This month, Michael Keaton reprises his iconic role as Beetlejuice, Amrit Kaur dazzles in comedy-drama The Queen of My Dreams, Demi Moore provides a career best performance in body horror The Substance, and Saoirse Ronan returns to our screens in the powerful The Outrun.
If that isn’t enough, we also welcome back Fringe! Queer Film and Arts Fest for their usual mix of bold and fabulous programming.
‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ Image courtesy of Warner Bros.
Kicking off the month with a bang, Betelgeuse (also known as Beetlejuice) haunts our screens from Fri 6 Sep, in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice – the long-awaited sequel from the legendary Tim Burton (Edward Scissorhands, Corpse Bride).
The film takes place 36 years after the events of the 80s original, where the Deetz family return home to Winter River. Lydia’s (in a role reprised by Winona Ryder) life is soon turned upside down however, when her rebellious teenage daughter Astrid (Jenna Ortega) discovers the portal to the afterlife, releasing an old foe, as Michael Keaton returns for more comic mischief (with a tinge of demonic evil) for the titular role. Also featuring Willem Dafoe as a ghost detective, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice promises fun for all.
Watch the trailer for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, and read the BBC’s review– which claims the sequel ‘surpasses the original in almost every way’.
‘The Queen of My Dreams’ Image courtesy of Peccadillo Pictures.
Up next, from Fri 13 Sep we welcome Toronto Film Festival 2023’s hidden gem, the charming comedy-drama The Queen of My Dreams, from feature debut director Fawzia Mirza.
After the sudden death of her father, Azra (Amrit Kaur, Sex Lives of College Girls) returns to Pakistan to reunite with her grieving mother. Struggling to fit her mother’s image of the perfect daughter, Azra finds herself transported – through Bollywood-inspired flashbacks – to 60s Karachi, in search of a connection between her mother’s wild youth and her own upbringing in 90s Canada. A tender and beautifully shot study of grief, motherhood and queer coming-of-age, The Queen of My Dreams is not one to be missed this month.
Check out The Hollywood Reporter’s glowing review, and watch the gorgeous trailer for The Queen of My Dreams.
‘The Substance’ Image courtesy of MUBI.
Moving onwards, we welcome the return of Coraline Fargeat, following 2017’s shockingly brilliant Revenge, with The Substance.
Screening In Competition at Cannes, for which Fargeat won the Best Screenplay award, the feminist body horror centers upon a fading celebrity, who decides to use a black-market drug – a cell-replicating substance – that temporarily creates a younger, better version of herself. Teeming with style and created by a true auteur, The Substance takes down absurd beauty standard through body-horror that would make Cronenberg squirm. With Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley providing what will be some of the performances of the year, make sure to catch it on the big screen from Fri 20 Sep.
Have a read of Time Out’s 5-star review, and view the thrilling trailer for The Substance.
‘The Outrun‘ Image courtesy of StudioCanal.
Rounding out the month, from Fri 27 Sep we welcome the return of Saoirse Ronan to our screens with The Outrun, directed by Nora Fingscheidt (System Crasher, The Unforgivable).
The film centres upon Rona, a young woman recently out of rehab for alcoholism, as she returns home to the Orkney Islands. Premiering at Sundance to widespread acclaim, The Outrun provides a stirring reminder of the human capacity to regroup, to accept a bitter past and anticipate a better future, all this set against the epic backdrop of wild islands.
Watch the stunning trailer for The Outrun, and read IndieWire’s adoring review.
‘Go Fish‘ Image courtesy of Fringe! Queer Film & Arts Fest.
Outside of widespread film releases, this month we also welcome back Fringe! Queer Film and Arts Fest to our screens, for another year of their inspiring, fun and radical programming.
This year’s film programme runs from Fri 20 – Sun 22 Sep, and includes highlights such as Go Fish – a seminal classic of 90s lesbian cinema presented in stunningly restored 4K for its glorious 30th anniversary. Alongside this, join us for the European Premiere of Markus Zizenbacher’s raucous documentary The Life of Sean DeLear which captures the life of the queer punk icon.
Explore the full Fringe! 2024 programme here.
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