Alex Cann Film Column - 02/04/26

Project Hail Mary is cream of the crop at the UK Box Office right now, with a second week at number one and easily surpassing Hoppers and Scream 7 to become the biggest film of the year so far. Ryan Gosling is terrific as a science teacher who wakes up from a coma in space, discovers he's the only one alive on the rocket, and that essentially the planet's future rests solely in his hands.

Based on an Andy Weir novel released a few years ago, it's really refreshing to see an original story do so well. It's a lengthy affair at around 150 minutes, but I've watched 90 minute movies that have felt longer. With a Rotten Tomatoes score of 96%, it seems this has really hit the mark with audiences. One review on the site sums it up nicely for me: "It like ET, but made for millenials in 2026. Feel good, feel sad, feel hopeful and all the things". I'd say it's absolutely essential to see on the big screen, free of distractions, and the ambition and scale of it is immense. Best seen without too many spoilers, which might be difficult given it's been out for a couple of weeks.

They Will Kill You started quite promisingly, but soon became a bit silly. It's unflinchingly gory, features a stunning central performance from Zazie Beetz as Asia Reaves, but it felt a little like they forgot to write a decent script to back her up. I was on the edge of my seat as Asia checked in and spent her first night in the mysterious establishment where she applied for work after leaving prison, but once the first big reveal happens, I felt all the tension vanish faster than Morgan McSweeney's stolen phone. The gore is not especially realistic, but if you're not a fan of squelched eyeballs or axes swung where the sun don't shine, it's perhaps not the film for you. A few lines did make me chuckle, but I'd struggle to give this more than 2 stars, to be honest.

Midwinter Break sees Lesley Manville and Ciaran Hinds take a short break in Amsterdam, where their tense marriage begins to unravel amidst the winding canals and bars of the European city, as some home truths are revealed. Although both actors bring their A game, and there are some really good tense scenes, where the most excoriating bits are left unsaid, it's a Sunday afternoon curled up on the sofa film rather than one you should rush to see at the cinema. Fortunately, it's no longer on at Cineworld anyway, so you'll have to wait for it to appear on one of the streaming services.

Next week, a review of the new Super Mario Galaxy Movie, plus The Drama and Ready Or Not 2 (might need to watch the first one again on Disney+, as I don't remember anything about it!). If you watch something decent over the Easter weekend, I'm always up for recommendations.