Hello and welcome to Movie Reviews 2026 – your indispensable guide to film. This week we’ve reached that time of the year where the industry caters for two very specific events: Valentine’s Day and the school half-term holidays.
To cover the former, Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi star in saucy romantic drama, Wuthering Heights; while Prime Video serves up F*ck Valentine’s Day. As for the latter, there’s sports shenanigans in animated family film, Goat.
Plus, in a break away from the above, how do you fancy some zombies? OK, you can have them via the horror-drama, We Bury the Dead.
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In cinemas…
Goat (2026)
First up this week is the animated family sports comedy, Goat. Directed by Tyree Dillihay, and featuring the voices of Caleb McLaughlin, Gabrielle Union, Stephen Curry, Nicola Coughlan, and David Harbour, the film follows the story of an anthropomorphic goat who aspires to become the world’s greatest roarball player!
In the film, Will Harris has dreamed of playing roarball (a variation on basketball) ever since he was young. But Will doesn’t just want to take part in the game, he wants to play in the big leagues.
Thing is, Will isn’t having a great time of things at the moment. He’s short on cash, he’s behind on his rent, and he’s struggling to get where he wants to in life.
But after getting his foot in the door with the Thorns – his dream roarball team – Will is given an opportunity to show what he can do. Only problem is, he faces opposition from the Thorns’ star player, Jett, who isn’t ready to be outshined by a newcomer.
Over the past few years there has been a rise in animated movies which feature a slick aesthetic. The Spider-Verse films, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem have all raised the bar when it comes to showcasing fab animation, and it’s been nice to see Hollywood making an effort.
Goat is keen to follow in similar footsteps and based on visuals alone, the film definitely has something to offer. This is a beautifully animated movie, which features a high level of detail, and it can’t be faulted in this department.
However, where Spidey, the Turtles, and Puss have the edge over Goat is in the script. While the former movies had strong stories to back up the animation, Goat stumbles a little, and isn’t quite so creative or compelling in this area.
The story is perfectly serviceable, and at times includes a couple of heartfelt moments, but it doesn’t hit as well as it should. Throughout the film there is the continual feeling that something is slightly missing, leaving Goat as a decent and watchable family film, just not quite an amazing one.
That said, I suspect the core audience for this film (i.e. young movie fans) will find Goat more than meets their needs, which is fair enough. There are plenty of gags in the film, some cool tunes, and a number of contemporary references, which should make it relatable for those interested in giving it a whirl.
Ultimately, I expect Goat will play better in the US than it will here in the UK, due to the basketball content (basketball isn’t big over here) but the film’s themes of aspiration, talent, commitment etc should see it through to success and help it find its audience. Kids will like it, adults will be fine with it, and it’s certainly not bad.
Is Goat the GOAT? No, but it will provide some colourful big screen entertainment during the school holidays.
Should you wish to take a look, the film is now playing in UK and US cinemas.
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Now streaming…
F*ck Valentine’s Day (2026)
Over to streaming now for the romantic comedy, F*ck Valentine’s Day. Directed by Mark Gantt, the movie stars Virginia Gardner, Skylar Astin, and Marisa Tomei, and follows the story of a young woman who hates Valentine’s Day.
In the movie, Gina has an intense dislike for V-Day. She was born on February 14th, so every year her birthday descends into a love-fest where she is given heart-themed gifts and cards, and is surrounded by loved-up couples.
So, when Gina learns her boyfriend plans to propose to her on Valentine’s Day, she does everything she can to kick the proposal down the road a little longer. Gina doesn’t want to share her birthday with yet another ‘big’ event, so concocts a plan to distract him.
But the distraction doesn’t quite pan out as expected. While the two are temporarily apart, they come to discover they might not be destined to end up together.
Despite the spicy title, F*ck Valentine’s Day is a fairly pedestrian rom-com, which largely plays things safe as it goes about its business. There’s light romance, light comedy, and very light storytelling, which all equates to a fairly uneventful experience.
Sure, F*ck Valentine’s Day isn’t awful, but it is quite empty, the characters are not particularly likeable, and it’s very forgettable. The film is typical streaming fodder which starts off promising yet quickly becomes background noise.
The occasional plot point may pull audiences back in, but not long enough to put down your boyfriend/girlfriend/phone or whatever else is occupying your time this Valentine’s Day. Should you wish to take a look anyway, F*ck Valentine’s Day is available to stream on Prime Video.
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Now streaming…
We Bury the Dead (2026)
Over to video-on-demand now for the zombie horror-drama, We Bury the Dead. Written and directed by Zak Hilditch, and starring Daisy Ridley and Brenton Thwaites, the film follows the story of young woman desperate to find her husband following a disaster.
In the movie, when the US accidentally detonates an experimental weapon along the coast of Tasmania, the city of Hobart is destroyed. Those not killed in the blast are left brain dead, although there is a suggestion that some of the victims have started to reanimate.
Keen to find out what happened to her husband, who was in the area on business, American physiotherapist Ava Newman travels to the blast site to help with the cleanup process. Ava’s job is to locate and move the dead bodies, but if she encounters any of the reanimated victims she is to signal the Australian military who will take it from there.
Before I go any further, I want to be clear I am going to be very positive about We Bury the Dead, because I think this movie is decent and has heaps of potential. There are issues, which hold it back from greatness (and I’ll get to those in a moment), but overall there is a lot to like.
Visually it looks great; the reanimated victims are suitably gruesome; and Daisy Ridley is excellent in the role of Ava. Ridley plays the character just right, capturing her confidence as well as her vulnerability, and it’s a performance which really hits the mark from the get-go.
We Bury the Dead also has some interesting ideas; a couple of emotional beats; and at least two very creepy sequences. One of these sequences takes place in a barn and it’s truly unnerving stuff.
So, based on the above alone, there is a great deal on offer in We Bury the Dead. It’s one of those movies where you can see what it’s trying to do, and you can see where it’s achieving its goals, so it gets recognition for what it gets right.
The problem is, I believe there is a stronger film which exists in between the lines. With a bit of a nudge, and a little more development, this other film could have been brought to the surface.
The level of horror could have gone much harder; the level of suspense much deeper. There are also plenty of questions to be asked about the experimental US weapon which simply aren’t explored.
So, yeah, there are issues. It also moves a little slower than it needs to.
However, as noted above, there are plenty of positives and lots of potential. As a horror-drama, the level of ‘drama’ does exactly what it needs to.
When Ava reaches the crux of her quest, there is the sense the movie has delivered on what it set out to do. Even if it could have gone bigger, it does at least tick the boxes it promised to tick.
If you’re after hardcore horror, you won’t find it here, but if you want an unsettling drama with strong performances as well as an emotional core, We Bury the Dead delivers. A few tweaks could have pushed things further along, but it’s difficult not to appreciate what is on offer.
Should you wish to take a look, We Bury the Dead is available to buy on video-on-demand platforms now.
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In cinemas…
Wuthering Heights (2026)
And finally, back to the cinema for the romantic period drama, Wuthering Heights. Written and directed by Emerald Fennell, and based on Emily Brontë’s novel of the same name, the movie stars Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi as two lovers who embark on a simmering affair.
In the film, it’s the 18th Century and in England, Mr. Earnshaw lives with his young daughter Cathy and their servants in a windswept estate known as Wuthering Heights, which is nestled on the Yorkshire Moors. Earnshaw is an alcoholic, who loves his daughter dearly, but he is reckless and his drinking is out of control.
One day, Earnshaw brings home a young boy he claims to have rescued off the streets. Cathy quickly becomes protective of the boy, whom she names Heathcliff.
Over the years, Cathy and Heathcliff become inseparable, and stick by each other as Earnshaw’s alcoholism and finances worsen, and Wuthering Heights becomes more rundown. But keen to get out of the situation, Cathy decides to make herself known to nearby neighbour, Edgar Linton, who lives in luxury and could offer her a better life.
A short while later, Heathcliff disappears from Wuthering Heights, and Cathy and Edgar wed. But Cathy and Heathcliff’s connection runs deep, and when Heathcliff finally returns, the pair find it difficult to ignore their feelings for one another.
Gorgeous to look at, with some truly stunning cinematography from Linus Sandgren, Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights is a triumph. It’s a captivating, intoxicating epic, which manages to capture the essence of repressed love, as well as the danger and devastation of messing with lives.
Few characters in the film are likeable, yet the movie uses this very much to its advantage. Watching the rise and downfall of Cathy and Heathcliff becomes completely mesmerising, with Fennell very much emphasising the problems and pitfalls associated with seduction, temptation, and being a complete arsehole.
This isn’t a frothy romance story, this is a dark, Gothic tale with a hard heart. The opening sequence, which involves members of the public laughing and cheering at a hanging, tells you all you need to know about the tone of the film, and it just runs from there.
It almost goes without saying that Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi are excellent in the film, as both are great in everything, but hey, let’s say it anyway: Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi are excellent in the film. But there’s some superb support from Hong Chau, Ewan Mitchell, and Alison Oliver, as well as a scene-stealing turn from Martin Clunes as Mr. Earnshaw.
Clunes chews the scenery with aplomb, and every moment he is on screen is a sheer masterclass. The only downside of Wuthering Heights is that Clunes isn’t in every scene – although if he was, this might be a slightly odd adaptation of Brontë’s novel.
But putting this non-issue aside, Wuthering Heights is an expertly crafted picture, which manages to take a centuries old novel and find a way to bring it to a new audience in a slick and stylish way. And Fennell does so with complete conviction, ensuring this film hits hard in the story department, as well as costumes, sound, and set design.
The English landscape has never looked so beautiful and yet at the same time so isolating. And Wuthering Heights has never felt so fascinating.
Top marks. No further notes.
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Also out…
Recent Releases
Not quite done yet? Want more movies? The above suggestions aren’t enough?! Well, here’s what’s also doing the rounds:
Send Help (2026)
“Send Help is a solid film, which offers up a good balance between storytelling, spectacle, and the sheer fun of Sam Raimi’s direction.”
96 Minutes (2025)
“Perfectly fine for a bit of late night viewing. Just keep in mind things get a bit bumpy as it trundles down the track.”
The Strangers – Chapter 3 (2026)
“Here’s all you need to know: It’s shit. Don’t bother.”
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Movie of the Week
Onto Movie of the Week now, which this week goes to Wuthering Heights. Steamy and stylish, Wuthering Heights is going to be a popular one this Valentine’s weekend, so be sure to take a look.
And if you like Wuthering Heights, you may also like:
- Promising Young Woman (2020) – Wuthering Heights director Emerald Fennell helms this psychological thriller about a woman with a traumatic past.
- Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights (1992) – Peter Kosminsky directs this adaptation of Wuthering Heights starring Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche.
- Emily (2022) – Frances O’Connor directs this part-fictional biographical drama about author Emily Brontë.
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Forthcoming attractions
And that’s all for this week, but coming soon Firebreak, Cold Storage, and Scream 7. Plus Disney-Pixar unveils Hoppers; Jessie Buckley and Christian Bale lead The Bride, and Alan Ritchson fronts the sci-fi actioner, War Machine.
Alex
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Thank you for stopping by It’s A Stampede! to read this edition of Movie Reviews 2026. For more posts be sure to check out the recommended reads below.
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