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Happy Friday, Polygon readers! This week brings a host of new film releases on streaming services and for rent or purchase on VOD.
Netflix is leading the way this week spider head, the new film by Joseph Kosinski. Kosinski directed Top Gun: Maverickone of our picks for the best movies of 2022, and Polygon readers might remember his famous one too war implements Commercial from 2006. This time he collaborates with Chris Hemsworth, Miles Teller and the writing team behind the Deadpool films 6 underground on a cerebral sci-fi.
We would be remiss not to mention disease, which is available now at a reduced rental price of $5.99. Please morb responsibly.
There’s also the long-awaited release of Phil Tippett’s nightmarish horror crazy godtwo new Oscar nominees make their streaming debuts, a new cast of Netflix action movies, and more!
spider head
Where to see: Available to stream on Netflix
“Top Gun: Maverick Director Joseph Kosinski and the authors of Dead Pool team up to adapt a dystopian short story by george saunders” is a true description of a real movie that really exists. Set in a state-of-the-art prison, inmates are forced to undergo a series of mind-altering drug trials in exchange for commutation of sentences. spider head follows the story of Jeff (Miles Teller) and Lizzy (Jurnee Smollett), two test subjects who come under the watchful eye of Steve Abnesti (Chris Hemsworth), an elusive tech visionary whose mad philosophy of “living better through chemistry” is an unlikely connection is received. threatens the sanity (and life) of everyone at the facility.
From our review:
Despite the dystopian premise, Kosinski brings a light touch spider head. Colorful cinematography and spirited editing contrast with the characters’ tragic backstories and grim living conditions, highlighting the discrepancy between the chemically induced highs and the nightmarish lows of Abnesti’s experiments. In the middle of the film, Abnesti asks Jeff to describe the worst day of his life when the two trip on a feel-good drug. Jeff remembers the day his father left him and laughed hysterically the whole time. This general mood of emotional whiplash runs through spider headand Kosinski effectively dissipates his sinister undertones.
disease
Where to see: Available for $5.99 from Amazon, Apple, and Vudu
Sony’s latest Marvel film is another anti-hero story, starring Jared Leto as doctor-turned-vampire Michael Morbius. As he tests a cure for his rare blood disorder on himself, he transforms into the godless creation you see above. And now you can rent it for the reduced price of $5.99.
From our review:
One of the most important lessons from poisonSuccess was the albeit unimaginative superhero franchise films got to When they’re churning, they can still feel valuable when powered by intelligent, funny performances. Audiences turn out for characters they love, but also turn out for characters played by personsby actors who give them strange quirks and specific mannerisms. disease is what happens when there’s one studio request after another poisonbut without thinking much about how poison connected to anyone. It’s just there to fit into a burgeoning crossover franchise. (As two nonsensical scenes in the credits show.)
The worst person in the world
Where to see: Available to stream on Hulu
The third film in the so-called “Oslo Trilogy” by director Joachim Trier. The worst person in the world is a romantic black comedy centered on Julie (Renate Reinsve), a medical student stumbling through an overwhelming love life and a difficult career path. The film follows her through four years of her life and explores Julie’s delayed coming of age and her emotional blocks to love, life and professional success.
From our roundup of the best movies of 2021:
Trier paprika in magically realistic accents that further liven up an already compelling script carried by nuanced, three-dimensional characters. Reinsve’s groundbreaking performance is what gives the film its most striking element. She conveys her character’s contradictory state in a compelling way, with a seductive effervescence and genuine personality. The always memorable actor Anders Danielsen Lie, a regular at Trier, complements her work in a heartbreaking yet intellectually challenging role as one of her partners.
crazy god
Where to see: Available to stream on Shudder
Almost 30 years in development, VFX Artist Director Phil Tippett crazy god is a nightmarish odyssey through a dystopian world full of Boschian grotesques and phantasmagorical landscapes. While the film’s plot lags behind the visuals, the story more or less follows a mysterious character known as “The Assassin” who descends into a world of titans and monsters on an unspecified quest.
father of the bride
Where to see: Available to stream on HBO Max
The third film adaptation of Edward Streeter’s 1949 novel, starring Andy Garcia and Adria Arjona as the father and bride, respectively. Unlike the 1950 version starring Spencer Tracy, Joan Bennett and Elizabeth Taylor or the 1991 film starring Steve Martin, Diane Keaton and Kimberly Williams, the new adaptation focuses on a Cuban-American family.
Lunana: A yak in the classroom
Where to see: Available to stream on Netflix
Nominated for Best International Feature Film at this year’s Oscars, Lunana: A yak in the classroom is a Bhutanese drama about a teacher who dreams of becoming a singer and is assigned to a classroom in a small mountain village.
Good luck to you Leo Grande
Where to see: Available to stream on Hulu
Director Sophie Hyde (Animals) and comedy writer Katy Brand teams up with Emma Thompson as a retired widow who hires a sex worker (Daryl McCormack) in this sex comedy hoping to spice things up and try something new.
Jerry & Marge are growing up
Where to see: Available to stream on Paramount Plus
The devil Wears Prada Director David Frankel helms this true story comedy written by arrested development Writer Brad Copeland. Bryan Cranston and Annette Bening star in a couple who win the lottery using math and then use the money to improve their town.
Cha Cha Real smooth
Where to see: Available for streaming on Apple TV Plus
This Sundance favorite stars writer-director Cooper Raiff as a man-turned-party “motivator” who forms a bar mitzvah friendship with a mother (Dakota Johnson) and her daughter (Vanessa Burghardt).
collision
Where to see: Available to stream on Netflix
This South African crime thriller comes from French director Fabien Martorell, who has previously worked on documentaries and short films. Set in Johannesburg, the film follows a young woman’s kidnapping by a gangster and her parents’ efforts to save her.
Centauro
Where to see: Available to stream on Netflix
This crime thriller from Spain is about Rafa (Àlex Monner), a professional motorcycle racer. When his mother gets into trouble with some bad people, he uses his unique skills to help her, but will it jeopardize his career?
Downton Abbey: A New Era
Where to see: Available for $19.99 from Amazon, Apple, and Vudu
The sequel from 2019 Downton Abbey film, this new installment in the long-running franchise is available for distribution on VOD. In this film, the Crawley family travels to France after a mysterious inheritance.
Father Stu
Where to see: Available for $5.99 from Amazon, Apple, and Vudu
Mark Wahlberg and Mel Gibson star in this faith film about a former boxer-turned-Catholic priest. It is available to rent now at a reduced price of $5.99.
setback
Where to see: Available for $5.99 from Amazon, Apple, and Vudu
Former UFC champion Randy Couture stars alongside Cam Gigandet and Louis Mandylor in this crime thriller about a thief seeking revenge on the crew who betrayed him. Apparently there is also a cryptocurrency subplot.