Incredibles 2

Naturally super sequel puts fam-tastic five in credible danger both from the gender role reversal of Holly job-Hunter and kid’s Coach Nelson and from timely manipulative machinations of the media. Heavy reliance on infantible insanity only mildly undermines maturity, while keenly cliched villain does cast doubts on sustainability of super-genre.

Searching...

A mundane murder mystery made unique by adherence to a gimmick, and wonderful through the impressive performances of its cast. Masterful integration of writing and effects lend a bizarrely personal element to the most impersonal of premises in a movie that’s stylistically new but will leave novel narrative seekers searching.

A Simple Favor

Gone Bridesmaids pairs an odd couple of genres into a magnificently sexy if periodically problematic relationship. Blake goes deadly as she chews through scenery as a bitch perfect, bent on demonizing a delightfully mousy Kendrick. Pays diabolically clever homage to inspirations but diverges to drown in a messy third act.

Hold the Dark

Saulnier holds onto chromatic themes as he slides into an even more existential premise. Highlights include brilliant, subdued performances and unpredictable plot, but both do little to add warmth to bizarrely distant and off-putting film. Splashes of violence deliver an impressive brutality that gives tension and drive to slower segments. 

The Bad Batch

Bad Bax populates a stereotypical post-apocalypse with unpredictable action and mold-shattering roles for incredible array of actor characters. From the disarming opening to the mind-altering middle, this trek is perpetually intriguing, but struggles to supports its story as the freshness ultimately can’t carrey the weight of a weakly built world.

Unsane

Soderbergh phones it in, but the results are unsettlingly compelling. Foy’s strong performance carries an otherwise fairly institutional story, while a bizarrely low budget Hitchcock aesthetic imbues One Got Trapped in the Cuckoo’s Nest with a freaky fun feeling as it carefully balances doses of serious caution with tongue-un-cheek excess.

I Don't Feel at Home in this World Anymore

Lynskey’s beautiful rendering of a frustrated creature somehow manages to evenly chug scenery while co-star stars wood. Quirky and dark, yet filled with heart, though it feels a bit like McDonagh or Coen, Blairing oddity combined with character complexity keep it from feeling too at home in anyone else’s oeuvre. 

The Girl with All the Gifts

Bizarrely brainy Gem of a zombie flick explores fascinating evolutionary aspects typically dismissed by other undead outings. Excellent acting and clever moral conundrums make up for stuttering pace and am impressively bold conclusion marks an adept advancement of the genre, perhaps a trend that will replace its less thoughtful predecessors.