By Divyani Sharma and Mercedes Gonzales-Bazan
All synopses are courtesy of press materials, unless otherwise noted.
Film and TV Premieres
October 1
“Titane” (Film) – Written and Directed by Julia Ducournau (In Theaters)
Titane: A metal highly resistant to heat and corrosion, with high tensile strength alloys, often used in medical prostheses due to its pronounced biocompatibility.
“Mayday” (Film) – Written and Directed by Karen Cinorre (In Theaters and Available on VOD)
Ana (Grace Van Patten) finds herself transported to a dreamlike and dangerous coastline. Once there, she joins a female army engaged in a never-ending war where the women lure men to their deaths with radio signals, like 20th century sirens. Though Ana finds strength in this exhilarating world, she comes to realize she is not the killer they want her to be.
“Black as Night” (Film) – Directed by Maritte Lee Go (Available on Amazon Prime Video)
A resourceful teenage girl leaves childhood behind when she battles a group of deadly vampires in “Black as Night” an action-horror hybrid with a strong social conscience and a biting sense of humor. Fifteen years after Hurricane Katrina ravaged New Orleans, a new threat leaves its mark on the Big Easy in the form of puncture wounds on the throats of the city’s vulnerable displaced population. When her drug-addicted mom becomes the latest victim of the undead, 15-year old Shawna (Asjha Cooper) vows to even the score. Along with three trusted friends, Shawna hatches a bold plan to infiltrate the vampire’s mansion in the historic French Quarter, destroy their leader, and turn his fanged disciples back to their human form. But killing monsters is no easy task, and soon Shawna and her crew find themselves caught in a centuries-old conflict between warring vampire factions, each fighting to claim New Orleans as their permanent home.
“Karen Dalton: In My Own Time” (Documentary) (In Theaters)
Blues and folk singer Karen Dalton was a prominent figure in 1960s New York. Idolized by Bob Dylan and Nick Cave, Karen discarded the traditional trappings of success and led an unconventional life until her early death. Since most images of Karen have been lost or destroyed, the film uses Dalton’s dulcet melodies and interviews with loved ones to build a rich portrait of this singular woman and her hauntingly beautiful voice.
“Stop and Go” (Film) – Directed by Mallory Everton and Stephen Meek; Written by Whitney Call and Mallory Everton (In Theaters and Available on VOD)
Sisters Blake (Mallory Everton) and Jamie’s (Whitney Call) big plans for the year come to a screeching halt when they are forced to rescue their grandmother and her beloved dog from her nursing home before their reckless sister can get there first. They embark on a hilarious cross-country race against time while contending with a deranged dog breeder, a highly inappropriate nine-year-old, and a clueless Romeo, all in the name of family.
“Witch Hunt” (Film) – Written and Directed by Elle Callahan (In Theaters and Available on VOD)
In a modern America where magic is real and witches are persecuted by U.S. authorities, teenager Claire (Gideon Adlon) and her family are part of an intricate network that helps these women escape across the border to seek asylum in Mexico. However, when their mode of transport is disrupted by federal witch hunters, trouble befalls the family as they struggle to hide two young witches within the walls of their home. As witch hunters close in and strange magic begins haunting the family, Claire discovers that she may have more in common with these witches than she could have ever imagined.
“Bingo Hell” (Film) – Directed by Gigi Saul Guerrero; Written by Gigi Saul Guerrero, Shane McKenzie, and Perry Blackshear (Available on Amazon Prime Video)
When a sinister figure threatens the residents of a low-income community, a feisty senior citizen tries to stop him in “Bingo Hell,” a wickedly original horror movie with a fiendishly funny twist. After 60-something neighborhood activist Lupita (Adriana Barraza) discovers that her beloved local bingo hall has been taken over by a mysterious businessman named Mr. Big (Richard Brake), she rallies her elderly friends to fight back against the enigmatic entrepreneur. But when her longtime neighbors begin turning up dead under grisly circumstances, Lupita suddenly discovers that gentrification is the least of her problems. Something terrifying has made itself at home in the quiet barrio of Oak Springs, and with each new cry of “Bingo!” another victim falls prey to its diabolical presence. As the cash prizes increase and the body count steadily rises, Lupita must face the frightening realization that this game is truly winner-takes-all.
“What Breaks the Ice” (Film) – Written and Directed by Rebecca Eskreis (In Theaters and Available on VOD)
“What Breaks the Ice” starts as a sweet, idyllic coming-of-age story about female empowerment and friendship and soon takes a dark and powerful turn. As the socio-political landscape is turned on its head, two girls from different worlds form an unlikely friendship in the sweltering summer heat. Their fun and carefree days quickly turn cold as they find themselves at the center of a murder that rocks an idealistic East Coast community.
“Hester Street” (Film Restoration) – Written and Directed by Joan Micklin Silver (In Theaters)
Among the great cinematic portraits of Jewish life in America, Joan Micklin Silver’s debut feature is anchored by her own screenplay (adapted from Abraham Cahan’s 1896 novella “Yekl: A Tale of the New York Ghetto”) and an unforgettable, Oscar-nominated performance by Carol Kane. Kane stars as Gitl, one half of an Eastern European Jewish couple alongside Yankel (Steven Keats). Upon arriving in New York’s Lower East Side in the late 19th century, Gitl finds that her husband, who’d come to America before her with their young son, has acclimated to their new country fairly well — but he has also begun an affair with a dancer, and Gitl finds herself in an unenviable situation in a strange new place. “Hester Street” meticulously reconstructs this bygone haven for Jewish immigrants to masterfully paint one woman’s journey to assimilation and her arrival at the crossroads of tradition and modernity. (NYFF)
“Swallow” (Film) – Written by Sefi Atta and Kunle Afolayan (Available on Netflix)
Waylaid by life’s pressures in 1980s Lagos, Nigeria, Tolani (Niyola) becomes involved in drug smuggling with her streetwise friend and must face the fallout.
“Val” (Film) – Written by Victoria Fratz and Aaron Fradkin (In Theaters; Available on VOD October 5)
Fin (Zachary Mooren) is a criminal on the run, wanted for the murder of his boss and the accidental shooting of an officer. He breaks into the home of a high-class escort only to discover that you get more than you bargained for with Val (Misha Reeves), short for “Valefar” — a demon who offers to make all his problems disappear if he agrees to follow her rules. But in Val’s world there are no accidents, and as Fin meets her other “customers,” he learns that Val was expecting him all along, and it isn’t easy to escape Val’s dungeon.
“Diana: The Musical” (Recorded Theater Performance) (Available on Netflix)
“Diana: The Musical” tells the story of one of the most beloved women of modern times. Engaged to a prince she barely knows, 19-year-old Diana Spencer (Jeanna de Waal) is thrust onto the world stage and, overnight, becomes the most famous woman in the world. As she struggles to navigate her way within the rigid structure of the royal family, Princess Diana finds herself trapped in a loveless marriage, eventually finding her voice by devoting herself to those in need. Forced to endure a media spotlight brighter than the world has ever known, Princess Diana defies all expectations to emerge as her own woman and create a legacy that will endure forever.
“Falling for Figaro” (Film) (In Theaters and Available on VOD)
Millie (Danielle Macdonald) is a brilliant young fund manager who leaves her unfulfilling job and long-term boyfriend to chase her lifelong dream of becoming an opera singer — in the Scottish Highlands! She begins intense vocal training lessons with renowned but fearsome singing teacher and former opera diva Meghan Geoffrey-Bishop (Joanna Lumley). It is there she meets Max (Hugh Skinner), another of Meghan’s students who is also training for the upcoming “Singer of Renown” contest. What begins as a brutal competition between Millie and Max slowly turns into something more
“Venom: Let There Be Carnage” (Film) – Written by Kelly Marcel (In Theaters)
Venom (Tom Hardy) springs into action when notorious serial killer Cletus Kasady (Woody Harrelson) transforms into the evil Carnage.
“Implanted” (Film) (Available on VOD)
A struggling young woman is implanted with an experimental AI chip. She must fight to survive when it takes control.
“Maid” (Miniseries) – Created by Molly Smith Metzler (Premieres on Netflix)
Inspired by the New York Times best-selling memoir, “Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother’s Will to Survive” by Stephanie Land, “Maid” follows the story of Alex (Margaret Qualley), a single mother who turns to housecleaning to — barely — make ends meet as she escapes an abusive relationship and overcomes homelessness to create a better life for her daughter. Seen through the emotional yet humorous lens of a desperate but determined woman, this series is a raw and inspiring exploration of a mother’s resilience.
“A Sinister Sect: Colonia Dignidad” (Docuseries) – Directed by Annette Baumeister and Wilfried Huismann (Premieres on Netflix)
A colony of German Christians with a charismatic and manipulative leader establishes itself in Chile and becomes instrumental to the dictatorship.
October 4
“Good Grief” (Series) – Created and Written by Eve Palmer, Grace Palmer, and Nick Schaedel (Premieres on IFC)
This six-episode comedy series is set in a small New Zealand town and follows two millennial sisters with very different personalities who inherit a funeral home from their grandfather. Unsure what to do with the funeral home – or the oddball staff that keep the place running – Ellie and Gwen Goode (Eve and Grace Palmer) are thrust into a world of embalming, emceeing, and embarrassment. Recently fired from her teaching career, Ellie starts to warm to the job, but all Gwen wants to do is go DJ in Bali. By staring death in the face every day, Ellie and Gwen begin to confront the realities of their own life, and what they want to make of it. “Good Grief” finds light in the darkness, weaving both the comedy and tragedy of life into a rich emotional tapestry.
“Fruits of Labor” (Documentary) – Directed by Emily Cohen Ibañez; Written by Emily Cohen Ibañez and Ashley Solis (Premieres on PBS)
Ashley Solis is a high school senior who must divide her time between school and supporting her family as a second-generation Mexican American. Located in a California working class town, the harshness of agricultural labor in the strawberry fields shares a stark contrast with the beautiful nature and relationship to her spiritual ancestral upbringing.
October 5
“Spring Blossom” (Film) – Written and Directed by Suzanne Lindon (Available on VOD)
Suzanne (Suzanne Lindon) is 16. She is bored with people her own age. From the outside, everything appears lovely in her charmed world, but the everyday monotony of school and her relationships with friends and family feel completely uninspired. Every day on her way to high school, she passes a theater. There, she meets a 35-year-old actor named Raphaël (Arnaud Valois). Despite their age difference they find in each other an answer to their ennui and develop a strong connection. Immersed in the world of grown-ups and adult choices, Suzanne begins questioning the pitfalls of blossoming too quickly and missing out on life – the life of a 16-year-old, which she had struggled so much to enjoy in the same way as her peers.
“Not Going Quietly” (Documentary) – Written by Amanda Roddy and Nicholas Bruckman (Available on VOD)
Ady Barkan’s life is upended when he is diagnosed with ALS, but a confrontation with a powerful senator catapults him to national fame and ignites a once-in-a-generation political movement.
October 6
“V/H/S/94” (Film) – Directed by Chloe Okuno, Jennifer Reeder, Ryan Prows, Simon Barrett, and Timo Tjahjanto; Written by Chloe Okuno, Jennifer Reeder, Ryan Prows, Simon Barrett, David Bruckner, and Timo Tjahjanto (Available on Shudder)
After the discovery of a mysterious VHS tape, a brutish police SWAT team launches a high intensity raid on a remote warehouse, only to discover a sinister cult compound whose collection of pre-recorded material uncovers a nightmarish conspiracy.
“The Five Juanas” (Series) (Premieres on Netflix)
Five women with the same birthmark set out to unravel the truth about their pasts and discover a tragic web of lies spun by a powerful politician.
October 8
“The Rescue” (Documentary) – Directed by Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin (In Theaters)
“The Rescue” chronicles the enthralling, against-all-odds story that transfixed the world in 2018: the daring rescue of 12 boys and their coach from deep inside a flooded cave in Northern Thailand. Academy Award-winning directors and producers Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin keep viewers on the edge of their seats as they use a wealth of never-before-seen material and exclusive interviews to piece together the high stakes mission, highlighting the efforts of the Royal Thai Navy SEALs and U.S. Special Forces and details the expert cave divers’ audacious venture to dive the boys to safety. “The Rescue” brings alive one of the most perilous and extraordinary rescues in modern times, shining a light on the high-risk world of cave diving, the astounding courage and compassion of the rescuers, and the shared humanity of the international community that united to save the boys.
“Delphine’s Prayers” (Documentary) – Directed by Rosine Mbakam (In Theaters)
“Delphine’s Prayers” is the story of Delphine – a young Cameroonian woman – and her life in Belgium. Through a series of confessions from Delphine, a powerful portrait emerges of a generation of women lost to the dream of a better world in Europe. Through her courage, Delphine exposes the patterns of domination that continue to oppress some African women.
“Prism” (Documentary) – Directed by Eléonore Yameogo, An van. Dienderen, and Rosine Mbakam (In Theaters)
In “Prism,” filmmakers Eléonore Yameogo of Burkina Faso, An van. Dienderen of Belgium, and Rosine Mbakam of Cameroon examine biases and racism in the cinematic technology. The filmmakers deconstruct the camera’s objectivity, exposing its inherent power imbalance. At the same time, they work together collaboratively to construct and reconstruct. Like a chain letter, “Prism” brings interviews, monologues, and images on the racism of cinematic technology into emotional, aesthetic, and intellectual dialogue.
“Jacinta” (Documentary) – Directed by Jessica Earnshaw (In Theaters and Available on Hulu)
Shot over three years, the film begins at the Maine Correctional Center where Jacinta, 26, and her mother Rosemary, 46, are incarcerated together, both recovering from drug addiction. As a child, Jacinta became entangled in her mother’s world of drugs and crime and has followed her in and out of the system since she was a teenager. This time, as Jacinta is released from prison, she hopes to maintain her sobriety and reconnect with her 10-year-old daughter, Caylynn, who lives with her paternal grandparents. Despite her desire to rebuild her life for her daughter, Jacinta continually struggles against the forces that first led to her addiction. With unparalleled access and a gripping vérité approach, director Jessica Earnshaw paints a deeply intimate portrait of mothers and daughters and the effects of trauma over generations.
“The Manor” (Film) – Written and Directed by Axelle Carolyn (Available on Amazon Prime Video)
A malevolent force preys upon the residents of a sleepy nursing home in “The Manor,” a gothic tale of terror with a modern twist. When a mild stroke diminishes her ability to care for herself, Judith Albright (Barbara Hershey) moves to Golden Sun Manor, an assisted living facility with a sterling reputation. But despite the best efforts of the staff, and a budding friendship with fellow senior Roland (Bruce Davidson), strange occurrences and nightmarish visions convince Judith that a sinister presence is haunting the massive estate. As residents begin to die mysteriously, Judith’s frantic warnings are dismissed as fantasy. Even her devoted grandson Josh (Nicholas Alexander) thinks her fears are the result of dementia, not demons. With no one willing to believe her, Judith must either escape the confines of the manor, or fall victim to the evil that dwells within it.
“Knocking” (Film) – Directed by Frida Kempff; Written by Emma Broström (In Theaters; Available on VOD October 19)
After suffering a traumatic incident, Molly (Cecilia Milocco) moves into a new apartment to begin her path to recovery, but it’s not long after her arrival that a series of persistent knocks and screams begin to wake her up at night. Molly’s new life begins to unravel as the screams intensify and no one else in the building believes or is willing to help her.
“Madres” (Film) – Written by Marcella Ochoa and Mario Miscione (Available on Amazon Prime Video)
Beto (Tenoch Huerta) and Diana (Ariana Guerra), a young Mexican-American couple expecting their first child, move to a small town in 1970s California where Beto has been offered a job managing a farm. Isolated from the community and plagued by confusing nightmares, Diana explores the rundown company ranch where they reside, finding a grisly talisman and a box containing the belongings of the previous residents. Her discoveries will lead her to a truth much stranger and more terrifying than she could have possibly imagined.
“Suzanna Andler” (Film) (In Theaters)
Suzanna Andler (Charlotte Gainsbourg) visits a spacious villa on the French Riviera. She wants to rent it for the summer, but has doubts. And not just about the house. Forty-year-old Suzanna is at a crossroads in life. Married to a millionaire who has been cheating on her for years, she has recently taken a lover herself and has arranged to meet him here. Her children have stayed in Paris, and her husband is elsewhere – she doesn’t know where. Suzanna and her lover have a decision to make about their future. How long can she keep up the lying?
“The Faithful” (Documentary) – Written and Directed by Annie Berman (In Theaters)
Elvis, Princess Diana, and Pope John Paul II are undoubtedly still alive today, thanks to their devoted followers who love, admire, and consume them. Literally. “The Faithful” powerfully explores fandom, memorabilia, and the magnetic appeal of three of the most influential cultural icons of our time. This documentary, 20 years in the making, leads viewers on an emotional journey leaving them looking inwards, reflecting on their own lives and the connections they cherish. A Pope John Paul II lollipop. An Elvis Presley shower curtain. A Princess Diana teacup. These are just some of the countless pieces of memorabilia that these pop culture icons’ most devoted fans collect and cherish — but why? Berman profiles these figures’ biggest fans and makes numerous pilgrimages to Vatican City, Graceland, and Kensington Palace. As the years go by, the film itself becomes increasingly entwined with Berman’s daily life and identity, much like how these officially-licensed knick-knacks define the fans she filmed.
“No Time to Die” (Film) – Written by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Cary Joji Fukunaga, Neal Purvis, and Robert Wade (In Theaters)
In “No Time To Die,” James Bond (Daniel Craig) has left active service and is enjoying a tranquil life in Jamaica. His peace is short-lived when his old friend Felix Leiter (Jeffrey Wright) from the CIA turns up asking for help. The mission to rescue a kidnapped scientist turns out to be far more treacherous than expected, leading Bond onto the trail of a mysterious villain armed with dangerous new technology.
“Aileen Wuornos: American Boogeywoman” (Film) (Available on VOD)
“Aileen Wuornos: American Boogeywoman” focuses on serial killer Aileen Wuornos (Peyton List). Based on Wuornos’ early life in 1976, the film follows America’s most notorious female serial killer in Florida when she marries an older wealthy Yacht Club president only to inflict mayhem within her new family and Florida’s high society.
“Pretty Smart” (Series) (Premieres on Netflix)
Self-proclaimed intellectual Chelsea (Emily Osment), is forced to move in with her carefree sister and her sister’s lovably eccentric friends.
October 10
“Buried” (Docuseries) (Premieres on Showtime)
“Buried” follows the gripping story of Eileen Franklin who, while playing with her young daughter, suddenly had a memory of witnessing the rape and murder of her childhood best friend, eight-year-old Susan Nason, which led to a re-opening of a case that had gone unsolved for nearly 20 years. And in a shocking twist, when Eileen came forward with her memory, she told the police that she remembered the murderer was her own father, George Franklin.
October 11
“The King’s Affection” (Series) (Premieres on Netflix)
When the crown prince is killed, his twin sister assumes the throne while trying to keep her identity and affection for her first love a royal secret.
October 12
“Trial in the Outback: The Lindy Chamberlain Story” (Docuseries) (Premieres on Sundance Now and AMC+)
Lindy Chamberlain made headlines in 1980 when she claimed a dingo had killed her nine-week-old baby in the Australian outback. With little evidence, Lindy was convicted of murder, and spent the next 30 years trying to prove her innocence. With exclusive personal accounts in this revelatory three-part true crime documentary series, Lindy and her family finally share their own story.
October 13
“Fever Dream” (Film) – Directed by Claudia Llosa; Written by Claudia Llosa and Samanta Schweblin (Available on Netflix)
Told from a decidedly feminine perspective, this hallucinatory tale explores the interconnected nature of love and fear in motherhood. A woman named Amanda (María Valverde) vacations in a sleepy Argentine village with her young daughter Nina (Guillermina Sorribes Liotta). Ever-concerned with her daughter’s welfare, Amanda constantly calculates the “rescue distance” needed to protect her child. She soon discovers that things around her are not as they seem. A local boy named David interrogates Amanda, as she struggles to make sense of her surroundings. The beauty of the bucolic countryside is a striking counterpoint to an eerie story of dark forces, powerful emotions, and pervasive dangers.
October 14
“Crutch” (Documentary) – Directed by Sachi Cunningham and Chandler Evans (Available on discovery+)
“Crutch” provides an intimate look into award-winning dancer and cutting-edge performance artist Bill Shannon. Born with a degenerative hip condition, Shannon developed a way to express himself through dancing and skateboarding on crutches. Two decades of exclusive access, plus a lifetime of archival footage, depict Shannon’s extraordinary journey through medical odyssey, his struggles with chronic pain, as well as the evolution of his crutch dancing and skating. As Shannon rises to become a world-renowned performance artist he transforms from an angry skate punk to an international hero.
“Guilty Party” (Series) – Written by Rebecca Addelman (Premieres on Paramount+)
“Guilty Party” follows Beth Burgess (Kate Beckinsale), a discredited journalist desperate to salvage her career by latching on to the story of a young mother, Toni Plimpton (Jules Latimer), who has been sentenced to life in prison for maiming and murdering her husband, crimes she claims she didn’t commit. In trying to uncover the truth, Beth finds herself in over her head as she contends with Colorado gun-smugglers, clickbait culture, the doldrums of marriage, and her own tarnished past.
“Phoebe Robinson: Sorry, Harriet Tubman” (Comedy Special) – Written by Phoebe Robinson (Premieres on HBO Max)
Bringing her signature brand of authentic confessional humor to her first-ever solo stand-up special, Phoebe Robinson gets real about therapy, interracial dating, reparations, hanging out with Michelle Obama, aging out of watching civil rights movies, and more in a no-holds-barred hour of comedy that’s both unflinchingly honest – and uniquely hilarious.
“Love Spells” (Series) – Created by Fernanda Eguiarte (Premieres on HBO Max)
They say witches are wise women, and Ana (Gabriela de la Garza) is veeery wise. What kind of love spell do you need? Requests are welcome.
“What Happened, Brittany Murphy?” (Docuseries) – Directed by Cynthia Hill (Premieres on HBO Max)
“What Happened, Brittany Murphy?” presents an in-depth, intimate character portrait exploring the life and career and mysterious circumstances surrounding the tragic death of ’90s actress and rising star, Brittany Murphy. The series will go beyond the conspiracy theories and headlines, featuring new interviews by those closest to Brittany and new archival footage.
October 15
“Introducing, Selma Blair” (Documentary) – Directed by Rachel Fleit (In Theaters; Available on discovery+ October 21)
“Introducing, Selma Blair” is director Rachel Fleit’s deeply intimate and powerful feature of one woman’s journey of personal acceptance and resilience, which follows the singular actress as she reckons with the next chapter of her life after being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. The film explores complex issues ranging from dissecting deep-rooted myths about beauty, and the collective fear around disability and mortality. Complete with her trademark wit and humor, the documentary follows Blair as she reconciles a journey of monumental transition.
“Bergman Island” (Film) – Written and Directed by Mia Hansen-Løve (In Theaters and Available on VOD)
A filmmaking couple living in America, Chris (Vicky Krieps) and Tony (Tim Roth), retreat to the mythical Fårö island for the summer. In this wild, breathtaking landscape where Bergman lived and shot his most celebrated pieces, they hope to find inspiration for their upcoming films. As days spent separately pass by, the fascination for the island operates on Chris and souvenirs of her first love resurface. Lines between reality and fiction will then progressively blur and tear our couple even more apart.
“Freeland” (Film) – Written and Directed by Kate McLean and Mario Furloni (In Theaters)
Devi (Krisha Fairchild) has been breeding legendary pot strains for decades on the remote homestead she built herself. But when cannabis is legalized, she suddenly finds herself fighting for her survival.
“The Blazing World” (Film) – Directed by Carlson Young; Written by Carlson Young and Pierce Brown (In Theaters and Available on VOD)
Margaret (Carlson Young) has been plagued with dreams of a strange world since she was a little girl. After a mysterious man with a map visits her one night, she decides to give in to the incessant calls of The Blazing World.
“The Last Duel” (Film) – Written by Nicole Holofcener, Ben Affleck, and Matt Damon (In Theaters)
“The Last Duel” is a cinematic and thought-provoking drama set in the midst of the Hundred Years War that explores the ubiquitous power of men, the frailty of justice, and the strength and courage of one woman willing to stand alone in the service of truth. Based on actual events, the film unravels long-held assumptions about France’s last sanctioned duel between Jean de Carrouges (Matt Damon) and Jacques Le Gris (Adam Driver), two friends turned bitter rivals. Carrouges is a respected knight known for his bravery and skill on the battlefield. Le Gris is a Norman squire whose intelligence and eloquence make him one of the most admired nobles in court. When Carrouges’ wife, Marguerite (Jodie Comer), is viciously assaulted by Le Gris, a charge he denies, she refuses to stay silent, stepping forward to accuse her attacker, an act of bravery and defiance that puts her life in jeopardy. The ensuing trial by combat, a grueling duel to the death, places the fate of all three in God’s hands.
“Halloween Kills” (Film) (In Theaters and Available on Peacock)
Minutes after Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis), her daughter Karen (Judy Greer), and granddaughter Allyson (Andi Matichak) left masked monster Michael Myers caged and burning in Laurie’s basement, Laurie is rushed to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, believing she finally killed her lifelong tormentor. But when Michael manages to free himself from Laurie’s trap, his ritual bloodbath resumes. As Laurie fights her pain and prepares to defend herself against him, she inspires all of Haddonfield to rise up against their unstoppable monster. The Strode women join a group of other survivors of Michael’s first rampage who decide to take matters into their own hands, forming a vigilante mob that sets out to hunt Michael down, once and for all. Evil dies tonight.
“Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy” (Film) (In Theaters)
In this evocative meditation — three taut stories set in Tokyo about the mysteries and depths of women’s desires — coincidence seems as natural as the passing of time, and both are depicted in equal measure as whimsical and sharp: A fashion model discovers her friend is dating the ex who may have been her true love; a college student attempts to avenge humiliation by enlisting his lover to lure his sadistic professor into a “Me Too” situation; two middle-aged women make a poignant, enigmatic connection.
“Good Timing with Jo Firestone” (Comedy Special) – Directed by Julie Miller (Premieres on Peacock)
In this hilarious and heartwarming special, Jo Firestone teaches a comedy workshop for 16 senior citizens, leading up to their first live stand-up show.
“I Know What You Did Last Summer” (Series) – Written by Sara Goodman (Premieres on Amazon Prime)
One year after the fatal car accident that haunted their graduation night, a group of teenagers find themselves bound together by a dark secret at the hands of a brutal killer who stalks their every move. As they try to piece together who’s after them, they reveal the dark side of their seemingly perfect town. Everyone is hiding something, and uncovering the wrong secret could be deadly.
“My Name” (Series) (Premieres on Netflix)
Following her father’s murder, a revenge-driven woman puts her trust in a powerful crime boss — and enters the police force under his direction.
October 18
“Women Is Losers” (Film) – Written and Directed by Lissette Feliciano (Available on HBO Max)
In 1960s San Francisco, a once-promising Catholic schoolgirl, Celina Guerrera (Lorenza Izzo), sets out to rise above the oppression of poverty and invest in a future for herself that sets new precedents for the time. Inspired by real women and the Janis Joplin song of the same title.
“Wakefield” (Series) – Created by Kristen Dunphy; Directed by Jocelyn Moorhouse and Kim Mordaunt (Premieres on Showtime)
“Wakefield” follows Nik Katira (Rudi Dharmalingam), who after years working as a psych nurse at Wakefield, is exceptionally good at his job. With a gift for soothing the afflicted and reaching the unreachable, he’s the most stable person in what tends to be a pretty crazy place. But right now, as his own sanity is slipping, the question is — why? Tackling the complexity of mental illness with humor and heart, “Wakefield” explores the fine line between sanity and madness, powered by an intriguing psychological mystery.
October 19
“Mothers of the Revolution” (Documentary) – Directed by Briar March (Available on VOD)
“Mothers of the Revolution” tells the story of one of the longest protests in history, when between 1981 and 2000, thousands of women from around the world came together at Greenham Common to take a committed stand against nuclear proliferation. Minimized by the media, the film reveals the women as the Cold War heroes they were, who persisted in the face of arrests, condemnation, and scorn, took on a superpower, and changed the world.
“Queens” (Series) (Premieres on ABC)
Starring Eve, Naturi Naughton, Nadine Velazquez, and Brandy, “Queens” follows four women in their 40s who reunite for a chance to recapture their fame and regain the swagger they had in the ’90s when they were legends in the hip-hop world.
October 20
“Found” (Documentary) – Directed by Amanda Lipitz (Available on Netflix)
“Found” is a feature documentary that follows the story of three American teenage girls — each adopted from China — who discover they are blood-related cousins on 23andMe. Their online meeting inspires the young women to confront the burning questions they have about their lost history. When they meet for the first time, they embark on a once-in-a-lifetime journey to China in search of answers.
October 21
“The Girl in the Woods” (Series) – Directed by Krysten Ritter and Jacob Chase; Written by Jane Casey Modderno (Premieres on Peacock)
Set in the Pacific Northwest, “The Girl in the Woods” follows Carrie’s (Stefanie Scott) escape from her mysterious, cult-like colony that guards the world from monsters hidden behind a secret door within the woods. The series also touches on contemporary social issues like LGBTQ+ discrimination, the human cost of environmentalism, and the consequences of inequality.
October 22
“At the Ready” (Documentary) – Directed by Maisie Crow (In Theaters and Available on VOD)
Ten miles from the Mexican border, students at Horizon High School in El Paso, Texas, are enrolling in law enforcement classes and joining a unique after-school activity: the criminal justice club. Through mock-ups of drug raids and active-shooter takedowns, they inch closer to their desired careers in Border Patrol, policing, and customs enforcement. We follow Mexican American students Kassy and Cesar and recent graduate Cristina as they navigate the complications inherent in their chosen path and discover their choices may clash with the values and people they hold most dear.
“Attica” (Documentary) – Directed by Traci Curry and Stanley Nelson (In Theaters; Premieres November 6 on Showtime)
“Attica” recounts in vivid detail the five-day 1971 prison rebellion at the Attica Correctional Facility in upstate New York, which took the lives of 29 inmates and 10 hostages – the deadliest single day of violence Americans inflicted on each other since the Civil War. Through original interviews with former inmates, family members of the hostages, and other witnesses, the documentary brings us back to a moment in history that resonated for decades, utilizing hundreds of hours of footage and never-before-seen archival tapes from inside the prison. The film captures the personalities, politics, emotions, and tragedy that stand as a wake-up call — then and now — about the need for prison reform and the responsibilities of justice.
“Inside Job” (Series) – Created by Shion Takeuchi (Premieres on Netflix)
Lizard people? Real. The moon landing? Fake. Managing the world’s conspiracies is a full-time job for an awkward genius (Lizzy Caplan) and her dysfunctional co-workers.
“More Than Blue: The Series” (Series) – Directed by Hsieh Pei-ju (Premieres on Netflix)
In this series based on the movie, a man with a terminal illness seeks to help his beloved find a long-term partner.
October 25
“4400” (Series) – Created by Anna Fricke and Ariana Jackson (Premieres on The CW)
4,400 overlooked, undervalued, or otherwise marginalized people who vanished without a trace over the last hundred years are all returned in an instant, having not aged a day and with no memory of what happened to them.
October 26
“Sex: Unzipped” (Special) – Written by Erika Ehler, Steve Parry, and Nico Tatarowicz (Premieres on Netflix)
Host Saweetie will be joined by sex experts, talking heads, and a crew of sex-positive puppets who are representative of the broad spectrum of sex and sexualities that exist in real life to help address and describe some of the biggest myths, misconceptions, and experiences when it comes to sex and identity.
October 27
“Passing” (Film) – Written and Directed by Rebecca Hall (In Theaters; Available on Netflix November 10)
Adapted from the celebrated 1929 novel of the same name by Nella Larsen, “Passing” tells the story of two Black women, Irene Redfield (Tessa Thompson) and Clare Kendry (Ruth Negga), who can “pass” as white but choose to live on opposite sides of the color line during the height of the Harlem Renaissance in late 1920s New York. After a chance encounter reunites the former childhood friends one summer afternoon, Irene reluctantly allows Clare into her home, where she ingratiates herself to Irene’s husband (André Holland) and family, and soon her larger social circle as well. As their lives become more deeply intertwined, Irene finds her once-steady existence upended by Clare, and “Passing” becomes a riveting examination of obsession, repression, and the lies people tell themselves and others to protect their carefully constructed realities.
“Hypnotic” (Film) – Directed by Suzanne Coote and Matt Angel (Available on Netflix)
A young woman (Kate Siegel) seeking self-improvement enlists the help of a renowned hypnotherapist (Jason O’Mara), but after a handful of intense sessions, discovers unexpected and deadly consequences.
October 29
“The Souvenir Part II” (Film) – Written and Directed by Joanna Hogg (In Theaters)
In the aftermath of her tumultuous relationship with a charismatic and manipulative older man, Julie (Honor Swinton Byrne) begins to untangle her fraught love for him in making her graduation film, sorting fact from his elaborately constructed fiction. Joanna Hogg’s shimmering story of first love and a young woman’s formative years, “The Souvenir Part II” is a portrait of the artist that transcends the halting particulars of everyday life — a singular, alchemic mix of memoir and fantasy.
“A Mouthful of Air” (Film) – Written and Directed by Amy Koppelman (In Theaters)
Julie Davis (Amanda Seyfried) writes bestselling children’s books about unlocking your fears, but has yet to unlock her own. When her daughter is born, that trauma is brought to the fore, and with it, a crushing battle to survive.
“13 Minutes” (Film) – Written and Directed by Lindsay Gossling (In Theaters and Available on VOD)
In “13 Minutes,” the day starts out as usual for residents in the small Heartland town of Minninnewah. It’s springtime and big storms are typically no cause for concern – until the largest tornado on record threatens to ravage the town, leaving the inhabitants with only thirteen minutes to find shelter, search for their loved ones, and fight for their lives. In the wake of total devastation, four families must overcome their differences and find strength in themselves and each other in order to survive.
“Last Night in Soho” (Film) – Written by Krysty Wilson-Cairns and Edgar Wright (In Theaters)
Eloise (Thomasin Harcourt McKenzie), an aspiring fashion designer, is mysteriously able to enter the 1960s where she encounters a dazzling wannabe singer, Sandie (Anya Taylor-Joy). But the glamour is not all it appears to be and the dreams of the past start to crack and splinter into something far darker.
“Keyboard Fantasies: The Beverly Glenn-Copeland Story” (Documentary) – Directed by Posy Dixon (In Theaters and Available on VOD)
As a sci-fi obsessed woman living in near isolation, Beverly Glenn-Copeland wrote and self-released “Keyboard Fantasies” in Huntsville, Ontario, back in 1986. Recorded in an Atari-powered home studio, the cassette featured seven tracks of a curious folk-electronica hybrid, a sound realized far before its time. Three decades on, the musician – now Glenn Copeland – began to receive emails from people across the world, thanking him for the music they’d recently discovered. Courtesy of a rare-record collector in Japan, a reissue of “Keyboard Fantasies” and subsequent plays by Four Tet, Caribou, and more, the music had finally found its audience two generations down the line. “Keyboard Fantasies: The Beverly Glenn-Copeland Story” sees the protagonist commit his life and music to screen for the first time — an intimate coming of age story spinning pain and the suffering of prejudice into rhythm, hope, and joy. Half aural-visual history, half DIY tour-video, the film provides a vehicle for our newly appointed queer elder to connect with youth across the globe. A timely lullaby to soothe those souls struggling to make sense of the world.
“Speer Goes to Hollywood” (Documentary) – Directed by Vanessa Lapa; Written by Vanessa Lapa and Joëlle Alexis (In Theaters)
Albert Speer is an enigma. The highest-ranking Nazi in Nuremberg to be spared the death sentence, Speer was one of Hitler’s closest confidants and his chief architect, tasked with rebuilding Berlin as the capital of a global empire. As Reichsminister of Munitions, Speer was responsible for 12 million slave laborers. And yet, even now, he has the reputation of being “the good Nazi” – a myth he carefully constructed himself. “Speer Goes to Hollywood” meets its protagonist in 1971, while Speer was working on a screenplay for Paramount Pictures, based on his bestselling wartime memoir “Inside the Third Reich.” Based on months of audio cassettes, recorded by screenwriter Andrew Birkin, it features Speer’s callous attempt to whitewash his past in a feature film. The audio narrative is supplemented by rare archival footage, taken before and during World War II and later, during Speer’s retirement as a semi-reclusive country gentleman.
“Snakehead” (Film) (In Theaters and Available on VOD)
Sister Tse (Shuya Chang) comes to New York through a Snakehead, a human smuggler. She gains favor with the matriarch of the family of crime and she rises the ranks quickly. Soon Tse must reconcile her success with her real reason for coming to America.
“Colin in Black and White” (Miniseries) – Created by Ava DuVernay and Colin Kaepernick (Premieres on Netflix)
Colin Kaepernick narrates this drama series recounting his formative years navigating race, class, and culture while aspiring to greatness.
Returning Series
“Blue Bloods” – Created by Robin Green and Mitchell Burgess (CBS, October 1)
“Side Hustle” (Nickelodeon, October 2)
“Call the Midwife” – Created by Heidi Thomas (PBS, October 3)
“Grantchester” – Developed by Daisy Coulam (PBS, October 3)
“On My Block” – Created by Lauren Iungerich, Eddie Gonzalez, and Jeremy Haft (Netflix, October 4)
“United States of Al” – Created by Maria Ferrari and David Goetsch (CBS, October 7)
“One Lane Bridge” – Created by Pip Hall and Philip Smith (Sundance Now, October 7)
“Nancy Drew” – Created by Noga Landau, Stephanie Savage, and Josh Schwartz (The CW, October 8)
“The Waiting Room” (BET Her, October 9)
“The Baby-Sitters Club” – Created by Rachel Shukert (Netflix, October 11)
“Batwoman” – Created by Caroline Dries (The CW, October 13)
“Sistas” (BET, October 13)
“Twenties” – Created by Lena Waithe (BET, October 13)
“Legacies” – Created by Julie Plec (The CW, October 14)
“Another Life” (Netflix, October 14)
“You” – Created by Sera Gamble and Greg Berlanti (Netflix, October 15)
“Hightown” – Created by Rebecca Perry Cutter (Starz, October 17)
“Games People Play” (BET, October 19)
“Locke & Key” – Created by Meredith Averill, Aron Eli Coleite, and Carlton Cuse (Netflix, October 22)
“Insecure” – Created by Issa Rae and Larry Wilmore (HBO, October 24)
“All American” – Created by April Blair (The CW, October 25)
“Hitmen” (Peacock, October 28)
“Walker” – Created by Anna Fricke (The CW, October 28)
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