There’s something for everybody in this week’s streaming releases, headlined by animated sci-fi series Terminator Zero, thrilling blockbuster Twisters making its VOD debut, and Jeff Goldblum’s Greek mythology comedy series Kaos. Plus, the return of Only Murders in the Building, Pachinko, and more!
SERIES
Pachinko S2
23 August 2024 – Apple TV+
One of Apple TV+’s biggest drama series is back. For those of you not in the know, Pachinko is based on The New York Times bestselling novel of the same name and is described as “a sweeping and deeply moving story of love and survival across four generations, told through the eyes of a remarkable matriarch, Sunja.” The first season of the multilingual series (it’s told with Japanese, Korean, and English) received 11 international awards including a Peabody Award, an American Film Institute Award, a Critics Choice Award and a Gotham Independent Film Award. And now the second season gives fans parallel stories that pick up in Osaka in 1945, where Sunja is forced to make dangerous decisions for her family’s survival during World War II, and in Tokyo in 1989, which finds Sunja’s grandson Solomon exploring new, humble beginnings.
Terminator Zero S1
29 August 2024 – Netflix
I know there’s a lot to be said about beloved classic properties being milked by big studios ad nauseum until they’re withered husks, but hear me out: What media format fits a “killer robot from the future” premise better than anime? (See: The Animatrix) And that’s why it’s actually surprising that it’s taken this long for us to get an animated Terminator spinoff, but Terminator Zero is now here and it looks incredible! The eight-episode series is directed by Bleach alum Masashi Kudo with animation from widely acclaimed studio Production I.G. (Kaiju No. 8, Psycho Pass, Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045) and features the voices of Timothy Olyphant, Rosario Dawson, and more. Set in a pre-Judgement Day mid-1990s Japan, the show follows Malcolm Lee, a scientist developing a rival AI system to Skynet, who suddenly finds himself and his three children being pursued by a robot assassin.
Only Murders in the Building S4
27 August 2024 – Disney+
Charles, Oliver, and Mabel are back! And they’re making a movie! The critically acclaimed Only Murders in the Building returns for another season of murder mystery goodness. As if the shockingly deadly conclusion of season 3 wasn’t enough to contend with, the trio faces the extra challenge of their popular podcast being optioned for a movie adaptation in Hollywood. Along with new twists and laughs, season four also brings a whole new batch of stars. Joining the addition of the incredible Meryl Streep last season, we now also get Eugene Levy, Kumail Nanjiani, Eva Longoria, Molly Shannon, Zach Galifianakis and Melissa McCarthy added to the crew.
Kaos S1
29 August 2024 – Netflix
I don’t know who it was that came up with the idea to make Jeff Goldblum a Greek god, but they need a raise. Well, actually we do know who it was: The End of the F***ing World showrunner Charlie Covell, who’s back with another irreverent bit of television. Billed as “a bold, darkly comic, contemporary take on Greek mythology”, Kaos stars Goldblum as Zeus, the patriarchal king of the Gods of Olympus, who is facing the damning realization that even he’s getting old and that his long-feared fall may be imminent. Not helping Zeus’ growing paranoia is his big, dysfunctional family, who are all prone to bickering and in-fighting with little concern for the mortals they rule over. This all changes though when the son of Zeus hatches a plan involving a mortal woman that will upset the balance of power.
MOVIES
The Blackening
22 August 2024 – Showmax
Thanks to the trend of self-aware slashers like Scream (more on that later) we all know the rules of horror movies. One of those rules states that the black character always dies first. But what if all the characters are black? That’s the tongue-in-cheek premise behind horror comedy The Blackening, which comes from Barbershop and Ride Along director Tim Story and is co-written by Girls Trip’s Tracy Oliver. The Blackening follows a group of black friends who celebrate Juneteenth with a stay at a cabin in the woods… and of course a masked killer traps them in a deadly game.
Incoming
23 August 2024 – Netflix
There was a time where R-rated teen comedies were all the rage and then they just… stopped. There’s been a quiet resurgence lately though with the likes of No Hard Feelings and Bottoms, and the latest addition to this genre is Incoming. Written and directed by It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia alums and The Mick creators Dave and John Chernin, the comedy follows four unpopular high-school friends who find themselves as the only freshmen invited to a wild house party, which happens to be their first and which they intend to use to turn their social fortunes around.
Scream VI
25 August 2024 – Netflix
If The Blackening above was too comedic for you and you want some more traditional slasher thrills, then you’re in luck as 2023’s Scream VI is finally making its local streaming debut on Netflix this weekend. As Noelle noted in her review, “the hype is real” as “Scream VI delivers the thrilling, gory goods”, but the latest entry in the long-running franchise is not going to convince naysayers. This one is for the fans who know all the backstory, are already fully onboard with Ghostface’s bloody shenanigans, and will cheer appropriately as the film reprises character roles from the series’ entire 27-year legacy. Returning as leads from the 2022 soft reboot/sequel, Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega lead a very game and committed cast, with the nail-biting terror transplanted from small town Woodsboro to bustling New York City, giving returning directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett opportunities for all new kinds of set pieces.
VOD RENTALS/PURCHASES
The following movies have recently become available for digital purchase/rental:
Twisters
Purchase: Apple TV – R200
Rental: Apple TV – R170
I will admit that I had little hope for Twisters, this year’s sorta-kinda spinoff/sequel to Jan de Bont’s classic 1997 disaster film Twister, helmed by the very unexpected choice of Lee Isaac Chung (who was only known for Oscar-nominated American-Korean coming-of-age drama Minari). However, I was pleasantly surprised by a worthy follow-up that stands alone almost entirely from its predecessor but still fully maintains that 90s disaster film feel, while giving stars Daisy Edgar-Jones and Glen Powell a great platform to demonstrate their charismatic talents (particularly for the scene-stealing Powell). As Tracy explained in her review, Twisters “doesn’t escape the silliness of its genre, but that doesn’t stop you from having a good popcorn flick time as it combines peak technical polish with a likeable cast of characters”. The film’s explosive set pieces are best enjoyed on the biggest screen possible, but if you missed it in cinemas, you could now buy/rent it at home.