Ronan Day-Lewis’ feature directorial debut, Anemone, is likely to spark accusations of “nepotism” because the film serves as his father Daniel Day-Lewis’ return to acting after retiring in 2017. However, the father-and-son duo also wrote the screenplay together, and their shared passion for this project is evident. Moreover, right from the film’s opening frames, it’s evident that Ronan Day-Lewis exhibits major promise in the director’s chair.

I know it’s a sin to review a movie by dwelling on what the movie could have been or should have been instead of what it actually is, but I made the mistake of reading a draft of Nora Garrett’s screenplay for After the Hunt prior to seeing the film. The script was so enthralling, I couldn’t put it down. The characters were despicable yet deeply human. They were complex, layered, and captivating. The social commentary was timely and sharp without feeling preachy. The narrative flowed with momentum and precision, steadily building up tension. It even threw in a few surprises, but ones that still made sense narratively. It was everything I wanted Todd Field’s TÁR to be, and more. Traces of that brilliance still linger in the version that made it to screen, but they’re buried beneath a mass of baffling changes and ill-conceived stylistic choices, resulting in a film that feels scattered, bogged down, and bewildering.

Spoiler-free video review of Oliver Laxe’s Sirāt, starring Sergi López, Bruno Núñez, and Stefania Gadda.

Colin Minihan’s latest feature Coyotes delivers exactly what its title promises. This horror-comedy follows a wealthy family in the Hollywood Hills as they struggle to survive a relentless attack by a ravenous pack of coyotes. The story unfolds over the course of one harrowing night, made even more chaotic by a severe thunderstorm that topples trees, knocks out power, and cuts the family off from help just as the carnage begins.

The Curse feels like a nostalgic trip back to the techno-horror films of the early aughts, calling to mind eerie classics like The Ring and Pulse, but with a distinctly modern twist. Instead of cursed videotapes or haunted websites, the threat here seeps through the familiar feeds of social media, making the film feel both unsettling and eerily relevant.

Quentin Dupieux’s irreverent, brash sense of humor is almost certainly an acquired taste. Known for his offbeat and audacious storytelling, Dupieux has carved out a niche for himself in the world of absurdist cinema. But his quirky style may not be for everyone. With The Piano Accident, he turns his surrealist lens toward social media and influencer culture, providing the perfect opportunity for satire.

In September 2023, a single phone call shattered my world. Much like the protagonist in the opening scene of Park Chan-wook’s No Other Choice, I thought I had it all. After overcoming a childhood steeped in financial strain, I finally secured a job that freed me from living paycheck to paycheck. My success exceeded my wildest expectations, given the position from which I started. I thought I made it. But then, everything was ripped right out from under me in an instant.

It’s fitting that a movie titled The Ice Tower moves at such a glacial pace. That’s not necessarily a flaw, but it will likely test the patience of many moviegoers. Marion Cotillard is a commanding presence in Lucile Hadžihalilović’s film.

Justin Tipping’s HIM fumbles the opportunity to pack a powerful statement about America’s favorite sport. While football fanaticism is a topic ripe for tackling, the film fails to dive deeper than surface-level commentary on the cult-like obsession. Moreover, the narrative is overly simplistic in its message but scattered in its execution. Tipping’s sophomore feature feels more like an experimental exercise in style over substance.

One Battle After Another might just be Paul Thomas Anderson’s funniest film to date. It’s also arguably his most accessible and mainstream. The film channels the spirit of Thomas Pynchon’s writing style, leaning into paranoia and absurdism. While the narrative is loosely inspired by Pynchon’s novel Vineland

Scarlett Johansson’s directorial debut Eleanor the Great is equal parts heart-wrenching and heartwarming. On paper, Tory Kamen’s script might seem like a tough sell. The premise alone could raise eyebrows or even appall some viewers, but it is handled with remarkable sensitivity and sincerity. Thanks to Johansson’s gentle direction and June Squibb’s multifaceted performance, the story comes to life in a way that feels surprisingly sincere, unexpectedly funny, and deeply emotional.

Sentimental Value ranks among the best films I’ve seen about fractured families, intergenerational trauma, and healing through art—and I’ve seen a lot of them. It doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel or do anything groundbreaking. In fact, the story is relatively predictable, but it’s executed with such masterful emotional precision and sincerity that it feels revelatory.

Video review of Benny Safdie’s The Smashing Machine starring Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt

Video review of Chad Hartigan’s movie The Threesome starring Zoey Deutch, Jonah Hauer-King, and Ruby Cruz.

DISC is cute, funny, uncomfortable, stressful, and unexpectedly sort of sweet. It’s well-crafted thanks in large part to Blake Rice’s direction and writing, along with co-writer and star Victoria Ratermanis. She and Jim Cummings have great chemistry that makes it easy for viewers to get invested in the story and care about the characters.

Spoiler-free video review of James Sweeney’s movie Twinless, starring himself, Dylan O’Brien, Lauren Graham, and Aisling Franciosi.

Spoiler-free video review for Francis Lawrence’s film adaptation of Stephen King’s novel The Long Walk, starring Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, and Garrett Wareing.

Spoiler-free video review for Michael Angelo Covino’s Splitsville starring himself, Kyle Marvin, Dakota Johnson, and Adria Arjona

Spoiler-free video review for Alex Russell’s Lurker starring Théodore Pellerin, Archie Madekwe, Havana Rose Liu, and Sunny Suljic.

Video review of Seth Worley’s film Sketch starring Tony Hale, D’Arcy Carden, Bianca Belle, and Kue Lawrence.