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JAY KELLY
THE RUNNING MAN 
THE CARPENTER'S SON
NUREMBERG
PARK AVENUE
ARCO
BULL RUN
300 LETTERS (Arg)
VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH (Chn)
NIGHT OF THE JUGGLER21 Nov: 
WICKED: FOR GOOD*
RENTAL FAMILY (Jpn)
THE THING WITH FEATHERS
THE CARPENTER'S SON
SISU: ROAD TO REVENGE*
THE ICE TOWER (Fr)
CACTUS PEARS (Ind)
SAUNA* (Arg)
ZODIAC KILLER PROJECT28 Nov:
WAKE UP DEAD MAN
HAMNET
ETERNITY
BLUE MOON
THE THING WITH FEATHERS
PILLION
CHRISTY
THE OLD WOMAN WITH THE KNIFE
ZODIAC KILLER PROJECT5 Dec: 
IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT (Irn)
MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG*
LA GRAZIA (It)
LITTLE TROUBLE GIRLS (Svn)12 Dec:
GOODBYE JUNE*
ETERNITY
ELLA MCCAY
LURKER
ELEANOR THE GREAT
SCARLET
A FEW FEET AWAY (Arg)19 Dec:
IS THIS THING ON?
THE VOICE OF HIND RAJAB (Tun)26 Dec:
SONG SUNG BLUE*
THE CHORAL
SENTIMENTAL VALUE (Nor) 2 Jan:
SONG SUNG BLUE* 9 Jan:
HAMNET
RENTAL FAMILY (Jpn)16 Jan: 
HEAVYWEIGHT
THE VOICE OF HIND RAJAB (Tun)23 Jan:
THE HISTORY OF SOUND 30 Jan:
IS THIS THING ON?
ISLANDS
NOUVELLE VAGUE (Fr)
THE LOVE THAT REMAINS (Ice)6 Feb:
TWINLESS
STITCH HEAD 19 Feb:
TWO PROSECUTORS (Fr)20 Mar:
LA GRAZIA (It)RELEASE DATE TBC . . .
C O M I N G U P . . .
UNRELEASED FESTIVAL FILMS . . . 
• LFF:
THE VILE• FrightFest: THE DEGENERATE. DON'T LET THE CAT OUT. NIGHT OF VIOLENCE. PIG HILL. WHERE IS JUAN MOCTEZUMA? • Raindance: BEAM ME UP SULU. BREAKWATER. A CELL PHONE MOVIE. FLAMINGO CAMP. IF YOU SHOULD LEAVE BEFORE ME. • SXSW London: TORO. • Flare: DRIVE BACK HOME. MEMORABILIA. SANDBAG DAM. WE ARE FAHEEM & KARUN. SHADOWS FILM FEST |
AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH
dir James Cameron; with Zoe Saldana, Kate Winslet, Sigourney Weaver, Cliff Curtis, Giovanni Ribisi, Sam Worthington, David Thewlis, Edie Falco
Edie Falco, Jemaine Clement 25/NZrelease US/UK 19.Dec.25 James Cameron continues with his passion project, which is turning into a franchise with this third instalment. The first trailer (which was shown to the press in 3D and was genuinely impressive) looks like an intriguing continuation of the story into a new realm, where Cameron can play around with new colours and textures in this increasingly varied distant planet. He's very good at creating simple stories that grab hold of the audience, matched by eye-catching imagery and groundbreaking special effects. So obviously, we'll all be there to see what comes next. ANACONDA
dir Tom Gormican; with Paul Rudd, Jack Black, Steve Zahn, Thandiwe Newton, Daniela Melchior, Ione Skye, Ben Lawson, Diego Arnary 25/USrelease US/UK 25.Dec.25 After The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, director-cowriter Tom Gormican is back with about all-star meta-comedy thriller, this time a witty reboot of the gigantic snake franchise that centres around a group of friends who decide to remake a favourite B-movie adventure from their youth. Of course, things get outrageously crazy when they arrive in the Amazon, facing dangers both in nature and from ruthless people. Yes, it all looks a bit familiar, but Gormican is very good at over-the-top silliness. MARTY SUPREME
dir Josh Safdie; with Timothee Chalamet, Gwyneth Paltrow, Odessa A'zion, Sandra Bernhard, Abel Ferrara, Geza Rohrig, Fran Drescher, Tyler the Creator 25/USrelease US/UK 25.Dec.25 Buzz has been strong for this comedy biopic about a ping pong player, and the trailer makes it look like a lot of fun. Josh Safdie makes his solo debut as a filmmaker (after his brother Benny made his own sporting biopic with The Smashing Machine), so it will be interesting to compare and contrast their storytelling styles. This also looks like another enjoyably immersive role for Timothee Chalamet, plus the return of Gwyneth Paltrow and a wonderfully eclectic supporting cast. THE HOUSEMAID
dir-scr Paul Feig; with Sydney Sweeney, Amanda Seyfried, Brandon Sklenar, Michele Morrone, Elizabeth Perkins, Megan Ferguson, Ellen Tamaki, Amanda Joy Erickson 25/USrelease US 19.Dec.25, UK 26.Dec.25 After the A Simple Favour movies, Paul Feig continues to leaning into his skill at making female-led thrillers with what looks like a darker drama about a woman who is struggling to make ends meet when she takes a job with a couple that is filthy rich. The idea of Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried squaring off on-screen is simply too intriguing to ignore. Feig is always great at finding black humour in even the nastiest moments, and the trailer looks enjoyably sleek and sexy. THE RIP
dir-scr Joe Carnahan; with Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Teyana Taylor, Steven Yeun, Kyle Chandler, Scott Adkins, Nestor Carbonell, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Sasha Calle 26/USrelease US/UK 16.Jan.26 Frankly, the plot of this thriller looks like it might have been adapted from a rejected script for Miami Vice, as it centres on policemen who don't know who to trust when they discover a huge stash of cash. But the fact that this finally returns Damon & Affleck to lead roles on-screen together means that there must be more to it than that. And the cast is packed with terrific actors who are sure to elevate the material considerably. Director Carnahan is a solid filmmaker, so we'll be hoping he brings some extra edge to this one. WUTHERING HEIGHTS
dir Emerald Fennell; with Margot Robbie, Jacob Elordi, Alison Oliver, Owen Cooper, Martin Clunes, Hong Chau, Ewan Mitchell, Shazad Latif 26/UKrelease US/UK 13.Feb.26 It's natural that people will grumble whenever anyone takes on an adaptation of the iconic Emily Bronte novel, especially a filmmaker like Emerald Fennell who loves breaking rules. Casting Aussies in the lead was just the first perceived insult against staid British literary history, but bring it on! The pairing of Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi is seriously intriguing, and the gifted Fennell clearly isn't trying to be faithful to the details of the book. Instead, she is likely to focus on the wonderfuly gothic themes. Can't wait. CRIME 101
dir-scr Bart Layton; with Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Barry Keoghan, Halle Berry, Corey Hawkins, Monica Barbaro, Nick Nolte, Payman Maadi, Jennifer Jason Leigh 26/USrelease US/UK 13.Feb.26 Writer-director Bart Layton takes his time making movies, but his last one was the 2018 masterpiece American Animals, based on a true crime story. He's also reteaming with Barry Keoghan here, plus a superb ensemble cast in a story about a last-gasp heist and a tenacious detective. Layton's ability to combine character comedy with documentary-style realism is astonishing, so it's likely that we'll see several of these fine actors in a new light. HORIZON: AN AMERICAN SAGA - CHAPTER II
dir Kevin Costner; with Kevin Costner, Sienna Miller, Sam Worthington, Giovanni Ribisi, Abbey Lee, Luke Wilson, Dale Dickey, Georgia MacPhail 24/USrelease US/UK tbc After his enjoyable three-hour prologue ended on an extended montage of scenes to come, we're hoping some resolution to the various plot strands Kevin Costner left dangling. Chapter 2 looks just as spectacular visually, with its expansive settings and colourful ensemble, including a promising glimpse of a sneering Giovanni Ribisi. After its premiere at Venice in 2024, word was that it's more of the same. Costner has plans for two further chapters, but there's after more than a year there's no release date for this one. Also on my want-to-see list... 
Autumn: ADULTHOOD
THE ASTRONAUT
FAIRYLAND
IF I HAD LEGS I'D KICK YOU
KEEPER
THE WOMAN IN CABIN 10
Winter: THE TESTAMENT OF ANN LEE
TROLL 2
28 YEARS LATER: THE BONE TEMPLE
DEAD MAN'S WIRE
NO OTHER CHOICE
THE PEOPLE WE MEET ON VACATION
WE BURY THE DEAD
SCREAM 7
Spring/Summer: THE BRIDE
MICHAEL
THE MANDALORIAN AND GROGU
TOY STORY 5
Release TBC: WILDWOOD
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Release dates: British film release schedules are even more fluid than American ones, so please be patient as I try to keep up with distributors. I'm working to keep this list up-to-date as they keep trying to outfox me. I'm sure it's personal. Embargoes: Britain's Film Distributors Association asks us to hold reviews until the week of release, and distributors are increasingly restrictive (and proscriptive) about when reviews can run. Normally, once the film is shown to a paying audience, even at a festival, the full review can be posted. © 2025 by Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall HOME | REVIEWS | NEWS | FESTIVAL | AWARDS | Q&A | ABOUT | TALKBACK | ||
• MARTY SUPREME. LEFT-HANDED GIRL. NINO.
THE TESTAMENT OF ANN LEE. FOLKTALES.
ELLA MCCAY. ELEANOR THE GREAT. NO OTHER CHOICE.