Jesse Peretz directed City on Fire about someone shooting an NYU college student in Central Park on July 4, 2003. Based on the book of the same name by Garth Risk Hallberg, Apple TV has turned the story into an episodic series.
The investigation connects her to mysterious citywide fires and the downtown music scene.
A wealthy uptown real estate family enters the fray under the strain of the many secrets they keep.
Robert Rodriguez directs Ben Affleck in Hypnotic, a film about hypnosis altering Affleck’s mental perception. Watch the trailer, and the plot is hard to follow.
The film follows a detective, played by Affleck, who learns his missing daughter, played by Hala Finley, relates to a string of high-profile bank robberies.
He takes us on a mind-bending journey to find out the truth about his daughter. He joins Diana Cruz, played by Alice Braga, who opens his eyes to the hypnotic suggestions caused by a secret government agency.
We soon learn the madness associated with the sinister mystery man, played by William Fichtner.
Mark Forster, who brought us Finding Neverland, Christopher Robin and A Man Called Otto, directed White Bird. The story is from White Bird: A Wonder Story, by the best-selling author of Wonder.
The film follows Julian, played by Bryce Gheisar, who has struggled to belong. It all started when his former school expelled him for his treatment of Auggie Pullman.
To transform his life, Julian’s grandmother, played by Helen Mirren, finally reveals her story of courage to Julian. During her youth in Nazi-occupied France, a boy shelters her from mortal danger.
In his grandmother’s story, we find first love in an enchanting, magical world of their creation, while the boy’s mother, played by Gillian Anderson, risks everything to keep her safe.
Screenwriter Mark Bomback brings R.J. Palacio’s uplifting book to the screen, telling how one act of kindness can live forever.
Rob Savage directs The Boogeyman from the producers of Stranger Things, based on a short story of the same name by Stephen King.
The film follows high school student Sadie Harper, played by Sophie Thatcher, and her little sister, Sawyer, played by Vivien Lyra. They’re still emotionally shaken from the death of their mother.
Their father, Will, a therapist played by Chris Messina, is not giving them much support because he has intense emotional pain from her death.
A desperate patient, played by David Dastmalchian, of Will’s unexpectedly shows up at their house, seeking help. He leaves behind a terrifying supernatural entity. The entity preys on families, feeding off the suffering of its victims.
J. J. Johnson wrote, produced and directed Jane, a kids and family movie.
Ava Louise Murchison stars as Jane Garcia, a 9-year-old budding environmentalist on a quest to save endangered animals.
Using her powerful imagination, Jane takes her best friends David, played by Mason Blomberg, and Greybeard, the chimpanzee, on epic adventures to help protect wild animals all around the world. Her reasoning is, according to her idol Dr. Jane Goodall: “Only if we understand will we care. Only if we care will we help. Only if we help can they be saved.”
Other cast members include Tamara Almeida and Dan Abramovich.
Jesse Peretz directs The Last Thing He Told Me, starring Jennifer Garner. Based on Laura Dave’s novel, the movie follows Hannah Hall, played by Garner, whose husband Owen disappears without a trace.
He leaves a note with three words, “Protect Her. HH,” referring to her stepdaughter, Bailey.
Hannah soon discovers dark secrets that place both of their lives in danger.
Dave’s novel was a page-turner until the end, like a bullet hitting the water, disappointing. It’ll be interesting to see how Peretz ends the movie.
André Øvredal directs The Last Voyage of the Demeter, based on a chilling chapter from Bram Stoker’s classic novel Dracula.
The scary story is about a Demeter ship carrying 50 wooden crates from Carpathia to London.
Strange events occur to the doomed crew as they attempt to survive the ocean voyage, stalked each night by a ruthless presence onboard the ship.
When the Demeter finally arrives off the shores of England, it is a charred, derelict wreck. There is no trace of the crew.
The cast of the horror movie includes Corey Hawkins, Aisling Franciosi, Liam Cunningham and David Dastmalchian.
Films directed by André Øvredal:
The Autopsy of Jane Doe
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark
Trollhunter
Mortal
Kyle Patrick Alvarez directs the American science fiction drama, Crater, written by John Griffin.
A young boy named Wes, played by Isaiah Russell-Bailey, lives in a lunar colony on the Moon with his father, played by Samuel Caleb Hunt, and other residents. Wes has almost reached the age where he’s sent to Earth for medical testing. Before he leaves, he and his friends explore the Moon, notably a crater near the colony.
During their exploration, Wes and his friends encounter distinct challenges and obstacles to test their strength, loyalty and courage.
The film touches on tropes like coming of age, friendships, family and the human desire for exploring and discovery.
Other cast members include Mckenna Grace, Billy Barratt, Orson Hong, Thomas Boyce and Scott Mescudi. From the producers of Stranger Things, the movie will stream on Disney +.
Charlie Day directs and stars in this satirical comedy about a down-on-his-luck publicist, played by Ken Jeong. He discovers a recently released mental health patient, played by Charlie Day, whom he hopes will reboot his career.
The person with a mental health condition replaces a misbehaving movie star that looks just like him. The publicist substitutes him into the film, creating a new star. Despite the publicist’s decision to name him “Latte,” fame and fortune failed to bring the fulfillment he had hoped for.
Fool’s Paradise has a stellar cast, including Kate Beckinsale, Adrien Brody, the late Ray Liotta, Jason Sudeikis, Edie Falco, John Malkovich, Common and Jillian Bel.
Fool’s Paradise may be the late Liotta’s last film since he passed away after the film had wrapped production.
Poking fun at a mental health patient is not very kind and has nothing to do with a story about “anyone” can find success in the film business. The storyline steals from The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain.
Let’s find movies that expose the atrocities psychiatrists administer to these poor people in the name of “help.”
