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We’re making our way through October, which means a couple big theatrical releases and some streaming options. Below is my take on the week’s new films. You can keep up with everything I’m watching by following me on Letterboxd @knighthawk7734

After The Hunt (Theaters)
Starring: Julia Roberts, Ayo Edebiri, Andrew Garfield, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Chloe Sevigny
Synopsis: This new film from Luca Guadagnino, with a script from Nora Garrett, is based on real events. It is centered on a popular Yale Philosophy professor, Alma (Roberts), who is hosting a party at her home. Among the attendees is a fellow professor, Hank (Garfield), with whom Alma has a complicated relationship as both are up for Tenure. Also, there is Maggie (Edebiri), one of Alma’s top students. The party goes well. Maggie and Hank leave together. The next day, an accusation comes. What’s the truth? What does it all mean? How should Alma respond? This film is about some timely topics, but it’s not covered in a particularly strong way. I didn’t enjoy the script or the story here. The performances also felt off, save for Stuhlbarg who seemed to be having the most fun. The shot selection and a grating score don’t help here, either. This had potential to be something great, or at least fun, but it ends up being one of the bigger disappointments of the year.
Rating: Rated R for language and some sexual content.
Verdict: Two stars out of five

Black Phone 2 (Theaters)
Starring: Mason Thames, Ethan Hawke, Jeremy Davies, and Madeline McGraw
Synopsis: This is the sequel to the horror film written by C. Robert Cargill and Scott Derrickson, who served as the director. That team brings this sequel, which advances things to 1982—four years later—where Finney (Thames) is still a star because of how he beat The Grabber but still has nightmares and demons as a result. His sister, Gwen (McGraw), is still having dreams, too. When she dreams of their mother and three dead boys at a camp in the mountains, they head there to learn more. Turns out The Grabber (Hawke) has learned to master death and comes to haunt Finney and Gwen in their dreams. He has a dark connection to both the camp and their mother. I wasn’t a huge fan of the original. I thought it was fine, but it didn’t really hook me. This sequel does. It is more of an exploration of larger issues around faith, grief, guilt, and these gifts that Finney and Gwen have. That was fascinating and moving to me. I really enjoyed the performances and the craft here, with Derrickson making the most of the visuals, a style to depict dream world, and the way he tells this story. I enjoyed this a lot and think it’s the rare sequel that surpasses the original.
Rating: Rated R for strong violent content, gore, teen drug use, and language.
Verdict: Four stars out of five

The Perfect Neighbor (Netflix)
Synopsis: This new film from Netflix is a documentary. It’s a story about the Stand Your Ground Law in Florida, and around the country. But it takes a while to realize that’s where we’re heading. Instead, the film is told mostly through body cam footage on officers and interrogation footage. It’s the story of a neighborhood—where one neighbor is constantly a problem for both officers and fellow residents. She’s a spiteful woman who is full of hate. That hate, eventually, boils over in a tragic way. The choice of how to tell this story works beautifully. The story itself is incredibly moving. You’ll feel sorrow, anger and more as you watch it all play out over a series of years. It’s one of the most engaging documentary features of the year and film that demands to be seen. Make a point to catch this one on streaming.
Rating: Rated R for language.
Verdict: Four stars out of five

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