Hokum – May 1
Hokum is the third film from writer-director Damian McCarthy (Caveat, Oddity). McCarthy’s films all take place in Ireland and are Irish productions; Hokum very similarly takes aspects of Irish culture to form an Irish folktale horror movie. The film stars Adam Scott (Severance, Parks and Recreation) as a horror novelist who visits a haunted Irish inn without knowing its history. The film premiered at South by Southwest to great reviews from critics. Brian Tallerico from RogerEbert.com said that, “Adam Scott does his best work to date” in Hokum. If you are a fan of McCarthy’s films or enjoyed the film Cuckoo, directed by Tilman Singer, Hokum is the film for you.
I Love Boosters – May 22
One of the most acclaimed films to come out of the South by Southwest Festival was Boots Riley’s, I Love Boosters. Riley’s previous film, Sorry to Bother You, was critically acclaimed after its release in 2018. The upcoming film follows a group of “boosters” who rob high-end fashion stores to sell the products for lower prices. The film has a fantastic wardrobe and cast, including Keke Palmer (Nope, One of Them Days); LaKeith Stanfield (Judas and the Black Messiah, Atlanta); and Demi Moore (The Substance, A Few Good Men). If you enjoyed Sorry to Bother You or other surreal comedies like They Cloned Tyrone or The Lobster, you will surely love I Love Boosters.
Tuner – May 22
Tuner is award-winning documentary director Daniel Roher’s (Navalny, The A.I. Doc: or How I Became an Apocaloptimist) first feature film. The film follows a piano tuner, in dire need of cash to save his mentor’s life, begins helping criminals crack safes. The film stars Leo Woodall (The White Lotus, Nuremburg) as Niki, the piano tuner, and Havana Rose Liu (Bottoms, Lurker) as Ruthie, who serves as the love interest. The film also has a supporting role from veteran actor Dustin Hoffman (Rain Man, Midnight Cowboy). If you are a fan of romance films or heist films, Tuner may spark your interest.
Backrooms – May 29
Backrooms is the directorial debut of Kane Parsons, who is known for directing short films on YouTube about “the backrooms”, a seemingly infinite series of surreal rooms and liminal spaces. The film stars Oscar nominees Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave, The Life of Chuck) and Renate Reinsve (Sentimental Value, The Worst Person in The World), along with horror icon Mark Duplass (Creep, The Morning Show). The film will follow Ejiofor’s character diving into the endless backrooms that he finds hidden in a furniture store. If you’re a fan of psychological horror films such as The Descent or As Above So Below, you may enjoy Backrooms.
Carolina Caroline – June 5
Samara Weaving stars in another film this year, following her leading roles in Ready or Not 2: Here I Come and Over Your Dead Body. In this film directed by Adam Carter Reheimer (Dinner in America, Snack Shack), Weaving plays Caroline, a young woman who wants to escape her home town, who falls in love with a criminal named Oliver. The film follows this unlikely partnership to commit crimes throughout the Southeast. The film has supporting performances from Kyle Gallner (Strange Darling, Smile), Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer, The Summer I Turned Pretty), and Jon Gries (Napoleon Dynamite, The White Lotus). If you like Reheimer’s previous films or romance thrillers like Wild at Heart, you will be fond of Carolina Caroline.
Disclosure Day – June 12
One of the greatest directors of all time, Steven Spielberg (Schindler’s List, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial), is directing Disclosure Day. The film follows a newscaster, played by Emily Blunt (A Quiet Place, Edge of Tomorrow), attempting to uncover an alien conspiracy with the help of a theorist, played by Josh O’Connor (Wake Up Dead Man, Challengers). With Spielberg’s direction and supporting actors such as Colman Domingo (Sing Sing, Euphoria), Colin Firth (The King’s Speech, Kingsman: The Secret Service), and Wyatt Russell (Thunderbolts, 22 Jump Street), Disclosure Day is set to be one of the best films of the year. If you like Spielberg’s films or other science fiction conspiracy movies like Minority Report, Disclosure Day is a must watch.
The Death of Robin Hood – June 19
In 2021, Nicolas Cage starred in the film Pig, in which a truffle farmer goes on a quest for revenge after his pig is stolen. Now the director of Pig, Michael Sarnoski, is premiering a film called The Death of Robin Hood. The film will follow an old, injured Robin Hood who must go on one final quest to finally redeem himself for all the people he has hurt. The film stars Hugh Jackman (The Greatest Showman, Logan), Jodie Comer (28 Years Later, The Bikeriders), and Bill Skarsgard (It, Nosferatu). If you’re a fan of Pig or other action films like John Wick, The Death of Robin Hood on June 19 deserves your attention.
The Invite – June 26
Olivia Wilde’s (Booksmart, Don’t Worry Darling) new film takes the awkwardness of meeting new people and amplifies it to extraordinary levels. The film stars Wilde and Seth Rogen (The Studio, Superbad) as an estranged couple who invite their neighbors over for dinner. The neighbors, Edward Norton (Fight Club, Glass Onion) and Penelope Cruz (Vanilla Sky, Vicky Cristina Barcelona), are two strong actors who will take this movie to another level. If you’re a fan of Wilde’s previous films or Rogen’s comedies, add The Invite to your watchlist.
The Odyssey – July 17
The Odyssey, Homer’s legendary tale, is getting an adaptation directed by Christopher Nolan (Interstellar, The Dark Knight). Nolan’s previous film, Oppenheimer, was a sensation economically and critically, grossing over $975 million and winning a total of 194 awards. The Odyssey will surely follow in those footsteps, having already grossed $1.5 million from pre-order sale tickets. This movie is set to be very successful with the included cast members Matt Damon (Good Will Hunting, The Bourne Identity); Tom Holland (Spider-Man: Homecoming, The Impossible); Zendaya (Euphoria, Dune); Anne Hathaway (Devil Wears Prada, Interstellar); Lupita Nyong’o (The Wild Robot, Us); and so many more. If you are a fan of any of Nolan’s previous films or are a fan of epics, The Odyssey is a must watch for you.
Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma – August 7
Jane Schoenbrun, director of horror films such as We’re All Going to the World’s Fair and I Saw the TV Glow, has a soon-to-be-released film titled Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma. The film stars Hannah Einbinder (Hacks) as a director who starts falling in love with the lead actress who is played by Gillian Anderson (The X-Files, Hannibal). The film then follows the chaos as they shoot the new installment in the Camp Miasma franchise. The film also has several fantastic actors in supporting roles such as Eva Victor (Sorry, Baby), Zach Cherry (Severance, Fallout), Dylan Baker (Spider-Man 2, The Good Wife), and Jasmin Savoy Brown (Scream, Yellowjackets). The film is set to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival before officially opening in August. If you’re a big fan of Schoenbrun’s films or horror in general, you won’t want to miss Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma.
