever, but it’s done with more panache and genuine wit than before, proving these Bad Boys, even at their older age, can still deliver.” – Eric Goldman, IGN

Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1

In the great tradition of Warner Bros. Pictures’ iconic Westerns, Horizon: An American Saga explores the lure of the Old West and how it was won—and lost—through the blood, sweat and tears of many. Spanning the four years of the Civil War, from 1861 to 1865, Costner’s ambitious cinematic adventure will take audiences on an emotional journey across a country at war with itself, experienced through the lens of families, friends and foes all attempting to discover what it truly means to be the United States of America.

rated r for violence, some nudity and sexuality.

“Costner hasn’t forgotten where to point a camera, and outside all the table-setting, Horizon has moments designed to astonish.” – Rory O’Connor, The Film Stage

“A rigorous and handsome drama, finely hewn by Costner and his cast, this is an absorbing ride into the Old West.” – James Mottram, Total Film

“Costner and company know the importance of visual and sonic storytelling. In this film, the score, landscapes, and set pieces guide the stories along when the dialogue is limited, helping us to connect to the overall experience emotionally.” – Patrice Witherspoon, Screen Rant

Late Night with the Devil

A live television broadcast in 1977 goes horribly wrong, unloosing evil into the nation’s living rooms.

rated r for violent content, some gore, and language including a sexual referENCE.

“[It] works remarkably well… the increasingly insane ending is highly entertaining.” – Sean Farrell, AFPL Journal

“Late Night With The Devil achieves that rare feat of feeling like something we were never supposed to see. But once we’ve seen it, we can’t look away.” – Matthew Jackson, AV Club

“It’s wonderfully creepy and unnervingly familiar, like Alan Partridge by way of The Exorcist. If that doesn’t automatically enter it into the pantheon of classic midnight movies, I don’t know what does.” – Phil de Semlyen, Time Out

All of Us Strangers

One night in his near-empty tower block in contemporary London, Adam (Andrew Scott) has a chance encounter with a mysterious neighbor Harry (Paul Mescal), which punctures the rhythm of his everyday life. As a relationship develops between them, Adam is preoccupied with memories of the past and finds himself drawn back to the suburban town where he grew up, and the childhood home where his parents (Claire Foy and Jamie Bell), appear to be living, just as they were on the day they died, 30 years before.

rated r for sexual content, language, and some drug use.

“In a lot of ways, All Of Us Strangers is a poignant, deeply melancholic exercise on the attempt to bridge the past with the present, a cosmic inquiry into resolving all that was unsaid through second chances that never were.” – Tomris Laffly, The Wrap

“While it unfolds in a hazy dream state rooted in Adam’s loneliness and the emotional suspension that has blocked him from moving forward, it’s by no means a downer. It’s a thing of beauty, heartfelt and unforgettable.” – David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter

“More than any great movie I can remember, Andrew Haigh’s All of Us Strangers captures the eerie, disorienting and utterly sacred experience of encountering a lost loved one in your dreams.” – Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times

The Fabulous Four

A group of life-long friends (Susan Sarandon, Megan Mullally, and Sheryl Lee Ralph) travel to Key West, Florida, to be bridesmaids in the surprise wedding of their best college girlfriend Marilyn (Bette Midler). Over the course of one outrageous trip, sisterhoods are rekindled, the past resurfaces, and there are enough sparks, raunch, and romance to change all their lives in unexpected ways.

rated r for some sexual material, drug use, and language.

“The Fabulous Four aims past the formula trappings and, though its misses might be evident, it also hits the bull’s-eye.” – Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter

“With a game and, dare I say, fabulous cast, The Fabulous Four is charming and it’s a story that at least goes beyond its basic premise.” – Mae Abdulbaki, Screen Rant

“Playing a supremely confident and drug-addled rock star who keeps picking up younger men, Mullally is more than just funny. She creates a whole internal life, a self-conception and a history from which the comedy springs…” – Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

Knuckles

Knuckles (voiced by Idris Elba) trains Wade Whipple (voiced by Adam Pally) to become an Echidna warrior in the (mostly) live-action miniseries set between the films Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and Sonic the Hedgehog 3.

rated tv-pg for violence and mild language.

“Knuckles is an absolute riot. Wade Whipple’s over-the-top antics give the stoic echidna a much-needed foil, and the result is a laugh-a-minute road movie that just happens to be a six-part miniseries. It’s bold, creative, and takes some big swings. And there’s some heartwarming payoff, too, as Knuckles and his hapless human sidekick grow ever closer with each passing episode.” – Ryan Leston, IGN

“While it functions largely as a streaming-only clone of the first film, it displays a personality missing from the mainline movies by veering into welcoming absurdism and whimsy.” – Rendy Jones, RogerEbert.com

“The fact the series never takes itself too seriously gives writers and directors the breathing space they need to include every wild idea that crosses their minds, from musical numbers to training montages inspired by sports films. Because of that, Knuckles is a testament to how a talented and passionate team can turn the most basic story beat into something unique and incredibly entertaining.” – Marco Vito Oddo, We Got This Covered

Reacher: Season 2

Retired Military Police Officer Jack Reacher (Alan Ritchson) is arrested for murder just as he arrives at the small Georgia town of Margrave in this drama series based on Lee Child’s Reacher novels.

rated tv-ma for strong bloody violence, language, sexual content, nudity, thematic material, and smoking.

“Reacher is the series that stands as the ‘crème de la crème’ of Dad TV, and Season 2 only helps cement its status. It’s not even a guilty pleasure; it’s just good television.” – Nate Richard, Collider

“A brawnier, funnier, and more potently entertaining season than its inaugural outing. No wonder Season 3 has already been greenlit.” – Amon Warmann, Empire

“All the components for a helluva good time are here. Ritchson hasn’t lost a step as America’s 21st century answer to the wandering anti-hero archetype, and the show hasn’t forgotten what made the first iteration so entertaining: lots of satisfying ass-kicking by way of a WWE-sized Sherlock Holmes-type. What’s not to love?” – Warren Cantrell, The Playlist

In a Violent Nature

When a locket is removed from a collapsed fire tower in the woods that entombs the rotting corpse of Johnny, a vengeful spirit spurred on by a horrific 60-year-old crime, his body is resurrected, and he becomes hellbent on retrieving it. The undead golem hones in on the group of vacationing teens responsible for the theft and proceeds to methodically slaughter them one by one in his mission to get it back – along with anyone in his way.

not rated. contains graphic violence, strong language throughout, sexual references, thematic material, and drug use.

“From a horror fan’s point of view, this is an absolutely fascinating experiment with form.” – Catherine Bray, The Guardian

“This is an ambitious, methodical, immersive, and admirably devious experiment in conjuring atmosphere and testing gag reflexes. It will quicken your pulse, tighten your throat and – for those on its extremely particular wavelength – bust your gut.” – Barry Hertz, The Globe and Mail

“The fact that In a Violent Nature sets up a storytelling style that utilizes highbrow aesthetics while still keeping one foot firmly planted in the genre gutter is what makes this feel like a once-in-generation slasher flick.” – David Fear, Rolling Stone

The Exorcism

Anthony Miller (Russell Crowe) is a troubled actor who begins to unravel while shooting a supernatural horror film. His estranged daughter, Lee (Ryan Simpkins), wonders if he’s slipping back into his past addictions or if there’s something more sinister at play.

rated r for language, some violent content, sexual references, and brief drug use.

“The pacing can be too stately, but an impressive ensemble working through a surfeit of good ideas compensates for the lack of jump scares.” – Tara Brady, The Irish Times

“This disturbing riff on The Country Girl (the country ghoul?) never seems anything less than earnest and sometimes — all puns intended — a little confessional.” – William Bibbiani, The Wrap

“…something compels about The Exorcism‘s metatextual allure, whether as a companion piece to The Exorcist or The Pope’s Exorcist or any similar thriller about a method actor losing himself in the part.” – Clint Worthington, The Spool

Mothers’ Instinct

Alice and Celine live a traditional lifestyle with successful husbands and sons of the same age. Life’s perfect harmony is suddenly shattered after a tragic accident. Guilt, suspicion and paranoia combine to unravel their sisterly bond.

not rated. contains brief strong violence, language, sexual material, thematic material, and smoking.

“Chastain and Hathaway deliver audacious performances in the twist-a-minute thriller.” – Dustin Chase, Galveston Daily News

“Sophisticated, adult thrillers are few and far between, and Mothers’ Instinct fills the void admirably. With vivid, striking imagery and top-notch production design, the film paints an exciting, moreish portrait of psychological intrigue.” – Barry Levitt, Empire

“Hathaway brings a dark intensity to her portrayal of Celine while Chastain’s Alice is characterized by a poised composure. Their dynamic is compelling, their role reversal keeps the audience guessing about the character’s true intentions and mental state.” – Troy Ribeiro, Free Press Journal

Fresh Kills

The women of the Larusso crime family are no strangers to adapting to tough circumstances. In the wake of their world being unexpectedly uprooted, these women learn to fend for themselves in New York City during the late 20th century, even with the cards stacked against them. Led by their unsteady but loving mother Francine (Jennifer Esposito), two very different sisters — destructive Connie (Odessa A’zion) and dutiful Rose (Emily Bader) — are the next generation of women who must grow up in this turbulent world controlled by unspoken rules that dictate who they are and who they become.

not rated. contains strong language, bloody violence, thematic content, and smoking.

“Esposito’s debut is an exciting arrival from a newly minted auteur. Fresh Kills is a fresh take on a familiar subject, with enough splendid brutality to go around the whole table twice.” – Michael Talbot-Haynes, Film Threat

“Esposito gives a voice to the voiceless or quieted characters with the kind of rapturous bombast that will knock you on your ass.” – Douglas Davidson, Elements of Madness

“Jennifer Esposito makes a firecracker filmmaking debut that shows a side of the mobster coin that’s largely forgotten – or, at least, overshadowed by male-centric bravado and gun-slinging entertainment of typical gangster films.” – Preston Barta, Denton Record-Chronicle

Restore Point

It’s the year 2041, and humanity has reached the point where it can cheat death. Anyone who dies an unnatural death has the right to be brought back to life. All you have to do is to create a backup of your personality – a restore point – at least every forty-eight hours. But there exists a movement of people who try to sabotage this concept. Agent Em finds herself drawn into a case that is not as simple as it first seemed and the consequences of which reach to the highest levels of politics.

not rated. contains violence, strong language, and sexual references.

“With its looming, angular and alienating architecture, and thoroughly considered technological and ethical future landscape, this is a phenomenal and inventive piece of world-building from Prague-based director Robert Hloz.” – Wendy Ide, Screen Daily

“Glossy and gripping, Czech director Robert Hloz’s ambitious and impressively polished debut feature boasts high-calibre production design and a dense, twist-heavy, techno-dystopian plot that feels at times like an extended episode of the cult Netflix series Black Mirror.” – Stephen Dalton, The Film Verdict

“Marrying glossy mainstream genre aesthetics to probing, elaborately conceived speculative storytelling, this is a notably ambitious and auspiciously well-realized first feature for Hloz: the kind that appears to be flaunting his capabilities for even bigger international and Hollywood assignments.” – Guy Lodge, Variety

Uproar

New Zealand, 1981. When the arrival of the South African rugby team sets off nationwide protests against apartheid and racism. Josh Waaka (Julian Dennison), a 17-year-old of mixed race who has been a passive bystander all his life, is suddenly forced to stand up for himself, his whānau, or family, and his future.

rated pg-13 for thematic material involving racism, strong language, some violence, and a crude gesture.

“A story of family expectations, self-realization, and political altercations, Uproar packs an emotional punch while remaining consistently funny.” – Stephen Holland, Screen Rant

Wildcat

Wildcat invites the audience to weave in and out of celebrated Southern Gothic writer Flannery O’Connor’s mind as she ponders the great questions of her writing: Can scandalous art still serve God? Does suffering precede all greatness? Can illness be a blessing? In 1950, Flannery (Maya Hawke) visits her mother Regina (Laura Linney) in Georgia when she is diagnosed with lupus at twenty-four years old. Struggling with the same disease that took her father’s life when she was a child and desperate to make her mark as a great writer, this crisis pitches her imagination into a feverish exploration of belief. As she dives deeper into her craft, the lines between reality, imagination, and faith begin to blur, allowing Flannery to ultimately come to peace with her situation and heal a strained relationship with her mother.

not rated. contains sexual material and smoking.

“It’s a soulful, pointed and unconventional grappling with the mysteries of the deeply Catholic, norm-shattering Georgia native’s life and work.” – Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times

“Wildcat is an inventive and haunting mood piece with a number of memorable scenes.” – Richard Roeper, Chicago Sun-Times

“Largely nonlinear, this fine depiction of a great author avoids typical biopic trappings, instead concentrating on the rhythms of the artistic process and capturing O’Connor’s voice in a visual way.” – Jeffrey M. Anderson, Common Sense Media

The Absence of Eden

An ICE Agent struggling with the moral dilemmas of border security and an undocumented woman fighting to escape a ruthless cartel cross paths and work together to save the life of an innocent girl.

rated r for violent content, language, and some sexual content.

“In this taut and gripping drama from director/co-writer Marco Perego (Zoe’s real-life husband), Saldaña delivers arguably her most impactful performance yet in a film that mirrors today’s headlines but eschews overt political commentary in favor of an unsparing, realistic and sometimes tragic story about humanity, and in some cases, the lack thereof.” – Richard Roeper, Chicago Sun-Times

“Despite The Absence of Eden’s flaws, it will likely make viewers think about the reasons that people undertake the harrowing journey to the United States and how vulnerable they are to exploitation and violence.” – Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media

“While the film packs plenty of action and moves swiftly, the emphasis here is on humanity, and showing that these people caught up in harrowing circumstances are people just like us.” – Pete Hammond, Deadline

Reverse the Curse

Ted (Logan Marshall-Green), a failed writer-turned-Yankees Stadium peanut slinger, moves back home after learning of the failing health of his Red Sox-obsessed father, Marty (David Duchovny). While Marty strives to make amends for his past, his health drops abruptly whenever his beloved Sox lose a game. To keep his dad’s spirits up, Ted takes matters into his own hands and manufactures a winning streak with the help of a crew of dad’s neighborhood pals. In the process, Ted strikes up a bond with Marty’s charming “Death Specialist,” Marianna (Stephanie Beatriz), and the prospect of a new love reignites his ambitions.

not rated. contains language, sexual material, brief nudity, and thematic material.

“Though it takes place within the familiar thematic ground of terminal illness and fathers and sons, that willingness to take emotional risks, alongside the finely-drawn characters and beautiful performances, makes [Reverse the Curse] a deeply lovely movie. His first film may have been a dud, but 20 years later, Duchovny the writer/director has finally proven himself a force to be reckoned with.” – Chloe Walker, Paste

“One needn’t be a member of Red Sox Nation or even a baseball fan to enjoy Reverse the Curse. It’s enough to have worked at a relationship between a parent and an adult child.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies

“[Reverse the Curse] is one of Tribeca 2023’s finest offerings. It’s a film that, like Bucky Dent, will come out of nowhere and hit a home run of tears and cheers in one of the year’s most enjoyable entries.” – David Gonzalez, The Cinematic Reel

Satan Wants You

Satan Wants You tells the untold story of how the Satanic Panic of the 1980s was ignited by Michelle Remembers, a lurid memoir by psychiatrist Larry Pazder and his patient Michelle Smith. Supported by the Catholic Church, the bestselling book relied on recovered-memory therapy to uncover Michelle’s childhood abduction by baby-stealing Satanists. Amplified by law enforcement and America’s Daytime TV boom, satanic rumors spread through panic-stricken communities across the world, leaving a wave of destruction and wrongful convictions in their wake. This film digs deep into the roots of moral panics and cult conspiracies, showing how these events still affect and distort our reality today.

not rated. contains disturbing content, thematic material, and language.

“A clever look at mass hysteria, morality, fear-induced misinformation, and how shocking, gruesome stories have the power to distort and damage reality if marketed well.” – Serena Seghedoni, Loud and Clear Reviews

“Terrifying, frustrating, hilarious, and occasionally infuriating, Satan Wants You is a gripping and entertaining look at a not-so-entertaining point in history.” – J Hurtado, ScreenAnarchy

“While it might be easy to look back now and laugh at the absurdity of baby-eating satanic cults, Satan Wants You offers the frustrating realization that we may not have collectively grown much (if at all) in information literacy in the 40 years since.” – Chandler Walter, The Georgia Straight

The Secret Art of Human Flight

After the death of his wife, Ben Grady (Grant Rosenmeyer) stumbles upon a self-help book by an enigmatic guru named “Mealworm” (Paul Raci), who claims to have harnessed the power to fly. The book arrives… and so does Mealworm, forcing Ben to navigate his family life, accusations of foul play, and the bizarre rituals laid before him in the hopes of healing and, just maybe, achieving flight.

“Written by Jesse Orenshein, the script for The Secret Art of Human Flight is just as inventive as it is emotional.” – Monica Castillo, RogerEbert.com

“The Secret Art of Human Flight feels like a creatively unrestricted A24 film… a must-watch for fans of weird and wonderful storytelling. It’s a bold celebration of life and humanity in the most original way.” – Justin Bower, Loud and Clear

“Truly, the finished product of The Secret of Human Flight is greater than the sum of its parts.” – Benjamin Franz, Film Threat

Banel & Adama

Banel and Adama are fiercely in love. The young married couple lives in a remote village in northern Senegal. For them, nothing else exists except each other. But for the rest of their tight-knit village, duty dictates that Adama soon accept the role of chief. The two lovers have their own plans… until something in the air changes. The rains do not come, the cattle begin to die, the men leave. The curse weighs on Adama’s sense of duty, and the chasm between them drives Banel into a feverish, mystical chaos.

not rated. contains mild violence, bloody images, sexual references, and thematic material.

“Banel & Adama is a striking debut that puts Sy on the map as a purveyor of deceptively gorgeous visions that show flimsy desires at the mercy of the social, and literal, weather.” – Sophie Monks Kaufman, IndieWire

“The directorial debut of French-Senegalese filmmaker Ramata-Toulaye Sy, this is one of those pictures to which the phrase ‘every frame a painting’ might apply.” – Glenn Kenny, RogerEbert.com

“From sombre Islamic prayers to café-touba-fuelled socialising, Banel & Adama is stitched beautifully together from the fabric of rural Senegalese traditions.” – Phil de Semlyen, Time Out

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