The Decade in Movies

As we move towards the start of a new decade, it's always fun to go back and look at what made the biggest impact, or what we thought was great at first and later on didn't age as well. This was the decade of Marvel movies and shared cinematic universes, the decade of streaming exclusives, the decade of the relaunch of the Star Wars franchise. The 2010's saw a lot of changes happen across the silver screen. We've compiled a modest list of some of the decade's most popular: how many have you seen, and what do you think of them now? Click on a title to place a hold on something you haven't seen!




2010 - The Social Network, Inception, The King's Speech


2011 - Drive, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, The Artist


2012 - The Avengers, Silver Linings Playbook, Life of Pi 


2013 - Her, The Wolf of Wall Street, Gravity 


2014 - Whiplash, Boyhood, Birdman 


2015 - Mad Max: Fury Road, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Room 


2016 - Moonlight, La La Land, Manchester by the Sea 


2017 - Get Out, Lady Bird, The Shape of Water


2018 - Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Green Book, The Favourite


2019 - Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Booksmart, Avengers: Endgame 

After IT: CHAPTER 2, Try...

The sequel to 2017's blockbuster horror IT has floated into theaters and to the top of the box office. Whether you're a fan of King's original novel, the 1990 miniseries, or the newer adaptation, these picks are a perfect double feature for this horror epic. 

• Die by Kieron Gillen: Several years after being trapped in a game of their own design, former childhood friends reunite to step back into their nightmarish creation. 
• The Boy Who Drew Monsters by Keith Donohue: To cope with a near-death experience, ten-year-old Jack spends most of his time drawing monsters. Much like King's novel, the lines between fantasy and reality slowly begin to blur in this psychological horror novel. 
• NOS4A2 by Joe Hill: Decades after escaping a crazed killer, a mother must use all of her abilities to get her son back after he is kidnapped by the same man. With supernatural abilities, alternate imaginative universes, and the magic of childhood and memory, this has more than a few things in common with IT. 
• Stand by Me: A group of friends go on an adventure to find the body of a missing boy. If you like the idea of IT's focus on the bonding of a group of friends, but can't hack the scary stuff, this one's for you. Also check out the original novella. 
• Escape Room: Six strangers accept a mysterious invitation to a brand new escape room, which turns out to much deadlier than they ever would have expected. If you like IT for the rollercoaster thrill-ride cycle of scares, you might like this recent horror flick too. If you do, be sure to check out our (much less lethal) Escape Room program on September 26th! 

Classical Music in Movies - Composers born in May

BRAHMS - May 7, 1833
The Boy (2016)
     Hungarian Dance No. 5
Phantom Thread (2017)
     Waltz No. 11 in B minor

FAURE - May 12, 1845
Captain American: Civil War (2016)
     Requiem, Op. 48: Pie Jesus

MASSENET - May 12, 1842
Manchester by the Sea (2016)
     Cherubin

SATIE - May 17, 1866
Call Me by Your Name (2017)
     Sonatine Bureaucratique
The Gift (2015)
     3 Gymnopedies: Gymnopedie No. 1
Mississippi Grind (2015)
     3 Gymnopedies: Gymnopedie No. 1

TCHAIKOVSKY - May 5, 1840
Birdman: or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2015)
     Symphony No. 4 in F minor, Op. 36: Andantino in modo di
          canzona 
     Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64: II. Andante cantabile, con
          alcuna licenza
Daddy's Home (2015)
     The Nutcracker: III. Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies
La La Land (2016)
     1812 Overture, Op. 49
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar children (2016)
     Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor, Op. 23: I. Allegro non 
          troppo e molto maestoso
Zookeeper's Wife (2017)
     18 Morceaux, Op. 72. Passe lointain

WAGNER - May 22, 1813
Alien: Covenant (2017)
     Das Rheingold: Scene IV: Entrance of the Gods into Valhalla
The Gift (2015)
     Die Walkure: Hojotoho! Hojotoho! (The Valkryies), "Ride of the 
          Valkyries"

Before AVENGERS: ENDGAME, Watch...

With Marvel's climactic Avengers: Endgame hitting theaters this weekend, superhero movie demand is at an all time high. Endgame is the twenty-second entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and is the culmination of over a decade worth of long-form storytelling. All this to say, there's a lot going on in this movie: lots of characters, backstory, and information to remember from previous films. No time to catch up or have a refresher on twenty other movies before you head to theater? We've got it narrowed down to just a few: 

• Avengers (2012) - When an alien invasion hits New York, Iron Man, Captain America, The Hulk, Thor, Black Widow, and Hawkeye team up to save the day. This was the first large Marvel crossover movie that also offered a very brief cameo for Thanos, the villain of Endgame. 
• Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) - Marvel meets sci-fi in this planet-hopping adventure following a gang of misfits. While the first Avengers movie gave us a glimpse at the larger universe, Guardians dives into that universe and gives us a larger look at the Infinity Stones, which become important in both Infinity War and Endgame. 
• Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) - In the aftermath of the alien invasion of New York, Tony Stark attempts to build a supercomputer to protect the Earth, but when it gains awareness it turns against the Avengers. Ultron introduces a few new heroes and sets the stage for the rest for the following movies.
• Captain America: Civil War (2016) - After the events of Age of Ultron, some of the Avengers feel the need for government supervision and accountability, causing a rift between heroes. Civil War introduces a few new heroes and sets up the need for all of the Marvel heroes to come together for one more fight, in Infinity War. 
• Avengers: Infinity War (2018) - All of the heroes come together in order to stop Thanos, who is constructing an artifact that will allow him to alter reality at will. If you only have time to watch one movie before Endgame, make it this one, whose events directly lead to Endgame. 

Below is a list of all 21 films in chronological order. 

1. Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) 
2. Captain Marvel (2019)
3. Iron Man (2008) 
4. Iron Man 2 (2010) 
5. The Incredible Hulk (2008) 
6. Thor (2011)
7. Avengers (2012) 
8. Iron Man 3 (2013) 
9. Thor: The Dark World (2013)
10. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) 
11. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
12. Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2 (2017) 
13. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
14. Ant-Man (2015) 
15. Captain America: Civil War (2016) 
16. Black Panther (2018)
17. Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) 
18. Doctor Strange (2016) 
19. Thor: Ragnarok (2017) 
20. Avengers: Infinity War (2018) 
21. Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)

The Winners

Still feeling the Oscar buzz? Here's a quick update on films that won big at the 91st Academy Awards and info on how you can get your hands on a DVD or Blu-Ray copy to check out. You'll probably have to place a HOLD on most of these titles as demand is HIGH but you can start to cross some of these off your current watch list:

Green Book - out March 12th

Bohemian Rhapsody - out now

The Favourite - out March 5th

If Beale Street Could Talk  - out March 26th

BlacKkKlansman - out now

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse - out March 19th

Free Solo - out March 5th

Black Panther - out now

Vice - out April 2nd

A Star is Born - out now

First Man - out now

Roma - streaming now on Netflix, borrow one of our ROKUs

After THE FAVOURITE, Try...

This unusual historical drama from absurdist director Yorgos Lanthimos garnered the most Oscar nominations this year: Best Picture, Best Actress (Olivia Colman), Best Supporting Actress (twice: Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz), Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Editing, and Best Production Design. This awards favorite just might have been yours at the theater, but did it leave you wanting for more? If so, try these movies:


Barry Lyndon: An 18th century Irish man attempts to move up the nobility ladder in this meticulously crafted period piece from director Stanley Kubrick. If you have an eye for historical detail, both Barry Lyndon and The Favourite have plenty of rewards.

The Lobster: Yorgos Lanthimos made his first English-language movie in this 2015 absurdist dystopian comedy, starring Colin Farrell and Rachel Weisz. In the not-too-distant future, single people are forced to find a mate in 45 days or will be turned into an animal of their choosing.

Phantom Thread: A famous dressmaker (played by Daniel Day-Lewis) begins a relationship with a strong-willed woman who inspires his craft. Both Phantom Thread and The Favourite explore complex power structures in odd relationships and pay close attention to period detail and costuming.

Marie Antoinette : A stylish, anachronistic depiction of the life of Marie Antoinette. Much like The Favourite, this is not just another period drama!

Your 2019 Academy Award Nominees

This year's Oscars ceremony will air on Sunday, February 24th. Below is a list of each film nominated for an award - many you can place on hold. What are your predictions for this year's big winners? 

• At Eternity's Gate - Best Actor (Willem Dafoe)

• Avengers: Infinity War - Best Visual Effects

• The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (Netflix Exclusive - Try our Roku devices!) (3)  - Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Costume Design, Best Original Song (When A Cowboy Trades His Spurs For Wings)

• Black Panther (7) - Best Picture, Best Production Design, Best Costume Design, Best Original Score, Best Original Song (All the Stars), Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing

• BlackKklansman (6) - Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Adam Driver), Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Editing, Best Original Score

• Bohemian Rhapsody  (5) - Best Picture, Best Actor (Rami Malek), Best Editing, Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing

• Border - Best Makeup and Hairstyling

• Can You Ever Forgive Me?(3)  - Best Actress (Melissa McCarthy), Best Supporting Actor (Richard E. Grant), Best Adapted Screenplay

• Capernaum - Best Foreign Language Film

• Christopher Robin - Best Visual Effects 

• Cold War (3) - Best Director, Best Foreign Language Film, Best Cinematography

• The Favourite (10) - Best Picture, Best Actress (Olivia Colman), Best Supporting Actress (Emma Stone, Rachel Weisz), Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Production Design, Best Editing, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design 

• First Man (4) - Best Production Design, Best Visual Effects, Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing

• First Reformed - Best Original Screenplay

• Free Solo - Best Documentary

• Green Book (5) - Best Picture, Best Actor (Viggo Mortensen), Best Supporting Actor (Mahershala Ali), Best Original Screenplay, Best Editing

• Hale County, This Morning This Evening - Best Documentary

• If Beale Street Could Talk (3) - Best Supporting Actress (Regina King), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Score

• Incredibles 2 - Best Animated Feature

• Isle of Dogs - Best Animated Feature, Best Original Score

• Mary Poppins Returns (3) - Best Costume Design, Best Original Score, Best Original Song (The Place Where Lost Things Go)

• Mary Queen of Scots (3) - Best Costume Design, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Original Score

• Minding the Gap - Best Documentary

• Mirai - Best Animated Feature

• Never Look Away - Best Foreign Language Film, Best Cinematography

• Of Fathers and Sons - Best Documentary

• A Quiet Place - Bets Sound Editing

• Ralph Breaks the Internet - Best Animated Feature

• RBG - Best Documentary, Best Original Song (I Will Fight)

• Ready Player One -  Best Visual Effects 

• Roma (9) - Best Picture, Best Actress (Yalitza Aparicio), Best Supporting Actress (Marina de Tavira), Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Foreign Language Film, Best Cinematography, Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing

• Shoplifters - Best Foreign Language Film

• Solo: A Star Wars Story - Best Visual Effects

• Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse - Best Animated Feature

• A Star is Born (8) - Best Picture, Best Actress (Lady Gaga), Best Actor (Bradley Cooper), Best Supporting Actor (Sam Elliott), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Original Song (Shallow), Best Sound Mixing

• Vice (8) - Best Picture, Best Actor (Christian Bale), Best Supporting Actress (Amy Adams), Best Supporting Actor (Sam Rockwell), Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Editing, Best Makeup and Hairstyling

• The Wife - Best Actress (Glenn Close)

Best Animated Short Films: Animal Behavior, Bao, Late Afternoon, One Small Step, Weekends

Best Documentary Short Subject: Black Sheep, End Game, Lifeboat, A Night At The Garden, Period. End of Sentence. 

Best Live Action Short Film: Detainment, Fauve, Marguerite, Mother, Skin

Movies to Salute the Military and Honor the Fallen

Veteran's Day was established in 1918 by President Woodrow Wilson and commemorates the date when the WWI armistice was signed. It's an American holiday created in honor of military veterans. Hollywood has always loved the military and saluted them with films depicting our veterans at home and abroad, and especially American veterans returning home after tours of duty.

In the following documentaries, the lives of various veterans are skillfully displayed with humanity and honesty and show some of the best work in documentary filmmaking.

Restrepo (2010)
Chronicles the 2nd Platoon of Battle Co. as they travel to the Korengal Valley, Afghanistan, considered then as "one of the deadliest places on Earth."

Stray Dog (2014)
A portrait of Ron "Stray Dog" Hall, a Vietnam vet, who spends his day contemplating the hazy past while trying to help others cope with their own experiences of war.

Lioness (2008)
Tells the story of the first program in American history to send women into direct combat. They were sent to high risk zones without the proper training that their male counterparts had, yet served with ingenuity and courage as the fewer and the prouder.

Most Honorable Son (2007)
Ben Kuroki, 23 years old, joined the U.S. Army Air Force in response to the attack on Pearl Harbor.
This film reveals his courage and commitment to serve his country despite anti-Japanese sentiment. He flew 58 combat missions and spoke out against the internment of Japanese Americans.

The Great Escape (2005)
The feature film The great escape was based on this true event. Over six hundred Allied prisoners dug three highly sophisticated tunnels in a plan to escape from Stalag Luft III. On the night of March 24, 1944 two hundred prisoners began their escape. The German guards spotted the seventy-seventh man coming out of the tunnel, but seventy-six prisoners made their escape.

Nanking (2008)
Tells the story of the Japanese invasion of Nanking, China in the early days of World War II and focuses on the efforts of a small group of unarmed Westerners who established a Safety Zone where over 200,000 Chinese found refuge.

Return to Tarawa (2017) 
A World War II veteran returns to the site of a battle in which he took part sixty five years earlier. He learns many disturbing things about that site. The remains of several hundred Americans still lie neglected and forgotten on that island. Also, there is live ammunition scattered everywhere on the densely populated island. Finally, huge piles of garbage lie on Red Beach, hallowed ground, where hundreds of Americans were killed and wounded by Japanese gunfire. Available to download through Hoopla. 

Battle for Midway (2001)
National Geographic follows underwater explorer Bob Ballard as he searches for the aircraft carrier sunk during the Battle of Midway. Available to download through Hoopla. 

Arlington: Field of Honor (2004)
Field of Honor is a documentary which examines the history of one of the world's largest cemeteries, the people who care for the grounds and maintain the facilities, and some of the brave Americans who are memorialized there.

Just to round out the list, here are a couple of the best fictional films about veterans returning home and facing myriad challenges:

Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
Truly moving drama about 3 U.S. servicemen readjusting to life back home after returning from the battlefields.

The Messenger (2009)
An army staff sergeant returns home from Iraq as a hero, only to find a strange reward.

What are your recommendations for great documentaries or dramas about veterans coming back home?

Hoops and Dreams

Basketball season is back. Are you a Bulls fan? I am a fan, and in my family we are all Bulls' fans. With only one basketball team in the city, we don't have to endure the rivalry under our roof, like we do during baseball season. Check out the following eclectic mix of DVDs about our beloved basketball. Go Bulls!

The Iran Job

Above the Rim

Hoosiers

Glory Road

Linsanity 

Just Wright (this is a romantic one)

Battle For Brooklyn

Lesser Seen Horror Films

For a horror movie geek like myself, there's no better time of year than October. For the past four years now I've done a 31 Horror movies challenge and it has been quite the ride! I've seen some great movies, some terrible movies, some movies that are so bad they're really quite excellent, and some movies that are totally forgettable. If you're like me and seek out the weird, the uncanny, the scary, and the gory, look no further! Below is a list of horror movies: some you may have missed, some that are brand new, and some that deserve a revisit in the scariest month of the year. 

Hereditary - Over the past several years, the horror genre has gotten at least one critical darling per year: films like The Babadook (2014), It Follows (2015), The VVitch (2016), and Get Out (2017). Hereditary is 2018's horror offering that has been eaten up by horror fans and critics alike. After the grandmother of the Graham family passes away, her daughter (Toni Collette) begins to unravel a sinister mystery about her family's past. Readers, I watch a lot of horror movies. I'm jaded. So believe me when I tell you I actually screamed out loud in the theater at this one. I slept with the dog in the bed and the lights on that night. 

Phantasm (hoopla) - Discover your new favorite cult classic series. Phantasm follows young Mike as he and his friend attempt to unravel the mystery of a sinister grave robber who is responsible for the deaths of Mike's family. This series is full of strange, dreamlike imagery, but is particularly notable for keeping much of the original cast and crew from sequel to sequel. I couldn't really tell you what happens in most of the movies, but I can tell you I've highly enjoyed all of them for how inventive, strange, and fascinating they are.






Bug - A collaboration between playwright Tracy Letts (August: Osage County) and director William Friedkin (The Exorcist), Bug was written for the stage but comes to live brilliantly on the screen. Ashley Judd plays a lonely waitress living in fear of her ex-husband when she meats an eccentric drifter, played by Michael Shannon. Then the bugs begin to arrive. The first time I saw this movie I expected something very different, but was treated to a film that spirals into insanity very subtly. This isn't a conventional horror film but it is as unsettling as they get. 

Honeymoon (hoopla) - Newlyweds Bea and Paul head to the country on their honeymoon, but Bea begins to sleepwalk and act strangely. For some reason, this was the first film my wife and I watched after our wedding, so it has a special place in my heart. It's a compact little thriller with a small cast, and you might recognize Rose Leslie from Game of Thrones. 

Suspiria (hoopla) - An American ballet dancer arrives at a prestigious dance academy in Germany, but very quickly senses that something sinister lurks within the old building. This over-the-top, colorful horror classic is as stylish as they come, and is one of the best entry-points to Italian giallo horror. Keep your eyes peeled for the remake by Call Me By Your Name director Luca Guadagnino, set to release this October.







Carnival of Souls (hoopla) Mary ends up the sole survivor of a nasty car accident just before taking a job as an organist at a church across the country, where she is haunted by visions of eerie figures. I'm a big horror buff but only watched this film for the first time last year - and absolutely loved it. It's got an old school low budget charm and an awesome pipe organ score. This one is best watched late at night while the wind rattles your windows.







Night of the Living Dead (hoopla)- This year marks the 50th anniversary of this cinematic landmark, so there's never been a better time to revisit the zombie movie that started it all.

Movies Have the Power to Transport

I recently saw the film, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018). Since I enjoyed the original
Mamma Mia! (2008) as well as the stage play I knew I would enjoy continuing the saga. What took me by surprise was that it made me want to abandon my prior vacation plans and hop a plane to Greece! I absolutely adored the beautiful scenery! So this made me think how movies have the power to transport - to sweep one away to the magical or sometimes harsh reality of travel to various locations through well-told stories. So, I have compiled a list of movies through the decades that evoke a strong sense of place:



Call Me By Your Name (2018)
In 1980s Italy, a romance blossoms between a seventeen year-old student and the older man hired as his father's research assistant.

Carol (2015)
An aspiring photographer develops an intimate relationship with an older woman in 1950s New York.

Wild (2014)
A chronicle of one woman's one thousand one hundred mile Pacific Crest Trail solo hike undertaken as a way to recover from a recent personal tragedy.

Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
The adventures of a legendary concierge at a famous hotel between the first and second World Wars, and the lobby boy who becomes his most trusted friend. It's a jaunt through old postcard Europe.

Midnight in Paris (2011)
While on a trip to Paris with his fiance's family, a nostalgic screenwriter finds himself mysteriously going back to the 1920s everyday at midnight.

Up (2009)
Seventy-eight year old Carl Fredricksen travels to Paradise Falls in his home equipped with balloons, inadvertently taking a young stowaway.

Into the Wild (2007)
A top student and athlete abandons his possessions, gives his entire $24,000 savings account to charity and hitchhikes to Alaska to live in the wilderness.

Under the Tuscan Sun (2005)
A writer impulsively buys a villa in Tuscany in order to change her life.

Before Sunrise (1995)
A young man and woman meet on a train in Europe, and wind up spending one evening together in Vienna. Unfortunately, both know that this will probably be their only night together.

Out of Africa (1985)
In 20th-century colonial Kenya, a Danish baroness/plantation owner has a passionate love affair with a free-spirited big-game hunter.

Easy Rider (1969)
Through the open country and desert lands, two bikers head from L.A to New Orleans, and along the way, meet a man who bridges a counter-culture gap they are unaware of.

Doctor Zhivago (1965)
The life of a Russian physician and poet who, although married to another, falls in love with a political activist's wife and experiences hardship during the First World War and then the Russian October Revolution.

Vertigo (1958)
No movie captured the allure of the City by the Bay better than Alfred Hitchcock's 1958 masterpiece. Hitchcock filmed famous landmarks - the Golden Gate Bridge, the Palace of the Legion of Honor, Ernie's restaurant - in a subjective, lyrical style, to heighten the growing romantic love obsession that James Stewart feels toward Kim Novak, whom he tracks around the city.

Roman Holiday (1955)
A bored and sheltered princess escapes her guardians and falls in love with an American newsman in Rome.


Hope you enjoy a little arm chair traveling!

After JURASSIC WORLD: FALLEN KINGDOM, Try...

The fifth movie in the Jurassic Park franchise debuted this weekend. If you like dinosaurs, disasters, and more, try these materials:


Books:

Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton: Where it all began. Crichton's first novel in this series (he only wrote two) starts the saga of genetically re-engineered dinosaurs wreaking havoc on an island. You might also want to revisit Spielberg's adaptation, as well.

Meg by Steve Alten: The megalodon was a prehistoric shark estimated to have reached a length of nearly 60 feet and weighing up to 38 tons. Jonas Taylor, deep sea diver and paleontologist has seen one alive today - but nobody believes him. A movie adaptation is due out this August.

The Lost World by Arthur Conan Doyle: Doyle's first novel featuring Professor Challenger sees the hot-headed professor travel to the Amazon basin where many extinct creatures still live.


Movies: 

Rise of the Planet of the Apes: It's the ape's world, we're just living in it. At least, that's the premise for this prequel to the lengthy Planet of the Apes franchise. Genetic engineering, man against animal, and action-packed disasters!

12 Monkeys: This gloomy scifi flick also deals with an animals rights organization bent on releasing captive animals, much like Fallen Kingdom.

The Impossible: The second film from Fallen Kingdom director Juan Antonia Bayona, is loosely based on the aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami.

After OCEAN'S 8 and HEREDITARY, Try...

Ocean's 8 follows up the Ocean's 11 trilogy of fun heist flicks with a new Ocean, this time played by Sandra Bullock (playing Clooney's brother). The film also stars Cate Blanchett and Anne Hathaway. If you liked Soderbergh's Ocean's trilogy, this new entry to the series, or even just fun heists in general, try these:

Books:

The Heist by Janet Evanovich: In this first entry to the "Fox and O'Hare" series, a notorious thief teams up with an FBI agent to bring a corrupt investment banker down.

The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch: Have you ever wondered, "What if Ocean's 11, but set in the Game of Thrones universe"? You might try this first entry to Lynch's fantasy series, full of fast talking thieves, exhilarating heist sequences, and a totally unique fantasy world.

Movies:

The Heat: Sandra Bullock plays a thief in Ocean's 8, but an FBI agent in this well received comedy.

Nine to Five: A group of female co-workers work together to get revenge on their boss.

Ghostbusters (2016): Another male-led comedy franchise re-imagined with female leads.


Hereditary has been getting rave reviews, especially for a debut from director Ari Aster. It's billed as one of the scariest movies in recent memory - are you brave enough for a trip to the theater? (This writer was, and agrees with the critics: this one is terrifying!) You might also try these frightening movies:

The Babadook: Both Hereditary and The Babadook deal with family trauma by turning them into haunted-house style scares - while still providing a profound exploration of that trauma.

The Witch: Both films are slow burns until the last act. If you like your horror films more atmospheric and suspenseful than full of things that jump out to scare you, you might like The Witch!

Don't Look Now: Another slower horror film that deals with family trauma at the same time as terror: after the death of their daughter, a couple travels to Italy where they are told their daughter may still be alive.

Catching up on the Marvel Cinematic Universe

The latest Marvel movie - Avengers: Infinity War - is now the fastest movie to make 1 billion dollars at the box office. Infinity War is the 19th movie in this popular franchise. Have you seen them all? Need help keeping Marvel, DC, X-Men, and all the other superheroes straight? Here's a list of the Marvel series entries - place a hold today!

• Iron Man (2008) - The first entry to this universe follows Tony Stark as he builds a high-tech suit to escape captivity - and become a hero along the way. 
• The Incredible Hulk (2008) - Bruce Banner scours the world for a cure to his alter-ego, the brash and destructive Hulk.
• Iron Man 2 (2010) - Now publicly known as Iron Man, Tony Stark faces pressure from the government to share his technology with the military. 
• Thor (2011) - The first MCU movie to show us worlds other than Earth, Thor follows the arrogant lightning god on his quest to save Earth from an invasion from his homeworld. 
• Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) - Takes a step away from contemporary to Earth to World War 2, where soldier Steve Rogers is given experimental treatment to become the ultimate weapon to fight against the Axis powers.
• Avengers (2012) - When an alien invasion hits New York, all of the superheroes from the previous films - plus some new faces - team up to take them down. 
• Iron Man 3 (2013) - The beginning of "Phase 2" of the Marvel universe follows Tony Stark as he attempts to rebuild his life as his enemies attempt to destroy him. 
• Thor: The Dark World (2013) - Thor fights an ancient race in order to stop them from recovering a powerful artifact. 
• Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) - In this superhero flick turned spy thriller, Captain America encounters an enemy he thought long dead. 
• Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) - Marvel meets sci-fi in this planet-hopping adventure following a gang of misfits. 
• Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) - In the aftermath of the alien invasion of New York, Tony Stark attempts to build a supercomputer to protect the Earth...but when it gains awareness it turns against the Avengers. 
• Ant-Man (2015) - Former thief Scott Lang stumbles into a suit that allows him to shrink in size and pull off incredible heists. 
• Captain America: Civil War (2016) - After the events of Age of Ultron, some of the Avengers feel the need for government supervision and accountability, causing a rift between heroes. 
• Doctor Strange (2016) - A surgeon whose talent is destroyed in a car accident meets a sorcerer who trains him in the mystic arts. 
• Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2 (2017) - The Guardians are back on another adventure across space as they struggle to keep their new 'family' together. 
• Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) - High school student Peter Parker works to balance his powers with his responsibility as a student under the mentorship of Tony Stark. 
• Thor: Ragnarok (2017) - In Norse mythology, "Ragnarok" is the end of the world. Thor is imprisoned as a new villain arises with a mission to bring about Ragnarok. 
• Black Panther (2018) - After being introduced in Civil War, T'Challa returns to his home country of Wakanda - a high-tech paradise hidden from the world - only to find his claim to the throne is contested. 
• Avengers: Infinity War (2018) - All of the heroes come together in order to stop Thanos, who is constructing an artifact that will allow him alter reality at will.