PREVIEW: Swallowtail & Dragonfly (2026 Film) - A Remarkable Story of Art, Love and Survival

Preview by Jon Donnis

Swallowtail & Dragonfly tells the remarkable true story of Chinese artist Lianxia ‘Ziyi’ Zhou, following her journey from a young woman fighting against the restrictions of early 20th Century China to a celebrated artist whose life is transformed by love, war and revolution.

Written and directed by Julia Jay Pierrepont III, the period drama is produced by Zhou’s granddaughter Evelyn Xu. The film stars Vanessa Yao, Vivian Dawson, Russell Wong, Jim Lau and Cici Lau, and arrives in the UK following an award-winning run on the festival circuit.

The story begins in 1914, when Ziyi's adventurous spirit is constrained by a cruel stepmother and the patriarchal expectations of the time. Her circumstances change when she is given the rare opportunity to study under some of China's most prominent painting masters, an honour previously reserved for men.

Her talent soon opens doors, allowing Ziyi to establish herself within Shanghai's dazzling art scene. It is there that she meets photographer Wanping Xu, played by Dawson, and the two fall in love. Their creative partnership and glamorous lifestyle bring them into a circle of prominent international artists and creatives.

But their happiness is shattered by the outbreak of World War II. Separated from Xu, Ziyi is left to raise their five children in increasingly desperate circumstances as war and political upheaval transform the country around them.

Refusing to give up hope of being reunited with the man she loves, Ziyi fights to keep her family together while continuing to paint. Her determination becomes central to a story about love, survival and the ability to hold on to a sense of identity when everything else is being taken away.

Swallowtail & Dragonfly promises a moving portrait of a woman who forged her own path in a world determined to limit her choices. With its sweeping historical backdrop and deeply personal story, the film offers a glimpse into a remarkable life shaped by both extraordinary success and devastating adversity.

Swallowtail & Dragonfly makes its UK digital debut on 14 September 2026, courtesy of Miracle Media.

Apple TV - https://apple.co/3TphLgV

PREVIEW: The Lonely Crowd (2026 Film) - A First Look at the New Romantic Crime Thriller

Preview by Jon Donnis

A bad first date takes a dangerous turn in The Lonely Crowd, a new romantic crime thriller that combines relationship drama with a rapidly escalating tale of violence, corruption and stolen money.

Written and directed by David St. Clair in his feature directorial debut, the film stars Adam Wesley as Peter and Taylor Anne Danehower as Ashley, whose attempt at an online date quickly goes wrong. What begins as an uncomfortable meeting fuelled by frustration and assumptions soon develops into something far more dangerous.

Set against a backdrop of dating fatigue, loneliness and growing mistrust between men and women, The Lonely Crowd explores the difficulties of forming genuine connections in an age of online dating. Peter and Ashley's date ends badly, with Ashley storming out after their encounter descends into an argument shaped by emotional defensiveness and gender assumptions.

However, their evening is far from over. Peter later finds Ashley being harassed outside and intervenes, an act that unexpectedly draws him into a dangerous situation involving corrupt police officers, a kidnapping and stolen money. From there, the story unfolds over three days as the characters become caught up in a whirlwind of crime, violence and romance.

“The Lonely Crowd’s foundation is personal, not procedural. Beneath the suspense lies a story about what happens when people see each other as stereotypes rather than individuals. Romance isn’t fantasy here; it’s forged in the clash of loneliness, pride, fear, and misunderstanding,” said St. Clair, writer/director.

“The film blends thriller pacing with romantic tension and character-driven storytelling that will appeal to audiences who enjoy emotional suspense. The themes resonate across generations, connecting with anyone who has struggled in relationships or in moving beyond first impressions,” adds St. Clair.

“Story comes first,” said St. Clair. “We wanted to make a film that moves with energy and suspense yet is grounded in something honest about how people struggle to connect with one another,” he added.

Alongside Wesley and Danehower, the cast includes Giancarlo Carmona, Jon Oshei, Haley Spencer, Blair Chambers and Andrew Mena.

The Lonely Crowd marks the first feature film from producer Jim St. Clair and co-producer David St. Clair under their Desario Productions banner. Behind the camera, the filmmaking team includes composer Kevin Morrison, cinematographer Garrett Stotko, editor Daniel Seigerman, casting director Bevin Hamilton, and production designers Emily Kiihnl and Paige McGhee.

Indie Rights acquired The Lonely Crowd for worldwide distribution, with the film debuting on Amazon for rent and purchase in May 2026. It is now also available on streaming platforms including YouTube, Tubi and Fawesome, with releases on other major streaming services expected to follow.

With its combination of online dating, relationship drama and a crime story that quickly spirals out of control, The Lonely Crowd looks set to offer a darker take on the modern search for connection.

Apple TV - https://apple.co/4cXFFGN

REVIEW: Roofman (2025 Film) - Starring Channing Tatum, Kirsten Dunst, LaKeith Stanfield, Juno Temple and Peter Dinklage

Review by Jon Donnis

"Roofman" is one of those stories that almost sounds too bizarre to be true. Directed by Derek Cianfrance, it tells the tale of Jeffrey Manchester, an ex-soldier turned roof-climbing burglar who once hid inside a Toys "R" Us for half a year without anyone noticing. On paper, it sounds like a madcap heist comedy, but what unfolds on screen is far more complex, sitting somewhere between tragedy, absurdity and a strangely touching love story.

Channing Tatum gives one of his most grounded performances to date as Manchester, a man whose crimes seem less driven by greed than by desperation and loneliness. Cianfrance, known for intimate dramas like Blue Valentine and The Place Beyond the Pines, brings that same raw emotional style here. His camera lingers on quiet, mundane details, making even the sight of Tatum brushing his teeth in a toy store feel oddly human. It's funny, yes, but never cartoonish.

The film's strongest stretch comes during the Toys "R" Us sequence. Manchester's life among dolls, bicycles and baby monitors becomes a sort of twisted domestic fantasy, half survival story, half suburban dream. His relationship with Leigh, played by Kirsten Dunst, is handled with tenderness. She brings warmth to what could have been a throwaway role, grounding the film's stranger moments in something recognisably real. When the romance blossoms, it's oddly sweet, even though the audience knows it's built on lies.

There's also excellent support from LaKeith Stanfield as Steve, Manchester's pragmatic old army mate, and Peter Dinklage as the weary store manager Mitch. Dinklage, in particular, adds a dry sense of humour that cuts through the film's more sentimental edges.

The problem is that once Manchester's life outside the store takes over, the story begins to sag. The pace slows, the tone darkens, and the tension that once made the film so compelling slips away. The final act feels heavier, more procedural, and less inspired than the early scenes. Cianfrance's interest in emotional fallout overtakes the playfulness that made the premise so unique.

And despite the film being sold as a crime comedy, the laughs are rare. It's more melancholy than madcap, often reflecting on isolation, regret and the longing to belong. That's not a flaw so much as a mismatch of tone between marketing and reality, but some viewers might be caught off guard.

Still, "Roofman" is an engaging, original take on the true-crime genre. It's stylish, well-acted, and deeply human. Tatum's performance captures both the absurdity and sadness of a man trying to rebuild his life inside a toy shop, while Dunst provides the heart that keeps it from collapsing under its own weirdness.

It loses some magic once the fluorescent lights of the store fade, but as a character study, it lingers. "Roofman" may not be the laugh-out-loud caper its trailers promise, yet it offers something better: a bittersweet glimpse at a man trapped between redemption and self-destruction.

A flawed but fascinating piece of storytelling. I'd give Roofman a solid 7 out of 10.

Out now on Digital

Apple TV - https://apple.co/49j0ITw

PREVIEW: Reminders of Him (2025 Film) - A Colleen Hoover Story Comes to Life on the Big Screen

Preview by Jon Donnis

Colleen Hoover's acclaimed novel Reminders of Him makes the leap from page to screen on 13 March 2026, bringing its emotional story of love, loss and redemption to UK cinemas.

The film stars Maika Monroe as Kenna, a woman whose life is upended by one tragic mistake. After serving seven years in prison, she returns to her hometown in Wyoming, hoping for a second chance with the daughter she's never met. Tyriq Withers co-stars as Ledger, a former NFL player and bar owner who becomes Kenna's unexpected ally and the keeper of her most fragile hope.

Directed by Vanessa Caswill, the film boasts an impressive all-female creative team, including producers Colleen Hoover, Lauren Levine and Gina Matthews. Hoover herself co-wrote the screenplay with Levine, ensuring that the spirit of the bestselling novel remains at its core.

The supporting cast features Rudy Pankow as Kenna's late boyfriend Scotty, Lauren Graham and Bradley Whitford as the grandparents raising Kenna's daughter, and country star Lainey Wilson as her friend Amy. The ensemble also includes Jennifer Robertson, Zoe Kosovic, Hilary Jardine, Nicholas Duvernay and newcomer Monika Myers.

Reminders of Him explores how forgiveness and love can rise from heartbreak. Hoover's words, which have resonated with millions, are now set to find new life on screen. The film is a Universal Pictures release, produced by Heartbones Entertainment and Little Engine Productions.

With more than six million copies sold and translations in forty-five languages, Reminders of Him is one of Hoover's most beloved novels. The cinematic version looks set to capture the same raw emotion, offering a story that reminds us there's always a way back from our darkest moments.