Matt at the Movies: Bugonia & Frankenstein shine this Spooky Season
Head out to your local theaters and go see some amazing stories as we round into form on our Oscar fare.
We are in flux with the 2025 fall slate and in a TWENTY-SEVEN year box office low for October.
I try not to bemoan the box office and Tinsel Town news, but better results mean more studios will take chances on the more mature, low- to mid-budget films which everyone “seems” to be craving.
The issue is that most adults can’t justify the price of a trip to the movies (plus a babysitter) as opposed to streaming some streaming slop from the comfort of their couch. Even my favorite movie of the year, One Battle After Another, will likely just break even when it’s all said and done. For the average American, going to the movies coincides with niche interests or monocultural events (think Barbenheimer or Minecraft) where the cultural zeitgeist will often supersede the quality of filmmaking. Studios have taken notice, and are working to connect on different social media platforms. They’re not above getting TikTok influencers to pump up their films to before release trying to hit each demographic.
Now that we’re closer to awards season, critical darlings from film festivals like Cannes to Sundance are hitting the big screens with varying results. The Smashing Machine received raucous ovations, only to tank at the box office with a $6 million domestic opening.
After the Hunt was set up to be a Luca Guadagnino starring vehicle for Julia Roberts, but only acheived a $2 million domestic opening. The new high-budget adaptation of Frankenstein from Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro would have been the biggest draw, but Netflix has only slated it for a limited release before it hits their service on November 7th. Lucky for us that the Independent Picture House is one of those theaters, so get your tickets for this limited period today by clicking here.
Finally, Yorgos Lathimos brings back the strange with his dark comedy Bugonia, an adaption of South Korean film Save the Planet! Featuring his favorite muses — Oscar-winning Emma Stone and the badly-broken Jessie Plemons — you can expect several nominations, but less in ticket sales for this niche slice of weirdness. You can also see this wonderful gem at IPH today!
There are plenty of positives as well as nits to pick with today’s slate of films. They feature excellent auteur directors bending or breaking genre conventions from their previous filmographies to experiment with new themes. We see individual excellent performances even when the writing doesn’t hold up for the whole story. There are intriguing plotlines that hit or miss the mark in terms of execution. Even reimaginings of classic stories, while beautifully shot, leave us wanting more soul. Let’s do a quick roundup of October films featuring The Smashing Machine, After the Hunt, Frankenstein, and Bugonia.
The Smashing Machine
Spill the Tea
This film is essentially a dramatic remake of the 2002 documentary The Smashing Machine: The Life and Times of Extreme Fighter Mark Kerr. Director Benny Safdie who is known for grittier films with brother Josh (who is also directing the sports related Marty Supreme) including Good Times and Uncut Gems takes a more introspective look at the real life fighter who battles injuries, addiction, and personal relationships in the early days of UFC/Pride fighting. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson stars as the former collegiate wrestler turned mixed martial arts fighter in what feels like a role he was born to play. The film gives you a look at the early days of MMA fighting along with the toll it takes on mind and body.
Highlight of the Film
To me this was easily Johnson’s best acting performance. He was excellent in 2013’s Pain & Gain as well the 2003 action comedy The Rundown but this role gave him room to dive into his character with actual sincerity. His portrayal of Mark Kerr was very subdued, meticulous, and realistic to the actual fighter. Mark’s arguments with his girlfriend, played quite one note by Emily Blunt, felt incredibly honest particularly the post rehab scenes. He may not get an Oscar nod for this but I feel the Golden Globes await for him in this deserving role.
To See, or Not to See
Many wanted this to be more bloodthirsty and bring them back to early MMA days of no holds barred combat. The movie was never about that and wasn’t trying to be although we do get treated to some brutal fight scenes. If you are more into a character driven sports story than this is a great movie that can be viewed when it hits PVOD or streamers.
Matt at the Movies Score: 7.5/10
The Rock gives his best career performance.
After the Hunt
Spill the Tea
Previewing this year at Venice, the new Luca Guadagnino directed film has a dynamite cast including Julia Roberts, Andrew Garfield, Ayo Edebiri, and Michael Stuhlbarg. We are set onto the world of academia at Yale University where beloved philosophy professor Alma Inhoff (Roberts) is on the cusp of receiving the coveted tenure position which is in direct competition with her too close for comfort colleague Hank Gibson (Garfield). While hosting a booze laden party with her husband that includes current students as well as her prized PhD protégé Maggie (Edebiri) we begin to see that everyone is wrapped around Alma’s trance. She uses her husband, friends, and students as little pets within this niche world. Hank and Maggie leave the gathering together but we find out from Maggie that Hank crossed some lines physically after a nightcap at her place. The politics of power, academics, ethics, and privilege are present but not fully explored in any meaningful new way with Nora Garrett’s script which basically boils to a “he said, she said” plotline with Alma caught in the middle.
Highlight of the Film
Roberts does what she can in this role that has more plot hole contrivances and serendipitous events than an after school special. She exudes incredible style and panache with a smoldering stare that keeps your gaze on her throughout. Her therapist husband Frederik played by Stuhlbarg is my saving grace with the film. He constantly probes Alma about her sycophants, has cutting dialogue, cooks amazing meals, and longs for the love of his wife which she chooses to share with others instead. His over the top dinner scene where he impetuously reacts to being ignored in favor of others for the last time is a hilarious two minutes burned into my brain.
To See, or Not to See
Guadagnino didn’t seem to have the deeper source material that he usually works with so many of the more interesting moments fell flat even with his stylistic direction. There are a few key scenes that will make the reels in a mostly unremarkable film. I had Stuhlbarg on my brain leaving the theater and gave a higher score than it deserved. You can wait to see this on PVOD or streamers.
Matt at the Movies Score: 7/10
Come for Julia Roberts but stay for Michael Stuhlbarg
Frankenstein
Spill the Tea
Based on Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel, this two hour and thirty minute epic adaptation premiered at the Venice Film Festival to mixed reviews. We get a much deeper backstory on egotistic scientist Victor Frankenstein (Oscar Isaac) including his posh yet harsh upbringing with his cold and calculating father (Charles Dance). We see how the death of his mother creates a fire inside him to bring back the dead. We watch him develop new reanimation techniques to the abhorrence of his medical peers and ultimate shunning from their institutions. Victor is visited by his younger brother Felix’s new fiance’s caregiving uncle Henrich, played wonderfully as always by Christoph Waltz. Henrich besides making familial connections also has a deep fascination with the macabre and deep pockets to further fund Victor’s experiments into fruition. The two team up with young brother Felix to create an extremely sleek steampunk style laboratory where we watch Victor tinker with the human body in order to create this patchwork monster. Felix’s fiance Elizabeth (horror queen Mia Goth) serves as a muse for Victor and the only voice to push back against his manipulative impulsions.
When the time comes Victor brings his new creation to life and then must deal with the care of being a god to his new lifeform. When a dog catches the mail carrier they often are unsure of what to do next and Victor is no better a parent than his father. Thinking the creature to be physically impressive but an intellectual idiot, he leaves it to perish. This is where the story really begins. It escapes its death and with the mind of a new born child must learn to survive in the harsh alpine terrain. As the creature learns, experiences the harsh reality and kindness of humanity, and internalizes its very existence it starts its obsessive hunt to find its creator. Much like Victor, this obsession consumes the creator and the two begin their great chase to each other’s demise.
Highlight of the Film
While Oscar Isaac is extremely charming and convincing of his egomania as Victor, the film shines in its second act as we see the creature evolve through its experiences in the world. Jacob Elordi — who you may know from HBO’s Euphoria, the divisively fun Saltburn, or his turn as Elvis Pressley in Priscilla — is world class Hollywood handsome. His physique to play this role was impressive and the contrast of watching such a beautiful specimen being one of horror’s ugliest creatures was probably not cast by accident with director Guillermo del Toro. Elordi uses his physical stature as well as wonderful makeup to embody the creature in a more humanistic way than any previous iteration of Frankenstein. Think Andy Serkis as Golem or Planet of the Apes style performance. It’s a lovely mixture of man and monster to bring a philosophical tone as it wrestles with its state of being.
To See, or Not to See
Mexican filmmaker Guillermo del Toro is a legend and his work with gothic horror is unprecedented on this scale. With a 120 million reported budget from Netflix he creates a beautiful aesthetic that feels cold, polished, and very steampunk while capturing the mid 19th century poshness of the upper class. His use of the elements, especially the harsh winters gives many scenes an extra layer of crispness that add to the misery of both main characters.
The third act feels very Seinfeld “yada yada” and as a viewer you have a hard time wondering how fiance Elizabeth would be so attached to the creature after such a short time span. It needed to be drawn out further but at two hours and thirty minutes some editing and story choices could have been either expanded or cut shorter. Either way this is definitely a theater “must see” or should watch on the largest screen possible at home when it hits streaming.
Matt at the Movies Score: 8.0/10
del Toro brings his dark magic again to this Elordi showcase.
Bugonia
Spill the Tea
Conspiracy theorist and self-taught alien aficionado Teddy (Jesse Plemons) lives with his neurodivergent cousin Don whom he cares for on their families farmhouse. Teddy has been prepping for a showdown with high powered tech pharmaceutical CEO Michelle Fuller (Emma Stone) whom he believes is an alien species “Andromedan” sent to destroy the planet. The two men hatch a plan to capture the alien, question its intentions, and use its access to teleport to its mothership in hopes of saving the planet.
Once they bring Michelle back to the family farm a series of conversations and tit for tat banter between the hyper-intelligent CEO and the tin foil hat truther take wild turns while also giving away some clues as to their connection. Oscar nominated director Yorgos Lanthimos (The Favourite/Poor Things) uses his two superstar actors to drive the story and keep us on our toes with each unique interaction they engage in. Both Plemons and Stone are phenomenal even if the pacing has some issues in the second act.
Highlight of the Film
There is an intentional slow burn as Teddy and Don interrogate Michelle with an ever approaching lunar eclipse deadline. Don, who has been reluctant throughout the kidnapping, takes matters into his own hands in an unexpected turn which sets Teddy and Michelle into a high octane conclusion to a meet up with her supposed mother ship. Teddy must save the world and anyone in high path becomes collateral damage. The last fifteen minutes are a great payoff to all the conversations and paranoia which built over the previous acts of the film.
To See, or Not to See
I mean the jury is pretty much out on director Yorgos Lanthimos, you either dig his style or you don’t. I know some who love The Favourite but bow out for his stranger stories like The Lobster or The Killing of a Sacred Deer, finding themselves depressed by his storytelling. Others love him because of his dark comedy and absurdist nature which pushes both the boundaries of taste.
Finally others want to watch some of the best actors in the business including Colin Farrell, Rachel Weisz, Emma Stone, and Jesse Plemons rise to new heights to bring out the abnormal but resonant stories he creates. This film talks about the infiltration of an alien entity to secretly destroy the through capitalism so it’s as topical as can be!
Matt at the Movies Score: 8.5
Two master actors working crushing the world of weird.
So many other movies are hitting the big screen in the next couple weeks that deserve some attention. Netflix has a new release that is streaming from Oscar-winning director Kathryn Bigelow, A House of Dynamite, that is an apocalyptic thriller which will give you chills.
If I Had Legs I’d Kick You , which features an amazing Rose Byrne performance, is currently out. Sentimental Value, the highly anticipated Norwegian film, and Wicked: For Good also release in the coming weeks.
Head out to your local theaters and go see some amazing stories as we round into form on our Oscar fare. Thanks again for reading Matt at the Movies over at Y’all Weekly.