What’s Streaming This Week (10/20 - 10/27)
Tuesday, October 22nd, 2024
DAAAAAALI! - $14.99 Sale / TBD Rental
What we like:
Director Quentin Dupieux has been called an ‘absurdist’ director, previously helming films like 2010’s Rubber, which is about a tire with telekinetic powers that goes on a killing spree, and 2020’s Mandibles, in which two friends find a giant fly stuck in the trunk of a car and then train it to earn money with it. In other words, the perfect director to handle the story of a surrealist like Salvador Dali.
To hell with search engine optimization! The title contain 6 "a"s for the 6 different actors playing Dali.
What we don’t like:
Is there a market in the US for this type of French experimentation? Distributor Music Box films has done its best to get the word out on this title, but it’s earned less than $100k at the domestic box-office. Adventurous movie lovers should give it a chance.
TRANSFORMERS ONE - $24.99 Sale / $19.99 Rental
What we like:
The first theatrically released animated Transformers film since 1986’s Transformers: The Movie, this is also the first film in the franchise not to feature any human characters. Doesn’t need them!
The movie explores the origins of the beloved Autobots and Decepticons, focusing on the early days of the rivalry between Optimus Prime and Megatron.
What we don’t like:
This is the first theatrical Transformers film where Optimus Prime is voiced by someone other than Peter Cullen. Chris Hemsworth takes the reins, and while he does an admirable job, there’s still nothing like the original.
Thursday, October 24th, 2024
CANARY BLACK - Prime Video
What we like:
Kate Beckinsale stars as CIA agent Avery Graves, whose husband has been kidnapped by terrorists. The kidnappers blackmail Graves for information that would betray her country.
Writer Matthew Kennedy has another movie out later this year. He wrote the screenplay for horror thriller Werewolves, which hits theaters on December 6th.
What we don’t like:
Pierre Morel is the director here, and (in our opinion) he hasn’t made a good film since hitting the jackpot with 2008’s Taken. Doesn’t inspire much confidence for this straight-to-Prime Video acquisition, but hope springs eternal.
Friday, October 25th, 2024
AZRAEL - Shudder, AMC+, $19.99 Sale / TBD Rental
What we like:
A cool premise: In a world where no one speaks, a devout female-led community hunts down a young woman who has escaped imprisonment. Recaptured, Azrael is due to be sacrificed to an ancient evil in the wilderness, but fights for her own survival.
Samara Weaving stars in the titular role, and it’s a reunion of sorts with writer Simon Barrett, who also wrote the script for Weaving’s breakout film, 2011’s You’re Next.
What we don’t like:
Reviews were mixed. Still, we’re excited to check it out.
DON’T MOVE - Netflix
What we like:
An intriguing high-concept thriller: When a killer injects her with a paralytic agent, a woman must run, fight and hide before her body completely shuts down.
Sam Raimi is a producer, which gives us some hope this will be a pleasant surprise.
What we don’t like:
It’s fascinating that Netflix hasn’t made more of a splash in the horror space. Their big October title, It’s What’s Inside, debuted to underwhelming numbers. And now this title is their pre-Halloween showcase release? Shudder may not have the scale of Netflix, but they absolutely dominate the season in terms of quality and buzz.
FRANKIE FREAKO - $14.99 Sale / TBD Rental
What we like:
A Canadian horror-comedy written and directed by Steven Kostanski, known for his work on films like The Void and Psycho Goreman. This movie is a nostalgic homage to the "little creature" films of the 1980s, such as Gremlins and Ghoulies.
The story follows Conor (played by Conor Sweeney), an uptight yuppie whose life spirals into chaos after he calls a bizarre party hotline and unleashes a group of mischievous creatures, led by a rockstar alien named Frankie Freako (Matthew Kennedy). The film embraces intentionally cheesy humor, crude jokes, and over-the-top gore.
What we don’t like:
This is likely the type of movie that plays best in a crowded theater. And let’s be honest, nothing will ever top the perfection of 1987’s The Garbage Pail Kids Movie:
TRAP - Max
What we like:
The latest from M. Night Shayamalan revolves around a serial killer named Cooper, played by Josh Hartnett, who attends a pop concert with his teenage daughter, Riley. The concert, however, is a setup by law enforcement to trap Cooper and bring him to justice.
Shyamalan collaborated with his daughter, Saleka Shyamalan, who stars as the pop singer Lady Raven and composed several songs specifically for the film.
What we don’t like:
Nepo Baby Discourse alert! You have to hand it to M. Night Shayamalan…the man has no qualms about giving his kids a leg-up. First he negotiates a feature for his younger daughter in to his Warner Bros deal. Then he seemingly reverse-engineers a movie plot that gives his other daughter a showcase for her music. Lean in to it, Shayamalans!
Saturday, October 26th, 2024
DADDIO - Netflix
What we like:
Writer-director Christy Hall’s feature directorial debut. Her script was initially conceived as a stage play, and soon gained traction as a screenplay when it was featured on the 2017 Blacklist of best unproduced scripts.
A classic ‘two-hander’, with Sean Penn and Dakota Johnson playing cabbie and fare, respectively, as they have an unexpectedly honest conversation about numerous topics, including their past and present relationships, sex and power dynamics, loss, and vulnerability.
What we don’t like:
This feels like a classic COVID production. Small cast. Limited locations. Not the film’s fault, of course. But it still bums us out a bit.
Happy Streaming Everyone!
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