Spring is around the corner, and as we emerge from our winter freeze, fun events will soon start filling our calendars. For me, March kicks off with SXSW, and with this being my fourth year attending in person, I feel more comfortable than ever and ready for my 2025 adventure. There’s so much to do, but I go for the movies—and like every year, there are plenty of great films to choose from. That said, I’ve already marked a few must-sees on my schedule, and I want to share them with you. Here are the ten movies I’m most looking forward to, in no particular order.
40 Acres
Certain things immediately catch my attention—one of them is when a favorite actor is involved. That’s the case with 40 Acres, starring Danielle Deadwyler as a former soldier who, along with her partner Galen (Michael Greyeyes), flees the collapse of society to train their children to fight and survive. But when their eldest son expresses a desire to meet a young woman, his decision could put the entire family in jeopardy. Directed by R.T. Thorne, this film sounds like a compelling story, and with Deadwyler leading the cast, I have high hopes for it.
American Sweatshop
We all know the dangers of social media, and as films increasingly reflect society, we’re seeing more stories explore its impact. American Sweatshop follows Daisy (Lili Reinhart) and her coworkers as they evaluate offensive and harmful videos and images uploaded to social media. One particular post, however, grabs Daisy’s attention and lures her away from the safety of her keyboard. I’ve always been curious about the people who do this kind of work, and this film promises to provide a unique window into that world.
Ash
Who doesn’t love a good space movie? Ash sounds like a winner, as it follows a woman who wakes up on a space station on a distant planet—only to find her fellow crew members brutally murdered. As she investigates, things quickly take a terrifying turn. Directed by Flying Lotus, Ash sounds right up my alley as I continue to ponder whether you really can’t hear someone scream in space.
Clown in a Cornfield
I love clowns, and setting one loose in a cornfield sounds like a delight. My guess, however, is that with Eli Craig (Tucker and Dale vs. Evil) directing, it’ll be both fun and gory. Clown in a Cornfield follows Quinn (Katie Douglas) and her father as they settle into a new town. The town isn’t exactly welcoming—residents are at odds with one another, and when a sinister figure emerges, they start getting picked off one by one. I may not want to live there, but I’ll gladly watch a clown wreak havoc on it.
The Dutchman
As I mentioned with 40 Acres, if you cast the right actor, I’m in. The Dutchman stars André Holland as Clay, a man trying to save his marriage through therapy. However, his therapist is a bit of a mystery, and when Clay meets a woman on the subway, she slowly begins to unravel his life, forcing him to confront his past and fight to survive the night. This is a modern adaptation of the 1964 Obie Award-winning play, and with Holland starring, I’m all aboard.
On Swift Horses
I won’t lie—I love a film featuring a cast of beautiful people, and On Swift Horses fits the bill. The story follows Muriel (Daisy Edgar-Jones) and her husband Lee (Will Poulter) as they begin a new life in California after Lee returns from the Korean War. Their stability is upended with the arrival of Julius (Jacob Elordi), Lee’s charismatic brother, sparking a love triangle—and we all know how those tend to end.
Redux Redux
Revenge is a dish best served cold, but revenge movies are best enjoyed on the big screen. Redux Redux follows a man seeking to avenge his daughter’s death by traveling to parallel universes and killing her murderer over and over again. Take my money. Directors Kevin McManus and Matthew McManus have crafted a film I’m certain to love.
We Bury the Dead
Zak Hilditch has already delivered solid films like 1922 and These Final Hours, making We Bury the Dead an easy pick for me. This time, we follow Ava (Daisy Ridley), who desperately searches for her husband by joining a “body retrieval unit” in Tasmania. Her quest takes a chilling turn as she is forced to confront the undead and her own unresolved past.
Together
Dave Franco and Alison Brie play a couple who, after years together, find themselves at a crossroads when they move to the countryside. Things take an even darker turn when they experience a nightmarish encounter with a mysterious, unnatural force that threatens to corrupt everything in their lives. With NEON behind the release, I have no doubt Together will be something special.
The Surfer
I’m tempted to just write: Nicolas Cage—need I say more? Instead, I’ll tell you that The Surfer follows Cage as a father returning to the idyllic beach of his childhood to surf with his son. However, he soon finds himself in conflict with a group of powerful locals—setting the stage for what’s bound to be another golden Cage performance.
