7 New Movies Worth Renting Right Now
Cinderella horror tale The Ugly Stepsister is now streaming on demand.
Photo: Lava Films
The temperatures may be rising across the country, but it’s still the perfect season to stay indoors and watch a movie. But what if you’re tired of the selection on Netflix and Hulu and want to catch up with something that just left (or might even still be in) theaters? We’re here to help with the biggest releases of the month for your PVOD dollar. Stream them now.
James Griffiths, 99 minutes
Do you remember the musical charm of Once? This James Griffiths film has been compared to that delightful Sundance darling, and not just because it too premiered in Park City. Based on a 2007 short film, it stars Tom Basden as a musician who ends up on Wallis Island for a very intimate show. Co-starring Tim Key and the wonderful Carey Mulligan, it’s one of the more critically acclaimed flicks of the year so far.
Tracie Laymon, 101 minutes
Is John Leguizamo considered a legend yet? He should be. The stage and screen star has been a crucial part of the indie, blockbuster, and theater scenes for decades now. He does arguably his best film work to date in this charming feature about a young woman (Barbie Ferreira of Euphoria) who tries to find her estranged father, Bob Trevino, only to befriend a different man with the same name. Their dynamic is funny and moving.
Alex Garland & Ray Mendoza, 95 minutes
The Civil War director shares filmmaking credit on this one with the man whose story it tells, Ray Mendoza. D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai (Reservation Dogs) plays Mendoza in a film based on his experiences in the Iraq War that’s told with as little Hollywood embellishment as possible. The film co-stars Will Poulter, Joseph Quinn, Charles Melton, Michael Gandolfini, and about a dozen other rising stars.
Emilie Blichfeldt, 109 minutes
Have you ever really thought about the legend of Cinderella? The horror possibilities within the concept of a woman who would do anything to find her Prince Charming? Emilie Blichfeldt takes this idea to extremes in the most intensely grotesque film of the year to date, one so intense that it made someone puke in the aisle at the Sundance premiere.
Jared Hess, 101 minutes
Chicken Jockey! The phenomenon based on the hit video game comes home even as teenagers are still ruining the days of movie-theater ushers around the world. Jack Black and Jason Momoa star in a film that’s imperfect but also wonderfully weird at times. And you really need to see it just because of what a story it became. If you don’t believe me, ask the nearest teen. (One of mine saw it three times. And he didn’t even like it.)
Andrew Ahn, 103 minutes
This movie deserves more viewers. The incredibly likable remake of the Ang Lee flick of the same name reshapes its story for a new generation. Kelly Marie Tran, Lily Gladstone, Bowen Yang, and Han Gi-Chan play couples forced to fake partnerships for reasons one couldn’t explain in a capsule. Just know that it’s sweet and pretty much stolen by the incredible veterans: Joan Chen and Youn Yuh-Jung.
Isaiah Saxon, 95 minutes
If you’re old enough to remember the puppet-driven family hits of the ’80s like The Dark Crystal and The Neverending Story, this is the movie for you. Isaiah Saxon directs the story of a girl who discovers that the creatures in the woods known as the Ochi aren’t the real enemy. Amazing puppetry — the movie uses almost no CGI — and a wonderful, scenery-chewing performance from Willem Dafoe? What more do you want?
