By Tony Beal
IN THEATERS
“Heretic”
Mormon missionaries find their faith put to the test with a psychological game of terror.Something as simple as a conversation can be turned into a fascinating test of faith. In “Heretic”, we find two missionaries put to the test when trying to spread the word. This film pushes the limits in an intense array of what seems like everyday decisions which turn terrifying. This, combined with some of the most intense performances I have seen, keeps you on the edge of your seat from beginning to the end. One of my favorite scenes began with a door marked “BELIEF.” I obviously won’t spoil it for you, but be assured, nothing is as simple as it looks. The film is paced so well that you will be surprised how fast nearly two hours goes by, despite its seemingly slow-paced nature. Hugh Grant is especially terrific here in a role type we’ve not yet seen him in. This was a great showcase for directors Beck & Woods after last year’s dismal “65.”
“Small Things Like These”
An Irish father discovers disturbing secrets at his local convent.Cillian Murphy is, as always, great. He commands your attention in his soft-spoken manner, bringing a pain to the role that you can’t help but feel for. Accentuating Murphy’s performance is director Tim Mielants photographic vision, delivering a wet and dour look that creates the perfect mood. Unfortunately, the overall story of the film feels rushed and a fair amount of it is spent on flashbacks which, in my opinion, could have been replaced by more of the current timeline story. By the end I felt like an entire act had been left out. Addressing an unfortunate part of Irish history that’s gone overlooked, it was a shame to have lost the chance to provide more content that is sadly relevant to this day. Meilants missed the true potential of this story.
ON APPLE TV+
“Blitz”
A young boy makes his way back home during the Blitz of World War II.Steve McQueen’s newest project boasts his biggest scale film yet. Luckily for us, it doesn’t lose any of the personal feeling that his previous works are known for. We see an entire lifetime’s worth of experiences in the people met and adventures had for both George (Elliot Hefferman) and Rita (Saoirse Ronan), as the mother and son search for each other on their separate journeys home. The terms unique, inspiring, and heartbreaking hardly do the cast of characters justice. Of particular note is Benjamin Clementine who plays the soldier Ife. Again, no spoilers, but be prepared. The film is reminiscent of Spielberg at points, particularly with the blocking and camerawork done during action scenes. My only suggestion of change for the director would have been to spend a bit more time filling out the ending. It doesn’t hurt the film, but I would have loved to see more. This film deserved a much bigger theatrical release.
ON SHUDDER/AMC+
“MadS”
A young man comes across a stranger which begins a chain reaction that has deadly consequences.
“MadS’” take on how the zombie apocalypse began is interesting, but its execution leaves something to be desired. The films one take gimmick, while impressive, serves as a detriment to its overall pacing and tension. If anything, this style only showcases a massive amount of noise with no real meat to the script. It reminds me of a theme park ride – full of crazy emotional ups and downs, but no context. By the end, I was wondering what the point was.
NEW RELEASES
December 6
Y2K
Werewolves
The Return
Get Away
Solo Leveling -ReAwakening-
The Order (Limited)
Hard Truths (Limited)
The End (Limited)
Oh, Canada (Limited)
Nightb*tch (Limited)
Unstoppable: The Anthony Robles Story (Limited)
December 11
Maria (Netflix)
December 13
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim
Kraven The Hunter
Nickel Boys (Limited)
The Last Showgirl (Limited)
On Becoming A Guinea Fowl (Limited)
Carry-On (Netflix)
December 20
Sonic The Hedgehog 3
Mufasa: The Lion King
The Brutalist (Limited)
The Room Next Door (Limited)
December 25
Nosferatu
Babygirl
The Fire Inside
A Complete Unknown
Better Man (Limited)
