The Woman in the Window (2021)

Released on Netflix, instant streaming May 14th in the US.

Filmed entirely in New York.

The story: Anna is a woman suffering from agoraphobia.

She is a child psychiatrist who has been fighting her own demons along with the help of her own appointed psychiatrist.

For the last ten months, Anna has been living alone in a large house, separated from her husband and 8-year-old daughter.

She does have a tenant living at the house as well, but he isn't there that often.

When a new family moves in across the street, Anna takes notice.

Quickly, the 16-year-old son Ethan of that family makes his way to Anna's house and then into her heart, bringing her a gift she really appreciates.

Shortly thereafter, Anna is visited by Ethan's mother, Jane.

The two hit it off on that first night, talking much girl talk over wine.

Anna does not see Jane in person after that but instead is visited by her said husband, who is looking for his wife.

Jane had mentioned he is a jealous man, and when Anna believes she has seen Jane being killed by him in their house across the street and then does not see Jane at all after that, she believes she needs to get the police involved.

Many things surface as a result.

Stars Amy Adams , Wyatt Russell , Fred Hechinger , Julianne Moore , Gary Oldman , Jennifer Jason Leigh , Brian Tyree Henry , Jeanine Serralles , Anthony Mackie , Mariah Bozeman , Daymien Valentino

Directed by Joe Wright

Rated R
MYSTERY/THRILLER

Take Shelter (2011)

Released November 2nd in the US.

Filmed entirely in Ohio.

The story: Curtis is a husband and the father of a young daughter who is deaf.

He does his best at making a living, while his wife does her part to pitch in.

When Curtis watches a storm roll in one day and notices the rain that falls with it isn't like any rain he's seen before, he becomes concerned.

Soon, he begins seeing many strange things that no one around him sees, as well as experiencing some really complex nightmares.

Curtis starts to think that he may have a mental illness, as it runs in his family.

He decides to try and get help, but the help he gets doesn't help at all.

Next, Curtis takes it upon himself to take out a loan and fix up his storm shelter because he really believes there is a bad storm on its way, even though no one else sees or experiences anything out of the ordinary.

Everyone around him thinks he is losing it, and just when Curtis starts to believe that as well,  as he watches his life falling apart around him, he is awakened and surprised one night by a real-life storm.

Stars Michael Shannon , Jessica Chastain , Tova Stewart , Shea Whigham , Katy Mixon Greer , Natatsha Randall , Ron Kennard , Robert Longstreet , Heather Caldwell , Scott Knisley , Marianna Alacchi

Directed by (& story written) Jeff Nichols

Rated R

DRAMA/MYSTERY/THRILLER v

Significant Other (2022)

Released October 7th in the US.

Filmed in Oregon.

The story: Harry and Ruth are a young couple.

Harry has recently talked Ruth into a backpacking trip through the Pacific Northeast with him.

As reluctant as Ruth is, due to anxiety , among other issues, Harry has convinced her there is nothing to be worried about at all.

He has hiked the same trails a bunch of times.

Things go well the first night, although Ruth gets spooked by what appears to be a deer during the night.

Harry takes Ruth to a beautiful spot the next day and proposes to her.

Instead of being excited and accepting, Ruth has a panic attack and loses her shit on Harry.

After making up, Ruth is off to have some alone time when she stumbles upon a cave...

What she sees inside that cave really rattles her, so much so that Harry is now the last person Ruth is going to trust.

Stars Jake Lacy , Maika Monroe , Loudon McCleery , Teal Sherer , (voice) Andrew Morgado , (voice) Marcella Lentz Pope , Matthew Yang King , Dana Green

Directed by (& story written) Dan Berk & Robert Olsen

Rated R
MYSTERY/THRILLER/SCIFI 

Uncle Peckerhead (2020)

Released August 11th in the US.

Filmed New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York.

The story: Judy, Max, and Mel are three roommates who happen to have a band together.

Their current plan, with Judy leading the way, is to skip town with nothing left to lose and get their band exposed by playing a small tour, so they can hopefully get signed.

Judy has planned everything out perfectly.

Just when the three are ready to set sail, they are unexpectedly without a vehicle.

Judy jumps into motion once more , making flyers along with Max and sticking them on every van windshield they can find.

After leaving their last flyer Judy and Max are surprised to be approached by the person who was in that van.

At first, the man gives them a very hard time for leaving the flyer and when Judy and Max see that he just happens to be not looking, they walk off.

But the man soon follows them and eventually convinces them that he can drive them wherever they need to be, no questions asked.

Judy really reluctantly accepts the stranger's proposal but she has absolutely no idea what she has gotten herself and her friends into.

Stars Chet Siegel , David Bluvband , Ruth Lolla , Maureen McGowan , Amir Khan , Jeff Riddle , Ruby McCollister , Shannon ONeill , Sean Michael Wilkinson , Owen Iverson , David Littleton 

Directed by (& story written) Matthew John Lawrence

Rated TVMA

COMEDY/HORROR

Sorry To Bother You (2018)

Released July 13th in the US.

Filmed entirely in California.

The story: Cassius Green is a young man, renting the garage of his uncle's Oakland home, who is also in desperate need of a job.

During an interview for a telemarketer position, Cassius is confused and surprised to find he has got the job.

The very next day he is raring to go, but things don't go that well.

The job is commission work and if you are an employee who does your job well, you have the rare and most-wanted opportunity to work your way up...upstairs.

After some time, and things don't seem to get any better, Cassius has an unexpected conversation with a fellow employee that completely changes his work life.

Before his eyes, everything changes.

Just when the other employees, including his girlfriend, are beginning to stand against the company, Cassius finds himself upstairs.

Quickly, things get really weird and it makes Cassius question if the money and the success are all actually worth it.

Stars LaKeith Stanfield , Robert Longstreet , Tessa Thompson , Terry Crews , Michael X Sommers , Steven Yeun , Jermaine Fowler , Omari Hardwick , Kate Berlant , Danny Glover , (voice) David Cross , Armie Hammer , (voice) Patton Oswald , (voice) Lily James , Forest Whitaker , (voice) Rosario Dawson 

Directed by (& story written) Boots Riley

Rated R
DRAMA/COMEDY/SCIFI

Milli Vanilli (2023)

Released through instant streaming on Paramount+, October 24th in the US.

Filming location(s) unknown.

The story: In 1986, Paris, French Fabrice Morvan met German Robert Pilatus while Fabrice was teaching dance.

Robert was a breakdancer.

The two bonded quickly, moved in together and became the best of friends.

The two had lots of energy and danced like there was no tomorrow.

They would have dance parties at their place that became so popular that they soon found themselves performing onstage at a local club.

Next they were dancing backup on a popular German dance show.

It seemed things were only on the up and up.

Fabrice and Robert caught the eye of German music producer Frank Farian, known for creating the popular disco group Boney M.

Frank wanted to make Fabrice and Robert famous as well.

In 1988, the guys signed a contract with Frank, becoming Milli Vanilli and, after waiting what seemed like forever, were brought into the studio.

Fabrice and Robert's role was to lip sync, as the main singers to a song actually sung by two other singers.

It didn't seem like too much of an issue at the time and it only made things better when after releasing their first album in Germany it topped the charts.

Milli Vanilli were on their way.

They became so popular in Germany that Arista decided to sign them.

No one questioned that the said singers' voices had all been pre-recorded. Most of the behind the scenes stuff was hidden from every other live musician involved on Milli Vanilli's Arista release.

Fabrice and Robert believed America was where it was happening and couldn't wait to get there.

Their arrival only strengthened their popularity.

But it wasn't until performing a show live in Connecticut in 1989 that the cat finally was out of the bag for good.

Nothing was quite the same for Fabrice and Robert after that faithful show.

Stars Fabrice Morvan , Carmen Pilatus , Rob Sheffield , Gil Kaufman , Toby Gad , Ingrid Segieth , Brad Howell ,  Charles Shaw , Linda Rocco , Jodie Rocco , Thomas Stein , Downtown Julie Brown , Timabland , Stephen Hill , John Davis , Hanif Abdurraqib

Directed by Luke Korem 

Rated TVMA

DOCUMENTARY/HISTORY/MUSIC/BIOGRAPHY/TV

"Lies are taking the elevators while the truth takes the stairs."

Alone (2020)

Released September 18th in the US.

Filmed entirely in Oregon.

The story: Jessica has just packed up all her things and is leaving town.

She is taking a road trip through the country where she knows no one.

While on the road, Jessica tries passing another vehicle but the driver of that vehicle makes things difficult.

Sometime after the incident, Jessica is sitting in her parked car, getting ready to continue on her way.

The driver of the car she tried to pass approaches her car, telling her he is sorry for the mishap, and goes on his way.

But still, more time later, Jessica happens upon the man who is now broken down on the side of the road.

He asks her for help, but she wants nothing to do with him, making up one excuse after the other, and offering alternative ways to help without actually helping, but he won't stop disagreeing.

Jessica finally takes off, eagerly explaining she is late for a meeting.

But when Jessica finds herself with her own car trouble, the man who seems to have been following her finally makes his way to where she is.

Unfortunately, this time around there is no avoiding him.

Stars Jules Willcox , Marc Menchaca , Jonathan  Rosenthal , Anthony Heald , (voice) Katie OGrady , (voice) Betty Moyer , (voice) Shelly Lipkin , (voice) Emily Sahler , (voice) Laura Duyn

Directed by John Hyams

Rated R
MYSTERY/THRILLER

Monstrous (2022)

Released May 13th in the US.

Filmed entirely in California.

The story: Laura is the mother of young Cody.

She has recently taken her son from the only home he has ever know to start a new life away from her abusive husband.

Laura is hopeful that this new start will be a good one for the two of them.

Things go well at first, even though Cody is not happy, and is constantly asking to go home.

Laura carries on, doing the best she can to make their new situation a normal one for them.

But after a while, instead of Cody blossoming in his new home, he isolates himself more and more.

Then he begins talking of a woman who lives in the lake next to their house, who he believes is the only one who understands him...

Stars Christina Ricci, Santino Barnard, Don Baldaramos , Colleen Camp, Lew Temple, Carol Anne Watts, Jennifer Novak Chun, Peter Hodge, Nick Vallelonga, Sally Elbert, Lola Grace, Rachael Edlow, Darin Cooper, Aimey Beer, Neraida Bega, Philip V Bruenn, (voice) Matt Lovell, (voice) Nancy OFallon

Directed by Chris Sivertson

Rated PG13

MYSTERY/THRILLER/HORROR 

Lila and Eve (2015)

Released July 17th in the US.

Filmed in Georgia.

The story: Lila is a single mother of two boys, 18-year-old Stephon and younger Justin.

When Stephon is shot and killed just walking down the street one night, Lila has a really hard time dealing.

She decides to go to a support group and there, is advised to try bonding with another attendee.

Lila starts up a conversation with Eve, a mother who lost her young daughter to gun violence.

Eve believes no one cares about their loss and it's really up to them to figure things out.

Lila is still a believer that the police will get to the bottom of her son's murder.

But while Lila waits for answers and none come, she decides to take Eve's advice and bring down the killer (s) on her own terms.

Stars Aml Ameen, Viola Davis, Ron Caldwell, Yolonda Ross, Michole Briana White, Whitney Goin, Jennifer Lopez, Elisa Perry, Shea Whigham, Andre Royo, Germaine Brooks, Julius Tennon, Quinton Garvin, Teddy Williams, Will Brittian, Merry Jo Cortada, Gino Vento 

Directed by Charles Stone III

Rated R
DRAMA/THRILLER

Blink Twice (2024)

Released August 23rd in the US.

Filmed entirely in Mexico.

The story: A year ago, Slater King, a self-made millionaire and party boy, made a public apology for his "bad behavior", stating he would be taking a leave from his tech company while seeking therapeutic help. 

During a more recent interview, Slater tells all about what he has been up to during his time off, looking all the part of a new man.

Frida, a cocktail waitress working for a catering company sees Slater's interview and has great admiration for him.

Later that evening Frida and her roommate/best friend Jess are waitressing at a fundraiser/cocktail party Slater is giving.

Frida is in awe of Slater, spending every slow moment trying to get a glimpse of him.

When their work shift ends, Frida and Jess dress up and head out into the party.

When Frida falls, injuring herself in front of everyone at the party, Slater comes to her rescue.

The two become completely enamored with each other immediately, spending the whole night together until Slater is summonsed to go.

He, along with many friends will be taking a weeklong vacation on his private island.

Slater doesn't want to leave Frida's side, so he ends up coming back to invite Frida and Jess along.

They accept...and at first, everything is amazingly wonderful.

But as the days go by, and strange things begin to happen that no one seems to be able to remember, Frida gets worried that the vacation she's on isn't exactly a dream.

Stars Naomi Ackie , Channing Tatum, Tiffany Persons, Alia Shawkat, Aaron Himelstein, Saul Williams Kyle MacLachlan, Geena Davis, Christian Slater, Simon Rex, Adria Arjona, Haley Joel Osment, Liz Caribel , Trew Mullen, Levon Hawke, Cris Costa, Maria Elena Olivares 

Directed by (& story partly written) Zoe Kravitz 

Rated R
THRILLER/MYSTERY

Martha (2024)

Released  October 30th in the US.

Filming location(s) unknown.

The story : Martha Stewart is an extraordinary woman.

Here she tells us all about herself ,  giving us a great deal of information that not many people would have ever known before.

From her upbring , her early modeling , her short lived stockmarket career ,  marriage , and how rebuilding her and her husband's dream home while tackling gardening and raising a daughter created the woman she became.

While rebuilding their home, Martha began catering the most elaborate parties.

She was sought after for her amazing skills.

After going into business for herself , things in her professional life only got better.

Unfortuantely , her personal life took a turn for the worst.

But Martha persevered.

She went on and on, reigning over everything she put her hands on and becoming a complete success.

Martha's flight didnt quite come to an end until she went to prison.

But her story isnt over and she has become an even better person from all of those bad experiences.

Stars Martha Stewart 

Directed by RJ Cutler

Rated R
HISTORY/BIOGRAPHY/DOCUMENTARY

"I think imperfection is something we can deal with."

Speak No Evil (2024)

Released September 13th in the US.

Filmed entirely in Croatia.

The story: While on a family vacation, American Ben, Louise, and Agnes meet British family Paddy, Ciara, and Ant.

The two families begin bonding when Paddy finds Agnes' misplaced, beloved stuffed rabbit.

Paddy and Ciara invite Ben, Louise, and Agnes to their large, quiet countryside home for a relaxing weekend.

But things get strange quickly.

It doesn't help that Ant is the strangest of all, unable to speak but trying like hell to tell Ben, Louise, and Agnes something.

It isn't until Ant shows Agnes what is really going on at his home that Ben and Louise begin to worry that they are staying with and have befriended the wrong family.

Stars Scoot McNairy , Mackenzie Davis , Alix West Lefler , James McAvoy , Aisling Franciosi , Dan Hough , Kris Hitchen , Motaz Malhees , Jacob Hojlev Jorgensen 

Directed by (& story partly written) James Watkins

Rated R
REMAKE/MYSTERY/THRILLER

Curtains (1982)

 

Released March 4, 1983 in the US.

Filmed in Canada.

The story: Jonathan Striker is a very famous movie director.

Samantha Sherwood is an even more famous actress.

The two have worked together on all Striker's directorial efforts and his latest is said to be no different.

Samantha has decided that to study for her latest role as Audra in the upcoming Striker film, she needs to be admitted into a mental institution.

She does this with the help of Striker.

But while there, Samantha learns that Striker has just about forgotten about her.

He has invited six extremely eager to get the part-actresses to his home to audition for the part of Audra, which Samantha believes belongs to her.

When Samantha gets out of the institution with no help from Striker and arrives at his place as another one of his actress guests, people begin being killed off.

But no one knows that there is a killer to be aware of.

Stars Samantha Eggar , John Vernon , Kate Lynch , Joann McIntyre , Calvin Butler , Lynne Griffin , Lesleh Donaldson , Linda Thorson , Anne Ditchburn , Sandee Currie , Deborah Burgess , Booth Savage , Maury Chaykin Matthew Wincott , Diane Godwin , James Kidnie , Janelle Hutchinson

Directed by Richard Ciupka

Rated R
MYSTERY/THRILLER/HORROR

The Watchers (2024)

Released June 7th in the US.

Filmed entirely in Ireland.

The story: Mina is a troubled young woman who is going through the motions of daily life.

After hearing from her sister and not being able to get past their mother's tragic death 15 years ago, Mina has decided to skip town and try to find herself.

Along with her, Mina takes a special bird a co-worker gave her to watch while he is away.

She has no real connection to the bird, but if anything, it gives her someone to talk to.

Mina travels through a great forest. Once she gets into the heart of it, her radio shuts down, and her car stops running.

She sets out on foot into the forest with the bird in tow, looking for a nearby home to get help.

She finds nothing.

When she decides to go back to the car , she cannot find it.

Mina sits in the forest, contemplating dying there until she decides to try to find her car again.

Instead, she sees a woman who guides her into a shelter.

But that shelter comes with a price. A very steep, age-old price.

Stars Alistair Brammer, Dakota Fanning, Shane O Regan, Anthony Morris , Olwen Fouere , Georgina Campbell , Oliver Finnegan , Siobhan Hewlett , Hannah Dargan , Emily Dargan , John Lynch , Christian Bailey Rocks , Jim Tighe , Eabha Connolly, Zarmina McDermott , Thabile Michelle Hlongwane

Directed by (& story partly written) Ishana Shyamalan

Rated PG13

HORROR/MYSTERY/THRILLER/FANTASY