Spooky season is upon us and this week we’ve got two pretty spine-tingling films in the Combo to mark the occasion – we’ll let you decide which is scarier. 

Trump before he was Trump
The latest film from Ali Abbasi, best known for 2018’s Border and 2022’s Holy Spider, is a look at the younger years of Donald Trump. The Apprentice begins with Trump in his late 20s, very much someone living in the shadow of his successful father and wanting to forge a career of his own. Enter Roy Cohn, the notoriously slimy lawyer who takes Trump under his wing and teaches him everything he knows. We watch as Trump becomes more and more ruthless, himself becoming a slimy character whose ambition seemingly knows no bounds. At one point, he jokes that he might even run for President someday.

Earlier this week, we caught up with Maria Bakalova who gives a stunning performance in the film as Ivana Trump. In the interview, she discussed how she got the role of Ivana and what her aim was in trying to bring a human side to Trump’s notorious first wife – read it here.

The Apprentice is out in cinemas now. 

A retrospective not to be missed
For the past six decades, Irish-born conceptual artist Michael Craig-Martin has harboured a fascination for the mundanities of day-to-day life, transforming everyday occurrences and objects into vivid alternatives. Having built a body of work spanning sculpture, installation, painting, drawing, prints and digital works since beginning his career in the 1960s, Craig-Martin has become one of the most influential artists and teachers of his generation. In honour of his ever-evolving practice, The Royal Academy is staging a large-scale retrospective of prized works alongside newly commissioned installations, offering a comprehensive view of Craig-Martin’s singular style.

Michael Craig-Martin runs at The Royal Academy of Arts until 10 December, more info here. 

An Ali Smith classic in Finsbury Park
When Ali Smith’s Autumn was first published in 2016, it was regarded as the first post-Brexit novel, being published only a few months after the referendum. It follows the story of Daniel Gluck, a bed bound centenarian who is frequently visited by his younger neighbour, Elisabeth. Throughout the novel, we learn about the friendship between Daniel and Elisabeth, of the influence he had on her as a child when he was still active and she had a burgeoning passion for art. Meanwhile, we also learn about Daniel’s younger years, of a deep trauma and a lost sibling that still disturbs his dreams.

Now, Autumn makes its way to the Park Theatre in an adaptation by Harry McDonald and directed by Charlotte Vickers. Running for two weeks, this is a chance to see one of the most acclaimed novels of the past decade come alive on stage with a cast that includes theatre heavy-hitters such as Nancy Crane, Gary Lilburn and Sophie Ward.

Autumn runs at the Park Theatre, Finsbury Park until November 2nd, more info here. 

Say cheese!
The sequel to Parker Finn’s acclaimed 2022 horror Smile is here just in time for Halloween. Starring Heroine 21 cover star Naomi Scott as Skye Riley, a global popstar whose overwhelming pressures and anxieties manifest as the grinning, evil entity which first haunted viewers as part of a viral advertising campaign in Finn’s original thriller. But in an effort to redefine the horror blueprint, Scott’s portrayal brings a psychological angle to the traditional format, exploring notions of trauma and mental health. But it’s still pretty scary – you’ve been warned!

Smile 2 is out in cinemas now. 

Midnight in Peckham
Missing festival season? Us too, but electronic duo Chaos in The CBD is putting on an all-dayer at the Roundhouse on Saturday that might just fill the void. Best known for their jazz-inflected deep house tracks, the duo have been a staple on the underground scene and British festival circuit for years but this time you can watch them without mud and a portaloo – bliss.

Chaos in The CBD will play at the Roundhouse on 19th October, more info here. 

The Tamil Prince’s little sibling
The Tamil Prince has garnered a well-deserved reputation for serving up some of the best Indian cuisine in the city and now co-founder and executive chef Prince Durairaj is opening up a second outpost south of the river. Tamila is the casual counterpart to The Tamil Prince, first tested out as a food stall in Hackney Wick, the menu now has a home on Northcote Road offering dishes inspired by Durairaj’s South Indian heritage. Expect to see rotis, curries, tandoor specials, and a series of specially curated cocktails including a Gunpowder Margarita and a Charcoal Old Fashioned.

Tamila is located at 39 Northcote Rd, SW11 1NJ, more info here. 

Aussie grub
Now with outpostings in Soho and Queen’s Park, Milk Beach is building an air of coastal cool in the capital. Serving up Aussie grub inside neutral-hued spaces complete with sun-bleached wood, rattan chairs and an outdoor patio, you’ll almost forget you aren’t soaking up the sun on Bondi Beach. Dishes draw from the Southeast Asian and Mediterranean influences which make up Australia’s cuisine, expect to see plates of slow-cooked lamb gyozas, yellowfin tuna tartare, grilled oyster mushrooms with macadamia hummus and sides of crispy potatoes with miso butter.

Milk Beach is located at 14 Greek St, James Court, W1D 4AL and 19-21 Lonsdale Rd, NW6 6RD, more info here.