By John Corrado

New releases for the week of March 22nd, 2024.

Theatrical Releases:

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (Wide Release): This latest film in the Ghostbusters franchise picks up where 2021 legacy sequel Ghostbusters: Afterlife left off, setting the action back in New York where Phoebe (McKenna Grace) and her family are now busting ghosts out of the iconic firehouse. This is a for-the-fans sort of film that mostly works as a fun family adventure movie. It banks heavily on nostalgia, and the story is uneven. But it’s still a decent follow up to Afterlife that works thanks to the best efforts of the new cast members (Paul Rudd is enjoying every minute of being a Ghostbuster) and the return of the old ones. Reviews are mixed, but I enjoyed it. (Full Review)

Immaculate (Wide Release): Sydney Sweeney stars as a young nun at a remote convent in Italy in this new “nunsploitation” horror flick that pays tribute to the Italian Giallo genre. Sweeney is a strong presence, but the characters are underdeveloped and the film doesn’t go deep enough into its religious allegories, relying on shock value and cheap jump scares instead. See it for Sweeney, but I personally found it to be a mixed bag overall. (Full Review)

Late Night with the Devil (Limited Release): David Dastmalchian stars as the old school host of a 1970s late night talk show who ends up unleashing demonic spirits during his Halloween special in this indie horror film. It has been embroiled in controversy over its brief uses of AI-generated title cards, but the low-budget film otherwise offers an enjoyably creepy tone and some unsettling moments. It works due to a strong performance from Dastmalchian, and full commitment to the bit of this being an old 1970s talk show. (Full Review)

William Shatner: You Can Call Me Bill (Limited Release): This latest from documentary filmmaker Alexandre O. Philippe is less a traditional biography and more a chance to hear iconic Star Trek actor William Shatner wax philosophical about a variety of subjects, from loneliness to the nature of his fame, and the fragility of our planet. It’s an engaging portrait that gives him the space to reflect on his life and career. (Full Review)

Luca (Limited Theatrical Release): Pixar’s 2021 Italy-set summer hangout film (which I kind of adored) is finally being given a limited theatrical run. This concludes the theatrical re-releases of the three Pixar movies that were sent straight to Disney+ during the pandemic, following Turning Red last month and Soul in January. These releases have been inconsistent (and frustratingly limited) in terms of theatre options, but at least fans will have a chance to see this one on the big screen. (Full Review)

More Releases: Exhuma (Limited), Problemista (Limited), Shayda (Limited), The Queen of My Dreams (Limited)

Streaming Releases:

Road House (Prime Video), Shirley (Netflix), 3 Body Problem (Netflix), Palm Royale (Apple TV+), X-Men ’97 (Disney+), Dream Scenario (Paramount+)