Venice Film Festival: 'Frankenstein,' 'Smashing Machine' among lineup
July 22 (UPI) -- The 82nd annual Venice International Film Festival announced its 2025 lineup Tuesday.
The roster of films is a pool of both splashy titles with major names attached, to smaller flicks hoping to make more than a ripple as they take the fest plunge.
Set to run from Aug. 27 through Sept. 6, some of the festival's more anticipated movies include Bugonia, a sci-fi dark comedy directed by Yorgos Lanthimos and starring frequent collaborator Emma Stone, and The Smashing Machine, director Benny Safdie's tale about two-time UFC heavyweight champion Mark Kerr, portrayed by Dwayne Johnson.
Also screening In Competition is Frankenstein, Guillermo del Toro's adaptation of Mary Shelley's classic gothic novel. Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi and Mia Goth star in the film, which will be released on Netflix.
Two other original offerings from Netflix were also selected: Kathryn Bigelow's A House of Dynamite, with Idris Elba, Rebecca Ferguson, Greta Lee, Gabriel Basso and Jared Harris on deck, and Noah Baumbach's Jay Kelly, starring George Clooney.
Fellow streamer Mubi's movies are also likely to grab some eyes, as its La Grazia, from Paolo Sorrentino, will open the festival. Father Mother Sister Brother, directed by Jim Jarmusch and starring Cate Blanchett, Vicky Krieps, Adam Driver and Charlotte Rampling, will also screen.
Out of Competition titles include Luca Guadagnino's After the Hunt, starring Julia Roberts, Andrew Garfield and Ayo Edebiri, and Julian Schnabel's In the Hand of Dante, featuring Martin Scorsese, Oscar Isaac, Gal Gadot and Gerard Butler.
Gus Van Sant's Dead Man's Wire, starring a powerful trio of Bill Skarsgård, Colman Domingo and Al Pacino, was also selected, along with Marc by Sofia, Sofia Coppola's documentary about fashion designer Marc Jacobs, and the Werner Herzog documentary Ghost Elephants.
As for indie entries, Mona Fastvold's The Testament of Ann Lee, starring Amanda Seyfried, is another piece that has some buzz.
Dwayne Johnson turns 52: a look back
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson poses with his wax image, which was unveiled for the media on April 10, 2002, at Madame Tussauds Wax Museum in New York City. Earlier that year, the wrestler made his acting debut in "The Scorpion King." Photo by Ezio Petersen/UPI | License Photo
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Tom's Guide
17 minutes ago
- Tom's Guide
Netflix's new psychological thriller movie is an unnerving descent into madness — but there's a problem
Netflix is going big on thrillers lately, and you can't blame the streaming service either. Its subscriber base seems to gobble up intense and twisting flicks with glee, so there's a good chance 'A Normal Woman' will be the latest original to make a real splash. It wouldn't surprise me if this Indonesian psychological thriller resonates. There's quite a lot to like here, from the hooky premise of a woman slowly spiralling into madness as her seemingly perfect life crumbles, to the strong leading performance from Marissa Anita. But its strengths are mostly skin-deep. Underneath the intrigue and the unsettling moments (of which there are quite a few), director Lucky Kuswandi never manages to elevate the proceedings above its daytime TV tone, and it can be quite a patience-testing watch. Curious to know more? Here's everything you need to know about 'A Normal Woman' to help you make the call on whether to add it to your Netflix watchlist or give this one a skip. Milla (Marissa Anita) has a seemingly perfect life. She's the wife of a successful businessman (Dion Wiyoko), and living in luxury, her list of problems or stresses seems to be extremely small. However, looks can be deceiving, and the pressure to be perfect weighs heavily on her. And this anxiety begins to manifest itself in increasingly skin-crawling ways. First, as a rash on her neck before spreading to cover her entire face. And the itching becomes unbearable. Under the stern eye of her mother-in-law, Liliana (Widyawati), Milla's sanity begins to spiral, and she also struggles to recall her childhood. It's not long before dark secrets surface. 'A Normal Woman' dives deep into the pressures that come with trying to keep up a facade. Initially, Milla appears to have it all, but it quickly becomes apparent that her perfect life is anything but a dream. She faces relatable insecurities and lacks a sense of self and direction. It certainly doesn't help that the people around her do little but pile on more pressure. Her husband seems far from concerned about her struggles, more annoyed to be 'forced' to deal with her problems, and her mother-in-law is quite a nasty piece of work. Blaming Milla's woes on things like not attending church regularly, while doting endlessly on her son. Milla is also struggling to raise her young daughter, who has deep insecurities of her own, bemoaning her appearance, and desperate for plastic surgery to make herself feel pretty. You probably won't be surprised to know that her self-loathing is only exacerbated by scrolling social media, observing people who present themselves as impeccably put together. When Milla's rash breaks through, it starts small, just a small red patch on her neck, but as her psyche cracks further, and she can't help but scratch, it becomes a festering wound, leaking blood and spreading across her entire face. It's an effective way of showing Milla's troubles bubble to the surface, and for body horror fans, it's effective enough to make you itch your own skin. Throw in the mystery surrounding Milla's childhood, surreal nightmares and teasing glimpses of a dark past, and 'A Normal Woman' has plenty to hook viewers in its early stages. But despite its initial narrative strength, it has quite a soap-opera-like quality, often opting for a melodramatic approach. "A Normal Woman" has grand ideas, exploring its characters' deep-rooted insecurities and incorporating uncomfortable elements of gaslighting, but it often presents them in ways that feel cheap and look more than a little shoddy. Poor green screening on some outdoor scenes doesn't help this issue. However, I think what will really turn some viewers away is the plodding pacing. The movie clocks in at almost two hours, but barely has enough material for a 90-minute movie. It labours its central point, with multiple scenes dedicated to the same idea and repeating details endlessly. I don't mind a slow-burn thriller, but 'A Normal Woman' lays down its cards very early on and has precious few tricks up its sleeve to keep you invested until the very end. Answering this key question is surprisingly tricky. 'A Normal Woman' has quite a bit to say, and much of it is valuable. It's a relatable feeling to be fixated on your outward appearance, and to struggle with anxiety about how you're perceived in the pressure cooker of modern life. But, at the same time, 'A Normal Woman' has a lot of major faults that make it quite a slog to sit through. Too often it trades subtlety for melodrama, and it forgets that sometimes less or more. Plus, I feel the slow-burn pacing is going to be a dealbreaker for an awful lot of viewers. Genre fans may want to give this new psychological thriller a chance, but I expect many people will switch off before they can reach the ending. And considering it doesn't do enough to retain your interest for almost two hours, I can't exactly blame anybody for deciding to dip out early. 'A Normal Woman' seems destined to go down as a Netflix thriller movie with interesting ideas that never quite coalesce into a truly satisfying whole. It could have been a must-watch, but instead is ultimately merely passable. Another Netflix movie that will get lost in the platform's vast library. Which, in some ways, is more irritating than even the itchiest rash. Looking for more Netflix recommendations? Check out our guide to all the new movies on Netflix in July 2025. Or why not try the streamer's new twist-filled thriller with a shocking ending? Watch "A Normal Woman" on Netflix now
USA Today
17 minutes ago
- USA Today
Hulk Hogan, WWE Hall of Famer and wrestling legend, dead at 71
WWE icon Hulk Hogan has died at the age of 71. The news was first reported by TMZ on Thursday, July 24. WWE confirmed the news. "WWE is saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away," the company said in a statement. "One of pop culture's most recognizable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s. WWE extends its condolences to Hogan's family, friends, and fans." Hogan was influential in the rise of wrestling worldwide and was WWE's first major star. He was a six-time WWE Champion and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame twice, once in 2005 and in 2020 as part of the New World Order. He made his last appearance for WWE in January at the Netflix debut of Monday Night Raw in Inglewood, California. (This story will be updated with more information.)
UPI
18 minutes ago
- UPI
Wrestler, reality TV icon Hulk Hogan dies at 71
Retired professional wrestler Hulk Hogan died Thursday at the age of 71. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo July 24 (UPI) -- Terry Bollea -- the professional wrestler known for decades as Hulk Hogan -- died at his Florida home Thursday at the age of 71, according to multiple media reports. TMZ said the athlete and entertainer -- recognizable by his long blonde hair, mustache and deep tan -- suffered cardiac arrest and could not be revived by first responders. His family confirmed the news to Us Weekly. World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) paid tribute to Hogan on social media. "WWE is saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away," the organization said on X. "One of pop culture's most recognizable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the extends its condolences to Hogan's family, friends, and fans." In addition to his career inside the ring, Bollea starred in the reality shows Hogan Knows Best, American Gladiators and Hulk Hogan's Celebrity Championship Wrestling. Film credits include Rocky III, No Holds Barred, Suburban Commando, Mr. Nanny and Spy Hard. He is survived by his children, Brooke and Nick Hogan. Notable deaths of 2025 Ozzy Osbourne Ozzy Osbourne arrives for the Tribeca Film Festival Premiere of "God Bless Ozzy Osbourne" at the BMCC Tribeca PAC in New York on April 24, 2011. The legendary singer and media personality Ozzy Osbourne arrives for the Tribeca Film Festival Premiere of "God Bless Ozzy Osbourne" at the BMCC Tribeca PAC in New York on April 24, 2011. The legendary singer and media personality died at age 76 on July 22, 2025. Photo by Laura Cavanaugh/UPI | License Photo
