‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’ is, fortunately, a close return to form. It doesn’t quite reach the level of the James Wan-directed films, but it still reminds us why people flock to theaters to experience a Warren case come to life.

Since premiering around the world, Peterson Vargas’ ‘Some Nights I Feel Like Walking’ has finally come home, building community in independent cinemas around the Philippines.

In ‘Eddington,’ Ari Aster stages the pandemic we all know too well with blunt clarity: what seem like jabs are really tiny snapshots of reality, moments that, in hindsight, are as frustratingly silly as they are true.

‘Posthouse’ is not interested in horror as a subconscious experience, but as something spelled out, explained, and flattened — every terror announced, leaving nothing to linger, haunt, and truly unsettle.

Masarap na Empanada? Check. Masayang Pelikula? Check. Makakarelate ang mga Batang 90s? Check. Ito ang tatlong checklist na magpapasaya sa buong madla sa munting pelikulang ito.

‘The Encampments’ captures the Columbia University student protests for Palestine that ignited a global movement, and has since been met with widespread arrests, suspensions, and expulsions.

 ‘One Hit Wonder’ captures the imperfections of finding the right person at the right time despite the burden of distance, the gravity of passion, and the uncertainties of youth.

The Roses’ is a wickedly funny, relationship-based comedy about the absurdities and pitfalls of married life, led by absolutely stellar comedic performances from Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch.

Taron Egerton and Ana Sophia Heger light up ‘She Rides Shotgun,’ about an ex-con who must protect his estranged young daughter from a deadly gang. Tender and compelling, this small indie thriller is a diamond in the rough worth checking out.

‘The Life of Chuck’s’ good-spirited empathy and crowd-pleasing tendencies that belie its sharper complications is a balance it walks well towards a central message: wonder and happiness will always be within our reach.

A theatrical release instead of streaming, a runtime on the shorter side of 90 minutes, and a screen filled with gags galore from the opening frame to the end credits; the statement, “They don’t make ‘em like they used to,” doesn’t apply to the new ‘Naked Gun’.

Armed with a sprawling, twisty narrative which overstuffs itself as much as it micromanages, ‘Weapons’ stands out as an equal parts horrific, darkly hilarious, and affectingly unstable image of hidden evils in suburbia.

Source material accuracy notwithstanding, ‘Omniscient Reader: The Prophecy’s’ squandering of character and metanarrative elements reveal a glossy spectacle with lacking heart.

‘How to Get Away From My Toxic Family’ reveals how religious hypocrisy and utang na loob culture reshape the lives of OFWs, as their sacrifices are belittled.

‘Materialists' doesn't break new ground, but it's a necessary reminder of what we're allowing the system to extract from us: our ability to measure love by how it feels, not by what it costs.

‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ had the potential to be great, but it plays things a little too safe. While the foundation is solid, better pacing and deeper character development would’ve made this film truly fantastic.

Antoinette Jadaone’s ‘Sunshine’ is not only a powerful story on hope and resilience that criticizes the romanticization of Manila and women’s lack of agency with striking clarity, but it’s also one of the best pieces of recent Philippine Cinema. 

By stripping away names and portraying sections of history through figurative and literal shadows, Raymond Red’s ‘Bayani’ builds an incredibly intriguing perspective that lingers beyond the textbooks and documents it lifts from.

‘Madea’s Destination Wedding’ is everything Tyler Perry’s loyal audience will like and his naysayers already don’t. If you want to see what narrative and comedic set-ups Perry will squander, sit back, relax, and press play.

‘Bride Hard,’ starring Rebel Wilson, is the type of project with a canvas wide enough that if utilized well, would potentially be an entertaining romp, sadly we live in a world where that didn’t materialize.