October is the black sheep of cinema, where it’s too early for Disney’s year-end spectaculars and film festival favorites to be enamored by the public. Still, there are plenty of reasons to take a trip to the theaters. With the announcement of Lady Gaga’s self-proclaimed “six point five” companion album, “Harlequin”, it makes her starring role in filmmaker Todd Phillips’s “Joker: Folie à Deux” simply irresistible. Out of all of October’s scares, “Smile 2” is expected to be an audience favorite, with trending actress Naomi Scott commanding the screen.
Sometimes blood is a squeamish topic, though, in which “We Live In A Time” would be a smitten alternative with Hollywood favorites Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh nose to nose in a decade-long whirlwind romance of love, loss, and rebirth. Even if Autumn isn’t a transformational time, it is just as vibrant, much like the Lego-ification of Pharrell Williams’ biopic, which guest stars the 51-year-old producer’s many A-list music collaborators in a “block by block” musical.
Ahead, spooks aren’t the end-all-be-all of this film roundup, so here are nine October releases coming to theaters (and streaming services) that span romance, music-driven storytelling, action, and, of course, horror.
Joker: Folie à Deux
Releases on October 4
Besides getting an eight-minute ovation at the Venice Film Festival, Todd Phillips “Joker: Folie à Deux” sees double the publicity thanks to Lady Gaga’s companion record, “Harlequin”, out September 27 because, as Gaga said during the film’s London premiere, “When we were done with the movie I wasn’t done with her.” The dark musical sequel finds Joaquin Phoenix reprising criminal Arther Fleck (better known as The Joker)— now in an asylum while he awaits trial— navigating his newfound love Harlequin (Gaga) and unearthing “the music that has always been within him”.
White Bird
Releases on October 4
Following the events of 2017’s Julia Garner-led “Wonder”, its heartfelt follow-up continues to expand on characters in R. J. Palacio’s best-selling collection of stories, namely Julian, who is struggling to fit in at his new school after being expelled for bullying Auggie Pullman. When Julian is visited by his grandmother (called “Grandmère”), the film transforms into a touching war drama about her attempts to escape Nazi-occupied France during World War II, saved by a boy she and her classmates once shunned.
Piece by Piece
Releases on October 11
Lego animates legendary recording artist Pharrell Williams’ life story— a first of its kind. The Lego-fied biopic enlists voiceovers from RIAA platinum and diamond-selling artists such as Jay-Z, Gwen Stefani, Kendrick Lamar, Snoop Dogg, Justin Timberlake, and more as the trendsetting icon produced many of their beloved radio hits.
We Live In A Time
Releases on October 18
Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh front the bill on John Crowley’s latest romance, one that chronicles the past and present. A decade of young, foolish love, childbirth and family life, and an unforgiving diagnosis that changes everything.
Rumours
Releases on October 18
Cate Blanchet puts on her best German accent for this satirical political horror, executively produced by “Midsommar” director Ari Aster. On a mission to draft a statement on a global crisis, seven leaders of wealthy democracies find that tea time has been interrupted by zombies, who are conveniently mistaken for protesters by the French and German representatives. As more hilarious dangers (and witty comebacks) arise, the crew ventures into the woods in search of rescue.
Smile 2
Releases on October 18
“Aladdin” star Naomi Scott transforms into global pop sensation Skye Riley, who is touring the world when her grinning deceased friend haunts her reality. As fame heightens her traumatic dark past, Riley’s quest to “discover what hides behind the smile” becomes death-defying as the psychological smile horror turns into a physical fight for life.
Venom: The Last Dance
Releases on October 25
Marvel’s latest superhero victory comes with Tom Hardy reprising his role as both Eddie Brock and Venom one last time. The comedic anti-heros are on the run in the trilogy’s finale, and as their worlds close in, the duo prepares for an action-packed last dance.
Conclave
Releases on October 25
Following the thriller’s premiere at Telluride, Edward Erger’s “Conclave” has been praised for its witty, intellectual study of one the world’s most secretive and ancient events. After the pope’s unexpected death, Cardinal Lawrence overtakes the covert process of selecting the new Catholic figure. As 118 Cardinals gather from across the globe to cast their votes, Lawrence discovers that being holy doesn’t outbid ambition nor rivalry as a conspiracy threatens the Church’s sacred foundations.
Don’t Move
Releases on October 25
Long are filmmaker Sam Raimi’s “Spiderman” (2002) days. If anything, he returns to savage, low-budget horror films, a la “The Evil Dead” (1981), with a new twist. In this executive-produced project, a grieving woman battles a paralytic agent, only having 20 minutes to outrun, fight, and hide from a seasoned killer before her body shuts down.
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