MOVIES
Werewolf by Night
Disney+ – 7 October 2022
Marvel’s Phase 4 has seen the comic book film studio do a lot to buck the formula it became known for, and, arguably, nothing does more bucking than Werewolf by Night. A 50-minutes-long “Special Presentation” directed by acclaimed composer Michael Giacchino and starring Gael García Bernal, Werewolf by Night is a black-and-white throwback to classic movie monster serials, as it adapts one of Marvel Comics’ more lesser-known properties. Reviewers thus far have been howling at the moon in delight at this one though, calling it one of Marvel’s best as Giacchino and co revel in the format they’ve chosen.
Luckiest Girl Alive
Netflix – 7 October 2022
If you prefer your Friday night movie to be a lot less monstrous, Luckiest Girl Alive stars Mila Kunis as a young woman who appears to have it all: dream job at New York fashion magazine, dream fiancé, and a dream wedding on the horizon. And then a true crime documentary starts digging into an incident that occurred at her high school, uncovering dangerous secrets that unravel her perfect life.
The Redeem Team
Netflix – 8 October 2022
During the 2004 Olympics in Athens, the impossible – or at least what many thought to be impossible – happened: The US Men’s Basketball Team, comprised of NBA players, lost for the first time in history, sending them into a playoff for the bronze medal. Was this the result of complacent hubris or something else? Whatever the reason, it sent shockwaves through the sport and personal lives of the players, who up until that point had seemed like unbeatable gods. The Redeem Team is the feature-length documentary about this moment of mortality came about, and the road the team had to walk to ensure that history did not repeat itself at the 2008 Olympics.
Catherine Called Birdy
Amazon Prime Video – 7 October
Actress/writer/filmmaker Lena Dunham has been trending on social media this week. Unfortunately, the reason for her recent fame has everything to do with her putting her foot in her mouth once again and nothing to do with Catherine Called Birdy. Dunham wrote and directed this adaptation of the beloved 1994 novel of the same which has earned pretty great reviews on the film festival circuit. A “medieval comedy” set in 1290, it follows Bella Ramsay’s titular Birdy, a spirited and adventurous young woman whose greedy and financially destitute father plans to marry her off to a wealthy suitor to solve the family’s money problems. Unfortunately for him, Birdy doesn’t quite agree with that plan.
Men
Google Play Movies – 7 October 2022
Following on from the brilliant Ex Machina and Annihilation, Alex Garland was back behind the camera again for psychological folklore horror Men earlier this year. Upon release, Noelle found it superbly acted and thematically dense but maybe too artsy and unsatisfying in its conclusion for some. If you missed its theatrical release though, Men is now available to rent on Google Plus Movies.
DC League of Super-Pets
Google Play Movies/AppleTV – 7 October 2022
Just because it’s Halloween month, not everything has to be disturbing and dark though. So if you – or your kids – missed DC League of Super-Pets when it hit theatres in July, you can now check out the star-studded animated flick (featuring the voices of Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, John Krasinski, Keanu Reeves, Kat McKinnon, Olivia Wilde, and more!) in the comfort of your own home as it’s available for rent on both Google Play Movies and AppleTV.
SERIES
The Bear
Disney+ – 5 October 2022
Here’s one that actually snuck in earlier in the week. The Bear has been hailed as one of the best new shows of 2022 and is now finally available locally on Disney+. Starring Shameless alum Jeremy Allen White, The Bear follows a fine dining chef who returns home to Chicago in the wake of his brother’s suicide to run the family’s Italian sandwich, which had been left in a rundown and debt-ridden state. That doesn’t sound like much of a setup, but the show has seen mountains of praise for its stellar writing, directing, and performances. I’ve yet to watch it myself, but plenty of people who have say that it’s super intense and nerve-wrecking. Those are not things I normally associate with Italian sandwich shops, so I definitely need to see what’s cooking here!
The Midnight Club
Netflix – 7 October 2022
Mike Flanagan. That name alone should be enough to get you to cue up The Midnight Club when it releases today. Flanagan’s rise as a horror filmmaker has been nothing short of meteoric, with arguably his best work found in his trio of Netflix series (The Haunting of Hill House, The Haunting of Bly Manor, and his magnum opus masterpiece Midnight Mass). And now he’s adding another to that list with The Midnight Club, which follows eight terminally ill teenagers who meet up at a hospice and get together every night to tell each other scary stories. Like his previous works, this one appears to see Flanagan magically combining heart-stopping scares with heartbreaking drama once again, because it’s not a Flanagan show if you’re not crying and shrieking in equal amounts!
The Watcher
Netflix – 13 October 2022
Ryan Murphy’s Dahmer is still topping the charts and stealing headlines, but the prolific TV creator’s next show is already dropping in a few days’ time. Another true story – but one that should be a bit less disturbing… maybe – The Watcher stars Naomi Watts and Bobby Cannavale as a real-life married couple (though their names have been changed for the show) who moved into their dream home in New Jersey in 2014, only to have that dream turn into a nightmare when their family started getting harassed by a mysterious and increasingly dangerous stalker identifying themselves only as The Watcher.