Yes, it’s that time again, the weekend, and time to review the best new movies and television shows added online this week, to Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime. And there are some exciting new adds this week, so let’s get started.
HULU
Hulu has an exciting add this week with Dinosaur, a 2024 comedy series. this tells of the seemingly unbreakable friendship between sisters, Nina(Ashley Storrie) and Evie(Kat Ronney), who stick together through thick and thin. But the relationship may find it’s breaking point when Evie suddenly announces her engagement after knowing a guy for only 6 weeks. That’s bad enough, but when she asks Nina, a paleontologist with autism, to be her maid of honor, it stresses Nina, and their friendship, to the point of no return. Danny Ashok , David Carlyle , Lorn Macdonald and Greg Hemphill also star, and there are 6 episodes available now. And this series, created by the people behind Fleabag(!) gets an amazing 7.7/10 on IMDb, and joel Keller of the Decider says to stream it , adding “its humor is purely character-driven, and it gives a view of autism that we’ve rarely seen on TV.” And I’m definitely watching. Hulu has few great adds this week, so I’ll mention Lord of Misrule, a 2023 horror flick. This has a Reverend Rebecca Holland (Tuppence Middleton) moving to a new town with her husband, and daughter, to take a new position . But when she and her daughter Grace, attend a pagan festival, where Grace is named “Harvest Angel’ there, and then promptly disappears. Rebecca is horrified, and as she goes on her search, she ruffles the feathers of the masked Lord of Misrule, Jocelyn Abney. As she continues, the whole town becomes irate. But can she and her husband find their daughter in time? Ralph Ineson, Matt Stokoe, Evie Templeton, and Rosalind March also star, while William Bell directed. and this movie gets a 63% on Rotten Tomatoes, and Meagan Navarro of Bloody Disgusting says it “can’t fully escape the trappings established by quintessential folk horror films like The Wicker Man, but Bell gives it his all to subvert many of the tropes and make it entertaining.” But I won’t be watching, I’ll be under the bed. Luckily, Hulu also offers See You in Another Life, a TV 2024 drama series. Based on a book by Manuel Jabois, this revolves around the tragic bombing in 2004 in Madrid, which killed over 100 people. Most of the people responsible committed suicide, but Baby(Quim Àvila), alias Gabriel Montoya Vidal, a 16 year-old, survives, and this tells his story. Based on an interview with Jabois, we find Baby’s young life was spent in poverty, with his father in prison, and a troubled relationship with his mom. Which leads to a friendship with the older Emilio(Pol López), a drug trafficker who leads Baby to his downfall. Roberto Gutiérrez, Tamera Casellas and Mourad Ouani also star, and there is 1 episode available now, with 5 more to come. And it gets an impressive 7.6/10 on IMDb, and Natalia Trzenko of La Nacion calls it “a forceful and moving work.” But do watch with subtitles. And , finally, Hulu has A Town Without Seasons, a 2023 Japanese series. This tells of the village of Hansuke, and the people who live there, 12 years after an earthquake that sent the villagers to temporary housing. Shinsuke Tanaka(Ikematsu Sosuke) is a reporter sent to report on those still in temporary housing, and the people he finds there are warm and funny, and quite human. And as he becomes attached to some of them , the rumor spreads that the temporary housing will soon be destroyed. Taiga Nakano, Daichi Watanabe, Toko Miura and Gaku Hamada also star, and there are 10 episodes available now. And this series gets an incredible 8.3/10 on IMDb, and Ashima Grover of LeisureByte writes its a “bucolic slice of life Japanese series takes it slow and gradually warms your heart” And I’m tuning in.
NETFLIX
Netflix has a huge add this week with Ripley, the 2024 limited thriller series. Andrew Scott stars as the Patricia Highsmith’s infamous character Thomas Ripley, a social climber who will stop at nothing to get what he wants. This iteration finds Ripley in 1960′s Atrani, Italy, paid by a millionaire to find his spoiled son, Dickie, and return him home to the U.S.. As Ripley insinuates himself into the life of Dickie(Johnny Flynn), and his girlfriend Margie(Dakota Fanning!),it becomes clear he is obsessed with Dickie and enamored with his wealth. So when he returns to Atrani with Dickie‘s things, and claims he’s in Rome, no one suspects a thing except Margie, which may put her own life in danger. John Malkovich(!), Eliot Sumner, Margherita Buy, Kenneth Lonergan and Maurizio Lombardi also star, and there are 8 episodes available for bingeing now. And this tense series, filmed in glorious black and white, gets an 86% on Rotten Tomatoes, and a 7. 8/10 on IMDb. And Radheyan Simonpillai of CBC Radio says “the show itself becomes this beautiful work of art, with gorgeously framed shots of the Italian architecture and scenery that Ripley (Andrew Scott giving the best take on the character) aspires to be part of.” And I agree, I’m definitely tuning in. But Netflix has also added Scoop, the 2024 historical drama. Based on book Sam McAlister’s book , this tells of the disastrous interview with Prince Andrew about allegations of sexual assault against him. McAlister, played here by Billie Piper, a junior producer on BBC Newsnight who managed to get some of the most elusive guests, manages to get Prince Andrew(Rufus Sewell!) by starting with an email sent to the palace. And when the Prince is set as a guest, McAlister wangles Emily Maitlis(Gillian Anderson!), a truly British (and kind of stuffy) journalist to do the interview. And the fireworks begin. Keeley Hawes, Richard Goulding and Romola Garai also star, while Philip Martin directs. And this movie gets a respectable 76% on Rotten Tomatoes, and Guy Lodge of Variety said its an “engrossing look behind Prince Andrew’s fall from grace.” And I’m watching. Netflix also offers Crooks, the 2024 German thriller series. Here, Charly (Frederick Lau), an old safecracker gone straight, with a wife and family, is forced to go back in the heist business one last time. The object of interest is a priceless coin, on display in Berlin, but it’s seducing plenty of criminals in Europe, so Charly has competition in his effort. Joseph(Christoph Krutzler), an unlucky cab driver, is also strongarmed into trying for the coin. And when the pair team up together, they might just stand a chance. Jonathan Tittel, Nicolas Wanczycki, Sergej Trifunovic and Svenja Jung also star, and there are 6 episodes available now. And this series gets a 6.7/10 on IMDb, and Ishani Yadav of Meaww says “Frederick Lau‘s performance masterfully drives viewers through heart-pounding heist.” So I’m tuning in. Also new and notable is Rumah Masa Depan, a 2023 Indonesian drama. This starts with Sukri (Fedi Nuril) and his wife, Surti (Laura Basuki) deciding to go on vacation, at the behest of their three children, and to escape the pressures of their jobs. But the death of Sukri’s father, Pak Musa, changes all that, and they head to his home village Cibeureum, to care for Pak’s widow. But Mrs. Musa (Widyawati) hates Surti, and so old tensions rise to the surface, and threaten to erupt for their visit. Bima Azriel, Ciara Nadine Brosnan, Cok Simbara and Budi Dalton also star, and Danial Rifki directs. And this movie gets an outstanding 7.6/10 on IMDb, and Juventus Vishnu of Cineverse said “the atmosphere of togetherness built by each character blends well, and their chemistry is unquestionable.” So I’m watching. And, finally, Netflix finally has Parasyte, the Grey, the 2024 K-drama horror series. This features an invasion from space, and the ensuing infection of humans by the alien spores. Those alien spores not only make the human sprout dangerous tentacles from their head(ick), but also protect their human hosts from any threat. And so our protagonist , Jeong Su-in, played by Jeon So-nee, is finally protected, after a life of abuse and harm, but she’s also hunted by authorities, or Team Grey. But while they hunt Su-in with violent acuity, she also has an ally in Seol Kang-woo(Koo Kyo-hwan), a criminal who sees her good side. Kang Won-seock, Jin Yong-wook, Park Young-bok and Kim In-kwan also star, and there are 6 gruesome episodes available for streaming now. And this series gets a 7.2/10 on IMDb, and Anjali Sharma of the Midgard Times writes “whether you’re a fan of sci-fi, horror, or gripping character drama, this South Korean gem is a must-watch that will leave you on the edge of your seat until the very end.”
AMAZON
Amazon has an exciting add this week with Música, an off-beat romance. Based on director and star Rudy Mancuso‘s life, this tells of aspiring creator with synesthesia, who is trying to graduate college, create music with puppets(!)and maybe meet someone, all while dealing with his condition. As a college student living with his overbearing mom, Maria(played by Rudy’s real mom, Maria Mancuso!! ) , Rudy‘s life is hugely impacted by his synesthesia, making it hard for him to focus on anything, including his girlfriend, Haley, who breaks up with him in the opening scene. But then he meets Isabella, a slightly more tolerant young woman working in a fish market, and things begin to change. But then Haley reappears on the scene, and Rudy‘s happiness is threatened. Camila Mendes, Francesca Reale, and J. B. Smoove star, and Mancuso co-wrote the script with Dan Lagana, along with directing for the first time, here. And this movie gets an incredible 95% on Rotten Tomatoes, and Lovia Gyarkye of the Hollywood Reporter says “even when its narrative tips into clichéd territory, Música’s aesthetic remains loose and kinetic — an exciting reflection of its creator’s spirit.” And its great fun, too, so I’m tuning in. Amazon also has Summer of ’85, a 2020 French romantic drama. Partly based on the novel Dance on My Grave by Aidan Chambers, this tells of the summer of 1985 in Le Tréport, Normandy, with 16 year-old Alexis Robin(Félix Lefebvre), taking a boat ride. But when he capsizes, he is saved by David(Benjamin Voisin), a charismatic 18 year-old, who awes the young man. And as they begin their summer romance, it seems nothing to could ruin their relationship. Until they meet Kate(Philippine Velge), whom David romances, too, and Alexis is incensed. And after he curses David, David has a motorcycle accident that may doom Alexis as well. Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, Melvil Poupaud, Isabelle Nanty, and Laurent Fernandez also star, and François Ozon directed. And this movie was nominated for 12 César Awards in 2020, and went on to win Most Promising Actor at the Lumiere Awards, and Best Feature Film at the Merlinka Awards that year. And it gets an 81% on Rotten Tomatoes, and K. Austin Collins of Rolling Stone said “you really do start to wonder where it’s all going — a fine trick of the storytelling on display since, long before the end, you realize: you already know.” And I’m watching. And, finally, Amazon also has all 4 seasons of Bridget & Eamon, a 2016 Irish comedy series. Bridget (Jennifer Maguire ) and Eamon(Bernard O’Shea) are a definitely unhappy couple living in the ‘80’s in the Irish midlands. And while Eamon wants only to sit in front of the tv when he gets home from work, Bridget dreams of bigger and better things, and forces Eamon into them regardless of the previous disastrous outcomes. Jason Butler, Edwin Sammon, Norma Sheahan, Laura O’Mahoney and Sharon Mannion also star, and there are 4 seasons now available. And this series won the IFTA(Irish Film and Television Awards) for Best Comedy, and the Best Director Soap / Comedy in 2016. And it gets an outstanding7.7/10 on IMDb, and Darragh McManus of the Irish Independent said “I laughed the whole way through. It was funny, and it was fun.” So I’m tuning in.
So sit back and binge this weekend, on classics, old and new, on Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime. Enjoy!
Grownups Guide to Streaming 