THE THINGS YOU KILL is a new revenge thriller with a few unexpected twists along the way. It all plays out in Turkey, but the story is universal in many brutal ways. Also, this is Canada’s Oscar bid for 2026. Yes, I do mean Canada. Read our full The Things You Kill movie review here!

THE THINGS YOU KILL is a movie that I probably expected more from, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a good movie. It’s just that I knew, before watching it, that this is the Oscar bid from Canada for the 2026 Best Foreign Film award. This made for some expectations that the movie didn’t deliver on.

Having said that, I still highly recommend watching this movie. However, I have to highlight that you need to go in with an open mind and pay attention. The premise is fairly simple as far as revenge stories go, but the storytelling style chosen for this thriller does challenge its audience.

Continue reading our The Things You Kill movie review below. Find it in select theaters from November 14, 2025.

Revenge or forgiveness?

With The Things You Kill, we see family members struggle with the choice between revenge and forgiveness. When dealing with trauma, this will often seem like the only two choices. If you want to move on, you must either forgive or react. Forgetting is rarely an option – and never the healthy one.

It all begins with a son, Ali, questioning the suspicious death of his mother. Very quickly, he suspects that his father had a hand in his mother’s accidental death. Ali is a university professor who has returned to his native Turkey after spending more than a decade in the USA.

Why he left is part of the story, so I won’t get into that. However, he returned to be closer to his family and wants to start a family and build a garden on a plot of land. To help with the latter, an enigmatic gardener plays a role. Appearing out of nowhere, he is ready to help Ali with whatever he needs.

Before long, thoughts of revenge take over, and family secrets will surface to reveal painful truths. Can Ali hold back the darkness that has been building up inside, or will he give in and let it out?

Up for a possible Oscar nomination

As already mentioned, The Things You Kill is the Oscar bid from Canada for the 2026 Best Foreign Language Film award. The director of this movie is an Iranian-Canadian filmmaker, and the story is in Turkish and takes place in Turkey.

I can’t say anything against this, as the amazing Under the Shadow became a nominee for the UK, and Holy Spider was a nominee for my own native Denmark. It’s all about following the filmmaker and, especially, the money. Who produced the movie? That’s where you discover the connection to which country will be the potential Oscar recipient.

Anyway, I also had Incendies in the back of my mind. Simply due to it being from a Canadian director, taking place in the Middle East, and also being nominated for an Oscar for Canada. The breathtaking 2010 movie was by Denis Villeneuve, and I truly cannot recommend it enough.

Incendies didn’t win the Oscar, because that went to my native Denmark for Susanne Bier‘s In A Better World. As proud as I am of that, I personally feel Incendies has a stronger story.

Anyway, my point is simply that I expected something that The Things You Kill never promised, and yet it did impact my overall experience with watching it. Fairly? Not at all, but here we are.

Watch The Things You Kill when you can

The Things You Kill was written & directed by Alireza Khatami. Despite not having watched anything by this Iranian-Canadian filmmaker before, I am very excited to see what he does next. The core story of this movie is heartbreaking yet offers hope. And yet, this is also a dark revenge story that involves choices you can never undo.

The movie has already won the 2025 Sundance Directing Award in the “World Cinema Dramatic” category. This alone makes it an obvious choice to send to the Oscars as well. That’s probably a good part of the reason for making The Things You Kill Canada’s official selection for the 98th Academy Awards.

It’s possible that I would’ve ended a rating higher on another day, but no more than that. The reason is the storytelling choices. It’s a strong story, but it does expect a lot from its audience before setting the stage and presenting the premise ideally. To this movie-watcher, anyway.

The Things You Kill opens in New York on November 14, 2025, before expanding to Los Angeles and additional markets on November 21, 2025. 

Details

Director: Alireza Khatami
Script: Alireza Khatami
Cast: Ekin Koç, Erkan Kolçak Köstendil, Hazar Ergüçlü, Ercan Kesal, Serhat Nalbantoğlu, Aysan Sümercan, Selen Kurtaran

Plot

Questioning the suspicious death of his mother, a university professor and his enigmatic gardener descend into a hypnotic maze of mirrors and memories. As family secrets surface and painful truths emerge, they spiral toward a devastating reckoning with the darkness lurking within us all.

MALICE on Prime Video is a new revenge thriller series. It has a stellar cast, but the intensity is somehow lacking. What still makes it worth watching is Jack Whitehall, who is scary good in this. Read our Malice series review here!

MALICE is a new Prime Video series with a revenge plot and a thriller driver. Obviously, there’s a whole mystery to this as well, so it’s like watching a puzzle be laid out on screen. Unfortunately, it’s too slow for my liking.

The series has six episodes, which should make for a tight and intense season. Unfortunately, I was not hooked after the first episode, and the second didn’t do much more for me. I mean, the story is intriguing, but the pacing just did not work for me.

Continue reading our 2025 Malice series review below. Start watching on Prime Video on November 14, 2025.

Lifestyle of the rich and… annoying?!

With Malice, we follow the charismatic tutor, Adam (Jack Whitehall), who is great with kids. This is also how he manages to find his way into the life of the very wealthy Tanner family.

They meet while on a vacation in Greece, where Adam works for another family. However, once the Tanner family’s nanny gets violently ill with a stomach bug of some kind (you’ll know what kind once Adamn feeds her something), he swoops in.

Or rather, he does not swoop in, but the Tanner family asks him to please take the job. Oh yes, he is a crafty networker indeed. And Adam has a plan that involves the patriarch, Jamie Tanner (David Duchovny).

Once the family, now with Adam as their nanny (or “manny”), returns to London, things start to go awry. Adam begins to pit Jamie and his wife, Nat (Carice Van Houten), against each other. All with the goal of bringing down the entire family.

But why? Well, there is always a good reason in the eye of the person doing it. And we will learn why as well, but not until later in the series.

A modern-day Ripley vibe

Malice is very much a revenge thriller focused on the notion that you cannot escape your past. It will catch up, and when it does, you need to figure out how to best deal with it. As a character-driven story, Malice has a great cast, but the writing is just too slow.

Having said that, I really liked Jack Whitehall in this series. He is charming yet insanely sinister, and all at the drop of a hat. I mean, he is eerily off in a way reminiscent of Mr. Ripley, which is also an unavoidable comparison for this series overall.

Obviously, this is a compliment, and I wish this Prime Video series were as good as I feel Jack Whitehall is in his starring role. I love it when these comedic actors take on a darker character portrayal and go all-in.

I definitely feel Jack Whitehall succeeds with that in Malice!

Watch Malice on Prime Video

Malice was created by James Wood, who also writes the series. He previously wrote on The Great and Quacks (which he also created). Directors of the six episodes of Malice are Mike Barker (Broadchurch, The Sandman) and Leonora Lonsdale (The Pale Horse).

I never want to discourage anyone from giving a show a chance. That’s why I can’t help but continue to highlight Jack Whitehall in this review. He delivers such a strong character portrayal that made me wish he’d play a straight-up horror villain next.

Of course, the other cast members also deliver strong portrayals, but this really is about Adam (Jack Whitehall) primarily, so this was the character that could not falter. And he doesn’t. The storytelling and pacing, on the other hand, just did not do much for me.

But hey, maybe this just was not my kind of show. Give it a shot, and maybe Jack Whitehall and the overall story will be a total treat for you.

Malice is out on Prime Video from November 14, 2025.

Details

Creator: James Wood
Directors: Mike Barker, Leonora Lonsdale
Cast: Jack Whitehall, David Duchovny, Carice van Houten, Christine Adams, Raza Jaffrey

Plot

Adam is a charismatic tutor who charms his way into the life of the wealthy Tanner family while they’re on holiday in Greece. When the family’s nanny falls dangerously ill, Adam orchestrates his way in to their London home and his true vengeful nature begins to emerge…

Adam now starts to turn Jamie Tanner and Nat against each other and secretly plots to bring down the entire family. When Adam’s obsession with the family raises questions, those who dig deeper into his past find themselves playing a dangerous game. With his world collapsing around him, Jamie starts to realise that Adam may be responsible for all their recent disasters – but is it too late to save his family?

STONE COLD FOX is a new action thriller set in 1986 and made completely in the vein of that era. I loved it for that. Kiernan Shipka plays the lead role with Krysten Ritter and Kiefer Sutherland in key supporting roles. Read our full Stone Cold Fox movie review here!

STONE COLD FOX is a gorgeous throwback action-thriller. This is exactly the kind of movie I grew up watching, but now the lead characters are women. Don’t worry, there are men in this movie as well. More than there were women in most 1980s action movies.

The cast is led by Kiernan Shipka, who seems to be having a blast with her character. Of course, the same goes for everyone else in this kitschy delight. Not least Krysten Ritter and Kiefer Sutherland, who play the classic bad guys, but in very different ways.

Continue reading our Stone Cold Fox movie review below. Find it in select theaters or on Digital now!

What a ride!

In this delicious ’80s revenge story, we meet the young rebel Fox (Kiernan Shipka) as she leaves home. Unfortunately, she ends up in a criminal and abusive living situation, which she also leaves behind… and takes something of value with her.

Fox is looking for her sister, and wants to start life anew with her. The one she abandoned, when she left their childhood home. However, the Queenpin (Krysten Ritter) is hunting her down due to what Fox took with her.

I should mention that the two were also in a relationship. Just not a very good one, but Fox was used to abuse from home, so she didn’t recognize this at first.

Also hunting Fox is a very crooked cop (Kiefer Sutherland), so now she is in dire need of new – and trustworthy – friends. Luckily, she comes across people who are huge fans of 1980s action movies and know what to do. The movies taught them “their code”.

A throwback with a modern twist

With Stone Cold Fox, we’re getting a movie that could just as easily have been made in the 1980s. And I mean that as a huge compliment. I felt completely at home in this 1980s action-thriller universe.

With the gloriously modern twist of allowing women to take center stage. Instead of “just” being a secretary or the wife, in Stone Cold Fox, women play all the major roles. Sure, Kiefer Sutherland also plays a key part, but not the biggest.

Joining Kiernan Shipka (Twisters), Kiefer Sutherland (24), and Krysten Ritter (Dexter: Resurrection) are Mishel Prada (Vida) and Karen Fukuhara (The Boys). among several other amazing supporting actors.

Watch Stone Cold Fox in theaters or on VOD now

Stone Cold Fox comes from first-time feature filmmaker Sophie Tabet. There is no way I would have guessed (or even assumed) that this was a debut feature film. It feels very intentional and complete at every turn.

Writing the screenplay with Sophie Tabat is Julia Roth, and it was based on an original story by Tabet, Roth, and Jonathan Craven (as in son of Wes Craven).

I can’t wait to see what Sophie Tabet does next. Especially if this is what she makes as her debut. It certainly promises lots of wonderful productions in the future. Fingers crossed, she teams up with people who will support these endeavors.

To ensure further movies from Sophie Tabet, make sure you check out Stone Cold Fox wherever you can. If you’re a fan of 1980s production or just enjoy a good kitsch action-thriller, this is your movie!

STONE COLD FOX is out in limited theaters and on digital on November 7, 2025.

Details

Director: Sophie Tabet
Writers: Jonathan Craven, Julia Roth, Sophie Tabet
Cast: Kiernan Shipka, Krysten Ritter, Kiefer Sutherland, Mishel Prada, Karen Fukuhara, Jamie Chung, Gabrielle Maiden, Spenser Granese, Rob Mars, Bluesy Burke

Plot

In 1986, the defiant Fox breaks out of an abusive commune in search of her family. But when the queenpin kidnaps her little sister and sends a crooked cop after her, Fox has no choice but to infiltrate the very place she escaped.

FRANKENSTEIN (2025) on Netflix is Guillermo del Toro’s breathtaking take on the iconic sci-fi horror novel by Mary Shelley. A masterpiece well worth the runtime of nearly 150 minutes. Read our full review of the 2025 Frankenstein and check it out on Netflix now!

FRANKENSTEIN (2025) is the new Netflix movie from Guillermo del Toro. It’s a story many genre fans know well, but that doesn’t make it any less important or relevant in this 2025 version by the iconic genre filmmaker.

This is a genre adventure driven by the wildly innovative sci-fi plot from the mind of Mary Shelley. One that, in our age of AI, is perhaps even more relevant than ever before. Also, Victor is portrayed as the true monster, as he always should be.

Continue reading our full Frankenstein (2025) movie review below. Find it on Netflix from November 7, 2025.

Only Monsters Play God

In this 2025 version of Mary Shelley’s sci-fi horror novel, Guillermo del Toro is unapologetically focusing on the fact that Victor Frankenstein is the monster. The creature is merely trying to exist in a life he never asked for.

It’s even right there in the tagline for Frankenstein: “Only Monsters Play God.” The runtime of 2 hours and 29 minutes might sound very long, but this is also quite an elaborate story.

Not least as we hear it from Victor’s side first, before the Creature comes with his own tale of life after Victor abandoned him. Often in movies based on Mary Shelley’s story, we get one or the other.

With Guillermo del Toro at the helm, we get both.

An eerily relevant cautionary tale

In its essence, Frankenstein has often been about the conundrum many scientists (and even artists) face: Just because you can do something, it doesn’t mean you should.

Right now, we’re seeing AI take over in many areas of our lives. And sadly, often in the areas that require creativity and innovation. Now, I’m not against AI per default, but I do wish it were used for the many other things that would spare us instead of replacing us in endeavors we enjoy.

With Frankenstein, Victor is so engrossed with the idea that he can create life that he never stops to wonder what will come next. Not unlike many pro-lifers, ironically. And the concept of nurture is clearly very far from the mind of this Creator.

The cast of Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein

Oscar Isaac does a wonderful job of portraying Victor Frankenstein in all his glory and contempt. Of course, I always like Oscar Isaac, so I expected as much.

What’s much more important to me is seeing Jacob Elordi as the creature. One that looks a lot like the Prometheus being in Alien: Prometheus. Of course, the full title of  Mary Shelley’s novel is also “Frankenstein; or: The Modern Prometheus”.

Jacob Elordi has an impressive physical presence, but what’s more is the gentle way he is able to present The Creature. Sure, he can do just about anything physically – including revive again and again – but the heart and soul of the Creature are at the forefront here.

Mia Goth also makes a huge impact. First as Victor’s mother (with a few changes to her appearance) and then as the woman engaged to Victor’s brother, William, but wanted by Victor himself. However, she is more intrigued by the Creature – and vice versa.

In other key roles, we see Christian Convery (The Monkey), Christoph Waltz (The Consultant), Charles Dance (The First Omen), David Bradley (Pinocchio), and Felix Kammerer (All Quiet on the Western Front).

Additionally, the story is told while Victor is on a Danish ship, allowing us to see Danish actors Lars Mikkelsen and Nikolaj Lie Kaas throughout the movie.

Watch Frankenstein (2025) on Netflix now

Frankenstein in this 2025 version has been long-awaited. Not least after it was revealed that Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro (Cabinet of Curiosities, The Shape of Water) would be adapting Mary Shelley’s classic sci-fi story.

Guillermo del Toro directed and wrote the screenplay for this new masterpiece. And yes, I do feel it is a masterpiece. Especially due to the focus on Victor’s egotistical wish and narcissistic tendencies. This has always been key to the horror of the plot.

The novel by Mary Shelley is from 1818, written when she was just 19 years old, but the story is still relevant today. And I will admit that I also appreciate that Guillermo del Toro kept the story in this age. I wouldn’t expect anything less from him.

In case it isn’t obvious, I am a huge fan of the Mexican genre filmmaker. However, I also knew ahead of watching Frankenstein that this could result in mismatched expectations.

Honestly, I’m not sure what I expected, but I am very happy with what I received.

Frankenstein (2025) is on Netflix globally from November 7, 2025.

Details

Director: Guillermo del Toro
Script: Guillermo del Toro
Cast: Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth, Felix Kammerer, Lars Mikkelsen, David Bradley, Charles Dance, Christoph Waltz, Christian Convery

Plot

Oscar winner Guillermo del Toro reimagines Mary Shelley’s classic tale of a brilliant scientist and the creature his monstrous ambition brings to life.

VIOLENT ENDS is a new Crime Thriller that plays out in the Ozarks. And yes, it does get extremely violent in very realistic ways. It’s a revenge thriller that also becomes a survival story. Read our full Violent Ends movie review here!

VIOLENT ENDS is a Crime Thriller with a fairly long runtime at 111 minutes. However, it keeps you engaged and intrigued throughout. Well, it did for this viewer, anyway. It plays out in the Ozark Mountains, which is such a strong backdrop.

If you’re a fan of the Netflix series Ozark, it will be a familiar setting. However, there is a fairly big difference in that this new movie takes place in the early 1990s. Other than the music and clothing, it offers the classic challenges of no Internet and no cell phones.

Continue reading our Violent Ends movie review below. Find it in theaters from October 31, 2025.

Violent delights have violent ends

Along with an introduction to set the stage – think the Star Wars opening, but in a different way – Violent Ends also begins with a quote. The quote is “These violent delights have violent ends”, which is a quote from Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet”.

Of course, many genre fans will probably find it familiar from something else. That line was also used for the Westworld series, where it helped unlock the androids.

Anyway, it is also very telling of the story you’re about to watch.

We’re in 1992 in the Ozark Mountains, where we follow Lucas Frost (Billy Magnussen). He’s an honest man who was brought up in a crime family. His mom is a cop, but everyone else is a criminal.

It’s a family full of crime and violence, and he’s about to be pulled back into their mess.

A powerful cast giving their all

The absolute star of Violent Ends is Billy Magnussen (Black Mirror S7), who delivers a truly powerful performance. I have long enjoyed his portrayals of diverse characters, but this is probably my favorite of his, so far.

As his brother, we see Nick Stahl (What Josiah Saw), who gets a lot less to work with, but delivers a solid performance all the same. In other key roles, we see Kate Burton (The Surrender) and Alexandra Shipp (Tragedy Girls).

Plus, as the main villain (and a very efficient one), we get James Badge Dale. In Violent Ends, his sinister behavior is matched only by his terrible haircut, which almost became a character in itself for me. Trust me, it screams douchebag, which is very appropriate!

Watch Violent Ends in theaters

This new crime thriller comes from writer and director John-Michael Powell. Not only is it a gorgeous production full of strong character portrayals, but it’s also a very entertaining movie. Think One Battle After Another, but on a smaller scale and within one family.

This is the second feature film from John-Michael Powell, following his 2022 movie The Send-Off, which I have not watched. However, if Violent Ends is any indication, I’m sure I’d enjoy it.

If you’re in the mood for watching something other than a classic slasher over Halloween, then Violent Ends is a very dark choice. As is Anniversary, for that matter. In fact, I find both to be infinitely scarier than most slashers.

Of course, that’s because horror slashers are meant to entertain and give you a fun and wild experience. These realistic movies about survival have always been much more terrifying to me.

Violent Ends is out exclusively In Theaters from October 31, 2025.

Details

Written & Directed by: John-Michael Powell
Starring: Billy Magnussen, James Badge Dale, Kate Burton, Ray McKinnon, Nick Stahl, Alexandra Shipp

Plot

Set in the Ozark Mountains, Lucas Frost (Magnussen) is an honest man brought up in a crime family whose only legacy is violence. As Lucas tries to make a peaceful life of his own with his fiancée, Emma (Shipp), he is suddenly pulled back into the family business when his cousin, Eli, perpetrates an armed robbery with brutal consequences.

THE RESURRECTED on Netflix is a new thriller, crime, mystery series from Taiwan (org. title: Hui hun ji). It has nine episodes and a very impressive production quality. Read our The Resurrected series review here and watch on Netflix now!

THE RESURRECTED is a new Netflix series from Taiwan (org. title: Hui hun ji). This is a true genre hybrid of a series with crime, thriller, mystery, and drama as the main genres. With nine episodes, it has plenty of time to cover the character-driven storylines.

The production quality of this Taiwanese series is very impressive. Of course, if you’ve watched some of the other genre productions from Taiwan, this won’t surprise you. The struggle can, however, come from the actual plot and pace. Fortunately, not this one!

Continue reading our The Resurrected series review below. Find it on Netflix now.

United by hatred

In The Resurrected, we follow two mothers on a mission. They are united by hatred and on a path for revenge. Their one mission in life is seeking revenge for their daughters, who have been caught in a fraud and kidnapping case.

As this is a genre series, I expect you’ll keep an open mind about this next part. The mothers are getting help from a mysterious goddess, who helps them revive the deceased ringleader of the fraud scheme.

They get seven days with him resurrected.

Why?

Well, to punish him, of course!

Unfortunately, it doesn’t work. Even after having brought immense and relentless pain upon this criminal, they have a thirst for more. It’s the old “if you stare into the abyss, the abyss stares back at you” ideology.

Mothers avenging their daughters

The Resurrected is a very brutal story in many aspects. Just watch the trailer to get a feeling of just how sinister it gets. Of course, it’s also quite violent as we see mothers avenging their daughters.

If you’ve watched the South Korean modern cult classic Sympathy for Lady Vengeance (2005) by Park Chan-wook, you’ll already have an idea of what to expect.

For this story, we’re in the fictional city of Benkha. However, much of the plot is based on elements you’ll recognize if you’ve watched a few true crime documentaries about cults in Asia.

If not, you may want to check out In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal. It’s from South Korea and scarier than any horror movie. Well, to me, anyway.

In any case, avenging their daughters doesn’t have the desired effect. Soon, their alliance is tested, and they will have to confront their own morality.

The Resurrected features amazing performances, but I can’t claim I was familiar with the actors. You’ll get to enjoy Shu Qi, Sinje Lee, and Alyssa Chia, with Fu Meng-po’s chilling portrayal as a resurrected villain. Also, rising stars Caitlin Fang, Lin Ting-yi, and Vivi Chen.

Watch The Resurrected series on Netflix now

This new Netflix genre-mix series comes from screenwriters Shen Yang, Yi Shuai-jie, and Luo Hsiao-rui. The directors of the episodes in this season are Leste Chen and Hsu Chao-jen.

The Resurrected premiered at the Busan International Film Festival in the On-Screen category. That alone speaks volumes, as some of the best genre movies tend to screen at this particular film festival in South Korea.

If you’re interested in watching something a little different and don’t mind “reading” a series, then check out this one from Taiwan. Obviously, you can also opt for the dubbed version, but I have to admit I never feel this does it justice.

Then again, I’m used to subtitles.

The Resurrected premieres exclusively on Netflix on October 9, 2025.

Details

Directors: Leste Chen, Hsu Chao-jen
Screenwriters: Shen Yang, Yi Shuai-jie, Luo Hsiao-rui
Cast: Shu Qi, Sinje Lee, Fu Meng-po, Chung Hsin-ling, Caitlin Fang, Lin Ting-yi, Liu Chu-ping, Vivi Chen, Rexen Cheng, Patrick Nattawat Finkler, Alyssa Chia, Sukollawat Kanaros (Weir)

Plot

Two grieving mothers resurrect a scam ringleader to avenge their daughters — but as painful truths emerge, justice slips from their reach.

THE GUEST on Netflix is a Colombian psychological thriller series about revenge (org. title: La huésped). It’s both steamy, soapy, mysterious, and very dramatic. With 20 episodes, it also runs on for too long. Read our The Guest series review here!

THE GUEST is a new Netflix series from Colombia. It has 20 episodes in the season, and we’re not talking short, crisp episodes either. No, we’re getting episodes in the 40-50 minute runtime range.

If you fall for this thriller series full of drama and revenge, then there’s plenty to look forward to. However, if that isn’t your cup of tea, then one episode may be enough to realize that.

Continue reading our Netflix series The Guest review here. Find it on Netflix from September 24, 2025.

From crisis to drama – and revenge

With The Guest, the story opens with the suicide of a marriage counselor. Then we meet the couple, who are at the center of the plot in this Netflix series from Colombia.

Lorenzo is a candidate for Attorney General, but also has a marriage in crisis, and their daughter, Isabela, is struggling with a methamphetamine addiction. Life is not easy, so the death of a therapist is just another bump in the road.

For his wife, Silvia, things haven’t been easy either. Their marriage troubles are rooted in Lorenzo’s infidelity, which he just wants to leave behind. All in the name of their love and to focus on the future, of course.

Soon, they will be challenged not only in their marriage or career, but will be faced with someone who wants to do real harm. The kind that someone who wants revenge dreams of.

The steamy and psychological avenger

One night, the married couple gets an unexpected visit from Sonia. This is a woman, Silvia met weeks earlier on a solo trip. Sonia shows up in a rain-soaked T-shirt late one night, and both husband and wife are clearly surprised… and intrigued.

This is clearly meant as an entertaining and somewhat soapy psychological thriller with a heavy focus on steamy scenes and dreams of revenge.

The latter is the main goal of Sonia, who believes someone to be the reason for all her pain and wants revenge to feel better. Before Sonia can complete her mission, she builds both an emotional and a physical bond with the family.

All with one goal in mind: To destroy the family from within!

Watch The Guest series on Netflix now

The Guest was created & written by Dario Vanegas and Lina Uribe (La Reina del Sur), with Clara María Ochoa as the showrunner. Directors of the 20 episodes in the series are Klych López (The Accident) and Israel Sánchez Vargas.

From the second I realized that this would be a 20-episode series, I was fairly certain this wouldn’t be my new guilty pleasure. Look, I am as entertained by a psychological and steamy thriller as the next, but not at any cost.

For further examples of me needing more (much more) from my entertainment, see our Compulsion review here >

With The Guest (org. title: La Huesped), you’ll have a fairly good idea of what to expect from watching the trailer or even just reading the plot. So, if you decide to give this a shot, don’t expect innovative or intelligent plots.

I don’t mean to hate on this show, but it is what it is. Nothing more, and nothing less either. This is not my cup of tea, but I didn’t expect it to be. I do, however, think there’s a huge audience for this kind of Netflix series, so it could be a hit.

The Guest is on Netflix (all 20 episodes) from September 24, 2025.

Details

Created & written by: Dario Vanegas, Lina Uribe
Showrunner: Clara María Ochoa
Directors: Klych López, Israel Sánchez Vargas
Cast: Carmen Villalobos, Laura Londoño, Jason Day, Victor Mallarino, Juan Fernando Sánchez, Margarita Muñoz, Jairo Camargo, Miguel González, Ariel Sierra, Kamila Zea, Alejandro Del Castillo, Andrés Suárez, Rami Herrera, Brayan Zorrilla, Laura García, Katherine Vélez, Johan Martínez, Álvaro García, Manuel Álvarez, Nathaly Cadavid

Plot

A couple trying to save their marriage after an affair are thrown into turmoil when a mysterious woman from the wife’s past shows up at their home.

MEAT KILLS is a new Dutch horror slasher (org. title: Vleesdag) that doesn’t quite deliver what I was hoping for. Screening at Fantastic Fest 2025, where I suspect audiences will still have fun with it. Read our full Meat Kills movie review here!

MEAT KILLS (org. title: Vleesdag) is getting its World Premiere at Fantastic Fest 2025. I can’t imagine the film festival audience won’t have a blast watching this. However, it does objectively leave a lot to be desired. Too much, really.

All the characters are ultimately unlikable, and while the practical effects are good, they are also a tad too sloppy for me. The same goes for the story that has way too many holes. Yes, I am admittedly quite disappointed in this one.

Continue reading our Meat Kills movie review below.

Joining the Animal Army

The plot of Meat Kills sounds intriguing enough for an animal lover such as myself. Well, to a point, as I have no desire to become a radical activist. I still believe in love and dialogue over hate and violence.

Though I understand those who have lost faith in it. These are indeed trying times.

Mirthe (Caro Darkx) is a person who has lost faith in dialogue and wants to take action. That’s why she secured a job at a local pig farm as a way to earn her way into the radical activists known as “Animal Army”.

While working at the pig farm, Mirthe documents the abhorrent conditions the animals are living (and dying) in. This becomes her ticket for acceptance, but also the highway to criminal and very violent actions.

Soon, events spiral out of control, and instead of avenging the pigs, it becomes a battle for survival. For everyone, really!

Plenty of potential in the plot

While I was ultimately disappointed in Meat Kills, much of it has to do with the obvious potential of the movie. I mean, it’s a horror slasher that plays out at a local pig farm, which is somehow also a slaughterhouse.

Now, I don’t mean to nitpick (and yet, I absolutely will), but everything about the location just feels off. It’s both a farmhouse for a family, pigs are being bred and raised, and it’s a fairly big slaughtering facility?!

DON’T WORRY, IT COULD BE WORSE

This movie with pigs, slaughtering, and murders got just 1 out of 5 >

It’s just too much for one small family-owned location. Also, I recognize that much of this is for the purpose of the story, but it still needs to make sense. And having a filthy slaughterhouse where everything is somehow “on” even when it’s not being actively used is just stupid.

Then again, if this were my main issue with the movie, I could get past it. What I cannot get past is that everyone is ultimately unlikable and idiotic in their behaviour.

From the whole “running up the stairs when you should be running out the front door”-trope highlighted by Sidney Prescott in Scream almost three decades ago, to “twists” that are as predictable as they are stupid.

Meat Kills is getting its World Premiere at Fantastic Fest

Meat Kills (org. title: Vleesdag) comes from director Martijn Smits and screenwriter Johan Paul de Vrijer. I wish I had liked this more than I did. I knew I wouldn’t enjoy it due to the plot, but that’s sort of the point.

Also, I recognize that I probably wasn’t supposed to root for any of the people in this movie, but that just does not work for me. If I don’t care for or about them, then I don’t care whether they live or die, and what is left to keep me going?

Whatever happens at this one farm, it doesn’t change anything. And again, I recognize that this is the point, but it sure isn’t one that the filmmaker is busy making. It’s all about wild kills and crazy practical effects.

Well, I need more!

The actors in this cast all delivered what the script required. Their characters just weren’t nuanced (or not in believable ways), which they can’t change.

Meat Kills is getting its world premiere at Fantastic Fest 2025 in Austin, Texas. While Austin is more of a liberal big city, Texas is definitely farming country as well, so it seems only appropriate that it premieres there.

Meat Kills will also be playing at Sitges International Film Festival, which is arguably one of the most prestigious film festivals in the world. Spain is another place famous for amazing pork products, so again, an interesting location.

Details

Director: Martijn Smits
Writer: Paul de Vrijer
Stars: Caro Derkx, Derron Lurvink, Sem Ben Yakar, Emma Josten, Bart Oomen, Chardonnay Rillen, Tommy Zonneveld, Sweder de Sitter, Juliëtte van de Weerdt

Plot

A young woman is eager to join the ‘Animal Army,’ a group of radical activists dead set on ending the killing of animals for human consumption. To prove herself, she infiltrates a local pig farm, capturing footage of its incredibly cruel conditions. Galvanized, the group invites her to join them on a late-night rescue mission, but when they arrive, they realize they are too late.

BLACK RABBIT on Netflix is a new crime thriller mystery series starring Jude Law and Jason Bateman as brothers. A strong story about love and loyalty with eight solid episodes. Read our full Black Rabbit limited series review here!

BLACK RABBIT is a new Netflix limited series with eight episodes. It’s a thriller, crime, mystery, drama series that will ultimately deal with life and death situations. Also, it starts with a bang, which we will then return to several times.

We’ve watched all eight episodes for this review. It was our pleasure, really, so expect that you will want to binge-watch this new Netflix series as well. For the record, I say “we” because my editor watched it alongside me.

Continue reading our Black Rabbit series review below. Find it on Netflix from September 18, 2025.

Netflix series starts with a bang

As already mentioned initially, this eight-part limited series begins with a bang. There is a robbery at the restaurant “Black Rabbit”, and it all goes sideways. Then we go back, so we can ultimately understand how it went so wrong.

Don’t worry, Black Rabbit isn’t a series where the chronology is all over the place. Even though we do begin (almost) with the ending. By going back (way back, later on), we better understand the loyalty and love among all the characters.

All of this is set against the backdrop of New York City’s high-pressure nightlife scene. While the Black Rabbit is a restaurant, it’s also a bar, and the place recently became extremely successful.

The story of the Netflix series Black Rabbit centers on the two brothers, Jake and Vince Friedken. And yes, the brothers are involved with the restaurant of the same name as the series.

A story of two brothers

Jake Friedken (Jude Law) is the owner of the Black Rabbit restaurant and VIP lounge. Due to its clientele, it has quickly become the hottest spot in New York. Jake is charismatic and beloved by everyone working at the restaurant.

Then there’s his older brother, Vince Friedken (Jason Bateman), who seems to always find himself in trouble. As much as the brothers love each other, they are not good together.

Once Vince shows up, just as everything is looking good for Jake, he brings along trouble. The kind that will have criminals show up on your doorstep and threaten everyone you care for.

The bond between the brothers is one that results in pain for them and everyone around them. By showing us several moments from their past (all the way back to childhood), we get an understanding of why they stick together.

Every single character in Black Rabbit is interesting for some reason, so we’re not stuck on these two people.

The cast includes Cleopatra Coleman, Amaka Okafor, Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù, and Troy Kotsur. In key roles, we also see Abbey Lee, Chris Coy, Dagmara Dominczyk, Forrest Weber, Odessa Young, and Robin De Jesus.

Watch the Black Rabbit series on Netflix

Black Rabbit comes from creators and executive producers Zach Baylin and Kate Susman.

Jude Law and Jason Bateman are both stars and executive producers, while Bateman also directs the first two episodes. Three other directors come on board for the remaining six episodes, directing two each.

The other directors on the Netflix series are Justin Kurzel (Nitram), Ben Semanoff (Yellowjackets), and Laura Linney. Yes, the very same Laura Linney who was Bateman’s co-star on their Netflix hit series Ozark (2017-2022).

On average, the eight episodes in the limited series have a runtime of around one hour. A few are a little longer, others somewhat shorter. Regardless of their runtime, each episode hits hard and adds layers to the story.

Black Rabbit premieres on Netflix on September 18, 2025.

Details

Creators: Zach Baylin & Kate Susman
Directors: Jason Bateman, Justin Kurzel, Laura Linney, Ben Semanoff
Cast: Jude Law, Jason Bateman, Cleopatra Coleman, Amaka Okafor, Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù, Troy Kotsur, Abbey Lee, Chris Coy, Dagmara Dominczyk, Forrest Weber, Odessa Young, Robin De Jesus.

Plot

When the owner of the hottest restaurant in New York allows his troubled brother to return to the family business, he opens the door to old traumas and new dangers that threaten to bring down everything they’ve built.

NIGHT OF THE REAPER on Shudder is a new horror slasher with a retro vibe, a battle for survival, and even a delicious revenge plot. In other words, this one is a true slasher gem. Read our full Night of the Reaper movie review here!

NIGHT OF THE REAPER is a new Shudder horror movie made in the classic slasher vein. Even the title almost gives as much away. Fortunately, the content of the movie also lives up to the title.

Before I get any further, I want to highlight that it has already won the Popcorn Frights Film Festival 2025 “Scariest Feature Film” award. Also, this is a Shudder Original. They know horror fans, so expect plenty of fan service… done right.

Continue reading our Night of the Reaper movie review below. Find it on Shudder from September 19, 2025.

The Golden Age of Slasher

To get the slasher vibe just right, Night of the Reaper is set in a 1980s suburb. You know the kind: Everyone knows their neighbor and the sheriff, and a girl home from college is taking on a last-minute babysitting job.

However, the movie actually starts before this event as another murder sets things into motion. It results in everyone being a little more on edge, and with this being Halloween season, there are echoes of the iconic Halloween franchise.

In any case, Deena (Jessica Clement) is the college student who has returned home and is now spending her night babysitting the sheriff’s cute son. Before long, someone keeps calling the house, and something goes bump in the night.

Oh yes, the iconic horror movie When a Stranger Calls (1979) is another good reference for this Shudder Original.

A mystery of survival and revenge

I don’t want to do spoilers for Night of the Reaper in any way, so I won’t. However, I will say that you may guess a few twists and turns along the way. I know I did, and this Shudder slasher was still a fun watch.

The horror slasher plays out as a mystery, which begins when the local sheriff (Ryan Robbins) receives a cryptic package. This turns out to be just the first package of the night, which will turn into a sick form of scavenger hunt.

Ultimately, this is a deliciously retro-styled slasher, where a mystery unravels as survival and revenge merge. It’s a lot of fun and should please most genre fans!

Also, having Jessica Clement (amazing in season 2 of Gen V) in the lead as Deena is absolutely perfect. Also in Night of the Reaper are Max Christensen, Ben Cockell, Matty Finochio, Keegan Connor Tracy, and Summer H. Howell.

You’ll want to remember the name Summer H. Howell. She will be playing Carrie White in Mike Flanagan‘s upcoming Prime Video horror series. Yes, as in the one based on Stephen King‘s iconic horror novel Carrie.

Watch Night of the Reaper on Shudder now

The director of Night of the Reaper is horror director Brandon Christensen. Full disclosure: I have yet to watch anything by Brandon Christensen (Superhost, Still/Born) that I didn’t at least enjoy to some degree.

Actually, sorry, that’s selling this horror director short. I am always happy to watch and review movies made by him. They are always made with a passion for the genre and an honest desire to make entertaining horror movies.

For this movie, Brandon Christensen also co-wrote the screenplay with Ryan Christensen (Shudder Original The Puppetman). The runtime is 93 minutes, which works perfectly for a retro-styled slasher movie. Enjoy!

Night of the Reaper is out on Shudder from September 19, 2025.

Details

Director: Brandon Christensen
Written by: Brandon Christensen and Ryan Christensen
Cast: Jessica Clement, Ryan Robbins, Summer H. Howell, Keegan Connor Tracy, Matty Finochio, Max Christensen, Ben Cockell, David Feehan

Plot

In the heart of a quiet, 1980s suburb, college student Deena returns home and reluctantly takes on a last-minute babysitting job. That same night, the local sheriff receives a cryptic package that pulls him into a sinister scavenger hunt that sets off a game of cat and mouse with a dangerous killer. As the clues unravel, Deena finds herself ensnared in a nightmarish mystery that she may not survive.