As the end of the year draws closer, a string of exciting films are being released into Australian cinemas.

This week sees the suspense of the year, Gone Girl, released. Based on the best selling novel by US author Gillian Flynn, Ben Affleck stars as Nick, a man accused of murdering his wife, Amy, creepily played by British actress Rosamund Pike.

Also in theatres is Dracula Untold, which you can win tickets to below, and the documentary Advanced Style.

Win one of 10 double passes to see Dracula Untold. Email your name and address here

Gone Girl

Director: David Fincher
Cast: Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Neil Patrick Harris, Tyler Perry, David Clennon, Patrick Fugit, Sela Ward
Rating: MA15+ – Strong sexualised violence, blood, sex scenes and coarse language
Running time: 149 min
Release date: 2 October, 2014

Verdict: A hit. Get thee to a cinema post haste.

Why you should see it: The New Daily says: “For those who haven’t read the book, Gone Girl may come as a bit of a shock to the system. Engrossing, sporadically violent and, at times, hilarious, the unconventional thriller is unlike anything else in cinemas. Centred on the disappearance of complicated housewife Amy (Rosamund Pike) and the ensuing media circus surrounding her suspicious husband, Nick (Ben Affleck), the movie jolts the audience from the opening scene, as Nick intimately shares his fantasy of smashing his wife’s skull in.” Read the full review here

Dracula Untold

Director: Gary Shore
Cast: Luke Evans, Dominic Cooper, Samantha Barks
Rating: M
Running time: 92 minutes
Release Date: 2 October, 2014

Verdict: Don’t shy away.

Why you should see it: The New Daily says: “Dracula Untold is a movie that reminds us that vampires can be interesting and evil (and pretty useful in a fight as well). Luke Evans is powerful as Vlad the Impaler in this epic tragedy of one man’s descent from benevolent prince and father to blood-sucking, self-loathing monster. In this version of the original story, he is turned and more importantly twisted by a mysterious master vampire, played by Game of Thrones’ Charles Dance who revels in a role that perfectly skates the line between insidious super monster and pantomime villain. Vlad then wages a one demonspawn war on the evil Ottoman army. There are flaws – particularly Sarah Gadon’s Mirena who flounces around like some Shakespearean fortune cookie – yet for the most part Dracula Untold is highly entertaining and engaging as it plays to its strengths: big action, epic tragedy and vampires who are actually more scary than your first babysitter.”

Advanced Style

Director: Lina Plioplyte
Duration: 75 mins
Rating: PG – Mild coarse language
Release Date: 2 October, 2014

Verdict: Life affirming.

Why you should see it: Stephen A. Russell for thelowdownunder says: “Ah New York, New York, a city packed full of style icons, and that’s just the regular peeps on the street. There’s an air of the wonderful Bill Cunningham New York about Lina Plioplyte’s gorgeously life-affirming doco that takes as its subject the glamorous ladies of Manhattan in the fifty-plus bracket. And most of the women featured here are considerably north of 50, and looking bloody marvellous for it, proving there ain’t no need for prim and proper dress codes enforcing how we’re supposed to look at any point in our lives.”

For more new release movies click here.