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It was another jam-packed week at the movies with four releases in theaters and an option on streaming. Below is my take on this week’s new movies. You can keep up with everything I’m watching by following me on Letterboxd @knighthawk7734.

Freakier Friday (Theaters)
Starring: Jamie Lee Curtis, Lindsay Lohan, Julia Butters, Manny Jacinto, Sophia Hammons, and Mark Harmon
Synopsis: The original Freaky Friday on Disney, starring a young Jodie Foster, arrived in 1976. But it was nearly 30 years later, in 2003 when the film was led by Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis that it really took off. For scores of fans, that is what they think of when it comes to Freaky Friday. While there have been spin-offs, re-makes, and different takes on the formula over the years, it’s that version that endures. So, it makes sense that people would be excited about the prospect of a sequel. Both Curtis and Lohan are back—as are the stars of the first film—for a new spin on the formula and a continuation of the journey of the Coleman family in Freakier Friday, which opens today. The film picks up with an adult Anna (Lohan) working in the music industry and raising her daughter, Harper (Julia Butters), as a single mother. Of course, her own mother, Tess (Curtis), is there to lend a helping hand. Tess is still married to Ryan (Mark Harmon) and happily thriving as a therapist, author, and now a podcaster. It isn’t long before Harper clashes with a new student, Lily (Sophia Hammons), which leads to a blow up in chemistry. Called to the school, Anna meets Lily’s father, Eric (Manny Jacinto), and sparks fly. He’s also a single parent and soon enough their romance is in full bloom. Fast-forward six months and Anna and Eric are engaged, about to get married. But not everyone is thrilled about it. Harper and Lily still don’t get along, and they really don’t want to become a blended family. After yet another blow up at school, both are made to toe the line at Anna’s bachelorette party. Instead, a fortuneteller with flare (Vanessa Bayer) sees an opportunity. First, she gives a frightening flashback to Anna and Tess. Later, she gives a big challenge to Harper and Lily. And by the time the next morning dawns, all four have switched places. Anna has become her daughter, harper, while Tess is now Lily. Can they figure out how to get things back on track before it derails the wedding and their futures? We’ve seen this movie before—literally. While there are some new characters, and some delightfully returning faces (including Chad Michael Murray), the basics are the same. But you don’t turn to a film like this for in-depth plot. You’re looking for some laughs, some heart, and some characters you can’t help but root for, and all of that is still in place. Curtis and Lohan slide back into these roles with ease. There are several fun sequences as they get to work off one another more in this one. The new additions of Butters and Hammons are also a lot of fun, while Jacinto slides into the role of Eric beautifully. The film has a lot of fun sequences, nods to the original, and expands on the world in a delightful way. I enjoyed the original, which has stood the test of time for more than 20 years. This is a welcome return to the world and a great showcase for the original stars. It’s clear everyone is having fun, creating something new and delightful that is a great nod to what was fun about the original film. That even includes a great set of musical numbers to close the film. If you’re looking for a bit of nostalgia and a good time at the movies this weekend, Freakier Friday hits the spot!
Rating: Rated PG for thematic elements, rude humor, language and some suggestive references
Verdict: Three and a half stars out of five

The Pickup (Prime Video)
Starring: Eddie Murphy, Pete Davidson, and Keke Palmer
Synopsis: This latest from Prime Video is an action comedy. It centers on a pair of mismatched armored car drivers (Murphy and Davidson) who are on a run through a stretch that’s cut off from the outside world. Soon enough, a crew of thieves come upon them trying to jack the truck. They do their best but can’t manage to stay ahead of the crew, led by a feisty woman (Palmer) with a big plan and some inside knowledge. The has a decent cast and premise, but it doesn’t come together for director Tim Story. I’m not a big fan of Davidson as a performer, and this film does nothing to make me change that opinion. I like Murphy, but the story here just isn’t good enough. This drags, despite a 96-minute run time, and feels too cliched and predictable. The laughs don’t hit, and, in the end, I just wasn’t taken with the story. It’s a miss.
Rating: Rated R for language throughout, some sexual references and violence.
Verdict: Two stars out of five

Shaman (Theaters)
Starring: Sara Canning, Daniel Gilles, and Jett Klyne
Synopsis: It’s been more than 50 years since The Exorcist stunned audiences on the big screen. In the time since, we’ve seen dozens of films try to capture the scares of a possession experience. These films come in all different styles with their own twists on the formula. But to stand out, a possession film needs something special. Shaman is another of those type of possession films. While it has its own twist on the story, it falls into too many familiar tropes without adding its own unique twists. That makes it a somewhat forgettable entry into the genre. The film is set a remote region of Ecuador. There, a missionary family is working to help convert the native population to the Catholic faith. They’ve brought their teenage son, Elliot (Jett Klyne), along with them. But he’s not quite as mission oriented as his parents. Instead, Elliot turns to exploring the local area. When he stumbles into an area he shouldn’t, it invokes something of a change. At first, his parents (Sara Canning and Daniel Gilles), dismiss it as an illness. But when dark tidings seem to come to those in their area, they begin to fear it’s something more. At first, his mother turns to the local priest (Alejandro Fajardo) for guidance. Believing it might be a demonic possession, he turns to exorcism. When that doesn’t work and things begin to go further downhill, she’s left to question her own beliefs. That leads her to a more local approach. With the help of a local Shaman (Humberto Morales) they hope to combat the darkness in Elliot. But can they get things turned around before it’s too late? This falls into the familiar pattern of possession films, as noted. You know where it’s going, and while there is the twist of needing to employ a specialist outside the Catholic faith, it’s a somewhat standard formula. That can be OK if there is a strong visual style, a good story, and engaging characters. This script comes from Daniel Negret, who hasn’t written many features. It shows. The script is thin, and the film is dry, despite running just over 90 minutes. It’s directed by Antonio Negret, who has been a prodigious TV director for more than a decade. He’s worked on diverse projects, ranging from Supergirl, to Fire Country, to The Lincoln Lawyer. The look of the film is professional and steady, but it’s not dynamic. Neither are the horror sequences. The visual flare isn’t there, and there’s not enough depth to the story and characters to add the requisite impact to the sequences. Instead, it feels fairly bland and predictable, becoming something, you forget quickly after viewing it. It’s a decent idea for a horror film but the execution doesn’t come together in a compelling way.
Rating: Rated R for violent content/bloody images, some sexual content and brief drug material.
Verdict: Two stars out of five

Sketch (Theaters)
Starring: Tony Hale, D’Arcy Carden, Bianca Belle, and Kue Lawrence
Synopsis: Grief comes in waves. It also comes to everyone differently. The key is to allow yourself time to think, reflect, and process a loss. If you don’t, it can come back to you in strange ways. That’s one of the lessons in the new movie Sketch, which opens in theaters today. The film premiered last September at the Toronto International Film Festival. It comes from Angel Studios, and while it’s a film aimed at younger viewers, it contains lessons that are relevant for everyone. The film centers on Amber (Bianca Belle) and Jack (Kue Lawrence) who are dealing with grief over the death of their mother. Their father, Taylor (Tony Hale), does his best. He’s tried to help them move on mostly by forgetting the part and focusing on the future. That’s part of the reason they are trying to sell their house and move somewhere for a fresh start. Amber channels her grief—and frustration at the world around her—through her drawings. They used to be sources of inspiration and light, but now they’ve become darker. The school is concerned, as is Taylor. He wants her to have an outlet, but he’s worried about what the sketches might mean. Jack reacts by trying to be strong for his sister and his father. He takes his cue from Taylor about moving on and keeping feelings bottled up. That becomes harder when he finds a lake near their house that can seemingly heal broken things, or make things come to life. When Amber’s book of dark sketches falls in the water, it creates mayhem for the whole town. As Jack and Amber, along with classmate Bowman (Kalon Cox), trying to search for solutions. Taylor and his sister, Liz (D’Arcy Carden), search for the kids to keep them safe. Along the way, everyone has to reckon with their loss, what it means to their lives, and how to find a ways forward. This film, from writer/director Seth Worley, is a breezy watch. It’s a crisp 92 minutes, filled with colorful sequences and monsters, some fun jokes, and some heart-warming performances. It’s a PG-rated outing, making it good for audiences of all ages, too. That’s a rare gift in the theatrical landscape in 2025. The film is at its best when it leans into these characters and their meditation on grief. That’s true of the back-and-forth between Belle and Lawrence, who have a fun relationship as brother-and sister, and with Hale and Carden, who also make a pretty great brother-and-sister duo. I enjoyed the pathos and the drama, but I also enjoyed the moments of comedy. That’s particularly true of the back-and-forth between Hale and Carden, who are delightful in these roles. The monsters that make up the heart of the drama and plot here are colorful and unique. They aren’t overly frightening, but it does make for some nice stakes. That also leads to some beautiful moments of pathos for these characters on their journey, too. It’s easy to dismiss this as a film for kids. In fact, I wasn’t sure what I was getting into when I sat down to watch in. But I found something delightful, colorful, and entertaining. I enjoyed the ride and I think families out there looking for a late summer escape will feel the same.
Rating: Rated PG for scary action, some violence, thematic elements, language and rude humor.
Verdict: Three and a half stars out of five

Weapons (Theaters)
Starring: Julia Garner, Josh Brolin, Alden Ehrenreich, and Cary Christopher
Synopsis: This is the latest from writer/director Zach Cregger, the man behind Barbarian. This is another ambitious and engaging horror film. It is centered on the story of a small town where 17 kids in the same third-grade class disappeared. They all got up and walked out of their houses into the night at 2:17 a.m. No one knows why, who is responsible, or where they went. That leaves parents upset and seeking answers, and the children’s teacher scrambling for an explanation. That’s all I’ll say about the plot here, as it’s meant to be something of a mystery. The performances are great and the way the story unfolds is magnificent. There are some truly memorable and terrifying sequences and a great looking menace that will haunt your dreams. Some of it is also amusing in the way it’s all put together. I had a blast watching this film, which has become one of my favorite releases of the year. It’s worth seeking out in theaters.
Rating: Rated R for strong bloody violence and grisly images, language throughout, some sexual content and drug use.
Verdict: Four stars out of five