Looking for your next binge-worthy series or film to add to your streaming queue? Check back with Village Life every Friday for Jordan Parker's comprehensive insights on the week's most buzz-worthy programs from top streaming services like Netflix, Crave, Amazon Prime, and beyond.
On Netflix – Deep Blue Sea
This is one of the most entertaining, enthralling, delightful B-movies I've ever seen, and it's been cinematic comfort for me for years.
A shark film that manages to be both stupendously silly and a testament to defying genre expectations, this flick is a bit of an anomaly. It revolves around the staff of a medical research facility who are stalked by test sharks after an accident sparks the flooding of the isolated brick-and-mortar complex.
Some of the scientists have taken it upon themselves to violate protocol and increase the brain mass of the sharks to harvest a possible cure for Alzheimer's, but as a side effect the sharks have gotten smarter, and the staff soon become prey.
It is an absolutely bonkers premise, but the director and game cast are in on the joke, making this a campy creature feature well worth a watch. Renny Harlin – the man behind Die Hard 2, Cliffhanger, and The Long Kiss Goodnight – helms this one and creates one of the best modern shark movies.
A cast that includes Thomas Jane, Samuel L. Jackson, Saffron Burrows, Michael Rapaport, a hilarious LL Cool J and more also lend some credibility to the proceedings. I absolutely love this movie and pure trash entertainment, and if you don't take it too seriously, you will too.
On Amazon Prime Video – Totally Killer
Just in time for Halloween, we have a mixture between a horror slasher and a time-travel comedy, and Totally Killer excels in both genres.
It follows Jamie, a teenager who is distraught when her mother is murdered by the Sweet Sixteen Killer, who has resurfaced in her small town for the first time in 35 years.
She travels back in a friend's time machine to 1987, and tries to stop the killer before they start in order to save her mother in the future.
Director Nahnatchka Khan's film – an Amazon Prime Video original – is pretty closely aligned to other films of its ilk like Happy Death Day, but finds enough differences and twists to stand on its own.
On Paramount+ -- The Passenger
I began watching this movie for exactly one reason, and that was star Kyle Gallner. I ended up being absolutely awestruck.
Gallner is a horror king, and has appeared in Smile, Scream (5), Jennifer's Body, and the Nightmare On Elm Street remake. He's a presence in every film, and to see him get the spotlight here was enough of a selling point on its own.
I'm going to keep this as non-specific as possible. The less you know about the plot and the less you read, the more interesting this will be.
When two co-workers go through a traumatic event, their lives become intertwined together and they go out on the road. Their time in close quarters makes them realize things about each other and themselves.
Director Carter Smith creates a haunting, visceral and difficult film, and it's pulled together by a great script from Jack Stanley.
The star Johnny Berchtold is fantastic, and Gallner has never been better. If you see it for no other reason, watch for the latter, who will absolutely wow you.
On Crave – Spoiler Alert
This film – based on a true story – is one of the most memorable, frustrating and beautiful little romance flicks I've seen in years.
Based on Mihael Ausiello's memoir, this movie is co-written by him as well as 2SLGBTQIA+ author and columnist Dan Savage and David Marshall Grant.
It's smart, witty and adorable, but is also a tad uneven in terms of tone. That said, its stars more than make up for it.
It follows Ausiello and his relationship with Kit Cowan, his long-term partner who is diagnosed with terminal cancer.
Jim Parsons is fabulous, and absolutely makes this movie his own. He's joined by Ben Aldridge, Sadie Scott, and Sally Field in a showcase for all their talents. There are definitely things I disliked about the film, but its strengths outweigh its flaws by a metric ton.
On Disney+ -- Separate Lies
This one took me by surprise, and was a movie from the 2000s I hadn't ever even heard of. That's a rare feat, as I watch anything and everything I can.
Separate Lies is a drama-thriller that follows a couple whose marriage is thrown into disarray when one of them falls in love with a new friend.
Director and co-writer Julian Fellowes – known for Gosford Park and Downton Abbey – makes an intelligent, compelling film here that isn't afraid to ratchet up the tension.
Tom Wilkinson gives one of the best performances of his career, and Emily Watson and Rupert Everett have no shortage of intense, interesting scenes.
Watching these three play a torrid game of cat-and-mouse is a magnificent thing. I can't believe I slept on this one for so long, as it's a gorgeous – if small scale – endeavour.
About The Author:
Jordan Parker is a freelance journalist and runs entertainment firm Parker PR. A huge lover and supporter of the local arts scene, he’s an avid filmgoer and lover of all genres.
A 2SLGBTQIA+ professional, he also works doing Events & Fundraising for the AIDS Coalition of Nova Scotia and has a passion for giving a platform to queer events and artists.
His writing often skews toward local businesses, productions, events, and covering arts & entertainment. He’s also an avid sports fan and spends every May getting let down by the Maple Leafs in the first round of the playoffs.
Jordan believes in an open-door policy and welcomes story pitches and questions from readers.
Email: [email protected]
