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
Unfortunately for cowards like me, the biggest add on Hulu this week is The First Omen, a 2024 horror flick. The prequel to the original movie, and all the ensuing chapters, begins with novice Margaret, played by Nell Tiger Free, sent to an orphanage in Rome to take the veil, but finds evil and darkness, instead. There’s the brooding and harsh mother superior(Sonia Braga!), the zealous Sister Anjelica (Ishtar Currie Wilson) and then, urgent warnings from Fr. Brennan (Ralph Ineson!). But then Sister Margaret‘s hallucinations escalate, and soon, it’s clear her soul is in trouble. Nicole Sorace, Bill Nighy, Tawfeek Barhom, Maria Caballero also star, and Arkasha Stevenson directs. And this movie gets an 81% on Rotten Tomatoes, and Matthew Jackson of the A.V. Club says “forget what you think you know about horror prequels. The First Omen gets it, goes for the throat, and never lets go.” So you know its too scary for me. Luckily, Hulu has also added The Promised Land, a 2023 historical epic. This takes place in 18th century Denmark, where an impoverished war hero, Captain Ludvig Kahlen, played by Mads Mikkelsen(!), tries to make a fresh start, farming land in the name of the king . But that land is all owned by Count Frederik De Schinkel, a nobleman determined to hold on to his land, and willing to use torture and murder, to keep the unused land under his title. So while Ludwig and the people of his settlement try to turn the heath into productive, arable land, the Count imperils life and limb, and the settlement and even Ludwigs ‘s family threaten to come apart at the seams. Amanda Collin, Simon Bennebjerg, Melina Hagberg, and Kristine Kujath Thorp also star, and Nikolaj Arcel directed. And this movie premiered at the 80th Venice International Film Festival, where it won the SIGNIS Award, and also won 8 Danish Film Awards (Robert),including Best Actor for Mikkelsen and Best Film, among others. And it gets an amazing 95% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 7.7/10 on IMDb, and David Fear of Rolling Stone said “the feudal warring over unclaimed Jutland territory may be strictly Danish, but the excitement, romance, and awe-inspiring visual spectacle of this melodrama is vintage Hollywood.”. So I’m definitely tuning in. Hulu also offers Crash, the 2024 K-drama thriller series. This considers the Namgang Police Station’s Traffic Crime Investigation team that looks into the car accidents that take place, everyday. Lee Min-ki plays Cha Yeon Ho, one of the lead investigators, who along with Min So Hee, played by Kwak Sun-young, looks into some incidents that may look accidental, but definitely are not. And with death and injury surrounding them, and crimes like insurance fraud, robbery, and outright murder occurring, the team is always on the job. Heo Sung-tae, Lee Ho-cheol, and Choi Moon-hee also star, and there are episodes available now. And this series gets an impressive 7.6/10 on IMDb, and Anjali Sharma of the Midgard Times calls it “a thrilling journey into the heart of urban traffic, blending action, comedy, and mystery with style and flair.” So I’m watching. And, finally, Hulu has Curtain Call, a 2022 K-drama series. Ja Geum Soon, played by Go Doo shin , is a successful hotelier, and owner of a chain of hotels, but , in her twilight years, she still dreams of being reunited with her family , trapped in North Korea. So her loyal assistant, Jung Sang Cheol, arranges for a struggling actor, Yoo Jae Heon, to play her grandson, Im Moon Sŏng. But it it may be the most demanding role of Jae-Heon‘s life, and Ja Geum Soon‘s family may begin to suspect all is not what it seems. Ha Ji-won, Kang Ha-neul, Go Doo-shim, Kwon Sang-woo and Jeong Eu-gene also star, and there are 16 episodes available for bingeing now. And this series was nominated for 5 KBS Drama Awards, where it won Best Actress for Ha Ji-Won, and Best Actor for Kang Ha-neul. and it gets an impressive 7.3/10 on IMDb, and Jill of Korean Drama Review says its a “powerful and poignant family-themed Korean drama with an exceptional cast, destined to be a classic.” So I’m tuning in.
NETFLIX
Netflix has a big title added this week with Eric, a limited drama series starring Benedict Cumberbatch(!). Cumberbatch plays Vincent Anderson, a tv producer of a children’s show, but a cruel and unavailable father, who begins to crumble when his son, Edgar(Ivan Morris Howe) , disappears one day in 1985. While Vincent’s wife, Cassie, played by Gaby Hoffmann, leans on the N.Y.P.D. detective Michael Ledroit and his team for strength, Vincent is convinced his son will only reappear if he builds the puppet, Eric, that Edgar designed, and approached him with, only to be ignored. As Vincent tries to deal with his guilt, while drinking and taking drugs, Detective Ledroit tries to deal with his past, being gay in the AIDs ridden 80‘s . And lack of resources available for the search makes the outcome looks anything but bright. Dan Fogler, Clarke Peters, Ivan Howe, Bamar Kane and Adepero Oduye also star, and Lucy Forbes directs all 6 episodes available now. But this series gets only a 71% on Rotten Tomatoes, perhaps due to it’s dark subject matter, and unlikeable protagonist, and Joel Keller of the Decider says “there’s a lot about Eric we didn’t love. But, boy, we loved Benedict Cumberbatch’s performance as the troubled, grieving father of a missing child. It’s so good it might actually paper over most of the show’s flaws.” You decide. I’d rather watch Agak Laen, a 2024 Indonesian comedy/horror movie. this finds 4 friends working in a shabby haunted house in the Rawa Senggol Night Market, trying to make it more scary, and thus successful. but when they finally succeed, and then an old man dies from shock, they make the unfortunate decision to bury him in the house, to cover up his death. And then the real haunting begins in earnest, with old man’s ghost causing major problems and refusing to leave. Bene Dion Rajagukguk, Boris Bokir, Indra Jegel and Oki Rengga also star, and Muhadkly Acho directed, along with writing the script.. And it gets a stunning 8/10 on IMDb, and Ayasa Mallick of the Midgard Times says “overall, it was a good watch and worth my time. If you are looking for a horror comedy movie then Agak Laen is there to rescue.” And I’m watching. Netflix also has The Life You Wanted, a 2024 Italian drama series. This tells the story of Gloria, played by Vittoria Schisano, whose life is turned upside down when her friend Marina comes back into her life, pregnant and with her two children. Gloria still resents her friend, who she feels deserted her in her hour of need, during her gender transition. But as her friend’s stay continues, Gloria discovers many truths, and realizes Marina may be the best friend she ever had. Giuseppe Zeno, Pina Turco, Alessio Lapice, Nicola Bello, and Francesca Pia Di also star, and there are 6 episodes available now. And, though it gets a 5.7/10 on IMDb, it is an impactful series, with Shabnam Jahan of LeisureByte saying it “will leave an indelible mark on its audience, particularly those with an open-minded perspective. Its poignant message resonates deeply, underscoring the enduring strength of love. It stands as a poignant and unforgettable testament, challenging societal norms and celebrating the intricate nuances of life and personal growth.” So I’m watching. Netflix also offers The Colors of Evil : Red, a 2024 Polish crime drama. This begins with the discovery of a young woman’s body on the beach, and the investigation that ensues. When her identity is as a bartender, Monika ( Zofia Jastrzębska), her mother, Judge Helena Bogucka ( Maja Ostaszewski), is ridden with guilt over her past mistakes, and determined to find the killer. But prosecutor Leopold Bilski ( Jakub Gierszał) has his own ideas, and as more victims appear, it seems that a serial killer is at work, and everyone involved has massive puzzle to solve. Andrzej Giersz, Przemyslaw Bluszcz, and Wojciech Zieliski also star, while Adrian Panek directs. And this thriller gets a 6.3/10 on IMDb, and Charles Hartford of But Why Tho? says “tells a gripping and emotional tale that hits hard when the narrative is laid bare.” but beware, it is a brutal and violent movie, requiring a stronger stomach than mine. And, finally, Netflix has added one of the most exciting monster movies of recent years , Godzilla Minus One, a 2024.Japanese movie. this takes place in 1945, with Japan already devastated by war, when Kamikaze pilot Koichi Shikishima (Ryunosuke Kamiki) finds himself back in a Tokyo destroyed by Godzilla, and helps a young woman, Noriko (Minami Hamabe), and a baby orphaned by the attacks. As Tokyo tries to rebuild, Koichi takes a job on a mine-sweeper, destroying war ordnance, when the ship encounters Godzilla, larger than ever, thanks to nuclear tests off the Bikini atoll. And as the ship’s crew tries to destroy the monster, and then, just keep him away from Tokyo, the question is, can anything stop him? Kuranosuke Sasaki, Sakura Andô and Munetaka Aoki also star, while Takashi Yamazaki directed. And this movie won tons of awards last year, including 8 at the Awards of the Japanese Academy, including Best Film, and the Oscar for Best Achievement in Visual Effects. And it gets a incredible 98% on Rotten Tomatoes, and a 7.9/10 on IMDb. Christy Lemire of Breakfast All Day said “you definitely feel for all these characters and and the choices that they make, and that adds a surprising amount of like emotional heft to what could have just been a thrilling but a purely exciting escapist action film.” And I’m definitely tuning in.
AMAZON
Amazon has few impressive adds this week, with The Boys in the Boat, the 2023 historical drama, it’s biggest add. Based on the book by Daniel James Brown, this tells the true story of the University of Washington rowing team , and their quest to compete at the 1936 Summer Olympics. Callum Turner plays Joe Rantz, one of those students, broke and living in his car, who managed to make the team and work under Coach Al Ulbrickson Sr.(Joel Edgerton). Ulrickson is pressured to beat Cal in the competition, and when the team manages to do it and later qualifies for the Olympics, they are confronted with other obstacles- coming up with the money required to go to the Berlin games, during the crushing Depression. And then, beating the Germans. Peter Guinness, Jack Mulhern, Jack Mulhern and Hadley Robinson also star, while George Clooney(!) directed and produced. And this film won a few awards last year, like the Overlooked Film of the Year award at the Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards. And it gets a 71% on Rotten Tomatoes, but Nell Minow of RogerEbert.com called it “an old-fashioned story told in an old-fashioned way, and sometimes that is a good way to remind all of us we are better than those who didn’t believe in us.” You decide. I’d rather watch season 1 of Dark Winds, the exciting mystery series from AMC+. Based on the books by Tony Hillerman, this tells of Navajo detective Joe Leaphorn, played by Zahn McClarnon, on the Tribal Police in 1971 , suddenly confronted by a bizarre murders all over the reservation. Joined by Sargeant Chee (Kiowa Gordon), ambitious and newly returned to the reservation, the pair try to make sense of the incidents, all the while with the FBI Agent (Noah Emmerich)looking over their shoulders. Deanna Allison, Jessica Matten, A Martinez and Eugene Brave Rock also star, and there are 6 episodes to devour before July 1, when they go back to premium AMC+ territory. And since this series is so good, garnering a superb 100% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 7.7/10 on IMDb, you definitely want to catch them all. Judy Berman of Time called it a “gripping, gorgeously shot and propelled by superb performances, Dark Winds is a very good show that also happens to be very important.” And I agree, I’m definitely tuning in. And, finally, Amazon has Season 1 of The Curse, a 2022 comedy/mystery series, from Britbox . This takes place in 1985, with a hapless group of small-time criminals trying to put together one of the biggest gold heists in British history. The culprits live in East London, like cafe owners Tash (Emer Kenny) and Albert (Allan Mustafa), and Tash’s brother Sidney (Steve Stamp), ineptitude dogs their every step, and even after they steal the gold, disaster looms as they fight to divvy up the loot. And Detective Thread is hot on their trail. Ambreen Razia, Mustafa Steve Stamp, Hugo Chegwin and Tom Davis also star, and there are 6 episodes available now, to eat up before July 1, when they go back to premium BritBox. and this series gets a 6.7/10 on IMDb, and Jack Seale of the Guardian calls it “a sublime crime caper with an unfeasibly brilliant cast.” So I’m watching.
So sit back and binge this weekend, on classics, old and new, on Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime. Enjoy!
Grownups Guide to Streaming 