Well, whatever you do, don’t pop into *Dark Water* if you’re in a lowdown, lousy mood and you’re looking for The Movies to supply a pick-me-up. Cuz one of the things this Asian-horror remake does really well is create the blackest of black moods right from its opening moments, and then deepens it and explores it and toys with it as if it’s trying to see just how despairing and miserable it can make you feel. Go into the flick already in a state of despair and misery, and you just might end up coming out in a straitjacket.

In between his gloriously Zen Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter… And Spring and his urban Goldilocks fairy tale 3-Iron, Korean filmmaker Ki-duk Kim made this arcane and provocative film… and it cements his reputation as one of the most astonishing artists working in cinema today. Rage and forgiveness, castigation and redemption are the four extreme corners … more…

Bela Tarr’s gripping verite drama about a working-class couple in 1982 Hungary is so painfully real that it almost becomes unendurable — the strife and the stress of their relationship will leave you thoroughly wrung out whether you recognize or share their problems or not. After an intense opening scene of a screaming argument during … more…

How high is your tolerance for charming shite? Those who can’t get enough of exaggerated brogues and nonstop fiddle music should dive right into this aggressively enchanting tale of star-crossed lovers, feuding brothers, and drinkin’ till ya puke. Fair warning: The boys and girl are competing at the All Irish Music Championship in the late … more…

High-school sophomore Debbie is the absolute biggest fan of an insipid boy band called Dream Street, and she’s crushed when she gets taken by a scalper and misses the band’s big show. But then, lo and behold, miracles and wonders, she wakes up the next morning to find the 17-year-old lead singer, Chris Trousdale, in … more…

Paramount was right to keep images of the alien creatures and the alien ships tightly under wraps (though perhaps requiring Steven Spielberg to check his cell phone at the door of the New York premiere last week may have been a tad unnecessary), because when you finally see them, you’re sharing the experience with the characters in the film, and that is: Holy fuck. And you almost want to look away, it’s too much to deal with, and yet you can’t, it’s so horrifyingly fascinating.