What’s it about?
Keanu Reeves plays the titular character, a widower who seeks vengeance against the Russian mobsters that have stolen his car and killed his poor sweet dog.

What did we think?
Dominic Barlow says: Behold: a pulpy retribution flick that puts THE EQUALIZER to shame. This goes through similar story beats to Denzel Washington’s killing spree, but with a fun and refreshing simplicity. A cool neon glow pulsates all throughout its visuals, and the music occasionally makes odd choices that turns the blood-soaked battles into a hypnotic ballet. Through it all, Reeves spits fire as a guy who recognises but can’t help his own barbarism, and he’s backed by a terrific supporting cast that includes Willem Dafoe and John Leguizamo. It’s a revenge fantasy for those well-adjusted enough to understand the second part of that phrase.

What’s it about?
When their father passes away, four grown siblings are forced to return to their childhood home and live under the same roof together for a week, along with their over-sharing mother and an assortment of spouses, exes and might-have-beens.

What did we think?
Anthony Sherratt says: It’s intelligent, poignant and – to be honest – a little manipulative. Thankfully the tone is more thoughtful than preachy and the quality of the cast is incredible so you can forgive the occasional heavy handedness. Had the potential to be a lot more but it does manage to touch the heart if not fully engage the mind.

What’s it about?
It’s April 1945 in Germany and Sergeant Don “Wardaddy” Collier leads his crew and tank (named Fury) behind enemy lines. Norman Ellison (Logan Lerman) a clerk who’s been in the army eight weeks is assigned to Fury as their assistant driver as they move through Germany protecting key Allied strongholds.

What did we think?
Casey says: Graphic, confronting, revolting, and touching all at the same time, Fury shows the worst and the best of the people thrust unwillingly into war. I started watching this thinking it would be entertainment – a touching story of good triumphing over evil… with cool explosions. Instead I left the cinema thinking about what war has the capacity to do to people… aaaaaand marveling at the awesome explosions and disappearing heads.

What’s it about?
Jeremy Renner stars in the true story of a journalist who stumbled into the shady world of the CIA’s drug dealings in Venezuela during the Cold War. Investigating the story could be the opportunity of a lifetime but it risks cutting that lifetime short.

What did we think?
Dan says: This true story tells the horrifying reality of the grey areas in which the CIA has dealt in the past. For a film with such a shocking story to tell it seems to struggle to capture that tone. It feels like a shorter story stretched thin and long. Like drinking two big glasses of lite milk instead of one of full cream, I was getting all the goodness of the contents but it never seemed satisfying and by the end I was feeling decidedly bloated.

What’s it about?
Christine (Nicole Kidman) suffers from Guy Pearce syndrome a condition that results in her memory being erased whenever she sleeps. Whom can she trust when she can’t trust herself?

What did we think?
Elizabeth Best says: It’s Memento: Suburban Edition! Before I Go To Sleep is both a well-paced whodunnit and a sensitive depiction of living with severe illness. A few ridiculous bits of exposition are tempered by top-notch performances, especially by Colin Firth and a few genuinely nifty twists. For a film about memory loss, it’s pretty memorable. Sadly, even at a cracking 97 minutes, it’s still 10 minutes too long. When will writers learn that loose ends don’t all need to be bloody tied up?

What’s it about?
Big city lawyer Hank Palmer returns to his childhood home where his father, the town’s judge, is suspected of murder. Hank sets out to discover the truth and, along the way, reconnects with his estranged family.

What did we think?
Anthony Sherratt says: The first half of this movie is an overwhelming collection of cliches and stereotypes and it’s only the amazing performances of the truly impressive cast that keeps you on the hook. But somehow the second half of the movie actually manages to go a bit deeper, interspersing enough humour and pathos to leave you with a surprisingly satisfying ending.

What’s it about?
A new media letch with a poorly calibrated moral compass gets abducted. He is to be the subject of experiments to see if his humanity can be stripped from him if he is surgically transformed into a walrus.

What did we think?
Dan Beeston says: I’ve never seen a film where a fifth of the audience walked out and two fifths stayed right through the credits. This film is nothing if not divisive. Kevin Smith creates an eclectic parody of a horror film. It’s never scary but is appreciatively grotesque.

Justin Long is denied lines of dialogue as his character transforms – it’s probably a good thing as his character is neither likeable nor charismatically detestable. The Québécois detective is boring and pales in comparision to Michael Parks’ stellar performance.

Smith has re-embraced his independent beginnings and I’m glad this film exists but I think that he also needs a slightly firmer guiding hand.

What’s it about?
Nick Dunne’s wife Amy disappears suddenly one morning, with signs suggesting she has been abducted, possibly murdered. As the hunt for her begins and the story of their marriage unfolds, police and media suspicion falls on Nick.

What did we think?
Francesca Percy says: How well do you know your spouse? This is the central question of Gone Girl, based on the acclaimed novel and screenplay by Gillian Flynn, cleverly directed by David Fincher and featuring Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike, brilliantly cast as the central couple, too cool to be true. It’s a suspenseful treasure hunt that draws you in further with every clue, twist and revelation about Ben and Amy, from the first time they meet to the day of their fifth anniversary. Honestly, the less you know about the plot, the better. It’s thrilling, chilling, occasionally funny, and well worth your time.

What it’s about?
Vlad the Impaler (Luke Evans), prince of Transylvania, risks eternal damnation by gaining demonic superpowers in order to save his people from the invading Turkish hordes.

What did we think?
Andrew Stewart says: Action hero flick meets comic-book thriller meets PG13 horror film and it’s not a winning combination. Evans carries the film through a suspenseful but ultimately jumbled Dracula origins tale. Battle scenes don’t reach any epic heights (they’re mostly just full of bats, and not the kind you hit people with) and for a vamp story there’s not a great deal of horror here either. This one didn’t totally suck (get it? Vampires!) but it wasn’t bloody good either.

What’s it about?
An everyday insomniac turns out to be more than he seems when the scum of the earth floats to the top of his little pond. He quickly goes about adding ventilation holes to those who would do harm to the innocent in his life.

What did we think?
Dan says: This modern reimagining of the eighties TV show of the same name is a beautiful demonstration of the ‘Justice Porn’ genre of film. Denzil Washington is a calm and calculating avenging angel. Apparently invincible he separates each two dimensional bad guy from his insides on route to make calmly psychopathic speeches to his main adversary.

The film doesn’t really challenge the viewer unless the viewer’s stomach for visceral violence is weak. No big surprises but a well-made piece of cinema that would have wooed Edward Woodward if Edward Woodward could be wooed.