October 03, 2025

WIFF’S WEEKEND WATCH LIST — 10/3

Check out our recommendations of what to watch this weekend.

iF you WANT to be on the edge of your seat

the lost bus

Vincent Georgie: UK filmmaker Paul Greengrass is undoubtedly a master at building realistic suspense in real-life settings. His latest film is deeply suspenseful, action-packed and shows you what a high-quality thrill ride can look like. His cast is terrific, but Greengrass’ elevated filmmaking is the real star. Strong recommendation.

Synopsis: A white-knuckle ride through one of America’s wildfires as a wayward school bus driver and a dedicated school teacher battle to save 22 children from the inferno.

Available on Apple TV+.

if you WANT some solid laughs

adulthood

Vincent Georgie: A World Premiere at TIFF only a few weeks ago, this film will satisfy those craving something darkly comedic and inventive. The cast is having a lot of fun here. Shot primarily in the Ottawa region, filmmaker Alex Winter is best known as one half of stoner duo Bill and Ted.

Synopsis: When siblings Megan and Noah uncover a long-buried corpse in their parents’ basement, they stumble into a wildly escalating spiral of crime, cover-ups and murder. The deeper they dig, the harder it becomes to escape.

Available on Apple TV, YouTube, and Amazon Prime.

if you are excited to see rental family

the whale

Vincent Georgie: Brendan Fraser is generating serious Oscar buzz for his sentimental performance in Rental Family, a major new title at WIFF 2025. Catch up with, or re-watch, the film that gave him his big comeback. A serious, humane, and moving look at a very lost man, Fraser won the Best Actor Oscar in 2022 for The Whale.

Synopsis: In a town in Idaho, Charlie, a reclusive and unhealthy English teacher, hides out in his flat and eats his way to death. He is desperate to reconnect with his teenage daughter for a last chance at redemption.

Available on Apple TV and Amazon Prime.

DOUBLE FEATURE

julia roberts

Vincent Georgie: One of the most anticipated films at WIFF 2025 is Roberts’ sharp, dramatic comeback in After the Hunt. Let’s take a look at two other entertaining films where Roberts moved away from rom coms, and delved into thrillers. What both of these films confirm is that, ultimately, Roberts’ talents and appeal go way beyond any one genre.

flatliners

Seeking answers about the afterlife, Chicago medical student Nelson (Kiefer Sutherland) persuades his fellow pupils to help him end his life, and then resuscitate him in the nick of time. Atheist David (Kevin Bacon), playboy Joe (William Baldwin) and troubled Rachel (Julia Roberts) also journey into the unknown, looking for meaning in their own lives. As the experiments become more perilous, each is forced to contend with the paranormal consequences of trespassing on the other side.

Available on Apple TV, Crave, and Amazon Prime.

sleeping with the enemy

After faking her death in order to flee from her violent husband, Martin (Patrick Bergin), Laura Burney (Julia Roberts) leaves Cape Cod and moves to Iowa, where she adopts a new identity and starts dating a local teacher, Ben Woodward (Kevin Anderson). Martin, meanwhile, unearths evidence suggesting that she isn’t dead, and when her mother confirms this, he tracks her to Iowa. He finds Laura and Ben and confronts them, forcing her to fight for her life once again.