THE WEEKEND IS coming up, and that means new movies for you to see.

But which is a must-watch, and are there any you should avoid?

We take a look

I Am Not A Serial Killer

What we know

Irish-produced and directed film that was made in a very cold Midwestern town. Based on a book for young adults of the same name, it’s about a young teen who tries to track down a serial killer in his locality. Stars Christopher Llloyd and Max Records (Where The Wild Things Are).

What the critics say

• “What sets I Am Not A Serial Killer apart from other takes on this “killers hunting killers” concept (Dexter, anyone?) is its naturalistic, character-based approach. Over the course of an hour and 44 minutes, we come to understand and sympathize with John, who, deep down, isn’t a bad kid” – The AV Club
• “The tale of a likable teenager, raised by a mortician family, whose own nascent sociopathic tendencies make him a perfect amateur sleuth when a serial killer strikes his folksy Midwestern town, director Billy O’Brien’s film adaptation strikes a tone that’s far more unique and endearing than that premise might imply, helped in no small part by a sharp-witted performance from former child star Max Records.” - Variety

What’s it rated? 

• RottenTomatoes: 6.7/10
• IMDB: 6.2/10

Snowden

What we know

Joseph Gordon Levitt plays the titular Edward Snowden, who famously leaked information from the US’s National Security Agency. Directed by Oliver Stone.

What the critics say

• “In the context of this director’s career, “Snowden” is both a return to form and something of a departure. Mr. Stone circles back to the grand questions of power, war and secrecy that have propelled his most ambitious work, and finds a hero who fits a familiar Oliver Stone mold.” – New York Times
• ““Snowden” is the biopic equivalent of a data dump—more fragments of information, scary factoids and fleeting themes than we or the filmmaker can keep track of, but no surprises or notable insights.” – Wall Street Journal

What’s it rated?

• RottenTomatoes: 6.3/10
• IMDB: 7.4/10

The Birth of a Nation

What we know

Taking its name from a racist early silent film, this movie looks at the lives of slaves in early America.

What the critics say

• “If “12 Years a Slave” felt like a breakthrough on that score, then Parker’s more conventionally told but still searingly impressive debut feature pushes the conversation further still: A biographical drama steeped equally in grace and horror, it builds to a brutal finale that will stir deep emotion and inevitable unease.” - Variety
• “We’ll never know how successful it could have been. But put aside the rancour and controversy, and you’ll find an occasionally uneven but always gripping work from a first-time filmmaker with genuine fire in his belly. Even more than 12 Years A Slave, a more clear-eyed and elegant but less visceral experience, The Birth Of A Nationbroils and brims with quiet rage” – Empire 

What’s it rated?

• RottenTomatoes: 6.9/10
• IMDB: 5.8/10

Which one would you go see first?

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