Have a whale of a time at the movies this October

October is shaping up to be an eclectic month at the cinemas. Tom Cruise is trading stunts for comedy, Rajinikanth returns – and one unlucky man gets swallowed by a whale.

From highly anticipated book adaptations to a local historical action film, here are 10 titles to watch out for.

1. ‘Verity’ (Oct 1)

After 2024’s “It Ends With Us”, Hollywood is taking on another Colleen Hoover story. Based on her bestselling 2018 novel, “Verity” follows Lowen (Dakota Johnson), a struggling writer hired by Jeremy Crawford (Josh Hartnett) to finish the remaining books in his wife’s bestselling series.

As it turns out, his wife – the eponymous Verity (Anne Hathaway) – can no longer write as a car accident has left her paralysed and unresponsive.

When Lowen discovers a manuscript containing disturbing secrets about the family, it leaves her questioning how much she knows about the woman she has been hired to replace – and whether she can separate fact from fiction.

2. ‘Orang Perang’ (Oct 1)

Directed by Hashim Rejab, this local historical action film brings audiences back to the Malayan Emergency.

Bah Tangga (Niezam Zaidi) is an indigenous Semai jungle tracker whose knowledge of the forest makes him a valuable asset to British forces. He and his fellow villagers are recruited to form the Senoi Praaq, an elite indigenous unit tasked with tracking communist insurgents.

Inspired by the real-life unit formed in 1956, “Orang Perang” offers a glimpse into the role of the Semai people role during one of the country’s most turbulent periods.

3. ‘Digger’ (Oct 8)

Tom Cruise is known for jumping out of planes, scaling the world’s tallest building and generally putting his life in danger on screen. In “Digger”, he swaps all that for a potbelly, thinning wig and Southern drawl – his first character-driven comedy in nearly two decades.

Cruise plays Digger Rockwell, an eccentric billionaire oil tycoon who sees himself as a larger-than-life saviour. When his reckless actions trigger a massive ecological disaster, Digger must fix the mess… but rather than simply taking responsibility, he becomes determined to convince the world he is its hero.

4. ‘Other Mommy’ (Oct 8)

What if the monster hiding in the closet looks exactly like your mother?

Based on Josh Malerman’s 2024 horror novel “Incidents Around the House”, “Other Mommy” follows eight-year-old Bela, who begins seeing a terrifying figure emerge from her bedroom closet. The entity calls itself “Other Mommy” and can mimic her mother Ursula’s appearance and voice.

Oscar winner Jessica Chastain stars in a dual role as Bela’s mommy and the sinister thingy.

5. ‘Primetime’ (Oct 8)

“Primetime” explores the real-life story behind one of US television’s most infamous programmes.

Robert Pattinson stars as television journalist Chris Hansen, the face of NBC’s controversial “To Catch a Predator”. The film follows Hansen as he works with online vigilante group Perverted Justice to stage hidden-camera stings targeting alleged internet predators, turning the investigations into a ratings phenomenon.

As viewership climbs and Hansen becomes a household name, the pursuit of ratings raises questions about the line between journalism, public justice and entertainment.

6. ‘Always LaLisa’ (Oct 12)

Blinks and Lilies, your time has come! “Always LaLisa” takes fans behind the scenes of Blackpink star Lisa’s life as she steps out on her own and builds a career beyond the K-pop group.

Follow Lisa as she establishes her management company while working on her solo album “Alter Ego”, rehearsing choreography and making appearances in the fashion world. The documentary also captures her premiere performance at Coachella and acting debut in season three of “The White Lotus”.

7. ‘Jailer 2’ (Oct 15)

Rajinikanth returns as retired prison warden “Tiger” Muthuvel Pandian, following the events of the first film. In the 2023 blockbuster, Pandian came out of retirement to protect his family after his son, a police officer, became entangled with a dangerous gang led by ruthless criminal Varman.

Now settled into a quieter life, Pandian is once again pulled into the criminal underworld when a new international syndicate threatens his family.

Directed by Nelson Dilipkumar, the sequel reunites Rajinikanth with composer Anirudh Ravichander. Ramya Krishnan and Yogi Babu also return, alongside newcomers including Vidya Balan and SJ Suryah.

8. ‘Whalefall’ (Oct 15)

Forget being stranded at sea – what about being stranded inside a whale?

Based on the survival-thriller by author Daniel Kraus, “Whalefall” follows Jay Gardiner (Austin Abrams), a young man who dives off the California coast in search of his late father’s remains – only to be swallowed by a sperm whale. Those fellas are HUGE.

Trapped inside the whale’s belly 90m underwater, Jay has just one hour to find his way out before he runs out of oxygen. Josh Brolin also stars as Jay’s late father.

9. ‘Klara and the Sun’ (Oct 22)

An adaptation of Nobel winner Kazuo Ishiguro’s acclaimed 2021 novel, this dystopian flick follows Klara (Jenna Ortega), a solar-powered “Artificial Friend” designed to combat loneliness.

Bought by a mother for her chronically ill teenage daughter Josie (Mia Tharia), Klara quickly forms a close bond with the girl. As Josie’s condition worsens, Klara becomes determined to protect her while trying to understand the complicated world of human emotions.

Amy Adams plays Josie’s mother, while Taika Waititi directs.

10. ‘Clayface’ (Oct 22)

One of Gotham’s strangest villains is getting the horror treatment. “Clayface” follows Matt Hagen (Tom Rhys Harries), a rising Hollywood actor whose career is cut short when a local crime boss leaves him horribly disfigured.

Desperate to restore his appearance, he undergoes an experimental medical procedure – only for it to transform his body into living, shape-shifting clay. As he pursues revenge, the actor becomes the tragic monster known as Clayface.

Produced by Matt Reeves and James Gunn, the film is being positioned as DC’s first official R-rated body-horror thriller.

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