Video releases
“WONKA”
Based on the character from the 1964 novel “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” by Roald Dahl, “Wonka” is the origin story of Willy Wonka (Timothée Chalamet) as he chases his dream of becoming an inventor and chocolatier. Upon arriving in Europe, Wonka is quick to fall prey to the unsavory likes of Mrs. Scrubitt (Olivia Colman) and the long-reaching influence of the Chocolate Cartel, led by Arthur Slugworth (Paterson Joseph). With the help of street-smart fellow outcast Noodle (Calah Lane), Wonka may yet succeed in his dream of establishing his own chocolate factory.
Director: Paul King. Stars: Timothée Chalamet, Calah Lane, Paterson Joseph, Keegan-Michael Key, Sally Hawkins, Rowan Atkinson, Hugh Grant, Olivia Colman, Natasha Rothwell, Charlotte Ritchie. 2023. 116 minutes. Fantasy.
“LORD OF MISRULE”
Rebecca Holland (Tuppence Middleton), the new minister of a rural English village, is just settling into her role when her daughter, Grace (Evie Templeton), goes missing during the harvest festival. A desperate search commences, but as more secrets are uncovered about the village’s dark past, the more imminent the danger grows. Rebecca becomes uncertain of who or what to trust, and her faith is tested as she witnesses that gods and demons can be one and the same.
Director: William Brent Bell. Stars: Tuppence Middleton, Ralph Ineson, Matt Stokoe, Evie Templeton, Alexa Goodall, Rosalind March, Anton Valensi. 2023. 104 minutes. Horror Thriller.
“PAPRIKA”
In this futuristic animation, the invention of a device called the DC Mini allows users to view people’s dreams. The head of the research team working with the DC Mini, Dr. Atsuko Chiba (Megumi Hayashibara), is a psychiatrist who illegally uses the device to help patients outside of the research facility. Upon entering their dreams, she becomes “Paprika,” a gingerhaired woman. When prototypes of the DC Mini are stolen, people begin dying after being attacked in their dreams. Chiba, disguised as Paprika, uses the DC Mini to investigate the cases.
Director: Satoshi Kon. Stars: Megumi Hayashibara, Toru Furuya, Toru Emori, Katsunosuke Hori, Akio Otsuka, Koichi Yamadera. 2006. 90 minutes. Sci-Fi Thriller.