"Our fate rests on this." Shudder has unveiled an official trailer for an indie horror film titled The Last Thing Mary Saw, marking the feature directorial debut of filmmaker Edoardo Vitaletti. This premiered at the Fantasia Film Festival last year, and it also played at the Brooklyn Horror Film Festival. Set in winter, 1843, in rural New York. A young woman is under investigation after the mysterious death of her family's matriarch. Her recollection of the events sheds new light on the ageless forces behind the tragedy. Described as a film with "a slow-burn tension that explodes", this horror will stream exclusively on Shudder this month. Another good grab for the horror streaming service. The film stars Rory Culkin, Stefanie Scott, and Isabelle Fuhrman, with Carolyn McCormick, Judith Roberts, and Shane Coffey. This isn't my kind of horror, underlit and the violin plucks are so redundant, but it does look seriously eerie and creepy. https://onfs.net/3qP3EiG

"Do you wanna mango with me?" A promo trailer has debuted for the indie film Girl Picture, a Finnish comedy from filmmaker Alli Haapasalo, initially called Tytöt Tytöt Tytöt. This is premiering at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival this month, then hits the Berlin Film Festival next. "Three Women Pursue Sex, Love, and Pleasure." Best friends Mimmi and Rönkkö work after school at a food court smoothie kiosk, frankly swapping stories of their frustrations and expectations regarding love and sex. Sundance says: "Within the film’s tender, funny exploration of the fears and confusions of discovering one’s identity and sexuality, a refreshingly positive portrait of the power of female friendship emerges. Writers Daniela Hakulinen & Ilona Ahti consistently present the film's teen protagonists as complex individuals, while director Alli Haapasalo, rather than aestheticizing the girls' femininity, vibrantly depicts their trials and tribulations through their own eyes." Starring Aamu Milonoff, Eleonoora Kauhanen, and Linnea Leino. This looks as fresh and funny as the outstanding Norwegian film Ninja Baby from last year. Get a first look at some footage below. https://onfs.net/3zvoZSh

"Do you have someone to pick you up after this?" This exquisite short is one of the best we've come across recently. I'm already looking forward to seeing more from this filmmaker, making her directorial debut after working for years as production designer. Polished is written and directed Colleen Dodge and runs only six minutes in total. It's a tribute to women of New York City, following one woman as she gets her nails done before a very important appointment. "Polished is a vulnerable glimpse into the decisions - from simple to complex - a young woman must make while navigating a busy workday in New York City." Starring Jane Stiles. It has some superb style but also impressive storytelling in barely any time. This was filmed during the pandemic, which adds another layer of anxiety to the experience of her navigating the city. View below. https://onfs.net/32WRZXd

"Are you scared?" "I'm scared, too..." Dark Star Pictures has unveiled an official trailer for a psychological horror thriller titled Alone With You, marking the feature debut of actors / filmmakers Emily Bennett & Justin Brooks. This originally premiered at last year's Fantastic Fest, and is arriving on VOD in February of this year. As a woman painstakingly prepares a romantic homecoming for her girlfriend, their apartment begins to feel more like a tomb when voices, shadows, hallucinations reveal a truth she has been unwilling to face. This stars Emily Bennett, Barbara Crampton, Emma Myles, and Dora Madison. My guess from this trailer is that all of this life she has built for her is all in her mind, and she has to come to grips with the truth that it's not actually real. Which is a freaky concept! But... it could be something else entirely? https://onfs.net/3F8ebdX

"She's going for the face!!" Paramount Pictures + Saban Films have unveiled the amusing official trailer for a rock climbing thriller movie titled The Ledge, described as a "female-centric take on 1993's Cliffhanger." A climber trapped on the face of a mountain fights off four killers standing on an overhanging ledge twenty feet above her. It does seem a lot like Cliffhanger, in terms of a climber getting involved in criminal activity, and only escaping by using their climbing skills to outwit them. But this also looks even more company than that 90s classic. The film stars Brittany Ashworth, Ben Lamb, Louis Boyer, Nathan Welsh, Anaïs Parello, and David Wayman. Thankfully this doesn't look as bad as it could, the climbing looks solid and the rest of it looks like the right kind of Cliffhanger homage. Though they're clearly on sets the entire time. https://onfs.net/3GbeDJK

"I don't believe there is any room for politics in the kitchen." Cohen Media Group will soon be releasing this wholesome documentary film titled Breaking Bread in early February of this year in both NY & LA, after originally premiering in 2020. It played at both the Philadelphia & New York Jewish Film Festival, and is finally opening in theaters this winter. Glad it is getting a full theatrical debut. A film about hope, synergy and mouthwatering fare, Breaking Bread illustrates what happens when people focus on the person, rather than her religion; on the public, rather than the politicians. Breaking Bread follows Dr. Nof Atamna-Ismaeel - the first Muslim Arab to win Israel's MasterChef. She is on a quest to make social change through food. Reviews say that the film "occupies the space between cultural study and kitchen porn." This looks like a wonderful film that carefully explores politics & food in an uplifting way. And all the food looks delicious. https://onfs.net/3qafMLW

"You're still blowing people up? As if life's not hard enough." Paramount has revealed the last official trailer for Jackass Forever, the fourth & supposedly final movie in the series. Celebrate the joy of being together with your best friends and a perfectly executed shot to the dingdong, the original crew return for another round of hilarious, wildly absurd, and often dangerous displays of comedy with help from a whole new cast. After being set for last year, it's now delayed and will open in February this year. The film stars all the usual Jackasses: Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, Chris Pontius, Jason "Wee Man" Acuña, Preston Lacy, Ehren McGhehey, and Dave England; + newcomers: Sean "Poopies" McInerney, Jasper Dolphin, and Zach Holmes. Plus more guest stars like Spike Jonze, Shaquille O'Neal, Post Malone, and Tyler the Creator. You already know what to expect - this is pretty much more of the same thing they've been doing for decades. Lots of painful, dumb, wild, crazy sh*t that no one should ever try at home. Have fun...? https://onfs.net/3teWLKm

"We have to do this now!" Vertical Ent. has released an official trailer for The Surprise Visit, a "based on a true story" robbery thriller from filmmaker Nick Lyon. This is arriving on VOD in a few weeks if anyone is curious. A robbery goes wrong, leaving two young drug addicts to make a difficult decision: to give up, or to do the unthinkable and kill. "The film is an American tragedy. I chose to tell The Surprise Visit in a gritty and realistic style that was complemented by deep and intense performances from the talented cast. Beyond the film's thriller veneer, it [also] delivers incredibly dramatic performances, that to this day still send chills through me," the director states. Starring Eric Roberts, Tricia Hawn, Rob Riordan, Jacqi Vene, and Serah Henesey. This looks pretty bad, and the shoddy performances seen here aren't helping much either. https://onfs.net/3r47qov

"I'm 'bout to hand you the world, just know at any given time I can take it away from you." Netflix has revealed the first teaser trailer for the doc series titled jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy, a three-part series examining the prolific rise & musical genius of hip-hop mastermind Kayne West. It's premiering at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival later this month, which is a big deal. The fest's intro: "You can't manufacture a project like jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy; it takes decades of vision, commitment, prayers, and perspective to produce. It seems providential that Coodie & Chike should be the ones to make the definitive film about [his] career thus far, as they were the filmmakers who introduced him to the masses with their documentary music video for 'Through the Wire.' This epic three-film doc features hours of fly-on-the-wall footage and paints a sweeping portrait of one of pop culture’s most controversial figures." This is just a teaser, so there's barely any footage, but they'll definitely be hyping this up more over the next few weeks. Check it out below. https://onfs.net/3qX3upy

"It's not your sort of average Friday night event." Oscilloscope Labs has released a new trailer for the 4K re-release of the iconic, infamous sex orgy film Shortbus, made by filmmaker John Cameron Mitchell. This originally premiered at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival and opened in the fall. It was talked about quite a bit at the time, because some in the public thought it was nothing but pornography, while others defended it art house cinema with a keen eye. A group of New Yorkers caught up in their romantic-sexual milieu converge at an underground salon infamous for its blend of art, music, politics, and carnality. The film is also famous for featuring real sex, not simulated for the film, and lots of graphic nudity and intimacy. "Set in a post-9/11, Bush-exhausted New York City, Shortbus tells its story with sexual frankness, suggesting new ways to reconcile questions of the mind, pleasures of the flesh, and imperatives of the heart." This stars Sook-Yin Lee, Paul Dawson, Lindsay Beamish, PJ DeBoy, Raphael Barker, Peter Stickles, Jay Brannan. If you haven't seen it yet, this is the best time to finally catch up with it. Even more detail than even before. https://onfs.net/3I6WLjZ

"So may we start?" Here we go again! One of the annual must-see best of the year lists is a video countdown made by my colleague David Ehrlich (follow him @davidehrlich). He counts down his 25 best films of the year in a video edited together with footage and music from the films. It's one of the best ways to look back at the year, including footage from films beyond the 25 that made his list. (If you haven't seen Annette yet, get on that stat!) David's Top 25 of 2021 is as diverse as always, and you will likely discover a number of great films from this video. A handful of my favorites are featured as well, including The Power of the Dog, In the Heights, Titane (yes!!), and The Worst Person in the World (this exceptional Norwegian film about a woman's relationships). Year after year, this is a must watch video for any and every movie lover out there. https://onfs.net/3taStDF

"Do you, some guy, take Kat to be your lawfully wedded wife?" Universal Pictures has debuted a fun new "60 second" trailer for Marry Me, the romantic comedy arriving in theaters this February. The trailer plays on the "tell you the story of this movie in 60 seconds" concept, kind of a Tiktok idea, but it works. Jennifer Lopez stars as musical superstar Kat Valdez and Owen Wilson as Charlie Gilbert, a math teacher—total strangers who agree to marry and then get to know each other after. Just as she's about to marry a music superstar, played by Maluma (who is also narrating this promo trailer), Kat learns he cheated on her and decides to marry a face in the crowd. "If what you know lets you down, then perhaps what you don't know is the answer, and so, in a moment of inspired insanity, Kat chooses to marry Charlie." The charming film also stars John Bradley, Michelle Buteau, and Utkarsh Ambudkar. The first trailer for this is very good, made me really want to see it. This one is more of a promo that is trying to build up the buzz before release. https://onfs.net/3tcoFXg

"I don't know what it is about this house... I have to stay." Well Go USA has released an official trailer for The Long Night, a horror thriller made by filmmaker Rich Ragsdale. This one is dropping soon on VOD in early February, despite not stopping by any festivals or elsewhere before. This is yet another in a long line of indie horror films to star Scout Taylor-Compton (also see: Room 9, Apache Junction, An Intrusion). A devoted couple's quiet weekend takes a bizarre turn when a nightmarish cult and their maniacal leader come to fulfill an apocalyptic prophesy. In addition to Scout, the cast includes Nolan Gerard Funk, Deborah Kara Unger, and Jeff Fahey. This looks crazy intense! What a chilling trailer. Lots of gnarly shots in this make it look like it might be a seriously unnerving thriller, not just another tame cult movie. Check this out. https://onfs.net/3HPNRH7

"Do you know how many times I jump started the car?" This excellent short film made by filmmaking duo Rayka Zehtabchi & Sam A. Davis is worth your time to watch. It screened at the 2021 SXSW Film Festival and Seattle Film Festival last year, and is available thanks to Short of the Week. Are You Still There? is about a young Iranian-American woman stuck parked in a parking lot with a dead battery. It's about much more than just that, dealing with grief and the journey of processing it. "Safa's been through a lot. Now her car battery's dead in a strip mall parking lot." It's best to let you experience and pick up on everything as the film plays out. It runs only 14 minutes and every single minute is valuable. Starring Safa Tarifi as Safa, and Rima Haddad as Roya. It's shot in Los Angeles on a hot summer day. Made by super talented filmmakers. https://onfs.net/3qYHSJe

"He needs to be terminated... NOW!" Screen Media Films has revealed the official US trailer for a hitman movie titled La Soga: Salvation, marking the directorial debut of Dominican actor Manny Perez - who also stars in this. This is actually a sequel to a 2009 film titled La Soga, also starring Manny Perez, but they're marketing it like a standalone creation that anyone can watch without having seen this one before. La Soga Salvation is a suspenseful thriller and love story, where a former hitman fights to rescue the love of his life, while confronting his inner demons and violent past. He must battle a crew of dangerous killers, including a particularly mysterious assassin, Dani, who has long awaited the chance to even the score with her rival. This stars Manny Perez, Chris McGarry, Juan Fernandez, Sarah Jorge Leon, and Hada Vanessa as Dani. It played at TIFF and looks like it has some solid action. But not sure about the rest of it. https://onfs.net/3JX6uLg

"A burger with a bikini on it?" 20th Century Studios has revealed an official trailer for The Bob's Burgers Movie, which is finally set to open in theaters starting in May 2022 this summer. This has been delayed for nearly two years after first being set to open in 2020, and is finally ready for its big screen debut. Based on the popular animated TV show that premiered in 2011. The Belcher family tries to save the restaurant from closing as a sinkhole forms in front of it, while the kids try to solve a mystery that could save their family's restaurant. Described as a "big-screen, musical comedy-mystery-adventure." Featuring the original voices: Kristen Schaal, H. Jon Benjamin, John Roberts, Dan Mintz, and Eugene Mirman, plus David Wain, Kevin Kline, and Zach Galifianakis. Every successful animated series gets its chance to shine on the big screen, and now it's time for Bob's Burgers to entertain us. With aliens...? And lots of burgers. Enjoy. https://onfs.net/3GlrbOW

"I've seen this movie before." "Not THIS movie." Paramount has revealed one final trailer for this year's Scream movie, arriving in theaters January 14th. The next big movie to kick off the New Year following The 355. The first trailer dropped a few months ago, and hopefully this silver mask reveal will get your attention. 25 years after the original series of murders in Woodsboro, a new killer emerges, and Sidney must return to uncover the truth. It's a direct sequel to 2011's Scream 4, and the first in the series not to be directed by Wes Craven, who passed away in 2015. The cast from the original includes David Arquette, Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, Roger L. Jackson, and Marley Shelton. With newcomers Melissa Barrera, Jenna Ortega, Jack Quaid, Mason Gooding, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Dylan Minnette, Mikey Madison, Sonia Ben Ammar, and Kyle Gallner. It seems Hollywood is hoping this horror sequel will be a big hit in January, but who knows? I'm not sure it's even that good! But it certainly seems like it will be terrifying. https://onfs.net/3qfE5Iv

"When you have money, no one is ever really your friend." 20th Century Studios has released another new 60-second official trailer for Agatha Christie's Death on the Nile movie. This is the Murder on the Orient Express sequel bringing back detective Hercule Poirot to solve yet another peculiar murder mystery. The latest trailer dropped a few months ago ahead of its February release this year. While on vacation in Egypt on a river boat on the Nile, Hercule Poirot must investigate the murder of a young heiress. Death on the Nile reunites the filmmaking team behind Orient Express, and stars Kenneth Branagh as the iconic Hercule Poirot; he also directed the film. Joined by an all-star cast of suspects, including: Tom Bateman, Annette Bening, Russell Brand, Ali Fazal, Dawn French, Gal Gadot, Armie Hammer, Rose Leslie, Emma Mackey, Sophie Okonedo, Jennifer Saunders, and Letitia Wright. As much as we all enjoy murder mysteries, this one looks quite forgettable. It looks great, but the rest of the movie doesn't seem that exciting. Or does it? https://onfs.net/3Fb4Wd2

"I may have heard a crime on one of the streams." HBO has unveiled the first official trailer for Kimi, Soderbergh's new Hitchcockian tech thriller that he filmed during the pandemic last year (which you can definitely notice). Kimi is also launching direct to HBO Max this February, like everything else Soderbergh has made in the last few years. From a script written by Oscar-winner David Koepp (Jurassic Park, Carlito's Way). An agoraphobic Seattle tech worker uncovers evidence of a crime. "KIMI" is a digital assistant that hears and records everything. When an interpreter hears a murder on a recording, she tries to tell the police, but her employer won't let her. Zoë Kravitz stars, along with Jaime Camil, Erika Christensen, Derek DelGaudio, Robin Givens, Charles Halford, Devin Retray, Jacob Vargas, and Rita Wilson. Why is Soderbergh playing with a boring tech fear concept like this? It's very similar to Unsane but with an added tech storyline, ripped off from so many other movies (Minority Report or Anon). Does it look good or not? https://onfs.net/3rcwUjL

"Everything's a lie." Netflix has revealed the official trailer for the chilling documentary film called The Tinder Swindler, which is premiering on Netflix in a few weeks (just in time for Valentine's Day!). From the producers on Don't F**ck With Cats, modern love is a dangerous game in the world of online dating, and not all that glitters is gold. Notoriously known as "The Tinder Swindler", he has seduced & swindled young women for millions and is a fugitive from justice in several countries. One swipe could change your life. This is the ultimate fairytale gone nightmare. Follow three women who decided it was time for payback. This riveting feature documentary follows as they uncover his true identity and fight to bring him to justice. Hell yeah, go for it! But also - this is another cautionary tale about making sure you don't fall for tricks online. It's too easy. Especially when it seems perfect. It all goes back to that first quote - everything is always a lie. https://onfs.net/3JYcWlc

"I feel like I'm a spectator in my own life." Neon has unveiled the full US trailer for the award-winning Norwegian film The Worst Person in the World, from director Joachim Trier (Oslo August 31st, Louder Than Bombs, Thelma). This premiered at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival in the summer, where I first flipped for it (here's my full review), and then Renate Reinsve won the Best Actress prize. It chronicles four years in the life of Julie, a 30-something young woman who navigates the troubled waters of her love life and struggles to find her career path, leading her to take a realistic look at who she really is. The film focuses on her relationships with two different men - Aksel, played by Anders Danielsen Lie, and Eivind, played by Herbert Nordrum. It's one of the best modern relationship films and truly one of the best films of 2021, there's no doubt about that. Finally playing in US theaters in February! I can't recommend this one enough. https://onfs.net/3FoYS0M