Midday Movies

Today we’re talking about the Sundance-selected indie romcom/horror film, “Your Monster” (2024). Written and directed by Caroline Lindy and based on her semi-autobiographical short film, this movie follows soft-spoken theater actress Laura Franco (Melissa Barrera) as she recuperates from cancer treatments and comes face-to-face with a terrifying-yet-charming monster living in her closet (Tommy Dewey). With standout performance by Tommy Dewey and Meghann Fahy, this Broadway-steeped coming-of-rage story is bursting with charm, musical theatre, and well-plotted surprises. This is a real crowd-pleaser and wickedly fun — let’s get into it!

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Today we’re discussing the #1 Netflix streaming film, “Woman of the Hour” (2024). Starring Anna Kendrick in her directorial debut, this movie fictionalizes a very real, very weird moment in 1970s cultural history, the day a prolific serial killer won the “Dating Game” — a popular matchmaking show from the time. What we’re presented with is a fascinating commentary on post-Sexual Revolution gender politics and the brazen social behaviors that men modeled during that era and that women had to slyly outwit. The film is funny, scary, and rich with insight. Let’s get into it!

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Today we’re analyzing the most recent entry in the “Smile” horror franchise, “Smile 2” (2024). Helmed once again by writer-director Parker Finn, this “Smile” film dials up the cinematic ambition by following fictional pop star Skye Riley (Naomi Scott) as she mounts a worldwide redemption tour one year after a grievous car accident took the life of her boyfriend (Ray Nicholson) and left her with chronic injuries. Infected with the Smile entity parasite, Skye’s world distorts and unravels as her mental health is exploited and her fame-fueled isolation deepens. Beautifully shot, extraordinarily designed, and with a soundtrack that — independent of the film — is an absolute bop, we’re excited to share “Smile 2” with you. Let’s get into it!

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Today we are discussing the newly-released political satire, “Rumours” (2024). Co-directed by beloved Canadian auteur Guy Maddin and starring Cate Blanchett as the Chancellor of Germany, this surreal art house comedy follows the leaders of the world’s top liberal democracies at their annual G-7 Summit. Tasked with collaborating on the eve of an apocalyptic crisis, the leaders of Germany (Blanchett), France (Denis Menochet), Italy (Rolando Ravello), the USA (Charles Dance), the UK (Nikki Amuka-Bird), Japan (Takehiro Hira), and Canada (Roy Dupuis) find themselves alone in the woods beset by mysterious supernatural happenings. The film lampoons global leadership while also writing fan fiction-esque melodrama about those same leaders. It’s a fascinating, confusing, logistically accurate trip through diplomatic summits that sees Canada rising up as the hero. I’ve never seen anything like it — let’s get into it!

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Today we’re reviewing the wildly popular HBO MAX miniseries, “The Penguin” (2024). A spinoff of the 2022 “The Batman” film and brought to life by veteran producer Lauren LeFranc, this series sees Colin Farrell reprising his role as Oz Cobb (“the penguin”) in a post-disaster Gotham. The seawall has been bombed to bits, there’s a power vacuum in the local crime syndicates, and Sofia Falcone (played gorgeously by Cristin Milioti) has just been released from Arkham Asylum. It’s a story of professional ascent, complex protagonists, and all the PTSD. Without question, this is prestige television and one of the finest iterations of a DC property in 15 years. Let’s get into it!

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Today we’re reviewing the new HBO MAX comedy series, “The Franchise” (2024). Creatively helmed by Oscar-winning director Sam Mendes, “The Franchise” follows the behind-the-scenes drama of a troubled Marvel movie-esque production called, “Tecto.” With long-suffering First AD Daniel (Himesh Patel) trying to contain the production chaos of an inexperienced indie film director (Daniel Bruhl), clashing actor personalities (Richard E. Grant & Billy Magnussen), shifting corporate priorities (Darren Goldstein), and the very real threat of the film being axed, we’re treated to piercing critique of Hollywood’s studio system, the maniacs who make movies, and petering public interest in superhero franchises. It’s an ensemble cast of skilled performers and a total hoot — let’s get into it!

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Today we’re reviewing the newly-released Saturday Night Live docudrama, “Saturday Night” (2024). Depicting the 90-minute lead-up to SNL’s inaugural show on October 11, 1975, this Jason Reitman-directed project (“Juno,” “Up in the Air,” “Tully”) used first-person interviews, contemporaneous news articles, and extensive scholarship to construct a gripping account of the birth of America’s unlikeliest comedy institution. With extraordinary impressions of SNL’s iconic first cast, “Saturday Night” gives hilarious homage to greats like John Belushi (Matt Wood), Chevy Chase (Cory Michael Smith), Dan Aykroyd (Dylan O’Brien), Gilda Radner (Ella Hunt), Jane Curtin (Kim Matula), Andy Kaufman (Nicholas Braun), Jim Henson (also Nicholas Braun), and Lorne Michaels (Gabriel LaBelle). It’s a must-watch for creatives and comedy fans — let’s get into it!

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Today we are celebrating 👻 Halloween 🎃 with 15 recommendations for movies you can watch on this final day of spooky season. We’ve got something for everyone— classics and recent releases, movies to watch with your kids, your girlfriends, your significant others, or your scary movie aficionado friends. From sweet to sexy to big-spooky, this list of recommendations is all you need to build a killer Halloween movie marathon. Let’s get into it!

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Today we’re discussing the latest release from the B-movie Terrifier franchise, “Terrifier 3” (2024). Having achieved cult status among splatter-fest fans, this slasher movie featuring Art the Clown was written and directed by Damien Leone with a budget of under $2 million. Impressive practical VFX and an admirable performance by David Howard Thornton as the silent killer elevate an anemic script and wooden characters (Lauren LaVera, Antonella Rose, Elliot Fullam, Samantha Scaffidi, etc.). The gore is the defining aspect of this film and series, so trigger warning for un-cozy content. Let’s get into it!

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Today we are reviewing the Sundance-selected, Netflix-distributed indie horror film, “It’s What’s Inside” (2024). Written and directed by neophyte auteur Greg Jardin and starring eight relative unknowns as our primary cast (Brittany O’Grady, James Morosini, Gavin Leatherwood, Nina Bloomgarden, Alycia Debnam-Carey, Reina Hardesty, Devon Terrell, and David Thompson), this trippy body-swapping horror film is one of the most impressive freshman projects I’ve seen. Eight college friends reunite on the night before one friend’s wedding and are introduced to a new party game in the form of experimental Silicon Valley tech. Relationships, identities, and past slights are all aired out once the body-swapping commences — and major twists rock everyone’s lives. Beautifully-constructed, visually inventive, and so stylish, this indie horror is now streaming on Netflix. Let’s get into it!

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