The Completely Positive October Movie Preview

2022 has been a kicking year at the movies with great pictures coming from all kinds of genres and representing many different voices including Top Gun: Maverick, The Woman King, Turning Red, Everything Everywhere All At Once, Nope, and Prey. It is one of the best years for movies since I started writing professionally about them in 2012. We haven't even entered into what is considered the prestige period with all the Oscar and award hopefuls. But first we have October, which is often considered a big month with horror, but this year there are a variety of genres battling for our attention.

I'm going to go over all the major releases coming to theatres and streamers this month. I won't do every single movies, because there is a lot of smaller stuff that just isn't on my radar, but this will be a preview of every major planned release.

Since this year keeps on delivering the goods. there is no reason to not get excited about this upcoming slate. I've decided to stay completely positive release previewed. Even for the movies that I really shouldn't be so optimistic.

I put in brackets either the studio that was behind it (if it is theatrical) or the streamer it will be on (at least, in the United States).

October 5:

Mr. Harrigan's Phone (Netflix): It's an adaptation of a Stephen King story, which I'm always all in on, because he remains one of my all-time favourite writers. It is a really cool concept of a boy getting a text from beyond the grave, and it is sure to have some classic creepy moments. Plus, we get a solid cast in Donald Sutherland, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, and Jaeden Martell. Sutherland has experience in the horror genre with the classic remake Invasion of the Body Snatchers, and Martell shined in the adaptation of King's It -- and best for us to forget The Book of Henry. It is Stephen King, so how can this not rock, but of course, we should ignore May's Firestarter.

October 7:

Amsterdam (20th Century): David O Russell is back, and maybe he is even kinder and better to work with (remember, I'm staying positive). But he has brough a loaded cast with him including Christian Bale, Margot Robbie, John David Washington, Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Rock, Andrea Riseborough, Mike Myers, Zoe Saldana, and Robert De Niro. The 1930s period setting looks gorgeous, and the story of three friends trying to solve a murder that they've been framed for seems to have all the quirky humour and wacky twists we expect from Russell. We have the added perk of watching the movie without the director yelling at us.

Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile (Sony): The children's book by Bernard Waber was originally published in 1965, so it is older than most reading this, and we've all had plenty of time to have read it? Have you? If not, it is delightful, and if one is allergic to words, then they can finally enjoy the story by spending more time watching it then we would be reading it to a kid. It also is likely the best movie this year starring Javier Bardem and Constance Wu together with a singing, bath-loving crocodile.

Catherine Call Birdy (Amazon): This is comedian and filmmaker Lena Dunham second directorial effort this year with the other being Sharp Stick. This is an adaptation of a beloved coming-of-age novel by Karen Cushman that apparently was one of Dunham's favourite growing up. This is a passion project, which is always fascinating to watch, since we know the creator's heart and soul is in it. Plus, this is the second story where if we missed reading the book then we can finally catch up by watching it, and this time we'll even save time!

Hellraiser (Hulu): Is the Blu-Ray broken or allergic to digital rental? We're in luck, because they've now remade another horror movie, and we can just watch that instead of tracking down the original. If history has taught me anything, it will be a movie just like the original.

Luckiest Girl Alive (Netflix): The title is being sarcastic, because Mila Kunis' once successful character faces trauma and adversity. I still associate Kunis mostly with comedy, so it will be cool to see how she lands in a dramatic thriller. 

Significant Other (Paramount +): Maika Monroe stars in a supernatural horror picture! As a huge It Follows fan this is exciting. Plus, we now have a movie to show why we need to stay home when someone is bugging us to go for a hike.

Tar (Focus Feature): It is a psychological drama set in the world of classical music where Cate Blanchette plays a world-renowned conductor and the little that I know gives me some Whiplash vibes of the price of being the best in our field. It is also directed by Todd Field who is behind two intriguing and challenging pictures in In the Bedroom and Little Children.

October 14:

Halloween Ends (Universal/Peacock): Evil ends tonight! Maybe? But one thing is for sure. I love the 1978 original.

Decision to Leave (CJ Entertainment): Unless one lives in a big city, it is going to be near impossible to see the South Korean thriller this month or even this year. It is worth noting for those that could see it because Park Chan-Wook directs the picture about a detective investigating a bizarre murder case who encounters the victims mysterious wife. This is a big deal because this is the director behind other thriller classics like Oldboy, The Handmaiden, and Thirst. This small city guy is jealous.

Rosaline (20th Century/Hulu - Disney Plus in Canada): I love Shakespeare, but I really dig when creatives go in a fresh direction to explore the classic material. This is the Romeo & Juliet story from the perspective of Romeo's ex and the first love of his life. Kaitlyn Dever plays the titular character, and her being attached is enough for me to get excited for it.

October 13:

Dark Glasses (Shudder): Legendary horror filmmaker Dario Argento will sell most fans of scary movies. It does have an interesting premise of a women who was blinded from an accident needs a young survivor from the incident to protect her from a serial killer who is targeting sex workers. Based on who is directing it, it will likely be bold and visually stunning. 

October 19:

The School for Good & Evil (Netflix): Have you been bemoaning the end of studios adapting any novel series that resembles Harry Potter and then goes all in on that style and aesthetic? It is time to celebrate, because we now have this movie. To add to the excitement, it is directed by Paul Feig who has a terrific track record, and it will be interesting to see him play around in a different genre. Plus, he is backed up by an awesome cast that includes Cate Blanchett, Charlize Theron, Michelle Yeoh, Kerry Washington, Laurence Fishburne, and Ben Kingsley. And assume some people the proper age to play the students too. I'm always excited for another attempt at big scale fantasy.

The Stranger (Netflix): Australians know how to craft thrillers that completely mess up our minds and stop us from sleeping for days. October is all about being terrified, and this Joel Edgerton starring picture about a disturbing new friendship looks set on screwing us up in a good way.

October 21:

Black Adam (Warner Bros.): Hey look, it appears DC does release movies too! It will be fascinating to see how they turn Shazam's most well-known villain into the anti-hero of the picture, and if there are plans of connecting this story with the other movie series. Plus, it is fun to see Dwayne Johnson team up again with director Jaume Collet-Serra, who is one of the more underrated thriller and action filmmakers. The trailer promises a complicated lead character in a big CGI spectacle that could deliver on the popcorn munching big budget fun with some depth.

Ticket to Paradise (Universal): Are romantic comedies making a big comeback to the theatres? This is the fourth theatrical release this year that could fit that genre label. It is fitting that one of queens of the genre in the 1990s returns in Julia Roberts as the former wife of George Clooney reuniting to stop their daughter Kaitlyn Dever from getting married. This sounds like a movie that we've seen a hundred times and we can all predict the ending, but the genre is often fun and delightful, and these are the type of stars needed to make it shine.

My Policeman (Amazon Studios): A drama about a love triangle that crosses decades as a man hides a secret relationship from his wife. It is yet another mainstream story that is finally exploring the challenges of being gay in the past and what still must be faced today. One thing is for sure, Harry Styles sure is handsome.

Raymond & Ray (Apple TV+): Why do so many streaming service decide to just have their company name and then attach plus at the end? I guess, it is better than naming it after a bird. Anyway, this is a dramedy set at a father's funeral that suddenly becomes way more appealing when we realize it stars Ethan Hawke and Ewan McGregor.

The Banshees of Inisherin (Searchlight): It is a In Bruges reunion with filmmaker Martin McDonagh helming along with Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson starring. Like most of McDonagh's work, this is a dark comedy, and this time it is apparently about Gleeson informing Farrell he no long wants to be friends and Farrell not ready for such a relationship change. If you haven't seen In Bruges then do that first, but this team-up is worth getting excited about. For those lucky ones that will have this play near them, it has already got rave reviews on the festival circuit and has 100% on Rotten Tomatoes as of the time that I am writing this.

October 26:

The Good Nurse (Netflix): This is a twofer as it is not only an adaptation of a book but also based on true events. This is about the infamous Charles Cullen known as 'The Angel of Death who officially murdered lots of patients and the brave nurse Amy Loughren who uncovered his crimes. It is a fascinating story that if handled correctly can be both powerful and chilling. It has some heavyweight thespians in the lead roles with Eddie Redmayne and Jessica Chastain. 

October 28:

Prey for the Devil (Lionsgate): It is almost Halloween, so clearly, we need a possession horror movie with a brave nun battling the evil spirits. Apparently, Virginia Madsen is in this picture, but based off the hundred times that I saw the trailer for this in the theatres, my guess it is a small role. But any Madsen makes a movie better. Also, based off this trailer, if we want a good jump scare to get properly into the Halloween mood then this movie has us covered. Based on this year, most horror movies are about hundred times better than the trailer that gets released, so we can still be optimistic for a Halloween treat

Till (United Artists): I wish that I were shocked that it took this long for a movie adaptation for such a profound and major story in Mami Till-Mobley's long pursuit for justice after the tragic and horrific lynching of her son in Mississippi. I remember being chilled to the bone learning about this story in high school, and it is one of the major moments in shaping the future of race relations and pushing the Civil Rights movement in the United States. This is a powerful story that deserves a faithful adaptation that many need to watch and talk about. But make sure to bring the tissues, because this will be an emotional one -- for those with a soul. This has potential of being an Oscar hopeful. This gets limited release on October 14th in the bigger cities.

All Quiet on the Western Front (Netflix): The latest adaptation of the classic anti-war novel by Erich Maria Remarque. The 1930 version was the first non-musical talkie to win a Best Picture, and also, the first movie based on a novel to win, but far from the last. There is nothing wrong with remakes when it is approached from a fresh perspective, and this will be a German backed production, thus potential of different handling of the material. Plus, it is always great to see Daniel Bruhl in a lead role of a big movie.

Armageddon Time (Focus Features): It is always a big deal when James Grey is directing a new movie. He is doing something quite different than his previous pictures as this is a coming-of-age period piece set in New York, and looks to be based on his own childhood. Grey makes movies that are hard to predict, and jungle a variety of themes, and it will be intriguing to see how he mixes his abstract and surreal style with a personal tale. To help him out in telling the story, there are great actors like Anne Hathaway, Jeremy Strong, and Anthony Hopkins. This is a limited release, but there is hope it will go wider in November.

Run Sweetheart Run (Amazon Prime):  Have you ever had the worst blind date ever? Well, did that blind date try to kill you? This movie is here to tell us that it could be worse. Also, likely another thriller to enjoy around the time of year we all want to be spooked a little.

Wendell & Wild (Netflix): I know that I bash Netflix originals often, but this is one of the most anticipated movies for me ever since I learned about it a few years ago. First off, it is stop motion animation. which always feels like a treat when we get a feature from that medium. It is directed by Henry Selick who is a master of the form by helming classics like The Nightmare Before Christmas, James and the Giant Peach, and Coraline. He makes the family movies that gives kids nightmares, but in a good way. To sweeten the deal, he wrote the script along with the equally great creator Jordan Peele, who knows a few things about scary stories. The family horror comedy is elevated by the reteaming of Peele with Keegan-Michael Key who will voice the titular demons. This is what I consider the highlight of the month, and I'm extremely excited to watch and review this.

What movies are you excited to see in October and what movies did I miss that deserve to be mentioned?