What I Watched in August 2026

THE END OF OAK STREET (2026) is a well-crafted and surprisingly moving film. In its DNA it is easy to see several 1980s influences with most people pointing to the suburban Spielbergian essence but I think it borrows nearly as much from Joe Dante’s bag of tricks. It balances an intimate, character-driven story with good atmosphere, creating something that feels both thoughtfully plotted and emotionally resonant. It is our attachment to the central family characters that defines the effectiveness of the film as the story unspools. Things become increasingly harrowing and, at times, downright violently grotesque in ways that the early JURASSIC PARK films steered clear of for fear of the dreaded R rating. Not so here where the horror of humans no longer being at the top of the food chain is made clear in gory fashion. Luckily, the performances give the characters real depth while the pacing allows the story’s quieter moments to land without feeling forced. I was especially impressed with the moment when the teenaged daughter slips out to the garage to listen to a beloved song. That scene’s vision of a young person finding a way to cope with fear was touching and helped define her state of mind and personality. 

This is only one of several instants in which the film shows warmth and attention to detail. It finds meaning in ordinary moments with realistically drawn characters and gradually builds them into something genuinely affecting. By the end, THE END OF OAK STREET almost feels like a story you experienced alongside its characters instead of just as an observer. It’s a sincere and engaging film that deserves to be seen regardless of its lackluster box office numbers.

 

Oh! And all this while I also spent the first 20 minutes of the film being hopelessly distracted by Anne Hathaway’s legs! Seriously, those things are works of art. Plus, she gives a brilliant performance as well with most of the film turning on how good she is in her complicated role. 

The List

SURVEILLANCE (2008) – 7 (Jennifer Lynch's absorbing crime tale)

I WANT YOUR SEX (2026) – 7 (funny look at sex and the eternal confusion it creates)

INITIATION (1987) – 5 (self-centered teen douches his way into the Australian Outback)

SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY (2026) – 9

AT THE EARTH’S CORE (1976) – 5 (rewatch on Blu)

ANGEL OF H.A.R.M (1983) – 4 (soft-core espionage comedy)

THE LAST PLATOON (1988) – 7 (Richard Hatch in Vietnam)

AAA MASSEUSE, GOOD LOOKING, OFFERS HER SERVICES (1972) – 7 (giallo)

ICE CREAM MAN (2026) – 4 (boring series of OTT gore scenes – the young cast is solid though)

THE LONE RUNNER (1986) – 4 (Deodato post-apocalyptic sort-of western) 

THE MUMMY’S CURSE (1944) – 7 (rewatch on Blu)

UNDERTONE (2026) – 7 (solid slow-burn chiller)

THE TROLLENBERG TERROR (1658) – 7 (rewatch on Blu)

THE END OF OAK STREET (2026) – 7

X-FILES: I WANT TO BELIEVE VRACH FRANKENSHTEYN (2026) – 7 (recut version is pretty good)

BENEATH THE PLANET OF THE APES (1970) – 8 (rewatch on Blu)

TEENAGE SEX AND DEATH IN CAMP MIASMA (2026) – 8

SEARCH AND DESTROY (1979) – 6 (Vietnam vets stalked by a killer)

THE RIP (2026) – 8 (excellent Miami-set crime tale)

THE DOG STARS (2026) – 8 (excellent post-apocalyptic drama)

THE GLOVE (1979) – 4 (weak PI/skip tracer tale that wastes its cast)