British horror Saint Maud leads this week's new cinema releases

Continuing the trend of excellent female filmmakers nurturing their talents in the British independent films scene, Saint Maud is the feature directorial debut of Rose Glass, offering up a tension-filled tale of religious horror that oozes with style and atmosphere.

The story concerns a young care worker who arrives in a seaside town, desperate to find her purpose in life. A recent convert to Christianity, Maud prays to God for guidance and struggles to come to terms with the lifestyle of her new patient, Amanda, who is suffering from cancer but still maintains a lifestyle of drink, drugs and sex. Believing it is her duty to save Amanda, Maud begins to go to extreme lengths in order to fulfill her perceived destiny. 

Saint Maud is in cinemas now and you can check screening times near you here

Also out in cinemas this week

Akira; Hocus Pocus

Two very timely re-releases of classic films swing into cinemas this week, beginning with the legendary and influential Japanese animation Akira. Released in 1988 but set in a 2019 version of a futuristic Neo-Tokyo, the film revolves around a gang of troublemaking motorcyclists who get caught up in a government conspiracy involving telepathic experiments. Full of awe-inspiring visuals, the film has been remastered for 4K IMAX screens and is guaranteed to take your breath away.

On the other side of the spectrum as we gear up for Halloween, Hocus Pocus returns to our screens with a medley of spells and potions. Set in the historic American town of Salem, where the witch trials took place, a young boy unwittingly resurrects three witches who are bent on avenging the town that accused them of witchcraft. A rare family film that gets the right balance between laughs and scares, Hocus Pocus is a Halloween classic for families to enjoy together. 

To find out where these films are playing near you, visit FindAnyFilm

New on DVD this week

1917

The year is 1917 and The Great War rages on. Two young British privates, Schofield and Blake, are given a task which seems to be impossible they must make their way deep into enemy territory to deliver a message that could prevent 1600 soldiers from walking into a deadly trap. One of the final films to get a big cinema release before the lockdown of cinemas, 1917 got a lot of attention for its visual ambition and bravura style, seemingly filmed as one long interrupted take, giving the film a pulsating pace and imbuing it with ruthless tension.

Also out on DVD this week

Harriet; Dolittle

Recreating the unbelievably heroic and inspiring story of Harriet Tubman, one of the early key figures of the Civil Rights movement in America, Cynthia Ervio gives a stirring performance as the title character, who embarks on several missions to rescue enslaved people using a antislavery network called the Underground Railroad. Harriet is an important account of an historical figure that is often overlooked and aims to start a valuable discussion about racism and its deep history in American society and politics.

Dolittle is the star-studded animal extravaganza starring Robert Downey Jr. as the title character, a vet whose special ability to talk to animals finds him setting out on a dangerous journey to rescue the Queen of England. Featuring an intelligent macaw, an anxious gorilla, an upbeat polar bear and a cynical ostrich, this family friendly tale explores ideas of discovering your identity and doing the right thing in the face of adversity.