While many people tend to immediately switch into “Holiday Mode” after Halloween has passed by, watching movies likePlanes, Trains, and Automobiles,Home for the Holidays, or a variety of Christmas classics, new releases this weekend seem to be clinging onto the more dark and macabre genre of movies to choose from this week. Sales from the box office last week are still neck and neck withVenom: The Last Dancemaintaining the lead andThe Wild Robotreclaiming the #2 spot, surpassing the horror sequel,Smile 2.
In addition to the new movies coming out, select theaters will also have a special showing ofThe Boondock Saintson Thursday, November 7, and Sunday, November 10 in honor of the 25th anniversary of the film. Additionally, there will be a special weekend showing of the stage production ofSwan Lakeon IMAX screens, featuring the hauntingly beautiful ballet composed by Tchaikovsky. If you were a fan of the filmBlack Swan, the filmed stage performance of the famous Paris Opera Ballet will be at select IMAX theaters on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday this weekend. If you’re looking for something brand new instead, read on to see what’s coming to theaters!
Birdis a must-see movie for fans of gritty, realistic, yet moving “slice of life” dramas. Written and directed byAndrea Arnold(American Honey), the film centers on teenage Bailey (Nykiya Adams) and her younger brother, Hunter (Jason Buda), as they are raised by their father, Bug (Barry Keoghan), in a decrepit flat in Kent, England. Bug is too caught up with the procurement and sale of various drugs and psychedelics, while his children are largely left to their own devices for long periods of time. While Bug does seem to genuinely love his kids and does his best to take care of them, they both struggle in their own ways to thrive under the influence of his dangerous lifestyle. Hunter meets a strange man one day, namedBird, who could either provide the attention that Hunter so desperately craves from his father, or he could lead him down a more sinister path. Keoghan, was reported to join the cast of this film shortly after dropping out of the cast of theRidley Scottepic,Gladiator II. This dark coming-of-age movie is distributed by Mubi, who most recently releasedCoralie Fargeat’s body-horror thriller,The Substance.
‘Elevation’
From the producers ofA Quiet PlaceandThe Purge, this sci-fi thriller featuresAnthony Mackie(Captain America: Civil War) as Will, a single father tasked with keeping his ill son, Hunter (Danny Boyd Jr.) alive in the aftermath of a worldwide apocalypse that occurred three years prior. After strange creatures attack humanity, a few survivors learn through trial and error that the creatures do not venture into areas more than 8,000 feet above sea level. Taking refuge in a cabin high in the mountains of Colorado, Will, his son, and a woman named Nina (Morena Baccarin) do their best to gather food and supplies to survive. When Hunter’s medication runs low, Will decides to venture down the mountain to a nearby hospital in Denver, which has the medical supplies he needs to save his son. Along the way, they meet another survivor, Katie (Maddie Hasson), who joins them on their quest. Aside from knowing that the creatures don’t go past the 8,000-foot elevation mark, the two women are also curious to learn more about them to find a way to kill them and share that information with other survivors throughout the world.Elevationis a fast-paced creature feature that will scratch the itch for moviegoers who aren’t quite ready to dive into Christmas-themed movies just yet!
n the post-apocalyptic Rockies, a father and two women risk their lives by facing monstrous creatures to save a young boy.
Hugh Granttrades in his usual romantic comedy roles for a moredevilishlycharming character in A24’s latest suspense thriller,Heretic. Directed byBryan WoodsandScott Beck, who both worked together previously as writers forA Quiet Placeand65, the movie follows two young Mormon missionaries who go door-to-door in attempts to discuss their religion and possibly convert new members. Sister Barnes (Sophie Thatcher) and Sister Paxton (Chloe East) ring the doorbell for Mr. Reeds (Grant) after a long day of unsuccessful visits with others. While initially charmed by his interest and intelligence regarding various religions, the two women quickly become alarmed when they realize they have been lied to upon entry and are alone in the house with him.
When they ask to leave, he offers them a choice between two doors that he labels “Belief” and “Disbelief.” This cat-and-mouse horror movie is structured much like Mr. Reed’s house… a labyrinth of choices. When asked about the inspiration for Mr. Reed’s character during aninterview with SlashFilm, director Bryan Woods stated that he was an amalgam of a few real-life people.
“…mostly when we were talking about Reed, in particular with Hugh, there’s just a lot of real-life inspirations, oddly enough. you’re able to look at the kind of atheist thinkers out of the UK like Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens. There’s American kind of cult leaders like Keith Raniere, we talked a lot about Keith Raniere of the NXIVM cult, and how he was able to use this almost odd charm [and] this ability to listen, to get people to do what he wants and to control them. So there’s a lot of real-life influences intersecting with the kind of more showmanship of a figure like Vincent Price.”
Two young missionaries are forced to prove their faith when they knock on the wrong door and are greeted by a diabolical Mr. Reed, becoming ensnared in his deadly game of cat-and-mouse.
‘The Piano Lesson’
The Piano Lessonmarks the directorial debut ofMalcolm Washingtonand stars his brother,John David Washington(Tenet),Samuel L. Jackson,Ray Fisher(True Detective),Michael Potts(The Wire),Erykah Badu,Corey Hawkins(The Last Voyage of the Demeter), andDanielle Deadwyler(Till). The movie is based on the 1987 stage play of the same name, written by Pulitzer Prize-winningAugust Wilson,and examines themes of generational identity, trauma, family legacy, and resilience. Set in 1936, a family heirloom, an antique piano hand-carved by an enslaved ancestor, becomes a battleground between family members as they decide whether they should sell it or not. Boy Willie Charles (Washington) wants to sell it to build a family fortune, but his sister, Berniece (Deadwyler), is hellbent on keeping it with the family because of its generational history. Their uncle, Doaker (Jackson), tries to mediate between the siblings but fails to prevent the ghosts of the family’s past from resurfacing. This movie will be released in select theaters this weekend before moving to Netflix on November 22.
The Piano Lesson
In The Piano Lesson, a brother and sister clash over selling a family heirloom piano—he sees it as a path to wealth, while she views it as a vital link to their heritage. Their uncle tries to mediate, but the conflict reveals deep truths about identity, legacy, and the past.
‘The Best Christmas Pageant Ever’
If you’re looking for something a little more uplifting and comedic to get you in the holiday spirit, look no further.The Best Christmas Pageant EverstarsJudy Greer(Jurassic World) as an optimistic mother, Grace, who volunteers to direct her church’s 75th annual Christmas Pageant. Her husband, Bob (Pete Holmes), is apprehensive due to the amount of pressure put on her but is supportive nonetheless. Things seem to go smoothly until the notorious Herdman children decide they want to be a part of the show. Despite being known throughout the small town as trouble-making, borderline feral children, Grace decides to allow the six siblings to join the production in the spirit of the holidays. While she is met with backlash from other members of the church, she persists and insists that they deserve to be included in the event just as much as any other child in town. This heartwarming and hilarious Christmas movie emphasizes themes of understanding, empathy, and opening your heart to others this holiday season.
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: When the notorious Herdman siblings unexpectedly join the local church’s Christmas pageant, their unruly behavior presents a challenge to the community. Despite chaos ensuing, the Herdmans' involvement leads the town to confront unexpected lessons about kindness and understanding, offering a fresh perspective on the holiday spirit.
Check back soon to see what movies are coming to theaters next week!
