Netflix has been all over the news this past week… for all the wrong reasons. Today it’s top of the headlines as well, but only because its debuting hotly-anticipated South African heist thriller Silverton Siege this week. On top of that we also get a rather broad selection of series debuts, and one non-Netflix documentary feature that is sure to get people talking.
MOVIES
Silverton Siege
Netflix – 27 April 2022
Inspired by true events that transpired in Silverton, Pretoria in 1980 (although only “60% factual” according to writer/director Mandla Dube), this tense thriller follows a trio of anti-Apartheid freedom fighters who inadvertently find themselves in a bank hostage situation after a botched mission. Stuck in a public situation they didn’t plan for, the three decide to use the opportunity to further their political goals.
Eating Our Way to Extinction
Amazon Prime Video – 22 April 2022
Described by Leonardo DiCaprio as “the film future generations will be wishing everyone watched today”, this explosive documentary feature film tackles how our choices when it comes to food is driving the destruction of our planet. Narrated by Kate Winslet and featuring globally renowned figures and the world’s leading scientists, Eating Our Way to Extinction looks
SERIES
Hold Tight S1
Netflix – 22 April 2022
Netflix has been in the Harlan Coben business for a few years now and business is apparently still booming. Hold Tight is the ninth on-screen adaptation of the popular American writer’s thriller novels, but this one is slightly different as it’s actually been transplanted to Poland. According to the blurb, Hold Tight “tells a story about residents of a peaceful neighborhood in the Warsaw suburbs, whose idyllic life comes to an abrupt end when a teenager Adam vanishes into thin air and parents find answers to questions they have never wanted to ask”. Unfortunately, English voice dubbing in Netflix productions are always bad, so just watch this in the original Polish with subtitles please!
Heartstopper S1
Netflix – 22 April 2022
Based on the webcomic and graphic novel of the same name by Alice Oseman, this British coming-of-age romantic drama looks like a real bittersweet charmer as “borderline outcast” Charlie develops a crush on schoolmate rugby star Nick. Only problem is that while Charlie is gay, Nick is “the straightest person” you’ve ever seen… and wants Charlie on his rugby team.
Bullsh*t: The Gameshow
Netflix – 27 April 2022
I pride myself on my general knowledge so I’ve always enjoyed a challenging quiz show. I don’t know if Bullsh*t fits that bill though, but I am intrigued. The ludicrous spin on the format intriguing me? Contestants answer trivia questions, but if they don’t know the answer they just make something up as long as they manage to convince at least one of the other contestants that their answer is legit.
Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles
Netflix – 28 April 2022
Stan Sakai’s Usagi Yojimbo is one of the greatest comics ever. Based somewhat on the history of famous swordsman Miyamoto Musashi, and inspired heavily by the works of Akira Kurosawa and other heavyweights of Japanese cinema, this long-running epic features anthropomorphized animals thrust into an otherwise accurate and very serious portrayal of Japanese history and folklore that deals with mature themes and award-winning storytelling… so, of course, it’s been turned into a wisecracking children’s animated show. Will still watch it though.
On top of the releases for this week, there are some other titles we were unable to tell you about last week though thanks to the Princes of Darkness over at Eskom ruining our schedule: