What’s on at the cinema in September
Expect huge new action flicks, the return of Hercule Poirot, the start of a grisly horror movie season, and Ken Loach’s last ever feature film.
September officially marks the end of the summer – despite what the sun is doing right now – with the kids back at school, parents back at work and Christmas already looming large.
The beginning of ‘autumn’ may signify the end of our summer of blockbusters, but but judging from this month’s cinema releases, we’ve got plenty more flicks to look forward to on the silver screen.
Now, we have plenty of action with The Equalizer 3 and Expend4ables, horror (of course) with The Nun 2 and Saw X, and we also have a couple of gems with Past Lives and The Old Oak both available to watch at the local Jam Jar cinema in Whitley Bay.
The Equalizer 3
Out now
What better way to kick off a pretty strong September movie line up than with the legend that is Denzel Washington?
He returns as Robert McCall in this third and (allegedly) final film of The Equalizer series.
Since giving up his life as a government assassin, Robert has struggled to reconcile the horrific things he’s done in the past and finds a strange solace in serving justice on behalf of the oppressed. While living in southern Italy, he soon discovers his new friends are under the control of local crime bosses. As things turn deadly, Robertl must become protector once again and take on the mafia themselves.
Look out for Dakota Fanning, who also co-stars – reuniting with Denzel Washington 20 years after Man on Firecame out. Boy, how time flies!
The Nun 2
Out now
You guessed it: it’s horror movie season again.
The Conjuring franchise still remains one of Hollywood’s most successful cinematic universes, with spin-off movies like Annabelle and The Curse of La Llorona to name but a couple.
Now, prepare yourselves for even more nightmares in the next chapter of The Conjuring series: the sequel to The Nun.
The Nun 2 follows on from the events of the first film. Throughout a town in France, word gets out that a priest has been violently murdered. Sister Irene (Taissa Farmiga) finds herself investigating the murder, only to find that, once again, she is faced with the same evil that terrorized her in the original film – the demon known as Valak who, again, has taken the form of a nun.
My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3
Out now
Don’t like horror? How about something a lot lighter, as we re-join the Portokalos family on their big return to cinema screens with a brand new adventure.
Yes, the worldwide phenomenon My Big Fat Greek Wedding is back for a long-awaited third instalment.
In it, we follow the family as they travel to Greece for a reunion and embark on a heart-warming and hilarious trip that’s full of love, twists and turns.
This one is directed by Nia Vardalos, who also stars alongside John Corbett, Elena Kampouris, Lainie Kazan, Andrea Martin and Louis Mandylor.
Past Lives
Out now in cinemas; 15th September at Jam Jar, Whitley Bay
Nora and Hae Sung, two deeply connected childhood friends, are wrestled apart after Nora’s family emigrates from South Korea.
Two decades later, they are reunited in New York for one fateful week, as they confront notions of destiny, love and the choices that make a life in this heartrending modern romance.
Directed by South Korean-Canadian playwright turned filmmaker Celine Song in her feature debut, Past Lives stars Greta Lee, Teo Yoo and John Magaro, and was a sensation at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year.
This story of childhood sweethearts separated by decades, distance and domestic partners could be one of the films of the year.
A Haunting In Venice
15th September
A Haunting in Venice is a terrifying mystery set in post-World War II Venice on All Hallows Eve, with celebrated sleuth Hercule Poirot once again investigating a murder.
However, his latest case might just scare his legendary moustache right off him.
Kenneth Branagh is back for another mystery based on Agatha Christie’s timeless tales, this time her book Hallowe’en Party. Poirot, who is now retired and living in exile, attends a séance, only to find he has to solve the murder of one of the other guests.
The guestlist this time around include Tina Fey, Kelly Reilly, Jamie Dorman and Michelle Yeoh.
Expend4bles
22nd September
A new generation of stars join the world’s top action heroes for this adrenaline-fuelled adventure, as the team of elite mercenaries who we all know and love reunite once again.
Action legends Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, Randy Couture and Sylvester Stallone are joined for the first time by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Megan Fox, Tony Jaa, Iko Uwais, Jacob Scipio, Levy Tran and Andy Garcia, (now that’s an impressive line up).
Armed to the teeth with every weapon they can get their hands on and the skills to use them, The Expendables find that they are the world’s last line of defence against an arms dealer who commands the might of a massive private army. However, new team members with new styles and tactics are going to give “new blood” a whole new meaning…
The Creator
29th September
The Creator is a new sci-fi epic that stars John David Washington (son of Denzel) as Joshua, an ex-special forces agent caught up in a war between humans and AI.
Joshua is recruited to hunt down and kill the ‘Creator’ – the elusive architect of an advanced AI, who has created a weapon with the power to end the war. However, he soon discovers that this weapon is an AI that takes the form of a young child.
This original sci fi movie also stars Gemma Chan, Ken Watanabe and Alison Janney, and is directed by Gareth Edwards – a British director whose previous movies include Star Wars Rogue One and The Raid – so we’re in good hands here. It’s going to be epic.
Saw X
29th September
The grisly horror franchise is back for a 10th entry, this time with the action taking place between the first and second movies.
That means the original Jigsaw killer, John Kramer (played by Tobin Bell) is back. After a trip to Mexico to receive an experimental medical procedure to cure his cancer, he is devastated to learn it was a scam. So, John sets out a plan for revenge by subjecting those who tried to con him to a deadly game – with torture traps that include forcing a man to perform brain surgery on himself.
Definitely not one for the faint-hearted… it’s gory stuff!
The Old Oak
29th September at Jam Jar Cinema, Whitley Bay
The Old Oak is a special place.
Not only is it the last pub standing, but it’s also the only remaining public space where people can meet in a once-thriving mining community in County Durham, that has now fallen on hard times after 30 years of decline.
TJ Ballantyne, the landlord, hangs on to The Old Oak by his fingertips, and his predicament is endangered even more when the pub becomes contested territory after the arrival of Syrian refugees, who are placed in the village without any notice.
In an unlikely friendship, TJ meets curious young Syrian, Yara, with her camera. Can they find a way for the two communities to understand each other?
So unfolds a deeply moving drama about fragilities and hopes. BAFTA-winning director Ken Loach has a strong collection of acclaimed films to his name, including Kes, Sorry We Missed You and I, Daniel Blake. The Old Oak is supposedly going to be his final film.
We have to say, if it is, what away to bow out. Loach is a filmmaker that takes on issues and stories that you just don’t see anywhere else.
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