15 Movies to Watch in October

      While it may be difficult for any film this year to emerge from the shadow of Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another, October is shaping up to be another impressive month, as always. With some of the best festival circuit films finally making their theatrical premieres, there's an abundance of choices available.

      15. Frankenstein (Guillermo del Toro; Oct. 17 in theaters and Nov. 7 on Netflix)

      With a director and material that complement each other perfectly, Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein has arrived just in time for Halloween following its debut on the fall-festival circuit and ahead of its November Netflix release. Savina Petkova noted in her review, “There are various symbolic interpretations to impose on Victor and the creature, framed as a dichotomy––nature-culture, past-present, parent-child––but the power of storytelling and the question of who gets to tell it stands out. Frankenstein’s monster must learn to walk, feel, and communicate in a manner distinct from humans––potentially in a freer, ‘purer’ way, as Elizabeth suggests. Despite its religious themes, the idea of forgiveness plays a significant role in Del Toro’s film, making it possibly the most hopeful entry among this year’s Golden Lion contenders.”

      14. The Ice Tower (Lucile Hadžihalilović; Oct. 3)

      Lucile Hadžihalilović’s latest film presents one of the year's most captivating director-star pairings, featuring Marion Cotillard alongside Clara Pacini, August Diehl, and wig-clad Gaspar Noé. Savina Petkova described it in her Critic’s Pick review from Berlinale, “The Ice Tower is visually stunning—richly textured and lavish; cinematographer Jonathan Ricquebourg (The Taste of Things) ensures that extended shots evoke the icy expanses of winter landscapes. Hadžihalilović pays tribute to cinema as a magical process. Together with Jeanne (Pacini), who begins as an extra and evolves into a stand-in for Cristina (Cotillard), we glimpse behind the scenes, witnessing the filmmaking process and the drama that unfolds between takes. Yet the mise-en-scène is consistently exceptional: every location in The Ice Tower, where nature, the daily routine, and the film set converge, is equally enchanting and magical for Jeanne.”

      13. Bugonia (Yorgos Lanthimos; Oct. 24)

      Following Kinds of Kindness, Yorgos Lanthimos reunites with Jesse Plemons, Emma Stone, Robbie Ryan, and Jerskin Fendrix for a fresh adaptation of Joon-hwan Jang’s Korean cult classic, Save the Green Planet! Zhuo-Ning Su remarked in his review, “Having explored dystopian fantasy (The Lobster) and historical comedy (The Favourite), and surprising us with original works (Dogtooth) and imaginative adaptations (Poor Things), Yorgos Lanthimos consistently demonstrates that he is brimming with creativity. By remaking the oft-overlooked Korean sci-fi comedic thriller Save the Green Planet!, he honors the original while leaving his distinct mark. The outcome is a sleeker, if somewhat muted, version of a wonderfully chaotic story.”

      12. Roofman (Derek Cianfrance; Oct. 10)

      Nearly ten years have passed since Derek Cianfrance, known for Blue Valentine and The Place Beyond the Pines, last directed a feature, but he is making a comeback that promises to be his most audience-friendly film yet. Ethan Vestby noted in his TIFF review, “This leads us to Cianfrance's first feature in nine years, Roofman, presenting a dynamic tension between him and star-producer Channing Tatum. It’s clear that Cianfrance sees another narrative of doomed family ties in working-class America, while Tatum likely envisions a star role that allows him to become one of the most endearing characters on screen in recent years. While that conflict is palpable throughout, a resolution is fortunately reached by the film's conclusion.”

      11. Bogancloth (Ben Rivers; Oct. 3)

      As Ben Rivers showcases his latest film, Mare’s Next, his previous work Bogancloth begins screening at New York’s Anthology this Friday. Leonardo Goi commented from last year’s Locarno, “With its ability to extract joy and beauty from the most mundane routines, this film approaches what Herzog described as ‘ecstatic truth’––a mysterious, elusive truth that can only be accessed through imagination. By its conclusion, when Bogancloth ends with a mesmerizing drone shot that elevates the camera and reduces Jake and his home to mere dots, this small part of the Highlands transforms into an expansive realm, while this shaggy-haired recluse becomes a ruler of boundless space.”

      10. The Smashing Machine (Benny Safide; Oct. 3)

      October ushers in Safdie season as Benny follows the brilliant The Curse with