The Gilded Age: Season 3
After her success at the opera and defeat of old money divisions, Bertha Russell is indebted to the Duke of Buckingham. Promising her own daughter’s hand in marriage, the Russell family face internal strife on the basis of her unilateral decision-making. Meanwhile, budding journalist Peggy Scott is busy with a new romance as Black wealth in Newport is on the rise.
“…the best and most eventful [season] yet… If you aren’t watching this show yet there’s never been a better time to start.” – Sean Farrell, AFPL Journal
“[A] must watch for any fans of Downton Abbey, historical romance, and upstairs-downstairs intrigue… stunning costumes, elaborate sets, and plenty of drama – absolutely recommended!” – Erin Brown, AFPL Journal
“…The Gilded Age has never been better, and it’s a joy to watch it so confidently become the show it was always meant to be.” – Lacy Baugher, Paste
rated tv-ma. contains bloody images, mild language, and thematic material.
Black Phone 2
Four years ago, 13-year-old Finn killed his abductor and escaped, becoming the sole survivor of The Grabber. But true evil transcends death, and the phone is ringing again.
“This is a horror that’s in love with scary movies; a post-modern remix of genre classics filmed through an arthouse gauze that never obscures its goofy sense of humour.” – Jordan Bassett, NME
“There are scares, surprises, and it feels different, but also like a natural companion piece to the first movie.” – Simon Thompson, The Playlist
“The most impressive feat Black Phone 2 pulls off is finding a way to bring The Grabber back that feels coherent and actually adds to the character. We get some backstory on the child-abductor that comes across as deepening the character rather than just answering questions that no one asked.” – Rafael Motomayor, /Film
rated r for strong violent content, gore, teen drug use, and language.
Good Fortune
A well-meaning but rather inept angel named Gabriel (Keanu Reeves) meddles in the lives of a struggling gig worker and a wealthy venture capitalist.
“Good Fortune is a refreshing comedy that audiences haven’t seen in a while, a movie with a message that both advocates for a cause and entertains.” – Rodrigo Perez, The Playlist
“It’s a well-made directorial debut that shows a love for cinematic history and unique sensibility to build upon it rather than simply homage.” – Jared Mobarak, The Film Stage
“Ansari’s screenplay makes the most of the comedy talents of himself, Palmer and Rogen, with each getting their fair share of jabs and zingers. Yet Reeves is the star of the movie, giving the best comedic performance of the year.” – Robert Daniels, Screen Daily
rated r for language and some drug use.
A Big Bold Beautiful Journey
What if you could open a doorway and walk through it to re-live a defining moment from your past? Sarah (Margot Robbie) and David (Colin Farrell) are single strangers who meet at a mutual friend’s wedding and soon, through a surprising twist of fate, find themselves on A Big Bold Beautiful Journey – a funny, fantastical, sweeping adventure together where they get to re-live important moments from their respective pasts, illuminating how they got to where they are in the present… and possibly getting a chance to alter their futures.
“Operating on a grander scale, Kogonada still retains his singular, warm sensibility – and if you can succumb to the film’s heart-on-its-sleeve sentimentality, it’s a journey worth taking.” – Iana Murray, Little White Lies
“A Big Bold Beautiful Journey won’t work for everyone, but hearts of a certain shape may treasure it.” – Josh Larsen, Larsen on Film
“Kogonada delightfully exploits the simple joy of beautiful people falling in love on screen. He deploys his trademark empathy as a means of encouragement: Go with it, be open, and maybe this will make you feel something lovely if you let it.” – Conor O’Donnell, The Film Stage
rated r for language.
The Strangers: Chapter 2
The Strangers are back – more brutal and relentless than ever. When they learn that one of their victims, Maya (Madelaine Petsch), is still alive, they return to finish what they’ve started. With nowhere to run and no one to trust, Maya must survive another horrific chapter of terror as The Strangers – driven by a senseless, unceasing purpose – pursue her, more than willing to kill anyone who stands in their way.
“For roughly the length of a TV episode, it floats above its ugly franchise architecture in a dreamlike state of divine ridiculousness.” – Jesse Hassenger, Paste
“Harlin is a bricklayer… [and Chapter 2 is] assisted by Harlin’s use of new physical spaces to accompany differing types of philosophical challenges.” – Joshua Peinado, In Review Online
“It’s hard to make the case that Chapter 2 has anything new to offer. Yet I can’t deny its entertainment value which is mostly the result of Harlin’s craftsmanship.” – Keith Garlington, Keith & the Movies
rated r for bloody violence and language.
Code 3
Code 3 follows a burned-out paramedic taking on one final 24-hour shift to train his replacement, only to find the night spiraling into chaos. Packed with heart, humor, and high-stakes action, the film is a ride from start to finish.
“Rainn Wilson gives one of his best performances in this compelling action comedy.” – Shawn Van Horn, Collider
“Code 3 is a heart-warming drama disguised as a cynical dark comedy, but that is precisely what makes it so good.” – Ben Gibbons, Screen Rant
“Funny, sad, and heartfelt in equal measure, this is one of the most surprising gems of the year.” – Louisa Moore, Screen Zealots
rated r for language throughout, violent content / bloody images, some drug material, and brief graphic nudity.
Dead of Winter
Hit by a blizzard, a grief-stricken loner (Emma Thompson) gets lost among backroads near a Minnesotan lake and stops for help at a remote cabin in the woods. Here she discovers a young woman (Laurel Marsden) kidnapped by a desperate couple (Judy Greer, Marc Menchaca) who are armed and intent on murder. Isolated and without cell service, this unlikely hero realizes she is the woman’s only hope of survival.
“Kirk’s film is a surprisingly lyrical and quite gritty, intimate thriller, one that makes the best of its unorthodox choice of performers to tell a story that is equal parts tender and savage.” – Jim Vorel, Paste
“Dead of Winter has an old-school barnstorming brashness, some edge-of-the-seat tension, a mile-wide streak of sentimentality, a dash of broad humour and a horrible flourish of the macabre.” – Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian
“It’s suspenseful and smart. It’s got great performances across the board. It’s exactly the kind of thriller we keep saying we want, again and again, but which never get enough credit (or enough marketing).” – William Bibbiani, The Wrap
rated r for violence and language.
Dream Eater
A filmmaker documents her boyfriend’s violent parasomnia during their holiday at a remote cabin in the woods, and as his sleepwalking gets worse, she believes the cause might be something far more sinister.
“A conventional found footage horror movie gets a creepy Lovecraftian twist.” – Meagan Navarro, Bloody Disgusting
“Dream Eater isn’t some new masterpiece of the genre, but it does manage to deliver a genuinely creepy time, and sometimes that’s more than enough.” – Daniel Gorman, In Review Online
“Dream Eater is, without a doubt, the kind of scary that horror lovers’ dreams—or rather, nightmares—are made of.” – Rachel Shatto, MovieJawn
not rated. contains violence, strong language including sexual references, brief nudity, and drug use.
Lavender Men
While working on a poorly attended play about Abraham Lincoln, the show’s lonely stage manager daydreams an elaborate fantasia about the 16th President’s gay love affair.
“With one of the year’s best romances, award-worthy performances, and a reminder to believe in your own exceptionalism, this is a timely, rewarding, and memorable experience that shouldn’t be missed.” – Sean Farrell, AFPL Journal
“It’s a film with potent ideas, inner conflict, historical imagination, dramatic challenge, queer power, human fragility, humor, sex, pathos. It’s hard to pin down exactly what makes it great, and that’s what makes it great. There’s so much to its muchness that the veneer can hardly contain it, not unlike Taffeta themself.” – William Bibbiani, The Wrap
“As heartbreaking and often infuriating as Lavender Men is in its reflection of problematic American ideals, it’s a beautiful, deeply affecting film about self-acceptance and the courage to rewrite our own story.” – Stephanie Malone, Morbidly Beautiful
not rated. contains strong language, sexual content, brief graphic nudity, and thematic content.
Between the Lights
Perky scientist Alice dates self-deprecating medium Jay, yet doubts his metaphysical skillset. A festive love story with a sprinkling of magic realism, Between the Lights addresses the mysteries of the cosmos and the question of life after death.
“Between The Lights is one of the cleverest and most authentic holiday romances ever made, showing that brain and the heart can sometimes share the same floor.” – Michael Talbot-Haynes, Film Threat
“The flaws are excusable given the film’s complexity, and it builds to a shivery and lovelorn climax reminiscent of Truly Madly Deeply and The Box of Delights.” – Phil Hoad, The Guardian
not rated. contains mild language including sexual references and thematic content.
Animal Tales of Christmas Magic
Enchanting stories unfold in Animal Tales of Christmas Magic where festive wonders come to life. Delve into these heartwarming and modern tales as animals embark on spellbinding journeys from France to Japan to the Far North and its northern lights, spreading joy and generosity. Each story is a whimsical adventure filled with charm, laughter, and the beauty of the winter season. Let the poetry captivate your heart and transport you to a world where Christmas magic knows no bounds.
“At 70 minutes, it’s an easy watch for little ones, and a worthy candidate for a new childhood Christmas tradition.” – Josh Bell, Crooked Marquee
not rated.
Bury Me When I’m Dead
After failing to keep his wife’s dying wish, a series of tragic events leads Henry to believe she’s returned to get revenge.
“With constant changes that still feel consistent and a dread that keeps growing with every minute, this psychological thriller is a perfect encapsulation of how well multiple genres can weave into each other.” – Nick Bythrow, Screen Rant
“Bury Me When I’m Dead is an ambitious first feature, one that aims to transcend conventional horror.” – Terry Sherwood, Film Threat
not rated. contains strong language, mild violence, bloody images, sexual content, thematic content, and drug use.
The library does not receive payment for inclusion on this list.
Plot summaries are provided by the films’ respective studios or distributors.
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