Movies Update: This dog is the next horror star

Plus, Daniel Day-Lewis is out of retirement

View in browser|nytimes.com October 3, 2025 By Mekado Murphy Hey, movie fans! October is here, and it's time for movie frights. If you want to get the month started with some scares at a theater, you might try the new horror film "Good Boy," a chilling tale presented mostly from the perspective of a retriever. It's a Critic's Pick, with Erik Piepenburg calling it in his review "assured horror filmmaking." Read more here about how a family pet became a horror star. If you prefer to get scared at home, we have a list of 30 classic horror movies that just might make your head spin. Outside the horror realm, a couple of star-driven dramas are opening this week. There's "The Smashing Machine," with Dwayne Johnson taking a break from saving the world to portray the real-life mixed martial arts fighter Mark Kerr. He's been generating Oscar buzz (and festival tears) with the portrayal. In her review, the critic Alissa Wilkinson calls his performance "the magnetic center of the film," but also writes that the movie built around him "leaves a lot to be desired." And fresh off its premiere at the New York Film Festival, the drama "Anemone" stars Daniel Day-Lewis in his first role since he announced his retirement from acting in 2017. The critic Manohla Dargis writes that the movie is "a visually rich, flawed drama about fathers, violence, pain and love." Kyle Buchanan spoke to the actor about what brought him back to the big screen. (Getting to work with his son, Ronan, was a big part of it.) Enjoy the movies! Eric Zachanowich/A24 'The Smashing Machine' Review: Licking Wounds, In and Out of the Ring Dwayne Johnson shines, but the movie around him tells the wrong story. By Alissa Wilkinson Miramax; Compass International Pictures; United Artists 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 Geordie Wood for The New York Times Daniel Day-Lewis Gets Candid About His Return From Retirement Yes, he did announce (against the advice of family and friends) he was quitting. But it was never about acting, and working with his son has meant everything. By Kyle Buchanan Shudder The Star of 'Good Boy' Didn't Know He Was in a Horror Movie (He's a Dog) The director and producer enlisted their family pet and filmed in their home for more than 400 days to meet the challenges of working with a pooch. By Esther Zuckerman CRITICS' PICKS Neon Critic's pick 'Orwell: 2+2=5' Review: How George Came to See the World as Orwellian His novel "1984" captured the tactics of totalitarianism back in 1949. A startling new documentary from Raoul Peck looks at Orwell's life. By Manohla Dargis Shudder Critic's Pick 'Good Boy' Review: Sit. Stay. Scream. This assured horror movie is anchored by a star-making turn from a gorgeous retriever named Indy. By Erik Piepenburg Amy Bench/Film Forum Critic's pick 'The Librarians' Review: What Should Children Read? Nine librarians are profiled in Kim A. Snyder's gripping documentary about censorship in public schools. By Sheri Linden Yellow Veil Pictures Critic's Pick 'The Ice Tower' Review: Royal Crush A young orphan becomes mesmerized by a volatile actress in this dark fairy tale. By Jeannette Catsoulis MOVIE REVIEWS Focus Features 'Anemone' Review: Daniel Day-Lewis Is Too Big for Some Movies After announcing his retirement from acting eight years ago, the performer returns in a drama directed by his son Ronan Day-Lewis. By Manohla Dargis HBO Documentary Films Documentary Lens In 'The Alabama Solution,' Amateur Footage Helps Expose Prison Abuses Though Andrew Jarecki and Charlotte Kaufman are the directors, inmates with smuggled phones are important collaborators. By Alissa Wilkinson Robert Viglasky/Netflix 'Steve' Review: Aced the Acting, Failed the Melodrama Cillian Murphy plays a beleaguered teacher at an all-boys reform school in this exhausting movie on Netflix. By Natalia Winkelman Melbar Entertainment 'The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue' Review: War as a Thriller Barry Avrich's documentary revisits the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks on Israel from the perspective of one Israeli family. By Ben Kenigsberg Danielle Lee/Utopia 'Are We Good?' Review: Marc Maron in a Vulnerable Moment In this documentary, Maron is shown working through his feelings of grief onstage and off after the death of his partner. By Ben Kenigsberg Bleecker Street and LD Entertainment 'Bone Lake' Review: Swinging Into Action Jealousy reaches a violent fever pitch in a funny and sexy erotic thriller by Mercedes Bryce Morgan. By Calum Marsh Jasin Boland/Amazon MGM Studios 'Play Dirty' Review: A Halfhearted Heist Movie Mark Wahlberg plays Parker, a taciturn thief who teams up with Zen (Rosa Salazar) for a big New York City heist. By Robert Daniels Lionsgate 'The Strangers: Chapter 2' Review: Keep on Running This second installment in Renny Harlin's slasher trilogy is hackneyed and silly. By Jeannette Catsoulis NEWS & FEATURES Does Channing Tatum Know How Good He Is? For years, he battled impostor syndrome: "I felt like I was just barely hanging on." Finally, with "Roofman," he says he can hold his own against any actor. By Kyle Buchanan and Sela Shiloni Warner Bros. 11 Classic Paul Thomas Anderson Needle Drops Hear songs from "One Battle After Another," "Inherent Vice" and several of the director's other films. By Lindsay Zoladz The Interview Sean Penn Let Himself Get Away With Things for 15 Years. Not Anymore. The actor and instigator is ready for his renaissance. 51 MIN LISTEN Photo illustration by Celina Pereira Screenland The Case for Laughing With Strangers in the Dark Hollywood often leaves humor to the TV screen. But months of moviegoing reminded me: A good comedy gets as much out of the theater as any IMAX spectacular. By Robert Rubsam STREAMING RECOMMENDATIONS Well Go USA Five Action Movies to Stream Now This month's picks include convicted swordsmen, crooked cops, and more. By Robert Daniels Jasin Boland/Prime The Best Movies and TV Shows Coming to Disney+, Amazon, Max, AMC+ and More in October "Play Dirty," "Mr. Scorsese," "Murdaugh: Death in the Family" and "The Chair Company" arrive, and "Matlock" returns. By Noel Murray Film Movement Three Great Documentaries to Stream In this month's picks, a sharp portrait of a political leader, an intriguing essay film from a renowned novelist and a sensitive look at the impact a gamer had on the lives of his friends. By Ben Kenigsberg 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. If you received this newsletter from someone else, subscribe 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. 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