Hot New Films

HOT NEW MOVIES

Take some time out of this month’s sweltering heat and suspend reality with one of these hot new blockbusters.

WORDS JAMES SINCLAIR

ESCAPE ROOM: TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS

» Genre: Psychological Horror » Director: Adam Robitel (Escape Room) » Actors: Taylor Russell, Logan Miller, Indya Moore

The sequel of the the 2019 Escape Room, and allegedly better, Taylor Russell and Logan Miller reprise their roles from the original, alongside four new cast members. As per before, six people unwittingly find themselves locked in another series of escape rooms, gradually learning what they have in common to survive. Being trapped in several rooms with extreme conditions, they must use their wits to discover the secrets behind each prison and are forced to fight in order not to perish.

THE TOMORROW WAR

» Genre: Science Fiction » Director: Chris McKay (The Lego Batman Movie) » Actors: Chris Pratt, Yvonne Strahovski, J.K. Simmons

This action feature combines ferocious aliens and time travel. In December 2022, soldiers from the year 2051 materialise to warn that Earth will be driven to virtual extinction with the invasion of an alien species known as the ‘Whitespikes’ in November 2048. To combat this, the world’s supreme military forces are sent into the future via a wormhole, but very few survive, prompting an international draft. Chris Pratt stars as Dan Forester, a former Green Beret and now a family man, who goes to war to save humanity.

STILLWATER

» Genre: Crime Drama » Director: Tom McCarthy (The Station Agent) » Actors: Matt Damon, Camille Cottin, Abigail Breslin

Bill Baker, an oil worker in Stillwater, Oklahoma, learns that his estranged daughter Allison, while studying overseas in Marseille, has been falsely arrested pending trial, charged with murdering her friend and partner Lina. Travelling there to visit her in prison, he discovers that she has practically exhausted her legal options. Helped by Virginie, a French woman he befriends, he struggles to clear her name, having to contend with the language barrier, differences of culture, and a complex and unfamiliar legal system.

THE GREEN KNIGHT

» Genre: Fantasy Adventure » Director: David Lowery (Pete’s Dragon) » Actors: Dev Patel, Alicia Vikander, Joel Edgerton

This fantasy adventure relates the story of Sir Gawain, King Arthur’s impulsive nephew who makes an ill-advised decision in accepting a challenge offered by a mysterious knight with green skin, green hair and a green horse. Gawain sets out on a daring quest to prove his worth in the eyes of his family and during his journey he has to contend with giants, ghosts, swindlers and sexual enticement. Visionary filmmaker David Lowery delivers an original and heroic spin on a classic tale from the Knights of the Round Table.

THE SUICIDE SQUAD

» Genre: Action/Adventure » Director: James Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy) » Actors: Margot Robbie, Idris Elba, John Cena

Once again, expect fun and mayhem as Harley Quinn and a bunch of reprobate super villains are called on to penetrate and neutralise the island of Corto Maltese. Armed with all manner of high-tech weapons, the motley crew trek through dangerous jungle on a mission to destroy Jotunheim, a Nazi-era prison and laboratory which held political prisoners and conducted gruesome experiments. As well as a number of stand-offs with each other, they come into conflict with Starro, a gigantic alien starfish with telepathic powers. e