Hello and welcome to Movie Reviews 2026 – your undead and unhinged guide to film.
In this week’s edition, Movie Reviews 2026 leans into the spooky season with not one, not two, but three seasonal offerings. The first is the horror-thriller, Psycho Killer; the second is supernatural sequel, Practical Magic 2; and the third is the video game inspired reboot, Resident Evil.
That last one is directed by Zach Cregger, who wowed audiences and critics alike last year with the excellent Weapons. Can he pull off a similar feat this time around?
You’ll have to keep reading to find out. Speaking of which…
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In cinemas…
Practical Magic 2 (2026)
OK, first up this week is supernatural romantic fantasy, Practical Magic 2. The movie – directed by Susanne Bier – is a belated sequel to 1998’s Practical Magic; it stars Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, Dianne Wiest, Stockard Channing, Joey King, Maisie Williams, and Lee Pace; and focuses on an attempt to lift the Owens family curse.
In the film, following the death of her husband, Sally Owens casts a spell over her young daughters, Antonia and Kylie to make them forget all about magic. Sally believes her children will lead a better life without magical powers, and this may also help them circumvent the family curse which dooms any man who falls in love with an Owens.
But years later, when Kylie’s boyfriend is hurt in a car accident, Antonia and Kylie learn the truth about their family lineage. This in turn prompts Kylie to head to London in search of a way to help save the love of her life from a tragic fate.
If you were around when Practical Magic made its debut in the late ‘90s, you’ll recall two things: It was a likeable enough movie which did OK at the box-office, but it wasn’t a particularly big hit. Sure, it found an audience and even developed a cult following in the years that followed, but it wasn’t a picture that wowed the masses.
As such, giving this movie a sequel feels like an odd choice. And giving it a sequel 28 years later is even more baffling.
However, we live in strange times, where Hollywood will green light sequels and continuations for anything, so it shouldn’t really come as a surprise. Plus, Practical Magic exists as a series of books by author Alice Hoffman, so further source material is available to adapt (Practical Magic 2 is based on 2021’s The Book of Magic).
So, an unexpected occurrence, but maybe not one that should completely catch anyone off guard. And it really shouldn’t matter anyway, so long as the sequel is worth the time and effort, right?
True. Although, whether this film is worth the time and effort may be a divisive opinion.
Some may view Practical Magic 2 as an enjoyable piece of escapism which provides a two-hour window into a whimsical world. Others might see this as a pointless pursuit, which kind of just exists.
For me, Practical Magic 2 falls somewhere in the middle. In terms of the casting and the creation of this world, the movie delivers, but when it comes to the story or its need to exist it falls short.
Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, Dianne Wiest, and Stockard Channing are all first-rate actresses and it’s great to see them back on screen together. They were a highlight of the original film and they are most certainly a highlight of this follow-up.
Adding Joey King and Maisie Williams to the mix is also a great choice. The pair enhance the offering and slot in effortlessly.
There’s also a really enjoyable vibe on screen, which can be seen and felt throughout the picture. It’s there in the costuming, the sets, and the exchanges between the cast, and you can’t help but get the feeling everyone involved in making Practical Magic 2 had fun.
However, outside of the above, it constantly feels like something is either missing or somewhat off about this sequel. And that something centres around the story, which feels lacking.
It’s serviceable, sure, but not exceptional, and it runs out of steam fairly quickly. Practical Magic 2 starts off well, with some enjoyable scenes set in Massachusetts, but once the action relocates to London and Lee Pace is introduced as Sally’s unconvincing love interest, it all begins to lose momentum.
And it’s here where the picture both flounders and exposes the idea that maybe it doesn’t need to exist. If you’re going to revive a property after almost three decades and spend millions of dollars on a sequel, it really needs to be something worth spending the money on, and Practical Magic 2 doesn’t completely convince.
Now, all of that said, there’s no need to write this film off. There’s enough going on in here to provide some fun and laughs, and if you’re a huge fan of the original film then you will certainly find this sequel appealing.
The Bullock/Kidman combination was a winner in ‘98 and continues to be a winner in ‘26, and this alone should be enough to smooth over the bumps. Chuck in a couple of fan-pleasing scenes, including callbacks to the original, and some bright spots of magic shine through.
Practical Magic 2 is a bit of a mixed bag and it won’t be for everyone. If you adored the first film then you’ll no doubt come out of this one happy enough, but if Practical Magic did nothing for you then this sequel is likely to fall flat.
However, the first movie found its loyal audience over time, so expect the sequel to bewitch people in the months and years ahead. It’s certainly likely to become a seasonal favourite when it makes its way to streaming.
But for now, should you wish to take a look, Practical Magic 2 is playing in UK and US cinemas.
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Now streaming…
Psycho Killer (2026)
Over to streaming now for the horror-thriller, Psycho Killer. Directed by Gavin Polone, and starring Georgina Campbell, James Preston Rogers, and Malcolm McDowell, the film focuses on a series of murders conducted by a mysterious killer.
In the film, following the death of her husband, Officer Jane Archer sets off in search of the ‘Satanic Slasher’ – a killer who has left a trail of bodies across the US. But this slasher isn’t just going for the usual suspects, he has bigger things in mind.
So, for those who are unaware, Psycho Killer arrives on streaming following a brief theatrical run in the US earlier in the year. The movie opened in February, was met with a poor critical reception, and it flopped at the box office.
And in many respects it’s not difficult to see why, because Psycho Killer is without doubt a hodgepodge. While this film might fall into the category of horror-thriller, it never really scratches the itch for either horror or thriller.
As a horror it struggles to live up to its slasher set-up, while as a thriller it’s simply not thrilling enough when all is said and done. The story lacks depth, the pacing is too slow, and for significant chunks of the runtime it doesn’t hold the attention.
Now that said, Psycho Killer isn’t as bad as some might have you believe. The film boasts a strong performance from Georgina Campbell as Archer, which is the most consistent element of the picture, while the overall design of the Satanic Slasher is pretty damn good, coming across as a sort of hulking Bane-cum-Rob Zombie reject.
He’s not particularly scary, yet he is menacing. And when the film reveals the Slasher’s endgame he really comes into his own, making an impression when other parts of the movie don’t.
Speaking of the endgame, Psycho Killer hits a real sweet spot during the final 20 minutes and it’s here when the film is at its best. There’s some worthy stuff during this sequence, and it looks great too, demonstrating Psycho Killer isn’t without merit.
It’s just a shame that it takes too long to get to the best material. It’s also a shame the film sags at times and doesn’t quite seem to know what it wants to do.
Some will find it suits them fine enough, others will drop out quite quickly. Either way, should you wish to take a look, Psycho Killer is now streaming on Disney+.
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In cinemas…
Resident Evil (2026)
And finally, back to the cinema for survival horror, Resident Evil. Directed and co-written by Zach Cregger, the film stars Austin Abrams, Zach Cherry, Kali Reis, and Paul Walter Hauser, and focuses on a medical courier trying to survive through an extreme viral outbreak.
In the movie, courier Bryan is transporting medical cargo to Raccoon City General Hospital when he is involved in a car accident. Upon continuing his journey he is attacked repeatedly and forced to defend himself.
It quickly becomes apparent from the nature of the threats he encounters that something disturbing is taking place, with Bryan caught in the middle. From here he fights for his life as strange creatures appear with increasing regularity as he does his best to get his cargo to Raccoon City.
Based on the video game series of the same name, Resident Evil is the latest take on the popular gaming series following a number of movie and TV adaptations over the past 24 years. For those not keeping track, the first was a 2002 movie which starred Milla Jovovich and kick-started a live-action film franchise that spawned five sequels.
Next came a collection of animated movies, beginning with 2008’s Resident Evil: Degeneration, before a return to live-action via the film reboot, Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City. Netflix then offered up a TV show which streamed in 2022 and ran for one season.
Of the above, the original film series with Milla Jovovich is to date the most successful, racking up over a billion dollars at the box office. This feat alone is what has helped this video game series return again and again to screens, and this new movie is the latest attempt to keep the success going.
And this incarnation certainly has a leg up on its predecessors, as it’s from Zach Cregger who had a huge hit last year with Weapons. Plus, Cregger is a big fan of the Resident Evil games, so he knows a thing or two about recreating the general tone and themes from the series.
But does his version of Resident Evil work? Well, I’m pleased to say it does.
Cregger and co-writer Shay Hatten take the general premise of the games, attach it to a story about a lone man attempting to traverse countless obstacles, and add in a decent amount of blood and gore, alongside some well placed humour. It’s fun, it’s easy to get involved in, and it’s incredibly atmospheric.
What’s more, Resident Evil is a video game movie which makes you feel like you’re involved in a game, rather than just watching someone play a game. Too many video game adaptations focus on lengthy cut scenes to tell a story, while this one plays like an actual game that you are caught up in.
And then on top of this, Resident Evil also has the feel of a well-made low-budget horror. There’s no huge star names, there’s nothing too flashy, there’s just a focus on delivering spectacle when needed and keeping the focus on the drama as it unfolds.
Austin Abrams takes on the role of courier Bryan and is excellent in the picture. Abrams is cast as an everyman who gets caught up in one terrible situation after another, and despite the troubles he faces he is easily relatable.
And speaking of the troubles, Resident Evil is all about building the horror and escalation. The car accident Bryan is involved in at the beginning of the movie results in him encountering an infected woman, which later leads to him encountering her infected husband (and dog), which in turn leads to more and more people, creatures, and dangerous situations.
No matter what he does, he can’t escape the inevitable. All he can do is ride it out and keep going.
Along the way, he has to get himself out of one scrape or another, before things get really dicey and he learns the full details about what’s really going on. This culminates in an encounter with the mysterious Umbrella Corporation (a mainstay of the series), as well as an over-the-top climax which is both ridiculous and marvellously entertaining.
Which is also the best way to describe the movie. Resident Evil is at times silly, and the sheer amount of plot developments might stretch credibility here and there, but boy this is good fun.
In fact, other than a few wobbles with the pacing towards the end, there’s a heck of a lot to like with Resident Evil. It’s also easily the best Resi film so far.
Following Weapons is no easy task, and although Resident Evil doesn’t quite hit the same heights as Cregger’s previous film, this is a ruddy good horror. It takes a simple premise, stretches it out with some enjoyable action sequences, tosses various creepy elements at the screen and then has lots of fun.
It’s bonkers, often unsettling, and very much a blast. Fans of the games should enjoy this very much, while those who are simply after a decent horror will get plenty out of it too.
Should you wish to take a look, Resident Evil is now playing in UK and US cinemas.
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Recent Releases
Not quite done yet? Want more movies? The above suggestions aren’t enough?! Well, here’s what’s also doing the rounds:
Fall 2 (2026)
“As with its predecessor, Fall 2 knows exactly what type of movie it wants to be and it makes no qualms about throwing itself in head first. Oh, it’s a three-star movie and nothing more (let’s not go crazy here), but it’s a solid three-star movie and no mistake.”
Hungry (2026)
“Hungry is the sort of movie that you wish was more interesting than it actually is. It’s not awful, and in terms of telling a survival story it does the job, but there’s nothing remotely special about what is presented.”
The Runner (2026)
“The Runner is a load of old cobblers. The film manages to make the British police force look like incompetent numpties as well as tactical geniuses in quick succession, and the story feels like it was cobbled together during an early morning sprint.”
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Movie of the Week
Onto Movie of the Week which this week goes to Resident Evil. There’s fun to be had, and with Zach Cregger in the director’s chair it’s likely to be popular with audiences.
And if you like Resident Evil you might also like:
- Barbarian (2022) – Zach Cregger writes and directs this twisted horror about a young woman who uncovers a dark secret when she rents an Airbnb.
- Weapons (2025) – In Cregger’s follow-up to Barbarian, the filmmaker delivers a supernatural tale about a town where seventeen children mysteriously disappear in the night.
- Resident Evil (2002) – Milla Jovovich stars in this first adaptation of the Resident Evil game series.
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Forthcoming attractions
And that’s it for yet another week. But fear not, there are plenty more movies coming down the track including comic book horror, Clayface, and Tom Cruise’s latest picture, Digger.
Plus, Other Mommy, Matchbox: The Movie, Whalefall, Wildwood, and I Play Rocky. Plus, Ken, Ryu, Blanka, and Chun-Li head back to the big screen for a new take on classic video game, Street Fighter.
Alex
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