These are the movies that might pass you by in the sea of big budget productions. Don’t let them!
We’re in July, which means we’re now in the back-half of 2018, and we’re looking forward to it!
Sometimes it can be too easy to get caught up in talking about the big blockbusters, and that is totally understandable, because we LOVE big blocbusters.
Between the likes of Ant-Man 2, The Nun, Venom, Incredibles 2, Skyscraper, Fantastic Beasts 2, Aquaman, Mission: Impossible 6, not to mention The Greatest Movie Ever Made, the blockbusters have got us covered well into Christmas.
But what about the smaller releases, the ones you might not have heard of, the ones that might get lost in the blockbuster shuffle?
Well, not to worry, your pals here in JOE have got you covered! While we’re sure there will be plenty more in the coming months, here are 14 that jumped out to us immediately, starting with…
AMERICAN ANIMALS
When? 7 September
What? Evan Peters, Blake Jenner and our own Barry Keoghan star in this based-on-a-true story tale of four young men attempt one of the most audacious heists in U.S. history. Directed by the guy who gave us The Impostor, one of the greatest documentaries ever made.
DRAGGED ACROSS CONCRETE
When? TBC
What? Writer/director S. Craig Zahler has delivered two of the best and most intense thrillers of the last few years with Bone Tomahawk and Brawl In Cell Block 99, and this time he reunites with Vince Vaughn who plays the younger partner to Mel Gibson, as they are two overzealous cops get suspended from the force, they must delve into the criminal underworld to get their just due.
CRAZY RICH ASIANS
When? 2 November
What? A contemporary romantic comedy, based on a global bestseller, follows native New Yorker Rachel Chu (played by Fresh Of The Boat’s Constance Wu) to Singapore to meet her boyfriend’s (newcomer Henry Rolling) family, which is headed by a matriach (Tomorrow Never Dies’ Michelle Yeoh) who does not like her at all.
THE FESTIVAL
When? 17 August
What? The makers of The Inbetweeners are back, along with some of the cast, to tell the story of a group of mates who head to an epic three-day festival, where everything can and does happen.
SLENDER MAN
When? 24 August
What? Based on a well-known internet ghost story, that actually spilled into real life with the tragic murder of a young girl in America, this horror film will attempt to walk the line between entertainment and scary based-on-fact story as a group of teenagers find themselves being haunted and hunted by an imaginary monster.
A SIMPLE FAVOUR
When? 21 September
What? Anna Kendrick is the semi-nerd who gets caught up in the social circle of the impossibly perfect neighbour (Blake Lively), who one day goes missing without a trace, and her new best friend finds it impossible not to dig into her private life to attempt to find out where she might have gone to.
BAD TIMES AT EL ROYALE
When? 5 October
What? We’re not entirely sure, but the all-star cast – Jon Hamm, Chris Hemsworth, Jeff Bridges, etc. – find themselves in the same hotel on a stormy night, and all of their separate stories will eventually collide. Most likely violently. From the director of Cabin In The Woods, which we loved.
SERENITY
When? TBC, but US release is 19 October
What? The creator of Peaky Blinders has put together a sexy revenge thriller, with Matt McConaughey tasked by his ex-wife (Anne Hathaway) to kill her new lover, and we’re sure nothing will go wrong with that whatsoever.
BOY ERASED
When? TBC, but US release is 28 September
What? Based on a powerful true story, the son (Lucas Hedges – Ladybird) of a baptist preacher (Russell Crowe) and his wife (Nicole Kidman) is forced to participate in a church-supported gay conversion program. Joel Edgerton stars as the conversation therapist, and he also directs the movie, following on from his hit debut The Gift.
OPERATION FINALE
When? 14 September
What? Another Oscar potential, this time with Oscar Isaac playing the leader of a group of specialist Isreali agents who have managed to track down Adolf Eichmann, the Nazi commander who was the creator of the Holocaust. Ben Kingsley plays the Eichmann, and his performance in the trailer is truly fantastic.
WHITE BOY RICK
When? 7 December
What? Another McConaughey movie, this time teaming up with the director of ’71, and he plays the father of Richard Wische, a 15-year-old who became a street hustler, a drug kingpin, and then an FBI informant in 1980s New York.
UNDER THE SILVER LAKE
When? TBC, but the US release is 7 December
What? The write/director of modern horror classic It Follows returns with a completely different genre, dropping Andrew Garfield into the middle of a murder mystery involving a billionaire and a kidnapped girl. Looks bonkers, and will probably have as many lovers as haters.
WIDOWS
When? 9 November
What? The director of 12 Years A Slave. The writer of Gone Girl. A cast including Viola Davis, Colin Farrell, Liam Neeson, Michelle Rodriguez, Carrie Coon, Jon Berenthal, and loads more. A plot about the wives of a group of criminals who are forced into pulling off a heist themselves when their husbands are killed and leave behind massive debts. Yep, this is gonna be amazing.
SUSPIRIA
When? TBC, but the US release is 2 November
What? A remake of the classic 1977 horror, this sees Dakota Johnson, Tilda Swinton and Chloe Grace Moretz star in a story of a ballet school under the strict hand of the lead teacher, but also potentially the subject to an intense haunting, or perhaps something much more sinister than that…
All clips via Movie Clips
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