The Royal Hotel (out Nov 21) is a gritty Aussie drama about two female Canadian backpackers who, in desperate need of money to fund the rest of their holiday, take jobs as bartenders in a remote mining town. The pace is slow at times (and audiences may want more from the finale) but it's an eye-opening look at a seedier part of Australia. Liked the continually changing dynamic between the two women. Grade: B.

Thanksgiving (out Nov 16) is a horror flick about a serial killer murdering, in brutal fashion, select folk from a small American town. It’s a bit all-over-the-place but that suits the intentional blend of comedy and gore. Grade: B.

Bromley: Light After Dark (out Nov 16) is an Australian documentary about artist David Bromley. Avoiding flattery of the subject matter, it’s an interesting exploration of what we consider “art” to be. Grade: B.

A Savage Christmas (out Nov 16) is an underwhelming Aussie comedy about a dysfunctional family and a bunch of secrets which spill into the open at a Christmas Day lunch. To each their own... but the joke delivery is stiff, and I didn't find this funny at all. Grade: C.

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (out Nov 16) is an entertaining prequel which doesn’t come across as a mere cash-grab. It has an interesting story to tell. I love the core concept - an origin story about a villain. The execution doesn't always match the ambition (ending is rushed) but from the detailed sets and costumes to the strong lead performances, this is generally good. Grade: B+.

The Tasting (out Nov 16) is a perfunctory romantic drama about two lonely people who connect over a love for wine. There's not much to the narrative and the romance between the two leads is unconvincing. Grade: C+.

Freelance (out Nov 9) is trash. A dismally unfunny comedy about a depressed security agent assigned with protecting a journalist on a trip to a fictitious South American country. Grade: C-.

Saltburn (out Nov 16) rattles and entertains. The story revolves around a socially inept, first-year student at Oxford (Barry Keoghan) who weaves his way into the home of a very wealthy family. It’s power games aplenty as characters use their smarts and sexual appetites to try to get the upper hand over others. Great performances plus outlandish moments equals a terrific film. Grade: A.

The Marvels (out Nov 9) is light on runtime (good) and light on originality (bad). Pakistani-born newcomer Iman Vellani is the stand-out amongst the cast but, when it comes to the script, there’s very little here that we haven’t seen again and again in previous Marvel Cinematic Universe flicks. Grade: C+.

The Big Dog (out Nov 9) is a wild, dark Aussie comedy about a married businessman whose life quickly unravels when his very unusual sexual kink becomes known. It's a little up-and-down and the ending doesn't quite stick... but the film is to applauded for its unexpected laughs/thrills and quirky narrative. Grade: B.