Horror film The Ritual starring Al Pacino to open in UK Cinemas
The horror film The Ritual, directed by David Midell (The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain), is a depiction of the case of Emma Schmidt, whose alleged decades of demonic possession culminated in a series of exorcisms in 1928.
The film stars Academy Award-winner Al Pacino (The Godfather trilogy) and Dan Stevens (Abigail), with Ashley Greene (The Twilight Saga) and Abigail Cowen (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina) rounding out the cast.
Altitude will release the film in UK and Irish cinemas from 30 May.
Based on true Events, The Ritual is the story of the exorcism of Emma Schmidt, and the two priests who went to war with Satan to save her soul.
Watch the trailer for The Ritual
Swedish horror film FEED set for release in US on May 9
The Swedish language horror feature FEED directed by Johannes Persson will released on demand and on DVD, starting May 9, 2025 by Freestyle Digital Media.
Starring in the film are Molly Nutley (‘Elin’), Sofia Kappel (‘Josefin’), and Annica Liljeblad (‘Ragnhild’), Vincent Grahl (‘Dimman’), Joel Lützow (‘Jens’), Emelina Rosenstielke (‘Ava’), Amanda Lindh (‘Kirsten’), Michael Odhag (‘Ulf’), and Emma Suki (‘Nikolina Kostov’).
FEED is based on the true story of Sweden’s first woman to be killed for witchcraft. When a murder turns into a myth and becomes a popular tourist attraction, influencers soon try to ride the wave of “ghost tourism” to market various tourist destinations for clients. The story begins when a young medical student joins her influencer boyfriend on one of his marketing jobs after being hired to help an old family business to thrive. But they soon find themselves stuck on a tiny island in a lake in which an ancient Swedish witch (“Märit’) is said to live. The goal is to make potential tourists believe that old witch, Märit, lives in the lake around a commercial camping-site – but there’s soon reason to believe that Märit is more than just a made-up ghost story.
Watch the trailer for FEED
David Ryan Keith’s sci-fi horror Primal Games set for release on May 6
The action sci-fi horror Primal Games directed by David Ryan Keith (The Redwood Massacre, I Am Rage) will be released on Digital and On Demand on May 6, 2025 by Uncork’d Entertainment.
It stars Hannaj Bang Bendz, John Love, and Gary Kasper.
Primal Games follows a newlywed couple whose honeymoon turns into a waking nightmare when they are thrust into a sadistic survival game created for the world’s thrill-seeking elite. Hunted and outnumbered, they must fight to survive and uncover the truth about the twisted reality they’ve been dragged into.
Watch the official trailer for Primal Games
Award-winning Portuguese family drama Autumn (A Minha Casinha) sets UK and US streaming release dates
The international award-winning drama film Autumn (A Minha Casinha), the feature debut from Portuguese director António Sequeira, will be released in the UK on digital platforms from June 2nd, and in the US from June 3rd.
Starring in the movie are Beatriz Frazão (Morangos com Açúcar, Conta-me como Foi), Elsa Valentim (A Série, Praxx), Miguel Frazão (Pôr do Sol; Salgueiro Maia) and Salvador Gil (Ubu; Um Filme em Forma de Assim).
Set in a small Portuguese town, a family is turned upside down when the eldest son leaves to study in London. Over the course of a year (Winter, Spring, Summer, Autumn), we observe snapshots of a son’s emancipation, a daughter’s coming of age, a father’s mid-life crisis and a mother learning to cope with an ‘empty nest’. Heartwarming and intimate Autumn offers a poignant reflection on the challenges of growing up, growing old and moving on, reminding us of the importance of the connection to home.
Speaking on the film, director António Sequeira commented, “As a Portuguese filmmaker, I have always been passionate about telling stories that bring underrepresented voices to the forefront. Growing up in the countryside of Portugal, I witnessed firsthand the struggles of its people, who often feel left behind in an ever-changing world. I believe it is now time for their voices to be heard.”
Watch the official trailer for Autumn (A Minha Casinha).
Being Maria, Jessica Palud’s biopic about actress Maria Schneider released on-demand
Jessica Palud’s sophomore feature Being Maria, starring Anamaria Vartolomei as the Last Tango in Paris star and Matt Dillon as Marlon Brando, is a moving portrait of the turbulent life and career of the late French actress Maria Schneider. The film made its World Premiere at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, where it was the only female-directed film selected for the ‘Premieres’ section.
Being Maria will become available on Premium Video-on-Demand as a Home Premiere on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV app, and Fandango-At-Home on April 29 and on Blu-ray and DVD May 27 via Kino Lorber.
Maria Schneider (Anamaria Vartolomei, Happening) is a promising young French actress. When she gets the lead in a feature film directed by an acclaimed Italian filmmaker and starring one of America’s most beloved actors, it seems like the opportunity of a lifetime. Her collaborators, director Bernardo Bertolucci and star Marlon Brando (Matt Dillon) seem to be bringing out the best in Maria, sharing a warm rapport and mentorship with the 19-year old girl. Until one day, when the men conspire to shoot a crucial sex scene as a harrowing assault without letting Maria in on the plan. The film goes on to be lauded as a fearless artistic breakthrough, but for Maria, it’s the beginning of a living hell. Based on the behind-the-scenes true story of the making of Last Tango in Paris, Jessica Palud’s sensitive biopic centers Maria’s story for the first time.
Watch the trailer for Being Maria