Director Steve McQueen, known for his dark, implicit stories, returns to form with this brutal drama set during the antebellum South opening this weekend. Born outside of slavery, Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor) is a free black man and talented violinist living in upstate New York with his family. Enticed by a profitable touring gig away from home, Northup is drugged and kidnapped, before being sold into bondage to abusive plantation owner Edwin Epps (Michael Fassbender). Over the next 12 years Northup struggles to maintain his human dignity amid a racial hell containing characters that aren’t easily characterized. Already being hailed as McQueen’s best work to date and one of the finest films of the year, be sure to check out a true horror movie in theaters this Halloween.

Rated R // Kendall Square Cinema, Coolidge Corner Theatre // $ome cost