Yes friends, July is upon us. And while it’s getting plenty hot outside, we’ve got another month of cool new releases to look forward to. Kicking things off is the following batch of titles. There’s something for everyone here, so happy shopping!
Downton Abbey: A New Era (2022)
The much-anticipated cinematic return of the global phenomenon reunites the beloved cast as they go on a grand journey to the South of France to uncover the mystery of the Dowager Countess’ newly inherited villa. Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, Maggie Smith, Imelda Staunton, and Penelope Wilton star.
Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)
As she braced for an IRS audit, middle-aged emigré Evelyn Wang (Michelle Yeoh) felt a failure as wife, daughter, mother, and businesswoman. It was a heck of a time to discover that she could tap into the abilities of countless variant versions of herself across reality–and that she would need them to conquer a threat poised to collapse it all. Audacious fantasy-action farce from the makers of “Swiss Army Man” co-stars Ke Huy Quan, Stephanie Hsu, James Hong, and Jamie Lee Curtis.
Memory (2022)
Veteran hit man Alex Lewis (Liam Neeson) balked when one of the targets he was supposed to silence was a 13-year-old prostitute–and his sex-trafficking retainers sidestepped his services to finish the job. Given his struggles with the onset of dementia, the open war he declares on his ex-clients might not be one he can win. Martin Campbell’s gripping redo of the 2003 Belgian actioner “The Memory of a Killer” also stars Guy Pearce, Monica Bellucci, Ray Stevenson, Ray Fearon.
The Wedding Veil Legacy (2022)
Tracy (Alison Sweeney) meets Nick (Victor Webster) in the third installment of the trilogy, and he helps her save an original draft of The New Colossus in exchange for her helping him run his restaurant. Tracy begins to feel uneasy as they get closer.
Tarantulas: The Deadly Cargo (1977)
The price was right for the sketchy cargo pilots to fly a no-questions-asked shipment of Ecuadorian coffee into the United States. They should have asked a couple, since the bags of beans were infested with particularly lethal tarantulas–and when the plane goes down in a California town, the unfortunate residents face life-or-death combat with an arachnid invasion. Terrifying telefilm stars Deborah Winters, Charles Frank, Claude Akins, Pat Hingle, Matthew Laborteaux.
Ants! (1977)
In the pantry, ANTS! In the hot tub, ANTS! In the kitchen, ANTS! In the bedroom, ANTS! A lakeside retreat recently purchased by an unsavory casino promoter is overrun by flesh-eating creepy crawlers in this classic ’70s telefilm. As a group of guests becomes trapped inside, they each face the terrible appetites of the…ANTS! Suzanne Somers, Robert Foxworth, Myrna Loy, Lynda Day George star. AKA: “It Happened at Lakewood Manor.”
A Banquet (2021)
Holly (Sienna Guillory) had struggled to hold her family together since her terminally ill husband’s suicide–an event witnessed by their teenaged eldest Betsey (Jessica Alexander). After a claimed spiritual epiphany, Betsey refuses to eat, revolted by even the sight of food…and as the days go on without her even losing an ounce, the most horrifying tragedy for the household might have yet to unfold. Ruth Paxton’s disturbing opus also stars Lindsay Duncan, Ruby Stokes, Kaine Zajaz.
Zero Contact (2022)
At his passing, eccentric tech titan Finley Hart (Anthony Hopkins) left behind a substantial and complicated legacy of progress. Nor, it seems, was he done–as a triggered AI reached out to his son Sam (Chris Brochu) and four other contacts across the planet, asking them to implement a final, existence-changing discovery. Unfortunately, it puts all five in peril from powerful forces who want the status quo where it is. Completely virtually-shot thriller co-stars Aleks Paunovic, Veronica Ferres, Lilly Krug, Tuva Novotny.
11th Hour Cleaning (2021)
Though summoned in the dead of night to the suburban site of a multiple murder-suicide, the veteran crew of a crime scene cleanup contractor didn’t spook readily. No, that would happen after they found that the carnage was performed in pursuit of some arcane Norse ritual–and that whatever manner of unholy entity that had been summoned was still hanging around. Eerie ensemble piece stars Chloe Brooks, Dave Baez, Anita Leeman Torres, Edward Findlay, Ed Morrone, J. Kristopher.
Digger (2020)
For rural rancher Nikitas (Vangelis Mourikis), life was challenging enough refusing to sell out as local mining rendered his humble parcel barren little by little…but then his long-estranged son Johnny (Argyris Pandazaras) came riding up with his ex-wife’s will in hand, demanding half the land as his. The three-way struggle between parent, child, and encroachers bitterly plays out in this understated offering. Sofia Kokkali, Theo Alexander co-star.
Baby Oopsie (2021)
Middle-aged Sybil Pittman (Libbie Higgins) took her share of abuse from the mom (Lynne Acton McPherson) she lived with as well as her co-workers, but she did have her admirers…who followed her doll restoration hobby vlog. In fact, one of them sent her an old “Baby Oopsie” to work on–and now, the refurbished Demonic Toy is gratefully taking out all of Sybil’s tormentors! Long-awaited spin-off for the Full Moon fear series co-stars Justin Armistead, Marilyn Bass.
The Gingerweed Man (2021)
Toke, toke, as hard as you can…put a match to me, I’m the Gingerweed Man! The herbal homunculus from the “Evil Bong” series takes center stage, as Gingy finds his niche doing dispensary deliveries for his fried following. Adventure beckons, however, when a researcher develops a powerful–and sentient–nug named Buddy–and Gingy has to keep him from the clutches of ruthless corporate spy Smokahontas (Eli Jane). Naiia Lajoie, Paige Phillips also star.
Dracula and Son (1976)
Christopher Lee’s final film foray as the vampire lord came in this French farce from Édouard Molinaro, as the count and his hapless progeny Ferdinand (Bernard Ménez) are driven from their ancestral castle by angry villagers. While the father finds success as a horror film star in London, the son has less luck as a Parisian night watchman. Marie-Hélène Breillat, Catherine Breillat, Bernard Alane also star.
The Virgin Suicides (Criterion Collection)(1999)
Writer/director Sofia Coppola’s acclaimed debut feature, based on Jeffrey Eugenides’ novel, traces the tragic ends of the five beautiful teenage Lisbon sisters in a ’70s Michigan suburb. Through narration by a now-grown man who worshipped the girls from afar, the drama shows how their oppressive and overprotective parents (James Woods, Kathleen Turner) stifled the girls’ growth and led the seemingly perfect family to self-destruction. Kirsten Dunst, Josh Hartnett also star.
Terror Out of the Sky (1978)
When killer bees from South America swarm into a small California town, the residents try to figure out how to stop the deadly insects. Coming up with a brilliant–and dangerous–plan to stop the airborne beasties, a bee expert, a grizzled pilot and a spunky entomologist embark on a buzzworthy mission to save the day. Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., Dan Haggerty, Tovah Feldshuh star. AKA: “The Revenge of the Savage Bees.”
Click here for an overview of all of this week’s new releases!