Upcoming Releases: October, 2021

 

We're about to hit October, which means that the year is winding down. But it's in this last quarter of the year that we often get some of the richest stories and films, with a healthy smattering of blockbusters. Such will be the case for October, where we finally get to see the oft delayed final Bond film for Daniel Craig! Let's see what the month has to offer.

Friday, October 1:
Venom: Let There Be Carnage (Theaters)--This sequel to Venom, the comic book film focused on the anti-hero played by Tom Hardy, is debuting on the first day of the month. It was originally set for mid-month, then there were rumors it would push to 2022 and finally it landed on coming out early. Let's hope the film is as interesting as the whiplash about when it would begin.

The Many Saints of Newark (Theaters/HBO Max)--Once upon a time James Gandolfini led The Sopranos, which helped put HBO on the map as a content producer. Now, his son, Michael, is stepping into his shoes for this prequel film that gets a same day release in theaters and on HBO Max. I've heard good things and I'm curious to see how it goes.

The Addams Family 2 (Theaters)--A sequel to the animated film of a few years ago, ideally timed for the spooky season. This should be fun for the whole family.

The Guilty (Netflix)--This one comes from director Antione Fuqua and stars Jake Gyllenhaal as a 911 dispatch operator who tries to help save a caller's life. Nothing is straightforward in this thriller which debuted at some festivals to decent buzz.

Diana: The Musical (Netflix)--It seems no one tires of coverage of the royals. Netflix scored with a season of The Crown focused on a young Princess Diana and now they're offering a musical about her life... Make of that what you will.

My Name is Pauli Murray (Amazon Prime)--This documentary follows Pauli Murray, who was an early pioneer in the fight for Civil Rights. This chronicles Murray's work and life and figures to be an interesting portrait of a pioneer whose work helped shape legislation.

Black As Night (Amazon Prime)--Just in time for Halloween, Blumhouse is releasing a number of horror films straight to Amazon Prime. This one is set in New Orleans, following a vampire threat in the French Quarter.

Binge Hell (Amazon Prime)--The second Blumhouse release for the week centers on a 60-year-old woman (Adriana Barraza) fights back when a nefarious man takes over her beloved Bingo Hall. 

Wednesday, October 6:
There's Someone Inside Your House (Netflix)--Another horror release, you'd think it was the month with Halloween or something. This one is about a teen whose graduating class is being targeted by a masked killer.

Friday, October 8:
No Time to Die (Theaters)--One of the first films delayed by the pandemic, we finally get to see Daniel Craig's last turn as James Bond. This one promises plenty of action and adventure with Rami Malek in the role as the primary villain.

Lamb (Theaters)--This one is about a couple who, unable to have a child, find a new member of the family in a lamb. The trailer here is strange and I have to believe this film will be, too.

The Manor (Amazon Prime)--Another Blumhouse horror release, this one is set at a nefarious nursing home. A nursing home already seems like a dour place, so this might not require much lifting.

Madres (Amazon Prime)--This one focuses on an immigrant family that joins the migrant farming community in California in the 1970s. An interesting topic but this one could easily get lost in the October shuffle.

Friday, October 15:
Halloween Kills (Theaters/Peacock)--This is the anticipated sequel to the 2018 re-boot of Halloween. It was due out last year but pushed due to the pandemic. After negative buzz surrounding early screenings it is now being dropped on Peacock the same day. This is allegedly much more violent than the last installment, so be warned.

The Last Duel (Theaters)--This Ridley Scott epic is based on a true story and features a solid cast that includes Adam Driver, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck and Jodie Comer. I'm mildly excited for this one.

I Know What You Did Last Summer (Amazon Prime)--This is a re-boot of the horror franchise, which is also based on a novel. Another group of kids have an accident and try to cover it up, leading to terrible ends.

The Velvet Underground (Apple TV+)--This documentary from Todd Haynes explores the sound that changed music. Apple is having a heck of a year, so this could be good.

Wednesday, October 20:
Night Teeth (Netflix)--In this horror film a chauffer picks up two women and finds some vampiric activity.

Found (Netflix)--This documentary centers on three teens who discover they're cousins. The meeting inspires them to make a trek to China to learn more about the roots of their birth families.

Friday, October 22:
Dune (Theaters/HBO Max)--This is the much-anticipated re-make of the classic novel. It's a big undertaking that did well with some, especially for its visual presentation, during early festival screenings. It is only the first half of the book, so hopefully there is a part two....

Ron's Gone Wrong (Theaters)--This animated tale is a future-set journey where friends come electronically. For one unlucky kid his friend in a box isn't quite what he bargained for.

The French Dispatch (Theaters)--This film from Wes Anderson was another film delayed from 2020 due to the pandemic. The wacky comedy finally gets a release here, boasting a unique story and an all-star cast. I'm interested to see it.

The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (Theaters)--This one features Benedict Cumberbatch in the story of an eccentric artist and inventor. Little is out about this one, but it has potential.

Friday, October 29:
A Mouthful of Air (Theaters)--Amanda Seyfried takes the lead in this one about a children's author who becomes haunted by buried traumas after the birth of her second child.

Antlers (Theaters)--Keri Russell and Jesse Plemmons star as a brother-and-sister in a small Oregon town dealing with a mysterious student. This one comes from Guillermo del Toro and has some promise in the spooky season.

Last Night in Soho (Theaters)--This horror/thriller comes from writer/director Edgar Wright. The trailer is creepy and the cast includes Anya Taylor-Joy and Matt Smith. It's ideally timed for Halloween weekend.

Army of Thieves (Netflix)--This prequel to Army of the Dead comes from director Zack Snyder. Expect a fun film with plenty of action and probably fewer zombies.