CINEMA & HOME RELEASES

With Nosferatu released to high acclaim, two other classic creature inspired flicks head tobluray this month. However, for every The Invisible Man (and Leigh Whannel’s follow up The Wolf Man) there’s a Renfield, so do these recent monster shockers deliver on their legendary statuses? Let’s open the coffin and find out.

Back in the late 90s/early 2000s there was an influx of cinematic supernatural thrillers, and as well as the biggies like The Sixth Sense (1999), What Lies Beneath (2000) and The Others (2001) there were a slew of smaller movies that similarly mixed drama and otherworldly aspects.

After huge hits in the 80s and 90s, director Zemeckis has a patchy record of recent releases of late, but here he combines aspects of previous films to create a gentle piece exploring our regular lives and interactions with others over time.

2022’s horror film Smile came and went with a pretty big shrug from most - including myself - so anticipation for an inevitable franchise sequel hardly set pulses racing.

Coming off movies about Ned Kelly and mass murderer Martin Bryant director Justin Kurzel shifts his focus from Australian history to a dark topic in America’s past with his new crime film exploring racism and violence.

Magpie stars Daisy Ridley as Anette, a wife and mother-of-two whose responsibilities to her family are tested when she suspects her husband of infidelity.

There’s definitely something in the pipes in this lovingly made homage to Ghostwatch, the generation scarring 1992 BBC production from Lesley Manning and Stephen Volk. Writer and director Dominic O’Neill uses the same basic setup (an established television host teaming with a beloved children’s programme presenter to explore reports of poltergeist activity) and incorporates a good dose of humour and some interesting plot moves towards the finale.

Set a short while after the original Joker (2019), the film sees Arthur Fleck facing a trial for his wrongdoings as he struggles to keep his alter ego at bay, find his true love, as well as discovering his love for music.

Action and stunt star (and Midlands-born and raised) Scott Adkins returns this month with another shooting and punch-up extravaganza in the form of assassin-focused flick Take Cover.

A brief documentary-style prologue opens new horror Late Night with the Devil, which tells of the found footage we’re about to view from the never-aired tapes of a (fictional) episode of a 70s TV chat show.

The Substance tells the cautionary tale of Elisabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore), a washed-up celebrity who turns to the mysterious 'substance' to try reliving her glory days - but by doing so, she goes through a sadistic living nightmare, as a younger version of herself (Margaret Qualley) splits from her body.

There’s something wonderfully tangible about Adrien Beau’s directorial debut. It’s shot on Super 16mm, layering the stunning rural locations with a thin grain, combining with the work of cinematographer David Chizallet to create something that wouldn’t have been out of place in a Peter Greenaway production.

The film tells of the summer of 2008 where teenager Chris Wang, who's about to go into high school battles with friendship, love, and family in a beautifully moving coming-of-age story.

Shagadelic baby! Also getting a re-release in August 2024 is The Italian Job for its 55th anniversary. How does this Mini-Cooper crime caper stack up today? Well let’s check it out.

“I’ll be back… in cinemas!” Very much launching James Cameron’s directorial career (yes, he did some Piranha 2), Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Hollywood fame (yes, he had done Conan) and the beginnings of a franchise behemoth - that was eventually ground into endoskeleton dust - this 2024 anniversary release of The Terminator confirms its place as a true milestone in cinema.