What’s on at the cinema this month

A harem of scary films are coming to a cinema near you this Halloween.

Released on 4 October 2019, Joaquin Phoenix (Walk The Line) makes his debut as the eponymous character of ‘Joker’. Following in the footsteps of the Oscar-winning turn by Heath Ledger will certainly be challenging, but the film has already won the Golden Lion, the top honour at the Venice International Film Festival. Robert DeNiro (Raging Bull) provides support to a Joker very much in the leading role. 

Swooping onto the silver screen on 18 October 2019 is ‘Maleficent: Mistress of Evil’ with Angelina Jolie (Girl, Interrupted) reprising her role as the iconic wicked witch from the 2014 fantasy film Maleficent. While its predecessor grossed over $750million worldwide, expect big box office for the return of this antagonist, with Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave) and Michelle Pfeiffer (Dangerous Liaisons) joining the cast.

After one decade, Woody Harrelson (The Messenger), Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network), Emma Stone (The Favourite) and Abigail Breslin (Little Miss Sunshine) reprise their roles in the comedy ‘Zombieland: Double Tap’, also released on 18 October 2019. If you require a reprieve from the other frightening films featured here, this may help you sleep again.

But not for long. On All Hallows’ Eve comes a sequel almost 40 years in the making. Succeeding the 1980 film ‘The Shining’, ‘Doctor Sleep’ follows Ewan McGregor (Moulin Rouge!) as Dan Torrance from the previous film with Rebecca Ferguson (Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation) as the villain of the piece.