I’m almost ashamed to say that I hadn’t seen any of Bong Joon-ho’s works until this past week with my first watch of “Parasite,” his masterclass social commentary about the evils of capitalism amidst a poor v. rich struggle. It’s almost unbelievable that its 2020 Best Picture win was 5 short years ago, preceding a global catastrophe that has had global implications. What I mean to say, perhaps, is that the world has gotten even worse in a short time, but we still persevere on nevertheless. This is true with Bong’s latest flick, “Mickey 17,” which sees Robert Pattinson (“The Batman,” “Tenet”) play an expendable worker who’s sent to outer space to colonize an unknown ice planet. While not as strong in thematic weight as anticipated, Mickey 17’s distinct satirical script still makes for a commendable effort from a true auteur.

I’ve seen a lot of hype for COMPANION, and boy does it deliver. Contemporary horror at its finest, as it paints a picture of modern relationships, the trappings of man, and what having power can do to unjust people. Elevated by a wired performance from horror girl Sophie Thatcher and on-the-nose yet effective directing from Drew Hancock, the messaging “Companion” brings is vastly needed in today’s society, which seems more apathetic than ever.