Latest news with #SophieThatcher
The Independent
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
One of last year's scariest horror films has just dropped on this streaming platform
We may still be a few months away from Halloween, but when it comes to a good horror film, there's no need to wait. Last year, everyone was talking about the chilling psychological horror Heretic, with noughties heartthrob Hugh Grant (Love Actually, Bridget Jones's Diary and Notting Hill) turned villain as Mr. Reed. Now, you can stream it from the comfort of your own home (probably watching from behind a pillow). The film follows the story of Mormon missionaries Sister Barnes and Sister Paxton (played by Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East) who pay a visit to Mr. Reed, after he expresses interest in their church. The young girls find themselves ensnared in a deadly, bone-chilling game of cat and mouse, as they find themselves trapped within the creepy Mr. Reed's home with no way to escape. When the film hit cinemas in 2024, it received positive reviews from critics, and nominations at the Golden Globes, Critics' Choice Awards and the BAFTAs. And, it has an impressive score of 91 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes' Tomatometer. If you can't wait to sink your teeth into this spine-tingling watch, here's everything that you need to know about where to stream Heretic. How to stream Heretic in the UK The film has soared up the Amazon Prime chart, having only been added a few days ago, and is receiving largely positive reviews. Heretic is just shy of two hours long, making it a perfect choice for an upcoming movie night. The film has been available in physical media for a while, released on DVD and Blu-ray in February 2025, but it's now free to watch for Amazon Prime subscribers. Amazon Prime is a paid subscription service that gives users access to numerous benefits, from free expedited shipping on Amazon shopping and free access to hit shows and films on its streaming service. You can sign up for Amazon Prime from just £8.99 a month, but if you're a new user, you can enjoy 30 days of a no-obligation free trial. Sometimes, Amazon will even offer an extra free trial to those who have previously signed up but are no longer members, so it's worth checking out what's on offer for you.
Metropolis Japan
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Metropolis Japan
Heretic
I have no patience with horror movies that rely overmuch on gore, violence and lazy 'boo' moments. Most stuff in the genre these days. Much more recommendable are those flicks that gradually build up a sense of peril and worm their way under your skin and into your mind to create dread from within. Even better when they then lead to a satisfying or at least edifying denouement. And those rare occasions where the script is intelligently written get high marks. In a dark and stormy night, a pair of Mormon missionary sisters call on a spooky-ish house in the hope of making a new convert. Contrary to their expectations, they find an amiable, well-spoken man who's not only conversant with LDS teachings, but with the myriad tenets of most of the world's religions. Their mild suspicions that this guy is too good to be true are confirmed when they find they can't leave but must stay and listen to a far-ranging and increasingly twisted debate on the nature of belief itself. Hugh Grant, who has been struggling a little to find his way since he outgrew the 'aw shucks,' rom-com phase of his career, gets a role here worthy of his subtle, wide-ranging talents. In fact, his matinee-idol past works in his character's favor here, and he puts in a performance that rates among his career-best. Turns out he's really good at being bad. Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East are both excellent in their constantly morphing roles. The writer/directors Scott Beck and Bryan Woods were the original writers of A Quiet Place. And the bump-in-the-night sound design is so spot-on it should get an actor's credit. You should go see it. Believe me. (111 min)
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
New movies streaming this weekend: ‘Companion' and ‘Mufasa: The Lion King' are now available at home; ‘Nosferatu' extended cut hits Peacock
It's hard to keep track of when new movies hit streaming services, but we've got you covered! Nosferatu hit on demand four weeks ago, and it's now available on Peacock in its original theatrical form, as well as a slightly longer never-before-seen extended cut, according to the streaming service. The critically-acclaimed sci-fi horror-comedy Companion starring Jack Quaid and Sophie Thatcher hits on demand this week, as does Disney's prequel Mufasa: The Lion King ahead of its debut on Disney+. Also available this week on streaming services are two under-seen movies: the impressive post-apocalyptic sci-fi survival thriller Elevation, featuring Captain America star Anthony Mackie, on Max, and the hilarious yet surprisingly affecting documentary Grand Theft Hamlet, about a group of out-of-work actors during the pandemic attempting to put on a production of Hamlet entirely within the virtual world of Grand Theft Auto Online. Here's what to know about the theatrical movies newly available to stream as of this week, and where you can find them. Click on the links below to jump straight to a specific movie:Director Robert Eggers's longtime passion project was an unexpected box office hit, and it's easy to see why. The sheer attention to detail of the period production design is enough to make your jaw drop, the sound design makes your skin crawl and the performances are memorable. The director's take on F.W. Murnau's classic silent film (which itself was remade in 1979 by legendary filmmaker Werner Herzog) is as sexy as it is scary; the jarring nature in which the movie jumps from one register to the other is transfixing and hallucinatory. It focuses more on the backstory of the relationship between Lily-Rose Depp's Ellen Hutter and Bill Skarsgård's Count Orlok, which winds up being a clever way to update and modernize material that many in the audience are already familiar with. Despite rumors that the longer cut of Nosferatu could be nearly three hours long, the extended edition that's out on 4K Blu-ray/DVD and now on Peacock only features four minutes of new footage, lengthening two scenes that were already included in the theatrical version. Eggers said in a recent interview that a shot in the marketing that didn't make it into the movie is in one of the extended scenes. How to watch: isnow streaming on Peacock Stream on Peacock The less you know about Companion, the better. That being said, watch it if you're a fan of thrillers, comedies, horror, Sophie Thatcher, Jack Quaid and being entertained! The non-spoiler description is simple: A group of friends gather for a weekend getaway at a remote cabin in the woods. The dynamic shifts about 30 minutes in, and the movie morphs into a different genre entirely while maintaining its well-defined sense of humor and delivering laughs and surprises in equal measure as it takes its many turns. There's an unexpected Hitchockian sensibility to it and a series of clever setups and executions that make it feel like the filmmakers thought of every little detail. It's a blast! How to watch: Companion is now available to rent or purchase on Prime Video and other video on demand platforms. Rent or Buy Mufasa is a prequel to The Lion King, specifically the 2019 computer-animated version, but if you've only seen the original 1994 animated film, you'll be sufficiently informed. In true prequel form, the movie tells the origin story of how Mufasa came to be the powerful king of the Pride Lands. Viewers also learn how Scar gets his scar and how Rifiki gets his walking stick. The story unfolds as Rifiki recalls the tale of grandfather Mufasa to Simba's daughter Kiara, with the aid of comedic relief from Timon and Pumbaa, played here by Billy Eichner and Seth Rogen, respectively. The real stars of the movie are Lin-Manuel Miranda's songs, which have a tough time living up to the original soundtrack done by Elton John and Tim Rice, but are still catchy and fun in their own way. If kids can get past the uncanny weirdness of watching photorealistic computer-animated lions smiling and singing and dancing, they're sure to have a good time. But if traditional animation is good enough for you, the original film is there for you on Disney+! How to watch: Mufasa: The Lion King is now available to rent or purchase on Prime Video and other video on demand platforms. Rent or Buy Grand Theft Hamlet is the best movie of 2025 so far, and also the most offbeat and unusual. It's a film set entirely within the completely open world of Grand Theft Auto Online, the multiplayer online component of Grand Theft Auto, the second-most popular game in the world, behind only Minecraft. Set during the COVID-19 pandemic, the documentary with a twist depicts a group of out-of-work actors struggling in the face of uncertainty who find community in the online gaming world. Through a series of clearly staged encounters in the game, the characters happen upon a big stage in a park and wonder aloud, 'What if we put on a production of Hamlet here?' The rest of the movie is dedicated to watching our heroes, to hilarious effect, try to convince complete strangers who they encounter in this online game to participate in a stage production in a video game world. It's funny every time a person hears their pitch and decides to open fire in typical GTA fashion, and it's oddly affecting whenever somebody decides they're on board for the madness. The way the movie depicts anxieties that people felt at the time is well done, and the catharsis involved in exploring an open-world game while the entire world was shut down is poignant and strangely beautiful. It's a total gem that you don't need to be a fan of video games to enjoy, but if you are a fan, then you'll absolutely love this. How to watch: Grand Theft Hamlet is now streaming on Mubi Stream on Mubi In the aftermath of A Quiet Place, several low-budget variants have tried their hand at a similar movie concept. Netflix had Bird Box and The Silence, Nicolas Cage recently did Arcadian, and now we have Elevation. In this high-concept post-apocalyptic sci-fi movie, Captain America himself (Anthony Mackie) and Deadpool's love interest (Morena Baccarin) star as a single father and a former scientist, respectively, that are trying to escape monsters that can't ascend to a certain height. The only habitable place left for humanity in this future world is in the high mountains, above 8,000 feet up. It may sound silly on its face, but it's played straight and delivers a number of solid action set pieces. The two leads help to elevate the plot even further, pun intended. How to watch: Elevation is now streaming on Mubi Stream on Mubi
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Review: ‘Companion'
Opinions are the author's alone and not endorsed by 2 NEWS and/or Nexstar Media Group. DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) — A well-made debut, 'Companion,' shows flashes of greatness despite a few stumbles. A group of friends look to indulge in a weekend getaway, but then things go horribly wrong. Sophie Thatcher stars as Iris — an on the nose anagram of a famous digital assistant — who discovers that she is a companion robot. Early on we see that Iris is uneasy about the trip. Something's off, yet she's tries her best to adjust to the circumstances. When that is no longer possible, it spurs on a game of cat and mouse between her and Josh — played by Jack Quaid. Thatcher and Quaid each excel in their performances. The one-upmanship between the two is engaging to watch. That said, the movie takes a few detours that make the overall experience less smooth. Without spoiling the movie, it's revealed that companion robots are a lot more common than they first appear. Review: 'Captain America: Brave New World' This choice sort of takes the focus away from the main conflict and at the same time isn't given the same weight. It feels forced and seems to serve as a way to extend the movie's runtime. It also stretches the scope of the film too far. The slight pivot of the plot begs a closer focus on the supporting cast. The problem with that though is that they aren't very interesting. Megan Suri isn't given anything more to do than react to everything happening (either by taking drugs or complaining). Lukas Gage and Harvey Guillén are given more to work with, but again it feels less important and more like an add-on to lengthen the movie. 'Companion' should be commended for the thrills it serves to audiences given its relatively low budget ($10 million according to a report by Deadline). It's a half science fiction, half dark comedy, sliver of romance film. It has an intriguing premise, sharing similarities to 'Promising Young Woman' and 'Ex Machina'. Overall, Drew Hancock's genre-bending debut is an intriguing one. Rating: R – for strong violence, sexual content, and language throughout. Runtime: 1 hour, 37 minutes Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Washington Post
13-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
When Sophie Thatcher's on-screen, something bad's going to happen
NEW YORK The first time Sophie Thatcher had to scream for a living, she couldn't do it. The actress, then 11, had booked the lead in the musical 'The Secret Garden' at a professional theater in the Chicago suburbs. The director asked her to shriek. Nothing came out.
