Films That Matter
Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are
It almost felt like Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett’s Ready or Not 2: Here I Come – a sequel to the original horror-comedy hit, were playing the very game it references in the title, as it has been a surprisingly long seven years since the original was released in theatres. Despite the wait, this one starts up literally right where the first concluded, with smoking survivor Grace MacCaullay (Samara Weaving) being brought to a hospital, after which the police would like to question her on all the Le Domas carnage. But, unknowingly to anyone except a select few, her defeat of the satanic gaming family has set in motion a most unique event that will bring together the other elite families that are members of the same Council (that, for all intents and purposes, run the world) – who are all called forth by the head of the table, Chester Danforth (David Cronenberg – yes, the famed horror director).
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Fight for your Rite
The Conjuring: Last RitesOctober 4, 2025Being labeled as the final entry in the franchise in both title and talk from those in the know, The Conjuring: Last Rites (2025), produced by original mastermind James Wan and directed by Michael Chaves (who also manned the third feature), there is no denying that it has a finale feel to it... though, like any lucrative cinematic domain, a haunted door is always found swinging open for another sequel. Now twelve years on from the original horror filled offering, this adventure follows Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga) both forward and backward, opening with a flashback to very early on in their paranormal investigating days when their daughter was first born (keep your eye on an ominous antique mirror), then jumping forward some twenty-two years later into the 1980s... where they’ve taken a step back from their inspections due to Ed’s weak heart.
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Count the Clock
NosferatuOctober 1, 2025Following in the wake of F.W. Murnau’s iconic original 1922 version and the Werner Herzog1979 edition starring Klaus Kinski, modern maestro Robert Eggers follows up his memorable movies The Witch (2015), The Lighthouse (2019), and his sole non horror production The Northman (2022) with his longtime passion project Nosferatu (2024) – which he both wrote the screenplay for and also directed (he has been working on the project since 2015). Once again demonstrating his love for folkloric horror and accurate historical touches, the first two things immediately noticed are its use of real film (which has a distinct look when compared to digital)
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Disappearing Magic Act
WeaponsSeptember 25, 2025Zach Cregger’s follow-up to his surprise horror hit Barbarian (2022) – which was a wildly original premise, that, despite some flaws, ensnared its audience, finds Weapons (2025) doing the very same thing... coming up with a mesmeric premise that is sure to impress fans of the genre. Told in a most engaging way, for some modern viewers it may come across as a tad lethargic, but it better helps grow the mystery, suspense and thrills of this slow-burner of a story – as its non-linear approach may answer a question or two, while also adding more questions along the way.
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A Rundown
Caught StealingSeptember 18, 2025Reveling in its 1990's era setting, Darren Aronofsky’s crime thriller Caught Stealing (2025), finds new ground within the criminal underworld while also being somewhat reminiscent of movies from that time period like Guy Ritchie’s early works in Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) and Snatch (2000), as well as one offs like The Fugitive (1993), Carlito’s Way (1993), The Boondock Saints (1999), and several others. A rare change of pace for Aronofsky
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Hutchin’ a Ride
Nobody 2August 24, 2025The action renaissance continues to flourish late into the summer of 2025... as Timo Tjahjanto’s Nobody 2 (2025) becomes the most recent blow-up to grace the big screen after nearly a decade of successes (even if that doesn’t always mean at the box office) from the likes of the John Wick franchise (and its spinoff Ballerina), Tom Cruise doing his thing in the last four Christopher McQuarrie fueled Mission: Impossible adventures, George Miller’s post apocalyptic landscape of Mad Max: Fury Road (and its prequel), as well as many memorable standalones like Baby Driver, The Nice Guys, et al. Following the rhythm and cadence of the first movie of the franchise (thanks to screenwriter Derek Kolstad being back– he’s also the mind behind the John Wick universe),
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Naked Gun 44 – Reggie Jackson and Into the Future
The Naked GunAugust 16, 2025Upon hearing that The Naked Gun: from the Files of Police Squad (1988) and its sequels The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear (1991) and Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult (1994) were getting their own reworking of a sequel all these years later, simply titled The Naked Gun (2025), dare I say, it was a tad worrisome. The last decade has been kind to the action and horror genres, but not so for much else... with the last comedies I can remember being either liked or successful ranging all the way back to the buddy cop action comedy The Nice Guys (2016), Game Night and Tag (both 2018), and Good Boys (2019) – of course, there are a few rom/coms and other such things strewn in there, but it hasn’t been a solid stretch for the laugh factory out of Hollywood. Yet, somehow this one has dodged the current comedy killer bullet and survived the dreaded thirty plus year remake/reboot sequel.