It’s a week of ghosts, ghouls, corrupt cops, and terrifying in-laws. That’s right — we’ve got reviews of everything from the newA24 horrorThe Front RoomtoNetflix’s thrillerRebel RidgetoTim BurtonsequelBeetlejuice Beetlejuicetoone of the best new movies of the yearthat’s an exploration of an old one lost to time. Whether they’re for movies in theaters or at home, these are the reviews of everything you may see, ranked by what we thought of them.
Directed by Luna Carmoon
Starting things off isHoard, a film with potential that still falls short. StarringStranger Things’Joseph QuinnandSaura Lightfoot, it’s a film about two hoarders in a toxic relationship that just becomes a mess of its own creation. The vibes are rancid, so best beware entering into this one if you get nauseous. Inher review, Senior Editor Emma Kiely wrote that “its mishandling of mental illness and an unearned ending are too apparent to be ignored.”
Hoard has strong central performances, but doesn’t handle its subject with the seriousness it requires.
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4The Front Room
Directed by Max Eggers and Sam Eggers
Family can be scary for just about all of us. The new horror filmThe Front Roomquadruples down on that truth by followingBrandy’s troubled mother-to-be as she gets tormented by her mother-in-law, played byKathryn Hunter. It’s an absurd ride with plenty of body fluids, but still far from one of the best movies you can watch this week. Inhis review, contributor Jeff Ewing wrote “it’s a solid dark comedy in the trappings of a psychological horror film.”
The Front Room
‘The Front Room’ is a solid absurd dark comedy wearing psychological horror trappings.
3Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
Directed by Tim Burton
A fun throwback from Tim Burton starringJenna OrtegaandMichael Keaton,Beetlejuice Beetlejuiceis better than just about any of us were expecting, with the director having more fun than he has in quite some while. It doesn’t raise the dead, but you could watch this one right alongside the original as their seamless charm blends together. In his review, contributor Martin Tsai wrote “rife with nostalgia,Beetlejuice Beetlejuiceis intended for ’80s babies.”
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is the best one could hope for from a cash grab and a welcome return to form for Tim Burton.
2Rebel Ridge
Directed by Jeremy Saulnier
A thriller that’s part Rambo, partReacher, and allAaron Pierre,Jeremy Saulnier’sRebel Ridgeconfidently rolls into town, kicks some ass, then gets out with only a few scratches here and there. With his character taking on corrupt cops left and right, it’s a star-making performance from Pierre, who we can’t wait to see more of. Inmy review, I wrote that “when you have a lead who brings such grace to every scene, any who comes in his character’s way, be they corrupt cops or silly streamers that don’t give his film a proper release, best watch out.”
Rebel Ridge
Jeremy Saulnier’s Rebel Ridge is a lean, mean action thriller with a star-making performance by Aaron Pierre.
1My First Film
Directed by Zia Anger
A daring “directorial debut” and the meta movie to end all meta movies,Zia Anger’sMy First Filmis this week’s best release worth seeking out. A restaging of the director’s actual first feature, it pulls back the curtain on the form itself, offering a wholly original experience with layers upon layers of emotion and meaning. Inmy review, I wrote “her feature is given new life as it becomes a quiet triumph when remolded and revisited all these many years later.”
My First Film
Zia Anger’s My First Film is a daring work of art that embraces the unwieldiness of life to find something beautiful from what was lost.
