Continuing the catchup! Here we go with the July movie recommendations.

Ziam – Netflix, July 9th

I’ve talked about it before, but while there are many downsides to the streaming world we find ourselves in, one of the major benefits is the newfound exposure to international films. Ziam is a zombie/martial arts movie from Thailand that I can’t imagine jumping across the Pacific without Netflix’s low barrier of entry. Set in a dystopian future, the film garnered attention for the director Kulp Kaljareuk’s focus on practical effects and Muay Thai combat choreography. From there its positive reviews propelled it into the #1 slot for Netflix’s top 10 worldwide.

Superman – Theaters, July 11th, PVOD

The start of the new DC cinematic universe, James Gunn’s Superman couldn’t be more important for his tenure as the DC movie bigwig. And from all appearances, Gunn pulled it off. Its Metacritic score comes in at 68, respectable by current superhero standards, and audience reaction has been effusively positive if Rotten Tomatoes is to be believed. I’m sad I didn’t get to the theater to see this, though it’s still hanging around in some cities. It’s coming to HBO Max soon™, and I’m sure I’ll queue it up shortly after it drops for a fun romp through Gunn’s new playground.

Eddington – Theaters, July 18th, PVOD

Ari Aster may be one of the most divisive directors of our time. Starting out as an ‘elevated’ horror director with Hereditary and Midsommar, Aster continued his fruitful partnership with A24 with Beau is Afraid and now Eddington. I quite liked Midsommar, despite my horror aversion, but absolutely hated Beau. Aster’s films are all incredibly psychological and include dark humor and tension that keep you on the edge of your seat, even if the ‘horror’ tropes have tapered off. Eddington seems to be following in this mold, and is billed as a neo-Western dark comedy thriller – a combination of words that I’m not sure would work in someone else’s hands. Starring Aster favorite, Joaquin Phoenix, and the inescapable Pedro Pascal (I don’t mind, but I know folks who are tired of him being *everywhere* this summer), this is one of only a handful of “Covid” films that I’m aware of, its setting a small town in May of 2020. Following the feud between the local sheriff, Phoenix, and mayor, Pascal, tensions run high and finally boil over as the two go after each other in a contentious mayoral race.

Fantastic Four: The First Steps – Theaters, July 25th, PVOD

The only movie on this list I got out to see in theaters. Pedro Pascal and Vanessa Kirby lead this MCU Fantastic Four reboot, alongside The Bear alum Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Stranger Things alum Joseph Quinn. I came out of the movie on a cloud, and further reflection has only dimmed my view slightly. In a cinematic lineage so closely tied to its action, First Steps largely eschews them in favor of tight shots and family drama. Being allowed to develop these characters in their own universe allowed the director, Matt Shakman, to avoid the burden of the long arm of continuity to introduce us to these characters in a much more intimate way. After the train wreck of this year’s Captain America and the brighter spot of Thunderbolts*, it does feel like Marvel *might* be turning the ship around. It doesn’t hurt that audiences widely praised Shakman’s recent work on WandaVision. You can read more of my First Steps thoughts here.