Abnormal and absurd — these are the two fun themes movie watchers can expect in film and television this upcoming fall slate. While there’s much to look forward to, the MouthSoap is especially excited about the obviously edible-induced Dream Scenario, eyebrow-raising The Mill, and nostalgic comfort Goosebumps. Let’s get into it!
Dream Scenario
First on our list is A24’s Dream Scenario, starring Nicolas Cage as the quirky professor Paul Matthews. Matthews lives quite a normal life as a family man invested in academia. All of that changes when various people begin to see him in their dreams.
Once it’s discovered he’s not just an illusion but actually exists in real life, Matthews popularity increases significantly. Indulgence in his newfound fame lasts for but a time until those dreams become tormenting nightmares, causing an onslaught of backlash.
Dream Scenario, written and directed by Kristoffer Borgli, is cosigned and co-produced by horror maestro Ari Aster (Hereditary, Midsommar). The cast includes Julianne Nicholson, Michael Cera, Tim Meadows, Dylan Gelula, and Dylan Baker.
Dream Scenario releases in theaters Nov. 10.
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The Mill
Just in time for the Halloween season, Hulu presents The Mill, a heat-pumping sci-fi thriller starring comedian-turned-actor Lil Rel Howery. Sean King O’Grady (Our American Family) directs the intriguing screenplay by All American: Homecoming scribe Jeffrey David Thomas.
The synopsis reads, “A businessman (Lil Rel Howery) wakes up beside an ancient grist mill situated in the center of an open-air prison cell with no idea how he got there. Forced to work as a beast of burden to stay alive, he must find a way to escape before the birth of his child.“
Prison? Forced labor? Needless to say, this film will have a lot of subliminal messaging. Pat Healy (Killers of the Flower Moon) and Karen Obilom (House Party) are among those in the cast.
The Mill streams Oct. 9 on Hulu.
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Goosebumps (2023)
Disney+ and Hulu have an oldie but goodie on their hands. The streaming hubs are bringing back Goosebumps, a television series inspired by R.L. Stine’s bestselling book series.
Stine’s anthology of scary stories first received a television treatment in 1995, lasting four seasons. The episodes covered some of the most notorious Stine stories, such as Welcome to Camp Nightmare, Night of the Living Dummy, Say Cheese and Die, and The Haunted Mask. After its television debut, Goosebumps would make a comeback in 2015 as a feature film starring Jack Black and Dylan Minnette. The Goosebumps franchise also included a sequel, Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween, led by Wendi McLendon-Covey and Madison Iseman, several video releases and even a video game.
The latest revamp “follows a group of five high schoolers as they embark on a shadowy and twisted journey to investigate the tragic passing three decades earlier of a teen named Harold Biddle – while also unearthing dark secrets from their parents’ past.”
The 10-episode order will rehash popular titles of the book series, including some covered in the 1995 television series.
Goosebumps debuts Oct. 13 on Disney+ and Hulu.
Happy watching!
