Check out Flicks-approved recommendations in cinemas and on streaming services this weekend.
Stephen King’s Doctor Sleep
Not trying to be too reverentially Kubrick works well for Stephen King’s Doctor Sleep, avoiding being a shallow imitation of 1980 masterpiece The Shining (even though yes, it does venture to the Overlook Hotel). Directed by Mike Flanagan (Netflix’s The Haunting of Hill House) and adapted from King’s 2013 sequel, it’s a bit long but is chillingly effective at times, and is satisfyingly its own beast.
That’s particularly thanks to a captivatingly villainous performance by Rebecca Ferguson (Mission: Impossible – Fallout), rock-solid Ewan McGregor playing a grown-up Danny Torrance, plenty of Easter eggs, and the odd spot of A Nightmare on Elm Street/Near Dark vibes.
Terror-Fi Film Festival
After slaying Wellington last weekend, the Terror-Fi Film Festival takes over Auckland’s Hollywood Avondale this weekend (ahead of Christchurch dates Nov 20-24). Of the many excellent-looking one-off screenings, we’re excited to be heading along to Ready Or Not on Thursday, The Lodge on Friday and the latest in Nicolas Cage madness, Color Out of Space on Sunday.
Bellbird
Also on wide release this week after impressing at the NZ International Film Festival, Kiwi drama Bellbird takes place in the heart of a small New Zealand town, where a community comes together after a tragic death. “Authentic, sweet and soulful with solid masterful performances” is what we had to say about Bellbird after its NZIFF screening.
British Film Festival
It’s the last week of the British Film Festival, playing nationwide, and your final days to catch films like Iraq War whistleblower tale Official Secrets, starring Keira Knightley, music doco Liam Gallagher: As It Was, cult fave director Ben Wheatley’s Happy New Year, Colin Burstead and more. A number of classics are also in the programme, including The Elephant Man, The Lavender Hill Mob and The Lion in Winter.
His Dark Materials
NEON’s new fantasy show His Dark Materials has just kicked off, with the first episode streaming now (and new episodes arriving each week).
Starring the likes of James McAvoy (Split), Ruth Wilson (TV’s Luther), Lin-Manuel Miranda (Mary Poppins Returns), and Logan‘s breakout star Dafne Keen, HBO’s adaptation of the renowned fantasy novels follows a parallel world where science, theology and magic are entwined.
The King
We’ve been impressed with a few Netflix titles over the past couple of weeks , most recently The King.
Our 4-star review said Timothée Chalamet “smoulders” as King Henry V in a medieval drama based on several Shakespeare plays, adapted for the screen by David Michôd (Animal Kingdom). Ben Mendelsohn, Thomasin McKenzie, Lily-Rose Depp, and a “gloriously over-the-top” Robert Pattinson also feature. Other recent Netflix releases earned 4-star reviews: Dolemite Is My Name and Tell Me Who I Am. Trust us and take a punt.
Taskmaster
If you’re not watching the insanely entertaining Taskmaster—pitting comedians against each other across a whole season of competitive and often embarrassing tasks—then you bloody well should be. Need another reason? National treasure Rose Matafeo is one of the five cast members in the current season of the show, with the final two episodes available via TVNZ On Demand in the coming weeks.
Pic: A great TV moment captured by Sarah Thomson
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