Aarcflick

 Michał Marczak, director of *All These Sleepless Nights*, finally returns with a visceral film that challenges the "true crime" genre. In the early hours of May 27, 2023, 16-year-old Krzysztof Dymiński snuck out of his family home around 4:00 a.m., took a bus to Warsaw, and walked to the middle of the Gdański Bridge, which spans the Vistula River. A rotating security camera captured him there—motionless, gazing at the water—for 20 minutes, until the device shifted its focus elsewhere. When the camera turned back to that spot less than a minute later, Krzysztof was gone. He has not been seen since. Director: Michal Marczak Writer: Michal Marczak With the exception of one final, razor-sharp image, Michał Marczak’s bleak new film about the disappearance of Krzysztof—known as "Chris" to those close to him—contains no photographs of the boy. There are no school portraits, no traces on social media, and no home videos from happier times—moments that, in retrospect, would...

 *Trust Me, I’m a Doctor* (2026) is a biographical comedy-drama that explores the complex relationship between celebrity culture, medical responsibility, public judgment, and the pursuit of personal redemption. Directed by Thane Economou and starring Kal Penn, Linda Hamilton, and Abbie Cornish, the film revisits the controversial story surrounding Dr. Sandeep Kapoor and his connection to model and television personality Anna Nicole Smith. Rather than presenting a conventional medical drama filled with hospital emergencies and heroic doctors, the film focuses on a legal and personal crisis that unfolds following Smith’s death in 2007.  Kapoor finds himself caught up in an intense investigation, facing accusations, media scrutiny, and the prospect that his professional decisions could destroy both his reputation and his private life. Blending courtroom drama, celebrity gossip, dark humor, and biographical storytelling, the film examines what happens when a private doctor-patient...

 Directed by Dawn Shadforth, Damon Thomas, and Sophie Muller, and based on the novel *The Price You Pay* by Aidan Truhen, this AMC+ and Prime Video series stars Catherine Zeta-Jones as Jackie Price, alongside Daniel Ings (Sam), Sidse Babett Knudsen (Karenina), Christine Adams (The Doc), Raff Law (Sean Harper), Julian Rhind-Tutt (Friedrich), and Enzo Cilenti (Don Markel). The series consists of eight 60-minute episodes. Jackie Price has spent nearly two decades building a comfortable identity in the art world, leaving a violent criminal past behind. She has it all—money, connections, and a well-ordered life—but it all falls apart when she discovers that someone has hired the "Seven Demons," a group of assassins, to take her out. She soon realizes that running away won't help, especially when the people around her also become targets of the attackers. Stars: Catherine Zeta-Jones, Sidse Babett Knudsen, Julian Rhind-Tutt She must rely on her instincts to figure out who is aft...

 Baek Ho-rang has an artificial heart powered by a battery that is slowly running out. He meets Gong Bo-bae, who possesses electrical powers. Although the plot of *Take Charge of My Heart* might seem familiar, it will captivate you from the very moment you start watching. The story follows Baek Ho-rang, a wealthy *chaebol* heir whose life depends on a battery-powered artificial heart—one that is failing slowly but steadily. His health condition complicates his responsibilities at TS Group, where no one seems to understand his vulnerability. Meanwhile, Gong Bo-bae has been trying to find love for 30 years, but her mysterious electrical powers make dating rather unusual. Here’s the twist: Bo-bae’s abilities can recharge Ho-rang’s artificial heart, and in the most unexpected way, their lives become intertwined. What begins as a practical arrangement evolves into something more complex. Their circumstances lead them into a contractual relationship, offering viewers amusingly awkward si...

 The plot centers on Native American activist Leonard Peltier and his conviction. Some stories of injustice become so deeply embedded in history that the fight for justice and accountability continues long after the original events. *Free Leonard Peltier* immerses us in one such story by examining the decades-long imprisonment of Native American activist Leonard Peltier and the movement that refused to let the case fade into oblivion.  Directors: David France, Jesse Short Bull Writers: Jamie Deradorian-Delia, Adam Evans, David France Stars: Ted Evans, Leonard Peltier Peltier, a prominent member of the American Indian Movement (AIM), spent nearly 50 years in prison after being convicted in connection with the 1975 deaths of two FBI agents during a shootout on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. He has always maintained his innocence. In January 2025, President Joe Biden commuted his sentence, allowing him to serve the remainder under house arrest. However, despite this,...

You can never fully rely on promotional material to accurately describe a movie or series, but I am pleased to say that the official synopsis for *Gnomes* hits the tone perfectly: "*Gremlins* meets *Hot Fuzz*." This six-episode horror-comedy series indeed captures that unbridled, spirited energy characteristic of the works of Joe Dante and Edgar Wright—the directors of the aforementioned films. It stands out particularly for its atmosphere of barely contained chaos, presented with a knowing wink to the audience but never veering into excessive self-awareness. It is also—without a doubt—the best television series ever made about murderous garden gnomes awakened by an ancient evil. Creator: Joel Kohn Stars: Asa Butterfield, Megan Smart, Darren Gilshenan In the small town of Nompton, something—to paraphrase a line from another production with a similar tone—strange is happening in the neighborhood. It isn't ghosts, exactly, but garden gnomes coming to life and developing a p...

 *Carrie* succeeds thanks to its excellent cast and Mike Flanagan’s vision regarding a morally corrupt order, the dangers of social media, and the irony and double standards inherent in the system. Some creators, when given the chance to turn a classic into a series, choose to overload the scripts or shoehorn in topical storylines—with social and political relevance—simply to make the story feel more relatable to the audience. In such cases, the problem is often a lack of genuine depth—a desperate bid to score points with viewers. These creators allude to real-world events without grasping their true significance; everything is presented in a simplistic, binary, black-and-white manner. The issue, then, is not the topical subject matter itself, but the absence of a sincere commitment to it. Fortunately, Mike Flanagan does not fall into that category of creators.  Creator: Mike Flanagan Stars: Summer H. Howell, Samantha Sloyan, Siena Agudong His work typically reflects the visio...

Making a mixtape for someone is a pretty bold move. You might like that person. You might even think you’re in love with them. But giving them a mixtape—out of all the possible things—is, in a way, tantamount to saying: "Here is a collection of emotions I’ve decided you ought to feel, in an order I’ve determined myself, and for reasons probably no one but me will understand. Enjoy!" That’s quite a statement. The ninth installment in the beloved *V/H/S* franchise takes that potentially awkward premise to a terrifying cinematic extreme; the new anthology premieres on Shudder on October 9. This time around, the evening’s entertainment includes four short films and several musical interludes, all centered around the theme of... sound? It is, without a doubt, a perfectly valid excuse to shoot another *V/H/S* movie. However, *V/H/S Mixtape* also suggests that maintaining the saga’s novelty factor is becoming increasingly difficult. Directors: Ernest Dickerson, Flying Lotus, Tobias ...

*Below* is overloaded. So overloaded that it naturally conveys a sense of exhaustion; it is as if the effort of juggling its various plotlines has left it breathless. Nowadays, many journalists complain—rightly so—about being required to perform tasks beyond their core duties or meet unrealistic targets. They do not simply investigate, gather information, and write a report or article for a newspaper or website; they must also master SEO, video editing, social media, and tools like Canva. To make matters worse, they are expected to pitch and write ten articles a day, on top of handling editorial tasks assigned by their superiors.  Creator: Jesse McKeown Stars: Josh Hartnett, Mackenzie Davis, Charlie Heaton It is no wonder that many suffer from burnout and even leave the profession due to paltry wages. A corpse or a zombie would likely radiate more vitality than these exhausted journalists forced to multitask. If *Below*—created by Jesse McKeown—were a person working in a newsroom, ...

 Dhruv Tripathi seems to operate between conflicting sensibilities: he wants to be sincere, yet his mode of communication comes across as artificial and flimsy. Beneath Dhruv Tripathi’s film *Reporting Live* lies a promising work that occasionally surfaces to address the physical dangers inherent in the journalistic profession. Sandhya (Parineeti Chopra) and her best friend, colleague, and cameraman, Vinod (Deven Bhojani), spend most of their time in the field—talking to civilians, interviewing shady characters, and filming illegal activities. This exposes them to thugs, including a man who turns on the radio before killing or harassing his victims. At a bus stop in Visargaon, this individual intimidates and assaults Sandhya and Vinod; later, he is shown invading their private space to deliver a more severe warning.  Director: Dhruv Tripathi Writers: Mihir Jadhav, Dhruv Tripathi Stars: Deven Bhojani, Saswata Chatterjee, Parineeti Chopra Tripathi and his co-writer, Mihir Jadhav...

 *A Prayer for the Dying* is set in the small town of Friendship, Wisconsin, during the 1850s. Jacob Hansen (Johnny Flynn) wears many hats: he is the local sheriff, the pastor, and even the undertaker. These roles place him in a difficult position when the town doctor (John C. Reilly) informs him that an outbreak of diphtheria has arrived and is beginning to spread. Hansen’s first instinct is to quarantine the town. The doctor advises against this measure, arguing that it would trigger a panic that could cause people to flee, thereby spreading the epidemic even further. Meanwhile, Hansen struggles to keep his wife, Marta (Kristine Kujath Thorp), and their young daughter safe by forcing them to stay indoors. Since he is constantly in contact with infected individuals, this task becomes increasingly difficult. Director: Dara Van Dusen Writers: Stewart O'Nan,, Dara Van Dusen Stars: Johnny Flynn, John C. Reilly, Kristine Kujath Thorp Directed by Dara Van Dusen, *A Prayer for the Dying*...

 Filmed over the course of three years across 40 locations in 22 countries and five continents, *World Without Cows* is an ambitious, visually stunning, and thought-provoking documentary; it explores the environment, climate change, and, ultimately, humanity's place in the natural world. All of this is examined through our relationship with an animal we have relied upon for millennia: the cow. In the age of social media, artificial intelligence, clickbait headlines, and the derogatory, sweeping label of "fake news," it is difficult to know which information to trust. *World Without Cows* examines various assumptions and analyzes how livestock have increasingly been portrayed as villains responsible for emissions, pollution, and even health issues. Award-winning journalists Michelle Michael and Brandon Whitworth spent years traveling the globe and filming in a remarkable variety of climates and environments to examine the complex science and the potentially significant rol...

 *Angel and the Badman* is a remake of the 1947 Western starring John Wayne. Zachary Levi takes on the role of gunslinger Quirt Evans; he is an actor who shares Wayne’s conservative values ​​but lacks his screen presence. This works to the detriment of this Angel Studios release, which conveys a positive message about personal redemption through faith but suffers from a narrative so slow-paced that viewers are likely to lose interest. A wounded Evans is taken in by Irene Worth (Jean Louisa Kelly, of *Uncle Buck*) and nursed back to health by her adult daughter, Penny (Meg Fraser). He has hidden a stash of stolen Confederate gold, and a ruthless criminal named Laredo (Neil McDonough) is willing to kill him to find it. Meanwhile, the local marshal, Boone McClintock (Tommy Lee Jones), investigates the matter, aware that Evans did not acquire the gold legally. Director: Julio Quintana Writers: Kevin M. Townsend, Christopher Tuffin, Jaime Hernandez Stars: Zachary Levi, Neal McDonough, T...

 An outsider's point of view does not necessarily guarantee an objective perspective on an event; however, *Once Upon a Time in the Middle East*—which approaches the 2003 Iraq War through the eyes of a Chinese migrant living there—manages to maintain an appropriate distance from both "sides" of the conflict. In fact, the screenplay—written by director Wen Muye, Lang Qunli, and Wei Zhong—does not even specify that the action takes place in Iraq. It is unnecessary: ​​on one hand, the story’s fictionalized narrative aligns almost perfectly with historical events; on the other, the goal is not to analyze the war in terms of governments, politics, or state strategies. No, this is a deeply human story that views everything and everyone—above all else—from that perspective. In this sense, the film is anti-war to its core, portraying the conflict as a black hole that drags everyone into its inherent horrors, forcing them to confront the worst in others and in themselves. Perhaps ...

 *X-Men* actor James McAvoy makes his directorial debut with this charming, fast-paced, and far-fetched tale about two young Scots who adopt Eminem-style American personas to trick the prejudiced London music industry and land a record deal. After failing to generate interest as a sort of rap version of the duo The Proclaimers, Billy and Gavin manage to sign a contract under their Californian alter egos, Silibil and Brains; unsurprisingly, they soon take full advantage of the access to alcohol and women that their newfound fame affords them.  Their plan is to reveal their true identities live on a famous MTV show and expose the music industry's prejudices, but will they have the guts to go through with it? And if they don't, what toll will lying to colleagues, friends, family, and even themselves take on their psyches? Director: James McAvoy Writers: Gavin Bain, Billy Boyd, Elaine Gracie Stars: James McAvoy, Samuel Bottomley, James Harkness The film’s plot is rather predictabl...

Once the scope of the obstacles and ambitions within the story of *The Beast* is understood, it becomes evident that screenwriter Umair Aleem has backed himself into a corner—a space that keeps shrinking with every new plot twist. It is a highly compelling cinematic premise: a large-scale story that unfolds entirely within—or in the immediate vicinity of—a single location.  That location, however, is mobile: an automobile. And not just any car, but "The Beast," the vehicle used to transport the President of the United States; it is, in essence, a fortress on wheels, protected by heavy armor, bulletproof glass, and an arsenal of weaponry and defensive systems. Director: Renny Harlin Writer: Umair Aleem Stars: Samuel L. Jackson, Joel Kinnaman, Guy Burnet If one were to find oneself caught in the middle of a massive attack on global institutions, one could hardly ask for a better place to be; and that is precisely the situation in director Renny Harlin’s film. The President—play...

 In this striking—albeit overly conventional—Prime original production directed by Kevin Macdonald, Gadot races across London at an athletic pace while attempting to rescue her son, who is in danger. A frantic foot chase through London serves as a rigorous workout for Gal Gadot but offers scant rewards for the viewer in *The Runner*. While far from the first thriller—and surely not the last—to center on an action-ready parent overcoming obstacles to save their child from a diabolical kidnapper, this Prime original brims with energy; yet, it lacks the intense suspense or originality needed to elevate a well-worn premise. It premieres on the platform on September 2. Director: Scott Waugh Writers: Miles Hubley, Tommy White Stars: Alan Ritchson, Owen Wilson, Rodrigo Santoro The opening sequence depicts the historic metropolis teeming with people absorbed in their own worlds—digitally connected yet oblivious to the reality around them. This visual motif recurs so frequently throughout t...