Aarcflick

 Lately, it has become a cliché for indie horror films to revolve around social media influencers. *Deadstream*, *#AMFAD: All My Friends Are Dead*, *A Breed Apart*, and the aptly titled *Influencer* are just a few examples. More often than not, these films fall flat because they lack a message beyond pointing out the obvious: that some people will do crazy things just to get clicks. *The Influencer Project* is different. Real-life influencer Chiara King plays a fictionalized version of herself. She possesses the ego typical of someone with millions of followers interested in her every daily move. Chiara is paid to travel to Copenhagen and create ten posts promoting tourism in the country; a documentary crew accompanies her. Shortly after arriving, she begins receiving unsettling direct messages from a stranger calling himself "King Slayer." His messages threaten to kill her if she doesn't "stop talking." At first, she and her team dismiss it as nonsense, but Kin...

 Amir Bar-Lev’s film captures the dark drama that unfolded during an attempt to summit K2 in winter. Yet, the film grips the viewer without ever needing to reach those dizzying heights. Over the last decade, the mountaineering documentary has evolved into a genre unto itself. Spectacular films like *Free Solo*, *The Dawn Wall*, and the 2024 Sundance smash hit *Skywalkers: A Love Story*—which follows urban climbers scaling the world’s tallest, slenderest skyscrapers, a feat so perilous it rivals the ascent of natural peaks—rival the most vertigo-inducing action movies on the planet. Their appeal can be summed up like this: come for the heart-stopping vertigo, stay for the human drama... but stay, too, to explore the question: "What kind of person seeks out such an extreme sense of vertigo?" These films draw their allure from the "don't look down" premise—a sensation that is simultaneously awe-inspiring and terrifying. Director: Amir Bar-Lev Stars: Nirmal Purja, M...

 *The Scout* is about a woman who works as a location scout for films and television shows. She travels across various New York City neighborhoods looking for people willing to allow filming inside their homes. While watching the movie, I couldn't help but think about the film's own location scout, who did a magnificent job finding beautiful houses for the production. Although, come to think of it, if you find yourself thinking about the person in charge of finding locations, the movie might not be working quite right. Sofia (Mimi Davila) is scouting locations for an upcoming TV pilot. She leaves flyers on doorsteps with a phone number that interested parties can call for more information. When she receives a call, she arranges a visit to the person's home and takes photos of the interior to show the show's producers. Director: Paula González-Nasser Writer: Paula González-Nasser Stars: Rutanya Alda, Matt Barats, Mimi Davila There is no plot to speak of here. Instead, we...

 A little-known author is hired to write on behalf of a literary celebrity in a catatonic state, in an adaptation of a Colleen Hoover work that explores the stories we tell ourselves about others. Colleen Hoover, author of *It Ends with Us*, doesn't usually make a habit of painting women in a bad light (male writers have practically cornered that market since before the printing press was invented); that is why it is so curious that the latest film based on her books seems intent on convincing us that its protagonist—a grief-stricken mother left catatonic after a recent car accident, now requiring constant care from a stern Ukrainian nurse who tube-feeds her between diaper changes—is, in reality, a hellish harpy. Director: Michael Showalter Writers Nick Antosca, Colleen Hoover Stars: Anne Hathaway, Dakota Johnson, Josh Hartnett Faithfully adapted from Hoover’s 2018 bestseller of the same name, *Verity*—directed by Michael Showalter—is an absurd psychological thriller, as cold and a...

 *The Final Problem* may manage to stay one or two steps ahead of you, yet—beyond satisfying a basic curiosity—there is little here to leave you truly satisfied. Anyone who enjoys settling in for a good detective story will be intrigued by this classic premise: a confined space, temporarily cut off from the outside world, where dead bodies begin to turn up one after another. The characters cannot contact the police due to a storm and lightning strikes (which knock out the radio), so it falls to them—or one of them—to solve the mystery. Stars: Jose Coronado, María Valverde, Martiño Rivas  *The Final Problem*, based on the novel of the same name by Arturo Pérez-Reverte, is built on this foundation. It places an actor named Basil (José Coronado)—famous for playing Sherlock Holmes on screen—at the center of the murders. On the surface, the concept sounds entertaining: an actor tapping into his character's instincts to solve a problem (specifically, a murder) unfolding around him. ...

Rensil D'Silva shows a greater affinity for monotony than for his own story or characters. It is hardly surprising, then, that *Shaque* turns out to be so tedious. At the heart of *Shaque: Trust No One* lies the potential for a solid psychological thriller about a mother whose newborn is kidnapped—an ordeal that causes her to lose her grip on reality under extreme mental stress. To make matters worse, she is surrounded by a deceitful best friend, a backward-thinking mother-in-law, and an unfaithful husband. All the ingredients for social commentary and the exploration of subjective experience are present; however, doing justice to these elements required the touch of a skilled director.  Stars: Janhavi Bansal, AB Vampking, Harleen Sethi Rensil D'Silva—the man behind such "gems" as *Kurbaan*, *Ungli*, and *Dial 100*—is certainly not the right person if one is looking for subjectivity, style, or thought-provoking content. I do not mean to suggest that a director should ...

Wan, an elderly man suffering from dementia, becomes the prime suspect following a child's disappearance in the village. *Delusion* is undoubtedly a must-watch psychological mystery drama. What begins as an investigation into a missing child soon evolves into a story revolving around dementia, family secrets, superstition, guilt, and the gap between objective reality and public belief. The story unfolds in a quiet rural community where certain events bring an old local legend back into the spotlight. A child goes missing, and the prime suspect turns out to be Narong, an elderly man suffering from dementia.  Stars: Natapohn Phornprapha, Jes Jespipat Tilapornputt, Surasak Chaiyaat Legends surrounding *Phii Pong* add a layer of uncertainty, making it difficult to determine whether the threat looming over the town is supernatural, a criminal, or merely a superstition born of fear. Wan, Narong’s daughter, is a teacher who returns to the village to care for her father as his health rapid...

After retiring, a doctor who has always been able to see the dead finds herself forced to confront her own niece's supernatural abilities as ghosts, family wounds, and the violence surrounding her Buenos Aires neighborhood begin to converge. There is something wonderfully strange about *My Sad Dead*. It is a ghost story, yet it rarely behaves like one. The dead do not lurk behind doors waiting to deliver a jump scare. They sit around the house. They complain. They wander the streets. They carry the emotional residue of the lives they left behind. Sometimes they are frightening. Sometimes they are sad. At times, they are so absurd that the series becomes unexpectedly funny. And beneath it all lies a deeply human story about grief, family resentment, violence, and the things people would prefer to keep buried. That is what makes the series so interesting... and frustrating. Stars: Mercedes Morán, Dolores Fonzi, Alejandra Flechner Pablo Larraín’s adaptation of Mariana Enríquez’s work ...

The musical *Godspell*, created by Stephen Schwartz and John-Michael Tebelak, became a global phenomenon in the 1970s. Although it played on Broadway and London’s West End, it was the 1972 Toronto production that achieved legendary status, thanks to a cast of actors who were just starting their careers—most of whom went on to become established stars.  The story of this production is told in the fascinating new documentary *You Had to Be There: How the Toronto Godspell Ignited the Comedy Revolution, Spread Love & Overalls, and Created a Community That Changed the World (in a Canadian Kind of Way)*. Director: Nick Davis Writers: Nick Davis, Jane Mendelsohn Stars: John Candy, Mike Myers, Catherine O'Hara The cast members included Martin Short, Gilda Radner, Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin, Victor Garber, Paul Shaffer, and Dave Thomas. With the exception of the late Radner, all the stars appear in the film to share their memories. Joining them are their fellow cast members—less famous ...

 *Never After Dark* is one of the most hypnotic ghost stories to emerge recently. This Japanese production avoids the paranormal clichés that have become tiresome in post-*The Conjuring* cinema, creating instead a constant sense of psychological unease that emanates from both the human and supernatural characters. Airi (Moeka Hoshi) is an itinerant medium who helps people rid themselves of ghosts. She often relies on the help of the spirit of her late sister, Miku (Kurumi Inagaki), with whom she regularly converses (we see Miku reflected in windows and mirrors). Teiko (Tae Kimura), the new owner of a large, isolated house, hires Airi—along with her son, Gunji (Kento Kako)—to remove a ghost from the property. Airi accepts, but on the condition that Teiko and Gunji stay away while she works. Since the "veil" between the world of the living and the afterlife is too thin at night, she performs her work only during the day. The most novel aspect of *Never After Dark* is that Airi ...

Haru (Rinko Kikuchi—always a pleasure to see her on the big screen) is already prone to fantasy long before life’s harsh realities come knocking. One need only consider how she feels when engaging in her favorite pastime: ballroom dancing. When Haru (and her beloved husband Luis, played by Alejandro Edda) take the floor during a local competition in her native Tokyo, she imagines them soaring into the sky, literally dancing above everyone else. Haru is thus living in her own world when reality abruptly intrudes—and, in the context of her celestial fantasy, comes crashing down—robbing her in an instant of both Luis and her passion for dance. What follows is a drama about grief of a unique sort: part melodrama, part telenovela, yet entirely original and deceptively light in tone. Not every step may be perfectly executed (insert ballroom dance metaphors here), but *Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty!* possesses an effervescent spirit often missing from stories of this kind, anchored by a charming ...

 Sidharth Malhotra and Tamannaah are already generating buzz as a new on-screen pairing, and the release of "Samjho Na"—the first song from *The Vvaan*—has only heightened the anticipation. The romantic track was unveiled in Mumbai on September 3, drawing a large, enthusiastic crowd eager to see the lead stars and singer Jubin Nautiyal. Stepping away from the mystery, supernatural forces, and folklore-inspired world of *The Vvaan*, "Samjho Na" reveals a softer, romantic side of the film. Sidharth and Tamannaah showcased their on-screen chemistry during the launch, and their rapport was warmly received by the audience. Director: Deepak Kumar Mishra Writers: Anandeshwar Dwivedi, Arunabh Kumar Stars: Sidharth Malhotra, Tamannaah Bhatia, Maniesh Paul The event also featured Jubin Nautiyal, whose vocals helped create the song's romantic atmosphere. The audience's excitement regarding the Sidharth-Tamannaah pairing further underscored the curiosity surrounding the...

*Heart of the Beast* is the latest in a long line of films about a man and his dog—though this time, it isn't about Prince Harry. Here, Brad Pitt plays James Belmont, a retired U.S. Army Sergeant Major accompanied by his service dog, Obie, who lost a leg in combat. Instead of renaming his dog "Tripod" or leaving him in the care of the military, the pair spends their days flying Belmont’s single-seat light aircraft over America’s vast forests and parks, camping and enjoying the tranquility and natural beauty of the landscape (even though the film was shot in New Zealand). Cinematographer Mauro Fiore captures stunning scenery; the shots of the plane set against majestic backdrops are far better executed than those in Ridley Scott’s recent flop, *The Dog Stars*. Both man and dog suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)—depicted in the film through flashbacks—and the serenity of their surroundings has a calming effect on their state of mind. Far removed from other pe...

 Deborah, the daughter of Dwayne Wayne and Whitley Gilbert, arrives at Hillman to complete her freshman year of college. If you are familiar with the original sitcom of the same name that aired between 1987 and 1993, you should watch *A Different World* to relive that nostalgia. For those who don't know, the original series was notable for its portrayal of life at a college for African American students, blending comedy, friendship, romance, and campus experiences. This time around, we have a sequel that returns to the same fictional university but focuses the plot on a younger generation. The story revolves around Deborah Wayne, the daughter of Dwayne Wayne and Whitley Gilbert.  Creator: Felicia Pride Stars: Maleah Joi Moon, Alijah Kai, Cornell Young IV Deborah arrives at Hillman as a freshman, determined to experience college on her own terms, free from outside expectations. Although her parents' legacy is always with her, her own personality, mistakes, and ambitions gradual...

 The FX drama *Snowfall* was one of the unexpected success stories of the "Peak TV" era—a time defined by a saturation of high-quality television content. Co-created by renowned filmmaker John Singleton (director of *Boyz N the Hood*), *Snowfall* thrived where many similar series failed. Yet, it did so quietly: *Snowfall* didn't win major awards or catapult its cast to stardom—save for its lead, Damson Idris. Nevertheless, following its 2017 premiere—which predated the launch of Apple TV+ or Disney+ and feels like a lifetime ago in Hollywood terms—the crime drama grew steadily over six seasons before concluding in 2023, a rarity for original dramas today. Three years later, *Snowfall* has received further recognition of its often-undersung success: a spin-off. Set in 1990—four years after the original series finale—*The Drop: A Snowfall Saga* retains the South Los Angeles setting but shifts the focus from the crack cocaine trade to the music industry during the rise of ga...

When PhD student Olive Smith impulsively kisses the intimidating Professor Adam Carlsen to help her best friend, the two end up agreeing to a fake relationship that becomes increasingly difficult to maintain as a charade. I approached *The Love Hypothesis* expecting exactly what the title suggests: a polished academic rom-com, an absurd fake-dating arrangement, an incredibly attractive professor—seemingly incapable of smiling—and enough sexual tension to constitute a laboratory hazard. And, to its credit, the film knows exactly what it is. It doesn't try to reinvent the romantic comedy; it aims to make a well-known formula work, and for the most part, it succeeds. Director: Claire Scanlon Writers: Ali Hazelwood, Sarah Rothschild Stars: Lili Reinhart, Tom Bateman, Rachel Marsh The main reason is Lili Reinhart. In the role of Olive, she tackles the difficult task of turning a character who could easily have been reduced to a bundle of genre clichés into a real person. Olive is smart ...

 Another teen drama hits the screen, though this one proves to be quite serious. This eight-episode Italian series follows a group of teenagers in Naples learning to survive at a military academy. The cadets face grueling drills, inspections, competitions, and strict regulations—most notably a fundamental rule: relationships between students from different year groups are forbidden. The school environment is rife with tension as the students yearn for freedom—a freedom that never comes, as Minerva Academy controls every aspect of their lives. The plot intensifies when the story reveals what happens when discipline crosses the line into humiliation. A power struggle plays out between veteran cadets and newcomers, raising questions about whether harsh traditions truly forge character or simply persist because no one has ever dared to challenge them. Salvo, one of the new cadets, arrives at Minerva determined to find out what happened to his missing friend, Francesco.  Stars: Bia...

The four short films in *Lust Stories 3* revolve around female desire, though only one manages to capture that burning, erotic passion with true style. It is somewhat surprising to see filmmakers of the caliber of Vikramaditya Motwane and Kiran Rao—who have shown glimpses of their true potential in imperfect works like *Black Warrant*, *CTRL*, and *Laapataa Ladies*—stumble so badly with their respective segments in this anthology. However, they make a wise choice: approaching their stories with a light, comedic tone, which makes it easy to dismiss them as "mechanical, disposable work done for a paycheck." Directors: Shakun Batra, Vishal Bhardwaj, Vikramaditya Motwane Writers: Shakun Batra, Vishal Bhardwaj, Nitesh Bhatia Stars: Radhika Apte, Konkona Sen Sharma, Vijay Varma Motwane’s film opens the anthology; in it, two neighbors and best friends, Padma (Radhika Apte) and Shonali (Konkona Sen Sharma), decide to swap partners after growing weary of their stagnant sex lives. In o...