What’s Streaming This Week (4/5 – 4/12)

SIRĀT – Hulu

Cast: Sergi López, Brúno Nuñez, Stefania Gadda, Joshua Liam Henderson, Tonin Janvier, Jade Oukid, Richard Bellamy

Synopsis: A father (Sergi López) and his son arrive at a rave deep in the mountains of southern Morocco. They are searching for Mar — daughter and sister — who vanished months ago at one of these endless, sleepless parties. Surrounded by electronic music and a raw, unfamiliar sense of freedom, they hand out her photo again and again. Hope is fading, but they push through and follow a group of ravers heading to one last party in the desert. As they venture deeper into the burning wilderness, the journey forces them to confront their own limits.

What we like:

• This Spanish drama had its world premiere in the main competition of the 78th Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Jury Prize.
• It earned eleven nominations at the 40th Goya Awards, including Best Film and Director, and at the 98th Academy Awards, it was nominated for Best International Feature Film and Best Sound.
• Director Óliver Laxe actually discovered many cast members at real raves and used non-professional actors to make the film feel more authentic.
• Instead of digital, the movie was filmed on Super 16mm film, giving it a gritty, textured look.

What we don’t like:

• Spoiler alert and trigger warning! For sensitive viewers, the film does involve the death of a child and the death of a dog.

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THE BRIDE! – $24.99 Sale / $19.99 Rental

Cast: Jessie Buckley, Christian Bale, Peter Sarsgaard, Annette Bening, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Penélope Cruz

Synopsis: A lonely Frankenstein travels to 1930s Chicago to ask groundbreaking scientist Dr. Euphronious to create a companion for him. The two revive a murdered young woman and The Bride is born. But what ensues is beyond what either of them imagined.

What we like:

• Maggie Gyllenhaal’s follow-up to her well received (and Oscar nominated) 2021 film The Lost Daughter, this gothic romance reimagines 1935’s Bride of Frankenstein by flipping the perspective to the bride.
• Jessie Buckley, fresh off her Oscar win for Hamnet, portrays the titular bride, along with a few other characters. Yes…that’s her as the ghost of Mary Shelley(!).
• The score was composed by Hildur Guðnadóttir, known for her Oscar-winning work on Joker.

What we don’t like:

• Gyllenhaal’s big swing came up short with audiences. The film was projected to gross $16–18 million from 3,304 theaters during its opening weekend, but did less than half that amount. Theatergoers who did show up were lukewarm. Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of “C+” on an A+ to F scale.

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CHRISTY – HBO Max

Cast: Sydney Sweeney, Ben Foster, Jess Gabor, Merritt Wever, Ethan Embry, Katy O’Brian, Chad L. Coleman

Synopsis: Christy Martin never imagined life beyond her small-town roots in West Virginia—until she discovered a knack for punching people. Fueled by grit, raw determination, and an unshakable desire to win, she charges into the world of boxing under the guidance of her trainer and manager-turned-husband, Jim. But while Christy flaunts a fiery persona in the ring, her toughest battles unfold outside it—confronting family, identity, and a relationship that just might become life-or-death.

What we like:

• Sydney Sweeney goes for Oscar gold in this real-life boxing story. Her physical transformation is impressive, and it’s nice to see her stretch as an actress.
• The first release for US distributor Black Bear Pictures, a production company behind quality films like Train Dreams, Sing Sing, and Relay. We’re always rooting for indie distributors with good taste.
• The film features Katy O’Brian in a supporting role. It sure seems like she would have made a terrific Christy Martin.

What we don’t like:

• Actress Ruby Rose blasted star Sydney Sweeney on social media after the film flopped at the box-office:

DREAMS – $14.99 Sale / TBD Rental

Cast: Jessica Chastain, Isaác Hernández, Rupert Friend, Marshall Bell, Eligio Meléndez, Mercedes Hernández

Synopsis: A powerful socialite (Academy Award® winner Jessica Chastain) and a promising ballet dancer (Isaac Hernández) begin a dangerous affair. When he secretly crosses the US-Mexico border, she takes desperate measures to protect their future together. A tense, erotic drama from acclaimed director Michel Franco (Memory, New Order).

What we like:

• Director Michel Franco reunites with his Memory star Jessica Chastain for this provocative drama, which world premiered at last year’s Venice Film Festival.
• Franco discovered co-star Isaac Hernández at a ballet performance, to which he had been invited by Jessica Chastain’s sister. Hernández went on stage to thank the audience, and Franco was immediately struck by his sincerity and his charisma.
• The film makes terrific use of its San Francisco and Mexico City locations.

What we don’t like:

• The film received mixed review, with a current Rotten Tomatoes score of only 53% Fresh. Box-office was also low, earning less than $400k domestically. And don’t get us started on the generic title! It’s bland and forgettable.

MIDWINTER BREAK – Peacock

Cast: Lesley Manville, Ciarán Hinds

Synopsis: Midwinter Break is a stirring meditation on faith, commitment, and the enduring power of love, as a longtime couple takes a life-changing trip to Amsterdam.

What we like:

• First-time feature director Polly Findlay adapts Bernard MacLaverty’s 2017 novel of the same name, with MacLaverty co-writing the screenplay with Nick Payne.
• Veteran character actors Lesley Manville and Ciarán Hinds get to front a studio release, which is amazing. They’re two fantastic performers we’ll watch in anything.
• If you’re in the mood for your own midwinter (well..now Spring) break (via film), this one offers the beautiful sights of Amsterdam and Glasgow.

What we don’t like:

• Critics weren’t too crazy about this Focus Features release. It currently sits at a just okay 65% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. Unfortunately for an adult drama like this one, reviews matter. After a month in theaters, it barely hit the $1M mark at the domestic box-office.

MY FATHER’S SHADOW – MUBI, $14.99 Sale Only

Cast: Sope Dirisu, Godwin Chiemerie Egbo, Chibuike Marvellous Egbo

Synopsis: Two young brothers explore Lagos with their estranged father during the 1993 Nigerian election crisis, witnessing both the city’s magnitude and their father’s daily struggles as political unrest threatens their journey home.

What we like:

• The film became the first Nigerian movie ever selected for the official lineup at the Cannes Film Festival. It premiered in the Un Certain Regard section and earned a Special Mention for the Caméra d’Or.
• At the 2025 Gotham Independent Film Awards, director Akinola Davies Jr. won the Breakthrough Director Award, and star Sope Dirisu won Outstanding Lead Performance, beating eventual Best Actress Oscar-winner Jessie Buckley.
• Godwin Egbo and Chibuike Egbo, who play the two brothers in the film, are actual brothers in real life. They’re terrific.

What we don’t like:

• The film was also selected as the UK’s entry for Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards, but was not nominated. Not to take anything away from this year’s group of nominees, but the Academy has a huge blind spot for African films.

OUTCOME – Apple TV

Cast: Keanu Reeves, Cameron Diaz, Matt Bomer, Jonah Hill, Martin Scorsese, Susan Lucci, Laverne Cox, David Spade, Atsuko Okatsuka, Roy Wood Jr., Kaia Gerber, Ivy Wolk

Synopsis: “Outcome” is a dark comedy that centers on Reef Hawk (Keanu Reeves), a beloved Hollywood star who must dive into the depths of his hidden demons after he is extorted with a mysterious video that’s sure to shatter his image and end his career. With the support of his lifelong besties Kyle (Cameron Diaz) and Xander (Matt Bomer), along with his crisis lawyer Ira (Jonah Hill), Reef embarks on a soul-searching journey to make amends with anyone he could have possibly wronged in hopes of identifying the blackmailer.

What we like:

• Directed and co-written (with Ezra Woods) by Jonah Hill (who also co-stars), this dark comedy has a stacked cast of talented actors, including Keanu Reeves, Cameron Diaz, Matt Bomer, and Susan Lucci!
• Hill says the film treats celebrity culture as a reflection of how people curate their identities online, exploring vanity, public image, and self-perception.
• The film’s score is composed by Jon Brion, who has provided music for some classics: Magnolia, I Heart Huckabees, Lady Bird, and Synecdoche, New York.

What we don’t like:

• Absolutely no advanced word on this one gives us pause. Why didn’t they take it to SXSW, or even Tribeca? The 83 minute running time is also a head scratcher. Let’s hope it’s a lean, biting comedy without any fat on it. But we’re worried.

THE PLAGUE (AMC+)

Cast: Everett Blunck, Kayo Martin, Kenny Rasmussen, Joel Edgerton, Lucas Adler, Caden Burris, Elliott Heffernan, Lennox Espy, Kolton Lee, Nicolas Raşovan

Synopsis: A socially awkward tween endures the ruthless hierarchy at a water polo camp, his anxiety spiraling into psychological turmoil over the summer.

What we like:

• The first feature film written and directed by Charlie Polinger, which had its world premiere in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. Very impressive for a first-time feature filmmaker. And he won the Directors Guild of America award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in First-Time Theatrical Feature Film.
• Between this and last year’s hilarious coming-of-age comedy Griffin in Summer, Everett Blunck had a knockout one-two punch of standout performances in 2025.
• The film was nominated for 3 Film Independent Spirit Awards, including Best Feature, Best Lead Performance (Blunck), and…

What we don’t like:

• …won Best Breakthrough Performance for Kayo Martin. Why don’t we like this? Well…WE HATE THIS CHARACTER SO DAMN MUCH. Martin gives one of the all-time-great kid villain performances. The kid’s smirk is a symbol of our times. Seriously, it needs to be seen to be believed. He’s scarier than any serial killer. Bravo, Kayo Martin. And congrats on your Spirit Award win!

THRASH – Netflix

Cast: Phoebe Dynevor, Djimon Honsou, Whitney Peak, Alyla Browne, Stacy Clausen, Dante Ubaldi, Costa D’Angelo, Amy Mathews, Elijah Ungvary, Jon Prasida, Gemma Dart, Akosia Sabet, Sian Luxford, and Sami Afuni

Synopsis: When a Category 5 hurricane decimates a coastal town, the storm surge brings devastation, chaos…and something far more frightening: hungry sharks.

What we like:

• Tommy Wirkola (Violent Night) directs this shark thriller, and we love a shark thriller! This one is basically Crawl with sharks: Floodwaters bring sharks into streets and homes, turning a natural disaster into a nightmare.
• The film’s chum includes Phoebe Dynevor, Djimon Honsou and Whitney Peak.
• Like Outcome, Thrash‘s runtime is a mere 83 mins. Is this a trend? Are movie run times finally getting shorter? As the late, great Roger Ebert said: ‘No good movie is too long, and no bad movie is short enough.’ Wise man.

What we don’t like:

• A huge, bloody red flag: The film was previously set to be theatrically released in the United States by Sony Pictures Releasing, but the studio sold it to go straight to streaming on Netflix. Doesn’t sound like they had much confidence in their movie. HOWEVER! We will watch any and all shark movies, so we’re in.

Happy Streaming Everyone!

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