STAR PEOPLE is a new sci-fi thriller with a very sweet, but also twisted and dark, story featuring two siblings at the heart of the plot. Inspired by real events, this indie production won me over with its character-driven plot and the most gorgeous visuals. Read our full Star People movie review here!

STAR PEOPLE is a new indie sci-fi thriller that made me want to plan a night of stargazing somewhere with no light pollution. Honestly, if you don’t fall in love with the visuals of this movie, then I don’t know what it would take. Also, it has a character-driven story built on the aftermath of a real UFO sighting.

With a runtime of just over 100 minutes, I was worried that maybe it would be running a little too long. Fortunately, it didn’t, as there are more layers to the storyline than what you might expect. A small but fierce cast paired with a very interesting and relatable storyline made for a solid genre movie.

Continue reading our Star People movie review below. Find it on VOD now!

I want to believe

Star People is a classic “I want to believe”-plot that Fox Mulder would gladly support. We meet photographer Claire (Kat Cunning), who is convinced she has seen a UFO (or rather, several) when she was a child. Ever since this sighting, she has been waiting for them to come back.

The very specific UFO sighting in this 2025 sci-fi thriller is based on the very real 1997 UFO sighting in Arizona. It was known as the “Phoenix Lights”, and we see archive news footage of the event. Clarie’s brother, Taylor (McCabe Slye), isn’t a believer, so he would be the Dana Scully of the family – just to stay in the X Files character gallery.

Taylor, however, is a junkie and struggling in all areas of life, so Claire doesn’t care much about what he believes. Still, in a roundabout way, he ends up joining his big sister on a job. A man has spotted some lights that look similar to the 1997 Phoenix Lights, and wants Claire to take pictures of them.

Not because he thinks they’re aliens, but I won’t give away what he suspects here. Again, Claire doesn’t care what anyone else believes. She’s just eager to get out there and see the aliens again.

There is much more to this story, but Star People is the kind of movie that you should experience without too much prior knowledge.

Wonderful cast and an important story

Don’t worry, I’m not about to go back on the above and give away key elements of the story in Star People. I just want to highlight that I loved how it incorporated very current issues and dealt with them in a very straightforward manner. Being able to do this in a believable way means a cast has to sell the idea to us, the audience, and Star People has a wonderful cast.

With Kat Cunning (The Deuce, Trinkets) at the heart of the story, we have an actor who breathes life into Claire. She’s a woman who is conflicted and deals with past trauma as best she can. Sure, she handles it better than her brother, who is a junkie, but that doesn’t mean she isn’t struggling as well.

Also, McCabe Slye (Fear Street trilogy) is wonderful as her little brother, Taylor, with all the issues and baggage he comes with. As a boyfriend (well, sort of) to Claire, we see Connor Paolo (A Creature Was Stirring) as Justin. Honestly, Justin isn’t a very stellar man, but Connor Paolo manages to give him nuance in his portrayal. Really, he just isn’t a hero… at all!

Rounding out the cast of Star People are Eddie Martinez, Adriana Aluna Martinez, Chris Altice, and Bradley Fisher. All play important parts in the story, and all deserve to be complimented for their performances.

Watch Star People on VOD

Star People comes from writer-director Adam Finberg, and I am very impressed with this indie sci-fi thriller. A strong character-driven plot that isn’t afraid to include a few key elements of very current importance. And also, those visuals truly did take my breath away.

If Arizona wants to attract more tourists, just get Adam Finberg to make the commercial.

However, I do also have to highlight the audio. Not least the score by Reza Safinia, and the soundtrack. The end credit song “Constellation” by Reza Safinia, featuring vocals by the star of the movie, Kat Cunning, was amazing. I immediately wanted to hear that song again. And again!

If you love a solid sci-fi thriller and want to believe, then do check out Star People. Not only does it offer a UFO story, but it also deals with more grounded everyday “alien” issues that many will recognize. A strong combination that works elegantly here.

Star People is out on VOD now.

Details

Director: Adam Finberg
Writer: Adam Finberg
Cast: Kat Cunning, McCabe Slye, Connor Paolo, Eddie Martinez, Bradley Fisher, Adriana Aluna Martinez

Plot

Inspired by The Phoenix Lights, the largest mass UFO sighting in U.S. history, STAR PEOPLE is a sci-fi thriller that tells the story of a photographer (Kat Cunning) who receives a tip that could finally shed light on her childhood UFO sighting, but a deadly heatwave and unexpected guests threaten to derail her obsessive search for answers.

PREDATOR: BADLANDS is a new Sci-Fi Thriller in the long-running PREDATOR franchise. This time, it’s about a young Predator outcast and features Elle Fanning as a synth. This movie ties it to the ALIEN franchise yet again. Read our Predator: Badlads movie review here!

PREDATOR: BADLANDS is a new Sci-Fi Action Thriller that both continues and re-invents the franchise. I remember growing up watching Predator movies, where you never saw the creature much. After all, its strength was its camouflage.

In this movie, it’s a classic hero’s journey – but the hero is a Predator. Personally, I love this different approach. Otherwise, I could just rewatch the old movies. The runtime is 1 hour and 47 minutes, which worked much better than I expected.

Continue reading our Predator: Badlands movie review below. Find it in theaters from November 7, 2025.

A young outcast Yautja

In Predator: Badlands, the story plays out in the future on a deadly remote planet called “Genna”. Before we get that far, we first meet Dek, a young Predator outcast, who desperately wants to earn his place in this clan.

Also, we should call things by their rightful names, so I should refer to Dek as a Yautja. And Dek has decided that to earn his place in the world, he needs to kill an unkillable creature called a “Kalisk”.

WHAT IS A YAUTJA?

We may call the creatures in this franchise a “Predator”, but they’re actually called a “Yautja”. Just like the alien from the Alien franchise is a Xenomorph.

Quick note: The actual title of Predator: Badlands doesn’t come until around 20 minutes into the runtime. That’s when Dek arrives on Genna, and his journey begins. And yes, this is very much a hero’s journey, which I loved.

With Dek as the main character, we also hear a foreign language spoken a lot. Namely that of the Yautja. However, as soon as Thia, a synthetic (or just “synth”), joins him on this mission, she uses her universal language module to help us all.

A quick line explains how she can speak English, but anyone who hears her talk will hear what she says in their own language. Like a highly advanced Google Translate, if you will.

Weyland-Yutani causing problems universally

Once again, much of the struggle for our hero comes from the Weyland-Yutani Corporation. Just as it has been the case in many Alien movies, which once again ties the Predator and Alien franchises closer together.

So does the use of synthetics, which has always been key to Alien movies. Most recently also the Alien: Earth series. Maybe the next Predator movie will expand on this? And yes, the ending of Predator: Badlands does call for a sequel!

Elle Fanning is great as the synth in Predator: Badlands and becomes a mentor for the Yautja, Dek, who is played by body actor Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi.

Both deliver strong and organic performances in this sci-fi universe. Also, as someone who grew up on those first Predator movies, I feel it has some of the tongue-in-cheek humor they did. But often with a more contemporary twist.

What is true strength?

Obviously, a Yautja is a top predator who would never recognize that a synth (or anyone else) could teach them something. However, survival is about adapting, and sometimes strength comes from learning and working together, instead of fighting everyone.

Yes, I will gladly admit that I loved the message of Predator: Badlands, which focuses on the many ways to show strength. Particularly, the choice to protect and lead, rather than control and abuse.

Something many will see as very woke, I’m sure. Then again, The Golden Girls would be considered woke if it aired today, so I can’t be bothered by that.

There’s even a focus on the concept of an “Alpha”. In this movie, it comes up when speaking of leadership within a pack of wolves, but I’m sure many would do well to pay attention and actually understand this.

Watch Predator: Badlands in theaters

Predator: Badlands comes from director Dan Trachtenberg (10 Cloverfield Lane). He also directed the previous Predator movie Prey (2022) and co-directed the 2025 animated Hulu movie Predator: Killer of Killers.

This new story also comes from Dan Trachtenberg with Patrick Aison. The screenplay was written by Patrick Aison (Prey). And, of course, Jim Thomas and John Thomas also get prominent billing and credit for “based on characters by”.

They wrote the original Predator movie from 1987, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Carl Weathers, which had the same runtime as this 2025 movie. The original movie was directed by John McTiernan (Die Hard).

If you’ve enjoyed any of the previous Predator movies (or even the Alien franchise), then don’t miss out on this one. Also, if you can, make sure you watch it in a movie theater for maximum impact.

PREDATOR: BADLANDS is out In Theaters on November 7, 2025.

Details

In Theaters: November 7, 2025
Genres: Thriller, Science Fiction, Action
Director: Dan Trachtenberg
Screenplay: Patrick Aison
Story: Patrick Aison, Dan Trachtenberg
Cast: Elle Fanning, Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi

Plot

Set in the future on a deadly remote planet, Predator: Badlands follows Dek, a young Predator outcast from his clan, who finds an unlikely ally in Thia and embarks on a treacherous journey in search of the ultimate adversary.

THE ASTRONAUT is a new Horror Sci-Fi Thriller movie starring Kate Mara as an astronaut experiencing a strange homecoming. At 90 minutes, it’s an emotional and tightly paced story. Read our full The Astronaut movie review here!

THE ASTRONAUT is a Sci-Fi Thriller with strong horror elements throughout. It’s full of trippy experiences for our main protagonist while she tries to figure out what’s going on. We’re right alongside her and will wonder about everything happening as well.

It may not be for everyone, but fans of everything from Close Encounters of the Third Kind to Arrival should find something they like. I certainly had some moments where it managed to remind me of both those iconic sci-fi movies, despite this being very different.

Continue reading our 2025 The Astronaut movie review below. Find it in Theaters from October 17, 2025.

Finding your way back home

Returning from a space mission and feeling strange isn’t a new concept. One of the more recent similar stories was the Apple TV+ series Constellation, starring Noomi Rapace as an astronaut returning home.

With The Astronaut, it’s astronaut Sam Walker (Kate Mara) who returns from her first space mission. Getting back to Earth wasn’t a smooth ride, and she was found miraculously alive inside a punctured capsule while floating far off the coast of the Atlantic Ocean.

Her father is General William Harris (Laurence Fishburne), and he has arranged for her to be placed in a high-security house while she rehabilitates. Also, she is under intense NASA surveillance and subjected to constant medical testing.

Sam doesn’t mind as she just wants to be cleared for her next mission, so she can get back out there.

Her husband, Mark (Gabriel Luna), and young daughter, Izzy (Scarlett Holmes), are very happy to have her back home and safe, but Sam herself is torn between being with them and the allure of space.

Very soon, strange and even disturbing things are happening around Sam. Could something extraterrestrial have followed her back to Earth? Or is she perhaps losing her mind and is unfit to ever travel to space again?!

Small but wonderful cast

Kate Mara is perfectly cast as the astronaut Captain Sam Walker. She has just the right mix of heart and grit. The title character has a passion for her job that is threatening to ruin her family. However, it’s also clear that she loves her husband and daughter, so she is torn.

Laurence Fishburne as Sam’s father, General William Harris, is tough and strong as always. For the record, he adopted Sam, and yes, we do get their back story.

We also get to see Macy Gray in yet another acting role, as a fellow NASA colleague, Val, who advises Sam on how to get cleared for her next mission as soon as possible. Basically, she needs to lie and pretend everything is fine.

Standing in her way – by helping secure Sam’s health and sanity before greenlighting her – is Ivana Milicevic as Dr. Michelle Aiden.

Many of these roles are fairly small, as Kate Mara has the majority of the screentime alone. And yes, it works magnificently. Well, for me, anyway. I ended up enjoying this movie much more than I expected, thanks to its horror, heart, and overall message.

Watch The Astronaut in theaters!

The Astronaut is the solo directorial debut of Jess Varley. She previously directed two segments for 2021’s horror anthology Phobias. Now, she’s getting her debut as a writer-director with this sci-fi horror thriller, and I am a very happy genre fan.

Among the producers of the movie are stars Kate Mara and Laurence Fishburne, along with genre heavyweight Brad Fuller. Yes, the very same Brad Fuller, who’s given us genre titles like the Quiet Place franchise and the Purge franchise.

Other talents, whose work you already know, include cinematographer Dave Garbett (Evil Dead Rise), production designer Alan Gilmore (Cobweb), and music by Jacques Brautbar (Sting).

The Astronaut had its world premiere at SXSW back in March 2025, and now it’s finally coming out in a theatrical release. With a runtime of 90 minutes, it worked extremely well for me. I loved the character-driven plot and am a huge fan of how the story evolved.

The Astronaut (2025) is out in U.S. Theaters from October 17, 2025.

Details

Director: Jess Varley
Cast: Kate Mara, Laurence Fishburne, Gabriel Luna, Ivana Milicevic, Macy Gray, Scarlett Holmes

Plot

When an astronaut crash-lands back to Earth, a General places her in quarantine for rehabilitation and testing. As disturbing events unfold, she fears that something extraterrestrial has followed her home.

LOOKOUT is a new sci-fi thriller with a small cast and a simple plot, but it works well for the most part. It was a little too long and had a few developments that didn’t work too well for me. Read our full Lookout movie review here!

LOOKOUT is a sci-fi thriller that feels very realistic despite having a plot that is certainly supernatural. Still, the small cast and the use of simple, practical effects did result in something that just worked.

Had the runtime been shorter and/or the storytelling tighter, this movie would easily have gotten a higher rating. If you’re in the mood for a relatable and very small story, then this is definitely worth a shot.

Continue reading our Lookout movie review below. Find it on Digital from September 2, 2025.

Looking for some peace

In Lookout, our main character seeks to find some peace and quiet. And what better way to find it than being stationed in the middle of a forest as a lookout for forest fires?!

After a life that has been way too turbulent, Melissa accepts a job as a fire lookout at a remote wilderness tower. She’s a young woman, and the “work” is only a few minutes per day where she needs to check in.

I mean, sure, there is no running water and you’re very isolated, but that’s pretty much the point.

More than meets the eye

Of course, when strange things happen and eerie disturbances occur that she can’t quite understand or explain, Melissa can’t help but investigate. This is when she discovers that she isn’t as alone as she believed.

Also, something quite out of this world may be the cause of these strange events.

As she settles into her new role, strange occurrences begin to unfold, and she must uncover the chilling secrets that disrupt her isolation before it’s too late.

Watch Lookout on Digital or Blu-ray/DVD

Lookout is directed by Stefan Colson, and the screenplay comes from Brandon Cahela. Overall, there was a lot of promise to the movie, which may be why I was ultimately a little disappointed.

I did, however, like Meghan Carrasquillo in the lead role as Melissa. She worked from the very beginning to the final scene. As a ranger left to her own devices. Meghan Carrasquillo came across as very believable and relatable.

Still, from the opening scene, I just had different expectations for this movie, and maybe that’s more on me than the movie. However, I can only speak to what I felt… and it was a little disappointment.

It’s worth watching for fans of sci-fi thrillers, who enjoy the smaller-scale stories and practical effects. I just can’t help but feel it could’ve been better.

Lookout is out on Digital Platforms and Blu-ray/DVD on September 2, 2025.

Details

Director: Stefan Colson
Writer: Brandon Cahela
Cast: Meghan Carrasquillo, Trent Culkin, John Marrs

Plot

A young woman takes respite from her turbulent life and lands a job at a fire lookout tower, only to take a chilling turn when otherworldly phenomena begin to unfold.

ALIEN: EARTH on FX and Hulu is a new sci-fi horror series set two years before the iconic ALIEN from 1979. The original film’s style is faithfully preserved, while we’re introduced to intriguing characters and terrifying creatures. And yes, it’s good. Really good. Read our Alien: Earth series review below!

ALIEN: EARTH has landed on FX and Hulu, premiering with its first two episodes. Each runs for about an hour, so it’s almost like watching a couple of mini-movies. The quality is easily on par with one of the many Alien films that have graced the big screen over the decades.

Unlike recent Alien films—which were more like spin-offs—this series is firmly set in familiar territory. The story takes place just two years before the original 1979 film. And this time, we’re on Earth… mostly.

Continue reading our Alien: Earth series review below. Watch the series on FX and FX on Hulu (Internationally on Disney+) beginning August 12, 2025.

Welcome to Earth

Alien: Earth begins in space, aboard a ship that could easily be mistaken for the spaceship from Alien. The production design nails that first-film aesthetic, from tech details to character archetypes.

Before long, we’re back on Earth, as the mysterious USCSS Maginot—where the story began—crash-lands. From the opening scene, we know a Xenomorph is on board. Maybe more than one. And definitely some other alien lifeforms.

On Earth, we meet Wendy (Sydney Chandler), who lives on a research station called “Neverland.” Yes, there’s a very deliberate Peter Pan theme. The facility is owned by the youngest trillionaire on the planet, a man obsessed with fusing human consciousness with synthetic bodies to create hybrids. A project that has succeeded with Wendy.

Child Soldiers Sent Into Battle

Others have undergone the same transformation, but only children’s minds are able to survive the transfer. That’s why terminally ill kids are given synthetic adult bodies, effectively granting them eternal life.

And of course, they make for ideal soldiers… though they’re essentially child soldiers who just look grown-up.

It’s a clever twist that delivers sweet, funny, and heartbreaking moments. After all, kids still get scared—especially when they’re suddenly face-to-face with “monsters.” And yes, this team of child-soldiers is sent to recover the wreck’s dangerous cargo.

The company that owns both the soldiers and, apparently, an entire continent is called Prodigy—named after its “Boy Genius” founder, Boy Kavalier (Samuel Blenkin). The world is now run by just a handful of corporations.

Another is, of course, the familiar Weyland-Yutani, owners of the crashed spacecraft.

Naturally, Prodigy wants the ship’s contents. Wendy, however, has a different motivation: her brother (Alex Lawther) is at the crash site, and she’s desperate to find him.

An Excellent Cast

Since many key characters are hybrids (children in synthetic adult bodies), several adult actors have to play with a childlike mindset—and it works surprisingly well. The core idea that these kids are exploited simply because they appear adult is chilling.

It’s a challenge not only for the actors playing the hybrids, but also for those interacting with them. Luckily, the casting is spot-on. Not least with Sydney Chandler and Alex Lawther as the central sibling duo.

The supporting cast includes Essie Davis (The Babadook, Nitram), Timothy Olyphant (Santa Clarita Diet, The Crazies), David Rysdahl (No Exit), Lily Newmark, and Kit Young (The School for Good and Evil).

Personally, I was also happy to see two Danish actors appear in the series. They are Diêm Camille as Siberian and Sandra Yi Sencindiver as none other than Yutani of Weyland-Yutani. Both have previously been in The Wheel of Time.

Watch Alien: Earth on Disney+ Now!

Alien: Earth comes from Noah Hawley, making his debut in the Alien universe. While he’s not known for dark sci-fi or horror, he has serious chops when it comes to adapting beloved films for TV. He’s the creator of the Fargo series—a series that, at the time of writing, actually rates higher than the original movie.

He also created Legion, a genre-bending blend of sci-fi, thriller, superhero elements, and more. In short, Noah Hawley knows genre storytelling—and more importantly, he’s brilliant at crafting compelling characters that drive the plot.

Noah Hawley also directs episodes of the series. He directs the first episode himself, followed by Dana Gonzales (The Changeling, The Handmaid’s Tale). The eight-episode season has just three directors, with Ugla Hauksdóttir (The Power, Hanna) rounding out the trio.

We’ve watched the first two episodes for this review, and without hesitation, we’re giving them a solid 4 out of 5. Whether the season climbs even higher to a top rating remains to be seen—but this is an incredibly strong start.

Alien: Earth premieres with two episodes on FX and Hulu on August 12, and internationally on Disney+ on August 13, 2025.

Details

Creator: Noah Hawley
Starring: Sydney Chandler, Alex Lawther, Timothy Olyphant, Essie Davis, Babou Ceesay

Plot

When the mysterious deep space research vessel USCSS Maginot crash-lands on Earth, “Wendy” (Sydney Chandler) and a ragtag group of tactical soldiers make a fateful discovery that puts them face-to-face with the planet’s greatest threat.

DESCENDENT is a new Sci-Fi Thriller produced by Benson & Moorhead, but from a first-time filmmaker. It has a vibe familiar from previous movies by the iconic genre producers, but with a unique twist. Read our full Descendent movie review here!

DESCENDENT is a new Sci-Fi Thriller with a plot that feels like one long waking nightmare. Well, mostly for the main character, but as we’re watching it all unfold, we’re right there with him. It’s very efficient, but also a little too slow for my liking.

The character-driven story keeps you engaged from start to finish and will surely have you guessing along the way. Whether you guess where it’s all heading or not, I do think you’ll find it entertaining. I certainly did. The runtime is just 95 minutes.

Continue reading our Descendent movie review below. Find it in limited theatrical release on August 8, 2025, and out nationwide, plus on VOD from August 15, 2025.

Childhood trauma vs. alien abduction

With Descendent, we’re getting a story set in present-day Los Angeles, but events from decades earlier will soon come into play. We follow Sean Bruner (The Walking Dead‘s Ross Marquand), who is working as a school security guard, but hoping to move up in the world.

He is viciously haunted by childhood trauma, which seems to increase as his wife Andrea (Sarah Bolger) gets closer to her due date. Preparing for the birth of their first child is bringing back a lot of bad memories. Or rather, bad feelings, as he can’t actually remember much of his childhood.

After seeing strange lights in the sky during one late-night shift, things start to take a weird turn. Sean wakes up in the hospital, having fallen from a roof. Aside from a few superficial injuries, he now has an impressive talent for drawing.

Drawing nightmares or memories?

We’re talking beautiful, detailed drawings. However, the subject of his drawings is a little more unsettling. From extraterrestrials (which he believes stems from a weird fever dream he had while unconscious after his fall) to desert landscapes.

While Sean can’t remember the places he draws, it seems they could quite possibly stem from his long-long childhood memories. A psychologist encourages him to keep drawing, as these drawings could lead him to remember.

However, apart from drawing all the time, he also has a lot of nightmares. And he tends to wake up repeatedly within his nightmares, which will soon blur the line between dreams and reality. With the traumatic way each of his parents died, he is increasingly scared that history will repeat itself with him.

Watch Descendent in theaters or VOD soon

Decendent is a feature film debut from writer and director Peter Cilella. It’s a strong debut and one that promises very interesting and intriguing movies from him in the future.

As already mentioned, this movie was produced by Benson & Moorhead, and it’s easy to understand why they felt this was a movie they could get behind. Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead previously wrote and directed movies like The Endless and Synchronic.

This is a sci-fi thriller that operates in that waking nightmare area, where you both want it to stop and also want to follow it to its (most likely) brutal conclusion. Yes, it is slow-burn, but we do get clues and keep moving forward.

Descendent is out in Limited Theaters on August 8, and Nationwide & VOD from August 15, 2025. 

Details

Written & Directed by: Peter Cilella
Cast: Ross Marquand, Sarah Bolger

Photo Credits: Courtesy of RLJE Films. An RLJE Films Release.

Plot

Set in present-day Los Angeles, DESCENDENT follows Sean Bruner, a school security guard who is haunted by childhood trauma while preparing for the birth of his first child with his wife, Andrea. After a beam of light appears in the sky during a late-night shift, Sean wakes up in the hospital with an inexplicable talent for vivid, unsettling drawings of extraterrestrials and desert landscapes. As his visions blur the line between dreams and reality, Sean’s grip on sanity unravels. With time running out, he must confront his fears to escape his family’s tragic legacy.

SUPERMAN (2025) has landed in theaters, and as a longtime fan of this particular superhero, my expectations were sky-high. Luckily, James Gunn delivers a vibrant, bold, and often fun new take – even if it leans a bit too hard into the tech-heavy angle. Read our spoiler-free Superman review below!

This new Superman 2025 version brings the universal superhero back into the spotlight – and yes, we’re once again reminded that Superman is, in fact, an alien who crash-landed in the U.S. Nothing new there, but this time, it’s more relevant than ever.

Especially considering how the story once again takes place from an all-American perspective – and let’s just say, being “foreign” isn’t exactly winning points in the Land of the Free these days. James Gunn leans into this and uses it as a launching point for the story.

Read our spoiler-free Superman (2025) review below – the movie hits U.S. theaters July 11, 2025.

A Superman for the World of Today

It’s not hard to draw real-world parallels to this version of Superman. Honestly, that’s always been part of the character’s appeal. He’s timeless – and when done right, he reflects the era we live in. Gunn clearly gets this.

We’re quickly brought up to speed with a fast-paced intro that covers the basics: When metahumans were first discovered, when Superman arrived, and when he finally “came out” as the strongest superhero on Earth.

Then the real story kicks off: Superman has interfered with world politics and stopped a war between two foreign countries. Noble? Sure. But also messy.

Is it his place to intervene? Does he have government approval? And what if – gasp – he appears to be siding with a nation known (historically, anyway) to be enemies of America?!

Social Media, Spin & The Public Eye

The media landscape – both social and traditional – explodes with reactions. As always, Clark Kent even works within traditional media as a newspaper journalist. Hashtags run rampant with Superman hatred, and public opinion turns on the world’s most iconic superhero.

He may have stopped a war… but did he overstep?

And where does Lex Luthor fit into all of this?

Well, if you’ve seen any Superman movie ever, you already know the answer: Lex is right at the center of the storm. In fact, this time around, he is the storm – orchestrating chaos with cool and calm (most of the time) precision.

This 2025 iteration takes a global, tech-heavy approach, which does, unfortunately, strip away some of the emotional core. The themes of peace, war, and compassion are still there, but they’re occasionally buried under layers of exposition and digital dazzle.

That said, it looks incredible. And yes, that counts for something.

But that’s all we’ll reveal about the plot. You’ll want to experience this one on the big screen.

David Corenswet is Superman

Casting David Corenswet – best known to horror fans from Ti West’s Pearl (2022) – may not have been the most obvious choice, but it works. He’s a perfect blend of Christopher Reeve’s heart and Henry Cavill’s physique.

As someone who grew up in the ’80s, I had my doubts. But David Corenswet nails it. He brings charm, strength, and sincerity – all the right ingredients for the next-gen Superman.

The same goes for Rachel Brosnahan (House of Cards) as Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult (Renfield, Nosferatu) as Lex Luthor. Both offer fresh takes that feel true to the characters but modernized for today’s audiences.

The supporting cast is also stacked with quirky, memorable roles – including Nathan Fillion (Santa Clarita Diet) and Isabela Merced (The Last of Us). In true James Gunn fashion, there’s a steady stream of humor… when the world isn’t on the brink of collapse, of course.

Watch Superman (2025) in Theaters!

Directed by James Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1-3), this 2025 Superman reboot is a full-package deal: James Gunn writes, directs, and produces alongside Peter Safran (Aquaman, The Nun).

Naturally, it’s based on the iconic DC Comics characters created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. And yes, the legendary Superman theme by John Williams from 1978 is still here, blasting from the very first scene. Thank Krypton for that!

The movie clocks in at just over two hours and has two end-credit scenes: one mid-credit and one final stinger. Don’t leave your seat.

And no, we haven’t even mentioned Krypto the Superdog. But trust us, you’ll want to meet him yourself. If you’ve seen what James Gunn did with Rocket Raccoon, you already know animals are kind of his thing.

SUPERMAN premieres in U.S. theaters on July 11, 2025.

Details

Director: James Gunn
Cast: David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult, Nathan Fillion, Isabela Merced, Edi Gathegi, Anthony Carrigan, Sara Sampaio, Skyler Gisondo, Wendell Pierce

Plot

Superman must reconcile his alien Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as reporter Clark Kent. As the embodiment of truth, justice and the human way he soon finds himself in a world that views these as old-fashioned.

ALIEN: ROMULUS is the latest film in the ALIEN sci-fi horror franchise, and the horror element is at the forefront. A few bits here and there are misses, but the story works, so you’ll want to watch this in a movie theater. Read our Alien: Romulus movie review here!

ALIEN: ROMULUS is out in theaters, and you do not want to miss out on the latest installment in the sci-fi horror franchise. The story takes place in 2142, so we’re around 20 years after Alien (1979) and 37 years before Aliens (1986).

The vast majority of the film takes place in outer space aboard a space station, so in that sense, the film leans heavily into the vibe of the first film from 1979. There are a few elements that fall through, but it’s clearly “fan service”, and overall the story is well executed.

Continue reading our Alien: Romulus review below. Find it in Theaters from August 16, 2024.

The rebellious youth

In Alien: Romulus, we follow a group of young people who all want a better life. They’re on a gray and barren planet where the sun never shines. However, if they “just” work X number of hours, they will get the opportunity to travel to a better planet.

However, the rules of the game change all the time, so it doesn’t work out. As soon as they meet the requirements to travel to better places, their quota is changed and they have to spend a few more years (or five) on the current planet.

The director of Alien: Romulus has stated that the idea for this film came from a deleted scene from Aliens. In the scene, you see a group of teenagers running around on this sad planet. This made him wonder about their lives when they reached their 20s.

In the latest chapter of the Alien sci-fi horror franchise, we’re following a group of young space colonists as they discover a possible way off of this barren planet. An abandoned space station drifts around close enough that they can reach it via a freighter.

This way they can try to move on to another planet – leave behind all worries of meeting quotas, and finally see the sun.

It works for me that these young people do what it takes in their pursuit of a better life. Also, this matches what the younger generations are feeling right now in our real world. Obviously not a coincidence. Often, fiction and art can be inspired by real-life facts.

Facehuggers and Xenomorphs galore

As already mentioned, horror is prevalent in Alien: Romulus. It takes around 45 minutes to introduce the core characters and set the stage, but then things get wild and crazy really fast.

I didn’t scream during the screening, but I definitely jumped in my seat. More than once!

There are so many Facehuggers or Xenomorphs during this movie. And yes, the story does explain how and why this is the case. We also meet a character from the very first Alien film.

Of course, this does require a bit of computer magic, which I don’t think works perfectly. Unfortunately. On the other hand, it works well for the story, so I live with the visual shortcomings.

Also, the visual issues with effect are only concerning this one character. Everything with Facehuggers and Xenomorphs works super well. And there are a lot of them. It’s awesome!

Parasites and reproductive organs

If you haven’t thought too much about how a Facehugger “plants” its parasite seed in a human, then I promise you, it will be very clear and visual now. The same must be said about the transition to an actual Xenopmorph.

Admittedly, I am blessed with a dirty mind, but I feel confident that most people will find it impossible not to think of other (very human) organs when they watch these scenes.

They are clearly visual counterparts of human reproductive organs. You will see this over and over throughout the last half of the film. And it results in a scene that I can then only conclude has been foreshadowed by this.

The ending also offers several moments that I can’t help but call “fan service”. Now, I love fan service when it’s done right. For Alien: Romulus, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. Their heart is in the right place, but the attempts aren’t always sticking to their landing. So to speak.

And while we don’t get a new Ellen Ripley with this film, Cailee Spaeny (Devs) is highly effective and believable in the lead role of Rain. Overall, however, this is much more of a title character movie than a focus on the human characters.

Okay, fine, it’s both!

Watch Alien: Romulus in theaters!

A true master of horror is behind this new sci-fi horror film. Director Fede Alvarez directed this latest Alien endeavor and I hope he will be making more movies in the Alien franchise.

He previously directed Evil Dead (2013) and Don’t Breathe (2016). Also, he wrote the script for Alien: Romulus with his regular writing partner Rodo Sayagues Mendez.

The director of the first Alien, Ridley Scott, is of course also still on board as a producer. He most recently directed an Alien movie with Alien: Covenant (2017).

In addition to Cailee Spaeny in the lead role, David Jonsson plays a key role. The rest of the young rebels are played by Isabela Merced, Archie Renaux, Spike Fearn, and Aileen Wu. As I said, there is also a familiar face from Alien (1979), but to avoid spoilers, I won’t say it here.

From the very first moment, when the 20th Century Studios intro leads into an Alien vibe, I knew we were back in the original vein of the franchise. Not least via the silence, which immediately made me think of “In space, no one can hear you scream”. Simply delicious!

Also, the score is just perfect as it consists of choir voices that sound like something from Dante’s Inferno. It is terrifying and supports the visual images gorgeously.

Alien: Romulus is out in theaters from August 16, 2024.

Details

Director: Fede Álvarez
Writers: Fede Álvarez, Rodo Sayagues Mendez
Cast: Cailee Spaeny, Isabela Merced, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Spike Fearn, Aileen Wu

Plot

While scavenging the deep ends of a derelict space station, a group of young space colonizers come face to face with the most terrifying life form in the universe.

A QUIET PLACE: DAY ONE is the horror prequel that shows us when the invasion happened – in noisy New York City. Scary and very emotional horror. Read our full A Quiet Place: Day One movie review here!

A QUIET PLACE: DAY ONE is out in theaters. This is a horror prequel to A Quiet Place and A Quiet Place II. It’s also a spinoff of sorts as we’re following an entirely different set of characters in a new location.

Oh yes, we’re in the middle of New York City when the alien invasion happens. The city that never sleeps and is known for always being noisy. Not the ideal location to be, when the key to survival is being extremely quiet.

Continue reading our A Quiet Place: Day One movie review below. Find it in US theaters from June 28, 2024.

Forget prepping, you need a cat, when the world is ending

In New York City, the background noise is revealed as being 90 decibels. The same as a long continuous scream. A Quiet Place: Day One is all about the day of the invasion. As the tagline goes: Experience the day the world went quiet.

The main character is Samira (Lupita Nyong’o) and if you’ve watched the trailer, you’ll know that she also has a service cat. The cat is named Frodo, and he is clearly what you need when the world is ending.

Cats are notoriously quiet, land on their feet, and have nine lives.

So, forget about prepping, because once the aliens attack, you won’t have time to get your “go bag” anyway. Just have your service cat with you, and you’ll be better off than many others.

Also, he is definitely an emotional support animal for everyone in this movie.

So brutal, beautiful, and heartbreaking

If there is one thing the A Quiet Place franchise has taught us so far, it’s to expect heartbreak. In A Quiet Place: Day One, we get all the brutal and sudden violence of the opening sequence from A Quiet Place II.

However, we also get to witness a lot of beauty in a strange way before we get to heartbreak. Almost the kind of heartbreak we witnessed at the end of the first movie.

In many ways, this movie is a love letter to New York City while also being a heartfelt goodbye to life and the world as we know it.

Alongside Lupita Nyong’o (Us) in the lead role, we also see Joseph Quinn (Stranger Things) in a key role. He doesn’t show up until a bit later, though. For the first act, we’re seeing Djimon Hounsou (Rebel Moon) in the role we know from A Quiet Place II.

If you haven’t rewatched that movie in preparation for this prequel/spinoff, then you should. You’ll know part of how this movie ends, as Djimon Hounsou’s character described it in the sequel.

Also, we have Alex Wolff (Hereditary) in a very important role, though it isn’t very big. Neither is that of Djimon Hounsou, which could almost be described as a cameo since it is meant to link this movie to the first two.

Denis O’Hare Not in A Quiet Place: Day One

I was a bit disappointed to realize that Denis O’Hare isn’t in the final cut of A Quiet Place: Day One. Despite appearing in previous trailers and having been mentioned as part of the cast, Denis O’Hare is not in A Quiet Place: Day One.

Maybe we’ll get a Blu-ray or DVD of the movie with some additional scenes, but until then, there’s no Denis O’Hare in A Quiet Place: Day One.

Personally, I was surprised when the end credits came because I kept waiting for the scene with Denis O’Hare (American Horror Story) that I remembered from the trailer. Admittedly I am quite fond of the actor, so obviously I had an extra interest in seeing his scenes.

As of writing this review, the A Quiet Place: Day One trailer is still featured prominently on his IMDb page. Right next to his profile image. However, the movie has already been removed from his list of roles, so the trailer will probably go too.

Watch A Quiet Place: Day One in movie theaters!

Michael Sarnoski is the writer and director of A Quiet Place: Day One. He previously wrote and directed Pig which starred Nicolas Cage in the all-important lead. It’s obvious (in all the best ways) that Michael Sarnoski knows how to make these movies.

The character-driven movies, I mean.

Speaking of characters, this movie is of course based on characters created by Bryan Woods & Scott Beck. The story for the screenplay comes from the co-writer and sole director of the two first movies: John Krasinski.

In essence, the story in this movie is about deciding what matters to you. And who. If you want to say goodbye to this world with a slice of pizza and go down memory lane, then this is certainly your prerogative.

It also makes for a very beautiful and brutal movie that you must watch in a dark and quiet movie theater. If at all possible, of course. This movie deserves that and will deliver so much stronger on key points if you watch it in a movie theater.

A Quiet Place: Day One is out in movie theaters from June 28, 2024.

Details

In Theaters: June 28, 2024
Genres: Horror, Science Fiction, Drama
Director: Michael Sarnoski
Writers: Michael Sarnoski, Jeff Nichols, John Krasinski
Cast: Lupita Nyong’o, Alex Wolff, Joseph Quinn, Djimon Hounsou

Plot

Experience the day the world went quiet.

PARASYTE: THE GREY on Netflix is a new sci-fi horror series from South Korea. It’s based on a Japanese Manga, but some changes have been made. Season 1 has just six episodes. Read our Parasyte: The Grey series review here!

PARASYTE: THE GREY is a new Netflix series from South Korea (original title Gisaengsu: Deo Geurei).  While this is a South Korean production – which shows in all the right ways – it is actually based on a Japanese manga.

Fans of genre director Yeon Sang-ho, who gave us Train to Busan, Hellbound, and Jung_E will be happy as he is behind this. Season 1 has just six hour-long episodes and we watched them all for this review. Fans of the manga will see a familiar character in the final scene of the season.

Continue reading our Parasyte: The Grey season 1 review below. Find it on Netflix from April 5, 2024.

A different kind of alien invasion

When the series opens, it’s immediately clear that Parasyte: The Grey is very much a sci-fi horror story. We watch as a spore falls from the sky, bouncing gently and looking like a squishy toy before a tentacle sprouts out.

The emerging creature slithers toward the nearest person and jumps into their brain through their ear!

Where did the weird spore blob come from? Who knows?! It certainly is not of this world. What we do come to know quickly is that the human infected by the slithering alien turns into a tentacled creature that endangers everyone in sight.

Let’s just say that it gets brutal and deadly from that point on.

If you’ve watched the Hulu movie No One Will Save You (2023), you may recognize the way human beings continue to exist while no longer being human. Instead, they are now controlled by the parasite in their brain.

Well, except for our lead character, who ends up in a strange symbiotic relationship with her parasite.

A bit like in Venom except the parasite in Parasyte: The Grey wants only to protect its host. It does nothing to endanger her. Quite the opposite. It can even control its obviously natural hunger for human flesh. Oh yes, we have become food to the aliens in this series.

Alien-human hybrid on the run

As already mentioned, this new South Korean Netflix series is based on a Japanese manga. The bite-sized plot description is to say that we follow a mutant alien-human hybrid on the run. Who is she on the run from? Well, just about everyone before the end of season 1.

Jeon So-nee (Our Blooming Youth) stars as Jeong Su-in. A young woman who has had a brutal childhood and is saved by the parasite infesting her brain. The parasite part of her means she enters into a sort of Jekyll and Hyde character.

Ultimately, another character works with her and he sees them both and refers to the parasite version of her as Hyde. His name is Seol Kang-woo and he’s a bit of a criminal type, but with his heart in the right place. Most of the time. Seol Kang-woo is portrayed by Koo Kyo-hwan of Peninsula and Kill Bok-soon.

From Hyde to Heidi

Deciding that Hyde sounds too sinister, he changes the nickname of the alien parasite to Heidi. In essence, Jeon So-nee plays both Jeong Su-in and Heidi, who have very different personalities. She’s wonderfully cast in the lead role.

While all the parasites (as in humans infected by aliens) want to eat all the human flesh they can, there’s a line of defense called “Team Grey”. They are working to eradicate the alien threat by any means necessary. Choi Jun-kyung (Lee Jung-hyun) is the leader of the Team Grey task force.

MORE KOREAN NETFLIX SERIES

Be sure to check out the brilliant Hellbound which has a second season coming >

I want to highlight that several episodes begin with brief flashbacks that help us understand the characters in their current situation. If someone seems too dark, too good, or just too evil, we usually get an idea of how they came to be this way via the brief flashbacks at the beginning of an episode.

A brilliant way to ensure the character-driven storyline has the intended impact.

As is usually (or always) the case with South Korean stories, nobody is entirely good or bad. Everyone is capable of doing a good thing or a terrible thing, regardless of how we have seen them act otherwise. I love this about the South Korean take on storytelling.

Other key characters include Kim Chul-min, a police detective and old friend of Jeon So-nee, portrayed by Kwon Hae-hyo (The Vanished). Kang Won-seock (Kim In-kwon) as Chul-min’s colleague, and Kwan Hyuk-ju (Lee Hyun-kyun) as a pastor a the center of the alien conspiracy.

Watch Parasyte: The Grey Season 1 on Netflix!

Parasyte: The Grey is based on the manga “Parasyte” by Japanese author Hitoshi Iwaaki. However, this Netflix adaption does feature an original story simply set in the same universe. Many of the details from the manga are still in this story. Just in slightly different ways.

As this is a South Korean production directed by Yeon Sang-ho (Train to Busan, Hellbound, Jung_E) it also takes place in South Korea. Specifically, the location has changed from Fukuyama in Hiroshima, Japan in the manga to being set in a South Korean city called Namil in the series.

Still, as much as the story of the series is original, it is clearly set in the same universe as the manga. Also, the final scene of season 1 introduces a character that is obvious to build season 2 around. Especially as this character is the very same as the lead character of the original Japanese manga.

A perfect ending scene of season 1 that offers the perfect segway to season 2 (or a Japanese spin-off) while also wrapping up the story of this South Korean series perfectly. And yes, obviously, I want a season 2 of Parasyte: The Grey as we have only just begun to know this world.

Parasyte: The Grey is on Netflix globally from April 5, 2024.

Details

Director: Yeon Sang-ho
Script: Yeon Sang-ho, Ryu Yong-jae, Hitoshi Iwaaki
Cast: Jeon So-nee, Koo Kyo-hwan, Lee Jung-hyun, Kwon Hae-hyo, Kim In-kwon, Lee Hyun-kyun

Plot

When unidentified parasites violently take over human hosts and gain power, humanity must rise to combat the growing threat.