Too Much is the return of Lena Dunham, this time on Netflix, not HBO.
The romantic comedy series created by Dunham & Luis Felber, starring Hacks queen, Megan Stalter & The White Lotus hunk, Will Sharpe.
This one landed on Netflix back in July. It is also my last catch up/post for the Winter Warmer Watchlist series.
So is Too Much, well too much? After a traumatic break-up, thirty-something New York City commercial producer Jessica accepts a work transfer to London.
Jessica, a fan of British period films and romances, is taken aback by her council flat accommodation and loneliness. After forcing herself to visit a pub alone, Jessica witnesses musician Felix performing.
Felix and she eventually connect and he returns home with her; a romance slowly blooms between the two. Felix and Jessica must bridge cross-cultural relationship divides, their respective relationship histories, and own family dynamics in order to hopefully sustain a healthy relationship.
So it is a lot. However it was an easy watch with Sharpe very easy on the eye in his native UK.
OK it streamed a little while back, but watch out for spoilers. I am still awaiting news on a second run. It kinda didn't give miniseries vibes, so we will see if Netflix want to invest in another run for Dunham.
In the finale, while preparing to move out of Jessica's flat, Felix realises Astrid is having a medical emergency and rushes her to a veterinary hospital, where she dies.
Devastated, Jessica angrily confronts Felix about their breakup, which devolves into Felix slapping himself and calling her a bitch. Jessica calls Jameson, who offers to help her re-establish her career in the United States.
Jameson and Nora rekindle their marriage. Wendy arranges to meet with Jessica, where she reveals her relationship with Zev has deteriorated due to his toxic behaviours, and the two bond.
Inspired, Jessica asks Gaz to drive her to see Felix, and the two confess to each other that they share the toxic habit of sabotaging emotionally intense relationships. Finally accepting even the broken parts of each other, Jessica and Felix get married.
It would be interesting to see a Jessica and Felix married in a second run. However Netflix didn't really promote this all that much. We know what that means historically for Netflix series. Speaking of Netflix. I am house sitting for a bit. Netflix catch up, here I come!
The Strangers – Chapter 2 landed last week at the movies. Right in time for school holidays. Maybe for the senior students that is.
Serving as the fourth film in The Strangers film series, and the second instalment of a new trilogy following last years, The Strangers: Chapter 1.
Starring everyone's favourite ginger Riverdale star Madelaine Petsch, alongside Gabriel Basso & Ema Horvath.
Like Chapter 1, last year, the film received generally negative reviews from certified critics. But what do I think? All will be revealed under the trailer.
The Strangers are back, more brutal and relentless than ever. When they learn that one of their victims, Maya (Petsch), is still alive, they return to finish what they’ve started.
With nowhere to run and no one to trust, Maya must survive another horrific chapter of terror as The Strangers – driven by a senseless, unceasing purpose – pursue her, more than willing to kill anyone who stands in their way.
So much goes down across this survivalist horror film. The OG, chapter 1 film, was more horror and suspense. This was on the run, survival horror. Whilst its not great, and I'm not sure why there are three chapters. This wasn't awful.
During the credits we even got a peek at Chapter 3.
Honestly I feel like the three films could be merged into one two hour horror feature, or a quick American Horror Story.
I feel dragging this out over three chapters will leave viewers mildly irritated. Honestly leave cliffhangers for TV shows, this is not for the big screen.
OK, so I'll pass it, but only just. Some of the shit Maya had to put up with in Chapter 2 was downright insane.
Dating Naked UK is not my regular viewing, however Aussie Connor Rogers and Brit hottie Matthew Edwards made this an easy watch.
Hosted by former UK X Factor novelty act Rylan Clark. This trashy Paramount+ title wrapped yesterday. After a month or so of double episodes week-to-week the second season has wrapped.
With however, some familiar faces. Dominik Herbert & Rico Hammett from season one are back baby! Rico was never my cuppa tea though. Those tats, that uncut you know.... Well actually most are uncut on this show. Including Aussie Connor Rogers.
Speaking of which, unlike the American show, nudity is not blurred as well as in the German version of this show.
So let's hope the show is renewed for a third season. By the people I have talked to, its a bit of fun. Rylan makes for a fun host. It must be cheap to make.
So who would you like to see return for a third run? Kelsey Jenner, Keir Dale-Oakes, Mani, Nina, Amara Zammit,, Connor Rogers, sexy Jarrakeh Cherno Jarra, Matthew Edwards, Jordan Langley, Luke Worley, Ivan Alexiev, Lauren Louise, Dominik Herbert, Rico Hammett, Ryan Kendall or fellow Melbourne based Tilly Skok.
So if you want to look at some hotties with no clothes in Panama, give Dating Naked UK a good hard crack. Well so to speak.
No spoilers here of the winners. Or do they really win after exposing themselves for all to see on TV. LOL
Alien: Earth is the first television series in the Alien franchise and is set two years before the events of the 1979 film Alien.
The series is created by Noah Hawley, starring Sydney Chandler, Alex Lawther, Aussie, Essie Davis, Samuel Blenkin, Babou Ceesay, Adarsh Gourav, & Timothy Olyphant.
Alien: Earth streams on FX and FX on Hulu in the USA & Disney+ internationally, meaning Australia.
The series commenced its eight episode run mid last month. The opening of the first episode introduces the premise of the series as involving three separate destinies for the immortality of mankind. These are:
Synthetic beings with downloaded human consciousness: Hybrids
So how does Miss Fischer, I mean Essie Davis fit into this sci-fi horror? When the space vessel Maginot crash-lands on Earth, a young hybrid woman and a group of tactical soldiers make a discovery that puts them face-to-face with the planet's biggest threat.
Watch out, spoilers AHEAD!
It all goes down in episode eight, The Real Monsters. The episode was written by series creator Noah Hawley and co-executive producer Migizi Pensoneau, and directed by executive producer Dana Gonzales.
The series is set in 2120, two years before the events of the original 1979 film Alien. It focuses on the space vessel Maginot crash-landing on Earth, where a young woman and a ragtag group of tactical soldiers make a discovery that puts them face-to-face with the planet's biggest threat.
In the episode, Wendy and the Lost Boys plan to take control of the facility, while the Xenomorph's presence forces an evacuation.
The hybrids have been imprisoned in one cell, with Joe and Morrow imprisoned in another. Wendy uses her abilities to shut down the facility's cameras and communication abilities.
She struggles with Joe's decision to shoot Nibs, believing he chose to ally himself with humans instead of her, but ultimately unlocks his cell.
Kavalier approaches the hybrids and reveals that at six years old, he built his own synthetic which he used to kill his abusive father. Wendy unlocks their cell, Nibs kills Kavalier's bodyguard, and Kavalier flees.
Morrow pursues Kirsh to the lab and attacks him; Kirsh is badly damaged, but ultimately chokes Morrow unconscious. Smee and Slightly arrive in the lab and they incapacitate both Kirsh and Morrow, while Nibs captures Dame. Meanwhile, Atom lures Joe to Kavalier's room and locks him in with the Ocellus.
Wendy arrives to save him and fights Atom, who reveals himself as a synthetic, allowing Wendy to control his motor functions. The Ocellus escapes to the beach, where it possesses Arthur's corpse. With the help of the older Xenomorph, Wendy and Joe capture Kavalier and lock him in a cell with Kirsh, Atom, Dame, and Morrow.
As Yutani and her team approach the island, Wendy, with both Xenomorphs nearby, declares, "Now, we rule."
So will we get a second season? I reckon yes. The critics did seem to like it, the Alien series does have a cult following. So I say this would be a no brainer. Time will tell though.
Enjoy the spring weekend dear readers. Summer is coming... As is Q4 for 2025, meaning a whole new TV blog series. Along with a RATED for Q3!
The Girlfriend is a super trashy, fun little miniseries on Amazon Prime Video that landed earlier this month.
Travelling to and from the Coast over the weekend on the beautiful new Mariyung trains, I was delighted to smash all six episodes directed by Robin Wright and Andrea Harkin.
Based on Michelle Frances' novel, alongside directing it, Robin Wright also stars as Laura, with Olivia Cooke, & Laurie Davidson.
Across the six episodes, The Girlfriend explores themes of love, greed, and power depicting a mother, Laura's (Robin Wright) reaction to her son, Daniel's (Laurie Davidson) new girlfriend, Cherry (Olivia Cooke) and her perceived motivations.
So fun! But how'd it all go down? SPOILER ALERT!
Daniel and Cherry return home after shopping for an engagement ring. Cherry expresses disappointment when Daniel suggests keeping their engagement private, but he later agrees to announce it.
Meanwhile, Laura confronts Daniel outside the hospital, accusing him of believing her to be violent. He reveals their engagement and insists on being left alone. Howard returns home and packs his belongings, expressing his support for Cherry and criticising Laura.
Laura, feeling betrayed, investigates Cherry's past and discovers that her father, John, is alive and residing in a nursing home. She learns that John suffered a spinal injury after falling from a building and becomes suspicious of Cherry's involvement.
Cherry vandalises Lilith's artwork, leading her to be arrested and straining Laura's relationship with Lilith.
Cherry's mother gives her a fake alibi and she is subsequently released. Daniel confronts Laura and announces that he will cut ties with her.
Laura drugs Daniel and tries to give him a recording of Cherry's mother expressing her concerns about Cherry's past. However, Cherry arrives and the two become involved in a struggle, ending in the basement where Laura threatens her with a knife and accusing her of destroying her family.
The confrontation escalates, and both women fall into the pool. Daniel, in a drugged state, intervenes, holding Laura underwater while attempting to protect Cherry. Laura drowns, and Daniel, realising the tragic outcome, is left in shock.
Then we flash forward to a year later, Daniel and Cherry are married and expecting a child. Daniel discovers the recording on Laura's phone, leaving him to question the true nature of his relationship with Cherry.
With the finale being the only episode not to feature Cherry and Laura's respective prespectives.
This was fun and a departure away from Amazon's typical macho dramas or teeny bopper love dramas.
More trashy thrillers like this please Amazon! Alien:Earth tomorrow peoples!
With lead Mark Coles Smith as hunky, moody Jay swan, Daniel Henshall, Tuuli Narkle, Clarence Ryan, Robyn Malcolm, Luke Carroll, Helen Morse, Eloise Hart, Aswan Reid & Tammy Lee Rock also star.
Kicking off on Sunday on ABC TV, or like I did, all episodes streaming on ABC iview. Yes it's only Tuesday and I am done! So where does the long awaited second season of the prequel to the OG film kick off?
It’s Easter 2000, six months from when we last saw young Detective Jay Swan and his partner Mary.
We find them attempting to forge a new life together on her mother’s Country, in the fading timber town of Loch Iris. It doesn’t take long though for the majesty of the tall trees in the brooding surrounding forests and the deep lake that shimmers at the edge of town to take on gothic dimensions.
As Jay begins to investigate an unfolding case, Loch Iris closes ranks around him. The more he pieces together the crime, the more he realises the entire town has been hiding a shadowy past. It's a past that is still rippling through to the present and with it, a secret that threatens to tear Jay and Mary apart.
Its been three long years since the first of the prequel series with Mark Coles Smith replacing Aaron Pedersen (Series 1-2) as lead Jay Swan.
New Zealand's finest Robyn Malcolm also joins this season. What a legend. Take a look at the latest Aussie ABC series below.
We are getting more quality Aussie dramas with RFDS starting on Channel Seven soon, Watching You coming to Stan next month and ABC reboot comedy Mother & Son returns.
Mystery Road is a solid Aussie series. With ABC still to do their upfront presentation for next year, I sure hope we get another Mystery Road series sooner rather than later. Three years was just too long to wait between seasons.
The third series of The Twelve concluded today. SPOILERS maybe ahead if you have not finished the Binge original.
This season is titled the Cape Rock Killer, where Brett Colby is thrust into a murder trial that involves a long-term friend, as a mystery unravels a murder cold-case is re-opened to find answers, as the twelve jurors find themselves struggling with the life changing experience.
Brett Colby (Sam Neill) leads the trial unravels a deeper mystery, a 1968 cold case murder of two teens is re-opened, and the twelve jurors sworn in for the trial find their own lives changed by the experience.
Alongside The Twelve main star Neill (Jurassic Park, Peaky Blinders), the third season sees Danielle Cormack (Wentworth, Year Of), Eryn Jean Norvill (Love Me, Preppers), Sarah Peirse (Stateless, We Went Up The Hill), & William Zappa (The Dry, Population: 11) head to WA.
Then in the jury, its Ewen Leslie (The Cry, Top of the Lake China Girl), Phoenix Raei (The Night Agent, Clickbait), Hanah Tayeb (Miles From Nowhere, Raised by Refugees Season 2), Nathalie Morris (Bump, We Were Dangerous), Catherine Moore (Runt, How to Please a Woman), Bolude Watson (Hearts and Bones, Swift Street), Bessie Holland (Fisk, Wentworth), Stuart Daulman (Five Bedrooms, Utopia), Paul Tassone (Poker Face, The Code), Charles Napoleon An (Narrow Road to the Deep North, Last King of the Cross), Libby Stone (The Claremont Murders, Blue Heelers) and newcomer Claire Leach.
So Binge/Foxtel/Kayo had their big 2026 showcase the other week. Sadly their was no mention of the Twelve or Real Housewives of Sydney returning in 2026.
Could Binge darling, Danielle Cormack as Gabe Nicholls return for a second run, or take Sam Neill's lead role for a fourth season?
I feel the show needs a shake up. Being set in WA is nice for a change, however if somewhere else like Tassie, or Darwin called? That could be fun.
I am not sure this was my favourite of the three seasons. However I did enjoy Cormack V Neil in the courtroom.
OK so I am tired and will drop no spoilers here. So the above spoiler warning was a waste. So for now, all three seasons stream on Binge. Now let's stay in WA for Mystery Road's fourth season, also under the Origin banner, like the third season.
9-1-1: Lone Star has finally dropped its fifth and final season, on Disney+.
After my recent Japan trip, where Disney+ allowed me to access the first 9 episodes, I was left with just three to go.
The 9-1-1 spin-off concluded on February 3, some time ago. So this is a little late, but timely as 9-1-1: Nashville kicks off next month. With LeAnn fucking Rimes!
The OG spin-off aired on Fox, the OG series moved to ABC, and Fox like most of its scripted series concluded earlier this year. The Cleaning Lady, Rescue Hi-Surf, Alert: Missing Person Unit and 9-1-1: Lone Star.
Unfortunately notably missing this season was original cast member, Sierra McClain, would not be returning as Grace Ryder ahead of the series' fifth season, due to a cast renegotiation dispute.
Hunky The Waterfront lead Rafael L. Silva as Carlos Reyes continued to be hot AF!
In the finale, it seems like a similar story which is about to unfold on the season nine, 9-1-1 season opener.
The 126 deals with the aftermath of the asteroid that has the entire city of Austin hanging in the balance.
The 126 race against time to stop a nuclear power plant disaster. They are all faced with difficult decisions that could have lasting impact on the team forever.
All seems to end well for the majority of the 126. SPOILER ALERT - after a brief worry, Rob Lowe's captain Owen Strand does make a full circle turn, returning to New York. Grace's husband, Jim Parrack as Judson "Judd" Ryder ends up being sworn in as the new captain.
Outside of losing Liv Tyler in season one, Sierra McClain at the end of season four, most of the band remain together at the closing credits of the final episode. The 72nd episode spends a lot of the opening ten minutes with the huge devastating asteroid is barreling towards the 126 and Austin, Texas.
It feels like the door is open for these characters to transition into either of the remaining 9-1-1 series. I do still also need to finish 9-1-1's eighth season. Which I already know the huge hole they have to fill in season nine.
Gosh it feels long in the tooth. I really enjoyed Lone Star in comparison to the OG series. The characters always felt more real. But this is the TV climate we live in, US network TV is catching up to Australia, will less drama, more reality and filler. The CW, Fox have almost given up on originals. Whilst NBC is moving more towards sport and ABC seem happy with their long running dramas. CBS also does have a love affair with their franchises. So its spin-off central on CBS. Even another Yellowstone spin-off will land in 2026!
Until next time, we have big finales next week, Alien: Earth and The Twelve. Both not yet renewed.
Dakota Johnson has had some real bombs at the cinema of late. Is Splitsville another bomb?
Well the critics love it! The Rotten Tomatoes score is currently 85%!
But what is the deal with Splitsville? Two couples whose friendship erupts into conflict when the husband of the divorcing couple sleeps with the wife of the open marriage couple.
Alongside Johnson, Adria Arjona, Michael Angelo Covino, Nicholas Braun, David Castañeda, O-T Fagbenle, Charlie Gillespie, & Simon Webster star in this sort of modern day rom-com?
Look I am posting this at the end of week one's screenings and locally where I am, week two the film gets around three screenings a day. That is the same number of people who were in my session last night.
So it is hard seeing a comedy with an empty cinema and no one laughing. However it had it's funny moments. Nothing laugh out loud wild funny, but entertaining funny.
Reviews have been super good for this small indie film. Even the Handmaid's Tale royalty O-T Fagbenle only has the most small, random role.
So whats my opinion? Is it worth the price of admission this weekend? Maybe. It presented an interesting way of looking at modern marriage. Was it bat shit crazy? Absolutely. Is Dakota Johnson out of the woods with box office bombs? Maybe not.
I did enjoy this film, its not too long, it is a little fresh. I will pass this one ahead of new release Thursday, with a new Aussie family film, Kangaroo incoming! Looks cute. or cringe, depending who you ask.
When Douda (Curtiss Cook) falls from the throne at the end of season six, the pivotal women of The Chi rise to reclaim their power in the recently dropped on Disney+ seventh season.
As loyalties are tested and new rivalries are stoked, it becomes clear that there’s only one crown, and it will come at a heavy cost.
With a lot of folks leaving at the end of season six, we got some new characters/returning ones from season six, who were new to the long running Chicago based, Showtime series.
Kennedy Amaya as Kenya, Aaron Guy as Zay, Daniel J. Watts as Pastor Zeke, Brett Gray as Damien (season 6–present), Rotimi as Charles & Wendy Raquel Robinson as Riley Dalton.
The show has already been renewed for an eighth season, which could very well be the last.
This is the one Showtime show that randomly drops on Disney+. It did conclude early last month, week-to-week in the USA, however I did like the entire season drop.
Watch out though, spoilers ahead.
I did smash all 12 episodes (down four episodes from the last season, up two from previous seasons 1-5) very quickly. Mainly cause I'm hooked on Jacob Latimore.
One of season seven’s most surprising deaths got an early reveal back in episode seven when Jada (Yolonda Ross, a fan favourite since the very first episode aired on Showtime back in January 2018) found out that her victory over cancer back in season four was not on repeat for season seven. Now another key, season one vet has gone, for me this means next season could be the swan song.
As unexpected and sad as Jada’s pending death initially was, it wasn’t a surprise in the finale. Telling her husband Darnell (Rolando Boyce), son Emmett (Jacob Latimore), along with others, was incorporated into her season seven storyline.
Darnell, on the suggestion of a grief counselor, gave Jada a living funeral so she could receive her flowers while she was still living. And though her final death was not a surprise, it was still an emotional kicker.
From the soap part of The Chi, to the crime part. Alicia Daniels Lafayette’s (Lynn Whitfield) murder, however, or at least her murderer, was a shock to most.
Her quest to find out who really killed her son Rob (one-time NBA player Iman Shumpert) had not gone well. On the word of silent kingpin Nuck (Cortez Smith), whom she knows killed Douda (Curtiss Cook) — who she also wanted dead for killing her brother Quentin “Q” Dickinson (Steven Williams) — she killed Zay (Aaron Guy), Nuck’s cousin who worked for him without realising it was Nuck who actually killed Rob.
Before Alicia’s murder, she crossed paths with Bakari (Ahmad Nicholas Ferguson) whom she gave a scholarship to college to give him a second chance. Not knowing Bakari’s loyalty to Nuck, she took his bait intimating that Reg (Barton Fitzpatrick) — middle brother of Victor aka Trig (Luke James), the oldest, and Jake (Michael Epps), the youngest — who, despite being presumed dead after an ambush in season two, showed up alive in season seven, really killed her son.
So much drama, so many characters wrapping their runs. From me this is one of Showtime's best series. Like Shameless (also set in Chicago) this drama has had a good, long run. However in the current TV climate, I feel The Chi is very much winding down in the windy city.
Until next time. Hopefully a movie tomorrow, also the the Winter Warmer Watchlist is coming to an end, it is 29 degrees today..... so.... seeya!
Since my Mum's 71st, its been a tick, since I talked music right her.
So for now, let's look at some of the fun happening over here, right now.
So the Friday Flash(back) season two is well and truly in full swing. Last Friday featuring Melbourne favourites, Cut Copy.
Their recent album Moments, is heading to stages around the country right now. The Friday Flash(back) continues next Friday with songwriting royalty, John Butler. His recent solo album, PRISM is topping the charts right now.
Let's take a look at the albums that shaped the Friday Flash(back) since my last music update.
Top End Bub is a sequel to the 2019 film Top End Wedding, with Miranda Tapsell and Gwilym Lee reprising their roles.
The eight-part sequel series is created, executive produced, and written by Joshua Tyler and Tapsell and produced by Goalpost Pictures. Filmed in The beautiful Northern Territory, as well as Adelaide, the series is directed by Christiaan Van Vuuren and Shari Sebbens
Released on Prime Video on Friday, I have already smashed all 8 deliciously short, sharp and funny episodes.
Lauren and Ned are living their best life in the city, which is tragically interrupted when Lauren’s sister Ronelle dies in a car crash in the Top End.
Rushing back to Darwin, Lauren and Ned are thrown into the chaos of Top End life with Lauren’s parents, Daffy and Trevor, and confronted with another curveball when they unexpectedly become the guardians of Ronelle’s lively and cheeky young daughter, Taya.
Alongside Tapsell and Lee, Ursula Yovich, Huw Higginson, Elaine Crombie, Tracy Mann, Rob Collins, Brooke Satchwell, Guy Simon, Clarence Ryan, and, making her acting debut as Taya ("Bub"), is Gladys-May Kelly.
The series ends with a wee bit of a cliffhanger, making me hopeful the series returns as Amazon's second local series based out of the NT. Yes we are still waiting for the return of the brilliant, Deadloch.
I have to say, there have been brilliant series during my Q3 Winter Warmer Watchlist blog series, average and down right awful series.
Top End Bub is easily one of the best. Hands down.
The series has heart, great local music, a superb cast and some truly beautiful scenery. I didn't even mind the Amazon ad's promoting the spectacular NT.
The advertising worked. I feel like I want to go there for the upcoming October long weekend.
Either way, watch this NOW! Like right now. Excellent, local viewing! Good job Amazon and creative team. Now give us more local content!
The Paper is the latest mockumentary sitcom series created by Greg Daniels and Michael Koman.
The series is a follow-up and spinoff to the American mockumentary series The Office, which originally ran on NBC from 2005 to 2013.
Starring Domhnall Gleeson, Sabrina Impacciatore, Melvin Gregg, Chelsea Frei, Ramona Young, Gbemisola Ikumelo, Alex Edelman, Tim Key, Eric Rahill, Allan Havey, Nancy Lenehan, Molly Ephraim and Tracy Letts along with Oscar Nunez would be reprising his role as Oscar Martinez, from The Office.
The series from Peacock, landed in Australia on Binge, last week. Ahead of the series premiere, the series was renewed for a second season.
In Toledo, Ohio, the same documentary crew that followed the workers at Dunder Mifflin's Scranton, Pennsylvania branch twenty years earlier, focuses its efforts on the Toledo Truth-Teller, a historic but declining Midwestern newspaper trying to resurrect itself with volunteer reporters.
In episode one we meet the motley crew.
Bob Vance of Vance Refrigeration explains how Dunder Mifflin has gone out of business and its trademark was sold in 2019 to Enervate, who owns the Toledo Truth-Teller, a paper company where Ned Sampson (Domhnall Gleeson) is about to start his first shift, which is run by Esmeralda Grand (Sabrina Impacciatore).
This was an easy, breezy, quick comedy watch. All ten episodes just breeze by. It gives a (slightly) more adult Abbott Elementary vibe.
Today Binge (along with Foxtel) will announce their 2026 schedule. This will likely be on it, along with other new (and some) returning Peacock titles. I am really to see the fate of some local series like the currently airing, The Twelve, Strife, along with if The Real Housewives of Sydney will actually continue.
Time will tell. For now on Binge, this fun, little comedy, The Paper streams all ten episodes now.
Do you like action movies? Yes, well you will probably like, Fight or Flight. If you don't like em, well you will probably hate this bat shit, Snakes on a Plane replaced by chainsaws and mad fight scenes on a plane.
All the way from Bangkok to TBA. It was meant to be San Fran, however it gets more and more vague about where the plot is going with Fight or Flight as it goes on.
Directed by James Madigan in his feature film debut, and written by Brooks McLaren and D. J. Cotrona. Starring former heart throb, Josh Hartnett as a man who is recruited to identify and protect a wanted criminal aboard a commercial airline; Charithra Chandran, Marko Zaror, & Katee Sackhoff also star.
Fight or Flight has received positive reviews from critics, who praised Hartnett's performance. Which is fairly interesting as the film is literally wild! Like bloody wild.
Some scenes are like, WTF did I just see. When I left the cinema I was like WTF was that! WILD!
Did I love Fight or Flight? Not really but it was a wild ass plane ride. From Bangkok to wherever the film kind of leaves you on a cliffhanger. However after 97 minutes the film doesn't really over stay its welcome.
I enjoyed this but didn't love it. It was great seeing Josh Hartnett back on the big screen. He returned last year in the thriller Trap, but in the late 90's he was in, Halloween H20: 20 Years Later, The Faculty (both 1998) & The Virgin Suicides (1999).
Okay, so maybe not the action film of the year, however it was damn fun. 3 Stars.
Say Nothing landed last November on Disney+ and this winter I have focused myself on getting through my watchlists across my streaming subscriptions. Hence the title of this series, Winter Warmer Watchlist.
The historical drama limited series created by Joshua Zetumer is an adaptation of the 2018 book by Patrick Radden Keefe.
Detailing four decades in Northern Ireland during The Troubles.
The series follows the lives of people growing up in Belfast in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s during the Troubles, as well as their involvement in the Provisional Irish Republican Army, and inquiries into the Disappeared and particularly the murder of Jean McConville.
Interviews from the Belfast Project are woven into the narrative which also includes depictions of the 1973 Old Bailey bombing and the subsequent hunger strike by the Price sisters, Dolours and Marian.
The cast is lead by, Lola Petticrew, Hazel Doupe, Anthony Boyle, Josh Finan, Maxine Peake, Michael Colgan, Kerri Quinn, Stuart Graham, Laura Donnelly, Rory Kinnear, Amy Molloy, Helen Behan, Damien Molony & Judith Roddy.
Say Nothing also follows Gerry Adams as being a senior IRA commander. Adams has always denied any involvement in the IRA. Each episode contains an endnote stating "Gerry Adams has always denied being a member of the IRA or participating in any IRA-related violence."
At the end of episodes 7 to 9 there is an additional disclaimer that "He further denies any involvement in the abduction of Jean McConville."
Episode 9 (the final in the series) depicts Marian shooting Jean McConville. Marian Price has denied any involvement in the death of McConville.
The episode contains an endnote stating "Marian Price also denies any involvement in the murder of Jean McConville." In December 2024, she initiated legal action against the makers of the show for the depiction.
Say Nothing was well made and something I've always wanted to sit down and watch. I was not disappointed. FX make some great series. The currently screening Alien: Earth, Shogun, The Bear and I don't mind me some American Horror Stories.
Next up on Disney+, All Fair, the final four episodes of The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox and Reasonable Doubt returns.
The Conjuring: Last Rites is the ninth in the Conjuring film series.
Based on the true-life investigations of the Smurl haunting.
Starring Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga, who reprise their roles as paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. Farmiga and Wilson star alongside Mia Tomlinson and Ben Hardy, who portray Ed and Lorraine’s daughter Judy Warren and her boyfriend, Tony Spera. Steve Coulter also returns as Father Gordon, while Rebecca Calder, Elliot Cowan, KÃla Lord Cassidy, Beau Gadsdon, John Brotherton & Shannon Kook also star.
The Conjuring: Last Rites has thus far received mixed reviews from critics, while grossing $82 million against a $55 million budget.
I have seen all The Conjuring films, along with the Nun films and Annabelle spin-offs. I got scared in all the rite (or right) parts of the film, whilst enjoying the full circle the film went.
Farmiga & Wilson are a great little team. I really have enjoyed this series and feel like this was a decent end to the series. However I do feel they hand the spooky shit investigator baton to Judy Warren and her BF, Tony Spera.
I heard a rumour HBO Max were potentially looking at turning this into a series. For me that could work. HBO Max 100% need some new content.
So 2025 continues to be the year of horror. The Conjuring: Last Rites was a good little scare fest, 3 solid stars.
The Waterfront comes from Dawson’s Creek TV royalty, Kevin Williamson. The Netflix series landed mid-June, by August, the series was canceled after one season.
Inspired by true events, The Waterfront, dives into the flawed Buckley family as their attempts to retain control of their crumbling North Carolina fishing empire drive them to increasingly dangerous means to keep themselves afloat.
Starring some recent TV gems, Holt McCallany, Maria Bello, Melissa Benoist, Jake Weary, Rafael L. Silva, Humberly González, Danielle Campbell, & Brady Hepner. Benoist is getting a reputation now for one and done series. After HBO Max's The Girls on the Bus was also shown the door last year.
The hunky, Rafael L. Silva also recently wrapped on 9-1-1's spinoff Lonestar, which will finally stream in Australia on Disney+ later this month.
Jake Weary would also be a familiar face for those who watched all seasons of Animal Kingdom. The US take on the classic Aussie film.
Grady kidnaps Bree and sails out to sea to exchange her for Harlan.
Diller, who saw Bree's kidnapping, had stowed away in the bow and was discovered. Bree attempts to escape and is shot in the leg and thrown into the sea. Harlan, who was supposed to come out alone, successfully hides Cane and Shawn, who overtake Grady and his men.
They rescue Bree and Diller. Grady taunts Cane as being weak, but Cane kills Grady, and he falls into the sea. To settle their debts and retain their land assets, the Buckleys make a deal with Emmett, agreeing to run drugs for them for one year.
Emmett puts Belle in charge to oversee the Buckley operations.
Sheriff Sawyer aligns with Harlan and disposes of all the evidence of the altercation.
While this wasn't perfect. The family drama was addictive, while also being super trashy! Netflix do need to work on a future strategy however. With huge series like Stranger Things wrapping (for good) soon, along with no more Squid Game, Heartbreak High also wrapping soon. They are running out of big name, well known, long(er) running series.
Well hopefully later today, I'm off to the movies! I will reveal my review early next week. See-ya!
Dexter: Resurrection is a sequel series to Dexter: New Blood and Dexter. It's different to the prequel series, Dexter: Original Sin, which effectively has now been cancelled.
Last month, a writer's room for the second season was in preparing for pre-production, despite no official renewal by that point. Which in turn meant no more Original Sin. Sad face, cause I liked season one.
Creator, Clyde Phillips has stated Resurrection is designed to have multiple seasons. However no second season is formally announced, I feel like we will get one in 2026 on Paramount+ with Showtime. Or in Australia, simply Paramount+.
Starring OG Dexter, Michael C. Hall, alongside Uma Thurman, Jack Alcott, David Zayas, Ntare Mwine, Kadia Saraf, Dominic Fumusa, Emilia Suárez, James Remar, and Peter Dinklage.
So how does it resolve, that last scene in New Blood?
Ten weeks after Dexter: New Blood, Dexter Morgan, who has recovered from his near-fatal gunshot wound, traces a missing Harrison to New York City, as Captain Angel Batista from Miami is hot on their trail.
With the walls caving in on everyone's favourite serial killer, Dexter is trapped in the vault, Dexter hallucinates Brian Moser taunting him.
A phone call from Quinn enables Dexter to find Batista's cell phone and call Harrison for help. Taking a job as a waiter at the gala, Harrison sneaks in, but is caught by Charley.
Searching through the vault for clues, Dexter finds Prater's serial killer files and a dossier on Charley which he is able to use to blackmail her. Furious at Prater's breach of trust, Charley quits and leaves New York with her mother.
Dexter deduces that the vault code is the inmate number of the man who killed Prater's parents for Harrison. However, Prater captures Harrison and tries to kill him and Dexter.
Having been given M99 by Dexter for protection, Harrison knocks Prater out and Dexter kills him.
Dexter recovers his blood slides before triggering the vault's alarm as he escapes and the NYPD finds Batista's body, the murder weapon with Prater's fingerprints, and the Ripper's file, revealing his real name to be Don Framt.
Dexter dumps Prater's body into New York Harbor and takes his files and yacht to hunt more targets, accepting that he will never have a normal life, but Dexter's connections to Blessing and Harrison will help him to be more human.
This was a solid sequel series. Much better in many ways from New Blood, however I really did enjoy Original Sin. So I will be sad not to get a second season.
I am very happy to say, long running Showtime series, The Chi has recently had its latest season land on Disney+. So hopefully I will get onto that real soon. Other than that, Showtime really only have another season of The Agency on the way. Their programming currently is pretty light on.
Until next time. Enjoy the first weekend of Spring.
Countdown had one of the most dispaointing final episodes of my Winter Warmer Watchlist series.
The Amazon series created and written by Derek Haas, star Amazon The Boys darling, Jensen Ackles, alongside Jessica Camacho, Violett Beane, Elliot Knight, Aussie, Uli Latukefu & Eric Dane.
Streaming the first three episodes at the end of June, concluding yesterday with episode 13. A little too many episodes for an action/streaming series if you ask me.
Amazon got it right, with a six episode order for previous action series, Butterfly.
But what is Countdown all about? After a Department of Homeland Security officer is killed in plain sight, LAPD detective Mark Meachum (Ackles) is brought onto a covert task force with undercover agents from various law enforcement agencies to track down the murderer.
However, the search reveals a much darker conspiracy than anyone expected, sparking a frantic race to protect a city of millions.
Episode one opens with, a Department of Homeland Security agent is assassinated, prompting FBI Special Agent Nathan Blythe to form a special task force consisting of LAPD detective Mark Meachum (Ackles), DEA agent Amber Oliveras (Camacho), DHS intelligence and analysis officer Damon Drew (Togo), FBI cyber crime specialist Evan Shepherd (Beane), FBI terrorism specialist Keyonte Bell (Knight), & LAPD gangs and narcotics specialist Luke Finau (Latukefu).
Meachum is fresh out of a long undercover assignment with the Aryan Brotherhood struggles with anger issues, while Oliveras has a documented history of drug abuse. The task force finds a suspicious deposit in the dead DHS agent's bank account, which leads them to the Los Reyes Nuevos cartel in Tijuana, and discovers a large deposit of fissile material left at the Port of Los Angeles.
We get one serious plot foiled around the tail end of the season, only to get a whole new plot start, but not end with a satisfying ending at all.
It does end on a cliffhanger (no spoilers here though) but a very inconclusive one.
Like there is no real feeling of this being a season ender. More of a midseason episode. Honestly if the show is not renewed, I will honestly just think this is a total waste of my viewing.
The series is not well liked on Rotten Tomatoes (38% at time of posting) or some critics. Amazon does male lead action shows fairly well. However this is not their best work. It's no Reacher, Butterfly or Jack Ryan.
Maybe pass on this one and save yourself for Gen V returning soon on Amazon.
Revival is based on the American (however this is a Canadian series) comic book series of the same name by Tim Seeley and Mike Norton, & published by Image Comics.
The series premiered mid-June, on Syfy in the USA & Binge, here down under.
In the rural town of Wausau, Wisconsin, the sudden resurrection of the recently deceased becomes known as Revival Day.
Labelled "Revivers", the newly resurrected maintain their appearance, memories, and personalities from their previous lives but have gained regenerative healing abilities.
While the town's residents grapple with the miraculous event, police officer Dana Cypress investigates a murder mystery in which everyone, including both the living and the newly revived, is a suspect. Meanwhile, Dana's sister Martha "Em" Cypress adjusts to her new life as a Reviver and seeks to learn the truth of Revival Day's origins.
Starring Melanie Scrofano, Romy Weltman, David James Elliott, & Andy McQueen.
SPOILER ALERT! The cause of Revival Day and Em’s (Weltman) death are linked: Aaron (Gianpaolo Venuta) and Lester (Peter Millard) killed her, and that was the detonator to blow the door of immortality off.
Dana (Scrofano) comes to her sister’s aid once she’s in Lester’s clutches, but it’s Em who kills him, tearing out his heart with her hand. But then Em dies … or so we think.
A time jump of 35 days reveals that Aaron’s wife, Nithiya (Gia Sandhu), who’s been undergoing treatments for cancer, went out of her way to ensure she was Em’s therapist & is with her in a cabin somewhere!
Elsewhere in the episode, Blaine publicly broadcasts his plan to purge Wausau of Revivers. Ibrahim casts doubts on his crusade, believing that the "angels" are Revivers' lost souls.
Dana and Wayne reach the church, but are captured alongside Lester. After Dana claims that Em can heal people, Blaine shoots Wayne, and Em heals him.
Cale's soldiers then assault the church, allowing the hostages to escape. Lester brings Em to an old water mill and confesses that he and Aaron killed Rose as part of a ritual sacrifice to activate Moore Creek's healing properties to extend their lifespans and cure Nithiya's cancer.
Lester hired Gunderson to cover up loose ends, including killing Aaron after he betrayed Lester and sacrificed Em, causing Revival Day when the ritual backfired. Lester has Em reunite with her captive soul, and attempts to complete the ritual as Dana arrives, but Em rips out his heart and dies in Dana's arms.
One month later, Revivers were more accepted in Wausau, Wayne resigns as sheriff, and Ibrahim continues studying Moore Creek. Dana learns that Em had frequently corresponded with Nithiya online, who set up Em's kidnapping on Revival Day. Meanwhile, Nithiya has moved to an isolated cabin, where Em is still alive.
It was a wild ride, however was it wild enough to score a second season. Binge needs hits, not sure this will return as the TV axe seems to be falling a lot of late. Including shows renewed previously like Dexter's Original Sin prequel, spin-off.
Speaking of Dexter. The latest spin-off concludes Friday on Paramount+, while later tonight Countdown concludes. More TV posts incoming....
Goosebumps was a school kid book thing for me. I was never a huge reader, however I remember this books at home , along with at the school library.
Last month, the Disney+/Hulu series was canceled after two seasons.
Based on the book series by R. L. Stine, Goosebumps was originally released back in October, 2023.
Followed by a second season, titled Goosebumps: The Vanishing, which premiered in January this year.
The series takes on an anthology vive with the first season, a group of five high school students embark on a shadowy and twisted journey to investigate the tragic passing three decades earlier of a teen named Harold Biddle — while also unearthing dark secrets from their parents' past.
In the David Schwimmer lead second season, twins Cece and Devin, on a vacation at their father's, decide to enter an abandoned and supposedly haunted Fort with a few friends, without realising they're setting off a chain of events that will unravel a profound mystery connected to the mysterious disappearance of four teenagers 30 years back.
Season one is lead by Justin Long, along with Ana Yi Puig, Miles McKenna, Will Price, Zack Morris, Isa Briones & Rachael Harris.
Alongside Schwimmer in season two, Ana Ortiz, Sam McCarthy, Jayden Bartels, Elijah Cooper, Galilea La Salvia, Francesca Noel, Arjun Athalye, Eloise Payet, Christopher Paul Richards, Kyra Tantao, Stony Blyden, & Sakina Jaffrey all star.
If I am honest both seasons had their positives. I can't really tell which one I preferred. However the slightly shorter second season meant there was less filler.
Let's check out below how the second season concluded. Look out spoilers below, however this did stream now many months ago!
The teens successfully rescue their dad (Schwimmer), though when trying to escape, the podded teens from 1994 are also miraculously revived. With the everyone reunited, Anthony and Jen head off to confront Ramona about the harm she has caused all these years only to discover that she has also revived her father.
However, it is revealed that after being podded for so long, he is not himself anymore. Vomiting a goop similar to the Monster Blood from episode 4, he transforms into an alien monster.
Meanwhile, the four teens from 1994 are restless and everyone splits up so they can all get some air. In turn each of them also transforms and CJ, Trey, Frankie, Alex, Devin, and CeCe are all captured.
Anthony and Jen decide to join forces to save the kids. Opening the secret hatch, the ship recollects goo from the pods and monsters, before shooting into the sky and emitting a bright light.
Anthony has a vision of his brother, finally saying goodbye. He then wakes up to Jen telling him everyone is saved. A while later, everyone bids farewell to CeCe and Devin.
A final shot shows Trey throwing up something covered in black goo. So we leave on a cliffhanger, that will never be resolved. But does anyone care? So many shows leave on this note. Potential to move forward. But no funding or interest from Disney+ to move forward.
So many shows get the axe these days. So many unresolved plot points. Oh well it's September and there is so much returning (or new) TV! With The Paper landing on Binge this Thursday, Only Murders in the Building is back too, Gen V, Tulsa King and The Walking Dead tries to breathe some new life into Daryl Dixon.
All’s fair when love is war. The Roses is a 2025 satirical black comedy film directed by Jay Roach, loosely based on the 1981 novel The War of the Roses by Warren Adler, and a remake of the 1989 film.
Starring an absolute all-star cast of Benedict Cumberbatch, Olivia Colman, Andy Samberg, Allison Janney, Belinda Bromilow, Sunita Mani, Ncuti Gatwa, Jamie Demetriou, Zoë Chao and Kate McKinnon.
Life seems easy for picture-perfect couple Ivy (Colman) & Theo (Cumberbatch): successful careers, a loving marriage, great kids. But beneath the façade of their supposed ideal life, a storm is brewing – as Theo’s career nosedives while Ivy’s own ambitions take off, a tinderbox of fierce competition and hidden resentment ignites.
With so much coarse language, so many witty one-liners, this was a fun little film. The only bad thing was, a lot of these funny bits were actually in the trailer.
So maybe avoid the trailer below...
Colman & Cumberbatch are divine in this war of the roses. If you need a laugh and want to see some extremely talented actors deliver a masterclass in acting, look no further than The Roses.
I enjoyed this rapid fire, sub two hour comedy.
There were advance screenings this weekend, however the film opens Thursday.
