We recommend: The best new movies and TV series
Final Destination: Bloodlines: This is the sixth installment of the beloved horror franchise which is a prequel/sequel hybrid of sorts. This time Death is coming for a family—an entire family tree comprising a mother, daughter, cousins, uncles, etc—that wasn’t supposed to exist. Of course, we have someone who has the ability for premonition but this time Death is far more vengeful.
Reviews are great! The Guardian gave it a rave review saying: “The movie, which breathes new life into a franchise about being stalked by death, takes the idea of savouring every moment to heart.” Variety leaves us with these parting words: “Clever, unpredictable and fun, ‘Final Destination Bloodlines’ offers the series a transfusion of creativity that virtually guarantees that it will live to kill again.” Our take: This one’s for the fans who want to take a walk down nostalgia road. The movie is out in theatres.
Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning: Long touted to be Tom Cruise’s final ‘Mission: Impossible’, this is the second part of the 2023 movie where Ethan Hunt is confronted with a rogue AI called the Entity. The new movie ties all the loose ends—which involves finding and stopping the Entity etc—with lots of dangerous stunts along the way. The movie debuted in Cannes this week.
Reviews are mixed for this one. First, the good review. According to The Guardian: “It is a wildly silly, wildly entertaining adventure which periodically gives us a greatest-hits flashback montage of the other seven films in the M:I canon - but we still get a brand new, box-fresh Tom-sprinting-along-the-street scene, without which it wouldn’t be M:I.” OTOH, BBC Culture is extremely disappointed and writes: “The Final Reckoning, set almost entirely in tunnels and caverns, and in the depths of the ocean, is the dullest and darkest film in the series, both literally and figuratively.” Our take: We’re big fans of the franchise, we’ll definitely not give this one a miss. Head to the theatres now!
Murderbot: Alexander Skarsgard fronts this sci-fi action comedy about a part-human, part-cyborg who is drawn to humans’ ability to think freely but must keep his head down and complete his dangerous missions without a fuss. Also starring: David Dastmalchian of ‘The Suicide Squad’ fame as a scientist under Murderbot’s protection, and Clark Gregg of MCU fame as a Lieutenant in a fictional show within this show.
Reviews have been good. Collider says that 'Murderbot' is a “hilariously lovable” sci-fi comedy led by a “delightfully layered” Skarsgård performance, blending “laugh-out-loud comedy and high-stakes drama.” Entertainment Weekly says the series is a “hilarious” yet slow-moving sci-fi about a misanthropic robot who "just wants to binge-watch TV,” but it finds its voice just in time for a “moving finale.” Our take: We’re here for some delightfully dry humour, social commentary and memorable action sequences. Stream the show on Apple TV+.
Wolf Man: In 'Wolf Man', Blake Lovell, a struggling writer, returns with his wife and daughter to his remote childhood home after his father's death. Hoping for a fresh start, Blake is haunted by past trauma and a violent temper. After a mysterious encounter in the woods, he begins to transform into a werewolf. As the full moon rises, the family must confront the growing threat inside their cabin—Blake himself.
Reviews are not so great. Variety says the film offers a “slow, soulful” reimagining of the classic tale, with Christopher Abbott delivering a “genuine” and emotionally rich performance as a father battling his inner beast, even if the film doesn’t quite match the suspense or impact of 'The Invisible Man'. Indiewire says 'Wolf Man' ambitiously reimagines the classic monster myth through “a cleverly intimate premise” that explores fatherhood and inner conflict, and while it doesn’t fully realize its potential, it’s clear that “the pieces are there” for a smarter, more emotionally grounded horror story. Our take: Our take: A chilling blend of family drama and primal horror, 'Wolf Man' sinks its teeth in deep—now streaming on JioHotstar.
Tastefully Yours: A three-star restaurant owner looking for a new chef to revive his business comes across a ‘born-to-be chef’ who works at the small local shop… love is just brewing to happen! This K-drama stars Kang Ha-neul and Go Min-si—both of whom are acclaimed actors and a household name in South Korea.
Reviews are pretty decent. Indian Express writes: “Tastefully Yours has the whole package, face cards, solid acting chops, soft-lit aesthetics, chaebol sibling rivalry, kitchen chaos, and just enough romance… chances are you’ll binge it anyway.” Decider says ‘stream it’ and concludes: “Tastefully Yours is a fun watch because of the chemistry between its stars and the insanely good-looking food that is featured in the first episode.” Our take: Even though the premise is a little overdone, we’re still excited to see this rom-com. The first two episodes dropped on Netflix on Monday.
Here’s a new chapter…
Love, Death & Robots Volume 4: The latest season of this animated sci-fi anthology is as wild and inventive as ever, blending hard-hitting action, surreal comedy, and experimental animation. Across ten standalone shorts, the show dives into themes like revenge, motherhood, gang warfare, and even sentient appliances—ranging from gory space battles to psychedelic music-video madness. It also brings back older storylines, like the follow-up to Volume 3’s 'Swarm', while delivering visual stunners like '400 Boys' and 'For He Can Creep'. Watch it now on Netflix.
Fresh off the big screens…
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim: This anime spinoff film of the iconic fantasy trilogy—that came out last year in December—is finally available to watch at home! This comes from director Kenji Kamiyama, best known for anime TV adaptations of ‘Blade Runner’ and ‘Ghost in the Shell’. The story is set 183 years before the events of the main trilogy and focuses on the kingdom of Rohan and its ruler Helm Hammerhand—voiced by Brian Cox of ‘Succession’ fame. The rest of the voice cast is new to the franchise as well, but longtime fans can appreciate the return of Miranda Otto—who played Eowyn in the trilogy and is the narrator here. Stream the movie on JioHotstar.
