October not only brings scary horror movies to theaters around Halloween, but it’s also when awards movies begin populating the theaters. This is going to be a stacked month of new releases, so let’s take a deep dive into the movies coming out this month.
HORROR MOVIES
“HALLOWEEN”
Michael Myers is back with “Halloween.” Disregarding everything after the 1979 original, this “Halloween” movie will follow Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode, now a grandmother who’s protecting her family against the masked Michael Myers’ return.
Halloween is coming to theaters on October 19.
“SUSPIRIA”
“Halloween” isn’t the only horror remake coming out this month. Focusing on a European school for ballerinas, this remake of the 1979 Italian horror film will star “50 Shades of Grey”‘s Dakota Johnson as the American dancer who comes to the academy. Tilda Swinton will be playing the creepy headmistress of the school and judging by the trailer, it’s going to be an especially creepy and eerie movie.
The directorial follow up for Luca Guadagnino after “Call Me by Your Name,” “Suspiria” is likely going to follow his signature style of long takes and evocative imagery. Pairing Guadagnino’s style with a scary movie seems like a recipe for a unique horror film.
“Suspiria” will be released on October 26.
OSCAR MOVIES
“A STAR IS BORN”
The fourth big screen telling of the story of a young musician’s rise to fame, Bradley Cooper is making his directorial debut with “A Star is Born.” Cooper stars as the famous country singer who takes a struggling newcomer with dreams of stardom, played by Lady Gaga, under his wing.
The movie is currently in theaters and is getting amazing buzz. Everyone is saying Cooper and Gaga give amazing performances and that the directing is top notch, despite it being Cooper’s first stab at working behind the camera. Expect to hear a lot about “A Star is Born” as the Golden Globes and the Oscars approach.
“FIRST MAN”
After “La La Land” became the smash hit of 2016, everyone was wondering what director Damien Chazelle’s next film would be. He chose to direct “First Man” which tells the story of Neil Armstrong and the first moon walk. “La La Land” costar Ryan Gosling is reteaming with Chazelle to play the famous astronaut, and “The Crown’s” Claire Foy is playing his wife.
While there have been a plethora of space related films released within the past few years (“Gravity”, “Interstellar”, “The Martian” and “Passengers” among others), people who’ve seen advanced screenings of “First Man” promise it’s the best depiction of space since “2001: A Space Odyssey” That might be hyperbole, but with Chazelle behind the camera, this could very well be special.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1wUzd5ZI50
“First Man” is going to coming to IMAX screens, as well as all theaters, on October 12.
INDIE
“Mid90s”
Jonah Hill can do just about everything. He’s been a comedic funnyman for over a decade, and has proved his dramatic acting chops, being nominated for two Supporting Actor Oscars. Most recently, he starred alongside Emma Stone in the Netflix mini-series “Maniac.” Now, he’s hopping behind the camera to make his directorial debut with “Mid90s.”
Also written by Hill, “Mid90s” will focus on a young teenaged boy who spends his summer skateboarding with his friends and dealing with his family. The trailer makes it seem like a small, intimate movie, and I imagine Hill has injected a fair amount of his childhood and upbringing into the film.
“Mid90s” is coming out in limited release on October 19.
“CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME?”
Melissa McCarthy’s third film of 2018 seems different than almost every other movie she’s made. In “Can You Ever Forgive Me?” McCarthy stars as Lee Israel, the real life writer who, faced with declining book sales, decided to start forging famous author’s signatures.
The trailer seems almost completely devoid of comedy, and while the movie may have some funny moments, it seems more like a vehicle for McCarthy to flex her acting chops, rather than be the humorous side character.
“Can You Ever Forgive Me?” will also be released in limited release on October 19.
WILD CARD
“BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALE”
After working for years on television shows like “Alias” and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” Drew Goddard made his directorial debut with “The Cabin in the Woods” a satirical look at the horror genre. After taking a 6 year break, Goddard is back with “Bad Times at the El Royale.”
Starring Chris Hemsworth, Jon Hamm, Jeff Bridges and Dakota Johnson in her second appearance on this list, “Bad Times at the El Royale” takes place during one fateful night at the El Royale, a Lake Tahoe hotel that’s on the border of California and Nevada, where all Hell breaks loose. Similarly to “The Cabin in the Woods” the plot for “Bad Times” is being kept pretty secretive. Some have speculated that it could potentially take place in the same universe as “The Cabin in the Woods”, a theory that Goddard has neither confirmed nor denied.
‘Bad Times at the El Royale” will hit theaters on October 11.
What are you looking forward to seeing this month? Let us know in the comments below!