Tony (2026): In spite of reading Anthony Bourdain’s bestseller and watching the HBO documentary on him, I can’t say much of what I saw in Matt Johnson’s movie felt familiar. This is not to say it’s not an entertaining watch. We follow as Anthony turns into Tony, a not particularly endearing or likable central character, whose turn for the better seems to be more about chance and conjuncture than some higher morals. Dominic Sessa walks the line well in the lead, with reliable support in Antonio Banderas and Leo Woodall. It’s a messy origin story, which is something admirable, because it doesn’t propose a fully forged end product, the way most such movies do. It’s also fairly safe otherwise, in a genre that’s already close to saturation. But I liked it. 8
Obsession (2025): I’ve been sitting on this one for a couple of months, unsure why. It’s easy to agree that Curry Barker’s movie is fresh and exciting, with a memorable performance from Inde Navarrette. Long story short, we’ve got a “nice guy” who just wishes the girl he likes, liked him back. Which she probably did or at least was open to, but a lack of guts leaves things uncertain, until a cursed wishing willow entitles our nice guy to be liked by said girl. Only problem, like all cursed wishes, it never works as expected and liking turns into an unmanageable obsession. This plays out to good effect, with jump scares and really troubling manifestations of attachment. Is it all over the top? Sure. Did that bother me a bit? I think it did. I think I compared it at the time with Backrooms, which, I felt, had more to offer in its ambiguity, so an unanchored watch is warranted. Until then, an honorable entry. 7
Coyote vs. Acme (2026): A movie that’s both a cautionary tale on the way movies are made and released, as well as an entertaining, easy-breezy real-life meets animation kind of romp, Coyote vs. Acme is a ball of nostalgia and good vibes. We check in on Wile E. as his pursuit of the Road Runner continues to end in failure, when our good old coyote realizes this might all be due to the faulty products Acme has been shipping him. A lawsuit ensues, big mega corp versus small time cartoon and even smaller time lawyer (Will Forte), with the kind of ethics and morals you would expect. It’s all executed with flair and I do love the conclusion, which I won’t spoil for you. 7
Mayday (2026): How do you like your American propaganda? However you like it, Mayday’s probably got you covered. Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh star as frenemies, one a downed American fighter pilot, the other a secluded Russian who loves American pop culture. Set during the later stages of the Cold War, the story is entertaining (“Timisoara” gets screen time!), but its lofty morality preaching and subpar twists mean it can never be something really memorable. 6
Gator Face (2026): Well, not all B-movies are hidden gems. Gator Face has a Texas Chainsaw vibe, as a bunch of tourists get chopped up by a gator cult and its members. It’s not a terribly bad looking movie, with acting around par that you would expect and a few gory deaths to satisfy the billing. Overall, though, I find it hard to recommend, it’s not a lot of fun to sit through, nor is it a “so bad it’s good” kind of affair. Judging by the IMDb ratings, seems to be a shared feeling. 4
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