Hey, You! No, not you. I mean You. As in the massively popular Netflix psychological thriller series which is back on screens as from today and which leads a… “killer” lineup of new shows and movies dropping this week. That includes the debut of Amazon’s TV series reboot of I Know What You Did Last Summer and Megan Fox’s rather intriguing looking new movie, the suspense thriller Till Death. We’ve also got WWII epics, vampire action, reality TV with a twist, Gwyneth Paltrow trying to convince you to put things in your vagina, and more.
SERIES
You S3
Netflix (SA) – 15 October 2021
Fun fact: I’ve never watched You. Yes, I’ve caught bits of it here and there as my wife obsessed over the show and I’ve gleaned the gist of its story just through social media osmosis, but I’ve never actually sat down and watched it fully myself. With You back for a third season and already confirmed for a fourth season earlier this week, maybe I should finally fix that.
I Know What You Did Last Summer
Amazon Prime Video (SA) – 15 October 2021
Lot of people get irked at remakes or reboots, forgetting that some of the greatest productions in Hollywood history were actually remakes or reboots and that this is not a modern aberration but a practice that has been around forever. As such, I always say to not just dismiss a remake outright and instead judge it on its own merits. Unfortunately, judging Amazon’s upcoming reboot of late 90s slasher franchise I Know What You Did Last Summer on the merits of its trailer doesn’t really do it for me. Let’s hope the actual series does a better job. First four episodes drop today, with new weekly releases after that.
My Name
Netflix (SA) – 15 October 2021
Thanks to the likes of the record-breaking Squid Game, Korean thriller series on Netflix are so hot right now. So if you’re looking for your next fix (but maybe something little less game-y), check out My Name. The eight-episode show stars Han So-Hee who joins a gang and then infiltrates the police as an undercover cop (yeah, that’s a new spin) in order to avenge the murder of her father.
Sex, Love & Goop
Netflix (SA) – 21 October 2021
Gwyneth Paltrow’s wellness and lifestyle company Goop is infamous for its products facing accusations of everything from being pseudoscience “snake oil” to just plain weird (vagina-scented candles anyone?). And now Paltrow will be user her… skills to help couples achieve “more pleasurable sex and deeper intimacy”. Somehow I think that no matter what transpires here, somebody is getting screwed.
Cowboy Bebop
Netflix (SA) – 21 October 2021
No, this is not Netflix’s upcoming live-action adaptation of classic beloved anime series Cowboy Bebop, but rather the 1990s anime itself. Netflix has finally acquired the streaming license, so if you never seen this gem of a show (or just want to revisit it before the new version drops), you can do that now.
Insiders
Netflix (SA) – 21 October 2021
How’s this for a twist on a reality series? Get a bunch of contestants and tell them they have to audition for a brand new Big Brother-like reality series, but what they don’t know is that the audition process is the reality series and cameras are rolling non-stop. Hosted by Money Heist’s Najwa Nimri, this is Netflix’s very first original reality series.
MOVIES
Needle in a Timestack
Google Play Movies (SA) – 15 October 2021
Oscar-winning Twelve Years a Slave writer/director John Ridley hops into the sci-fi genre for the first time as he assembles the stellar cast of Leslie Odom Jr., Cynthia Erivo, and Orlando Bloom for a time-travelling romance story. Currently not billed for a cinema release in SA, this film is now available for purchase on Google Play Movies for R147.99 to coincide with its international release.
Till Death
Google Play Movies (SA) – 15 October 2021
Megan Fox has without a doubt made some iffy movies in her career, but occasionally the former Transformers star headlines a gem. Is Till Death one of those? Maaaaaaybe. I can tell you that the trailer – featuring Fox waking up handcuffed to the corpse of her murdered husband before two mysterious men attack the snowy cabin they’re in – certainly sets up a great hook. Now available for rental for R34.99.
The Forgotten Battle
Netflix (SA) – 15 October 2021
The horrors of World War II has – paradoxically – given us some cinematic marvels. And now The Netherland’s film industry is taking a crack at adding the latest title to that list. The Forgotten Battle is the second-most expensive film in Dutch history and follows a German Axis soldier, a British Air Force pilot, and a Dutch resistance fighter during the autumn of 1944 against the backdrop of several grueling engagements.
The Trip
Netflix (SA) – 15 October 2021
Dead Snow filmmaker Tommy Wirkola is back with another bit of black-humour cinema in The Trip, a new Norwegian film starring Noomi Rapace and Aksel Hennie as a dysfunctional couple who head to a remote cabin, each with a secret intention to kill the other… only for some strangers to show up who want to kill them both.
The Velvet Underground
Apple TV+ (SA) – 15 October 2021
Considered one of the biggest rock bands in the world during the 1960s/1970s – when they were managed by legendary pop art icon Any Warhol – The Velvet Underground has left an indelible mark on music. This new documentary from celebrated writer/directory Todd Haynes (Carol, I’m Not Here, Velvet Goldmine) explores the origins of the band and how they rose to superstardom.
Night Teeth
Netflix (SA) – 20 October 2021
We’re now two weeks away from Halloween so you can expect all the streaming platforms to dial up their horror output. And adding to its stable next week, Netflix is releasing Night Teeth, a pretty fun-looking romp about a driver who gets hired by two attractive young ladies to chauffer them around town for a night so that they can kill a bunch of people because they’re actually vampires! Man, that must suck!