A crime drama set in Chicago. A supernatural horror film featuring an Oscar-winning actor. A modern reboot of a popular romantic comedy. An animated film without dialogues. A variety of movies are set to hit cinemas this Friday. Here’s everything you need to know.
The Bikeriders (English)
Directed by: Jeff Nichols
Cast: Jodie Comer, Austin Butler, Tom Hardy, Michael Shannon, Mike Faist and Norman Reedus
The Bikeriders is a crime drama inspired by Danny Lyon’s 1967 photo-book of the same name about the lives of the Outlaws Motorcycle Club from McCook, Illinois. Set during the 1960s, the film chronicles the ascent of the Vandals MC, an outlaw motorcycle club in Chicago. Narrated through the perspectives of its members and their families, the film depicts how the club transforms over a decade from a refuge for misfits to an organised crime syndicate, jeopardising the original founder's idea.
The Exorcism (English)
Directed by: Joshua John Miller
Cast: Russell Crowe, Ryan Simpkins, Sam Worthington, Chloe Bailey, Adam Goldberg, Adrian Pasdar and David Hyde Pierce.
The Exorcism is a supernatural horror movie featuring Russell Crowe as Anthony Miller, an actor whose mental decline on a horror film set alarms his daughter Lee (Ryan Simpkins). The trailer reveals Anthony taking over a role in a horror film from an actor who experienced a personal tragedy. As Anthony delves deeper into the character, strange occurrences unfold around him. It also highlights Miller’s troubled relationship with his daughter, Lee, who becomes increasingly worried about his erratic behaviour and discontinuation of his medication. Desperate, she turns to a priest for help.
Robot Dreams (English)
Directed by: Pablo Berger
Helmed by Pablo Berger, Robot Dreams is an animated tragicomedy film based on Sara Varon's 2007 comic of the same name. The film features no dialogue. Robot Dreams premiered at the 76th Cannes Film Festival in 2023, and was also nominated for best animated feature at the 96th Academy Awards. Set in 1980s’ Manhattan, the story follows a dog who orders a robot companion, only for the robot to become rusted and abandoned on a beach. The dog moves on with a new robot, while the original robot, repaired by a raccoon, chooses not to reunite with the dog, finding happiness in new relationships instead.
Ishq Vishk Rebound (Hindi)
Directed by: Nipun Dharmadhikari
Cast: Rohit Saraf, Pashmina Roshan, Jibraan Khan, Naila Grrewal and Jaanam Raaj
Ishq Vishk Rebound is a modern-day reboot of the 2003 romantic comedy Ishq Vishk, which marked Shahid Kapoor’s Bollywood debut. The new film stars Rohit Saraf, Pashmina Roshan, Jibraan Khan and Naila Grrewal in the lead roles. It focuses on two couples navigating the complexities of modern dating. The story delves into the emotional highs and lows of the four young protagonists as they navigate breakups and rebounds.
Pushtani (Hindi)
Directed by: Vinod Rawat
Cast: Vinod Rawat, Rajkummar Rao, Rita Heer, Hemant Pandey and Nitin Goel
Helmed by debutant director Vinod Rawat, who has been the acting coach of Bollywood stars like Hrithik Roshan, Pushtaini revolves around an aspiring actor named Bhuppi (Vinod Rawat) who arrives in Mumbai to make a name for himself. He eventually secures a role in a film alongside Rajkummar Rao but is initially too nervous to perform. After finally delivering a successful scene, Bhuppi is blackmailed by his supposed friend Sumit (Nitin Goel), who has access to a video of Bhuppi that may end his career. This predicament forces Bhuppi to return to his hometown in Uttarakhand to claim his inheritance. However, much has changed since his abrupt departure, and now Bhuppi must confront his past and overcome various obstacles to reclaim what is rightfully his.
