“Sharp Stick”
After years of health issues and generally keeping out of the public eye (after spending a lot of it on social media), “Girls” creator Lena Dunham returns with her sophomore feature-length directorial effort “Sharp Stick” which premiered earlier this year at Sundance. A challenging, provocative look at budding young, adolescent sexuality, the film stars Kristine Froseth, Taylour Paige, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Jon Bernthal, Scott Speedman, Dunham, and Tommy Dorfman. It’s essentially a coming of age tale, but only coming of sexuality (our review).
Release Date: July 29, 2022, via Utopia Films.
“DC League of Super-Pets”
Superman’s dog Krypto teams up with other superhero pets to foil the plans of an evil pet guinea pig that belongs to none other than the infamous Lex Luthor. The super-pets are voiced by Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Diego Luna, John Krasinski, Keanu Reeves, Ben Schwartz, Kate McKinnon, Vanessa Bayer, and Natasha Lyonne.
Release Date: July 29, 2022, via Warner Brothers.
Also in July: John Michael McDonagh‘s “The Forgiven” with Jessica Chastain (July 1), “Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, A Journey, A Song” (July 1), “Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between” (July 6), Netflix’s animated “The Sea Beast” (July 8), “Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris” (July 15), Jono McLeod‘s “My Old School” (July 22), BJ Novak‘s “Vengeance” (July 29), Quinn Shephard‘s “Not Okay” (July 29)
“Bodies Bodies Bodies”
Centered around a group of rich twentysomethings who plan a party at a remote family mansion, “Bodies Bodies Bodies” is a fresh and comedic look at backstabbing, fake friends, and a party gone astronomically wrong. Said to be “Scream” for Gen Z, the film stars Amandla Stenberg, Maria Bakalova, Lee Pace, Chase Sui Wonders, Rachel Sennott, Myha’la Herrold, and Pete Davidson (read our review).
Release Date: August 5, 2022, via A24.
“Resurrection”
Premiering at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, “Resurrection” follows Margaret (Rebecca Hall) who leads an orderly and successful life, managing her career and single parenthood. Everything is under control until David (Tim Roth), a shadow from her past, pops up and she must confront the monster she’s been evading for two decades (read our review).
Release Date: August 5, 2022, via IFC Films and Shudder.
“Not OK”
Directed by 27 year old Quinn Shephard—the young filmmaker who already broke out at the age of 22 with 2017’s Tribeca Film Fest Drama “Blame” and also acts (Desiree Akhavan‘s “The Miseducation of Cameron Post“)— she returns with her follow-up feature with “Not Ok.” The film— about a woman’s misguided social media-centered, seeking-fame trip to Paris that goes all wrong and turns terrifying— stars Zoey Deutch, Dylan O’Brien, Mia Isaac, Embeth Davidtz, Nadia Alexander, Tia Dionne Hodge, Negin Farsad, Karan Soni, and Dash Perry.
Release Date: August 5, 2022, via Hulu / Searchlight Pictures.
“Emily The Criminal”
Also out of this year’s Sundance is a tense and thrilling story following Emily (Aubrey Plaza) a college graduate buried in debt. Unable to find a job, she finds herself involved in a credit card scam pulling her into the criminal underworld of Los Angeles. Plaza is joined onscreen by Theo Rossi, Jonathan Avigdori, Kim Yarbrough, and Gina Gershon. The filmmakers have emphasized their desire to have the film play only in theaters (read our review).
Release Date: August 5, 2022, via Roadside Attractions and Vertical Entertainment.
“Beast”
A shopping mall in Chennai is attacked by terrorists who hold all the shoppers and visitors hostage, but Veera Raghavan is also trapped in the mall. Veera, a spy, and ex RAW agent, decides he is going to save the hostages by eliminating the terrorists himself. The cast includes Thalapathy Vijay, Pooja Hegde, K. Selvaraghavan, Shine Tom Chacko, and Yogi Babu.
Release Date: August 19, 2022, via Sun Pictures and Ahimsa Entertainment.
“892”
Based on the true story of Brian Brown-Easley, “892” tells the story of a former marine who is on the brink of poverty after he fails to receive disability from the office of Veterans Affairs. Facing mental and emotional challenges trying to return to civilian life, he walks into a Wells Fargo and states he has a bomb. John Boyega plays the former U.S. Marine, alongside Nicole Beharie, Selenis Leyva, and Michael Kenneth Williams (read our review).
Release Date: August 26, 2022, via Bleecker Street Media.
“Three Thousand Years of Longing”
It’s been seven years since Australian director George Miller graced us with “Fury Road,” and he returns with a left turn that’s somewhat unexpected. “Three Thousand Years of Longing” is an epic fantasy romance film about a scholar, content with life (Tilda Swinton), who encounters a Djinn (Idris Elba) who offers her three wishes in exchange for his freedom. It’s seemingly a two-hander in a room, but the fantasy elements are said to be huge, the budget is substantial and Miller was able to convince ‘Fury Road’ cinematographer John Seale to come out of retirement for the film. Premieres in Cannes in May.
Release Date: August 31, 2022, via United Artists Releasing.
Also in August: “Luck” (August 5), “Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie” (August 5), Tamra Davis‘ “The Musical” (August 12), “Day Shift” starring Jamie Foxx (August 12), Luca Guadagnino‘s “Salvatore: Shoemaker of Dreams” (August 19), “Me Time” starring Kevin Hart and Mark Wahlberg as reconnected best friends (August 26), Julian Higgins‘ “God’s Country” (TBD), “The Man From Toronto” (TBD).
“Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul”
Played by Regina Hall, Trinitie Childs is a proud first lady of a Southern Baptist megachurch. When the church is met with a scandal, they are forced to close temporarily and Trinitie and her husband Pastor Lee-Curtis (Sterling K. Brown) have to rebuild thaeir congregation and reconcile their faith to ensure a comeback. “Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul” will be released simultaneously in theaters and on streaming (read our review)
Release Date: September 2, 2022, via Focus Features and Peacock.
Now that’s a pretty decent summer line-up, no? Happy cinemagoing.