16 Movies To See In October: 'Suspiria,' 'A Star Is Born' & Many More

September flew by in a whirlwind of film festivals that saw some films debut to the anticipated thunderous support, as others were dead on arrival. Now, many of those films previewed will be making it to the theaters, so audiences can determine for themselves if the hype for “A Star is Born” was warranted. Or, maybe they’ll go and see “Venom,” a film that seems misplaced amongst films that either hold prestige next to their name or are fitting to the October, horror vibes. It’s a big month though, which is evident from the longer-than-usual list below, so if you aren’t actively seeking out local theaters playing classic horror films, there will plenty other new works to explore.

READ MORE: 2018 Toronto International Film Festival: The Good, The Great, & Only A Little Ugly

“Private Life”
Cast: Kathryn Hahn, Paul Giamatti, Molly Shannon, Kayli Carter
Synopsis: After the emotional and economic upheaval of in vitro fertilization, Richard and Rachel are at the end of their middle-aged rope, but when Sadie, a recent college dropout, re-enters their life, things begin to look up.
What You Need to Know: Tamara Jenkins, as is the case with so many female talents working behind the camera, should be a bigger name. She wrote and directed the excellent “Slums of Beverly Hills” and “The Savages” that beautifully expressed familial nuances through female characters who possessed strong senses of agency. “Private Life” is a continuation of her great work so far with a cast full of performers such as Kathryn Hahn and Molly Shannon who are always welcome faces not always given leading roles. (Read our Sundance review)
Release Date: October 5 on Netflix. 

“Venom”
Cast: Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Riz Ahmed, Jenny Slate
Synopsis: Journalist Eddie Brock is trying to take down Carlton Drake, the notorious and brilliant founder of the Life Foundation. While investigating one of Drake’s experiments, Eddie’s body merges with the alien Venom — leaving him with superhuman strength and power. Twisted, dark and fueled by rage, Venom tries to control the new and dangerous abilities that Eddie finds so intoxicating.
What You Need to Know: Let us be blunt — there’s little about the promotional material for the latest superhero film “Venom” (another potential franchise non-starter) that gives us much hope in its quality. It may do well at the box office, but so far everything we’ve seen appears ludicrous. From the design to Tom Hardy once again spotting a questionable accent and action sequences that seemingly lack clarity, “Venom” looks like a film scrambled together by a studio desperate to keep a potentially hot commodity. Doubts aside (and there are many) the cast is remarkable from Hardy in the titular role to supporting turns from Michelle Williams, Riz Ahmed and even Jenny Slate and there’s always a chance that director Ruben Fleischer is going to whip up another “Zombieland” following a few box office and critical disasters. If nothing else, it’ll be an interesting, well-acted disaster.
Release Date: October 5

“A Star is Born”
Cast: Bradley Cooper, Lady Gaga, Sam Elliott
Synopsis: In this new take on the tragic love story, seasoned musician Jackson Maine discovers struggling artist Ally. She has just about given up on her dream to make it big as a singer… until Jack coaxes her into the spotlight. But even as Ally’s career takes off, the personal side of their relationship is breaking down, as Jack fights an ongoing battle with his own internal demons.
What You Need to Know: Arm yourself for the onslaught of Oscar campaign shenanigans from the latest remake of “A Star is Born,” as it officially begins its public turn following immensely positive reactions from the festival circuit. While the race is still too uncertain and too far out to determine just how likely it is to win gold on Oscar night, it’s unfathomable to think it won’t at least be nominated with the buzz that surrounds it and how fully it delivers on the hype. It may not be the best of the year, but “A Star is Born” is a crowd-pleaser with a confident first time director in Bradley Cooper (along with his best performance to date) and a charming Lady Gaga filling the fresh-eyed, ingenue role that Barbara Streisand, Judy Garland, and Janet Gaynor have performed before. Our critic who saw it at the Venice Film Festival said, “This ‘A Star is Born’ is less about her ambition, his hubris and the general Price of Fame than it is the gently heartsore story of a loving relationship destroyed by alcoholism, set to a killer soundtrack.”
Release Date: October 5

“The Hate U Give”
Cast: Amandla Stenberg, Regina Hall, KJ Apa, Russell Hornsby, Issa Rae
Synopsis: Starr Carter is constantly switching between two worlds — the poor, mostly-Black neighborhood where she lives and the wealthy, mostly-white prep school that she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is soon shattered when she witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend at the hands of a police officer.
What You Need to Know: Adapted from the incredibly popular 2017 YA novel, “The Hate U Give,”  written by Angie Thomasdelivers a rage-fueled voice to a moment calling for it. Timely and powerful, George Tillman Jr. along with star Amandla Stenberg and supporting players Regina Hall (having a great year with this and “Support the Girls) and Russell Hornsby light fire under each scene of micro to macro injustices or aggressions. It’s proof of the value Young Adult stories can have for viewers with a film that begs for reaction and succeeds in doing so, proving to be one of the rawest, most visceral films of the year. Don’t sleep on this film because of stigmatized views on the genre as it’s both heartwrenching and life-affirming in its steadfast attitude in shining the light on resistance and hope, even when it feels like you’re going at it alone. Our critic, who saw it at the Toronto International Film Festival, also saw the virtues of its story, saying, “These are the sort of movies Hollywood needs to be making. These are the sort of stories young people need to experience.”
Release Date: October 5 on Netflix