1. // Dune: Part Two
When Denis Villeneuve (Blade Runner 2049) directed Dune : Part One (2021) he created an epic modern Sci-Fi saga, that masterfully retold the tale of Frank Herbert’s vintage 1965 novel. With a style and tone that suited the Dune vision perfectly, one that was vastly different from David Lynch’s 1984 interpretation, and with jaw dropping visuals and stunning special F/X. The film starred Timothée Chalamet (Wonka) as Paul Artreides, heir to the House Artreides dynasty, and son to Duke Leto Artreides (Oscar Isaac – Ex Machina) – who is double crossed and murdered. This is an act which drags Paul, his mother Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson – Doctor Sleep), and their surviving allies into war.
Part One finished on one hell of a cliff hanger, ending somewhat abruptly just as Paul and Jessica are about to regroup and plot their revenge. And now some 30-ish months later Villeneuve finally delivers the second part of this epic space story. Vintage actor Christopher Walken (The Deer Hunter) joins the cast as Shaddam IV, Emperor of the known universe and co-plotter of the downfall of House Artreides, with the film just as visually stunning as its predecessor. The movie is a little more action-heavy, not having to relying on setting up the complicated lore and world building that Part One needed to do. However it would appear that this is far from the concluding chapter of the cinematic Dune saga, leaving a number of answered questions and open ended plot points, which are now surely going to be wrapped up in a third chapter. KZ
2. // The Iron Claw
Released in the UK on Feb 9th 2024, The Iron Claw is an intriguing biopic charting the story of the Von Erich’s. A Texan family of wrestling royalty, who rose to prominence through the 70s and 80s. And while on the surface level this is a tale about the trials and tribulations of making it in the professional wrestling circuits, much like Darren Aronofsky’s The Wrestler (2008) starring Mickey Rourke (Angel Heart) – The Iron Claw is so much more. A thoroughly engaging family drama full of tragedy, as well as providing a tale of hope at the core of its narrative.
The movie is written and directed by Sean Durkin (Dead Ringers) and stars Zac Efron (Firestarter) as Kevin Von Erich, the oldest brother and heir to the patriarch of the family – the domineering and often abusive Fritz (Holt McCallany – Mindhunter). Along with his brothers Kerry (Jeremy Allen White) and David (Harris Dickinson), Kevin navigates his way in the wrestling world, while dealing with the complexities of his own personal life and that of a number of heart breaking tragedies within his family. The Iron Claw is a stunning melodrama, and despite the masterfully crafted set pieces, you absolutely do not need to be a fan of wrestling in order to enjoy this story. KZ
3. // Lisa Frankenstein
Lisa Frankenstein is the directorial debut of Zelda Williams (daughter of the late great Robin Williams) and was written by Diablo Cody, screenwriter of Cult-Horror Jennifer’s Body (2009) as well as the award winning Juno (2007). The movie which is set in 1989 stars Kathryn Newton (Freaky) as Lisa, a teenage outcast struggling to settle into a new high school. She’d rather spend time alone reading in a cemetery, than spend time with her other students. And after a freak accident she is thrown together with the reanimated corpse of a Victorian gentleman, who is buried at her favourite spot.
The Creature and Lisa fall in love and she finds herself hiding his existence, as well as the fact that he has started killing those around them in the hope of stealing their body parts, in order to make himself whole again. Lisa Frankenstein provides a glorious 80s aesthetic, some good gore and a gothic Tim Burton – esq vibe, with more than a nod of course to Mary Shelley’s classic 1818 novel. An intriguing Horror-Comedy which is a solid debut for Zelda Williams, who has created a visually stylish tone, in a movie that stands as a great ‘gateway’ Horror flick for the modern generation. KZ
4. // Society Of The Snow
A re-telling based on the true story of a Uruguayan rugby team, whose plane crashed in 1972 high up in the Andes while en-route to Chile, leaving a number of survivors stranded and isolated for over two months in horrendous snowy conditions. The story was originally made famous on the screen in the 1993 film Alive directed by Frank Marshall (Arachnophobia) which starred Ethan Hawke (Training Day) in a movie that became notorious for its depiction of the cannibalism the survivors of the crash turn to in order to stay alive.
This Spanish language film has been a huge hit for Netflix and has found itself with a number of prestigious award nominations. Directed by J.A Bayona (The Orphanage), Society Of The Snow shows the plane crash as intense and thrilling as any portrayed on film before, while the 70s period aesthetic has been stylishly recreated. Some of the scenes are quite uncomfortably gruesome as the survivors begin to feel the effects of starvation. And they begin to partake in the necessary measures to keep themselves alive, while all other hope seems lost. This is an often harrowing character study into a depiction of a seemingly futile fight for survival, and a thoroughly engaging film from start to finish. KZ
5. // True Detective: Night Country
Ok, so while this one is technically not a movie. The fourth season of HBO Max’s True Detective is a masterclass of cinematic quality, bringing a touch of the supernatural and a Horror tone to the famed TV series. With its arctic like Alaska setting, there is certainly a touch of inspiration from John Carpenter’s The Thing (1992) throughout this absorbing mystery-thriller. The show sees the return of Jodie Foster (The Silence Of The Lambs) starring as the towns Chief of Police Liz Danvers, as she investigates the strange disappearance of eight men from a remote research facility.
At the heart of the story is a great mystery that ties the disappearance of the workers with events of the past, while diving deep into the heart of the small town Alaskan community and the secrets that some of the towns folk harbour. Former professional Boxing world champion Kali Reis (Catch The Fair One) also stars as Detective Evangeline Navarro, who teams up with Danvers to unravel the riddle. While due to the supernatural element of the story and it’s strong distinct setting, Night Country very much feels like it pays homage to classic shows like The X Files. KZ
6. // Night Swim
Night Swim is the feature length directorial debut of filmmaker Bryce McGuire, who wrote and based the Supernatural-Horror feature on his own 2014 short film of the same name. And the movie marks the newest released co-production between Blumhouse (Paranormal Activity) and James Wan’s Atomic Monster (The Conjuring Universe). It also marks the first notable Horror cinema release of 2024, something the production team also provided with the release of M3GAN in January 2023.
Night Swim opens with a scene setting up the premise, when in 1992 a young girl goes out to her family’s swimming pool at night to retrieve her younger brothers toy boat. As she does so she is pulled under the water by an unseen malevolent force. Shooting forward to the present day, Ray (Wyatt Russell – Overlord) and Eve Waller (Kerry Condon – The Banshees of Inisherin) move to the very same house with their own young family, after Ray is forced to medically retire from playing professional baseball. He uses the pool as part of his rehabilitation and recovery process, but as Ray spends more time in the pool a strange and disturbing change seems to manifest within him. KZ
Words by Mark Bates
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