The Best Movies of Summer, Part 2

Saying goodbye to summer (even a very hot one) is not the most pleasant activity. Perhaps that’s why filmmakers have prepared so many thrillers and comedies for the audience—to distract from the calendar, which shows August is about to turn into September.

Serial killers, space monsters, ancient witches seeking revenge on Russian occupiers, supernatural beings, and comedic situations—if you missed anything from the list of the best films of the second half of the summer, now is the time to catch up and thoroughly enjoy the latest blockbusters.

“Longlegs”

A detective thriller in the vein of “The Silence of the Lambs” that smoothly transitions into a mystical horror—what else would you expect from a film starring meme-man Nicolas Cage? In recent decades, Cage’s films, where he seems to intentionally choose the weirdest and most unusual scripts, have either become masterpieces or utter cringe (and often both at the same time). However, in the case of “Longlegs,” Western critics are unanimous—this is the scariest film of the decade. Well, it’s time to cool down a bit after the abnormal heat. The film tells the story of FBI agent Lee Harker, who is on the trail of an elusive serial killer-occultist known as “Longlegs.” He is responsible for the murders of several families across the state of Oregon. But the closer the heroine gets to the mysterious maniac, the more she begins to feel an inexplicable connection between them.

“Jackpot!”

A comedy action film starring “Peacemaker” star John Cena—what could be better for a light, enjoyable evening with popcorn and a can of cola? The plot of the film plays with well-known hits of the genre, such as “The Running Man,” “The Hunger Games,” or “Battle Royale.” The near future, the year 2030. The world is in an economic crisis, and in California, the Big Lottery is being held, which, against the backdrop of decline, could significantly improve the winner's financial situation. However, winning does not necessarily mean taking the money, as the rules state that you can also claim the big prize if you manage to take down the winner before sunset.

“The Witch of Konotop”

The creation of this film by Ukrainian filmmakers was inspired by the image of a witch from ancient Ukrainian legends and beliefs in the extraordinary abilities of Ukrainian women, as well as a real story of a woman from Konotop that took place at the beginning of the full-scale invasion. Threatening that “every second woman in Konotop is a witch,” she fearlessly cursed a Russian soldier who burst into her hometown on a tank. According to the plot, an ancient witch from Konotop, having fallen in love with an ordinary guy, long ago renounced her witch powers, but after the Russian soldiers capture the town and brutally kill her beloved at the start of the full-scale invasion, she decides to take revenge, regains her powers, and unleashes terrible and bloody punishments on the murderers of her fiancé. Despite the expressive genre and its inherent bloodiness, the film conveys a deep message to the audience about the importance of staying on the edge of humanity and not becoming monsters themselves while seeking ruthless retribution against enemies and burning with righteous fury.

“Borderlands”

In recent years, the film industry has experienced a renaissance of successful video game adaptations (“Fallout,” “Five Nights at Freddy's,” “The Last of Us”). The whirlwind sci-fi comedy action film, set in a dystopian world, is based on the eponymous first-person shooter video game series developed by Gearbox Software. The story begins with the notorious criminal Lilith returning to her childhood home to carry out a complex and dangerous contract—to find the missing daughter of the most powerful person in the world. To accomplish the impossible mission, she naturally assembles a team of misfits, utterly unfit for serious business. The star-studded team cast leaves no room to miss this show—Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Jack Black.

“Boneyard”

A detective police thriller, based on real events, is notable primarily for bringing Mel Gibson—a rare guest at major premieres—back to the screen. Incredibly charismatic and brutal, here he plays FBI agent Petrovick, who, along with Albuquerque police chief Carter, tries to track down a serial killer known as “The Boneyard.” But Carter suspects that the murderer might very well be one of his own men. The second fiddle in the police duo is played by no less iconic figure—Curtis Jackson, better known as rapper 50 Cent. Whether this powerful tandem will yield a story in the spirit of the golden classics like “Lethal Weapon”—that’s for the cinema audiences to judge.

“Alien: Romulus”

As the slogan of the classic first film in the Alien franchise says, “In space, no one can hear you scream.” And in space, no one will notice the plot holes in a story that’s been going on for over 40 years—during this time, Xenomorphs, victims of biological experiments, have visited Earth, distant planets, and taken rides on various spaceships. The creators of the latest film in the series now aim to fill in the gaps between the events of the original “Alien” (1979) and its sequel “Aliens” (1986) by James Cameron. The plot revolves around a group of young colonists who, while exploring an abandoned space station, encounter the most terrifying form of life in space. The creators do not promise breathtaking views of new planets, but a claustrophobic horror experience is also a good entertainment, especially since it is directed by the filmmaker behind another film about trapped people and a merciless monster—the hit thriller “Don’t Breathe” (2016) by Federico Álvarez.

“Trap”

The summer of 2024 closes with a film by the most famous Indian horror-maker, M. Night Shyamalan, who returns with his own directorial work—and once again, it’s about a serial killer. Cooper and his teenage daughter go to a pop star Lady Raven’s concert. But no one around, including his daughter, knows that he is the serial killer known as “The Butcher.” In the middle of the concert, the maniac realizes that this event is a police trap set to finally catch him. The plot of “Trap” is partly based on the famous police operation “Flagship,” which took place in 1985. At that time, undercover law enforcement officers arrested a wanted fugitive at a conference center by inviting everyone for free NFL tickets through a fictitious television company. The role of the sinister “Butcher” is played by the devilishly handsome Josh Hartnett, who is no stranger to playing characters with a double life, so the suspense promises to be as thrilling as ever.