“Monsters Within” Explores a Veteran’s Return Home and a Sibling Bond, Sets October 3 Digital Release

monsters-withinMonsters Within, the debut feature from filmmaker Devin Montgomery, will be released on digital platforms October 3 via Buffalo 8, with a streaming premiere on Cineverse’s Screambox November 7.

Written, directed, produced by, and starring Montgomery, the film follows Luke Wolf, a war veteran who returns to his hometown and reconnects with his sister Elle, who has Down Syndrome. As Luke struggles with his past and his sense of identity, the bond with his sister becomes central to his journey of facing personal demons. Daniella Montgomery, the director’s real-life sister, plays Elle, anchoring the film with authenticity.

The film also features Kendall Cavener, Skeeta Jenkins, Brandon Stewart, and the late Samuel French (Killers of the Flower Moon, Fear the Walking Dead) in his final role. French’s performance has already been recognized with multiple festival awards, and the film is dedicated to his memory.

Monsters Within has screened at festivals worldwide, earning accolades including Best Feature Film at the Red Dirt International Film Festival, Audience Choice at Bare Bones International Film Festival, and acting honors for both Montgomery and French.

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TIFF Unveils Trailer for Karla Badillo’s Debut Feature Oca

OcaMexican filmmaker Karla Badillo’s debut feature Oca will have its world premiere in the Discovery section of the 50th Toronto International Film Festival (Sept. 4–14, 2025).

Described as a lyrical fable of pilgrimage and revelation, the film follows Rafaela (Natalia Solián), a young nun traveling to a remote town where a new archbishop has been appointed. Along the way, she encounters a cross-section of Mexican society, testing her devotion and sense of purpose.

The cast also includes Cecilia Suárez, Leonardo Ortizgris, Gerardo Trejo-Luna, Raúl Briones, and Enrique Arreola, alongside non-professional performers from San Luis Potosí.

Shot by cinematographer Diana Garay, Oca was produced by María José Córdova, Badillo, Federico Eisnerbusyc, and Federico Sande. It is a Mexican-Argentine coproduction between Pina Films, Las Jaras, Pucará Cine, and Año Cero.

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VMAs 2025 Ariana Grande wins Video of the Year, with performances by Lady Gaga, Mariah Carey and others

vma-2025The 2025 MTV Video Music Awards took place Sunday, September 7 at UBS Arena in New York, hosted by LL Cool J. The night blended new performances with tributes to music icons, while also introducing new award categories.

Ariana Grande closed out the evening by winning Video of the Year for her single “Brighter Days Ahead,” one of three trophies she earned. Lady Gaga was the night’s biggest winner with four awards, including Artist of the Year, before heading across town for her Madison Square Garden tour performance that was later simulcast during the broadcast.

Other major winners included Sabrina Carpenter, who earned three awards including Album of the Year for Short n’ Sweet, and Rosé, who won Song of the Year for “APT.” featuring Bruno Mars.

The ceremony also highlighted career milestones: Mariah Carey received the Video Vanguard Award, Ricky Martin was honored with the inaugural Latin Icon Award, and Busta Rhymes accepted the first-ever Rock the Bells Visionary Award.

Performances came from Lady Gaga, Doja Cat, Sabrina Carpenter, J Balvin, and more. A tribute to the late Ozzy Osbourne featured Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler and Joe Perry alongside YUNGBLUD and Nuno Bettencourt.

This year’s show also added Best Pop Artist and Best Country Video to its lineup of categories. The VMAs aired live on CBS and MTV, with streaming available on Paramount+.

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Scott Adkins Battles for Survival in WWII Drama “Prisoner of War”

prisoner-of-warScott Adkins leads the upcoming World War II action drama Prisoner of War, which will debut in select theaters and on VOD September 19. Directed by Louis Mandylor, the film follows British SAS officer James Wright (Adkins), who is captured by Japanese forces and imprisoned in a Philippine POW camp.

As Wright and his fellow captives face the looming Bataan Death March, they are forced into violent death matches staged for the entertainment of their captors. The story charts their struggle for survival and the possibility of escape in the face of brutal conditions.

The film is written by Mark Clebanoff and Adkins, with additional contributions from Peter Shinkoda and Michael Copon, who also appear in the cast. Alongside Adkins, the ensemble includes Shinkoda (Falling Skies) and Copon (One Tree Hill).

Prisoner of War is set for release from WellGo USA Entertainment.

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The Armory Show Returns to Javits Center September 5 to 7, 2025

the-armory-showThe Armory Show, New York’s largest modern and contemporary art fair, opens its 2025 edition at the Javits Center with a VIP preview on September 4, followed by public days September 5 to 7.

Founded in 1994 and now organized by Frieze, the fair continues to anchor the city’s fall art season with a wide range of international exhibitors and curated programming.

This year’s edition features approximately 230 galleries from 35 countries, including more than 50 first-time participants and a number of major names returning after hiatus. Highlights include the repositioned Focus section spotlighting artists from the American South, the central Platform program of large-scale installations and sculptures, a special Solo format interspersed among gallery booths, and a grouping of works under the banner New York Sculpture. Tickets and schedule details are available at thearmoryshow.com/tickets.

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Image Comics Unveils Paperback of The Me You Love in the Dark

The-Me-You-Love-In-the-DarkImage Comics will publish the paperback edition of The Me You Love in the Dark from Eisner Award-winning writer Skottie Young (I Hate Fairyland, Middlewest, Twig) and artist Jorge Corona (Middlewest, Transformers) this October.

The story centers on Ro, a painter battling creative block who withdraws to an aging Victorian house to reignite her inspiration. Instead of clarity, she discovers a mysterious presence that soon becomes both muse and menace. What begins as solace evolves into an unsettling romance, drawing Ro into obsession and a dangerous loss of control.

Blending elements of horror, fantasy, and psychological drama, the graphic novel examines the price of creation and the allure of giving oneself over to the unknown.

The Me You Love in the Dark (ISBN: 9781534399617, Lunar Code 0825IM0487) will be available at local comic shops on Wednesday, October 8, and at independent bookstores, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Indigo, and Waterstones on Tuesday, October 21. Digital editions will be offered across platforms including Kindle, Apple Books, Google Play, and Omnibus.

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Rachel Bloom Sets “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend: The 10(Ish) Year Reunion Concert” for October

crazy-ex-girl-friendRachel Bloom will reunite with her Crazy Ex-Girlfriend castmates for a limited three-city concert tour this fall. Produced by Live Nation, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend: The 10(Ish) Year Reunion Concert opens at New York’s Beacon Theatre on October 3, followed by Los Angeles’ Wiltern on October 17, and concluding at San Francisco’s Orpheum Theatre on October 18.

The shows mark a decade since the debut of the award-winning CW musical dramedy, with Bloom performing alongside Donna Lynne Champlin, Scott Michael Foster, Vincent Rodriguez III, Pete Gardner, Gabrielle Ruiz, David Hull, and Kathryn Burns. The program will revisit fan-favorite songs from the series.

Bloom’s announcement follows the success of her Netflix comedy special Death, Let Me Do My Special, released in late 2024.

Tickets will be available through an artist presale beginning Wednesday, September 3 at 12 p.m. local time, with additional presales during the week. General onsale begins Thursday, September 4 at 11 a.m. local time on LiveNation.com.

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“The Art of Adventure” Doc on Robert Bateman to World Premiere at Vancouver International Film Festival

the-art-of-adventureAlison Reid’s new documentary The Art of Adventure will make its world premiere at the 2025 Vancouver International Film Festival. The feature follows acclaimed Canadian wildlife painter Robert Bateman and biologist Bristol Foster, revisiting their 1957 global expedition and decades of work at the intersection of art and environmental activism.

Screenings are set for October 5 at the Vancouver Playhouse and October 7 at the Granville Island Stage, with Reid, Bateman, and Foster scheduled to attend.

The film traces Bateman and Foster’s early journey in their Land Rover, “The Grizzly Torque,” across Africa and Asia, weaving in Bristol’s original 16mm footage and Bateman’s paintings. It also explores their lasting impact as artists, naturalists, and advocates for conservation.

The Art of Adventure is directed and produced by Reid, whose credits include The Woman Who Loves Giraffes. The film also features appearances by Wade Davis, David Suzuki, Guujaaw, Briony Penn, and others.

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Shudder Drops Trailer For Halloween Horror Night of the Reaper

Night-of-the-ReaperShudder has released the official trailer and poster for Night of the Reaper, the latest slasher from Brandon Christensen (Still/Born, Superhost), premiering September 19.

Set against the backdrop of a quiet 1980s suburb, the film follows college student Deena (Jessica Clement), who returns home for the weekend and reluctantly takes on a last-minute babysitting job. As night falls, the local sheriff receives a cryptic package that launches him into a chilling scavenger hunt, suggesting a recent teen murder may not have been an isolated incident. What follows is a cat-and-mouse game with a masked killer that escalates into a nightmarish fight for survival.

The cast includes Summer H. Howell (Hunter Hunter), Ryan Robbins (The Thicket), Matty Finochio, and Keegan Connor Tracy (Final Destination 2). Christensen co-wrote the script with Ryan Christensen, citing House of the Devil and When a Stranger Calls as inspirations.

Night of the Reaper premieres exclusively on Shudder September 19.

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Film Forum Celebrates 100 Years of Peter Sellers With Two-Week Retrospective

100-years-of-peter-sellersFilm Forum will honor one of cinema’s greatest comic actors with 100 Years of Peter Sellers: From Britcoms to International Icon, running September 19–October 2. The series spans Sellers’ career from early U.K. comedies like The Ladykillers (1955) and his BAFTA-winning role in I’m All Right Jack (1959), to Hollywood landmarks including The Pink Panther series, Stanley Kubrick’s Dr. Strangelove (1964), and his Oscar-nominated turn in Hal Ashby’s Being There (1979).

Eighteen features are included, alongside rare 35mm screenings of Casino Royale (1967), What’s New Pussycat? (1965), A Shot in the Dark (1964), and Sellers’ Oscar-nominated short with Richard Lester, The Running Jumping & Standing Still Film (1959).

Film critic Siddhant Adlakha will introduce the opening-night screening of Blake Edwards’ The Party (1968) on September 19.

Highlights include:

The Ladykillers (1955) – Sept 19, 21, 22, 29
I’m All Right Jack (1959) – Sept 19, 21, 26, 27, 30, Oct 1
Dr. Strangelove (1964, 35mm) – Sept 19, 20, 22, 28, Oct 1–2
Lolita (1962) – Sept 20, 21, 25, 27, Oct 2
The Pink Panther (1963) – Sept 21, 24, 30
Casino Royale (1967, 35mm) – Sept 23
Being There (1979, 35mm) – Sept 26–28, Oct 2

(Additional titles include Two Way Stretch, Only Two Can Play, Heavens Above!, The World of Henry Orient, What’s New Pussycat? and more.)

The full schedule and ticket information are available at filmforum.org.

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