Movies on our radar: September

Movie previews for the month of September.

By Catherine Engstrom-Hadley
Staff Writer

It was a killer summer for film. “Midsommar, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark” and “The Farewell” were all brilliant summer hits, but this September has some surprises in store it seems, including a slew of R-rated movies for us to dig into. Here are the movies I am most excited to dig into this next month.

Ready or Not

Premiers August 21
Rated R Mystery/Thriller

Ok, this isn’t a September release, however it’s very close and I could not be happier with this sleeper hit for the end of the summer. “Ready or Not” could easily be this year’s greatest horror-comedy. An orphan (Samara Weaving) is marrying Daniel (Mark O’Brien), a rich kid with a very eccentric family. On their wedding night her new family asks her to play a game with them where she realizes quickly that she is being hunted by her new in-laws. She realizes it’s kill or be killed and fights for her life. “Ready or Not” presents a simple plot but it’s even more clever then the trailers let on and is worth a night at the movies, but maybe don’t bring your in-laws.

IT: Chapter 2

Premieres September 5
Rated R, Horror

After 27 years of peace, the town of Derry has a missing child problem again. The losers club has grown up, drifted apart, but they have to come back together to fight Pennywise and get rid of him for good this time. Billy Hader (Richie Tozier) steals the show in the 2 hour and 49-minute end of the classic tale from Stephen King.

Zeroville

Premieres September 20
Rated R, Comedy

Based on the novel by Steve Erickson, “Zeroville” tells a dreamlike tale of a Russian architecture student on a journey in Los Angeles during the ‘60s. Jerome is drawn to California by his love for film, and becomes involved in the world of film, conspiracies and partying upon his arrival. Directed and starring James Franco, Seth Rogen, Will Ferrell and Megan Fox.

The Goldfinch

Premieres September 13
Rated R, Drama

John Crowley (“True Detective,” “Boy A”) brings the Pulitzer Prize winning novel by Donna Tartt to the big screen. The story centers Theo, a young boy whose mother is killed in a bombing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, sending his life into shambles. Theo holds onto a small painting of a goldfinch taken from the museum after the bombing, using it a symbol of hope during his journey. Ansel Elgort, Finn Wolfhard and Nicole Kidman star in this drama.

Ad Astra

Premieres September 20
Rated PG-13 Drama/Fantasy

Brad Pitt stars as Roy McBride, an astronaut who travels to the outer edges of the solar system on a mission to find his missing father and unravel the mystery that is threatening the survival of earth. “Ad Astra’s” trailers give us just enough stunning shots to realize that IMAX is the way to see this film, with a similar vibe as “Solaris” or “Interstellar.” Although the production did have set backs, with two pushed back premiere dates, I am still highly anticipating this film.