Hello and welcome to Movie Reviews 2026 – your city stompin’ guide to film.
In this week’s edition, Godzilla is back on the scene and he’s smashin’ and crashin’ around in new Japanese monster movie, Godzilla Minus Zero. The film is a sequel to 2023’s hit picture, Godzilla Minus One, and this time around Big G tussles with King Ghidorah.
In addition to the return of Godzilla, there’s also fantasy and romance with Olivia Colman and Alexander Skarsgård in Wicker, plus daft comedy with Sacha Baron Cohen in Ali G: Who Iz I?. And if that wasn’t enough, Obsession director Curry Barker serves up new horror short, Mama Bear.
Speaking of which…
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Now streaming…
Mama Bear (2026)
First up this week it’s off to YouTube for the five-minute horror short, Mama Bear. The short is the latest offering from Obsession director, Curry Barker, and focuses on a young cleaner named Floyd who wakes up to a troubling phone call.
Floyd is working at a clients house and has fallen asleep on the sofa when he suddenly wakes up to his phone ringing. After answering the call, a frantic voice on the other end warns Floyd that “she’s coming for you.”
The ‘she’ in question is Lacy. According to the caller, Lacy is after Floyd with the intention to kill him.
Lacy has left many missed calls on Floyd’s phone, as well as a worrying voicemail. But worse than that, Floyd notices a bloodied wrench on the coffee table in front of him, as well as a mysterious figure in the corner of the room, which suggests trouble has already found him.
If you caught Obsession earlier in the year, and want a dash more horror from Curry Barker, then you almost certainly should head on over to YouTube to take a look at Mama Bear. This five-minute film short offers up a quick burst of suspense and terror, and will definitely give you much to think about post-viewing.
This is because Mama Bear is quite a cryptic offering. The story centres around Floyd, the suggestion he has done something wrong, and the notion he is about to be in a whole heap of trouble.
Things then escalate rather quickly as Lacy tracks him down. However, what Floyd has done and why he has done it is less clear, with Barker inviting audiences to work it out for themselves.
The result is a head-scratcher but one which works rather well. Within five minutes, Barker creates an intriguing scenario, poses a couple of questions, slips in some unsettling images, and leaves things open for interpretation.
The whys and wherefores are yours to decide. A repeat viewing is recommended.
Could this all be connected to Obsession or is this merely a stand alone tale? Until Barker offers up an explanation, Mama Bear is one to mull over and debate endlessly with your horror lovin’ pals.
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Now streaming…
Ali G: Who Iz I? (2026)
Over to Prime Video now for the British mockumentary, Ali G: Who Iz I?. Directed and co-written by Sacha Baron Cohen, the film is a sequel to 2002’s Ali G Indahouse, and sees Ali causing chaos and confusion as he attempts a comeback.
Broke and with a baby on the way, Ali is desperate for cash when he mistakenly thinks HBO has agreed to fund a third season of his old TV show. Racing off to the US with his girlfriend Julie, Ali is ready to embrace the good life before discovering HBO isn’t interested in reviving his series at all.
Out of money, Ali starts producing online content to make a living as an influencer. Things start off well, until he is accused of cultural appropriation and faces cancellation.
*Lets out a sigh*
Unless you’re the biggest Ali G fan in the world, your interest level in Ali G: Who Iz I? will vary considerably. Sure, there are occasional gags which tease out a few chuckles here and there, but for the most part this all feels very, very tired.
The previous Ali G movie came out 24 years ago (and was also a bit crap), and this latest film feels as if it is pulled from the same era. Sacha Baron Cohen essentially moves from skit to skit, playing a variety of different characters while a loose narrative plays in the background, and that’s about it – there’s no real innovation.
The story is just about serviceable, and the idea of Ali becoming an influencer (and then cancelled) has potential, but it all feels aimless. There’s very little substance here, and after a while the novelty wears off.
For all intents and purposes this is just a collection of thoughts, ideas, and improvisations bolted together. And when the highlight is a spoof A.I. video featuring Nelson Mandela and Whitney Houston, you know this thing is running on empty.
It really is all over the place. Occasionally a few important messages come through regarding hot topics such as immigration and racism, but they are soon lost in a race for cheap laughs.
And those laughs really are cheap. One joke revolves around a boner in a convenience store. This is low bar stuff.
Anyway, should you wish to take a look, Ali G: Who Iz I? is now streaming on Prime Video.
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In cinemas…
Wicker (2026)
Sliding over to the cinema now for the romantic-drama fantasy, Wicker. Written and directed by Alex Huston Fischer and Eleanor Wilson, and starring Olivia Colman, Alexander Skarsgård, Peter Dinklage, Elizabeth Debicki and Richard E. Grant, the movie tells the story of a fisherwoman who finds love with a man made of wicker.
In the film, a solitary fisherwoman decides that it is time to find a partner. Approaching a talented basket maker, the fisherwoman asks him to make her a husband.
The basket maker obliges and very soon he has crafted a walking, talking wicker man. The fisherwoman and the wicker man then marry and they become the perfect couple.
Unfortunately, with the wicker man proving to be the ideal husband, many of the townsfolk become jealous. The men don’t understand how the wicker man is managing to please his wife so well, and the women wish they had the relationship the fisherwoman has with her husband.
As time passes, the locals create problems for the couple, which in turn chips away at their harmonious marriage. But can love survive or are the fisherwoman and the wicker man doomed to split up?
Based on Ursula Wills’ short story The Wicker Husband, Wicker is a marvellously mischievous movie. It’s a film which looks at love, relationships, and those pesky insecurities which can creep into a marriage and cause no end of damage.
At the heart of the story is the fisherwoman, who longs for companionship, and a wicker man who just wants to make his wife happy. She is down to Earth and pleasant, while he is honest and caring.
The former is played brilliantly (and with a twinkle in her eye) by Olivia Colman, while the latter is brought to life with a touching tenderness by Alexander Skarsgård. The two are a superb pairing and really lean into the fairytale nature of the picture.
There is also some fine support from Peter Dinklage as the basket maker, and Richard E. Grant as the doctor. Meanwhile, Elizabeth Debicki gives a great turn as the troublemaking tailor’s wife.
Outside of the acting talent there is some wonderful visual effects in play in Wicker. The FX department, the art department, the props peeps, the costume designers, the set designers, and anyone with a hammer, nail, and sewing kit pull out all the stops to bring this story to life.
As such, Wicker is lovely to look at and is very creative. Filmmakers Alex Huston Fischer and Eleanor Wilson create this truly believable world, out of an unbelievable premise, and it just works.
It also helps that the story zips along rather nicely, with plenty of humour and a sprinkle of naughtiness along the way. Like all good fantasies there is a smidgen of darkness, to balance out the romance, and everything intertwines effortlessly.
Wicker is just fab. Colman and Skarsgård are the business; the picture looks tip top; and the story hits just right.
You might think this sort of thing would be better suited to Valentine’s Day, rather than around the Halloween/early November period, but actually it slots in quite nicely. So, while the weather is doing its own thing, take yourself off to the cinema and be sure to take a look.
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In cinemas…
Godzilla Minus Zero (2026)
And finally, sticking with the cinema for Godzilla Minus Zero. Written and directed by Takashi Yamazaki, and starring Ryunosuke Kamiki and Minami Hamabe, the film picks up two years after the events of 2023’s Godzilla Minus One with the citizens of post-war Japan still struggling following the impact of the Second World War, as well as the attacks from Godzilla.
And things worsen when a strange creature – later dubbed King Ghidorah – emerges and goes on a rampage. The only way to defeat the creature is to point a newly regenerated Godzilla in its direction and hope the two will defeat one another.
Now, as a quick reminder, there are currently two different Godzilla franchises doing the rounds at present. One is part of the MonsterVerse, which began in 2014, and is a US take on the character, while the other is Japanese and has been in existence in one shape or another since 1954.
Godzilla Minus Zero belongs to the latter of the two, and as noted above, it takes place after the events of the Academy Award-winning Godzilla Minus One. That movie acted as a new entry point for the character, while this sequel continues the story – and as a continuation it’s ruddy good!
One of the big selling points of Minus One was the spectacular effects (produced on a budget), and Minus Zero delivers more of the same. When monsters collide, it’s certainly something worth seeing.
In fact, the titanic showdown between Godzilla and King Ghidorah during the final hour is exhilarating stuff. Likewise, an aerial battle with Ghidorah, which takes place earlier in the film, is brilliant.
When Godzilla Minus Zero leans into the action and spectacle, it is truly outstanding. The fight sequences on display rival anything seen in previous Godzilla movies.
Outside of the visuals, Godzilla Minus Zero is backed by a strong story. As with its predecessor, this sequel finds plenty of heart amongst the human players, and digs deep into the period setting to offer up some interesting comparisons between monster destruction and man-made devastation.
There’s a very interesting moment in the picture when the narrative notes a through-line between Hiroshima in 1945, the destruction caused by Godzilla in 1947, and the arrival of Ghidorah in 1949. The people of Japan have seen endless violence over the years, with no end in sight, and it continues to take its toll.
Where Godzilla Minus Zero is perhaps a little less effective is in the use of Godzilla himself, who hardly appears in the picture. Big G’s screen time is limited, and those hopping to see a showcase of his talents may come away a little disappointed.
That said, time devoted to Ghidorah more than makes up for it. Every time Ghidorah appears on screen it helps to pave over Godzilla’s absence.
All-in-all, Godzilla Minus Zero is another impressive Godzilla movie from filmmaker Takashi Yamazaki. The visuals are a knock-out, the humanity isn’t lost, and Ghidorah is fantastic.
The film does lose its pace a few times, with a few stumbles in the mid-section, but this is highly enjoyable entertainment nonetheless. See it on the biggest screen you can.
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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:
Wildwood (2026)
“Grab the kids, grab the adults, grab the fantasy fans, the animation aficionados, and anyone who is just hanging around, and go take a look. Wildwood makes for a delightful afternoon at the cinema, so be sure not to let this one pass you by.”
Klara and the Sun (2026)
“Klara and the Sun is a delight to watch, and even if it doesn’t quite push all of its ideas as much as it should, there are some perfectly decent developments which keep the story ticking along nicely.”
The Cycle (2026)
“There’s a lot of gold in here, that’s for sure, but The Cycle isn’t as strong as it could be because of the way it draws things out for the vast majority of its runtime.”
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Movie of the Week
Onto Movie of the Week and this week the top choice is Wicker. Excellent and very imaginative stuff.
And if you like Wicker, you may also like:
- Wicked Little Letters (2023) – Olivia Colman stars in this enjoyable British black comedy about an anonymous author who pens a series of crude letters.
- Cyrano (2021) – Peter Dinklage stars in this musical take on Edmond Rostand’s classic play, Cyrano de Bergerac.
- The Shape of Water (2017) – Guillermo del Toro directs this dark fantasy about a cleaner who falls in love with a humanoid amphibian creature.
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Forthcoming attractions
And that’s it for another week, but there’s still plenty more movies to come. On the horizon, Johnny Depp takes on Dickens in Ebenezer; Jessica Chastain leads the mystery-thriller, Heartland; and Robert De Niro and Ben Stiller reunite for comedy sequel, Focker-in-Law.
Plus, Steps, Hexed, The Man with the Bag, Violent Night 2, and Ray Gunn. Oh, and a little ol’ super hero movie by the name of Avengers: Doomsday.
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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