Her Private Hell (2026)

This. Movie. Is. So. Deliberately. Slow. When I went into it, I didn't even realize this was Nicolas Winding Refn's first new film in a decade, since the marvelous The Neon Demon. It involves an actress working on a sci-fi movie as well as a parallel storyline involving a man searching for his daughter in hell, and how these two stories intersect, I still have no idea. It features Refn's trademark dreamy style draped in red, purple and blue, and a superbly lush score by Pino Donaggio which I wish were attached to a more worthy film. It's a pretentious, fartsy, neon-soaked mess that succeeded in nothing more than sending me to sleep. I didn't know what was going on, but more importantly, I just didn't care.

1 Leatherman out of 5

Companion (2025)

This is a very annoying movie to nut because of the prevalence of spoilers. The teaser trailer was perfect, but the official trailer gave away the biggest twist that is better off discovering on your own. So, try as I might, I found the one poster that didn't give away anything. Not that it really matters much; if you're interested in this movie at all, you probably already know the basic premise. It involves a couple heading to a weekend retreat at a remote cabin with some friends and...stuff happens. This is probably my vaguest review yet, but it's fun so long as you're kept in the dark.

3 corkscrews out of 5 (-½ for marketing)

Heretic (2024)

Two Mormon missionaries go knocking on the wrong door. The man who answers challenges their ideologies and puts them through a trial of faith. Hugh Grant digs into this role and relishes in it with utter glee. A lot of the film is steeped in mystery and creates an atmosphere dripping with tension and unease which I dare not spoil. I urge the viewer not to watch the trailers because it takes away so much of the ambiguity. As a bit of dark escapism from the world, I enjoyed getting lost in the philosophical discussions and found myself enraptured from beginning to end.

3½ blueberry pies out of 5