It’s finally spring, which means that we’re back to spending more time out than we are inside our houses. Temperatures are rising, flowers are blooming, and days are getting longer, making it the perfect time to enjoy life after a few months spent under heavy blankets. But if you live in the GCC, there are, now and again, those rainy afternoons, when all you want (or can) do is be indoors. And what better way to spend a rainy day than by cozying up on the couch in your best pajamas or seeking refuge in the nearest cinema with a steaming bowl of buttery popcorn and indulging in a binge-watch session?
Here, five new releases perfect for brightening up a stormy afternoon.
Monkey Man
Director: Dev Patel
Cast: Dev Patel, Sharlto Copley, Pitobash
Genre: Action/Thriller
IMBD Synopsis: “Kid, an anonymous young man who ekes out a meager living in an underground fight club where, night after night, wearing a gorilla mask, he is beaten bloody by more popular fighters for cash. After years of suppressed rage, Kid discovers a way to infiltrate the enclave of the city’s sinister elite. As his childhood trauma boils over, his mysteriously scarred hands unleash an explosive campaign of retribution to settle the score with the men who took everything from him.”
Challengers
Director: Luca Guadagnino
Cast: Zendaya, Mike Faist, Josh O’Connor
Genre: Drama/Romance
IMBD Synopsis: “From visionary filmmaker Luca Guadagnino, Challengers stars Zendaya as Tashi Duncan, a former tennis prodigy turned coach and a force of nature who makes no apologies for her game on and off the court. Married to a champion on a losing streak (Mike Faist – West Side Story), Tashi’s strategy for her husband’s redemption takes a surprising turn when he must face off against the washed-up Patrick (Josh O’Connor – The Crown) – his former best friend and Tashi’s former boyfriend. As their pasts and presents collide, and tensions run high, Tashi must ask herself, what will it cost to win.”
Back to Black
Director: Sam Taylor-Johnson
Cast: Marisa Abela, Eddie Marasan, Jack O’Connel
Genre: Musical/Drama
IMBD Synopsis: “A celebration of the most iconic – and much missed – homegrown star of the 21st century, BACK TO BLACK tells the extraordinary tale of Amy Winehouse. Painting a vivid, vibrant picture of the Camden streets she called home and capturing the struggles of global fame, BACK TO BLACK honours Amy’s artistry, wit, and honesty, as well as trying to understand her demons. An unflinching look at the modern celebrity machine and a powerful tribute to a once-in-a-generation talent.”
Occupied City
Director: Steve McQueen
Cast: Melanie Hyams
Genre: Documentary/War
IMBD Synopsis: “The past collides with the present in this excavation of the Nazi occupation of Amsterdam: a journey from World War II to recent years of pandemic and protest and a provocative, life-affirming reflection on memory, time and what’s to come.”
Abigail
Director: Tyler Gillett, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin
Cast: Angus Cloud, Giancarlo Esposito, Alisha Weir
Genre: Horror
IMDB Synopsis: “After a group of would-be criminals kidnap the 12-year-old ballerina daughter of a powerful underworld figure, all they have to do to collect a $50 million ransom is watch the girl overnight. In an isolated mansion, the captors start to dwindle, one by one, and they discover, to their mounting horror, that they’re locked inside with no normal little girl.”
