Greetings again from the darkness. Relationships require communication, diligence, and a bit of luck. Director Chloe Robichaud (SARAH PREFERS TO RUN, 2016) is working from a script from playwright Catherine Leger to deliver a remake of the 1970 French sex comedy, DEUX FEMMES EN OR from Claude Fournier. Finding humor in strained or crumbling relationships is never easy – especially when medication or a newborn is involved.
Florence (Karine Gonthier-Hyndman) and Violette (Laurence Leboeuf) are neighbors in the same condominium complex in Montreal. Robichaud first shoots them from a distance – staring out their respective windows (separated only by the shared wall of their flats) at a world from which they each feel detached. Florence is not working and is on anti-depressants, while Violette has a new baby and feels a bit trapped and limited. One morning Violette invites Florence for a coffee, but mostly to confront her about the “crow” sounds seeping through that shared wall. Florence assures her that she and her partner David (Mani Soleymanlou) haven’t had sex in years. This confession finds common ground with the women as Violette’s husband Benoit (Felix Moati) is too-often on business trips that end up with a shared hotel room with Eli (Juliette Gariepy).
This sets off sex romps for both ladies. Florence stops taking her meds and Violette finds a daycare for her kid. Service providers reap the benefits as the two women re-awaken their sexual appetites. The cable guy, plumber, pest control provider, delivery guy, and window cleaner all expand their services so that the women can bust out of their respective ruts. In between these escapades, some awkward condo association meetings are held over minutiae – acting as a bit of contrast to the bouts of pleasure the women experience during the days.
Of course, there are no free lunches, and relationships tend to suffer when commitments falter. Although, humor is written in to the excellent escript, it’s really never funny to watch couples destroy their bond. There really is no way to “have it all.” One interesting note is that at least two actors, Louise Turcot and Donald Pilon appear in this film as well as the 1970 original. The final shot is a good one, and it’s quite likely the unconventional ending won’t please all viewers.
Opening in NYC on April 24, 2026 and additional theaters in May.
Posted by David Ferguson 
Greetings again from the darkness. The popularity and staying power of Karaoke shows just how much we enjoy singing. Even for those with crippling stage fright, singing in the shower can provide a bit of joy. But what about those with real talent? There is only so much room for the Adeles and Ed Sheerans of the world. Co-directors Angelique Molina and Abraham Troen take us inside the world of collegiate a cappella (singing without instrumentation). Now, you are likely to immediately think of either church choir, barbershop quartets, or Pentatonix … all fine singing choices, yet all a bit different than what the film documents.
Greetings again from the darkness. Perhaps we can all agree that hiking is not best served as a spectator sport. Sure, there have been other hiking movies, including WILD (2014) as Cheryl Strayed (portrayed by Reese Witherspoon) takes on a solo hike of the Pacific Crest Trail. Yet almost by definition, a hike is meant, at a minimum, to help clear one’s head and, at its best, allow a connection with nature as one tries to center themselves from the stress of life. Writer-director Bart Schrivjer w-d (not his first hiking movie) has seemingly captured these elements of hiking better than others.
It’s possible, even likely, that I’ve been more surprised by a book than I was by this latest from Joe Pappalardo (a freelance journalist and critically acclaimed author), but I don’t recall when or by what book. While it’s understandable that many readers would initially muster little interest in a true story that took place 99 years ago in a small town located in the Texas panhandle, that’s where the surprise comes in. The Borger, Texas population may be significantly smaller now than it was then, yet the story includes politics, violence, corruption, brothels, moonshine, sports gambling, greed, and the evolution of America … many of the elements that keep us glued to the book’s pages and sometimes stunned by what we are reading.
Greetings again from the darkness. As evidenced by the abundance of ‘shoot-em-ups’ released each and every year, it’s clearly not that challenging for screenwriters to find a reason to have characters firing bullets at each other. Director Ben Wheatley proved his mettle with this genre in 2016 with the excellent and madcap FREE FIRE. This time out, he’s working from a script by Derek Kolstad (the “John Wick” and “Nobody” franchises) and Bob Odenkirk (well known comedy writer and star of “Better Call Saul”).
Greetings again from the darkness. For a soldier of war, making it back home is the goal; yet it’s also only a first step. What comes home with the veteran is never simple. Many films have characterized PTSD on screen, but the debut feature from writer-director Aaron Davidman digs even deeper. Slinger (Joshua Close, “Fargo”) returns home as a wounded Special Forces veteran who nearly died (perhaps he even did briefly) and now must rediscover his own self while also finding his place in a society that presents so many challenges for him.
Greetings again from the darkness. For his debut feature film, writer-director Josh Heaps pays tribute to the Italian Giallo films (originating in the 1960’s) he clearly adores. But he goes a step further by creating his own Giallo … placing a Giallo-loving film student right in the heart of a Giallo world. Clearly not a film for the masses, but for the admirers of this genre, it’s likely to bring great pleasure and entertainment.
Greetings again from the darkness. It’s a tradition that began with JAWS (1975). Every summer gets a new disaster or shark movie … something to put a bit of doubt into the minds of beach vacationers everywhere. Of course, Spielberg’s original film (from Peter Benchley’s novel) remains the best, and in addition to the slew of movies, it’s been joined by Discovery’s “Shark Week” and even the absurd “Sharknado” movies. In fact, there have been so many through the years, that we are ready for the blending of disasters like we get with this latest from writer-director Tommy Wirkola (the underappreciated VIOLENT NIGHT, 2022).
Greetings again from the darkness. Evidence of the greatness of William Shakespeare has been provided so many times and in so many ways over so many years. Books, live theater, movies, and the work of influenced artists have made their way to various audiences, and regardless of the specific project, the source material stands tall. Director Aneil Karia and actor Riz Ahmed previously shared an Oscar for their excellent short film THE LONG GOODBYE (2021) and now they have collaborated again on an adapted screenplay by Michael Lesslie (MACBETH. 2015 with Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard) for a new version of Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”.
Greetings again from the darkness. Psychologists long ago concluded that ‘belonging’ is a fundamental human social need. Finding our ‘peeps’ … a group of similar folks to share life with … plays a significant role in our identity – who we are. Documentarian Julie Wyman turns her focus … and her camera … onto herself as she searches for her own place.
Movie Reviews from the Dark 