THE HAND THAT ROCKS THE CRADLE on Hulu is a remake (or new take, if you will) of the 1992 classic thriller. This time, Maika Monroe and Mary Elizabeth Winstead star, and the result is yet another strong psychological thriller. Read our full The Hand That Rocks The Cradle (2025) movie review here!

THE HAND THAT ROCKS THE CRADLE is a new Hulu thriller mystery with a very familiar title, as it’s the remake of the 1992 iconic thriller starring Rebecca De Mornay and Annabella Sciorra. This 2025 take on the story is more of a reimagining as several elements have been changed.

However, the core premise remains the same, which is possibly the best kind of remake – in my book, anyway. I never mind a good remake, but I still prefer that there’s a reason beyond just a fresher look and a new cast. This new psychological thriller certainly delivers on that premise.

Continue reading our The Hand That Rocks The Cradle movie review below. Find it on Hulu/Disney+ from October 22, 2025.

The struggles of motherhood in the modern world

When we first meet Caitlyn Morales (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), she’s very pregnant but also still working. In fact, she goes straight from work into labor, and this seems to be typical of her. Always on the move, and while she wants kids and loves her children, she struggles with combining family and career.

Her husband, Miguel (Raúl Castillo), tries to help as much as he can. However, Caitlyn is also a very independent soul who wants to succeed at whatever she does, so it’s a bit of a struggle. That’s why he is all for it when Caitlyn suggests that they take in a nanny.

Enter Polly Murphy (Maika Monroe), who clearly has a great handle on the kids and also seamlessly fits into the household. Everything seems to be looking up, but Caitlyn can’t help but feel something is off.

She’s right, of course, as anyone familiar with the 1992 original will know. And we do also see the darker side of Polly early on. However, figuring out how it’s all connected will take some time, and getting there is one bumpy ride.

Casting the 2025 remake

The original 1992 movie went on to become iconic roles for its core cast. Or, well, mostly for its two female stars in the form of Rebecca De Mornay and Annabella Sciorra. The same should be the case for this 2025 remake (or, again, reimagining is a better word), and genre fans will find familiar faces in the lead roles.

We have Mary Elizabeth Winstead from 10 Cloverfield Lane and Kate as Caitlyn Morales. She’s the mother who inadvertently invites in someone who will make her life a nightmare. In the role made famous by Rebecca De Mornay, we have one of our newer final girls, Maika Monroe, as Polly Murphy.

Horror fans will recognize Maika Monroe from the genre movies like the mega-hit It Follows, Tau, Villains, and Watcher. Most recently, she starred in Oz Perkins‘ serial killer movie Longlegs (2024).

Both Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Maika Monroe deliver strong performances in this 2025 The Hand That Rocks The Cradle remake, but the former made the biggest impact on me. Probably because she’s the one we stay with and follow the most – and is the most relatable.

For me, anyway. Still, both are amazing, as is the rest of the cast.

In key supporting roles, we see Raúl Castillo (Task) as Miguel Morales, Caitlyn’s husband, and Martin Starr (There’s Something in the Barn) as Caitlyn’s best friend, Stewart.

One of the more impressive performances also comes from one of the youngest cast members. Mileiah Vega absolutely shines as Emma Morales, Caitlyn and Miguel’s eldest daughter. I hope to see her in future genre movies!

Watch The Hand That Rocks The Cradle on Hulu

Michelle Garza Cervera is the director of this 2025 take on The Hand That Rocks The Cradle. We’ve already reviewed a movie by Michelle Garza Cervera, and I have been eagerly awaiting her next movie, which turned out to be this one.

Her previous movie was Huesera: The Bone Woman, which I highly recommend you check out as well. It’s more of a horror-drama and definitely left a huge impact on me. Both movies revolve around women and motherhood, but in extremely different ways.

Micah Bloomberg (creator of Homecoming) wrote the screenplay for this 2025 version, and I commend the choices all around. I loved the way the core story of The Hand That Rocks The Cradle from the 1992 movie has been reimagined for this 2025 version. It makes for an entirely new story while retaining its main driver for the characters.

The Hand That Rocks The Cradle is on Hulu (Disney+ internationally) from October 22, 2025.

Details

Director: Michelle Garza Cervera
Cast: Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Maika Monroe, Mileiah Vega, Raúl Castillo, Martin Starr, Riki Lindhome, Shannon Cochran

Plot

An upscale suburban mom brings a new nanny, Polly Murphy, into her home, only to discover she is not the person she claims to be.

MURDAUGH: DEATH IN THE FAMILY on Hulu is a new crime thriller series based on the infamous true crime case. The casting of Jason Clarke and Patricia Arquette in the lead is pure genius. Overall, this works much better than I ever expected. Read our Murdaugh: Death in the Family series review here!

MURDAUGH: DEATH IN THE FAMILY is a new Hulu series with eight episodes. It premieres with the first three, and then weekly releases will follow. The first episode is good, but the next is even better, and you should definitely be hooked by the third.

This is extremely well-produced and even better written. Always with a focus on the facts of the case, while trying to give us more background about all the key people in the case.

Impressively, this crime, thriller, drama hybrid doesn’t feel over-the-top at all. Despite the true crime case being similar to something out of a soap opera.

Continue reading our Murdaugh: Death in the Family series review below. Start watching on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ now.

All about keeping up appearances

Murdaugh: Death in the Family is based on a true crime case so wild in its Southern ways that it was bound to be turned into a fictionalized series. We meet Maggie (Patricia Arquette) and Alex Murdaugh (Jason Clarke) enjoying life, but that will soon change.

It’s a very lavish life of privilege with all the Southern flair that comes with being members of one of South Carolina’s most powerful legal dynasties. However, life is about to change drastically for the Murdaughs. Not for the first time, mind you, but this time it’s different.

Their son, Paul (Johnny Berchtold), is involved in a deadly boat crash. He was drinking and at the wheel when the accident happened, which means the family is faced with a challenge of murderous proportions.

Before this, other challenges had come their way, but whether financial or legal, the Murdaughs always knew someone who could help make it all “go away”. Now, a reporter is noticing a strange pattern, and their decade-long immunity appears to be over.

Much better than expected

I wasn’t sure what to expect from Murdaugh: Murder in the Family, as I’ve already watched several documentaries about the Murdaugh case. In that sense, the case (or cases, I should say) is already familiar to me. As are the key people.

Something I am certain is the case for many other viewers. Whenever something is already so well-known to many, it’s impossible not to disappoint some viewers as well.

I mean, just look at the most recent season of Monster on Netflix, which is all about Ed Gein. Some people love that it focuses on the pop culture (and horror movies) influence of this one person, while others focus on which facts are accurate.

WANT MORE ON THE MURDAUGHS?

Read our review of Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal here >

What’s important to remember is that these productions are not documentaries, but fictionalized and dramatized takes on real events. And yet, Murdaugh: Murder in the Family does stay fairly close to the facts.

Maybe because there is so much to guide this story.

Also, you could not make something up that was wilder than what this family lived and did. When real life is wilder than fiction, and facts are already known, there is no need to add much “color” to the story.

The casting becomes one of the most important elements, and while every single actor delivers amazing performances in Murdaugh: Murder in the Family, Jason Clarke and Patricia Arquette, in the lead roles, are absolutely amazing. Simply perfect casting.

Watch Murdaugh: Murder in the Family on Hulu and Disney+ now

This new Hulu series was inspired by the popular “Murdaugh Murders Podcast”. This fictionalized series comes from co-creator and showrunner Michael D. Fuller (Locke & Key) and co-creator Erin Lee Carr (I’m Not a Monster, Mommy Dead and Dearest).

Executive producers include Nick Antosca (The Act, Antlers, Candy) and Alex Hedlund (Brand New Cherry Flavor). Also serving as executive producers are the stars of the series: Patricia Arquette and Jason Clarke.

Alongside these two amazing stars, we also see Brittany Snow as journalist Mandy Matney. She was also the one who made the podcast this series is inspired by. Overall, the entire cast of this Hulu series is just amazing, which is a huge reason why it works so well.

After all, the job of these actors is to help us understand the people in this dreadful crime better. Not to forgive them, but to possibly avoid anything similar happening again. As long as power (often via money) trumps law, this will never happen, but one can hope.

Murdaugh: Murder in the Family debuts on Hulu/Disney+ on October 15, 2025.

Details

Showrunner: Michael D. Fuller
Creators: Michael D. Fuller & Erin Lee Carr
Directors: Steven Piet, Kat Candler, Erin Lee Carr, Ingrid Jungermann, Jennifer Lynch
Cast: Patricia Arquette, Jason Clarke, Johnny Berchtold, Will Harrison, Brittany Snow, J. Smith-Cameron, Gerald McRaney, Noah Emmerich

Plot

Maggie and Alex enjoy a lavish life of privilege as members of one of South Carolina’s most powerful legal dynasties. But when their son Paul is involved in a deadly boat crash, the family is faced with a test unlike any they’ve ever encountered. As details come to light and new challenges emerge, the family’s connections to several mysterious deaths raise questions which threaten everything Maggie and Alex hold dear.

STAY on Hulu is a new supernatural thriller or horror-drama. It’s part of Hulu’s 2025 Huluween releases. Unfortunately, it’s just not very good. The story is forced and extremely predictable. Read our full Stay movie review here!

STAY is a new Hulu movie released as part of their 2025 Huluween programme. This feels much more like a thriller or a horror-drama than a movie that ought to be released as part of their Halloween focus.

The actors do what they can, and I absolutely relate to their grief and struggles. It’s just that the core storyline is full of red herrings served right alongside huge hints about what’s truly going on. Also, it did not need a runtime of nearly an hour and a half.

Continue reading our 2025 Stay movie review below. Find it on Hulu now.

Together… in a house

Stay begins as a story about Kiara (Megalyn Echikunwoke), who is packing up her home and getting ready to move out. She’s a PhD author of African spirituality.

In flashbacks, we see that she’s been in a happy relationship with Miles (Mo McRae), a former MMA fighter turned gym owner.

The present is a far cry from their beautiful love story and strong marriage. A marriage where he focused on his gym and was the breadwinner while she wrote her book, which would go on to be a hit. Something he expected, so she could then be his sugar mamma.

Basically, all was good, and they had a healthy relationship. Then something happened, which you will have to wait until the final act to find out. Before we get to the “big reveal”, hints clumsily and forcefully disguised as something else have been dropped several times.

Getting to the reveal of their downfall comes after they’ve been forced to stay together inside their house. The entire building has somehow locked down and refuses to let them out until they work out their issues.

Like Together, but in a house, and now they have to connect. Emotionally, not in the wild ways of Together.

A Huluween Original movie?

Again, I have to say that I have no idea why Hulu opted for making Stay (2025) part of their Halloween theme “Huluween” for 2025. If anything, it does the movie a huge disservice. It will attract horror fans, who can only (for the vast part) be disappointed.

Watching a movie is very much about anticipation and having your entertainment match your expectations. If I decide to watch a Huluween Original movie released as part of Hulu’s Halloween release schedule, then I expect horror… and probably something kitch.

YOU MIGHT LIKE…

Check out some of the other Huluween releases from past years >

With Stay, it’s much more about relationship drama and struggles originating from trauma and grief. Something we’ve seen done extremely well with movies like The Man in My Basement or The Holy Boy (do check that out when it’s coming to Shudder in 2026).

How can people not be disappointed? I mean, had the movie been amazing, then maybe they would still enjoy it, but you’ve built some huge hurdles for viewers to get past before this is even possible.

Watch the 2025 Huluween movie Stay on Hulu now

Jas Summers is the writer and director of Stay, which has an interesting premise, but I just did not enjoy the execution of the story. Much more of a relationship drama than horror for Halloween, which is a damn shame.

Also, those red herrings and very forced plot twists did nothing good. Even the actual ending of Stay (2025) was so easy to predict because it is perhaps one of the biggest tropes.

Maybe I’m just bitter that this was released as a Huluween movie, but even without that label, this still isn’t good storytelling. I hate to be so negative, but here we are.

STAY premieres on Hulu on October 8, 2025.

Details

Director: Jas Summers
Writer: Jas Summers
Stars: Megalyn Echikunwoke, Mo McRae, Brandon Firla

Plot

Stay follows Kiara, a PhD author of African spirituality, and Miles, a former MMA fighter, facing the end of their once beautiful marriage. As it appears matters can’t get any worse in their lives, they begin to encounter soul-shaking supernatural forces and go from fighting one another to fighting for their lives. The key to survival lies within their ability to conquer their darkest moments with courage and love.

DEATH IN APARTMENT 603: WHAT HAPPENED TO ELLEN GREENBERG? on Hulu & Disney+ is a true crime documentary series in three parts. Heartbreaking in so many ways. Read our full Death in Apartment 603: What Happened to Ellen Greenberg? docuseries review here!

DEATH IN APARTMENT 603: WHAT HAPPENED TO ELLEN GREENBERG?is a new Hulu & Disney+ docuseries. This is a heartbreaking true crime documentary series that plays out like an actual nightmare.

A death that is initially ruled a suicide, despite grossly strange circumstances, is later ruled a homicide. And then once again ruled a suicide, for reasons that are very difficult to understand.

Continue reading our Death in Apartment 603: What Happened to Ellen Greenberg? review below. Find all three episodes on Hulu & Disney+ from September 29, 2025.

The strange death of Ellen Greenberg

Watching any true-crime documentary can be heartbreaking as well as angering, but this still hits particularly hard. As revealed (indirectly, anyway) by the title, this docuseries is about Ellen Greenberg and her death in apartment 603.

The apartment is located in a very safe building, in a nice neighborhood, but the location ultimately doesn’t matter much. What does matter is that she died from 20 stab wounds… and the police at the scene ruled it a suicide.

This was the first of many mistakes, as this initial “ruling” meant no crime scene investigators ever looked at the scene. And again, the cause of death was multiple stab wounds placed both on the front and back of her body.

To call it strange seems too underwhelming a word, but here we are.

Who was Ellen Greenberg?

Obviously, you’ll watch all three episodes of Death in Apartment 603: What Happened to Ellen Greenberg? and get to know her. Still, I wanted to set the stage for you real quick.

Ellen Greenberg was just 27 years old when her life ended very abruptly. She was a Philadelphia schoolteacher, about to celebrate her engagement at a party, and was looking forward to getting married seven months later.

Her job as a school teacher did stress her out quite a lot. In that sense, she was not in a good place. Still, everyone was shocked when she was found dead in the apartment she shared with her fiancé.

She has apparently died by her own hand on a snowy night in January 2011. The true shock, however, would be when the news broke that her suicide was now considered a homicide.

Learning that Ellen Greenberg had sustained 20 knife wounds with her body marked by 11 bruises, in various stages of healing, changed everything.

Watch Death in Apartment 603 on Hulu & Disney+ now

Nancy Schwartzman is the director and showrunner of this new documentary series in three parts. She previously directed Hulu’s Sasha Reid and the Midnight Order and Netflix’s equally amazing and rage-inducing Victim/Suspect.

This new true crime docuseries on Hulu & Disney+ is an ABC News Studios production. It was produced in partnership with Dakota and Elle Fanning’s Production Company, Lewellen Pictures, Lionsgate Alternative Television, and Tanbark Pictures.

Seeing just half of the first episode, I’m sure you can understand why Elle and Dakota Fanning were fascinated by this story. Watching it, I found myself getting angry on behalf of everyone who loved Ellen Greenberg.

No matter what you believe to be true, her death should have been examined thoroughly from the very beginning. The scene was so strange that I cannot for the life of me understand why any (decent) police officer wouldn’t.

Death in Apartment 603: What Happened to Ellen Greenberg? is streaming on Hulu / Disney+ from September 29, 2025.

Plot

Ellen Greenberg was found dead with 20 stab wounds. Philadelphia ruled it suicide. This three-part series follows her family’s quest to find the truth.

ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING Season 5 has begun on Hulu & Disney+ with the release of its first three episodes. I am happily and instantly hooked on this show all over again. Read our Only Murders in the Building season 5 review here!

ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING Season 5 is finally here. Hulu & Disney+ premiere the fifth season with the release of its first three episodes. I have adored this series since it began, and I am so happy to be back in the building.

YOU MIGHT LIKE…

Check out our review of the previous season right here >

While the seasons have had various amazing guest stars alongside quirky recurring characters (mostly residents at the Arconia), it’s all about our three podcasters. With season 5, there’s also a focus on another iconic character.

Continue reading our season 5 review of Only Murders in the Building below. Find the first three episodes on Hulu & Disney+ now.

Another murder or a tragic accident?!

When season 4 ended, it was with yet another murder. Or was it? Only Murders in the Building season 5 begins with stating that it was an accident and not a murder.

However, whether this information is to be trusted still seems a little iffy. To put it mildly.

The possible murder victim of that season 4 finale was the beloved doorman of the Arconia, Lester. The circumstances of his death do look extremely suspicious, so obviously, Charles, Oliver, and Mabel believe it was murder.

The heartwarming episode 2

I won’t get into too many details about Only Murders in the Building season 5 for the simple reason that you need to follow the mystery on your own. Having said that, I have to commend episode 2 of its fifth season.

In episode 2 of season 5, we follow Lester from the day he was hired as a doorman in training to his final day. We don’t get all the answers about his final day, but we see how he came to love the building and its residents.

This was a wonderfully heartwarming episode about the life of a person who touched so many lives while creating a life for himself. Not what he expected initially, and certainly not including the more shadowy figures of New York.

As we also saw in the season 4 finale, a mobster is apparently missing and his wife (Tea Leoni) is looking for him, and she asked the podcasters for help. Why she went to them is revealed quickly, and it does make sense.

Watch Season 5 of Only Murders in the Building on Hulu & Disney+ now

As always, Only Murders in the Building stars Steve Martin, Martin Short, and  Selena Gomez as the podcasters. Actually, they are also murder mystery investigators, and even try their hand at an autopsy in season 5… well, sort of.

Also, Michael Cyril Creighton plays Howard, who keeps trying to get a producer credit on the podcast. Maybe this will finally be his year?!

As special guest stars, you can look forward to recurring cast members including Meryl Streep, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Richard Kind, and Nathan Lane.

Playing key roles in season 5 are also Téa Leoni, Bobby Cannavale, Renée Zellweger, Logan Lerman, and Christoph Waltz. Plus, we get Keegan-Michael Key, Beanie Feldstein, and Dianne Wiest.

Finally, Jermaine Fowler is now the doorman of the Arconia. Unfortunately, Lester never managed to finish his training (he hardly had a chance to start it), so he’s learning by doing. No small feat in this building.

In terms of creators and producers, I refer you to previous season reviews. These are the geniuses that make it all possible, after all. And I do adore this series. It’s such a feel-good show. Yes, despite being about murder.

Only Murders in the Building Season 5 begins on Hulu & Disney+ on September 9, 2025.

Details

Creators & Writers: Steve Martin & John Hoffman
Cast: Steve Martin, Martin Short, Selena Gomez, Michael Cyril Creighton, Meryl Streep, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Richard Kind, Nathan Lane, Bobby Cannavale, Renée Zellweger, Logan Lerman, Christoph Waltz, Téa Leoni, Keegan-Michael Key, Beanie Feldstein, Dianne Wiest, Jermaine Fowler

Plot

After their beloved doorman, Lester, dies under suspicious circumstances, Charles, Oliver and Mabel refuse to believe it was an accident. Their investigation plunges them into the shadowy corners of New York and beyond — where the trio uncovers a dangerous web of secrets connecting powerful billionaires, old-school mobsters and the mysterious residents of the Arconia. The trio discovers a deeper divide between their storied city they thought they knew and the new New York evolving around them — one where the old mob fights to hold on as newer, even more dangerous players emerge.

THE MAN IN MY BASEMENT is a new psychological thriller where Willem Dafoe plays the title character. It may feel like slow-burn storytelling at first, but it is ultimately a wild ride. Read our full The Man in My Basement movie review here!

THE MAN IN MY BASEMENT is a psychological thriller with a runtime of 1 hour and 55 minutes, which may sound long, but it works. Yes, it does mean the movie has elements that are classic slow-burning, but don’t let that fool you.

With Willem Dafoe in the title role, this plot will end up taking some wild turns. It’s a movie that requires a lot of its audience, so you need to pay attention and be open to the story beneath the story. The ending itself is wild!

Continue reading our The Man in My Basement movie review below. Find it in select theaters on September 12, 2025, and on Hulu & Disney+ later this Fall.

Desperate times call for desperate actions?!

In The Man in My Basement, we meet Charles Blakey (Corey Hawkins) just as his life is at an all-time low. He lives in a gorgeous, big house that has been in his family for eight generations.

Now, he’s about to lose this house, which would make him the reason this ancestral home won’t make it to the next generation.

Enter Anniston Bennet (Willem Dafoe) with an offer that Charles Blakey won’t be able to resist for long. Anniston Bennet wants to rent the dusty stand-up basement for 65 days.

It isn’t anything illegal, and he is offering enough money that all the debt on the house will be cleared. Of course, if something sounds too good to be true, there’s usually a catch.

There is a catch for this offer as well. However, it isn’t anything he could have anticipated or expected. Nor is it anything I want to spoil for you.

Please, do yourself a favor and avoid spoilers for The Man in My Basement. You’ll want to experience the crazy and intense ways this story escalates without too much prior information.

Trauma, grief, and guilt!

The Man in My Basement deals with several deep and dark themes. Mostly trauma and guilt, but also grief, which is often a part of both trauma and guilt. To some extent, anyway.

Maybe that’s why it reminded me of the movie The Woman in the Yard. And yes, I do realize the titles are also eerily similar, but trust me, the actual movies do differ wildly.

DO CHECK OUT

Our review of the indie psychological horror-thriller here >

It’s more about the themes, where The Man in My Basement focuses on trauma and guilt first, The Woman in the Yard is much more about grief as its primary driver.

I know not everyone was on board with The Woman in the Yard, and I’m a little nervous the same could be the case with The Man in My Basement. However, I believe Willem Dafoe will win over most…in storytelling terms, I mean!

Watch The Man in My Basement as soon as you can!

This new psychological thriller comes from director Nadia Latif, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Walter Mosley. Filmmaker Nadia Latif has crafted a wildly intense and dark story with this one!

Fortunately, the casting is also spot-on with Corey Hawkins and Willem Dafoe in the two key lead roles. Both deliver exactly what their respective characters need and leave the audience floored more than once during its runtime.

Also, the supporting cast is wonderful with Anna Diop (Nanny), Jonathan Ajayi (Alien: Earth), Pamela Nomvete, Gershwyn Eustache Jnr., and Tamara Lawrance (both from Get Millie Black).

The Man in My Basement enjoyed its World Premiere at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival on September 5, 2025. It will be coming to Hulu from September 26, so you can also watch it then.

However, if you get the chance to watch it earlier, I recommend that you jump at it. Again, all to avoid spoilers and get the first-hand experience of this story.

The Man in My Basement is out in Select Theaters from September 12, 2025.

Details

Director: Nadia Latif
Screenplay: Walter Mosley & Nadia Latif
Cast: Corey Hawkins, Willem Dafoe, Anna Diop, Jonathan Ajayi, Gershwyn Eustache Jnr., Pamela Nomvete, Tamara Lawrance

Plot

In the African American neighborhood of Sag Harbor, New York, Charles Blakey (Corey Hawkins) is out of work, out of luck and on the verge of foreclosure on his ancestral home. A knock on the door from a mysterious businessman, Anniston Bennet (Willem Dafoe), brings a bizarre and lucrative proposition; rent his dusty stand-up basement out for the summer and receive enough money to clear his debts for good. Once Charles accepts, he finds himself led down a terrifying path that confronts his family’s ghosts and locks the men in a terrifying puzzle, at the heart of it, race, the source of their traumas and the root of all evil.

BLOOD & MYTH on Hulu is a new True Crime documentary that takes a closer look at a case where folklore became an element.  If you’re a fan of both true crime and folklore, then watching this is a no-brainer. Read our full Blood & Myth documentary review here!

BLOOD & MYTH is a new Hulu documentary about a true crime case. The case involved one death (which was never part of the trial) and two attempted murder charges. It all happened in a very remote village in Alaska.

What makes this true crime case so fascinating isn’t the attempted murders themselves (after all, this happens all the time), but rather the explanation from the shooter. He claimed that creatures from folklore were involved.

Continue reading our Blood & Myth documentary review below. Find it on Hulu from September 4, 2025.

Hunting for Teddy Kyle Smith

The entire tragedy of the true crime covered in Blood & Myth begins with the death of one elderly woman. She is the mother and Teddy Kyle Smith, an actor who had success when he starred in On the Ice (2011).

Since then, alcohol began to play too big a role in Teddy’s life. This may have explained why he decided to run when people arrived at the house where his mom had died. He was also present in the house and figured the optics were bad.

So, Teddy Kyle Smith ran off into the wilderness of Alaska. He managed to trek for 40 miles over several days, and this was where he had a wild and supernatural experience.

The Iñukuns made me do it

Okay, I’ll admit that headline is a little much, but it was essentially the explanation Teddy Kyle Smith gave when he was arrested. After his trek, he ended up in a cabin, which was where he would later shoot two men.

The explanation from Teddy had to do with Iñukuns, which are mythical dwarf-like creatures from Inuit folklore. According to Teddy, the Iñukuns spoke to him, and this was, in a roundabout way, why he shot the men.

Before the Blood & Myth documentary is over, we will hear from Teddy Kyle Smith as well as police officers involved with the case. We also hear from Teddy’s sister and other people who have experienced the Iñukuns.

Throughout this Hulu documentary, we’re guided by James Dommek Jr., who lived in the same remote Alaskan community and is trying to make sense of the crime.

Also, his great-grandfather told the story of the Inukuns, which was turned into the book “The Eskimo Storyteller”, so he has a personal angle to it all. Well, more than “just” this element, actually, but you’ll see the rest for yourself.

Watch Blood & Myth on Hulu now

Kahlil Hudson (Navajo Police: Class 57) directs the Blood & Myth Hulu documentary, which is based on the Audible Original “Midnight Son”, and James Dommek Jr. is listed as the writer of the production.

As a whole, this isn’t the strongest true crime documentary I’ve watched, but I do like that it tries to cover all bases. It does require that you watch it with an open mind.

So, if the idea of a mythical nomadic people known as Iñukuns sounds strange and out there to you, then maybe Blood & Myth isn’t for you. However, you can still watch it with the “I believe they believe this” mindset.

WANT MORE FOLKLORE?

Check out the horror anthology “Folklore” on HBO >

For me, personally, I am not big on organized religion, but I do believe there is more to this world than what we can see, understand, and explain. I wish they had spent more time talking about the findings/proof on Inukuns.

Then again, I also recognize that this true crime documentary needs to focus on the crime. For me, it was just so ingrained into the story already that it would’ve made sense.

Blood & Myth premieres on Hulu on September 4, 2025.

Plot

When a series of shocking, violent crimes shatters a remote native village in Northern Alaska, one man embarks on a journey to investigate a frightening paranormal connection. True crime meets a truly haunting mystery in this feature documentary.

EENIE MEANIE on Hulu & Disney+ is a new thriller starring Samara Weaving. This is a thriller with an action twist and lots of quirky characters. It could have been better, but it’s still fun for a Friday night. Read our full Eenie Meanie movie review here!

EENIE MEANIE is a new Hulu & Disney+ thriller starring Samara Weaving, and having her star in a movie is already enough reason for me to check it out. In fact, it’s even enough for me to enjoy and like it.

But do I love it? No.

I wasn’t even crazy about the trailer, so that was my first warning, but I often don’t like the trailers as much as the actual movie. For me, this movie has a lot of good plot elements, but also quite a few that drag it out and add nothing.

Continue reading our Eenie Meanie movie review below. Find it on Hulu and Disney+ from August 22, 2205.

Eenie Meanie AKA Edie

The title of Eenie Meanie refers to the nickname of the lead character, Edie (Samara Weaving). She’s had a tough life, and because we meet her when she’s just a child, we get an idea of just how tough it has been.

She does, however, have one amazing talent: Edie is a brilliant driver.

Something her dad (Steve Zahn) recognized early on, when they needed a designated driver. Edie’s parents were not reliable, so instead they relied on their child to be responsible… until they asked her to break the law to try and save them.

Without getting into it here, Edie ends up in foster care, which is no picnic either. To put it mildly. This leads her to meet her on-off boyfriend of 15 years, John (Karl Glusman), and her boss of many years, Nico (Andy Garcia).

What in a name?

The nickname of Eenie Meanie actually comes from Nico because he saw that she was a mean driver. When we meet Edie in the present, she’s going to school and leaving the world of crime (as a driver for criminals) behind.

Unfortunately, for Edie, that world isn’t ready to let her go just yet, which is due to the actions of John.

To save her now ex-boyfriend, Edie will have to resume her teenage career as a getaway driver for one last run. And we all know this is the one that will be the most troublesome.

Quirky characters keep you engaged

Admittedly, I expected the action-thriller part of Eenie Meanie to keep me intrigued and engaged, but the storyline has a few slow moments along the way. Too slow, for my liking.

Don’t get me wrong, though, as it’s also during some of those slower moments that we find out exactly why John and Edie seem to be star-crossed lovers. And I did like that story.

Before we get that far, however, there were already issues with the pacing.

Fortunately, Eenie Meanie features lots of quirky and interesting characters. In fact, Edie is the most normal and reliable of them all. And yes, genre darling Samara Weaving (Ready or Not, The Babysitter) is wonderful as always.

DO NOT MISS OUT ON THIS ONE…

Among recent Samara Weaving movies is one of the best >

Karl Glusman (Devs) as John is a little more annoying, but that’s mostly due to the storytelling. Had we known the origin relationship of this couple earlier, I would have been able to understand the connection so much better.

Also playing interesting characters are Jermaine Fowler (Sting), Marshawn Lynch (Freaky Tales), Mike O’Malley (Snowpiercer), and Randall Park (Night Always Comes ).

Watch Eenie Meanie on Hulu & Disney+

Eenie Meanie is written and directed by Shawn Simmons. Previously, Shawn Simmons created the John Wick spin-off TV series The Continental. Needless to say, being involved with anything John Wick means I expect crazy action.

And yes, Eenie Meanie does offer some wild action sequences (especially in the driving department), but it also has moments that are too slow. As already mentioned, among those slower moments is something golden, but still.

This new action-thriller on Hulu, Hulu on Disney+, and “plain” Disney+ internationally, is good for a Friday night, when you want to relax with entertainment. However, unlike most Samara Weaving movies, once was enough!

EENIE MEANIE will premiere on Hulu & Disney+ on August 22, 2025.

Details

Director: Shawn Simmons
Writer: Shawn Simmons
Stars: Samara Weaving, Karl Glusman, Jermaine Fowler, Marshawn Lynch, Randall Park, Steve Zahn, Andy Garcia

Plot

A reformed teenage getaway driver is dragged back into her unsavory past when a former employer offers her a chance to save the life of her chronically unreliable ex-boyfriend.

ALIEN: EARTH on FX and Hulu is a new sci-fi horror series set two years before the iconic ALIEN from 1979. The original film’s style is faithfully preserved, while we’re introduced to intriguing characters and terrifying creatures. And yes, it’s good. Really good. Read our Alien: Earth series review below!

ALIEN: EARTH has landed on FX and Hulu, premiering with its first two episodes. Each runs for about an hour, so it’s almost like watching a couple of mini-movies. The quality is easily on par with one of the many Alien films that have graced the big screen over the decades.

Unlike recent Alien films—which were more like spin-offs—this series is firmly set in familiar territory. The story takes place just two years before the original 1979 film. And this time, we’re on Earth… mostly.

Continue reading our Alien: Earth series review below. Watch the series on FX and FX on Hulu (Internationally on Disney+) beginning August 12, 2025.

Welcome to Earth

Alien: Earth begins in space, aboard a ship that could easily be mistaken for the spaceship from Alien. The production design nails that first-film aesthetic, from tech details to character archetypes.

Before long, we’re back on Earth, as the mysterious USCSS Maginot—where the story began—crash-lands. From the opening scene, we know a Xenomorph is on board. Maybe more than one. And definitely some other alien lifeforms.

On Earth, we meet Wendy (Sydney Chandler), who lives on a research station called “Neverland.” Yes, there’s a very deliberate Peter Pan theme. The facility is owned by the youngest trillionaire on the planet, a man obsessed with fusing human consciousness with synthetic bodies to create hybrids. A project that has succeeded with Wendy.

Child Soldiers Sent Into Battle

Others have undergone the same transformation, but only children’s minds are able to survive the transfer. That’s why terminally ill kids are given synthetic adult bodies, effectively granting them eternal life.

And of course, they make for ideal soldiers… though they’re essentially child soldiers who just look grown-up.

It’s a clever twist that delivers sweet, funny, and heartbreaking moments. After all, kids still get scared—especially when they’re suddenly face-to-face with “monsters.” And yes, this team of child-soldiers is sent to recover the wreck’s dangerous cargo.

The company that owns both the soldiers and, apparently, an entire continent is called Prodigy—named after its “Boy Genius” founder, Boy Kavalier (Samuel Blenkin). The world is now run by just a handful of corporations.

Another is, of course, the familiar Weyland-Yutani, owners of the crashed spacecraft.

Naturally, Prodigy wants the ship’s contents. Wendy, however, has a different motivation: her brother (Alex Lawther) is at the crash site, and she’s desperate to find him.

An Excellent Cast

Since many key characters are hybrids (children in synthetic adult bodies), several adult actors have to play with a childlike mindset—and it works surprisingly well. The core idea that these kids are exploited simply because they appear adult is chilling.

It’s a challenge not only for the actors playing the hybrids, but also for those interacting with them. Luckily, the casting is spot-on. Not least with Sydney Chandler and Alex Lawther as the central sibling duo.

The supporting cast includes Essie Davis (The Babadook, Nitram), Timothy Olyphant (Santa Clarita Diet, The Crazies), David Rysdahl (No Exit), Lily Newmark, and Kit Young (The School for Good and Evil).

Personally, I was also happy to see two Danish actors appear in the series. They are Diêm Camille as Siberian and Sandra Yi Sencindiver as none other than Yutani of Weyland-Yutani. Both have previously been in The Wheel of Time.

Watch Alien: Earth on Disney+ Now!

Alien: Earth comes from Noah Hawley, making his debut in the Alien universe. While he’s not known for dark sci-fi or horror, he has serious chops when it comes to adapting beloved films for TV. He’s the creator of the Fargo series—a series that, at the time of writing, actually rates higher than the original movie.

He also created Legion, a genre-bending blend of sci-fi, thriller, superhero elements, and more. In short, Noah Hawley knows genre storytelling—and more importantly, he’s brilliant at crafting compelling characters that drive the plot.

Noah Hawley also directs episodes of the series. He directs the first episode himself, followed by Dana Gonzales (The Changeling, The Handmaid’s Tale). The eight-episode season has just three directors, with Ugla Hauksdóttir (The Power, Hanna) rounding out the trio.

We’ve watched the first two episodes for this review, and without hesitation, we’re giving them a solid 4 out of 5. Whether the season climbs even higher to a top rating remains to be seen—but this is an incredibly strong start.

Alien: Earth premieres with two episodes on FX and Hulu on August 12, and internationally on Disney+ on August 13, 2025.

Details

Creator: Noah Hawley
Starring: Sydney Chandler, Alex Lawther, Timothy Olyphant, Essie Davis, Babou Ceesay

Plot

When the mysterious deep space research vessel USCSS Maginot crash-lands on Earth, “Wendy” (Sydney Chandler) and a ragtag group of tactical soldiers make a fateful discovery that puts them face-to-face with the planet’s greatest threat.

NAMING THE DEAD is a new National Geographic true crime documentary series streaming on Hulu. It’s about discovering the identities of Jane Doe and John Doe victims from decade-old crimes. Read our full Naming the Dead docuseries review here!

NAMING THE DEAD is streaming on Hulu now, while airing its six episodes on National Geographic weekly. This is a true crime documentary series, and I admit I expected a higher quality from a National Geographic production. I’m afraid I felt it was too much like reality.

It’s about the tireless work of people fighting to find the identities of Jane and John Doe victims from old murder cases. So while the subject is important and interesting, the true crime element often takes the backseat as the production feels like reality that was a bit too heavily scripted.

Continue reading our Naming the Dead docuseries review below. Find it on Hulu now or watch the episodes on National Geographic as they’re released.

Focusing on the victims… mostly

The core concept of Naming the Dead is exactly what I want to see. After all, this is very much focused on the victims of murder cases more than the murderer, which is always what I’m asking for.

Of course, for this particular true crime documentary production, it’s also about the people working to solve the cases. Or, more specifically, solve the mystery of the victim’s identity. The killer may be known or unknown, which is definitely secondary in these stories.

There are more than 50,000 bodies in the United States of America that remain unidentified. These are people who go unnamed and unmourned, but may very well have family and friends who are still missing them.

In Naming the Dead, we meet people working with the DNA Doe Project. They team up with law enforcement, actively working cold cases, or in some cases, coroners. People who have dedicated their time to finally get a name attached to their Jane Doe or John Doe victims.

From book club to solving true crime

The DNA Doe Project is a nonprofit organization that uses genetic genealogy and good ol’ fashioned detective work to discover clues that can (and will) lead to finally naming the dead. What may begin as a distant DNA match will be the beginning of a treasure hunt.

Using fragile paper trails and contacting anyone who may have information is the way forward. I applaud these people working tirelessly on the DNA Doe Project cases, but I wasn’t entirely comfortable with the whole thing.

The vibe was very much “we’ve moved on from book clubs to solving true crime”. I admit it’s not entirely fair, but the mood was a bit too celebratory when I felt it required a more sombre approach. After all, we’re talking about murder victims who have gone unnamed for decades.

From anger to heartbreak

Also, that first episode really rubbed me the wrong way. A young man has repeatedly run away from home to escape a very strict religious household. They go months without reporting him missing, then get annoyed when the authorities are left helpless after they do report him missing.

There was an overall attitude from a parent of “He’ll come back when he’s ready”. They are so thrilled to “have him back” so they can lay him to rest. They do so under the circumstances and in the very religion he struggled to escape.

Also, there’s a chance he was gay (or at the very least not comfortable at home), so it felt like they could finally relax: He’s not out there being a sinner, but dead and “innocent”. I certainly got the distinct feeling that they would not have welcomed him back alive unless he was as they wanted.

Yeah, it felt like the murder victim became a victim all over. I got so angry watching episode 1 of Naming the Dead.

Admittedly, the second episode was better in that sense. However, it was also a lot more heartbreaking as this Jane Doe did have family who were missing her for nearly 40 years. Such a sad story, which absolutely broke my heart… and made me angry for different reasons.

Watch Naming the Dead on Hulu and National Geographic

The concept of Naming the Dead is important and makes it worth watching. Unfortunately, the very soapy reality approach made it feel more like I was watching a new Searching movie. It’s so clearly scripted, rather than us watching the DNA Doe Project investigation in real-time.

Should you watch it? Well, yes, I think you should. However, if you’re like me, you’ll have to live with each episode going through the formulaic approach, which I don’t think suits any true crime production.

Naming the Dead premieres with episode 1 titled “The Hitchhiker” on August 2, 2025, on the National Geographic channel. This is where new episodes will be released weekly. The day after the premiere, all episodes will be available to stream on Disney+ and Hulu in the U.S.

Naming the Dead is streaming on Disney+ and Hulu (U.S.) from August 3, 2025.

Plot

With over 15,000 unidentified bodies across America, the DNA Doe Project is using forensic genealogy to give a name to the missing—and bring families the answers they never thought they’d find.