TROLL 2 on Netflix is the sequel to the 2022 hit movie from Norway. I’ll admit I wasn’t too hopeful it would work a second time. However, I found the plot of this one to work almost even better, so I watched it with a huge smile on my face. Well, when it wasn’t too scary or sad. Read our full review of the Troll 2 Netflix movie here!

TROLL 2 is on Netflix worldwide exactly three years after the first movie was released. In this sequel, we follow many of the same characters, so it feels very familiar right off the bat. Well, the characters that survived are still here, anyway. Of course, we have flashbacks, so most can be included that way.

Also, fair warning, don’t expect everyone to make it out alive this time around either. Yes, this movie will end in a huge fight, which usually means not everyone can survive. Still, this one was a brutal blow, I must say. For the record, my exact rating is closer to 3½, but since we don’t do halves, I’m rounding it up to 4 out of 5.

Continue reading our Troll 2 Netflix movie review below. Find it on Netflix from December 1, 2025.

None the wiser

In Troll 2, a dangerous new troll has been awakened. So, not unlike the events of the previous movie, and yet many appear to be none the wiser. They still think they can use modern technology to contain or control this ancient being made of and by nature.

As a result, this new troll will be unleashing devastation across Norway. Again!

Of course, those who did appear somewhat smarter the first time around are still ready to fight smarter in this sequel. This mostly means the adventurers Nora and Andreas, who try to understand instead of “just” fighting. Also, there’s Captain Kris (who is now a major, but that doesn’t have quite the same ring), and he is still quick to use brawn over brain.

An unexpected hero… or two?!

Don’t worry, I won’t be doing spoilers for Troll 2, but I have to highlight that I loved the unexpected heroes of the story. One is “Beautiful”, and the other is not as surprising, but plays a much bigger role than I expected.

As someone from Scandinavia, this whole troll universe isn’t new to me, and maybe that’s why I expected something else or more from the first movie. However, in this sequel, I feel like the small stuff that didn’t work too well for me comes together much better in Troll 2.

I especially loved how parts of the solution to the rampage of the troll meant looking back at the ancient history of Norway. Figuring out how trolls were treated, and what changed from when they lived in a world alongside human beings. From religion to monarchy, this fantasy universe touches on all the stuff that our countries have been built on over centuries.

In the main cast, we still have Ine Maria Wilmann as Nora Tidemann, Kim Falck as Andreas, Mads Sjøgård Pettersen as “Captain Kris” with Sara Khorami (Post Mortem) as Marion. It’s not a huge cast, but it is very good!

Watch Troll 2 on Netflix

Roar Uthaug is once again the director of the Netflix sequel, just as he was on the first movie. Also, Roar Uthaug wrote the story for Troll 2, while Espen Aukan is the script writer. Basically, this movie was made with exactly the same constellation as the first one.

With a runtime of just over 100 minutes (1 hour and 42 minutes, to be exact), it doesn’t run for too long for its storyline. As a rule, I think it’s fair to say that anyone who enjoyed the first movie will like this one.

Do not switch Troll 2 off too quickly. There is an end-credit scene, which very much teases a third movie. One I will gladly watch after this solid sequel.

Troll 2 premieres globally on Netflix on December 1, 2025.

Details

Director: Roar Uthaug
Story: Roar Uthaug
Script: Espen Aukan
Cast: Ine Maria Wilmann, Sara Khorami, Mads Sjøgård Pettersen, Kim Falck

Plot

When a dangerous new troll unleashes devastation across their homeland, Nora, Andreas and Major Kris embark on their most perilous mission yet.

INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE Season 1 & 2 is on Netflix, so if you haven’t watched it yet, now is your chance. I definitely preferred Part I to Part II, but both are worth watching. Season 3 is coming up in 2026, so you still have time to catch up. Read our review of Interview With The Vampire Part I & Part II here, and find it on Netflix now!

INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE Season 1 & 2 are available to watch on Netflix now. I have been wanting to check it out for the longest time, but just never got around to it. Well, now I did, so I can be ready for season 3, which is titled The Vampire Lestat, which focuses on that character.

This series is, of course, based on the novels by iconic vampire author (as in writer of vampire stories, mind you), Anne Rice. It originally aired with weekly episodes on AMC and AMC+, but has now been released on Netflix as well. It’s not on Netflix globally, but certainly in both the US and the UK at this point in time. And yes, you should definitely watch it!

Continue reading our Interview With The Vampire Part I & Part II review below.

Part I and Part II of Interview With The Vampire

With this AMC series (now on Netflix), we follow a vampire living in Dubai. However, he is a vampire who comes from New Orleans. He was born there as a human being and became a vampire there. His name is Louis de Pointe du Lac (Jacob Anderson), and his maker was Lestat de Lioncourt (Sam Reid).

As Interview With The Vampire Season 1 begins, Louis de Pointe du Lac reunites with an ailing reporter, Daniel Molloy (Eric Bogosian), to once again recount his life story. The two already met many decades ago in San Francisco, but Louis de Point du Lac – honestly, it feels only right to always use his full name – wasn’t quite as honest back then.

Now, in Dubai, he is older and wiser, but obviously looks exactly the same, and he is ready to finally tell the full story. A story of a life filled with bloodlust and a very toxic romance at the center. A romance with the sinister Frenchman who turned him: Lestat du Lioncourt.

A dangerous and intense romance

Unlike the 1994 movie starring Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise in those iconic roles, this AMC series focuses on their romance. Forget all about subtext; the romantic (and physical) love between Louis de Pointe du Lac and Lestat du Lioncourt is the main text. And I am loving that!

Honestly, it’s the only way this entire story truly makes sense!

Both Interview With The Vampire Season 1 & Season 2 are about Louis de Pointe du Lac telling his life story to Daniel Molloy. Season 1 (or Part I) is about his life in New Orleans, while Part II is about his life in Europe, after he leaves the United States to look for more vampires. With him is the daughter he made Lestat du Lioncourt create: Claudia.

In Part I, Claudia is portrayed by Bailey Bass, while in Part II, she is replaced by Delainey Hayles. I preferred the original actor, in many ways, but Delainey Hayles definitely grew on me. A very positive development, as we will soon see her again in Mike Flanagan‘s 2026 version of Stephen King’s Carrie.

And yes, Claudia is the child vampire character Kirsten Dunst portrayed in the 1994 movie.

The final key player in The Interview With The Vampire is Armand. In the movie, Antonio Banderas played this character, while in the series, he is portrayed by Assad Zaman. Not my favorite character, but I certainly don’t feel he’s meant to be either, so Assad Zaman delivers what is necessary for the role.

Watch Interview With The Vampire Season 1 and 2 on Netflix

Anne Rice wrote the books this series is based on, and she is also an executive producer (as credit only, as she passed away before it was finished) alongside her son, Christopher Rice. The creator of the Interview With the Vampire series is Rolin Jones (Perry Mason, The Exorcist series), who is also the showrunner and executive producer.

I loved how we’re given so much more time to dive into these characters. From their history to their psyche, it’s a real treat. From the early 20th century to the very modern world of Dubai in 2022, the story of Louis de Pointe du Lac spans decades, which means there is plenty of story to tell.

And yet, with seasons 1 and 2, we’re focusing very much on New Orleans and Paris, so there is much more to delve into. This leaves room for further seasons or spin-offs.

As for this AMC Original series, it will continue to follow the book series from Anne Rice. And that means Season 3 will be “The Vampire Lestat”, which I am very happy about. Not least after having watched the teaser trailer for the upcoming season.

Not since True Blood have I been this excited about a vampire series. I think I knew I would love it, which is why I waited to start watching, so I could binge-watch seasons.

Interview With The Vampire, Part I and Part II, are on Netflix now. Season 3 will be titled The Vampire Lestat and is coming to AMC in 2026.

Details

Creator: Rolin Jones
Cast: Jacob Anderson, Sam Reid, Bailey Bass, Delainey Hayles, Assad Zaman, Eric Bogosian, Bally Gill, Ben Daniels, Esme Appleton

Plot

A vampire from New Orleans reunites with an ailing reporter to recount a life of bloodlust and toxic romance with the sinister Frenchman who turned him.

STRANGER THINGS Season 5 Volume 1 is finally out on Netflix now. That means more of the wonderful genre hybrid featuring sci-fi, horror, fantasy, mystery, thriller, and action. And yes, it does get very dark, yet again. The four new episodes in Volume 1 are all at least one hour long, so clear your calendar. Read our Stranger Things S5 Vol. 1 review here!

STRANGER THINGS Season 5 Volume 1 on Netflix offers the first four episodes of the fifth and final season of the Netflix hit series. We’ll get an additional three episodes for Christmas in Volume 2, and then “The Finale” will be out on New Year’s Eve.

Also, expect all the episodes to between around one hour in runtime, and actual feature film length. Hey, I’m not complaining. I have loved this 1980s genre-mix of a series since the very first episode. Actually, even just from the plot and the first trailer, I knew I was hooked. Now, we’re entering the final episodes to learn the fate of Hawkins.

Continue reading our Stranger Things S5 Vol 1 review below. Start watching on Netflix now.

Hawkins is under siege

We begin with a quick recap of Stranger Things Season 4, which also means you’ll need to look up recaps that cover more than just the previous season. I found one from Looper on YouTube that covered all four previous seasons, and it’s worth checking out if you want an in-depth refresher of past events. Find it here >

After the quick S4 recap, we’re ready to keep going, but Hawkins isn’t quite as before. There’s a military presence, and Hawkins is very much a city under siege. Now, it’s both from the many military personnel all over, and due to the fact that everyone in the town must remain there. Yep, a good ol’ fashioned quarantine.

The huge crack in the surface, which was described as the result of an earthquake, has been paved over with metal sheets. Other than that, soldiers continue moving in and out of the “Upside Down” through Rifts.

We’re in the Fall of 1987, and all our heroes (kids, teenagers, and adults) have a common goal of wanting to find and kill Vecna. Of course, Vecna has a plan of his own, and once that is put into action, several characters will pay the price. This is not a show for kids, and a lot of blood will be spilled.

Eleven is in hiding, but just wants to help, and knows she is probably the only hope of defeating Vecna. However, Hopper wants to protect her, and (as always) they end up fighting a lot.

Lots of familiar faces – and a few new ones

As always, the cast of Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 1 is led by Winona Ryder as Joyce Byers and David Harbour as Jim Hopper. They are the adults who have worked with the “kids” since the beginning.

The kids (of very varying ages by now) consist of Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven, Finn Wolfhard as Mike Wheeler, Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin Henderson, Caleb McLaughlin as Lucas Sinclair, and Noah Schnapp as Will Byers. Also, Sadie Sink is still here as Max Mayfield, who sadly ended up in a coma by the end of season 4. She’s still there as this story begins.

Among those who have been teenagers since they entered the story, we have Natalia Dyer as Mike’s older sister Nancy Wheeler, Charlie Heaton as Will’s older brother Jonathan Byers, and Joe Keery as the ever-charming and brave (if sometimes not the brightest) Steve Harrington. Also, Maya Hawke is still on board as Robin Buckley.

Many other recurring characters are back, which I’m happy to report includes Priah Ferguson as Lucas’s fierce little sister, Erica Sinclair, and Cara Buono as the Wheeler matriarch, Karen Wheeler. Also returning, of course, is Jamie Campbell Bower as Vecna – also known in his human form as Henry.

For me, the most interesting new addition is Linda Hamilton as Dr. Kay, but we’ll also be seeing more of Alex Breaux as Lt. Akers. Overall, there are lots of people working in or for the military. Plus, Nell Fisher (Evil Dead Rise) will play a bigger role as the younger Wheeler sibling, Holly.

Watch Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 1 on Netflix now

As always, the Stranger Things series comes from creators The Duffer Brothers. It’s produced by Upside Down Pictures & 21 Laps Entertainment, and yes, The Duffer Brothers serve as executive producers. Of course!

Also, executive producing is Shawn Levy (Deadpool & Wolverine) of 21 Laps Entertainment and Dan Cohen (The Boogeyman, Love and Monsters, There’s Someone Inside Your House).

If you’ve been a fan of Stranger Things this far, you should be happy with how this final season is beginning. It does get very dark and violent. Sure, this has always been the case, but it is very bloody alongside the “typical” psychological warfare we’ve experienced from the Upside Down. Consider yourself warned… and enjoy the ride towards The Finale.

Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 1 debuts on Netflix on November 26, 2025.

Details

Creators: The Duffer Brothers
Cast: Winona Ryder (Joyce Byers), David Harbour (Jim Hopper), Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven), Finn Wolfhard (Mike Wheeler), Gaten Matarazzo (Dustin Henderson), Caleb McLaughlin (Lucas Sinclair), Noah Schnapp (Will Byers), Sadie Sink (Max Mayfield), Natalia Dyer (Nancy Wheeler), Charlie Heaton (Jonathan Byers), Joe Keery (Steve Harrington), Maya Hawke (Robin Buckley), Priah Ferguson (Erica Sinclair), Brett Gelman (Murray), Jamie Campbell Bower (Vecna), Cara Buono (Karen Wheeler), Amybeth McNulty (Vickie), Nell Fisher (Holly Wheeler), Jake Connelly (Derek Turnbow), Alex Breaux (Lt. Akers), and Linda Hamilton (Dr. Kay).

Plot

The fall of 1987. Hawkins is scarred by the opening of the Rifts, and our heroes are united by a single goal: find and kill Vecna. But he has vanished — his whereabouts and plans unknown. Complicating their mission, the government has placed the town under military quarantine and intensified its hunt for Eleven, forcing her back into hiding. As the anniversary of Will’s disappearance approaches, so does a heavy, familiar dread. The final battle is looming — and with it, a darkness more powerful and more deadly than anything they’ve faced before. To end this nightmare, they’ll need everyone — the full party — standing together, one last time.

Discover every new horror, thriller, sci-fi, and true-crime title coming to Netflix U.S. in December 2025, including Troll 2, Knives Out 3, and Stranger Things 5. Perfect for your holiday watchlist.

December 2025 on Netflix U.S. is stacked with colossal monsters, icy crime mysteries, true-crime bombshells, and long-awaited franchise returns — including one of the most anticipated finales in genre TV history.

If you’re looking for new horror, thriller, sci-fi, or true-crime titles to add to your December watchlist, Netflix is delivering a packed month from all corners of the genre world.

Below is your complete guide to every major dark, eerie, or adrenaline-fueled addition coming this month.

December 1 — A Monster-Sized Drop of Horror, Thrillers & Sci-Fi

Troll 2 (2025) – Netflix Original

The gigantic beast is back. When a devastating new troll threatens their homeland, Nora, Andreas, and Major Kris embark on their most dangerous mission so far. Expect massive destruction, Norse mythology deep dives, and high-stakes action.
Watch the trailer on YouTube >

Sew Torn (2025)

A darkly funny indie thriller from Shudder. A small-town sewing shop owner discovers a botched drug deal and a suitcase full of cash — and every possible path from that moment spirals downward.
Read our review >

Playing Gracie Darling: Season 1

An Australian mystery-crime series where a psychologist is forced to confront a séance gone horribly wrong decades earlier — just as another young girl vanishes.

Influencer (2022)

Kurtis David Harder’s social-media nightmare sees a stranded traveler befriending a glamorous influencer whose curated persona hides something sinister. A slick, slow-burn thriller exploring identity and online deception.
Read our review >

What Lies Beneath (2000)

Robert Zemeckis’ supernatural thriller remains a chilling showcase for Michelle Pfeiffer and Harrison Ford as their idyllic life is overtaken by eerie, escalating paranormal events.

Brightburn (2019)

A brutal “what if Superman went evil” story. When a boy with extraterrestrial origins embraces darkness, his adoptive parents must reckon with the consequences.
Read our review >

Godzilla (2014) & Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019)

Both modern monster epics arrive on the same day. Gareth Edwards’ atmospheric 2014 reboot pairs perfectly with Michael Dougherty’s Titan-filled 2019 sequel featuring Godzilla, Ghidorah, Mothra, Rodan, and absolute kaiju mayhem.

Hollow Man (2000)

Paul Verhoeven’s invisible-man thriller with Kevin Bacon diving into morality, power, and the monstrous consequences of scientific hubris.

Anne Rice’s Mayfair Witches: Season 2

December 2
Alexandra Daddario returns as Rowan Mayfair in AMC’s supernatural saga rooted in the Anne Rice universe. Expect deeper lore, more power struggles, and dark family secrets.

The Northman (2022)

December 3
Robert Eggers’ brutal Viking revenge epic arrives with Alexander Skarsgård as a warrior-prince on a blood-soaked mission to reclaim his destiny.

Fugue State 1986: Season 1 (2025)

December 4
A Colombian literary friendship fractures after one commits a horrific act of violence. Inspired by real events — specifically the most brutal massacre committed by a single man in Colombia — this is one of December’s darkest releases.

The Abandons: Season 1 (2025)

December 4
Two powerful matriarchs lead rival families fighting for survival and supremacy on the perilous American frontier in the 1850s.
Watch the trailer on YouTube >

The Price of Confession: Season 1 (2025)

December 5
A twist-heavy thriller where a woman accused of murder is offered an escape — but only if she commits another killing. A dangerous pact with a stranger spirals into moral chaos.

The Accident: Season 2

December 10
A year after a tragedy links four families, buried truths threaten to explode into revenge, justice, or both.
Read our review of Season 1 >

Had I Not Seen the Sun: Part 2

December 11
Following Jen-yao’s violent acts, long-suppressed truths threaten love, hope, and the fragile ties holding everything together.
Read our review of Part 1 >

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (2025)

December 12
Benoit Blanc is back. This time, he’s teaming with a young priest to investigate an impossible murder inside a small-town church with a haunted past.
Watch the trailer on YouTube >

City of Shadows: Season 1

December 12
After a burning body appears on a Gaudí landmark, a disgraced Barcelona detective returns to stop a killer terrorizing the city.

The Fanatic (2019)

December 12
John Travolta stars as an obsessed fan whose devotion spirals into stalking and violence in this psychological thriller from Fred Durst.

The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)

December 13
Matt Damon’s chilling portrayal of Tom Ripley — a charming sociopath drawn to luxury, obsession, and identity theft — remains one of the genre’s best psychological thrillers.

Castle Rock: Seasons 1–2

December 16
Stephen King fans rejoice! The entire psychological-horror series inspired by King’s interconnected universe finally lands on Netflix.

Murder in Monaco (2025)

December 17
This documentary digs into the mysterious 1999 killing of billionaire banker Edmond Safra, unraveling the bizarre and twisting events behind one of Monaco’s most controversial deaths.
Watch the trailer on YouTube >

Better Watch Out (2016)

December 18
A Christmas babysitting gig goes violently off the rails in this wicked Australian holiday horror-comedy starring Olivia DeJonge.
Read our review >

Relay (2025)

December 19
Riz Ahmed and Lily James star in this biotech conspiracy thriller about a woman who uncovers deadly secrets and turns to a shadowy fixer for help.

The Great Flood (2025)

December 19
A Korean sci-fi survival thriller about a mother and son trapped during a catastrophic flood — and the mission that could decide humanity’s fate.

The Closer: Seasons 1–7

December 22
Kyra Sedgwick’s acclaimed crime series lands on Netflix, following Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson as she interrogates and outsmarts L.A.’s most dangerous criminals.

Eden (2025)

December 23
A true-story-inspired thriller about idealists trying to build a utopian community in the Galápagos. Paradise quickly descends into paranoia, jealousy, and deadly power struggles.

Stranger Things: Season 5 Volume 2 (2025)

December 25
Dropping at 5PM PT on Christmas Day. Hawkins is locked down, El is in hiding, and the group faces their most dangerous mission yet: the hunt for Vecna continues.
Watch the trailer on YouTube >

Evil Influencer: The Jodi Hildebrandt Story (2025)

December 30
Netflix’s latest true-crime documentary unravels the disturbing case of Utah therapist Jodi Hildebrandt and parenting YouTuber Ruby Franke — a shocking tale of manipulation, control, and child abuse.

Stranger Things: Season 5 – FINALE (2025)

December 31
Releasing at 5PM PT on the final day of 2025. This is it: the last chapter in Netflix’s flagship supernatural saga.

MISSING: DEAD OR ALIVE Season 2 on Netflix offers two new exciting missing person cases, where we follow the investigation. It’s intense and scary in its raw realism, but also proves just how important the work of these investigators is. Read our full Missing: Dead or Alive? S2 review here!

MISSING: DEAD OR ALIVE Season 2 is now on Netflix with four new episodes. These four episodes cover two missing person cases, and if you’ve watched season 1, then you know the drill. We come in right at the beginning of a person being reported as missing and follow the police officers on the case.

DO CHECK OUT…

Our review of Missing: Dead or Alive? Season 1 right here >

Fair warning, and tiny spoiler, season 2 opens with a case that is resolved within hours. Just a little “taste” to help us see that a quick reaction and tactical approach can yield quick (and happy) results. Then we move on to the first of the two cases in this second season, and it gets more complicated.

Continue reading our S2 review of Missing: Dead or Alive below – and find it on Netflix now.

The season 2 cases on Missing: Dead or Alive

With this second season of the true crime Netflix docu-series, we get two cases. Okay, three, if you count the brief opening case, which just helps set the stage.

The first full case is about a young man who vanishes right after Thanksgiving. His phone, valet, and medication are all still in his apartment, which means the detectives are off to a tough start. Next, they’ll learn of the various issues and struggles of his neighbors, who all highlight what a wonderful young man he was. This case takes up the first two episodes.

Next is a case about a young woman who seemingly disappears in the dead of night. Once again, the investigators in the missing persons unit must find puzzles in many different places to try to piece together the full picture. Both cases take place in Columbia, South Carolina.

You’d want this team on your case

As complex and tricky as these investigations are, the people working on them are relentless. They clearly work on these missing persons cases because they have an unbelievable drive to help their loved ones. And the victim themselves, of course.

For the record, the title is very literal, as you can never be certain whether the missing person will be found dead or alive. If at all?!

This is true crime, so we follow the investigation wherever it leads. This means following leads that turn out to be dead ends, those that lead to a happy reunion, or handing over the case to homicide.

Just like in season 1, we’re with the officers from the Richland County Sheriff’s Department Missing Persons Unit in Columbia, South Carolina. From what I’ve seen in these two seasons, you’d want this team on your case. In this age of strange shootings, ICE, and corrupt cops, a Netflix series like Missing: Dead or Alive is great PR for the police in the US.

Watch Missing: Dead or Alive Season 2 on Netflix now

The four episodes in season 2 of Missing: Dead or Alive are directed by Alex Irvine-Cox and are absolutely worth watching. This isn’t true crime in the documentary feature sense, where you can look back and piece together the pieces to make a pretty picture. Instead, it’s happening in real-time, and so the “Dead or Alive?” element of the title is very relevant.

A happy ending to these cases is never a given!

According to the US Department of Justice’s National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs), people go missing in America every single day. In fact, the number is higher than 1,500 people. A number that no doubt doesn’t include anyone unfortunate to get into contact with ICE, and that’s a whole other challenge.

With kidnappings as well as missing persons cases of any other variety, the old saying is still key: The longer a person is missing, the less likely they are to be found alive. Check out these new cases in season 2 to know the outcome this time around.

Missing: Dead or Alive Season 2 is out on Netflix from November 24, 2025.

Plot

A young woman disappears in the dead of night. A man vanishes without his vital possessions. Police tackle new cases in this chilling true-crime series.

THE CARMAN FAMILY DEATHS on Netflix is a true crime documentary that deals more in theories than facts. Often by necessity, but maybe that’s a sign that this documentary simply should not have been made. Read our full The Carman Family Deaths documentary review here!

THE CARMAN FAMILY DEATHS is a Netflix documentary in the true crime subgenre. Or rather, this one could also be described as a cold case documentary. I say this because it isn’t based on facts as much as theories. And everyone can pass off their own theory as if that was what actually happened, but nothing is as definitive as it appears.

The runtime is just 90 minutes, which is a good thing. It is also a fascinating watch, but that doesn’t mean it’s particularly good. Watch it if you’re in the mood for a very run-of-the-mill Netflix true crime documentary, but don’t expect too many answers.

Continue reading our review of The Carman Family Deaths documentary below. Find it on Netflix now.

Mother and son lost at sea

While we begin with a case in September 2016, an unsolved murder from 2013 is actually the first case. But I’m getting ahead of the chronology of the Netflix documentary.

With The Carman Family Deaths Netflix documentary, the story begins with the disappearance of 54-year-old Linda Carman in September 2026. She had gone fishing with her 22-year-old son, Nathan, as many times before. However, when Linda failed to contact a friend the next day, both Linda and Nathan were reported missing.

More than a week later, Nathan Carman is found alive in a life raft. His mother, Linda Carman, has never been found. This leads to Nathan being a suspect, which is only made worse by the fact that he has autism and doesn’t respond in ways that the investigators “like”.

And also by the fact that he has already been a suspect in another murder case.

The first murder case in the family

In 2013, Nathan’s grandfather, millionaire real estate developer John Chakalos, was found murdered in his bed. Because Nathan was the last known person to see him alive, he was an immediate suspect. The facts do not quite match up, but the police seem to take a more “open-minded” approach to the time of death, when a later hour matches better with when Nathan has no alibi.

For the record, I have no idea if Nathan Carman killed anyone, but I can certainly see how the police want the evidence to show that he did. Trouble is, there is no such evidence in the case of John Chakalos’s death. Nor does it seem obvious in the presumed death of Linda Carman.

In The Carman Family Deaths, we get interviews with people covering both sides. Basically, we hear from those who believe Nathan killed his grandfather and mom, and those who absolutely do not.

You’ll hear interviews with Nathan’s father and Linda’s ex-husband, Clark Carman, Linda’s life-long friend (who is also named Linda), and one of Linda’s sisters. Also, we hear from investigators from the Coast Guard, local police, and the FBI, along with a prosecutor and a defense lawyer.

The Carman or Chakalos Family?

I have quite a few issues with this Netflix documentary, which has more to do with the marketing than the content. For one, even the title is a little off. It’s named after the family name of the suspect more than the victims. I mean, yes, one of the victims was named Linda Carman, as was her son, Nathan Carman, who was a suspect in both cases.

However, it’s called “The Carman Family Deaths” in plural due to the murder of John Chakalos. The father of Linda and the grandfather of Nathan. So, wouldn’t it have made more sense to use that name, since both victims have had the name Chakalos, and only the suspect was given the name Carman? A name Linda married into – and also divorced from.

Also, selling this true crime documentary as being about “a doomed fishing trip plunged a family into a modern-day ‘Greek tragedy'” would have made more sense if the actual Greek family name had been used.

A pet peeve issue of mine, perhaps, but also one that completely skews the vibe of the documentary from the outset.

Watch The Carman Family Deaths on Netflix now

Yon Motskin (Encounters) is the director of The Carman Family Deaths on Netflix. I doubt this will be a very talked-about true crime production, but it may shine a much-needed spotlight on the struggles of having autism and being interrogated by investigators who can’t get “a read” on you.

Something that shouldn’t be the problem of the person interrogated, but it obviously is.

In terms of building suspense and drama, it follows the classic paint-by-numbers formulaic evolution of modern true crime Netflix productions. Nothing more or less than any of the other average productions. Still, it’s a quick watch that should both intrigue and/or anger most viewers.

No matter who you believe, someone in this will most likely share your take on the crimes covered.

The Carman Family Deaths is out on Netflix from November 19, 2025.

Plot

A young man’s dramatic rescue at sea spirals into accusations he murdered two members of his wealthy New England family in this true crime documentary.

THE CRYSTAL CUCKOO on Netflix is a new crime thriller series from Spain (org. title: El cuco de cristal). It features a serial killer story spanning many decades in just six strong episodes. Read our full review of The Crystal Cuckoo series here!

THE CRYSTAL CUCKOO is a new Netflix series with a crime thriller plot. It’s a serial killer mystery where you will get all the answers before the end of episode six. In fact, episode 5 is quite a game-changer as it goes back and shows us what has happened.

With a total of six episodes, this Spanish series (org. title: El cuco de cristal) packs quite the punch. It comes from the same author as The Snow Girl, which has two seasons out on Netflix. All six episodes were watched for this review – because it’s a great show!

Continue reading our review of The Crystal Cuckoo series below. Find it on Netflix from November 14, 2025.

From heart attack to murder mystery

The Crystal Cuckoo begins with Clara Merlo (Catalina Sopelana) suffering a massive heart attack. Fortunately, she’s at work as a first-year medical resident, so she couldn’t have a heart attack in a better place.

Once she wakes up, a month has passed, and she now has a new heart. Having been kept alive by machines, she was fortunate enough to get a second chance. As Clara is finding her way back to life, she can’t help but wonder about the donor.

No, not because she’s getting strange visions or has foreign memories suddenly. Those plot elements have been used for several horror movies. Even very efficiently. However, this is not a horror story; it’s a crime thriller mystery, which indirectly involves her donor.

No, that’s not a spoiler, but simply to say that many strange disappearances have happened in the small town, where Clara’s heart donor, Carlos, lived.

Anyway, Clara decides to visit his family.

A picturesque town with secrets

Sometimes, a crime thriller mystery like The Crystal Cuckoo will play out in a town that suddenly feels like something out of The Hills Have Eyes. This is not that kind of small town. Instead, it’s a picturesque and enigmatic small town full of kind people.

And yet, the town also seems to have had more disappearances than could be expected. Sure, some people up and leave their families, and others run away as teenagers, but this goes beyond that.

For Carlos, the man who previously had Clara’s new heart, it was his father who disappeared. Now, Clara is staying in the family’s house, where the mother is still grieving her son’s death (and dealing with her husband’s disappearance decades earlier).

One family tragedy after another

Carlos’s own dad, Miguel Ferrer, was a police officer and an overall good guy, who also had experienced loss; His own sister disappeared years earlier. In fact, Miguel was still searching for answers when he disappeared. Could it all be connected?

Well, yes, and in ways that are even more sinister than you’ll likely imagine after the first few episodes of The Crystal Cuckoo.

There are many time jumps in this Netflix series as we follow the present (or near present) and then go back 20 years. It’s all made very obvious by telling us what year we’re in. Also, you can tell by the aging of the characters.

Watch The Crystal Cuckoo series on Netflix

The new Netflix miniseries The Crystal Cuckoo (org. title: El cuco de cristal) is a new adaptation of a Javier Castillo novel. He also wrote the novel that was made into the Netflix series The Snow Girl, and now another one of his best-selling novels is being adapted.

This Netflix adaptation comes from Jesús Mesas and Javier Andrés Roig (The Snow Girl), and the episodes are directed by Laura Alvea (Animas) and Juan Miguel del Castillo (The Gypsy Bride).

The cast of The Crystal Cuckoo also features several familiar faces for fans of Spanish production. These include star Catalina Sopelana (The Gardener), Alex García (Unknown Origins), Itziar Ituño (Money Heist), Alfons Nieto (Burning Body, Elite), Tomás del Estal (Gangs of Galicia), and Iván Massagué (The Platform).

If you’re in the mood for a strong crime thriller mystery, then you do not want to miss out on The Crystal Cuckoo. It features an insanely sinister and eerily realistic serial killer story that feels like something you could just as easily have come across on the evening news.

All 6 episodes of The Crystal Cuckoo will premiere on November 14, 2025.

Details

Directors: Laura Alvea, Miguel del Castillo
Script: Jesús Mesas, Javier Andrés Roig
Stars: Catalina Sopelana, Alex García, Itziar Ituño, Iván Massagué, Alfons Nieto, Tomás del Estal

Plot

Hoping to learn more about her heart donor, a young doctor arrives in a mountain town where decades of mysterious tragedies plague the small community.

HAD I NOT SEEN THE SUN on Netflix is a new crime thriller series about a serial killer, but it also has a romance plot. It’s not a hybrid I am a fan of, but the plot does work as a whole. If you’re into this genre combination, obviously. Read our Had I Not Seen the Sun Part 1 review here!

HAD I NOT SEEN THE SUN is a new Netflix series with 10 hour-long episodes. And that’s just in part 1. So, yeah, we’re getting close to a soap opera feeling with this many episodes. The same has to be said for the intro, which is very romance-fueled with both its visuals and choice of music.

It’s a serial killer story, where we follow a documentary production trying to get to know the incarcerated man. At its core, this is exactly the kind of plot I’d go for. However, then you add the element of romance, and I’m not too sure anymore. Also, there are many flashbacks that are there for a reason, but this character-driven series is just very slow.

Continue reading our part 1 review of Had I Not Seen the Sun Part below. Find it on Netflix now.

A moth and a butterfly

Had I Not Seen The Sun is the story of the 25-year-old Li Jen-yao. He turns himself in for a series of grisly and cold-blooded murders, which means he also admits to being the serial killer known as “The Rainstorm Killer”.

However, despite admitting to these heinous acts, he never offers any motive. That’s why all reporters and documentary filmmakers are dying to talk to him. Finally, he agrees to do his first-ever interview with the young woman, Chou Pin-yu.

As she gets closer to the convicted serial killer, she starts having unsettling dreams of both the killer and a mysterious girl in uniform. And yes, this Netflix series does have a supernatural and ghostly element as well. Not least with dreams and reality getting mixed up as secrets involving love, hatred, guilt, and redemption come to the surface.

Officially, this series is described as “Blending high-school trauma, forbidden love, and chilling revenge”, which isn’t wrong. It just isn’t nearly as well executed as it could have been, either.

I can see this same core story made into an 8-episode series as a South Korean or Spanish production, and it would be a much darker production. One I know I would’ve enjoyed more.

The light and fluffy elements of the story in Had I Not Seen The Sun are just too cutesy. They are in a jarring contrast to the darker elements of the story, and as a result, both stories suffer.

Do we need to romanticize this?

From the trailer, the story of a moth and a butterfly is at the center. It’s a whole fairytale about how one lives under sunlight while the other is drawn to the moonlight. It’s all very romantic and tragic, which would be fine for a romantic drama, but combining it with this story about a serial killer and his long-lost love is not my thing.

Really, I just am not a fan of the whole serial-killer-romance hybrid.

Without giving away any spoilers, I don’t think we need to romanticize anyone in prison for murder. They already get plenty of attention from women who want to save them and men who can somehow relate to them. No need to add a whole new set of groupies in the form of documentary production workers falling for their charm.

Whether innocent or guilty, it’s not a good look from the get-go.

Watch part 1 of Had I Not Seen The Sun on Netflix now

This new Netflix series comes from the award-winning creators behind Someday or One Day. Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Chiang Chi-Cheng and Golden Bell winner Chien Chi-Feng, and written by screenwriters Chien Chi-feng and Lin Hsin-huei. It’s described as a “dark mystery romance series”, which I don’t know if I think is entirely right.

The serial killer element in the opening is dark and intense, but much of the romance is quite light.

Had I Not Seen The Sun is a Netflix series from Taiwan (org. title: Ru Guo Wo Bu Ceng Jian Guo Tai Yang), and while I was hoping for a style similar to a South Korean production, this is much slower than that. I know I’ve already mentioned this, but it bears repeating.

WANT A STRONG GENRE PRODUCTION FROM TAIWAN?

Be sure to check out The Resurrected on Netflix >

The new series from Taiwan is released in two parts. If you’re hooked on this series, then part 2 is coming your way on December 11, 2025. You won’t have to wait long, and with 10 episodes in part 1, you can even make them last quite a while.

Had I Not Seen The Sun premieres with Part 1 on Netflix on November 13, 2025.

Details

Directors: Chiang Chi-cheng, Chien Chi-feng
Screenwriters: Chien Chi-feng, Lin Hsin-huei
Cast: Tseng Jing-hua, Moon Lee, Lyan Chen, Chiang Chi, Umin Boya, Yao Chun-yao, Nic Chiang, Biubiu Chen, Ann Lee, Chris Lung, Shih Chih-tian, Jake Hsu, Roy Chang, Leo Huang, Xie Zhang-ying, Tan Shan-chien, Yuliya Tsai, Chi Chen, Sonia Yuan, Pipi Yao,Vega Tsai, Chu Te-kang

Plot

When a notorious serial killer gets interviewed by a young woman for a film, his past reveals a deep web of trauma and heartbreak tied to his first love.