(This article first appeared in the October print edition of the Hendersonian.)
Surprisingly, the September box office did significantly better than anyone could have predicted (me included). Without the huge numbers put up by Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie – Infinity Castle, most of the September releases (with the exception of The Conjuring: Last Rights) failed to bring in noteworthy audiences. That being noted, I promise never to sleep on another Crunchyroll release in the future. With the fall movie season now upon us, here are a few scares and awards contenders to keep an eye on in October, and as always, check the up-to-the-minute listings at your favorite Showplace Cinemas and AMC Theaters locations!
Bone Lake (October 3) – Need a quick horror fix with a group of sexy 20-somethings who are stuck together in a remote cabin where nothing is as it seems? If so, look no further than October’s first gory offering. Alex Roe (Rings, The 5th Wave), Maddie Hasson (Malignant, Elevation), Marco Pigossi (High Tide, Amazon’s Gen V), and Andra Nechita co-star. Mercedes Bryce Morgan directs.
The Smashing Machine (October 3) – In what is being hailed as an award-worthy turn as MMA fighter Mark Kerr, Dwayne Johnson toplines this biopic with Academy Award nominee Emily Blunt, and the backing of the indie hitmaking studio A24. With the Safdie Brothers no longer co-directing projects together, Benny Safdie goes solo (and already won the Best Director award at this year’s Venice Film Festival) behind the camera.
Roofman (October 10) – If you were ever curious about seeing Channing Tatum live in a toy store, where he hides out from the cops, and starts a romantic relationship with Kirsten Dunst, then you need to go and see co-writer/director Derek Cianfrance’s (Blue Valentine, The Place Beyond the Pines) latest project! The stacked supporting cast includes Peter Dinklage (HBO’s Game of Thrones), Juno Temple (Apple TV’s Ted Lasso), Ben Mendelsohn (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story), Uzo Aduba (Netflix’s Orange is the New Black), and LaKeith Stanfield (Knives Out, Sorry to Bother You).
Tron: Ares (October 10) – Kevin Flynn lives again! Jeff Bridges reprises his iconic role in this legendary sci-fi series, conscripting new programs (and co-stars) Jared Leto, Evan Peters, Greta Lee and Gillian Anderson. In this installment, a highly sophisticated Program, Ares, is sent from the digital world into the real world on a dangerous mission. Veteran Disney director Joachim Rønning (Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales) helms the project, with none other than Nine Inch Nails providing the pulse-pounding score.
Good Fortune (October 17) – Aziz Ansari writes, directs, and co-stars in this comedy/fantasy about an inept angel (Keanu Reeves), who meddles with the lives of a gig worker (Ansari) and a wealthy venture capitalist (Seth Rogen). Keke Palmer (Nope, One of Them Days) and Sandra Oh (Sideways, ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy) co-star.
After the Hunt (October 17) – Julia Roberts is once again in the Oscar race with her performance as a college professor who finds herself at a personal and professional crossroads when accusations are made against a colleague. Andrew Garfield (The Social Network, The Amazing Spider-Man series), Ayo Edebiri (FX’s The Bear), Chloë Sevigny (Boys Don’t Cry), and Michael Stuhlbarg (A Serious Man) co-star. Oscar-nominated director Luca Guadagnino (Call Me by Your Name, Challengers) directs, with a score from Oscar winners Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross.
Black Phone 2 (October 17) – The Grabber returns (with Ethan Hawke reprising his sinister role) in this continuation of the surprise Blumhouse horror hit! This time, Finn (Mason Thames) struggles with adjusting to life after captivity while attempting to protect his sister after she begins receiving calls from the black phone. Scott Derrickson returns to the series as co-writer, co-producer, and director.
Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere (October 24) – Emmy-winner Jeremy Allen White (FX’s The Bear) is The Boss in this biopic chronicling the period of his life while making the classic albums Nebraska and Born in the USA. Fellow Emmy-winning actors Stephen Graham (Netflix’s Adolescence), Jeremy Strong (HBO’s Succession) co-star. Paul Walter Hauser (Richard Jewell) and David Krumholtz (Oppenheimer) also hop on the tour bus, with Scott Cooper (Crazy Heart) writing, co-producing, and directing this awards season hopeful.
Bugonia (October 31) – In this darkly comedic sci-fi crime caper, two conspiracy-obsessed young men kidnap the high-powered CEO of a major company, convinced that she is an alien intent on destroying planet Earth. This film marks the fourth feature collaboration for director Yorgos Lanthimos (The Favorite, Poor Things) and Oscar-winner Emma Stone. Jesse Plemons (Kinds of Kindness) and Alicia Silverstone (Clueless) co-star.
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Henderson resident McManus Woodend is an Assistant Professor of Digital Media at the University of Southern Indiana and has worked in film, television and commercials for more than 20 years. To see some of his work, visit www.mcmanuswoodend.com.
