There may or may not be love in the air this February, but one thing is certain: there is an abundance of female-led horror on the screen. There are, of course, some lighter or melodramatic options for those less partial to gore and terror. But what better way to get that latest musical score out of your head — or better yet, channel any feelings surrounding recent events — than with some kick-ass females battling the unknown?
While New Yorkers may enjoy Agnieszka Smoczynska’s Sundance winner “The Lure” a bit early at the IFC Center, its national release, “Rings,” and “Don’t Knock Twice” open on February 3 and set the tone for this month’s genre-of-choice.
There are a number of moving documentaries opening this month, too. Barbara Kopple’s “This is Everything: Gigi Gorgeous” follows Canadian diver-turned-YouTube star Gigi Gorgeous as she shares her transition experience. The Oscar-winning filmmaker’s latest offering explores the importance of acceptance, love, and family.
If horror or the next installment of “Fifty Shades” isn’t exactly your Valentine’s Day cup of tea, make it a point to see Amma Asante’s “A United Kingdom” on February 10. Based on a true story and starring Rosamund Pike (“Gone Girl”) and David Oyelowo (“Selma”), the period piece portrays a romance complicated by racism and politics. Ultimately, the film celebrates the power and endurance of love.
So Yong Kim’s “Lovesong,” due February 17, stars Riley Keough (“American Honey”) and Jena Malone (“The Hunger Games” franchise) as best friends who share a history that’s not strictly platonic.
Also opening on February 17 is the horror anthology we’ve been waiting for, complete with an all-female directing team and female leads. “XX,” which cleverly stands for two x chromosomes, features four dark tales by Roxanne Benjamin, Sofia Carrillo, Karyn Kusama, Annie Clark (St. Vincent), and Jovanka Vuckovic. If you’d rather watch this alone in the comfort of your own home — and we don’t blame you — it will also be available On Demand.
February will end with a dash of realism, melodrama, and — of course — zombies. Sara Jordenö’s feature documentary debut, “Kiki,” gives an exclusive look into the NYC Kiki scene, which is created and governed by LGBTQ youth. Starring Alicia Vikander, Christoph Waltz, and Dane DeHaan, “Tulip Fever” follows a 17th century affair between a married woman and the artist commissioned to paint her portrait.
Finally, “The Girl with All the Gifts” depicts a future humanity almost wiped out by a mutated fungus. Although this fungus seemingly eliminates free will and transforms humans into flesh-eating “hungries,” a small group of children appear immune and are therefore militarily detained. Melanie (Sennia Nanua) stands out from all the rest. When the base falls, she escapes with her teacher (Gemma Arterton) and a biologist (Glenn Close) on a journey of survival and self-discovery.
Here are all of the women-centric, women-directed, and women-written films debuting in February. All descriptions are from press materials unless otherwise noted.
February 1
“The Lure” — Directed by Agnieszka Smoczynska (Opens in NY; Opens in Limited Release February 10)
In this bold, genre-defying horror-musical mashup, a pair of carnivorous mermaid sisters (Marta Mazurek and Michalina Olszanska) are drawn ashore in an alternate ’80s Poland to explore the wonders and temptations of life on land. Their tantalizing siren songs and otherworldly aura make them overnight sensations as nightclub singers in the half-glam, half-decrepit fantasy world of Smoczynska’s imagining. In a visceral twist on Hans Christian Andersen’s original “Little Mermaid” tale, one sister falls for a human, and as the bonds of sisterhood are tested, the lines between love and survival get blurred.
February 3
“This is Everything: Gigi Gorgeous”(Documentary) — Directed by Barbara Kopple (Opens in NY and LA; Available on YouTube Red on February 8)
“This is Everything: Gigi Gorgeous” portrays the intimate journey of Gigi Lazzarato, a fearless young woman who began life as Gregory Lazzarato, posting beauty and fashion videos to YouTube from his bedroom, only to later come out as a transgender female to an audience of millions. Directed by two-time Oscar award winner Barbara Kopple, the film provides a raw and revealing look into a life that never compromises happiness and spotlights a family’s unwavering and unconditional love for a child.
“Rings”
A new chapter in the beloved “Ring” horror franchise. A young woman (Matilda Lutz) becomes worried about her boyfriend (Alex Roe) when he explores a dark subculture surrounding a mysterious videotape said to kill the watcher seven days after he has viewed it. She sacrifices herself to save her boyfriend and in doing so makes a horrifying discovery: there is a “movie within the movie” that no one has ever seen before.
“Don’t Knock Twice”
“Knock once to wake her from her bed, twice to raise her from the dead…” So goes a disturbing urban legend involving an abandoned house supposedly inhabited by a vengeful, child-stealing witch. When troubled teen Chloe (Lucy Boynton) raps at the door one night, she has no idea the horror she’s about to unleash. Fleeing to the country home of her estranged mother (Katee Sackhoff) — a recovering addict who’s turned her life around to become a famous artist — Chloe must learn to trust the woman who gave her up years ago in order to stop the bloodthirsty, shape-shifting demon stalking them.
February 10
“A United Kingdom” — Directed by Amma Asante
“A United Kingdom” is based on extraordinary true events. In 1947, Seretse Khama (David Oyelowo), the King of Botswana, met Ruth Williams (Rosamund Pike), a London office worker. They were a perfect match, yet their proposed marriage was challenged not only by their families but by the British and South African governments. The latter had recently introduced the policy of apartheid and found the notion of a biracial couple ruling a neighboring country intolerable. South Africa threatened the British: either thwart the couple or be denied access to South African uranium and gold and face the risk of South Africa invading Botswana.
“Speed Sisters” (Documentary) — Directed by Amber Fares (Opens in NY)
The Speed Sisters are the first all-woman race car driving team in the Middle East. Grabbing headlines and turning heads at improvised tracks across the West Bank, these five women have sped their way into the heart of the gritty, male-dominated Palestinian street car-racing scene. Weaving together their lives on and off the track, “Speed Sisters” takes you on a surprising journey into the drive to go further and faster than anyone thought you could.
“Prevenge” — Written and Directed by Alice Lowe (Opens in the UK)
Widow Ruth (Alice Lowe) is seven months pregnant when, believing herself to be guided by her unborn baby, she embarks on a homicidal rampage, dispatching anyone who stands in her way.
“Kedi” (Documentary) — Written and Directed by Ceyda Torun
“Kedi” is not a documentary about house cats or the strays you occasionally see in your back yard. “Kedi” is a film about the hundreds of thousands of cats who have roamed the metropolis of Istanbul freely for thousands of years, wandering in and out of people’s lives, impacting them in ways only an animal who lives between the worlds of the wild and the tamed can. Cats and their kittens bring joy and purpose to those they choose, giving people an opportunity to reflect on life and their place in it. In Istanbul, cats are the mirrors to ourselves.
“Fifty Shades Darker”
“Fifty Shades Darker” is the second installment in the “Fifty Shades” trilogy that traces the deepening relationship between a college graduate, Anastasia Steele (Dakota Johnson), and a young business magnate, Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan). While Christian wrestles with his inner demons, Anastasia must confront the anger and envy of the women who came before her.
“Running Wild” — Co-Written by Christina Moore (Also Available on VOD)
“Running Wild” tells the story of a young widow (Dorian Brown Pham) trying to save her ranch following her husband’s fatal car crash. She creates a convict rehabilitation program, working with a herd of wild horses that have wandered onto her property. She did not anticipate the greed, bureaucracy, and vanity that she must overcome to heal the convicts, the horses, and ultimately herself.
“Havenhurst”
Jackie (Julie Benz), a troubled young woman with an unyielding alcohol addiction, is released from rehab and given a second chance with a new job and a furnished apartment at Havenhurst. Guilt-ridden over the tragic loss of her 8-year-old daughter, Jackie is quickly drawn into the mysteries of Havenhurst, in particular the unsolved disappearance of the apartment’s previous occupant, a young woman (Danielle Harris) she befriended in rehab who disappeared recently without a trace.
“I am Jane Doe” (Documentary) — Written and Directed by Mary Mazzio
“I am Jane Doe” chronicles the epic battle that several American mothers are waging on behalf of their middle-school daughters, victims of sex trafficking on Backpage.com, the adult classifieds section that for years was part of the iconic Village Voice. Narrated by Academy Award-nominee Jessica Chastain and directed by award-winning filmmaker Mary Mazzio, the documentary follows the journey of these young girls and their mothers in real time as they run headlong into a collision course not only with Backpage but with judges, powerful corporations, special interest groups, and an outdated internet freedom law that has been interpreted by federal judges to protect websites from any responsibility for hosting ads which sell underage girls.
“Sex Doll” — Written and Directed by Sylvie Verheyde (Opens in NY and LA)
A high-priced call girl navigates the shadowy world of London’s sex trade underground in this provocative, erotic thriller. Virginie (César Award winner Hafsia Herzi) goes about her work as a prostitute with a cool detachment, trading sex with wealthy businessmen for money, but never getting emotionally involved. That all changes when she meets Rupert (Ash Stymest), an enigmatic stranger with unclear intentions. Risking everything, Virginie plunges into a dangerous affair that tears her between a ruthless madame who forbids romantic attachments and a dark, sexy man who could be her savior or her downfall.
February 17
“Everybody Loves Somebody” — Written and Directed by Catalina Aguilar Mastretta
Pressured by a family wedding in Mexico, Clara (Karla Souza) asks a co-worker (Ben O’Toole) to pose as her boyfriend for the weekend festivities — only to be caught by surprise when her ex-boyfriend (José María Yazpik) suddenly shows up after disappearing from her life completely. Torn, Clara must decide between going back to the past or opening her heart to new and unexpected possibilities.
“Lovesong” — Co-Written and Directed by So Yong Kim
Neglected by her husband, Sarah (Riley Keough) embarks on an impromptu road trip with her young daughter and her best friend, Mindy (Jena Malone). Along the way, the dynamic between the two friends intensifies before circumstances force them apart. Years later, Sarah attempts to rebuild their intimate connection in the days before Mindy’s wedding.
“XX” (Anthology) — Directed by Roxanne Benjamin, Sofia Carrillo, Karyn Kusama, Annie Clark (St. Vincent), and Jovanka Vuckovic; Co-Written by Roxanne Benjamin and Jovanka Vuckovic (Also Available on VOD)
With all four of its segments directed by women, “XX” — as in, two x chromosomes — looks to distinguish itself from its predecessors. Karyn Kusama (“The Invitation”) helms “Her Only Living Son,” first-time director Annie Clark (better known as St. Vincent) is responsible for “The Birthday Party,” Roxanne Benjamin (“Southbound”) directs “Don’t Fall” and Jovanka Vuckovic (“The Captured Bird”) opens “The Box.” Natalie Brown, Melanie Lynskey, Breeda Wool, and Christina Kirk are part of the ensemble cast, whose stories animator Sofia Carrillo (“LA Casa Triste”) weaves together.
“American Fable” — Written and Directed by Anne Hamilton
A fairytale thriller set in the 1980s Midwest farm crisis about a courageous girl living in a dark and sometimes magical world. When 11-year-old Gitty (Peyton Kennedy) discovers that her beloved father (Kip Pardue) is hiding a wealthy man (Richard Schiff) in her family’s silo in order to save their struggling farm, she befriends the captive in secret and is forced to choose between saving the man’s life and protecting her family from the consequences of their actions.
“My Name is Emily”
This is a story of madness, sadness, and love. On her 16th birthday, Emily (Evanna Lynch) escapes from her foster home, and with the help of Arden (George Webster), the boy who loves her, she sets out to find her father (Michael Smiley), a visionary writer, locked up in a far-off mental institution.
February 24
“The Girl with All the Gifts” (Also Available on VOD)
A group of children is detained in a military base because they have proved immune to a terrible disease which threatens to wipe out the humanity. Despite having the urge to consume human flesh, the children are still able to experience emotions, and they are the precious resource from which biologist Dr. Caldwell (Glenn Close) hopes to develop a vaccine. One of the children, Melanie(Sennia Nanua), is particularly intelligent and has struck up a rapport with their teacher, Miss Justineau (Gemma Arterton). When the base is attacked by zombies, the group is forced to set out on a terrible journey across the devastated UK. Melanie turns from a prisoner to an invaluable guide.
“Tulip Fever”
Set in 17th century Amsterdam, “Tulip Fever” follows a married woman (Alicia Vikander) who begins a passionate affair with an artist (Dane DeHaan) hired to paint her portrait. The lovers gamble on the booming market for tulip bulbs as a way to raise money to run away together.
“Year by the Sea” (Opens in Florida)
After 30 years as a wife and mother, an empty nester (Karen Allen) retreats to Cape Cod rather than follow her relocated husband (Michael Cristofer) to Kansas. Intent to rediscover herself but plagued with guilt, she questions her decision until stumbling upon a spirited mentor (Celia Imrie). Supported by her literary agent (S. Epatha Merkerson) and a host of locals, including a sexy fisherman (Yannick Bisson), our heroine learns to embrace the ebb and ow of life — ultimately discovering the balance between self and sacrifice, obligation, and desire. Based on the New York Times best-selling memoir by Joan Anderson.
“Kiki” (Documentary) — Co-Written and Directed by Sara Jordenö (Opens in LA; Opens in NY March 1)
Twenty-five years after “Paris is Burning,” we dive back into the fierce world of voguing battles in the Kiki scene of New York City, where competition between Houses demands leadership, painstaking practice, and performances on point. This film collaboration between Kiki gatekeeper Twiggy Pucci Garçon and Swedish filmmaker Sara Jordenö, grants exclusive access into this high stakes world, where tough competitions act as a gateway into the daily lives of LGBTQ youth of color in NYC. The new generation of ballroom youth use the motto, “Not About us Without Us.” Twiggy and Sara’s insider-outsider approach to their stories breathes fresh life into the representation of a marginalized community who demand visibility and real political power.
“As You Are” — Co-Written by Madison Harrison (Opens in NY)
Set in the early 1990s, “As You Are” unfolds as a series of alternating perspectives of pivotal moments in the relationship between three teenage friends. Bound by their aversion to the culture around them, Jack (Owen Campbell) and Mark (Charlie Heaton) explore the limits of friendship and love until Mark’s judgmental father tears them apart. Just as Jack and Sarah (Amandla Stenberg) are adjusting to life without Mark, he gets unexpectedly thrown back into their lives. The two boys struggle to navigate complex emotions that are compounded by the disapproval they feel from all around. Ultimately, tensions rise to a boiling point, and tragedy echoes through their world.
