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With just a few silver sovereigns in his pocket a young Willy Wonka (Timothee Chalamet) sets out to change the world with his chocolates. But, it’ll take more than luck and sweets to overcome a greedy candy cartel that’s out to stop him and do him in. Then again, with a little help from some new friends, a little Wonka magic, one very large giraffe, and one tiny oompa loompa (Hugh Grant), the world will get to see what Wonka has to offer.Written by Simon Farnaby, Paul King, and Roald Dahl, and Directed by King, this prequel of magic and wonder has all the ingredients to start the holidays with whimsy and cheer walking carefully between lightness and dark. Set as a musical, the elements and backstory are very much present to illustrate where the legendary chocolatier comes from, told with enough panache, color, big dance numbers, and just the right dash of silliness to reach across age demographics and entertain for its one hour and fifty six minute runtime. And, while Chalamet may not have the most trained voice in Hollywood he can still dance up a storm, and, is surrounded by a cast dotted with familiar faces all skilled in dramatics and comedy (think Olivia Coleman, Keegan-Michael Key and Matt Lucas for starters) this fun romp into a land of make-believe has enough fizzy lifting strength to rise to the occasion. Featuring several easily recount-able songs, the recipe seems prime for family cheer. Wonka is rated PG.

Bella Baxter (Emma Stone) is a medical wonder, the daughter of re-animator Dr. Godwin Baxter (Willem Dafoe) who himself is a bit of a wonder. But, there’s something even more peculiar about Emma, a child like innocence with a yearning to experience the world; so, when known womanizer Duncan Wedderburn (Mark Ruffalo) promises young Bella the moon and the stars it’s a wonder why more red flags aren’t raised. Whisked away by Duncan, Bella appears to be a quick study of the streets, growing wiser and more capable of fending for herself, it won’t be long before the world is in the palm of her hand.

Written by Tony McNamara and Alasdair Gray and Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, this surrealist modern Frankenstein delivers a challenging punch while spinning an incredibly sophisticated and equally bizzare story that centers around the finding of one’s self, sexuality, and what it is to be human; all the while done from the perspective of a scientist carefully watching over an experiment and tackled in a way that only Lanthimos seems capable of in absurdist strokes of genius. And, while the whole cast is phenomenal, Stone’s commitment to character development shines the brightest of the bunch demanding extra consideration as we roll into awards season. Sharp art direction, cinematography, and score, this packed gem will give plenty to chew on for further discussion, in fact, this is the type of film that begs to be discussed, certainly no two perspectives will be identical. Running two hours and twenty one minutes this gem is worthy of an open mind, Poor Things is rated R.

When a Black Friday shopping spree turns into a deadly riot in Plymouth Massachusetts a deranged serial killer dressed as pilgrim John Carver is inspired to exact his revenge on the parties responsible. Now, Sheriff Newlon (Patrick Dempsey) will have his hands full as the mayhem begins, finding things to be thankful for will take extra effort this year. Written by Jeff Rendell and Eli Roth and Directed by Roth, this campy throwback grindhouse/slasher serves up the best jump scares and gore for the season and feels clearly inspired by 1980’s horror with a comedic edge. And, while the plot line is textbook, following all the expected rules of classic horror, Roth crafts a hilariously entertaining dark ride with the spirit and intent of its forefathers…Entertainment, laughs, splatters, and geysers of blood with a fast run time of one hour and 47 minutes that delivers the goods without the leftovers going bad. Fans of the genre will find plenty to sink their teeth into in this one, extra points for overall creativity, thematic execution, and ensemble performance, this is a diamond in the rough. Thanksgiving is rated R.