The Testament of Ann Lee (out Feb 26) is not to be missed. The film is centred on Ann Lee, the woman who founded the Shakers movement, but it’s more than a simple history lesson. Instead of explaining everything through narration and dialogue, it provides a hypnotic, rhythmic experience where music, song and dance is used to capture the spirit of these characters and pull you into its world. Grade: A.

Sirāt (out Feb 26) is a provides an experience with a capital E. You won't see many movies like it. Centred on a father looking for his lost daughter in a Moroccan desert, it's wildly unpredictable. The production values are brilliant - from the music, sound and cinematography, through the performances of the largely non-professional actors. Grade: A.

EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert (out Feb 19) is a simple, nicely assembled documentary about the famed singer. I don't think it's telling us anything new but, using on-stage and behind-the-scenes footage, it's a worthy homage which celebrates his talent and popularity. Grade: B+.

Fackham Hall (out Feb 19) is a below-average comedy which spoofs the likes of Gosford Park and Downton Abbey. It's largely toilet humour and dad jokes for the 97-minute running time. Needed more wit and ideas! Grade: C.

Jimpa (out Feb 19) is an underwhelming Australian drama about a nonbinary 16-year-old who travels with her mum to Amsterdam to visit her academic grandfather. It's a great cast with Olivia Colman and John Lithgow, but comes across as over-scripted. Grade: C+.

Pillion (out Feb 19) is a funny, provocative, enlightening “romance” you won’t soon forget. It's the British tale of two gay men who enter a relationship of dominance and submission. It marks the first feature film of writer-director Harry Lighton and he keeps you intently interested in the power games between the two leads. Grade: A.

Whistle (out Feb 12) is cut from the same cloth as the Final Destination franchise. A group of high schoolers discover an ancient whistle and, upon blowing it, Death comes after them. It's a very standard horror-thriller with characters making dumb choices to prolong the increasingly stupid narrative. Grade: C.

Iron Lung (out Jan 29) is a cool concept – a sci-fi thriller set entirely in a small underwater submersible with one inhabitant – a man trying to find something on an alien planet. It’s a cool idea with excellent production values but there’s not enough material to justify a 2+ hour running time. Grade: B.

Wuthering Heights (out Feb 12) is a loose adaptation of Emily Brontë's 19th Century novel with Aussies Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi playing the two star-crossed lovers. It's watchable but the characters aren't as interesting, nor the dialogue as sharp, compared to my favourite piece flicks (e.g. 1995's Sense & Sensibility). Grade: B-.

Crime 101 (out Feb 12) has been compared to Michael Mann's Heat and I can understand why.  It's not as good (few films could be) but it's still a serviceable action-thriller with stars Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, and Halle Berry playing three interesting characters. You're never quite sure how it'll end... which is a good thing. Grade: B.