Film Previews

“The Menu” 
R | 106 minutes
Director: Mark Mylod
Stars: Anya Taylor-Joy, Ralph Fiennes, Nicholas Hoult

“The Menu” is about a young couple, Margot and Tyler, who are interested in dining at an exclusive restaurant owned by a famous chef. In order to get to the upscale eatery, they have to travel to a remote island via boat. The celebrity chef in charge is named Slowik, and he prides himself on preparing food using an unrivaled scientific approach. According to him, the food in his restaurant should also be treated like art, not just something you eat. However, unfortunately for the wealthy guests who choose to dine at his establishment, his menu is filled with some less-than-pleasant (more like downright disturbing) dishes. What’s worse, it’s possible that some of the patrons looking to experience a luxurious dinner might not survive the evening.

“Nocebo”
R | 96 minutes
Director: Lorcan Finnegan
Stars: Eva Green, Mark Strong, Chai Fonacier

A nocebo effect is said to occur when negative expectations of the patient regarding a treatment cause the treatment to have a more negative effect than it otherwise would have. In other words, it’s the placebo effect’s evil twin. This is an interesting idea for a film, especially when the treatment is of a supernatural nature. A fashion designer (Eva Green) suffering from a mysterious illness puzzles her doctors and frustrates her husband (Mark Strong) until help arrives in the form of a Filipino caregiver (Chai Fonacier), who uses traditional folk healing to reveal the truth.

“Slumberland”
PG | 117 minutes
Director: Francis Lawrence
Stars: Jason Momoa, Kyle Chandler, Chris O’Dowd

“Slumberland” takes audiences to a magical new place, a dreamworld where precocious Nemo (Marlow Barkley) and her eccentric companion Flip (Jason Momoa) embark on the adventure of a lifetime. After her father Peter (Kyle Chandler) is unexpectedly lost at sea, young Nemo’s idyllic Pacific Northwest existence is completely upended when she is sent to live in the city with her well-meaning but deeply awkward uncle Phillip (Chris O’Dowd). Her new school and new routine are challenging by day, but at night, a secret map to the fantastical world of Slumberland connects Nemo to Flip, a rough-around-the-edges but lovable outlaw who quickly becomes her partner and guide. She and Flip soon find themselves on an incredible journey traversing dreams and fleeing nightmares, where Nemo begins to hope that she will be reunited with her father once again. ♦