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 It was a unique mix of films out last week. Below is a look at the new movies I saw during the week. You can keep up with everything I’m watching by following me on Letterboxd @knighthawk7734.

O Horizon (Limited)
Starring: Maria Bakalova
Synopsis: Have you ever experienced a loss? When someone you know and love passes, their loss can feel immense. It can consume you in your everyday life. But what if there was a way to re-create that connection? Would you take it? That’s the question posed in O Horizon, which opened in New York June 12 and opens in limited release on June 19. The film focuses on a woman who has suffered a loss. When she’s offered a chance to re-connect via a new technology, she seizes on it, going on a unique journey. The film follows Abby (Bakalova). At the outset, we see through a home movie, she used to have a strong relationship with another scientist, Evan (Maggie Grace), and her beloved father Warren (David Straithairn). But now, she has neither. She is alone and isolated in her work and her life. Warren passed away, and his loss is felt throughout Abby’s life. Meanwhile, thanks in part to her choice of work over accompanying Abby when Warren met his end, her relationship with Evan has crumbled. They work in the same facility—in different areas—and there is an iciness in their current relationship that leaves Abby very much isolated and alone. When she sees an ad for a new program to help gain a friend, she drops in for a visit. There, Sam (Adam Pally) shares that through a new technology pieces of data collected about a lost friend, relative, or love can be fed into the machine to recreate that experience. Abby feeds in the data for Warren, and soon they begin a phone relationship again. While it’s not her father—not really—it helps to fill the void. It helps Abby to make peace with what happened and to find a way forward. She is able to, in part, heal her relationship with Evan and even find a new chance at love (Avi Nash). But can she let go of her link to the past before it holds her back from embracing this new future? This film comes from writer/director Madeline Rotzler. It’s an interesting idea, but it feels a bit like ground that’s been covered before. We’ve seen it in films and shows, even something similar in a Black Mirror episode. So, this feels like somewhat well-worn ground where technology is used as a substitute for a real-world connection that’s been lost. The ideas of loss of family, loss of love, and loss of purpose also feel somewhat universal. So, for a story like this to hit it needs to add something unique and captivating, or a character that captures your heart. O Horizon makes some big swings. That includes an appearance by singer/songwriter Aimee Mann in the third act, who brings some pathos and music. But that’s not enough. This is an awkward narrative, and the character of Abby feels a bit too shallow at times. She moves from moment-to-moment, and we never see enough of a connection to any of the people or love interests in her life to develop a real connection. Her conversations and interactions with Warren are interesting, but they lack the emotional depth to make them compelling. In the end, this is a big swing with some interesting ideas. But it can’t land the plane in a satisfying and memorable way.
Rating: Rated PG-13 for brief strong language and a drug reference.
Verdict: Two stars out of five

Toy Story 5 (Theaters)
Starring: Joan Cusack, Tom Hanks, and Tim Allen
Synopsis: The toys of Toy Story have been a part of the cultural landscape for decades. The first film dropped in 1995 and helped put Pixar on the map. Over the years, the sequels have taken on new eras, new stories, and helped grow with those who started watching them as kids. That’s certainly still the case with Toy Story 5, the latest in the franchise. Coming 31 years after the original, it still features the old gang, but puts a focus more on one of the unsung heroes of the last few films, Jessie (Cusack). It’s her story—both telling her origin and her fight to remain part of Bonnie’s (Scarlett Spears) life. And it’s one of the biggest releases of the summer. But does it live up to the hype? The film finds Jessie now as the leader of the toys, with Woody (Hanks) having made his exit with Bo Peep (Annie Potts) and the rest of the gang rescuing lost toys. Jessie is Bonnie’s right-hand gal, leading her adventures. But Bonnie has struggled to make friends with other kids, despite the best efforts of Jessie. It seems toys and imagination can’t compete with technology. Wanting to give Bonnie a chance, her parents buy her a Lilypad (Gretta Lee) tablet. Lilypad becomes all consuming, but launches Bonnie it a world with other girls her own age who are also addicted to their tablets. That leaves Jessie and the rest out in the cold. But Jessie knows that Bonnie needs something more than the hollow electronic connections. So, with the help of some retro technology, Woody, and Buzz (Allen), along with the next generation of Buzz Lightyear toys, Jessie sets out to connect Bonnie to another girl who shares her fondness for imagination. This is a fun story and exploration. We begin with Jessie’s background, seeing her first kid. It’s a heart-warming sequence that pays dividends later in the story. This is Jessie’s movie, and Cusack gives a great performance in the lead here. Jessie is fierce, funny, and leads a great adventure to make Bonnie’s life better. We still get some Buzz and Woody moments, but they fittingly take more of a back seat here. This is also a film that explores the nature of toys, imagination, and the all-consuming world of technology and online bullying. It’s some heady themes that will likely speak to adults more so than younger viewers. It will make you nostalgic and give you food-for-thought as the adults who grew up watching the toys are now raising a generation of young kids of their own. All these movies are great rides. The best of them make an emotional connection in a tangible way. For me, the franchise peaked with Toy Story 3, which might owe a little to my age in the process of this journey. Much like the last installment, I enjoyed this film. I was entertained and, at times, moved. I don’t know if this will be the final installment, but it certainly feels like a satisfying enough way for this franchise to end. This will appeal to audiences of all ages. It doesn’t reach the height of previous franchise entries—or even Pixar’s other 2026 release, Hoppers, but it’s a good time. It’s worth seeking out for fans or those looking for a family-friendly time at the movies.
Rating: Rated PG for some thematic elements and rude humor.
Verdict: Three stars out of five

Voicemails for Isabelle (Netflix)
Starring: Zoey Deutch and Nick Robinson
Synopsis: This latest comedy for Netflix comes from writer/director Leah McKendrick. It focuses on a woman (Deutch) who is trying to fulfill a childhood dream of making it as a chef in San Francisco. She’s looking for love and looking to make a mark in her career, working for a prickly famous chef (Nick Offerman). Her best friend is her sister (Ciara Bravo), who is suffering from a chronic illness. When her sister dies, she tries to find solace calling her cell phone number and leaving messages. But that number has been transferred to the work phone of a finance guy (Robinson), who listens to the messages and falls in love with the sender. Soon enough, he finds himself making a trek to San Francisco to connect in person. But will it be a love connection for them both? You know where this is going from the jump. It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey. And this has a winning journey. McKendrick has a gift as a writer, crafting characters and a story that hit some solid emotional beats. Robinson and Deutch are great in the lead roles, too. I really enjoyed the film and think it makes for a perfect date night streaming option.
Rating: TV-14
Verdict: Three and a half stars out of five