The most interesting things about the movie is the score and the visuals. Without them, it would be a complete bore fest. The music never feels over the top despite its grandeur and ability to make the tired parts of Holland manageable but gives a classic nostalgia feel reminiscent of classic movies which pairs nice with the visuals however nothing much else helps salvage this movie. Kidman and Macfadyen do their best, most notably Macfadyen who treads a careful line between charming and sinister, but the writing tries too hard to make for an enjoyable plot. 

A beautiful story about gender and religious identity, Miriam is a coming-of-age story that tackles the complexities of identity, discovering yourself and your voice in its short runtime but packs enough emotion to make every aspect of the family and their clashes feel natural and well developed. Even with an Emmy-nominated actor, the young cast shine and cultivate the characters' relationships perfectly so you feel every bit of their history. Pearl Scarlett Gold captures every nuance of Miram’s emotions, drives and showcases her differing relationship with each of her family who all have their own conflicts with each other that are perfectly crafted with very tense dinner scenes, crafted brilliantly by writer Levi Alexander and director Josie Andrews.

Camp horror-comedies can be a hard line to tread, but The Parenting does an excellent job and is funny throughout the entire film. Just when things start to get a little stale, Parker Posey’s eccentric character comes in to save it with her perilous antics and rapport with the other cast. It’s fun, unserious and a hilarious time. Everything about it makes for an absurd time in the best of ways with a cast that bounces off each other well for their comedic roles.

Control Freak is a frustrating mix of underdeveloped ideas, extended run time that could cut thirty minutes and a mix of missed potential. There are times where Control Freak could have been promised, had it been more consistent in its commitment to the horror elements.

Spellbound is a captivating, animated film that explores the struggles of teenager Ellian, as the film beautifully depicts the themes of the desire for normalcy. Despite its intended younger audience, Spellbound may struggle to hold their attention due to its heavy-handed themes and pacing. Despite this, the film's brilliant vocal performances from the cast make it a visually appealing film. The film's use of magic, neon-like lights, and a gorgeous costume and world design add to its appeal.

Wicked is an almost perfect musical adaptation of the stage musical which allows for slight additions within beloved songs and characters.  All the cast delivers an amazing performance. Wicked has been years in the making, and it is worth the wait. Its near-perfect adaptation will please all fans across the board.

Caddo Lake could have been a strong mysterious movie, but without a clear narrative, it can leave a lot to be desired. While Caddo Lake does take some narrative risks that doesn’t quite pay off, the performances by O’Brien and Scanlen save the production. Without O’Brien or Scanlen, Caddo Lake would have been hard to get through. While some plots can be overly confusing, Caddo Lake is very atmospheric, and a great watch for the spooky season!

With any horror film, there is a line that sometimes is crossed or not reached in the genre, but The Demon Disorder will fascinate and make you second guess the motives while also trying to understand the embodiment of the core of why's. Boyle's directorial debut gives an insight into who he is as a master of horror, and why this film deserved to be an official selection at the Gold Coast Film Festival. 

Space Cadet is dull with irritating characters that offer no comedic value or anything enjoyable to keep you focused or laugh. It is trying hard to be a movie reminiscent of typical 2000s movie tropes but lacks any charm of coherent plot to keep you going.

Dakota Johnon’s awkward charm carries through perfectly for this movie and its themes. A late-coming-of-age movie that centres around late bloomers and self-discovery makes for an amiable watch with friendship at its core and the message that discovering yourself or your passions comes at any age that many will find comfort in. It is an ordinary movie that makes you feel accepted and is enjoyable to watch, no matter where you are in life.