Horror has long been a genre built around fear, but in Adrian Chiarella‘s debut feature Leviticus, terror is rooted in something far more intimate: desire itself. Fresh from a breakout Sundance premiere that sparked a fierce bidding war before being snapped up by NEON, the latest film from Causeway Films (Talk to Me, Bring Her…
In Blair Moore’s Badland Rising, Jake Ryan isn’t playing the kind of action hero who charges headfirst into danger. His character is a man running from it. A former soldier turned construction worker, Ryan’s Dave dreams of nothing more than returning to his wife, son and the quiet life they’ve built together. But when a…
Few filmmakers have done more to redefine the zombie genre than Yeon Sang-ho. Nearly a decade after Train to Busan transformed a familiar horror concept into a razor-sharp reflection of modern society, the South Korean filmmaker returns to the infected with Colony, an ambitious new thriller that asks a far more unsettling question: what if…
Grief is rarely a straight line, and neither is Honeyjoon. Equal parts heartfelt, hilarious and unexpectedly romantic, the film follows June and her Persian-British mother, Lela, as they journey to the breathtaking Azores Islands to mark the anniversary of a devastating loss. What begins as an act of remembrance soon becomes something far messier, funnier…
Heartbreak is universal. So too is the tendency to tell ourselves we’re ready to move on when we’re anything but. In General Admission, writer Sarah Adina channels one of the most vulnerable chapters of her own life into a sharply observed comedy about a woman who attends a support group hoping to heal, only to…
As Earthrealm prepares for its most brutal battle yet in Mortal Kombat II, director Simon McQuoid returns with a sequel determined to go bigger, bloodier and far more ambitious than its predecessor. Bringing the long-awaited tournament to the screen, the film introduces Karl Urban’s swaggering Johnny Cage into a sprawling war against Shao Kahn, while…
In Mortal Kombat II, Earthrealm’s champions return for a bloodier, louder and far more chaotic showdown against the forces of Shao Kahn – this time with Karl Urban’s swaggering Johnny Cage entering the arena. Leaning fully into the outrageous spirit of the iconic video game franchise, the sequel embraces brutal fatalities, self-aware humour and the…
Set almost entirely within the confines of a luxury penthouse, PH-1 unfolds over one harrowing night as rising politician Payton Burnham watches his carefully constructed public image disintegrate in real time. Held hostage by an unseen force, he’s trapped not just physically, but within a media ecosystem that thrives on speculation, spin, and viral outrage….
Dirty Hands is a bruising, tightly contained crime thriller that turns a botched drug deal into something far more emotionally volatile. On paper, the story is simple: the Denton brothers, Danny and Richie, have one night to survive after everything goes wrong. But writer-director-star Kevin Interdonato is less interested in the mechanics of survival than…
There’s something inherently voyeuristic about A Love Like This – a film that invites us to peer through the cracks of a relationship that perhaps isn’t meant to be seen. Set over one sun-drenched but emotionally volatile weekend in Malibu, the film follows Paul and Leah as they attempt to exist, however fleetingly, as a…
There’s a particular kind of horror film that doesn’t just aim to scare you – it lingers, quietly burrowing under your skin by tapping into something far more recognisable than any monster. That’s exactly what Proclivitas achieves, weaving together grief, addiction, and memory into something as emotionally raw as it is unnerving. At its centre…
In Is This Thing On?, intimacy isn’t played for grand gestures or easy resolutions. It’s found in the quiet, uncomfortable spaces where love begins to shift shape. Directed by Bradley Cooper, the film observes Alex and Tess Novak as their marriage gently fractures, following two people forced to confront who they are beyond the roles…
Australian systems change-makers and Indigenous storytellers Jack Manning Bancroft and Tyson Yunkaporta are inviting audiences to hit reset with Imagine, a bold, genre-defying animated feature landing in cinemas for special event screenings this January 26th across Australia. Co-created through the pandemic in an open, live Google Doc collaboration that brought together more than 400 contributors…
We love adorable cats. We love compelling video games. And we especially love when the two collide in a mature, story-rich experience that tugs at the heartstrings and reminds us just how deeply our feline friends love us (with spellbinding emotional results). Developed with support from Screen Australia, Copycat is the debut title of developer…
It’s been 15 years since Early in the Morning slipped quietly into the world – a raw, soul-spun debut that would go on to soundtrack thousands of lives, break open hearts, and launch James Vincent McMorrow into a space he wasn’t entirely sure he wanted to occupy: the spotlight. Now, after years of moving forward,…
After changing the way network television viewed queer comedy with their revolutionary sitcom Will & Grace, creators David Kohan and Max Mutchnick are set to alter the landscape of the streaming space with Mid-Century Modern, a classic multi-cam comedy series about old friends, new roommates and chosen family. Executive produced by Ryan Murphy, directed by…
A movie for international, mixed and third culture kids, Carmen & Bolude is a multicultural comedy based on the real-life friendship of Michela Carattini and Bolude Watson. Written by the duo and co-directed by Carattini, Carmen & Bolude tells of two friends who must travel from New York City to Sydney, Australia, where they have…
We all have a “memory bite” – a dish that unlocks a treasure trove of memories and reminds us that food is a gateway to the stories and emotions that shape who we are. In the brand-new series Memory Bites with Matt Moran, the iconic chef and restaurateur transports beloved famous faces back to pivotal moments in…
Set in a post-apocalyptic future, O’Dessa is an original rock opera about a farm girl (Sadie Sink) on an epic quest to recover a cherished family heirloom. Her journey leads her to a strange and dangerous city where she meets her one true love – but in order to save his soul, she must put…
Academy Award-winning director Barry Levinson (Rain Man, Bugsy) is no stranger to both the crime genre and collaborating with Robert De Niro, and their collective experience are fusing with The Alto Knights, which follows two of New York’s most notorious organized crime bosses, Frank Costello and Vito Genovese (both portrayed by De Niro), as they vie for…
Inspired by the true friendship that writer/director Tracie Laymon found with a stranger when looking for her father online, Bob Trevino Likes It is a heartwarming tale about how even the smallest act of kindness can have the largest ripple effect on someone’s life. Often playing the role of caretaker to people like her father…
Screening as part of this year’s SXSW Film & TV Festival in the Narrative Spotlight section, which showcases features having their World, North American or U.S. premiere, Sweetness tells of the chance encounter between 16-year-old Rylee and her rockstar crush, which leads to the discovery of his drug addiction and the subsequent spiral of her…
A top British intelligence officer faces the ultimate test of loyalty when he investigates a critical security breach in Black Bag, a riveting spy drama from Academy Award-winning director Steven Soderbergh. An insightful and stylish take on a classic genre (you can read our review here), Black Bag amps up suspense and tension in a…
A titan of British cinema, Mike Leigh brings his signature blend of realism and emotional depth to Hard Truths, further solidifying his reputation as a chronicler of contemporary life. Delving into the complexities of everyday existence, Hard Truths stars Marianne Jean-Baptiste as a woman tormented by anger and depression, hypersensitive to the slightest possible offence…
22 years on from its predecessor premiering at the Brisbane International Film Festival, Spit, the long awaited sequel to Aussie crime comedy Gettin’ Square, kicked off its proceedings last month at the AACTA Festival, where director Jonathan Teplitzky and Johnny “Spit” Spitieri himself, David Wenham, introduced the film before it toured across the country on…
Australian actor Daniel Henshall is no stranger to working with the genius that is Bong Joon Ho, having collaborated on 2017’s science fiction comedy Okja. Now, the two are reuniting on the director’s eagerly anticipated Mickey 17, the first since his historic Oscar win in 2020. Mickey 17 tells of an unlikely hero, Mickey Barnes…
Across television, film, music, literature and live theatre, Keke Palmer has rarely left a stone unturned. And she’s certainly not looking to give up the exploration any time soon. With the release of One of Them Days, not only is Palmer headlining alongside the Grammy-winning SZA, she’s flexing her big boss energy as one of…
The Alliance Française French Film Festival (AF FFF) has arrived as its 2025 programme of groundbreaking French cinema sets to dazzle audiences across Australia. Now in its 36th year, the largest celebration of French film outside France will play until the 27th April this year. Festival-goers are invited to embark on a unique cultural journey, featuring…
Seen is a groundbreaking feature-length documentary that not only explores the transformative power of personal healing for parents, but also delves into the scientifically supported effects of such healing on parenting and its impact on child brain development. By focusing on the unexplored aspect of parents confronting their own childhood coping mechanisms, Seen is poised…
Transferred from juvenile to adult prison, Mel is taken under the wing of both Shepard, Australia’s most despised criminal, and Warren, a soon-to-be-a-paroled inmate. The paternal triangle that forms between them becomes their undoing. From Cannes Film Festival-winning director Charles Williams, Inside is a tale of emotional dynamics within the prison system, spearheaded by a…
