What’s Streaming This Week (1/12 - 1/19)
Welcome to When To Stream’s Weekly Preview! Every week, we take a closer look at the major film streaming releases scheduled to launch in the next 7 days. As always, release dates are subject to change.
One note: We provide links to Amazon pre-orders (when available) and do receive a very small commission for any purchases made from this website. If you’d like to support our work, and you’re looking to buy through Amazon, we’d appreciate it if you’d click through.
Here are next week’s highlights:
Tuesday, January 14th, 2025
BLOODY AXE WOUND - $19.99 Sale / TBD Rental
Synopsis: In the small town of Clover Falls, real life killings have been put on tape and sold to eager customers by Abbie's dad, Roger Bladecut, for decades. But as Abbie starts to learn more about the business and the victims, she thinks it may be time for a new approach.
What we like:
This slasher from writer/director Matthew John Lawrence is more of a coming-of-age horror comedy. It has some decent kills and practical effects, which we always appreciate. And since we always complain about generic titles, it’s only fair to call out a clever one. The crass double entendre here is commendable.
A reunion of sorts for co-leads Sari Arambulo (Abbie) and Eddie Leavy (Glenn), who were costars on the comedy series A.P. Bio.
The film is expected to arrive on Shudder in March, so if you don’t want to spend any money on it now, just hold out a few months.
What we don’t like:
The reviews for this one have been pretty dismal. Still, horror fans might want to check it out. It’s an intriguing premise, even if the execution is less than stellar.
KRAVEN THE HUNTER - $24.99 Sale / $19.99 Rental
Synopsis: Kraven Kravinoff's complex relationship with his ruthless gangster father, Nikolai, starts him down a path of vengeance with brutal consequences, motivating him to become not only the greatest hunter in the world, but also one of its most feared.
What we like:
Aaron Taylor-Johnson stars as the titular hunter, and he’s an appealing actor we hope finds the right role to showcase his talents. This ain’t it.
What a supporting cast! Russell Crowe. Ariana DeBose. Fred Hechinger. Alessandro Nivola. Chrisopher Abbott. We hope they all got paid very well!
What we don’t like:
Look…we don’t begrudge any director wanting to jump on the superhero gravy train. It’s lucrative, and when done right, can lead to bigger budgets and opportunities. But what a waste of J.C. Chandor’s time. The man brought us Margin Call, All is Lost, A Most Violent Year, and Triple Frontier (one of the better Netflix originals). That’s a banger four movie run! Here’s hoping this is just a blip on his resume.
MY NAME IS ALFRED HITCHCOCK - $14.99 Sale / TBD Rental
Synopsis: Directed by Mark Cousins, My Name is Alfred Hitchcock re-examines the vast filmography and legacy of one of the 20th century’s greatest filmmakers, Alfred Hitchcock, through a new lens: through the auteur’s own voice.
What we like:
Documentary filmmaker Mark Cousins knows his film history. He’s the director behind the fascinating 15-hour documentary The Story of Film: An Odyssey. That one’s currently streaming on Prime Video and Tubi and a must-see for film lovers.
Cousins employs a unique narrative approach, featuring Hitchcock's perspective as voiced by impressionist Alistair McGowan, providing insights into his cinematic techniques and thematic preoccupations.
What we don’t like:
Hitchcock is one of our favorite filmmakers, so we wish Cousins would have gone even deeper than this two-hour documentary. We’re greedy, we want more!
MY PENGUIN FRIEND - Hulu
Synopsis: A lost penguin rescued from an oil spill transforms the life of a heartbroken fisherman. They become unlikely friends, so bonded that even the vast ocean cannot divide them.
What we like:
What can we say? We’re suckers for a heartwarming animal story. And while penguins aren’t the most expressive animals, they’re still cute and cuddly.
Portraying Dindim were 10 rescue penguins from Ubatuba, Brazil. In the movie, 80 percent of the shots are of real penguins. For the other 20 percent, where the situation would be unsafe for a real penguin, 15 percent of the shots are CGI and 5 percent were animatronics.
Oscar-nominee Adriana Barraza (Babel) has a supporting role!
What we don’t like:
It’s a good thing the title of the film is ‘My Penguin Friend,’ because the chemistry between Jean Reno and Dindim on the poster is white hot. Not to worry, though. They’re just friends.
QUEER - $24.99 Sale / $19.99 Rental
Synopsis: In 1950s Mexico City, William Lee, an American expat in his late forties, leads a solitary life amidst a small American community. However, the arrival in town of Eugene Allerton, a young student, stirs William into finally establishing a meaningful connection with someone.
What we like:
Director Luca Guadagnino and screenwriter Justin Kuritzkes’s second collaboration of 2024, having also released the fantastic tennis romance Challengers earlier in the year. This one is adapted from William S. Burroughs' semi-autobiographical novella of the same name.
Daniel Craig could snag his first Oscar nomination for his role as an American expatriate navigating life in 1950s Mexico City, who becomes infatuated with a younger man (played by Drew Starkey).
While the film is set in Mexico City, filming took place mostly at the famed Cinecittà Studios in Rome, with some additional shooting in Quito, Ecuador.
What we don’t like:
The reaction to this one has been all over the map. Many criticisms center around the film’s second half, which involve some ayahuasca-fueled diversions. We’re incredibly excited to finally catch up with it.
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross provide the score, and we’re hoping they don’t syphon any Oscar votes from their iconic Challengers score.
RED ROOMS - Shudder, AMC+
Synopsis: The high-profile case of serial killer Ludovic Chevalier has just gone to trial, and Kelly-Anne is obsessed. When reality blurs with her morbid fantasies, she goes down a dark path to seek the final piece of the case’s puzzle.
What we like:
This one popped up on a number of year-end 10 best lists, so don’t sleep on this Canadian chiller. It won Best Film, Screenplay, Performance (Juliette Gariépy) and Score at the 2023 Fantasia Film Festival.
The film is named after the highly disputed violent dark web spaces known as red rooms in online urban legends, where killers are said to post videos of their murders.
What we don’t like:
The film flew under-the-radar in the wake of the success of Longlegs. But adventurous horror-heads should absolutely seek it out. Brace yourselves for a harrowing experience.
Thursday, January 16th, 2025
A REAL PAIN - Hulu
Synopsis: Mismatched cousins David and Benji reunite for a tour through Poland to honor their beloved grandmother. The adventure takes a turn when the pair's old tensions resurface against the backdrop of their family history.
What we like:
Jesse Eisenberg writes and directs this comedy-drama, which has been named one of the ten best films of the year by both the National Board of Review and the American Film Institute. Last weekend, the film won Culkin the Best Supporting Actor prize at the Golden Globes.
Culkin is being touted as real threat to win the Best Supporting Actor Oscar, which would be incredible. We just re-watched Home Alone over the holidays, and it’s crazy to think this guy could be an Oscar winner:
What we don’t like:
After receiving rave reviews at Sundance, Searchlight Pictures bought the film and released it in theaters in November. Sadly, it didn’t really break out at the box-office, earning less than $10M.
UNSTOPPABLE - Prime Video
Synopsis: With the unwavering love and support of his devoted mother Judy and the encouragement of his coaches, Anthony Robles fights through adversity to earn a spot on the Arizona State Wrestling team. But it will demand everything he has, physically and mentally, to achieve his ultimate quest to become an NCAA Champion.
What we like:
This inspiring sports drama boast an impressive cast, lead by the incredibly talented Jharrel Jerome.
The film tells the story of of Anthony Robles, a wrestler born without a right leg who defied the odds to become an NCAA Division I champion. Fantastic story.
Jennifer Lopez plays Robles’s mother, and the film is produced through her soon-to-be ex-husband Ben Affleck’s Artists Equity production company.
What we don’t like:
Amazon MGM seemed to lose all confidence in the film after its premiere at the Toronto Film Festival. They gave it a half-hearted release in theaters, and quickly announced its Prime Video streaming premiere date.
Terrible generic title alert! It not only doesn’t help sell the film, it’s also the title of a very memorable Tony Scott-Denzel Washington thriller. They own that title (spiritually)!
Friday, January 17th, 2025
BACK IN ACTION - Netflix
Synopsis: Years after giving up life as CIA spies to start a family, Emily and Matt are pulled back into the world of espionage when their cover is blown.
What we like:
Cameron Diaz is back! The beloved actress comes out of retirement to make her first film since 2014.
And it’s an Annie reunion. Diaz co-stars with her Daddy Warbucks, Jamie Foxx, whose serious health scare interrupted filming of this action comedy. The production had to use body doubles to complete some of his scenes. Glad he’s good now!
Diaz and Foxx have some serious talent supporting them here: Glenn Close, Andrew Scott and Kyle Chandler have featured roles.
What we don’t like:
Jesus Christ on a cracker, this premise. We can’t take any more. Is Hollywood just ChatGPT-ing these scripts and changing some of the character names? The Family Plan. The Union. Role Play. The Mother. Just tired.
A DIFFERENT MAN - Max
Synopsis: Aspiring actor Edward undergoes a radical medical procedure to drastically transform his appearance. But his new dream face quickly turns into a nightmare, as he loses out on the role he was born to play and becomes obsessed with reclaiming what was lost.
What we like:
Aaron Schimberg’s psychological thriller stars Sebastian Stan as Edward, an aspiring actor who undergoes a radical facial surgery to transform his appearance. Edward's journey turns dark as he faces unforeseen consequences, losing out on a dream role and grappling with an unsettling obsession over his new identity.
The film won Best Feature at the Gotham Awards, which was a pleasant surprise. Last weekend, Stan picked up the Golden Globe for Best Lead Actor - Comedy or Musical.
What we don’t like:
Despite the precursor awards the film and Sebastian Stan have won, it still feels like a long shot for any Oscar nominations. Maybe it’ll sneak in for Best Makeup? Could Stan surprise with a Best Actor nomination? Would be great. We’re hoping it gets a boost now that it’ll be more widely available on Max. Definitely check it out.
MEMOIR OF A SNAIL - AMC+
Synopsis: Forcibly separated from her twin brother when they are orphaned, a melancholic misfit learns how to find confidence within herself amid the clutter of misfortunes and everyday life.
What we like:
Writer-director Adam Elliot’s stop-motion animated drama is his first feature since his breakthrough, 2009’s Mary and Max.
The film features a voice cast that’s a who’s who of Australian talent: Sarah Snook, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Eric Bana, Magda Szubanski, Jacki Weaver, and Nick Cave.
It’s been short-listed in the Best Animated Feature category for the Oscars. We’ll see if it can get in.
What we don’t like:
Haters who call the film depressing and bleak. It may not be everyone’s aesthetic, but it’s nice to have some variety in the animation space. Not everything needs to be candy-colored and frantic.
Happy Streaming Everyone!
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