海角社区官网

鈥淟ast Rites,鈥� the fourth main entry in 鈥淭he Conjuring鈥� series 鈥� and the ninth in its spooky cinematic universe 鈥� closes out the saga of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. Director Michael Chaves takes an intimate approach with this instalment, rooted in the demonic Smurl Haunting of the 鈥�70s and 鈥�80s in an unlucky Pennsylvania town. Solid performances by the reliable Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga as Ed and Lorraine should make for a story focused less on ghostly spectacle and more on the pair鈥檚 bond and the toll of their work.

What鈥檚 the buzz: Early reactions have been mixed, but that鈥檚 nothing new for this saga 鈥� or any creepshow enterprise, for that matter. Is 鈥淟ast Rites鈥� a fitting farewell or at this point is the franchise more fatiguing than intriguing?

Why I鈥檓 excited: I鈥檓 tempted to drive a stake through the conniving and conjuring heart of this series, but I鈥檝e been reviewing 鈥淐onjuring鈥� films since 2013 and I鈥檓 curious to see the supposed conclusion 鈥� at least until the never-ending story rises from the grave to haunt us once again.

Spinal Tap II: The End Continues (Sept. 12)

It鈥檚 somehow been 41 years since 鈥淭his Is Spinal Tap鈥� first rocked theatres and made us think fondly of Uriah Heep, Jethro Tull and amps turned up to 11. That yawning gap is likewise top of mind for the hapless heavy metal has-beens played by Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer. They鈥檙e once again under the mockumentary lens of Marty DiBergi (Rob Reiner, who also directs). The Tap members are reluctantly contemplating a reunion concert to be played in New Orleans, but first they need to lick old wounds and find a drummer who won鈥檛 die on them.

What鈥檚 the buzz: A sequel arriving four decades later could hardly be described as a hasty cash grab. Tap fans seem eager to 鈥渟mell the glove鈥� once more, judging from the generally positive reaction to the trailer, which includes cameos by Paul McCartney, Elton John and Questlove.

Why I鈥檓 excited: Every rock fan 鈥� and rock band 鈥� loves these guys. But is this really the end, or will the Tap be more like the Who, endlessly retiring then returning for another payday?

Him (Sept. 19)

Shrouded in mystery, genres collide on the gridiron in this creepy sports story directed by Justin Tipping (TV鈥檚 鈥淏lack Monday鈥� and 鈥淒ear White People鈥�) and produced by Jordan Peele (of 鈥淕et Out鈥� and 鈥淣辞辫别鈥� fame). Marlon Wayans (鈥淪cary Movie鈥�) takes a dramatic turn as Isaiah White, a once-great quarterback mentoring a grievously injured up-and-comer, played by Tyriq Withers from this summer鈥檚 remake of 鈥淚 Know What You Did Last Summer.” Under White鈥檚 cultish coaching in an isolated training compound, ambition spirals into obsession. As he ominously puts it: 鈥淵ou have to ask yourself, what am I willing to sacrifice?鈥�

What鈥檚 the buzz: Early word praises Wayans鈥檚 performance. The psychological terror of 鈥淗im鈥� looks very much on brand for Peele鈥檚 production company Monkeypaw and his taste for stories that find horror in everyday life.

Why I鈥檓 excited: Peele鈥檚 sci-fi shocker 鈥淣辞辫别鈥� was my top film of 2022, so I鈥檓 optimistic about his presence in the crowded horror landscape of early autumn 鈥�25.

A Big Bold Beautiful Journey (Sept. 19)

An auteur of intimate dramas, Kogonada (鈥淐olumbus鈥�) levels up with this romantic road-trip fantasy starring Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell. The two play strangers on an otherworldly odyssey, travelling via magical doorways to relive their pasts in pursuit of a better future. Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Kevin Kline round out the main cast in this starry feature that adds a surreal, introspective twist to the rom-com formula.

What鈥檚 the buzz: The A-list cast and trippy visuals, along with director Kogonada鈥檚 steady hand balancing the film鈥檚 fantasy and feels, make it seem like a potential Oscars candidate 鈥� but why is it skipping the fall film festivals?

Why I鈥檓 excited: I loved 鈥淐olumbus鈥� and聽Kogonada鈥檚聽followup, 鈥淎fter Yang,鈥� both of which worked on a smaller scale. I鈥檓 eager to see him painting on a bigger canvas. His thoughtful touch and flair for visuals promise to elevate 鈥淏eautiful Journey鈥� above the standard Hollywood rom-com road trips.

One Battle After Another (Sept. 26)

Paul Thomas Anderson鈥檚 latest joint, a comic action thriller, brings together Leonardo DiCaprio, Benicio del Toro, Regina Hall and Teyana Taylor for the story of ex-revolutionaries racing to save a kidnapped daughter (Chase Infiniti) from a white supremacist (Sean Penn). The $175-million price tag on this project, a modern take on Thomas Pynchon鈥檚 novel 鈥淰ineland,鈥� is a major step up from Anderson鈥檚 usual indie budget: his last film, the excellent 鈥淟icorice Pizza鈥� from 2022, cost a relatively paltry $40 million to produce.

What鈥檚 the buzz: Penn鈥檚 villain is apparently quite terrifying 鈥� the actor鈥檚 already being tipped for an Oscar 鈥� and trailers suggest the film has much chaotic energy going for it. Some online natterers fear the many overlapping narratives and a bladder-testing runtime (150 minutes) will be a bit much.

Why I鈥檓 excited: It鈥檚 always a good year when you get a new PTA movie, and this one somehow combines urban warfare and dysfunctional family dynamics. What鈥檚 not to like about that? Viva la revoluci贸n!