Institutes of the Cinematic Religion

The Conjuring: Last Rites & The Long Walk

Horror movie season is upon us. Matt and Eric review two (relatively) spooky films.   The Conjuring: Last Rites is the fourth entry in the mega-blockbuster Conjuring franchise. Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren take on one last terrifying case involving mysterious entities they must confront. The Conjuring: Last Rites stars Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga, and Mia Tomlinson.   The Long Walk is the long-awaited adaptation of the Stephen King novella of the same name. In a dystopian, alternate-America ruled by a totalitarian regime, 50 teenage boys take part in a deadly annual walking contest, forced to maintain a minimum pace or be executed, until only one survivor remains. The Long Walk stars Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, and Mark Hamill.   Follow Matt: @E55LUX10N (X/Letterboxd/Instagram)   Follow Eric: @ericpmaus (X/Letterboxd/Instagram)

Caught Stealing & Sketch

Caught Sketching   Matt saw the latest film from director Darren Aronofsky, Caught Stealing. Burned-out ex-baseball player Hank Thompson unexpectedly finds himself embroiled in a dangerous struggle for survival amidst the criminal underbelly of 1990s New York City, forced to navigate a treacherous underworld he never imagined. Caught Stealing stars Austin Butler, Zoe Kravitz, Regina King, and Matt Smith.   Eric saw Angel Studios-acquired film Sketch. When a young girl’s sketchbook falls into a strange pond, her drawings come to life—chaotic, real, and on the loose. As the town descends into chaos, her family must reunite and stop the monsters they never meant to unleash. Sketch stars Tony Hale and D'Arcy Carden.   Follow Matt: @E55LUX10N (X/Letterboxd/Instagram)   Follow Eric: @ericpmaus (X/Letterboxd/Instagram)

Nobody 2

Matt and Eric watched Nobody 2!   Nobody 2 is the (long-awaited?) sequel to the 2021 hit action film Nobody. Former assassin Hutch Mansell takes his family on a nostalgic vacation to a small-town theme park, only to be pulled back into violence when they clash with a corrupt operator, a crooked sheriff, and a ruthless crime boss. Nobody 2 stars Bob Odenkirk, Connie Nielsen, Sharon Stone, and John Ortiz, and is currently in theaters.   Follow Matt: @E55LUX10N (X/Letterboxd/Instagram)   Follow Eric: @ericpmaus (X/Letterboxd/Instagram)

Alien: Earth

We watched the first two episodes of Noah Hawley's TV Series, Alien: Earth.   When a mysterious space vessel crash-lands on Earth, a young woman and a ragtag group of tactical soldiers make a fateful discovery that puts them face-to-face with the planet's greatest threat. Alien: Earth stars Sydney Chandler, Alex Lawther, and Timothy Olyphant. Alien, and is currently streaming on Hulu.   Follow Matt: @E55LUX10N (X/Letterboxd/Instagram)   Follow Eric: @ericpmaus (X/Letterboxd/Instagram)

Weapons

Weapons is here! And we watched it! And reviewed it! (Spoilers: it rules)   Weapons is the second film from brilliant mind Zach Cregger. When all but one child from the same class mysteriously vanish on the same night at exactly the same time, a community is left questioning who or what is behind their disappearance. Weapons stars Julia Garner, Josh Brolin, Alden Ehrenreich, and Austin Abrams.   Follow Matt: @E55LUX10N (X/Letterboxd/Instagram)   Follow Eric: @ericpmaus (X/Letterboxd/Instagram)