September arrives with a huge variety of films to catch as the Oscar season approaches. Hopefully something in this list makes you want to head to the theater the moment it releases.
First up is a dystopian horror called The Long Walk. Based on the 1979 novel of the same name by Stephen King, the film finds the United States under the rule of a totalitarian government. A contest is held where a group of men must walk at four miles per hour non-stop or be killed — until only one of them is left. Starring Cooper Hoffman (Licorice Pizza) and Mark Hamill (Star Wars), the movie’s trailer seems to be sticking true to the premise: Dudes walk and get killed when they stop walking. It releases on Sept. 12.
A mockumentary sequel I never thought we’d see, Spinal Tap II: The End Continues follows up on the 1984 film This is Spinal Tap. The plot concerns the eponymous band reuniting for one final show after a fifteen year hiatus. Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer all return to their respective roles of Nigel Tufnel, David St. Hubbins and Derek Smalls, with Rob Reiner also back as both real and fictional director Marty Di Bergi. It will undoubtedly contain more quips and one-liners from the band, as well as new music and a long list of cameos, some of which include Paul McCartney and Elton John. It also releases on Sept. 12.
If you want an absolute wild one, check out Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie. Based on the TV show and webseries Nirvanna the Band the Show, the film follows characters Matt and Jay as they attempt to book a show for their band at the Rivoli, a Canadian venue, despite not really having any material to play … or a general understanding of the music industry as a whole. Also there’s time travel. The show is one of the funniest and most underrated TV outings I’ve ever seen, and the film will almost certainly keep that trend going. Early reviews are extremely positive, and I cannot wait to see what these two loveable idiots get into when it releases on – you guessed it – Sept. 12th.
For a sports horror, look no further than Him. Following an up-and-coming football star (Tyriq Withers, I Know What You Did Last Summer), the trailer depicts him entering a training facility owned by a legendary quarterback (Marlon Wayans, Scary Movie), but the training is anything but normal. Touching on themes including the downsides of fame, desire and power, the film looks to have some truly chilling moments. It hits theaters on Sept. 19.
Lastly, don’t skip the action thriller One Battle After Another. Written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson (There Will Be Blood), the story focuses on criminal Bob Ferguson (Leonardo DiCaprio) and the search for his daughter after one of his past enemies resurfaces. The trailer looks intense, with DiCaprio giving a stalwart performance as usual. Sean Penn (Milk), Benicio del Toro (Sicario) and Regina Hall (Think Like A Man) also appear in what will surely be an early Oscar contender. It releases Sept. 26.
