FilmWeek

From Scream Queens to Final Girls, women have been at the center of horror cinema since its rise in the late 60s. Violence on screen mirrored the violence real women faced off screen. From the allusions to reproductive control in Rosemary’s Baby, to the undertones of domestic violence in The Shining, horror’s female protagonists cannot be divorced from political and social commentary. In her new book “Scream with Me: Horror Films and the Rise of American Feminism (1968-1980), Eleanor Johnson, professor of English and comparative literature at Columbia University, views some of our most popular scary movies through a feminist lens. And once you see the themes of women’s oppression, it’s hard to look at a horror film the same way again. This week on FilmWeek, Larry speaks with Johnson about her new book and reanalyze some horror classics together. Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency!

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Tim Cogshell and Manuel Betancourt review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms. Films: The Smashing Machine, Wide Release Anemone, In Select Theaters                                                                                The Lost Bus, In Select Theaters & Streaming on Apple TV+ Play Dirty, Streaming on Amazon Prime                                                                        Fairyland, Landmark Sunset [West Hollywood] The Ice Tower, Laemmle Glendale                                                                 Are We Good?, AMC Americana [Glendale] & Alamo Drafthouse [DTLA] Viva Verdi, Laemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica]                                                             Coyotes, In Select Theaters Good Boy, In Select Theaters                                                                          Norita, Laemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica]               Stripped for Parts, Streaming on PBS.org and PBS app                                                                    Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency!

Christy Lemire, a seasoned film critic and co-host of the Breakfast All Day series, teams up with Manuel Betancourt, a contributor to Variety and The A.V. Club. They delve into the striking visuals and political themes of 'One Battle After Another', and debate the tonal challenges in 'Eleanor the Great'. The duo discusses the captivating chemistry in the romcom 'All of You', Emma Thompson's gritty turn in 'Dead of Winter', and the ethical dilemmas posed in the documentary 'Predators'. Their insights into these films are both sharp and engaging!

Widely credited with creating the modern summer blockbuster in 1975, Steven Spielberg's Jaws has captured the imaginations (and entered the nightmares) of audiences ever since. For Jaws’ 50th anniversary, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures has created an all-ages experience: combining unprecedented behind-the-scenes access and interactive elements. The unique structure of the exhibit will take visitors scene by scene through the film, exploring the iconic story in an entirely new way. Today on FilmWeek, Larry Mantle is joined by Jenny He, Senior Exhibitions Curator, to talk about the exhibit and the film’s enduring legacy. Jaws: The Exhibition is open at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures now through July 26, 2026. You can get more information and tickets for the exhibition here.   Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency!

“Hamnet,” Chloé Zhao’s drama about William Shakespeare’s marriage and the death of their 11-year-old son, won the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sunday, putting it on an enviable track to Academy Awards contention. This might’ve been the biggest headline for the festival, which celebrated its 50th anniversary this year. Joining us this morning to help round up the festivities is Claudia Puig, film critic for LAist and program director for the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, and Peter Rainer, film critic for LAist and the Christian Science Monitor. Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency!

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Tim Cogshell and Claudia Puig review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms. They also share thoughts on the passing of film icon Robert Redford, who passed away earlier this week at the age of 89. Films: A Big Bold Beautiful Journey, Wide Release   Him, Wide Release   Another End, In Select Theaters and Available on VOD A Savage Art: The Life & Cartoons of Pat Oliphant, Laemmle Claremont 5, Monica Film Center, Newhall, Glendale, and Town Center 5 The Summer Book, Laemmle Town Center [Encino] Xeno, In Select Theaters Democracy Noir, Laemmle Monica Film Center Waltzing With Brando, In Select Theaters  Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency!

This Is Spinal Tap ushered in a new wave of genre films with its satirical, mockumentary style. It is hailed as a classic, having found its way into the U.S. Library of Congress' National Film Registry. And if that isn't proof enough, the Criterion Collection is releasing a director-approved 4k restoration of the film. Now, over forty years later, the band is back together for one last show. Spinal Tap II: The End Continues finds bandmates David St. Hubbins, Nigel Tufnel, and Derek Smalls (all reprised roles by Michael McKean, Christopher Guest, and Harry Shearer) reuniting on stage after much time apart. Along with documentarian Marty DiBergi, the band tries to recapture the magic that was in the original This Is Spinal Tap. Today on FilmWeek, Larry Mantle is joined by Rob Reiner, co-writer and director of both films to talk about the legacy of the original This Is Spinal Tap for both film and music, and the unique task of continuing that legacy four decades later. SPINAL TAP II: THE END CONTINUES is in Wide Release and available in IMAX theaters. A Director-Approved 4K UHD edition of THIS IS SPINAL TAP will be released from the The Criterion Collection on Tuesday, September 16. Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency!

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Christy Lemire, Tim Cogshell, and Charles Solomon review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms. Films: The Long Walk, Wide Release    Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, Wide Release                               Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, In Select Theaters                          Demon Slayer–The Movie: Infinity Castle, Wide Release                                                                     The History of Sound, In Select Theaters                                                                                   The Baltimorons, Laemmle Royal [West LA]                                                                Riefenstahl, Laemmle Royal [West LA] & Laemmle Town Center [Encino]    Clemente, Laemmle Monica         Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency!                                                    

In our age of surround sound and IMAX theaters emphasizing the importance of sound effects and mixing in movies, it’s easy to forget that for film history’s first thirty years, movies were silent. A new film festival is aiming to fix that. In partnership with the American Cinematheque, Retroformat Silent Films and Mount Saint Mary’s University are hosting the first annual Los Angeles Silent Film Festival. The festival will take place at the American Cinematheque Los Feliz theater from September 12 to September 14, and include the world premiere of the World Restoration Premiere of ‘He Who Gets Slapped’ (1924) starring Lon Chaney, Sr., John Gilbert and Norma Sheare and the Los Angeles Restoration Premiere of ‘Kid Boots’ (1926) starring Clara Bow and Eddie Cantor. Each of the screenings will be accompanied by a live score selected and played by Musical Director Cliff Retallick and guest artist Andrew Earle Simpson. The festival will allow audiences to experience silent films as they were originally intended. Joining us on FilmWeek to talk about the festival and the importance of silent film preservation is Thomas Barnes, president of Retroformat Silent Films and one of the co-founders of the Los Angeles Silent Film Festival.   You can find out more about the festival and purchase tickets here. Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency!

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Lael Loewenstein and Christy Lemire review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms. Films: The Conjuring: Last Rites, Wide Release   Twinless, In Select Theaters                                     The Threesome, In Select Theaters    Preparation for the Next Life, Alamo Drafthouse DTLA Tinā, In Select Theaters   Hamilton, Wide Release  The Cut, Laemmle NoHo Love, Brooklyn, In Select Theaters