Netflix and Chills: Streaming Giant Announces Their Fall Slate
For some, the change in seasons means pumpkin spice lattes and lots of gourd décor. For others, the coming of autumn means it’s time for Spooky Season. Halloween may be one day, but Netflix is hoping its subscribers see it as a state of mind. The streaming service has announced a fall lineup filled with spooky flicks and thrillers for all ages.
If you’re the type of person who haunts Spirit Halloween pop-up locations or prices out 12-foot skeletons, take a glance at Netflix’s scary movie lineup.
September 9 – End of the Road
Queen Latifah and Chris Bridges fight for family in Netflix's End of the Road.
Brenda (Queen Latifah) is trying to start fresh. She’s hoping to reconnect with her kids as they take the long drive south to Houston. A road trip to a new life turns deadly, however, when the family stumbles upon a murder and a duffle bag full of cash. When her brother (Chris Bridges) takes the bag, a group of drug dealers begin tracking Brenda and her family. Now, Brenda must fight to keep her family alive against powerful forces.
First, if Latifah and Chris “Ludacris” Bridges don’t have some sort of rap battle, I riot…
Always a reliably fun screen presence, Latifah has had a Liam Neeson-esque renaissance of late, starring in The Equalizer and now with a film that looks like a slightly cooler version of Taken. Essentially, this is a family in peril flick with a cool southern gothic feel to it. If you’re a fan of Latifah, action yarns, or dusty western locales, this should be worth a look.
September 23 – Lou
Allison Janey and Jurnee Smollett search for a kidnapped child in Netflix's Lou.
After years of bloody business, Lou (Allison Janney) finds solace in a solitary life. She and her dog are content to live in the forest, far away from anyone else. She isn’t thrilled when a woman (Jurnee Smollett) and her daughter move into her quiet little life. But when her neighbor’s daughter is kidnapped, Lou decides to dust off the skills that made her want to hide from the world.
Smollett and Janney are both wonderful actors, so I’m for any team-up film that gets them to share a scene. I also love the idea of Janney as an action star, and hope this leads to a whole franchise. Lou IV: The Lou-ening sounds pretty good, doesn’t it? Women rarely get to headline action fare, so it’s always nice to see some female-fronted vehicles where the women are tough, smart, and rescue themselves. If you’re a fan of films like Atomic Blonde or Birds of Prey, consider giving this gritty thriller a try.
October 5 – Mr. Harrigan’s Phone
Donald Sutherland stars as an eccentric billionaire in Netflix's Mr. Harrigan's Phone.
Bullied Craig (Jaeden Martell) finds a strange ally when he befriends reclusive billionaire Mr. Harrigan (Donald Sutherland). The two bond over their shared love of literature. But the bond the two develop might be stronger than death. When Mr. Harrigan dies, Craig finds that he’s able to talk to his old friend through his iPhone.
What could possibly go wrong with FaceTiming the dead?
Based on a Stephen King short story featured in the If It Bleeds collection, it’s safe to say that things take a dark turn. But like all King stories that involve children, there’s also tenderness and wonder to be found, even in the dark places. A spooky coming-of-age tale that should thrill King fans and horror lovers, Mr. Harrigan’s Phone should be fun to stream. Just make sure your phone is off.
October 14 – The Curse of Bridge Hollow
Marlon Wayans and Priah Ferguson play a father-daughter team who must rid a town of an evil spirit in Netflix's horror comedy The Curse of Bridge Hollow.
When an evil spirit brings every Halloween decoration in town to life, a father and daughter (Marlon Wayans and Priah Ferguson) must team up to stop the mayhem.
This is an excellent candidate for a not-so-scary watch. If you’ve got kids and don’t want to pay for therapy by showing them Halloween or Hereditary this October, consider The Curse of Bridge Hollow. Sometimes you need a little silly with your scares, and there’s only so many times one can watch Hocus Pocus.
October 19 – The School for Good and Evil
Michelle Yeoh as Professor Anemone in Paul Feig's The School For Good And Evil.
Best friends Sophie and Agatha (Sophia Anne Caruso and Sofia Wylie) are taken by a mythical beast and dropped at The School of Good and Evil. They’re elated at first. The school is the origin of every fairytale – every villain and every hero is trained at this school of enchantment. The school’s goal is to maintain the balance of good and evil in the world. But as that balance shifts Sophie and Agatha will have their friendship tested.
Based on the first of Soman Chainani’s young adult novels, The School for Good and Evil boasts an all-star cast and a director with a kicky sense of humor. Paul Feig (he of Spy and A Simple Favor fame) helms the movie, which features Charlize Theron, Kerry Washington, Laurence Fishburne, and Michelle Yeoh. While you would be forgiven for thinking this is Harry Potter with a Grimm twist, there’s certainly a wealth of talent and intrigue behind this big-budget family film. Settle in with your loved ones and see if it’s as enchanting as it looks.
October 26 – The Good Nurse
Jessica Chastain stars as a nurse trying to catch a killer in The Good Nurse.
ICU nurse Amy (Jessica Chastain) knows how precious life is. The single mom runs herself ragged taking night shifts at her hospital, pushing herself to her physical limits to care for her family and her charges. Life gets a little easier when Charlie (Eddie Redmayne) joins the nursing staff. Amy immediately takes to him and finds that his help makes her shifts a little less taxing.
Too bad Charlie might be responsible for a string of deaths at the hospital.
Here’s a scary option for the true crime fanatics. Chastain, fresh off her Oscar win, plays a real life nurse who suspects one of her colleagues is killing people. The thriller is directed by Tobias Lindholm, the man behind the brilliant HBO-Danish series The Investigation. Expect a tense film with some very interesting cinematography choices.
October 28 – Wendell & Wild
Lyric Ross plays Kat, a girl with lots of demons in Henry Selick and Jordan Peele's Wendell & Wild.
Orphan Kat (Lyric Ross) has demons she’s yet to deal with – literally. Wendell and Wild (Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele) haunt Kat’s every step and cause trouble wherever she goes. When the demons start causing havoc throughout Kat’s life Sister Helly (Angela Bassett) steps in to put a stop to thing. Can the Sister and Kat defeat the malicious duo?
Directed by Henry Selick (The Nightmare Before Christmas) and co-written by Jordan Peele, Wendell & Wild should be a smash. Selick’s knack for age-appropriate chills and creepy visuals will likely make the film a Halloween staple for families. It also features Key and Peele reuniting to play a pair of chaotic demons, which is reason enough to make this appointment viewing.
