The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (out Jun 3) is another solid entry in this successful franchise. Loosely based on actual events, it's centred around a young man charged with murder who claims he was possessed by a demon. Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga make a formidable team once again. Grade: B+.

Lapsis (out Jun 3) is a puzzling, eyebrow-raising dark comedy set in a dystopian world. Much of the film is spent watching a middle-aged contractor hike through a forest and lay network cables for an exploitative company. If you like weird, strange and different with a dash of politics, this is for you. Grade: A-.

Minamata (out Jun 3) is based on actual events and is the story of an acclaimed, alcoholic photographer (Johnny Depp) who travels to Japan in 1971 to expose those behind an environmental disaster. We’ve seen similar tales (e.g. Erin Brockovich, Dark Waters) that offer more in terms of engaging characters and narrative. This one is a little dull. Grade: B-. 

Deliver Us From Evil (out Jun 3) is a South Korean action-thriller about a retired hitman dragged into an assignment involving a kidnapped 9-year-old girl. The story itself is formulaic (we’ve seen it so many times before) but the fight scenes are nicely choreographed and the cast have been well chosen. Grade: B.

Breaking Bread (out Jun 3) is a fun, feel-good documentary about an annual food festival that tries to unite Israelis and Palestinians on the basis that “there’s no room for politics in the kitchen.” The chefs / restaurant owners have interesting backstories and the food is mouth-watering. Grade: B+.

Breaking News in Yuba County (out Jun 3) is a dreadful dark comedy about a bunch of moronic, self-absorbed characters who find themselves caught up in a police investigation involving a missing person and a bag full of money. This is devoid of wit, surprise and messages. Grade: C-.

Cruella (out May 27) is the tale of an orphan who becomes a thief who becomes a cleaner who becomes a fashion designer. The one-dimensional characters become tiring but the cool, colourful world does the heavy lifting in getting this film to the finish line. Grade: B.

My Name is Gulpilil (out May 27) is a documentary about the iconic Australian actor David Gulpilil who has appeared in films including Walkabout, Storm Boy, Crocodile Dundee, The Tracker, Australia and Goldstone. Grade: B.

King Otto (out May 27) is a documentary that chronicles the long-shot victory of Greece in the Euro 2004 football tournament. It's slight in terms of scope (not a lot of interviewees, doesn't dig too deep) but it'll be of huge interest to those who love a real-life, underdog sporting tale. I'll admit to shedding a tear of joy during the finale. Grade: B.

A Quiet Place: Part II (out May 27) relies on the same hooks and tricks as the original but it's still exceedingly better than other action-thrillers coming out of Hollywood. It picks up where the original film left off with director John Krasinski again building suspense through the lack of dialogue, sound effects and music. It reiterates that silence is one of the most effective tools in making audiences feel uncomfortable. Grade: A-.