Film Focus: ‘Slanted,’ ‘Reminders of Him’ and more films release this weekend
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Film Focus: ‘Slanted,’ ‘Reminders of Him’ and more films release this weekend

Buffalo Movies: New films are set to open in local theaters this weekend. Check out what movies are releasing and where to see them in WNY.

(Above: Shirley Chen in Slanted (2025) via IMDB).

By M. Faust

OPENING THIS WEEK: 

REMINDERS OF HIM (PG-13) Adaptation of a Colleen Hoover novel (It Ends with Us, Regretting You), so expect the equivalent of a Lifetime movie with dark patches. Starring Maika Monroe, Tyriq Withers, Rudy Pankow, Lauren Graham, and Bradley Whitford. Directed by Vanessa Vaswill (Love at First Sight). AMC Maple Ridge, Dipson Amherst, Dipson Capitol, Dipson Flix, Dunkirk Multiplex, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria, Spotlight Theater of Warsaw 

THE REVENANT (R) 10th anniversary re-release of the drama starring Leonardo DiCaprio as a frontiersman who struggles to survive in the west of the 1820s after he is attacked by a bear and left for dead by his companions. Co-starring Tom Hardy, Domhnall Gleeson, Will Poulter, and Forrest Goodluck. Directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu (Birdman). Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria 

SAMBHAVAM ADHYAYAM ONNU (NR) Malayalam-language time-loop thriller. Starring Askar Ali and Vineeth Kumar. Directed by debutant Jithu Satheesan Mangalathu. Regal Elmwood

SCENT OF PHO (MUI PHO) (NR) A Vietnamese family is disrupted when the elder decides to make his grandson heir to his successful pho business. Starring Cuong Ca, Thanh Thanh Hien, and Xuân Hinh. Directed by Minh Beta. Regal Walden Galleria

SLANTED (R) A teen of Asian heritage goes to extremes to fit in with her high school’s clique of popular girls in this dark-humored body horror movie. Starring Shirley Chen, Fang Du, and Mckenna Grace. Directed by Amy Wang. Dipson Capitol, Regal Elmwood, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

TMNT II: THE SECRET OF THE OOZE (PG) 35th anniversary re-release. If you don’t know what TMNT stands for, you wouldn’t be interested. Paige Turco and David Warner head the live cast. Directed by Michael Pressman (Doctor Detroit). Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria 

UNDERTONE (R) Meticulous sound design reportedly provides most of the scares in this low-budget horror film about a podcaster (Nina Kiri) beset by unseen forces. Directed by Ian Tuason. AMC Maple Ridge, Dipson Capitol, Dipson Flix, Dunkirk Multiplex, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

NOW PLAYING:

ANACONDA (PG-13) Paul Rudd and Jack Black as aspiring filmmakers (from Buffalo!) who go to the South American jungle to remake their favorite bad 1990s horror movie. With Steve Zahn, Thandiwe Newton, and Ice Cube. Directed by Tom Gormican (The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent). Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH (PG-13) Number three of five. With Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Stephen Lang, Sigourney Weaver, CCH Pounder, Giovanni Ribisi, Kate Winslet, Edie Falco, Jemaine Clement, Oona Chaplin and David Thewlis. Directed by James Cameron, the pride of Chippawa, Ontario. Regal Quaker, Regal Transit

THE BRIDE (R) Maggie Gyllenhaal wrote and directed this loose adaptation of The Bride of Frankenstein, updated to 1930s Chicago. Starring Jessie Buckley, Christian Bale, Peter Sarsgaard, Annette Bening, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Penélope Cruz. Read M. Faust’s review here. AMC Maple Ridge, Dipson Amherst, Dipson Capitol, Dipson Flix, Dunkirk Multiplex, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria, Spotlight Theater of Warsaw

CRIME 101 (R) Character-driven LA heist movie adapted from a Don Winslow novel. Starring Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Barry Keoghan, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Nick Nolte, and Halle Berry. Directed by Bart Layton (American Animals). AMC Maple Ridge, Regal Quaker, Regal Walden Galleria

DEMON SLAYER: KIMETSU NO YAIBA INFINITY CASTLE (R) Proof, if there was any doubt, that anime has gone mainstream. Directed by Haruo Sotozaki and Hikaru Kondô. Regal Elmwood, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

DOLLY (R) Horror movie in which a young woman is captured by a monster who wants to raise her as its child. Starring Fabianne Therese, Seann William Scott, and Ethan Suplee. Directed by Rod Blackhurst. Regal Walden Galleria

DHURANDHAR (NR) Hindi language thriller based on the true story of government efforts to take down a terrorist network operating out of Pakistan. NB: It’s 3 ½ hours long, which is long even by Bollywood standards. Starring Ranveer Singh, Sanjay Dutt, and Akshaye Khanna. Regal Elmwood

EPIC: ELVIS PRESLEY IN CONCERT (PG-13) Baz Luhrmann, whose 2022 biopic of the king of rock and roll divided audiences, now presents the real thing in meticulously restored concert footage. Angola, Dipson Capitol, Dipson Flix, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit

GOAT (PG) Animated comedy with an all-animal cast headed by a goat who wants to be a star in the manic sport of roarball. With the voices of Caleb McLaughlin, Gabrielle Union, Stephen Curry, Nick Kroll, and Patton Oswalt. Directed by Tyree Dillihay and Adam Rosette. AMC Maple Ridge, Dipson Capitol, Dipson Flix, Dunkirk Multiplex, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

GOOD LUCK, HAVE FUN, DON’T DIE (R) A man steps into a diner, announces that he is from the future and asks for help in stopping AI in this comic sci-fi. Starring Sam Rockwell, Haley Lu Richardson, and Juno Temple. Directed by Gore Verbinski (Pirates of the Caribbean). Regal Transit

HOPPERS (PG) This year’s Pixar entry borrows heavily from Avatar for an ecologically conscious story about a girl trying to save an animal habitat from being razed for a new highway. With the voices of Piper Curda, Bobby Moynihan, Kathy Najimy, Dave Franco, Jon Hamm, and Meryl Streep. Directed by Daniel Chong (We Bare Bears). AMC Maple Ridge, Aurora, Dipson Capitol, Dipson Flix, Dunkirk Multiplex, Hamburg Palace, Joylan, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria, Spotlight Theater of Warsaw

IRON LUNG (R) Horror film adapted from a video game set after a universal catastrophe, in which a prisoner is tasked to earn his freedom by using a one-man windowless submarine to search for data in an ocean of blood. Starring Mark Fischbach (who also directed), Troy Baker, and Elsie Lovelock. Dunkirk Multiplex

ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER (R) Director Paul Thomas Anderson’s new film, loosely inspired by the Thomas Pynchon novel Vineland, starring Leonardo DiCaprio as a onetime radical who tried to summon up his former fire when his daughter is kidnapped. Co-starring Sean Penn, Benecio del Toro and Regina Hall. Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

PEAKY BLINDERS: THE IMMORTAL MAN (R) In this spin-off from the British series about a criminal gang of working-class youths after the first World War, Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy) returns as England fights World War II. Co-starring Rebecca Ferguson, Tim Roth, Sophie Rundle, Barry Keoghan, and Stephen Graham. Directed by Tom Harper. North Park

PILLION (NR) Alexander Skarsgard as a sexual dominant who changes the life of a fledgling submissive. With Harry Melling, Douglas Hodge, and Lesley Sharp. Directed by Harry Lighton. Regal Elmwood

PROTECTOR (R) Action adventure with Milla Jovovich as a retired war hero who has to call on her training to rescue her kidnapped daughter. With D.B. Sweeney, Matthew Modine, and Don Harvey. Directed by Adrian Grunberg (Rambo: Last Blood). Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

SCREAM 7 (R) Kevin Williamson returns as writer and debuts as director for the latest in this endless horror series. Starring Neve Campbell, Isabel May, Courteney Cox, and Joel McHale. AMC Maple Ridge, Dipson Capitol, Dipson Flix, Dunkirk Multiplex, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

THE SECRET AGENT (R) During the Brazilian military dictatorship of the 1970s, a man on the run from a death squad seeks shelter in his hometown in this drama that has been nominated for four Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Actor. Starring Wagner Moura, Carlos Francisco, Tânia Maria, and Udo Kier. Directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho (Aquarius). Dipson Amherst

SEND HELP (R) Co-workers (Rachel McAdams, Dylan O’Brien) stranded on a desert island find their balance of power is very different away from civilization in this dark comedy directed by Sam Raimi (The Evil Dead). Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Walden Galleria

SOLO MIO (PG) Romcom starring Kevin James as a jilted groom picking up the pieces in Rome on what was supposed to be his honeymoon. With Jonathan Roumie, Kim Coates and Alyson Hannigan. Directed by Charles Kinnane and Daniel Kinnane. Regal Transit 

WUTHERING HEIGHTS (R) Capping the trifecta of gothic remakes after the recent updates of Frankenstein and Dracula. Starring Margot Robbie, Jacob Elordi, Hong Chau, and Martin Clunes. Directed by Emerald Fennell (Saltburn). AMC Maple Ridge, Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

ZOOTOPIA 2 (PG) Ten years is a long time in coming for a sequel to a children’s film, but here it is anyway. With the voices of Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Shakira, Idris Elba, Ke Huy Quan, Andy Samberg, David Strathairn, Patrick Warburton, Quinta Brunson, and Danny Trejo. Directed by Jared Bush and Byron Howard.  Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria

ETC.

THE ENGLISH PATIENT (1996, R) Nine Oscars went to this wartime drama that was beloved by everyone except Elaine Benes. Starring Ralph Fiennes, Juliette Binoche, Willem Dafoe, Kristin Scott Thomas, Naveen Andrews, Colin Firth, and Jürgen Prochnow. Directed by Anthony Minghella (Truly Madly Deeply). Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria (Thurs only)

F1 THE MOVIE (2025, PG-13) Brad Pitt as a Formula 1 driver. With Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Tobias Menzies, and Javier Bardem. Directed by Joseph Kosinski (Top Gun: Maverick). Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria (Sat only)

FRIDAY THE 13TH PART 3 – 3D (1983, R) From the days when 3D meant you were desperate to put some life into an otherwise weary exercise. Starring Dana Kimmell, Paul Kratka, and Richard Brooker. Directed by Steve Miner (House).  Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria (Fri only)

FRIDAY THE 13TH PART IV: THE FINAL CHAPTER (1984, R) “Final” until the next six sequels and a reboot. Worth seeing if you’ve ever wanted to see Corey Feldman and Crispin Glover in the same movie. Directed by Joseph Zito (Missing in Action).  Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria (Fri only)

THE IRON GIANT (1999, PG) Animated fantasy about a boy who finds a giant alien robot and tries to protect it from the military. With the voices of J ennifer Aniston, Harry Connick Jr., Vin Diesel, Cloris Leachman, John Mahoney, and M. Emmet Walsh. Directed by Brad Bird (The Incredibles).  Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit (Sat-Sun only)

KRAMER VS. KRAMER (1979, PG) Workaholic Dustin Hoffman remakes his life to care for his young son after his wife (Meryl Streep) walks out. And then she comes back. Co-starring Jane Alexander, Justin Henry and JoBeth Willimas. Directed by Robert Benton (Places in the Heart).  Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria (Mon only)

PARASITE (2019, NR) Both the Palme d’Or at Cannes and the Oscar for Best Picture went to this South Korean social satire about a poor family who infiltrate the life and house of a rich family. Directed by Bong Joon Ho (Snowpiercer).  Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria (Tues only)

TERMS OF ENDEARMENT (1983, PG) Big screen soap opera centered on the relationship between rebellious Debra Winger and her controlling mother (Shirley MacLaine). Co-starring Jack Nicholson, Jeff Dnaiels, John Lithgow and Danny DeVito. Directed by James L. Brooks (Broadcast News). Regal Elmwood, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden Galleria (Weds only)

TWIN PEAKS series 1, episodes 5 and 6 (NR) Continuing the series of theatrical screenings of David Lynch’s epochal 1990 television show. Starring Kyle MacLachlan, Michael Ontkean, Mädchen Amick, Lara Flynn Boyle, Sherilyn Fenn, Peggy Lipton, and of course Jack Nance. Fri 9:30 pm, Sat 11:30 am, 9:30 pm, Sun 8:45 pm, Mon 9:30 pm. North Park

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THEATER LOCATIONS AND WEBSITES

AMC Maple Ridge, 4276 Maple Road, Amherst https://www.amctheatres.com/movie-theatres/buffalo/amc-maple-ridge-8

Angola Theatre, 72 N. Main St., Angola, NY https://angolatheatre.com/

Aurora Theater, 673 Main Street, East Aurora https://theauroratheatre.com/

Dipson Amherst, 3500 Main Street, Buffalo. www.dipsontheatres.com

Dipson Capitol Theater, 720 Builders Way, Niagara Falls www.dipsontheatres.com

Dipson Flix, 4901 Transit Road, Depew www.dipsontheatres.com

Dunkirk Multiplex, 10520 Bennett Road, Dunkirk https://www.dunkirkmultiplex.com/

Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center Cinema, 431 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo https://www.hallwalls.org/

Hamburg Palace, 31 Buffalo Street, Hamburg www.hamburgpalace.com

Joylan, 11 W. Main Street, Springville https://joylantheater.com/

North Park, 1428 Hertel Avenue, Buffalo 

Regal Elmwood, 2001 Elmwood Avenue., Buffalo https://www.fandango.com/

Regal Quaker Crossing, 3450 Amelia Drive, Orchard Park https://www.fandango.com/

Regal Transit, 6707 Transit Road. Williamsville https://www.fandango.com/

Regal Walden Galleria, Galleria Mall, Cheektowaga https://www.fandango.com/

Riviera Theater, 67 Webster Street, North Tonawanda https://rivieratheatre.org/

The Screening Room, Boulevard Mall Amherst www.screeningroom.net

Spotlight Theater of Warsaw, 23 S Main Street, Warsaw https://www.spotlighttheater.com/movie-theater/warsaw

Squeaky Wheel, Tri-Main Center, 2495 Main Street, Suite 310, Buffalo https://squeaky.org/

Transit Drive-In Theatre, 6655 S. Transit Road, Lockport https://www.transitdrivein.com CLOSED UNTIL SPRING 

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