To watch and watch for: Week of Sept. 10

As we get further into September (and closer to the dreaded arrival of midterm season), exciting new fall releases are starting to be rolled out by studios and publishers.

In new theater releases, students who can’t wait for the start of spooky season will be excited for the newest séance-themed murder mystery movie, A Haunting in Venice. Those looking for a sweeter and more whimsical watch will surely be delighted by the stop-motion animation in The Inventor, which focuses on the life of Leonardo da Vinci.

And for all those people who read Hamlet in high school and were disappointed that the romantic subtext between Hamlet and Horatio didn’t pan out, Em X. Liu’s modern retelling of this classic Shakespeare play is absolutely for you.

In music, prepare for a revival of older hits and styles as Demi Lovato releases rock versions of their previous songs and Diddy brings R&B back into the mainstream.

And in live events, not much will be happening on campus, which means that this week will be a great opportunity for exploring the local music scene outside of the Hopkins bubble. Take a chance on lesser-known, rising artists’ performances at Ottobar and Metro Baltimore.

To watch…

A Haunting in Venice, directed by Kenneth Branagh — Sept. 15

In this Agatha Christie adaptation, the great detective Hercule Poirot must come out of retirement to solve a murder at a séance.

The Inventor, directed by Jim Capobianco and Pierre-Luc Granjon — Sept. 15

This stop-motion animated film follows the strange and wonderful life of artist and inventor Leonardo da Vinci, complete with flying contraptions, war machines and more.

To read…

Fall of Ruin and Wrath, by Jennifer L. Armentrout — Sept. 12

This first book in a new adult fantasy series takes place in a world where royalty who feed on mortal pleasure rule the world. A woman with powerful intuition and a traveling prince find love in a city on the edge of rebellion.

The Last Devil to Die: A Thursday Murder Club Mystery, by Richard Osman — Sept. 14

In this installment of The Thursday Murder Club series, the gang must get involved in the antiques business after the murder of their old friend and the disappearance of the dangerous package he protected.

The Death I Gave Him, By Em X. Liu — Sept. 12

This queer, science fiction retelling of Hamlet follows Hayden Lichfield as he seeks revenge after the murder of his scientist father. Stuck in his father’s locked-down laboratory, Hayden and his good pal Horatio must figure out which one of the people they’re trapped with is the murderer. 

To listen…

Revamped, by Demi Lovato — Sept. 15

This new release by Demi Lovato will be a remix album, featuring ten new rock recordings of songs from their previous albums such as “Heart Attack,” “Neon Lights” and “Give Your Heart a Break.”

The Love Album: Off the Grid, by Diddy — Sept. 15

This fifth studio album out of Motown by Diddy will feature a star-studded list of tracks, with some of the featured artists including Justin Bieber, 21 Savage, DJ Khaled and more. While sharing the release date on Instagram, Diddy announced that this album would prove that “R&B is alive!”

The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We, by Mitski — Sept. 15

Indie and folk rock artist Mitski will release her third album, which she hopes will show through music that her love for the people she cares about will persist long after her death.

Live events...

Lauren Calve + Joey Frendo at Metro Baltimore — Sept. 14 at 7 p.m.

This Thursday, Lauren Calve, a singer based out of D.C., will share music from her debut full-length album, Shift, which will take the listener on an exploration of the changes and self-discovery happening in her life. She is accompanied by Joey Frendo, a singer who specializes in music that characterizes the lives of ordinary people in the Rust Belt. Tickets are $12.

Deerhoof With Guest Sleeptalk at Ottobar — Sept. 16 at 10 p.m.

Deerhoof is an indie rock, noise punk band from San Francisco who will be performing a set at Ottobar on Saturday night. They’re accompanied by the alternative rock band Sleeptalk. Tickets are $20 and masks are required.