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This weekend saw a number of interesting new releases in theaters and on streaming, including the long-awaited sequel for a classic. Below is my take on all the new movies I saw this week. To keep up with everything I’m watching, you can follow me on Letterboxd @knighthawk7734.

Apollo 13: Survival (Netflix)

Synopsis: This new documentary features footage from the time along with interviews with surviving family members. It seeks to tell the true story of Apollo 13, the mission, how it went wrong, and the steps taken to bring the crew back safely. We’ve seen this story told a number of times in different ways—including a great scripted film starring Tom Hanks. But this one is from the families and the people involved in their own words—either via contemporary interviews or the footage documenting the incident. That gives it a unique feel that will be appealing for those who want to know more about the event.

Rating: NA

Verdict: Two and a half stars out of five

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (Theaters)

Starring: Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara, Jenna Ortega, Monica Bellucci, and Willem Dafoe

Synopsis: Back in 1988, Tim Burton gave the world Beetlejuice, a weird, wild, and creative film that’s remained a classic with fans for more than 30 years. Now, with much of the original cast intact, Burton is bringing us the sequel—the aptly named Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. This one finds Lydia Deetz (Ryder) as a famous medium who has carved out a nice living. Her stepmother, Delia (O’Hara), is an artist of some repute as well. As Lydia is hosting her show, she thinks she catches a glimpse of Beetlejuice (Keaton). She dismisses it but soon gets an urgent call from Delia and learns her father is dead. She and Delia collect her estranged daughter, Astrid (Ortega), to return home for the funeral. There, she sees Beetlejuice again. She’s also getting pressure from her boyfriend (Justin Theroux) to marry and struggling to connect with Astrid. Turns out, Beetlejuice hasn’t forgotten about his almost bride and has been appearing to throw her off. He has troubles of his own, as his ex-wife (Bellucci) puts herself together and wants his soul. Beetlejuice sees a marriage to Lydia as his way out, if only he can convince her. This film has a look and feel that returns to the original. Classic Burton has a great visual feel, and that’s certainly true of this film. I enjoyed seeing this cast come together and some of the visual gags and jokes. The story works well enough, and the cast seems to be having fun, which helps. This is one of the rare sequels that surpasses the original. I had a blast with this and can see it becoming another spooky season classic.

Rating: Rated PG-13 for violent content, macabre and bloody images, strong language, some suggestive material and brief drug use.

Verdict: Three and a half stars out of five

Rebel Ridge (Netflix)

Starring: Aaron Pierre, Don Johnson, and Annasophia Robb

Synopsis: The latest scripted fare from Netflix is a pensive drama from director Jeremy Saulnier. The film sees Pierre as a man who comes to a small town to bail out his cousin. Along the way, he runs afoul of two aggressive police officers (David Denman and Emory Cohen), who seize his money seemingly without cause. When he confronts the Chief of Police (Johnson), he finds no ally. At the courthouse, a young clerk (Robb) tries to help him—and tries to shed light on the corruption occurring in her town. That puts both of them in the crosshairs as they seek justice. This is a beautifully conceived drama that smolders at times. It moves at a good pace and builds this world, story, and characters. Pierre is great in the lead role, while Johnson makes for an interesting foil as the corrupt Chief of Police. I enjoyed Robb, Cohen, Denman, and the rest of the supporting cast as well. This film takes some interesting twists and turns and delivers a compelling story from start to finish. I enjoyed this a lot.

Rating: R for Some violence/bloody images, language and drug content.

Verdict: Three and a half stars out of five

Sugarcane (Limited Release)

Synopsis: Trauma and abuse can have long tentacles in your life. The impacts of events from childhood can linger for years and have far-reaching implications for those who were abused. And the road to healing and forgiveness can be just as long and just as painful, especially when the abuse happens from people in a position of power and authority. The new documentary Sugarcane explores a legacy of abuse and its far-reaching impacts for a group of Indigenous people in Canada. The story begins with the discovery unmarked graves near, and Indian residential school run by the Catholic Church in 2021. The subsequent investigation led to years of covered up abuses and scores of people traumatized by their experiences at the school. Rightly the discovery sparked a national outrage. The film tracks survivors, and relatives, as they seek answers, seek to uncover the truth, and seek to make peace with the past. That even includes reaching out to the government and meeting with the Catholic Church. Through it all we see the toll these experiences took on those who were part of the school, and even on those they touch generations later. Despite the horrors uncovered, there are moments of beauty as people come to terms with their past and seek to find a way forward. We’ve seen stories like this before—and sadly will continue to see these kind of stories—and they remain powerful and necessary. Evil acts thrive in the darkness, and films like this shine a light on abuses and abuse of power in a way that can help society move forward. While this story takes place in Canada, it’s mirrored by events in the United States, where residential schools and programs like this were common. The film asks viewers to take a hard look at these issues and step up to prevent it from happening again, while celebrating those survivors who have found a way forward. As a person of faith, I am always deeply disturbed by the things like this done in the name of religion. I’m also deeply moved by those who could experience this trauma and keep their faith. There are moments of deep and profound beauty and truth in this film. Sugarcane premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and now is in limited release, expanding to more cities—including Denver—on Friday, September 6. It’s worth seeking out.

Rating: Rated R for some language.

Verdict: Four stars out of five