You know what’s scary? Sitting on your couch and scrolling endlessly. Maybe this will help narrow your scope this weekend. This week has a lot going for it, from a Bruce Springsteen biopic, to Rose Byrne giving the performance of a lifetime, to the continuing love story between a hot rabbi and a podcaster. Then there’s a trip back to Derry (because people haven’t learned to just go live anywhere else in Maine) so Pennywise can terrorize a whole new crop of kids, and another chapter of Anne Rice’s television universe premieres on AMC+.
Featured Presentations
If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
Rose Byrne is incredible in this gripping psychological drama, which might be the most upsetting horror movie of the year for any parents who relate to it. She plays Linda, a mother at her wit’s end dealing with a challenging daughter, an absent and critical husband, a caved-in roof, and an unhelpful therapist played by Conan O’Brien. Stressful! —James Grebey
In theaters now
Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere
Another heartthrobby actor takes on the role of an acclaimed musician, though the Springsteen biopic, unlike last year’s Dylan movie, didn’t get its star to perform Bruce Springsteen songs on Saturday Night Live. Instead, Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere’s Jeremy Allen White is busy making a flower bouquet. Director Scott Cooper focuses on the period of Springsteen’s life when he was working on his most sobering album yet, 1982’s Nebraska.
In theaters now
Nobody Wants This season 2
One of last year’s breakout comedies returns with the next chapter in the classic fairy tale about a romance between a rabbi and a podcaster. Adam Brody and Kristen Bell remind audiences that they have incredibly endearing screen presences. Justine Lupe and TImothy Simons remind audiences that any show should be fortunate to have them in their cast. — Kathryn VanArendonk
Streaming on Netflix
➽ Let the Leighton Meester renaissance begin.
Blue Moon
“Lorenz [Hart] is the kind of role that [Ethan] Hawke thrives in — a big talker and a self-mythologizer whom everyone can’t help but like, despite being aware that he’s mostly full of shit.” (Read more of Willmore’s review here; in theaters now.)
A House of Dynamite
A nuclear missile is heading toward America as various branches of the government scramble to try to figure out who fired it and what they can do to stop it from unleashing fiery death upon the U.S. Relaxing, chill stuff, Kathryn Bigelow! Idris Elba, Rebecca Ferguson, Greta Lee, and Jason Clarke are among the ensemble cast of this Netflix thriller, which premiered to raves at Venice and received a cooler response at the New York Film Festival. —J.G
Streaming on Netflix
Hallowscreen
It: Welcome to Derry
Pennywise the Clown is back, which is bad news for the children of Derry, Maine, but great news for fans of Stephen King. Serving as a prequel to It and It: Chapter Two, the HBO Max series is set during Pennywise’s previous reign of terror in 1962. Bill Skarsgård reprises his role as the clown. —J.G.
Streaming on HBO Max
➽ Speaking of King, if you didn’t take the long walk to the theaters, you can just rent The Long Walk now.
Talamasca: The Secret Order
AMC’s attempts to build out the Anne Rice universe has been interesting. You have the absolute highs of Interview with the Vampire paired with the lows of Mayfair Witches. Their latest series is on the shadowy organization meant to monitor the supernatural. Here, Elizabeth McGovern’s Helen recruits a guy named Guy (Nicholas Denton) for an off-the-books mission. You get vampires (including a delightful and way too short-lived cameo from Jason Schwartzman) and you get witches wrapped up in a CW-esque mystery show. Entertainment value may vary as it doesn’t satiate your Interview with the Vampire appetite, but it’s fun and spooky enough for the season.
Streaming on AMC+
The Hand That Rocks the Cradle
A remake of the 1992 film, director Michelle Garza Cervera’s The Hand That Rocks the Cradle revolves around Mary Elizabeth Winstead’s Caitlyn Morales and the nanny she hires Polly (the reigning queen of indie horror Maika Monroe). After Polly ingratiates herself within the Morales family, Caitlyn starts noticing some disturbing behaviors.
Streaming on Hulu
Weapons
Now that Zach Cregger’s bizarre, acclaimed horror movie Weapons is streaming, you can watch what should, in a just world, be an Oscar-nominated performance from the comfort of your couch. —J.G.
Streaming on HBO Max
Reality Bites
Love Is Blind season-9 weddings
This season is so messy, so I’m sure that’ll culminate in some weird weddings. At this point, let’s just keep it moving and bring on the reunion.
Streaming on Netflix
Grand Finale
Gen V season 2
“I respect the choice to integrate Gen V more fully into the Boys universe in season two, but it raises all sorts of questions the show can’t freely answer or even really hint at. This is an okay season finale, featuring most of the beats we were promised from early on, but it’s not the most satisfying experience overall. I’m still onboard, but the path forward for Gen V is murkier than ever, and that’s not always a good thing.”
– Writer Ben Rosenstock on Gen V’s bumpier sophomore outing. Read his finale recap here.
Finally Streaming
No Other Land
After forgoing a distribution deal with Mubi, the team behind No Other Land has decided to release its Oscar-winning documentary independently. An unflinching look into the Israeli occupation of Palestinian families living in Masafer Yatta, the proceeds from VOD will go toward Palestinians in that area.
Available on demand
Want more? Read our recommendations from the weekend of October 17.
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