Movies Update: A little more Venom

Plus, 30 horror classics to stream

View in browser|nytimes.com October 25, 2024 By Mekado Murphy Hey, movie fans! This weekend brings us catty cardinals and saucy superheroes. Opening in theaters is "Conclave," a heated drama about the selection of a new pope that stars Ralph Fiennes. In her Critic's Pick review, Manohla Dargis calls the movie "quite the journey, and as unpersuasive as it is entertaining." Check out a scene from the film here, then dive deeper into how the movie portrays the papal election process. In a less reverent setting, Tom Hardy is back playing Eddie Brock, the man possessed by a long-tongued, toothy alien in the latest "Venom" installment, called "The Last Dance." In her review, the critic Amy Nicholson writes that she would "rather watch Eddie and Venom dicker over pizza toppings than team up for something as banal as saving the planet. Yet, this film prefers the latter and the bombastic battle scenes that come with it." And as Halloween quickly approaches, you have plenty of scary streaming choices to consider. In this video, our horror expert Erik Piepenburg recommends two new haunts and one goopy selection from the archives. Looking for more frights? Try one of these 30 classics. Enjoy the movies! Focus Features Critic's Pick 'Conclave' Review: Serpents and Doves Amok in the Vatican This film, based on Robert Harris's 2016 thriller of the same title, centers on a British cardinal (a sensational Ralph Fiennes), and a campaign for a new pope. By Manohla Dargis Mubi Documentary Lens 'Dahomey': A Daring Meditation on the Painful Legacy of Looted Artifacts Mati Diop examines the fate of 26 treasures — sometimes from their point of view — looted from Benin in 1892. By Alissa Wilkinson Columbia Pictures/Sony Pictures 'Venom: The Last Dance' Review: A Long and Winding Tongue Playing both Eddie Brock and the alien parasite who possesses him, Tom Hardy gives another roiling one-man-band of a performance in this third installment of the franchise. By Amy Nicholson Warner Bros. 30 Classic Horror Movies to Stream From silent monsters to digital-age demons, these scary-movie cornerstones are available to scream — sorry, stream. By Erik Piepenburg CRITICS' PICKS World of Warcraft and Blizzard Entertainment/ Netflix Critic's Pick 'The Remarkable Life of Ibelin' Review: More Real Than Reality An unconventional documentary tells the story of a Norwegian gamer — and of how we live life on the internet. By Alissa Wilkinson Hulu Critic's Pick 'Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band' Review: A Mission At 75, Springsteen is doggedly committed to live performance. This documentary chronicles how he keeps up on tour, and why. By Glenn Kenny ANATOMY OF A SCENE Focus Features Anatomy of a Scene Watch Ralph Fiennes Deliver a Startling Speech in 'Conclave' The actor plays a cardinal who expresses doubts about his faith and the church in this drama from the director Edward Berger. By Mekado Murphy Paramount Pictures Anatomy of a Scene Watch Dancers Haunt Naomi Scott in 'Smile 2' Parker Finn, the film's writer and director, narrates a scene in which a pop star is chased through her apartment by evil dancers. By Mekado Murphy MOVIE REVIEWS Film Forum 'Black Box Diaries' Review: A Public Face for #MeToo in Japan In a new documentary, Shiori Ito recounts her yearslong crusade for justice in Japan after accusing a powerful journalist of rape. By Manohla Dargis IFC 'Memoir of a Snail' Review: Escaping the Spiral An animated tragicomedy for adults tells the story of a woman breaking out of her shell. By Alissa Wilkinson Cohen Media Group 'My Name Is Alfred Hitchcock' Review: Director's Commentary A richly detailed essay film imagines Hitchcock commenting on his own oeuvre over a mesmerizing daisy chain of clips. By Nicolas Rapold Rob Baker Ashton/Shout! Studios 'Magpie' Review: An Unhappily Married Woman Daisy Ridley plays a time bomb with a simmering fuse in this slow yet gripping adultery thriller. By Jeannette Catsoulis Willa 'La Cocina' Review: The Melting Pot Boils Over This drama by Alonso Ruizpalacios takes a bitter look at the American dream from the perspective of the workers at a fast-paced diner. By Beatrice Loayza Vertical 'Your Monster' Review: Beast Intentions An aspiring Broadway musical star (Melissa Barrera) taps into her inner anger with some help from the creature who lives in her closet. By Ben Kenigsberg Stanislav Honzik/Netflix 'Family Pack' Review: Trapped in a Game The beauty of a game of Werewolf lies in the treachery. In this film adaptation, the director focuses on mild comedy and tedious action instead. By Calum Marsh NEWS & FEATURES Philippe Antonello/Focus Features 'Conclave': A Fly on the Wall Inside the Secret Process to Elect a Pope A new drama by Edward Berger draws the audience inside this largely hidden tradition. How accurate is it? By Elisabetta Povoledo Roger Kisby for The New York Times Netflix Wanted 'Wuthering Heights.' Margot Robbie Wanted a Theatrical Release. In the end, Ms. Robbie got what she wanted, signing a deal with Warner Bros. By Nicole Sperling Barbara Nitke/Paramount Pictures, via Associated Press Critic's Notebook In 'Smile 2' and 'Trap,' Pop Stardom Looks Pretty Terrifying At a time when the business of being Taylor Swift or Beyoncé is booming, these films examine toxic fandom and what can seem like mass hysteria. By Esther Zuckerman George Muncey for The New York Times A Reluctant Satirist Takes On the Bomb Armando Iannucci, the mastermind behind "Veep," has adapted "Dr. Strangelove" for the theater and insists that laughing at nuclear disaster couldn't be more timely. By Alex Marshall STREAMING RECOMMENDATIONS 3 Horror Movies to Watch for Halloween In time for Halloween, Erik Piepenburg, who writes a monthly horror movie streaming column in The New York Times, has three scary movies for you. By Erik Piepenburg, Gabriel Blanco, Claire Hogan and Ruru Kuo Paramount Pictures Beyond the Algorithm 'Snack Shack,' 'Red Rocket' and More Streaming Gems A handful of the year's best comedy-dramas are among your out-of-the-box recommendations from this month's streaming services. By Jason Bailey Max Five Science Fiction Movies to Stream Now This month's picks include a time-travel thriller with Dylan O'Brien and a dystopian comedy with Awkwafina and John Cena. By Elisabeth Vincentelli How are we doing? We'd love your feedback on this newsletter. Please email thoughts and suggestions to moviesupdate@nytimes.com. Like this email? Forward it to your friends, and let them know they can sign up here. Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for Movies Update from The New York Times. To stop receiving Movies Update, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018