Together
Millie (Allison Brie) gets her dream job at an elementary school just outside New York City. Her musician boyfriend (Dave Franco) reluctantly agrees to move with her to the country. Once there, an evil force draws them closer together in ways they didn’t expect. “Together” is the latest horror release from Neon pictures and is directed by Michael Shanks whose prior work was in special effects. The body horror in this film is said to be more intense than “The Substance” but not quite “Human Centipede” level gruesome. Solid performances from both leads are a plus though the movie isn’t without its ambiguities, leaving open the possibility for a sequel or prequal. Also starring Damon Herriman and Mia Morrissey.
Now playing at the State Theatre.
East of Wall
After the death of her husband, a rebellious, tattooed horse trainer deals with grief and financial insecurity while providing a home for wayward girls on her ranch. This is a
slice-of-life film done on a tiny budget with documentary-style realism. Apart from Scoot McNairy and Jennifer Ehle, the rest of the cast are non-actors playing versions of themselves. This visually striking film won the Innovator and Audience awards at Sundance Film Festival. Starring Porshia Zimiga and Tabitha Zimiga.
Opens Aug. 15 at the Michigan Theater.
Honey Don’t
“Honey Don’t” is the third solo directing effort from Ethan Coen, one half of the Coen Brothers team that made films like “Fargo” and “The Big Lebowski.” Coen wrote the film with his wife, Tricia Cooke, about a small-town private investigator named Honey O’Donahue who becomes involved in a series of odd deaths involving a mysterious church. Honey is played by Margaret Qualley, who also starred in Coen’s 2024 film “Drive-Away Dolls,” and the movie exudes the same witty banter and sense of fun the director brought to “Drive-Away Dolls.” Among a cast of strong performers, it’s totally Qualley’s film as she carries the grittiness of a small-town detective and widens her repertoire of characters. Coen has said that “Drive-Away Dolls” and “Honey Don’t” are meant to be a trilogy of B-movies with lesbian characters in lead roles. Hopefully we’ll see part three. Also Starring Aubrey Plaza and Chris Evans.
Opens 8/22 at the State Theatre.
Beyond the Valley of the Dolls
An all-girl rock band moves to Hollywood in the hopes of achieving success, only to be lured by an eccentric music producer and his entourage into a whirlpool of wickedness and decadence. Directed by Russ Meyer and written by Pulitzer Prize winning critic Roger Ebert, this was not the sequel to “Valley of the Dolls” Hollywood thought they were getting. Dolls novelist Jaqueline Susann denounced the film which has a strong R rating! For devoted cult filmgoers only. Starring Dolly Read and Cynthia Myers
Playing Aug. 22 and 24 at Michigan Theater.
