This August, movie enthusiasts in Accra can look forward to a diverse lineup of films that cater to various tastes. Among the must-sees are Ridley Scott's post-apocalyptic thriller, The Dog Stars, starring Jacob Elordi, and a wacky NYC romcom, One Night Only, starring Callum Turner and Monica Barbaro.
A Post-Apocalyptic Thriller Takes Center Stage
Ridley Scott's 88-year-old self has not slowed down, as evident from his latest film, The Dog Stars. This post-apocalyptic thriller, adapted from Peter Heller's novel, follows a pilot, a medic, and an ex-marine as they navigate a near-future flu epidemic. Among the survivors is Jacob Elordi, who plays a pilot alongside Margaret Qualley and Josh Brolin. "He's been plugging into cinema his whole life – it literally pumps through his blood," said Elordi on the Happy Sad Confused podcast.
A Bizarre Romcom that Challenges Social Norms
One Night Only, directed by Will Gluck, is a typical romantic comedy with a twist. The film revolves around two young New Yorkers, Monica Barbaro and Callum Turner, in an alternate reality where it's illegal for single people to have sex, except on one night a year. Nicknamed "The Purge, but for sex," the concept has sparked online debate. "If you allow yourself to buy into the absurdity of it, you'll have a good time," advised Turner in The Hollywood Reporter. The film is set to release on 7 August in the US and Canada, and on 28 August in the UK and Ireland.
A Horror Film that Explores the Dark Side of Childhood
Eli Roth, the director of Cabin Fever and Hostel, is back with Ice Cream Man, a low-budget horror film that dishes out a scoop of gory excess. Ari Millen plays the titular purveyor of frozen treats, a mystery man who drives around an all-American town, selling ice cream that turns children into homicidal maniacs. "I want this to be the craziest film I've ever made," said Roth in Geek Vibes Nation. The film is set to release on 6 August in Australia and New Zealand, and on 7 August in the US, the UK, Canada, and Ireland.
A Rockstar Origin Story that Celebrates Food and Travel
Tony, inspired by Anthony Bourdain's bestselling memoir, Kitchen Confidential, is a rockstar origin-story film set in the mid-1970s. The film, directed by Matt Johnson, follows 19-year-old Dominic Sessa as the young Bourdain, alongside Antonio Banderas as the chef who mentors him. Sessa is the ideal actor to play Bourdain, Johnson said in Entertainment Weekly. The film is set to release on 7 August in the US, and on 14 August in the UK and Ireland.
A Surreal Comedy that Challenges Reality and Fiction
Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma, a surreal postmodern comedy from Jane Schoenbrun, was the best reviewed film at this year's Cannes Film Festival. The film stars Hannah Einbinder as a queer director who is hired to revive a Friday-the-13th-like slasher franchise. "A steamy stew of sex, death, VHS and junk food, Schoenbrun's delirious third film is their most accomplished, most persuasive and most playful movie yet," says Jessica Kiang in Variety. The film is set to release on 7 August in the US and Canada, and on 21 August in the UK.
A Dinosaur-Themed Film that Takes a Unique Approach
The End of Oak Street, written and directed by David Robert Mitchell, takes a different kind of dinosaurs-v-humans scenario. The film, produced by JJ Abrams, stars Anne Hathaway and Ewan McGregor as ordinary suburban parents in an ordinary suburban neighbourhood. The only trouble is that this neighbourhood has somehow been teleported to a primeval wilderness. "I love the Jurassic movies as much as anyone, but those films, for the most part, take place in these beautiful jungles, these distant islands," Abrams said in Empire. The film is set to release on 12 to 14 August internationally.
A Female-Led Stoner Comedy that Challenges Stereotypes
The Wrong Girls, starring Kristen Stewart and Alia Shawkat, is one of the only female-led examples of the stoner comedy genre. The film follows two friends who stumble into a world of dangerous crime after smoking too much cannabis. The film is set to release in the coming months, with a specific date yet to be announced.
This August, movie enthusiasts in Accra can look forward to a diverse lineup of films that cater to various tastes. From Ridley Scott's post-apocalyptic thriller to a wacky NYC romcom, there's something for everyone. Whether you're a fan of horror, comedy, or drama, these must-see films are sure to provide hours of entertainment.
Source: Joy Online
