It’s the dog days of summer, and while that sometimes brings some dire offerings to the world of cinema, August still has plenty of distractions worth looking into. For one, M. Night Shyamalan returns with the serial killer film “Trap,” starring Josh Harnett, Matt Damon, and Casey Affleck star in “The Instigators” crime comedy for ‘Bourne Identity’ filmmaker Doug Liman, and horror suspense filmmaker Fede Álvarez finds a new muse in Cailee Spaeny (“Priscilla”), for his scary-looking “Alien: Romulus” franchise installment.
READ MORE: Summer Movie Preview: 50 Must-See Films To Watch
That’s not all. August features an Eli Roth movie starring the unlikely pair of Cate Blanchett and Kevin Hart, plus Jack Black and more (“Borderlands”), a new Lee Daniels film (“The Deliverance”) —with the filmmaker shifting into the horror genre—and the directorial debut of Zoë Kravitz who directs her fiancee Channing Tatum, in the dark thriller, “Blink Twice.”
There’s also a thriller with Hunter Schafer (“Cuckoo”), a romantic drama starring Blake Lively (“It Ends With Us”), and a worthwhile kooky indie comedy starring Jason Schwartzman (“Between The Temples”). All said and done, while August is typically a rickety month for movies, this month has plenty of cinematic diversity in store for audiences.
“The Instigators”
For the first time since “The Bourne Identity,” Matt Damon reteams up with director Doug Liman for “The Instigators.” Written by Chuck Maclean and Casey Affleck, who also co-stars, the film is a crime comedy thriller about a botched robbery that causes two thieves to go on the run, dragging along one of their therapists in the process. The star-studded cast also includes Hong Chau, Michael Stuhlbarg, Paul Walter Hauser, Ving Rhames, Alfred Molina, Toby Jones, Jack Harlow, and Ron Perlman [our review].
Release Date: In limited release on August 2, on Apple TV+ on August 9.
“Trap”
Filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan returns for his most minimalist Hitchcockian effort ever, and it’s super suspenseful. A seemingly straightforward single-setting psychological thriller, sort of anyhow, “Trap,” centers on a serial killer evading a police blockade while attending a concert with his daughter. That’s the movie’s central conceit, but it has twists, turns, and dark evolutions. In what’s been called his best performance, Josh Harnett stars as a loving father who also leads a double life as the killer known as “The Butcher” and Saleka Shyamalan plays Lady Raven, the pop star who the killer has taken his daughter (Ariel Donoghue) to see at a heavily police patrolled stadium. Hayley Mills, and Alison Pill also star. This one has surprises, but they’re not gimmicky twists or what you expect. [our review]
Release Date: August 2 via Warner Bros.
“It Ends With Us”
Based on the best-selling novel from author Colleen Hoover, Blake Lively stars in the adaptation of “It Ends With Us.” Directed by Justin Baldwin (“Five Feet Apart,” “Clouds”) and written by Christy Hall, the romantic drama follows a woman overcoming a tumultuous and traumatic childhood. A chance meeting with a neurosurgeon sparks a connection, but soon, she begins to see sides of him that remind her of her parents’ strained relationship. Will they have a chance at love? The film also stars Baldoni, Jenny Slate, Hasan Minhaj, and Brandon Sklenar.
Release Date: In theaters August 9 via Sony Pictures Releasing
“Cuckoo”
Hunter Schafer stars as a young woman caught up in strange occurrences after moving to live with her father in the German Alps in “Cuckoo.” Directed by Tilman Singer (“Luz”), the thriller follows Schafer’s character as their father becomes further untangled by a sinister plot laid out by his boss. Jan Bluthardt, Marton Csokas, Jessica Henwick, and Dan Stevens also star.
Release Date: In theaters August 9 via NEON