Poor Things: a new surrealist science-fiction romantic comedy film directed by Yorgos Lanthimos from a screenplay by Tony McNamara, based on the 1992 novel of the same name by Alasdair Gray. It follows Bella, a young woman who, after being resurrected by an unorthodox scientist, lives a life free of the prejudices of her time. Emma Stone leads an ensemble cast that includes Mark Ruffalo, Willem Dafoe, Ramy Youssef, Jerrod Carmichael, Christopher Abbott, Margaret Qualley, and Kathryn Hunter. Poor Things was released in theatres on December 8 in the US and in Belgium on January 17, that’s why I only put it in the Six To See right now. I already saw the film myself during Film Fest Gent in October 2023 and really loved it. It was one of the best films I saw in 2023 and it will probably be one of the best films of 2024 as well. It has already won several awards and will be one of the favorites at the Oscars.
Origin: the new biographical drama film written and directed by Ava DuVernay. It is based on Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson. It stars Aunjanue Ellis in the lead role as Wilkerson, alongside Jon Bernthal, Vera Farmiga, Audra McDonald, Niecy Nash-Betts, Nick Offerman, and Blair Underwood. Origin was selected to compete for the Golden Lion at the 80th Venice International Film Festival, where it premiered on September 6, 2023. It already had a limited theatrical release on December 8, and expanded to a wide release on January 19 in the US. Here in Belgium it will premiere at Filmfestival Oostende where I’ll be seeing the film.
The End We Start From: a new British survival film directed by Mahalia Belo and starring Jodie Comer, Benedict Cumberbatch, Katherine Waterston and Mark Strong. It is adapted by Alice Birch from the novel of the same name by Megan Hunter. We follow a new mother and her baby who abandon their home in flooded London and flee northwards after an ecological crisis. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival last year and was released in theatres in the United States on December 8 and in the United Kingdom on January 19. I’ll be seeing the film during Filmfestival Oostende later this month.
I.S.S.: a new science fiction thriller film directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite and written by Nick Shafir. The film stars Ariana DeBose, Chris Messina, Pilou Asbæk, John Gallagher Jr., Costa Ronin and Maria Mashkova. It centers on a group of astronauts living aboard the International Space Station whose mission is thrown in jeopardy by an ominous message from Earth. Tensions flare in the near future aboard the International Space Station as a worldwide conflict breaks out on Earth. Reeling from this, the astronauts receive orders from the ground: take control of the station by any means necessary. I.S.S. had its world premiere at the Tribeca Festival last year and was released in theatres in the US and Canada on January 19. In other countries we have to wait a little longer to see the film in theatres.
The Kitchen: a new British science fiction drama film directed by Kibwe Tavares and Daniel Kaluuya. The film stars Kane Robinson, Jedaiah Bannerman, Hope Ikpoku Jr, Teija Kabs, Demmy Ladipo, Cristale, and BackRoad Gee. The Kitchen had its world premiere at the BFI London Film Festival last year and was released in select cinemas in the United Kingdom on January 12 before streaming on Netflix on January 19.
Sunrise: a new vampire horror film directed by Andrew Baird from a screenplay by Ronan Blaney. It stars Guy Pearce and Alex Pettyfer, who also produces, alongside Martin Brennan and Jib Polhemus. The film is set in a rural town which is plagued by a vampire. Sunrise was released in theatres and is available digitally on January 19.
Six To See 
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