October Movie Preview: The Spooky Season Has Arrived
When October movies come around, I’m looking for Halloween movies or at the very least a movie that can fit in with the spooky season. This month definitely doesn’t disappoint. There are even two films with “Halloween” as either the title or part of the title. Plus man-eating anti-superheroes and a creepy hotel. We have a lot going on. Also, Bradley Cooper singing! That’s probably not that scary. But you never know. Here’s our full October movie preview.
October 5th– A Star is Born, Venom
A Star is Born stars Bradley Cooper as a famous singer/songwriter who discovers and subsequently falls in love with a young unknown singer, played by Lady Gaga. If the name of the movie sounds familiar, it may be because it’s a remake of the 1937 film of the same name. There was also a 1954 version starring Judy Garland. Oh and don’t forget the 1976 remake starring Barbara Streisand. And you thought Spider-Man had too many reboots. Bradley Cooper also directs the film, a career first for him.
I can’t remember another movie that has caused such strong debate about a tongue as Venom. Yes, it’s cool that the Spider-Man villain finally has his own movie. But the internet can’t seem to get past the look of the creature or Tom Hardy’s choice of voice for the character. The premise has Hardy’s Eddie Brock coming into contact with an alien symbiote that latches onto him giving him superpowers and an evil voice in his head. Here’s hoping for a Spider-Man cameo.
October 12th– Bad Times at the El Royale, First Man, Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween
Bad Times at the El Royale tells the story of seven strangers as they arrive at the El Royale, a shady hotel near Lake Tahoe. The trailers show employees spying on guests, crime, and a lot of morally ambiguous characters. The all-star cast includes Chris Hemsworth, Dakota Johnson, Jon Hamm, and Jeff Bridges.
Ryan Gosling takes on the role of iconic astronaut Neil Armstrong in First Man. The film takes place around the time Armstrong became the first man to set foot on the moon. Claire Foy costars as Janet Armstrong, Neil’s wife. Director Damien Chazelle re-teams with Gosling on this one after the two had great success in 2016 with La La Land.
In 2015, Goosebumps had the characters from R.L. Stine’s books come alive and terrorize a small town. Now in Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween the same exact thing happens. But this time none of the cast from the last film are around. So a new group of kids have to try to stop all the monsters led by Slappy, the sadistic ventriloquist dummy. Seems like a good children’s option for Halloween with a PG rating.
October 19th– Halloween
Jamie Lee Curtis’ character, Laurie Strode, returns to face off against serial killer Michael Myers one last time in Halloween. At least that’s what the advertisements say. We’ll see if this movie goes on to make tons of money and they meet again. It’s been 40 years since the first movie in the series, which happens to share the same name. That’s just confusing. Well actually it’s the third movie in the franchise with that name. There was a 2007 Halloween also. You guys, names are really hard.
October 26th– Hunter Killer, Indivisible, Johnny English Strikes Again
Gerard Butler plays an American submarine captain tasked with saving the Russian president from a coupe in Hunter Killer. In the meantime, they have to get past the Russian military. Tanks, missiles, and warships are all involved. So it’s a big old war movie. Common and Gary Oldman costar.
Indivisible tells the true story of a military chaplain attempting to balance his family life and his career helping soldiers fighting in the Middle East. Justin Bruening stars as the chaplain.
I would have guessed there have been more, but, Johnny English Strikes Again is the third film in the bumbling spy series. Rowan Atkinson once again plays English, who this time must find a hacker who has leaked the identity of all undercover agents for MI7. Yes, that is the plot for Mission Impossible. Something tells me the movie’s writers knew that. This is all about the comedy though.
I am quite optimistic about the October movie slate. Your options for Halloween include slasher horror, superhero horror, family-friendly spookiness or thriller. All the boxes are checked. Naturally my pick for the month has to be Venom. Also Bad Times at the El Royale looks like the kind of movie I would like. They’re being mysterious about it so far though. So we’ll have to wait and see. Happy hauntings!