Folie à Deux, streaming “Love is blind”

Love is in the air – love between psychopathic soulmates, love that isn’t superficial, and love for things that will scare you.

The volatile relationship between Joker and Harley Quinn in comic book history is played out musically, thanks to Academy Award winners Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga, in the sequel “Joker: Folie à Deux.” They meet in prison, but would these two crazy kids meet through a wall and hang out in cool pods? Maybe not, but a group of people spark romance, with mixed results, in another season of the Netflix reality show “Love Is Blind.” And if you don’t like seeing people’s relationships turn into an absolute horror show and dig into things that are more conventionally terrifying, there are plenty of cool horror movies to watch this month . Hello everyone, spooky season.

Now let’s get to the good stuff:

See Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga sing and dance in ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’

In 2019, “Joker” caused a stir, but in its case, controversy meant money: It became a smashing box office and Oscar-winning success. The new “Folie à Deux” sings a different tune — literally, it’s a musical with tunes from the Great American Songbook and even a Bee Gees number. Not all of the biggest swings are connected, but damn, Phoenix and Gaga together are a force on screen as an iconic power couple. (Check out my review ★★½.)

Our man in LA, Bryan Alexander, chatted with Phoenix and Gaga, and Phoenix talked about moving away from a “traditional” sequel and giving Joker a real relationship: “What happens when someone ‘one falls in love with the image you project? There was something mature about it.’

Watch the new drama season of Netflix’s ‘Love Is Blind’

Fun fact: Even though most reality TV isn’t for me, my one not-so-guilty pleasure is “Love Is Blind.” I have no patience for cheap roses, Z-list celebrities, or twirling judge seats, but give me cheesy blind dates, boozy Mexican escapades, and awkward family get-togethers ALL THE DAY DAYTIME.

The first six episodes of season 7 are now streaming, featuring a new generation of would-be couples getting engaged sight unseen and maaaaybe go to the altar. I encourage science enthusiasts Garrett and Taylor to follow through (they seem like good people!) and my colleague KiMi Robinson interviewed Taylor about not wanting to tell her new boyfriend his mother’s name during their group date while trying to keep his ethnicity a secret. “It was an opportunity for someone to not know what I look like at all,” she says.

Get ready for Halloween-ready treats, including Sarah Paulson’s “Hold Your Breath”

As you plan to hand out fun-sized or full-sized candy bars for treats this year, start making time for horror movies as well. Tis the season, y’all! I’ve rounded up 15 new movies to best prepare for Halloween, with a bunch of streaming services including the Stephen King adaptation “Salem’s Lot,” the gourmet chiller “House of Spoils” and the twisty body-swap jam “It’s What’s Inside.”

“American Horror Story” veteran Sarah Paulson stars in the period thriller “Hold Your Breath,” available now on Hulu, and my friend Ralphie Aversa spoke with her about the best practices for being a scream queen, including understood once during “AHS” where she needed “a steroid injection in my old butt to get me through the day.”

Even more goodness to discover!

I reviewed the dark and fabulous “A Different Man,” featuring eye-opening performances from Marvel mainstay Sebastian Stan and movie thief Adam Pearson.
Four-time Oscar nominee Saoirse Ronan is back in the awards season conversation with “The Outrun” and “Blitz,” and “I’m Ready to Go Back.”
Those who have watched FX’s “Grotesquerie” probably already know that Travis Kelce plays an alcoholic former nurse in the horror series. (Taylor must be proud. I am. Go ahead, Big Yeti!)
Three “Real Housewives of New York” came to our Big Apple offices to discuss what it means to watch themselves — and all that drama — on television.
We might have to round up the rest of the Pink Pony Club and ride horses, because a recent “SNL” sketch seemed to mock Chappell Roan’s concerns about harassment.

Do you have any thoughts, questions, ideas, concerns, compliments or maybe even some recommendations for me? Email [email protected] and follow me on social media: I’m @briantruitt on Twitter (I don’t call it X!), Instagram and Threads.