Sometimes, going to the movies feels like stepping into three entirely different worlds at once—and this week’s releases do just that.
We’re talking about a nerve-shredding war film that leaves you breathless, a well-meaning but slightly clumsy penguin adventure, and a bluesy vampire thriller set in 1930s Mississippi.
Let’s break them down, starting with a film that drops us right into the chaos of war.
“Warfare” Delivers 95 Minutes of Tension, Terror, and Real-Life Truth
Alex Garland’s latest project, Warfare, isn’t your average war movie.
This one doesn’t ease you into the drama—it shoves you straight into the middle of a Navy SEALs mission in Ramadi, Iraq, in 2006, with the clock ticking in real-time.
It’s raw, relentless, and more emotionally intense than most Hollywood blockbusters dare to be.
The story unfolds over 95 gripping minutes, following a small SEAL team sent ahead of a larger Marine force.
There’s no flashy backstory or Hollywood gloss—just a brutally honest re-creation of what these soldiers endured.
Much of the credit for that realism goes to Ray Mendoza, a former SEAL himself and co-director of the film.
He was there. And he helped shape the film using only the memories of the real-life team.
Noisy Battles, Deafening Silences, and One Gut-Wrenching Cry for Help
The cast is mostly British, which adds a curious twist to this all-American story.
Will Poulter plays the young officer in charge, D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai steps into Mendoza’s boots, and Cosmo Jarvis takes on the role of Elliott Miller, the sniper whose haunting screams of pain echo long after the credits roll.
Unlike most war movies that rely on a constant barrage of explosions, Warfare builds suspense through quiet.
There’s a long, chilling stretch of near-silence as the soldiers cautiously enter and occupy a house, knowing something terrible is coming.
And when that storm finally hits, the sound design—courtesy of Glenn Freemantle—pulls no punches.
It all leads to a heart-stopping climax. With chaos raining down and communications failing, one desperate radio call says it all: “Look for the blood and the smoke.
We’re there.” Garland doesn’t just make us watch war—he makes us feel it.
“The Penguin Lessons” Has a Cute Concept But Struggles to Stay Afloat
On a much lighter—and slightly bizarre—note, there’s The Penguin Lessons, a film based on Tom Michell’s memoir about, well, bonding with a penguin.
Set in 1976, Steve Coogan plays Tom, a British teacher who ends up in a Buenos Aires boarding school after a chance encounter with a penguin on a beach in Uruguay.
After rescuing the oil-covered creature during a weekend fling gone wrong, Tom tries (and fails) to ditch the bird.
Instead, the penguin becomes his unexpected classroom assistant. Yep, it’s that kind of story.
Quirky and Whimsical, But Not Quite the Feel-Good Hit It Wants to Be
The idea has charm, but unfortunately, the execution feels a bit forced.
There’s a lot of cute banter and whimsical music, but it starts to wear thin—especially when the film awkwardly tries to mix light comedy with Argentina’s dark political backdrop.
Director Peter Cattaneo (The Full Monty) and writer Jeff Pope (Philomena) have a strong track record, but this one never really lands.
Even Coogan, usually so naturally funny, seems strangely out of place.
Like the penguin it stars, the movie waddles more than it soars.
“Sinners” Brings Blood, Blues, and Bite to the Deep South
Now for something completely unexpected: vampires in the Mississippi Delta.
Ryan Coogler’s Sinners throws history, horror, and music into a blender and serves up a Southern Gothic feast.
Set in 1932, the story follows gangster twins—Smoke and Stack, both played by Michael B. Jordan—who return to their hometown after working for Al Capone in Chicago.
But things take a wild turn when they come face to face with a vampire (played with devilish glee by Jack O’Connell) who starts turning locals into his undead crew.
Part Gangster Flick, Part Horror Tale, All Southern Vibe
It’s a wild mix, but Coogler pulls it off with flair. The film is dripping in atmosphere, with moonshine, blues music, wooden churches, and chain gangs providing a rich backdrop.
And while the vampire twist might sound random, it’s handled with enough confidence and creativity to make it work.
Hailee Steinfeld also shows up, but it’s newcomer Miles Caton who steals the show.
In one unforgettable scene, he plays guitar as a celebration of music turns into something much deeper and more universal.
If you like your period dramas with a dark twist and a pulse-pounding soundtrack, Sinners is for you.
In Cinemas Now: Pick Your Flavor
Whether you’re up for intense realism, quirky animal antics, or supernatural Southern drama, there’s a lot to unpack at the cinema this week.
Warfare hits the hardest, The Penguin Lessons charms but stumbles, and Sinners dares to be different—and mostly succeeds.
Grab your popcorn. This week, the big screen’s got something for every mood.