M. Night Shyamalan returns with his best work in years with Trap, Kneecap provides a hilarious and outrageous musical-biopic with Michael Fassbender, Cailee Spaeny leads doomed astronauts in Alien: Romulus, and Cillian Murphy lends his voice to the charming gem Kensuke’s Kingdom. Plus, Matt Damon and Casey Affleck pair up for high-stakes heist comedy The Instigators.
‘Kensuke’s Kingdom‘ Image courtesy of Modern Films.
Kicking off the month, from Fri 2 Aug we welcome in the charming, animated film Kensuke’s Kingdom.
Based on Michael Morpurgo’s award-winning 1999 novel of the same name, the plot revolves around a boy who is swept overboard during a storm on a worldwide sailing trip with his family, and then washes ashore on a remote island in the Pacific Ocean. There he encounters a mysterious stranger (Ken Watanabe – Inception, Godzilla) who aids his survival and they learn to work together to save their fragile island paradise from dangerous invaders.
Animated film often finds it hard to break into cinema programming, so if the art form matters to you, be sure to support this heartfelt gem in cinemas this month!
Watch the gorgeous trailer for Kensuke’s Kingdom and have a read of Film Review Daily’s 5-star review.
‘Trap‘ Image courtesy of Warner Bros.
August also sees the return of the legendary M. Night Shyamalan (The Sixth Sense) to our screens with his latest creation – Trap, in cinemas from Fri 9 Aug.
The premise is simple: Cooper, a serial killer dubbed ‘The Butcher’ (played by an excellent Josh Hartnett – The Virgin Suicides, Oppenheimer), joins his teenage daughter at a concert for pop star Lady Raven, an event he then realises is a trap set by police to catch him. A tense psychological thriller ensues; with all of M. Night’s trickery fully on show. Never willing to settle or rest; this hyper-modern movie’s usage of confined space, mobile phones, and celebrity power is quite unlike anything we’ve seen before.
Check out the exhilarating trailer for Trap and make sure you experience all its thrills on the big screen.
‘The Instigators‘ Image courtesy of Apple TV+.
Also screening from Fri 9 Aug is Doug Liman’s star-studded heist comedy The Instigators.
Starring Matt Damon and alternative Affleck, Casey, as two reluctant robbers thrown together to steal back a corrupt politician’s ill-gained earnings. But when their heist goes wrong, the two find themselves engulfed in a whirlwind of chaos, being pursued not only by the police but also by backward bureaucrats and vengeful crime bosses. The film follows their attempts to put aside their differences and work together to evade capture – or worse.
Have a look at the action-packed trailer for The Instigators.
‘Alien: Romulus‘ Image courtesy of Disney.
Then it’s time to take a trip back to the world of Alien with Fede Álvarez‘s thrilling addition to the iconic franchise – Alien: Romulus, in screens from Fri 16 Aug.
Serving as a standalone interquel set between the events of Alien and Aliens, the film follows a group of young space colonists who, while scavenging a derelict space station, come face to face with the most terrifying life form in space. Cailee Spaeny (Priscilla, Civil War) leads the unlucky crew of explorers in a performance that further solidifies her place as one Hollywood’s rising stars. The xenomorph has solidified itself within popular culture as one of the icons of horror, and its return to the big screen promises to provide a thrilling, white-knuckle ride, right until the end credits.
See the Xenomorphs in action in the chilling trailer for Alien: Romulus.
‘Kneecap‘ Image courtesy of Curzon.
Rich Peppiatt‘s electrifying quasi-documentary Kneecap rounds off the month – kicking into our screens from Fri 23 Aug.
This comedy-drama-documentary chronicles the rise of the Belfast based hip-hop trio with the band members playing themselves, but also getting a helping hand from Michael Fassbender (Hunger, Steve Jobs). Outspoken and outrageous, Kneecap provides as many laughs as it does shocks, but more pertinently, it provides an astute look into attempts to protect and grow the critically endangered Gaelic language.
Completely obliterating expectations about the musical biopic, Kneecap is buzzing with energy and resistance – making it a highlight of 2024’s cinema so far.
Read Variety’s glowing review and watch the riotous trailer for Kneecap.
And, if you’re a Rich Mix member you can see Kneecap first with our special preview screening on Sun 18 Aug!
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