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The year is 1918 and the Spanish Flu pandemic has the world living in isolation while World War I is wrapping up. For young Pearl (Mia Goth) the absence of her husband (Alistair Sewell) in the military and the pressures of farm life with her mother and ill father (Tandi Wright and Matthew Sunderland) have reached a breaking point. Now, with the chance of fame dangled before her, a new festering hunger will shape Pearl into the woman no one expected her to become. Written by Ti West and Mia Goth and Directed by West, this prequel to the film X (2022) is a delightfully stylized descent into the madness of a farm tool wielding psychopath, all shot in vibrant technicolor with period appropriate camera work and editing. For fans of horror and classic cinema this bloody love letter captures the heart with its morbid hilarity, building tension, and ultimate dissonance. Better yet, the film’s payoff with its final shot into credits caps the entire performance with the perfect kiss hello and goodbye. Worth your time this 102 minute romp doesn’t overstay welcomes and braces us nicely for what’s yet to come. Pearl is rated R.

A close knit group of 20 somethings get together for a hurricane party at the remote family mansion of David (Pete Davidson), but, when an aggressive game of “Bodies Bodies Bodies” appears to get out of control, actual lives are lost. Now, who’s at fault? Getting to the bottom of this whodunnit may cost more than friendships. Written by Sarah DeLappe and Kristen Roupenian and Directed by Halina Reijn, this cautionary Gen-Z tale of privilege, excess, and psychosis is a hilarious mirror to society through the lens of social media distortion, drugs and woke culture. Sharply written, fans of horror may have the plot figured out well before the dark ride ends, but, pithy quippy dialogue keeps the gallows humor rolling as this young ensemble stumbles their way through the eye of a storm. And, running a mere 95 minutes, the brisk pacing doesn’t leave much fat to trim. Clearly stylized with the youth in mind, fans of the horror/thriller genre have a new voice to pay attention to. Bodies Bodies Bodies is rated R.

Traveling across the country of Japan on a bullet train bound for Kyoto, Ladybug (Brad Pitt), is a man for hire on a simple snatch and grab mission to recover a briefcase. But, as events go sideways it would appear he’s not the only hired hand on the train. Speeding towards the final destination the carnage on the train ensues, but who’s actually pulling the strings, and what does the White Death Kingpin (Michael Shannon) have to do with all aboard?Written by Zak Olkewicz based on the book by Kôtarô Isaka and directed by David Leitch, this Summertime testosterone fueled romp leaves the station at full speed with impossibly choreographed fight sequences, witty enough dialogue, and, a ridiculous enough gumshoe anti-hero as a paint by numbers popcorn chomper. Big stars, check, big action, check, mindless plot, check, Sandra Bullock, check, train that has to speed up, check, punk rockin’ foreign soundtrack, check. I think you get the idea, not to be taken seriously, and not looking for serious accolades, it’s all aboard for goofy action from start to finish, woo woo! Check your brain at the door and enjoy the ride. Running two hours and six minutes, Bullet Train is rated R.