5. Justice League
Release date: 17th November.
What is it about? The fifth film instalment in the DC Extended Universe. Justice League is set months after the events of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and sees Bruce Wayne and Diana Prince assembling a team of metahumans. Together they must face the deadly threat of Steppenwolf and his army of Parademons, who are hunting for the three Mother Boxes of Earth.
Why you should watch it: The DC Extended Universe has suffered from much criticism and has not always performed as well as expected at the box office. The fourth film in the DC Extended Universe, Wonder Woman which was released earlier this year, outperformed all expectations and has been seen as the saviour of the DC Extended Universe. Justice League hopes to follow in its footsteps, and imitate its success. It will certainly be interesting to see how the franchise grows, and whether it can live up to expectations.
The trailer has promised lots of action, and there has been an attempt to ‘lighten up’ the franchise with more jokes and lighter dialogue included. It will also be great to see the introduction of other popular characters such as The Flash and Aquaman. Hopefully Justice League will be a superhero movie to remember.
4. The Killing of a Sacred Deer
Release date: 17th November (U.K). 27th October (USA).
What is it about? Renowned cardiovascular surgeon Dr. Steven Murphy (played by Colin Farrell) lives a perfect existence with his wife and two children. After he forms a paternal bond with a disturbed teenage boy, he finds his life beginning to unravel with unthinkable results.
Why you should watch it: Director Yorgos Lanthimos is an established alumnus of art-house cinema with his films, such as Dogtooth and The Lobster, expertly blending elements of psychology and surrealism. The Killing of a Sacred Deer looks set to expand his repertoire even further with its mix of horror and thriller, and its inspiration taken from Greek tragedy.
The film premiered at Cannes Film Festival, where it shared the Best Screenplay award and was well received. It has been described as “a full-throated horror movie” and “an unfettered nightmare.” The Killing of a Sacred Deer certainly looks like a must see for horror and psychological thriller fans.
3. Mother!
Release date: 15th September (U.K). 13th September (USA).
What is it about? A young woman (Jennifer Lawrence) lives a simple, tranquil life with her husband (Javier Bardem) at their home in the remote countryside. This tranquillity and the couple’s relationship are tested when a mysterious couple (Ed Harris and Michelle Pfeiffer) arrive to come and stay with them.
Why you should watch it: Director Darren Aronofsky is often the subject of controversy for his surreal, strange and sometimes disturbing films. There has been an air of secrecy surrounding Mother!, and still much of its plot is shrouded in mystery.
In fact, Paramount has marketed Mother! in a way that purposely tries to alienate audiences so that they will not see the twists and turns of the film coming. Early reports say that the film is Aronofsky’s strangest yet. One clear message though, is that Mother! is set to be an incredibly controversial film which will spark much debate amongst those who watch it.
2. Call Me By Your Name
Release date: 27th October (U.K). 24th November (USA).
What is it about? Based on the novel of the same name by Andre Aciman. Set in 1983, seventeen-year-old Elio is spending the summer with his family at their villa in Italy. Whilst there he meets doctoral student Oliver, who is working as an intern for Elio’s father. A passionate relationship soon develops between them, as they form a bond over their sexuality, their heritage and the beautiful surroundings of their landscape.
Why you should watch it: Call Me By Your Name premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and has been screened at various festivals around the world. So far it has gained universal acclaim with the performances, narrative, setting and style all being highly praised.
Call Me By Your Name is a classic coming of age drama, which has been said to perfectly capture and understand the insecurities and anguishes of first love. First love is a subject that most can relate or empathise to, and Call Me By Your Name promises to evoke strong feeling in its audience.
Director Luca Guadagnino films often probe the concepts of relationships and the role that beauty can play in them. He is also a director who designs his films to give pleasure to its audience through beauty, and Call By Your Name promises to also be a visual treat.
1. Blade Runner 2049
Release date: 6th October.
What is it about? The highly anticipated sequel to 1982’s Blade Runner. Blade Runner 2049 takes place thirty years after the events of the first film. It follows LAPD Officer K (played by Ryan Gosling), who is set on a quest to find missing former blade runner Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford) after he unearths a long-kept secret that has the potential to destroy humanity.
Why you should watch it: There have been a series of brilliant teaser trailers and posters released in the lead up to Blade Runner 2049’s release. Each new teaser has given a sneak peek into the film, and there is enough to both excite fans of the original and entice new audiences. The cinematography and visuals are beautiful, and it is clear that Denis Villeneuve has managed to perfectly capture the look and feel of a neo-noir science fiction film.
There is also the promise of lots of action and big CGI effects, so hopefully there will be something that appeals to everyone in this film. Denis Villeneuve had a massive hit with his previous film ‘Arrival,’ another science fiction film. It is hoped that Blade Runner 2049 will have the same success.
Author Bio: Cara McWilliam-Richardson is a writer with a passion for films and filmmaking. She has written several screenplays, and is currently working on her first novel. Her favourite genre to write is fantasy and science fiction.