Author: Alex Billington

"Don't let fear stop you." Dark Star Pictures has revealed the official US trailer for an impressive indie sci-fi mystery thriller titled Animalia, a French-Moroccan production about a pregnant woman in Morocco. This initially premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival last year and it also played at plenty of other major festivals throughout 2023, including Vancouver and London. The film won a Sundance New Vision award and brings "the arrival of a new, freshly original cinematic voice" in French-Moroccan director Sofia Alaoui. As she nears the end of her pregnancy, Itto and her in-laws find their lives changed by a supernatural event. A story about a woman who discoverers emancipation when aliens arrive in Morocco. That's the big pitch, though there's also an intriguing psychological thriller angle to this story as well. Starring Oumaïma Barid as Itto, Mehdi Dehbi, Fouad Oughaou, and Souad Khouyi. It's arriving on VOD to watch next week if anyone is curious to give this a look. I dig the grandiose sci-fi vibes of this, definitely on my radar to watch. Here's the official US trailer ...

"People are scared, they want to be on his side... for work." Greenwich Ent. has revealed the official trailer for a documentary film titled Sorry/Not Sorry, an important follow-up doc about the #MeToo movement. In 2017, The NY Times published an article in which five women accused comedian Louis C.K. of sexual harassment. Nine months later, he returned to the stage and went on to win a Grammy in 2021. Sorry/Not Sorry examines the cultural fixation with Louis C.K. and his comeback while revealing the backlash faced by the women who spoke up about his behavior. This is not just a story about how this (powerful) guy could get away with everything, it's also about how broken and backwards society still is. They explore his comeback and the unseen effects of this on the women who spoke publicly about his behavior. Reviews state the film "rightly focuses on the women C.K. violated, and comedy’s inability to hold him accountable." Worth a look. Here's the official trailer (+ poster) for Mones & Suh's doc Sorry/Not Sorry, direct from YouTube: An inside look at ...

"This island has a long history of accommodating dubious characters..." Madman Films debuted the first official trailer for We Were Dangerous, an indie coming-of-age from New Zealand marking the feature directorial debut of filmmaker Josephine Stewart-Te Whiu. This recently premiered at the 2024 SXSW Film Festival & BFI Flare, and it's screening next at the Sydney, Melbourne and Perth Film Festivals in Australia. No US release date yet, but it's set to open in NZ in August to start. Nellie, Daisy & Lou attend an institution for delinquent girls on an isolated island in 1954. The trio rail against the system, finding strength in their friendship but this is challenged when the school's matron divides them. We Were Dangerous is a powerful story of female friendship, by director Josephine Stewart-Te Whiu, winner of the SXSW Special Jury Award for Filmmaking. Starring Erana James, Rima Te Wiata, Nathalie Morris, and Manaia Hall. The film has plenty of positive reviews, stating that it's a "heartwarming tale of friendship and rebellion that skillfully balances the humor and joy of youth." Well this looks ...

"What are you hiding from me?" Yep, I'm intrigued. Apple TV has unveiled the official trailer for a new sci-fi mystery series titled Sunny, ready for a streaming debut this summer in July on Apple TV+. Yet another clever sci-fi series from this streamer! Love it. "There's no manual for investigating your missing family. But there is Sunny." Based on Colin O'Sullivan's novel "The Dark Manual", the series follows Suzie, an American woman living in Kyoto, Japan. It also stars Sunny, a domestic robot made by her husband's company, which is gifted to her after his death. Together they uncover the dark truth of what really happened to Suzie's husband and son who disappeared in a mysterious plane crash, becoming dangerously enmeshed in a world that she never knew existed. Rashida Jones stars as Suzie, along with Hidetoshi Nishijima, Joanna Sotomura as Sunny, Judy Ongg, You as Hime, annie the clumsy as Mixxy, and Jun Kunimura. Aside from how much this makes me want to get back to Japan, I enjoy a good "what is really going on?" mystery. Here's the ...

"There is good, and there is evil, and evil must be punished." So Rorschach says... Warner Bros has debuted a first look teaser for an upcoming animated adaptation of the celebrated Watchmen graphic novel. Back in 2009, Zack Snyder adapted the groundbreaking graphic novel into an epic 3 hour long movie (to mixed reviews). Which was extended into the "Ultimate Cut", including animated segments of "Tales of the Black Freighter" from the original book. There was also a Motion Comic version released in 2009. Later came the "Watchmen" series on HBO in 2019, a complete re-interpretation from Damon Lindelof (which was totally awesome, btw). Now, it appears that WB is adapting the entire book (written by Alan Moore, illustrated by Dave Gibbons) once again. It seems to be sticking with the same story, with some visuals reinvented, though most of it looks mostly familiar. There's only 30 seconds of footage here so far, and barely anything else is known about it yet. Created with CGI animation featuring some interesting 2D stylization on 3D characters. The two-part movie event is expected ...

"How did I get so lucky tonight?" Magenta Light Studios has revealed an official trailer for an indie thriller titled Strange Darling, the second feature from genre filmmaker JT Mollner. This premiered at Fantastic Fest last year and picked up some rave reviews, some of which are featured in this trailer. Everyone says to go in without knowing anything about it, and no one has said what is really happening here. The only brief synopsis says that it's "one day in the twisted love life of a serial killer." Starring Willa Fitzgerald, Kyle Gallner, Ed Begley Jr., Giovanni Ribisi, and Barbara Hershey. Ribisi is also the film's DP. Fangoria says, "watching the film's non-linear structure unfold was a pure cinematic thrill." Adding that it's "the most harrowing, surprising thriller of the year." Well damn if that isn't some high praise! Those who've seen it say this trailer doesn't spoil much either. Give it a look and save the August relesae date on your calendar now. Here's the official trailer (+ poster) for JT Mollner's film Strange Darling, direct from YouTube: "The cleverest ...

"Every word of Irish spoken is a bullet fired for Irish freedom." 🇮🇪 Sony Pictures Classics just dropped the official US trailer for the rad, energetic hip hop musical film from Ireland called Kneecap. It premiered at Sundance earlier this year and received near universal acclaim (it ended up on my Top 10 Best of the Fest list). It's dope! Based on the origin story of the riotous & ground-breaking Irish-language rap trio Kneecap, the film stars the band's original members Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap, and DJ Próvaí (also known as Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, Naoise Ó Cairealláin, JJ Ó Dochartaigh) in their acting debuts alongside Oscar-nominated actor Michael Fassbender, with Simone Kirby, Jessica Reynolds, Fionnuala Flaherty, and Josie Walker. Set in west Belfast in 2019, it chronicles how fate brings the trio together and how they then go on to "change the sound of Irish music forever". Winner of the Next Audience Award at Sundance. This Irish film deserves to be a massive hit! Opening in theaters in the US starting August this summer - don't miss it. Here's the ...

"They mostly just care that they're finally with a woman who is into her body for once." An award-winning short film written and directed by Jenn Harris is now online to watch. She's Clean originally debuted in 2022 and played at tons of film festivals throughout 2023, picking up a few awards along the way. Now it's out on Vimeo for everyone enjoy - view it below. Actress Jenn Harris stars in this a woman exploring her sexuality and searching for intimacy in the bathroom. The very NSFW short features a series of vignettes (mostly set in the shower) where this woman engages in (or at least attempts to) conversations with various men, discussing sexuality, emotions, relationships, and more. It is a quirky, smart, brutally honest comedy about how rare emotional compatibility really is. It is also a beautifully brave film where the actors bare all, and not just their bodies, also their feelings as they confess intimate revelations. Another terrific short film. Thanks to Sharks Party Media for the tip on this debuting online. Here's the very brief intro to ...

"I know what they crave... And I can devise entertainment that will feed that craving." Sounds like a studio exec talking. Peacock has revealed the main official for an epic Roman Empire series called Those About To Die, a riff on the classic Roman phrase "Hail, Emperor, those who are about to die salute you" or "Ave Imperator, morituri te salutant." The series chronicles the world of gladiators in Ancient Rome. It may not be connected to Ridley Scott's Gladiator movie, or its upcoming sequel Gladiator 2 due out later this year, but it's definitely something they want you to feel is connected. Some of the episodes are directed by Roland Emmerich and it was shot at the Cinecittà studio in Rome. Anthony Hopkins stars as the Roman Emperor Vespasian, with a massive cast: Dimitri Leonidas as Scorpus, Jojo Macari, Gabriella Pession, Iwan Rheon, Sara Martins-Court, Moe Hashim, David Wurawa, Tom Hughes, Lara Wolf, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson, Rupert Penry-Jones, and Angeliqa Devi. There's some impressive footage in here, though I'm curious how much actual fighting will be shown and how ...