Six to See September 28 – October 4 , 2024

1. Joker: Folie à Deux: the new psychological thriller film directed by Todd Phillips from a screenplay co-written with Scott Silver. It is the sequel to the 2019 film Joker and is loosely based on the DC Comics character Joker. Joaquin Phoenix reprises his role as the Joker and Lady Gaga plays his love interest Harley Quinn. Zazie Beetz also reprises her role from the first film, while Brendan Gleeson and Catherine Keener also star. After murdering Murray Franklin live on television in the Joker, we follow Arthur Fleck who is incarcerated in Arkham State Hospital. There he meets Lee. The two fall madly in love and experience musical madness through their shared delusions, while Fleck’s followers start a movement to free him from Arkham, ultimately giving rise to the Clown Prince of Crime’s criminal empire. The film was released in theatres on October 4. Here in Belgium it was out on October 2 when I went to see it. I liked the film, but it’s not as good as the first one. It’s special and very different from Joker and is a film that some people will like and some will hate. You have to see it for yourself if you like it or not.

2. A Different Man: a new black comedy psychological thriller film written and directed by Aaron Schimberg. It stars Sebastian Stan, Renate Reinsve, and Adam Pearson. It follows Edward, a man with neurofibromatosis, who becomes fixated on another man playing him in a stage production based on Edward’s former life, after undergoing surgery for a new start in life. The film premiered at Sundance and was released in theatres in the United States on September 20 and now it was also released in other countries like in the UK. I will see the film later this month during the filmfestival in Ghent. The film already received positive reviews from critics and has a score of 89% on Rotten Tomatoes. So if you’re able to go see the film in theatres, do it.

3. Heartstopper season 3: the third season of the coming-of-age romantic comedy-drama series, written and created by Alice Oseman and based on her webcomic and graphic novel of the same name. The series primarily tells the story of Charlie Spring (Joe Locke), a gay schoolboy who falls in love with classmate Nick Nelson (Kit Connor), whom he sits next to in his new form. It also explores the lives of their friends Tao Xu (William Gao), Elle Argent (Yasmin Finney), Isaac Henderson (Tobie Donovan), Tara Jones (Corinna Brown) and Darcy Olsson (Kizzy Edgell). After their trip to Paris and officially being together, we follow Nick and Charlie in their journey together. The first episode picks up right where Season 2 left off with Charlie itching to say “I love you” and Nick who is desperate for Charlie to open up about his mental health. Season 3 of Heartstopper was released on Netflix on October 3.

4. The Legend of Vox Machina season 3: the third season of the adult animated fantasy action series based on the first campaign of the Dungeons & Dragons web series Critical Role. It stars Laura Bailey, Taliesin Jaffe, Ashley Johnson, Matthew Mercer, Liam O’Brien, Marisha Ray, Sam Riegel, and Travis Willingham, reprising their roles from the campaign. The series is set on Exandria, a fictional world created by Matthew Mercer in 2012 for his personal Dungeons & Dragons campaign, which then launched as the actual play web series Critical Role in 2015. Most of the story takes place on the continent of Tal’Dorei in locations such as the metropolis of Emon and the city-state of Whitestone. In this third season our heroes of Vox Machina are once again going to an adventure, determined to take down the Cinder King, who constantly poses threats to their world. They must face several enemies, including the Chroma Conclave, while also dealing with personal challenges. Season 3 of the series premiered on Prime Video on October 3 with the first three episodes and the rest releasing weekly.

5. The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon – The Book of Carol: the second season of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, or simply Daryl Dixon, a spin-off series of The Walking Dead. This post-apocalyptic horror drama series is created by David Zabel and is the fifth spin-off series in The Walking Dead franchise, sharing continuity with the other series and set after the conclusion of the original The Walking Dead series. Norman Reedus reprises his role as Daryl Dixon from the original The Walking Dead series. The first season was planned to feature the character Carol Peletier under the series title The Walking Dead: Daryl & Carol, but Carol was written out of the series due to logistical issues involving actress Melissa McBride. In this second season she became a series regular in a return to the series original concept. It follows Daryl and Carol, who are respectively in France and the US. They both confront old demons while she fights to find her friend and he struggles with his decision to stay in France. The second season of the series premiered on AMC on September 29 with a new episode releasing weekly.

6. White Bird: a new coming-of-age period drama film directed by Marc Forster from a screenplay by Mark Bomback, based on the 2019 graphic novel of the same name by R. J. Palacio. Serving as both a prequel and sequel to Wonder (2017), the film stars Ariella Glaser, Orlando Schwerdt, Bryce Gheisar, Gillian Anderson, and Helen Mirren, with Gheisar reprising his role as Julian from Wonder. Struggling to fit in at his new school after being expelled for his treatment of Auggie Pullman, Julian is visited by his grandmother and is transformed by the story of her attempts to escape Nazi-occupied France during World War II. White Bird was released in Italy, Slovenia, and Croatia on January 4 and now it was also released in theatres in the United States on October 4.

Extra horror-themed Six To See:

It’s October which means spooky season officially started. This also means it’s the perfect time to watch horror films, and this week there are six new horror films that were released that you can watch. So here is an extra horror-themed Six To See:

1. Salem’s Lot: a new supernatural horror film written and directed by Gary Dauberman, based on the 1975 novel by Stephen King. The film stars Lewis Pullman, Makenzie Leigh, Bill Camp, Pilou Asbæk, Alfre Woodard, Debra Christofferson, and William Sadler. It is the first feature film adaptation of the book after the previous miniseries versions from 1979 and 2004. The plot centers on a writer who returns to his hometown of Jerusalem’s Lot in search of inspiration, only to discover the presence of a vampire. Salem’s Lot had its world premiere as the opening film at the Beyond Fest on September 25, and was released on Max on October 3.

2. It’s What’s Inside: a new comedy horror film written and directed by Greg Jardin. It stars Brittany O’Grady, James Morosini, Gavin Leatherwood, Nina Bloomgarden, Alycia Debnam-Carey, Reina Hardesty, Devon Terrell, David W. Thompson, and Madison Davenport. It follows a group of friends who gather for a pre-wedding party that descends into an existential nightmare when an estranged friend arrives with a mysterious game that awakens long-hidden secrets, desires, and grudges. The film had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 19, and was released on Netflix on October 4.

3. Hold Your Breath: a new psychological horror-thriller film directed by Karrie Crouse and Will Joines, and written by Crouse. It stars Sarah Paulson, Amiah Miller, Annaleigh Ashford, Alona Jane Robbins, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach. Set in 1930s Oklahoma, we follow a young mother haunted by the past who becomes convinced that a mysterious presence in dust storms is threatening her family. She takes extraordinary measures to protect them. It premiered in the Special Presentations section at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 12, followed by a streaming release on Hulu in the US and on Disney+ internationally on October 3.

4. The Platform 2: the follow-up to The Platform from 2019 with Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia returning as director. This Spanish satirical science fiction film stars Milena Smit, Natalia Tena, Óscar Jaenada and Hovik Keuchkerian. After the success of the first film, now we return to the world of “The Platform”, a large, tower-style “Vertical Self-Management Center” prison that houses various criminals. The dozens of floors house two occupants per floor and a free-floating platform delivers food to them on a daily schedule. It’s a thrilling physical journey that allows an approach to the darkness, where it is scary to look. It appeals to the viewer’s civil responsibility and forces them to face the limits of their own solidarity. The film was released on Netflix on October 4.

5. House of Spoils: a new supernatural horror film written and directed by Bridget Savage Cole and Danielle Krudy. It stars Ariana DeBose, Barbie Ferreira and Arian Moayed. It follows a chef who opens her first restaurant where she battles kitchen chaos, a dubious investor, crushing self-doubts and the powerful spirit of the estate’s previous owner who threatens to sabotage her at every turn. House of Spoils premiered at Fantastic Fest on September 21, before streaming on Amazon Prime Video on October 3.

6. Monster Summer: I’m ending this horror-themed Six To See with a less scary film that is perfect for younger viewers who are becoming interested in the horror genre but aren’t ready yet for chainsaw murders and exploding heads. This adventure family comedy horror film is directed by David Henrie, written by Cornelius Uliano and Bryan Schulz, and stars Mason Thames, Lorraine Bracco and Mel Gibson. When a mysterious force begins to disrupt their big summer fun, Noah and his friends team up with a retired police detective to embark on a monstrous adventure to save their island. Monster Summer was released in theatres in the United States on October 4.