Rapper, producer, Adult Swim music-bumper-creator and filmmaker Flying Lotus, who contributed a segment to V/H/S/99, presents his most ambitious cinematic offering yet in Ash, a sci-fi thriller filmed in Letterboxd’s home town of Auckland, New Zealand. Eiza González leads a cast that includes Aaron Paul and Iko Uwais, and the film takes place in a distant galaxy where bad things are happening to the crew of a space station. Reaction out of the SXSW premiere is encouraging, and Kevin piques my interest when he calls it a “psychedelic head trip, full of [sci-fi-horror video game] Dead Space vibes with Alien nods and Neill Blomkamp aesthetics.” Mary Beth conjures an alluring ambience when she calls it “a bloody, moody, sci-fi journey through the looking glass” that “takes a familiar story and warps it into a slowly maddening nightmare soaked in bodily fluids and janky robotics”. Dorina credits it for being “an indie sci-fi horror acid trip that looks better than most big budget movies.” Now in US and Mexican theaters.

Following its well-received Sundance 2023 premiere, Magazine Dreams was positioned as a sure-fire Oscar bet for then-rising star Jonathan Majors, and acquired for release by Searchlight Pictures in a competitive situation. But after Majors was convicted of assault later that year, Searchlight dropped the film and its very release came into question. It’s now getting a US theatrical rollout from Briarcliff Entertain­ment, who are no doubt hopeful that the film’s initial positive critical reception will bolster interest. Majors plays a bodybuilder whose obsession with bodily perfection begins to affect his well-being. Brian was one of many people who raved back in January 2023, describing it as “Pumping Iron meets Taxi Driver in the story of a man whose body has been shaped by anger even as it destroyed his soul”, but also portentously observed at the time: “Majors is fearless but it’s a lot to spend two hours in his head.” “A beautifully dark and unnerving film” says Jonathan. Further comparisons to Taxi Driver abound, but there are just as many to the music video for Eminem’s ‘Stan’, with more recent reviews reflecting the complicated context the movie now sits in. Now in US theaters.

Bringing together a heavyweight collection of talent whose best days are undeniably behind them (Bugsy director Barry Levinson, GoodFellas and Casino screenwriter Nicholas Pileggi and Robert Freaking De Niro), The Alto Knights feels like it was constructed to specifically appeal to an audience nostalgic for other gangster movies. Not only that, De Niro is playing two characters here, and they’re not related. It’s a duality thing, apparently. Bobby portrays real-life crime bosses Frank Costello and Vito Genovese, who were once locked in a battle for control of New York. There are just enough Sopranos actors in ing roles here to ensure my interest. Although most of the positive reviews so far are from viewers excited to have attended a premiere, member 11Ebq11 reckons “people who love old-school crime thrillers will really like this!” Kylie quips that “years of watching Cake Boss prepared [her] for the accent work in this movie.” Now in US and UK theaters.

A documentary with a central conceit that feels inextricably—yet indescribably—aligned with the large proportion of our hip that reveres physical media, Secret Mall Apartment tells the true—and thoroughly documented—story of a group of artistically inclined friends who discover a hidden empty space in a functioning Providence, Rhode Island mall in 2003 and turn it into a makeshift abode. As you might imagine, this went down a treat at the film’s SXSW 2024 premiere. It’s now getting a US theatrical run, starting at Providence Place, the mall where the secret apartment exists. According to Elliot, it’s a “profoundly inspiring documentary about creating art in defiance of gentrification, capitalism, and getting older.” “Genuinely some of the most punk sh*t ever,” heralds Jamm. “A shockingly successful meditation on art without commerce,” says Bretton. “A little bit Nathan Fielder, without any of the cynicism,” observes Michael, further ensuring my attendance. “This is a five-star documentary to begin with, but it gets extra points for the [number] of pets hanging on the couch during interviews,” is ParmesanPopcorn’s warm-hearted response, also sure to get many through the door. Now in select US theaters.

Director Mimi Cave follows up cannibal black-comedy Fresh with Holland, a film that is proving slightly less popular with our than the director’s previous outing. Taking place in Holland, Michigan, the twisty thriller stars the Hardest Working Woman in Show Business, Nicole Kidman, and Succession breakout Matthew Macfadyen as a couple whose lives are upended by a secret. Gael García Bernal and Rachel Sennott also feature. “A great cast,” observes Jake, who then laments, “which is a shame because the movie is a meandering mess”. Rik says it “has the ingredients to be something great… however, it always feels one-note and never elevates itself past your average mystery film.” Tom counters that it’s “stylishly directed with fun Fargo-esque acting and score.” Jess calls it “a pulpy noir wrapped in prestige-thriller packaging”, which “sets up an enticing mystery but stumbles in the telling”. “Hey, so why is Rachel Sennott in this?” asks Sara. On Prime Video March 27.

If you remove Black Adam and Jungle Cruise from the equation, I would contend that Spanish filmmaker Jaume Collet-Serra is about the most reliable straightforward mainstream genre director working today. He re-asserted that consistency recently with Carry-On, and is now excitingly re-entering the horror space, having previously excelled in the genre with Orphan and House of Wax, which was poorly received upon its 2005 release, but has since undergone something of a critical reappraisal. Danielle Deadwyler, who also appeared in Carry-On, stars in The Woman in the Yard as a grieving wife and mother taunted, along with her children, by the titular spectre, which keeps getting closer and closer to the house. That plot description sounds like a cult TV movie from the mid-1970s, and I could not be more onboard. In US theaters March 28.

A24 satirical comedy-horror Death of a Unicorn stars Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega as a father and daughter who accidentally cause the eponymous incident while driving, and then face a variety of consequences, some more fantastical than others. He sounds a little loaded up on festival fever, but Sean reports back from the recent SXSW world premiere that it’s “a wildly entertaining unicorn creature-feature that goes full throttle once the carnage begins—and never really lets up.” “Will Poulter and Richard E. Grant are operating on god-tier levels of comedic timing and delivery here,” raves Zachary. “Indie Jurassic Park meets Abigail?!” asks/exclaims Kevin. “Bizarre and outlandish in every good way possible,” assures Justin. Rudd, Ortega and other cast guessed their most favorited film on Letterboxd at the premiere. In theaters in the US and Canada March 28, the UK April 4 and Australia/New Zealand April 10.

Selected by London editor Ella Kemp as one of the highlights of Cannes 2024, Belgian drama Julie Keeps Quiet follows what happens when a coach at an elite tennis academy is investigated for misconduct, and his star player refuses to speak up. Ella noted how the film, which was Belgium’s official entry in the International Feature category at this year’s Academy Awards, evokes Kitty Green’s The Assistant in its austere exploration of abusive behavior, which is also reflected in many of the reviews. “I understand why people might expect more to happen,” acknowledges Johanna. “But the essence of the story is always present”. Salomé remarks that “the simplicity of the staging and the treatment of the sound makes everything so violent and incisive without ever saying or showing anything”. “It walks a very thin line towards treating its subject matter so vague that it’s barely there, but for me it ultimately pulls it off,” says Xplodera. In select US theaters March 28.

Garnering a US theatrical release following a long festival run that began with Cannes 2024 (Apichatpong, this is queer slow cinema in its most visceral form,” comments Alex, amongst many comparisons to the work of the Thai master. “Languid, folkloric and spiritual Southeast Asian cinema with magical-realist elements,” summarizes Yiren. In select US theaters March 28.