As we quickly head into the final days of October, there are plenty of new titles still dropping to tide us over until November’s big releases.
Some interesting independent films are coming this week, including Brie Larson crim comedy Free Fire, and Egyptian drama about abandonment and redemption Yommedine. We are also looking forward to seeing Natalie Portman’s work both in front of and behind the camera in A Tale of Love and Darkness which tells the story of the early State of Israel.
When it comes to new Netflix series, we are looking forward to Daybreak, set in a Mad Max type work but with zombies, it promises to mix comedy with drama to produce something a bit special. Chinese drama The Untamed also looks good as the Chinese version of Supernatural (which is ending soon! – sob). We are happy that the wait is finally over for the next episodes of Bojack Horseman.
There are also quite a few horrors landing for Halloween including the underrated film Assimilate, Malay romance-Horror Revenge of Pontianak,
Free Fire (2017) – 21 October
This 1970s period crime comedy stars Cillian Murphy, Armie Hammer and Brie Larson. It starts as a meeting of criminals, but unsurprisingly, with a lack of trust, things go wrong, and it soon becomes a battle for individual survival.
Hunter’s Prayer (2017) – 22 October
Sam Worthington plays an assassin sent to kill a young woman, but he finds himself unable to do it. He transforms from hunter to protector as he must protect them both from the people who hired him.
Jenny Slate: Stage Fright (Netflix Original) – 22 October
The first stand-up special from newcomer Jenny Slate, she finds moments of humour in childhood conversations, and the challenges of discovering adulthood.
Yommedine (2018) – 22 October
This Egyptian drama follows a former leper through Egypt as he searches for the family that abandoned him and contemplates what he will find.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner, Season One (Netflix Original) – 23 October
David Change and Chrissy Teagan descend on celebrity Americans at meal times to discover their food rituals and find out what they really think about hot issues.
Dancing with the Birds (Netflix Original) 23 October
Stephen Fry voices this documentary about rare birds that live near the US-Mexico border as they search for a mate.
Master Z: The Ip Man Legacy (2018) – 23 October
Max Zhang plays a Wing Chin master defeated by Ip Man who has lost his way following the loss. Can he get his live back on track? Also starring Dave Bautista.
Daybreak – Season One (Netflix Original) – 24 October
Based on the popular comic book, in a post-apocalyptic work a 17-year-old boy Josh is searching for his missing girlfriend Sam, and fathers a team of misfits around him on the way that band together for protection against human gangs and zombie like creatures.
Echo in the Canyon (2018) – 24 October
This documentary looks at the role of Laurel Canyon in the music industry in the 1960s as home of some of the biggest starts including the Beach Boys and Buffalo Springfield.
Revenge of Pontianak (2019) – 24 October
This is a Malay-language romance horror, which tells a love story in the middle of the horror or a small town terrorized by a Pontianak ghost in revenge for lost love.
A Tale of Love and Darkness (2015) – 25 October
Written, directed by and starring Natalie Portman, based on the novel my Amos Oz, it tells the story of a young women in the early days of the State of Israel.
Assimilate (2019) – 25 October
Three friends decide to make a documentary film about their home town when they discover that many residents have been killed and replaced by doppelgangers.
The Awakening of Motti Wolkenbruch (Netflix Original) – 25 October
This young Orthodox Jew though that he knew what the future would look like, but that all gets turned on its head when he meets a girl from another walk of life.
Bojack Horseman, Season Six, Part One – 25 October
In a world where humans and anthropomorphic animals live side-by-side, Bojack is a washed up 1990s sitcom star, and horse, trying to find his way back to celebrity.
Brigada Costa del Sol, Season One (Netflix Original) – 25 October
Set in 1970s Spain, four very different police officers get together for a big drugs bust, but is everyone on the level?
Brotherhood, Season One (Netflix Original) – 25 October
This Brazilian drama focusses on a young female lawyer, who must first cope with her brother’s criminal past before moving forward. But his criminal activity is not just a thing of the past.
Consequences (2014) – 25 October
An LGBTQ+ focussed firm from Slovenia, it follows a young man trying to find himself and survive after being sent to a youth detention centre
Dolemite is my Name (Netflix Original) 25 October
Eddie Murphy plays a struggling comedian who suddenly hits big with a raunchy alter ego, Dolomite, and takes big risks to make it big.
Greenhouse Academy, Season Three (Netflix Original) – 25 October
We return to our elite boarding school for another season as they try and discover the secrets that their parents are hiding.
Interior Design Masters, Season One (Netflix Original) – 25 October
Interior designers compete for a permanent and lucrative contract with a prestigious hotel chain in this latest reality competition.
It Takes a Lunatic (Netflix Original) – 25 October
This documentary look at the life of director and acting teacher Wynn Handman who was largely responsible for establishing the off-Boradway scene. Former students feature including Richard Gere, Hames Caan and Michael Douglas.
The Kominsky Method, Season Two (Netflix Original) – 25 October
Michael Douglas and Alan Arkin are back as a pair of best friends as they struggle to deal with getting older.
Moms at War (2018) – 25 October
Two mothers living in the same neighbourhood and facing the same challenges, but they hate each other. Their conflict is brought to a boiling point as their children are put into direct competition at school.
Monzón: A Knockout Blow – 25 October
A biopic of the Argentine boxing legend Carlos Monzón which also takes a fresh look at the investigation into the death of the star’s wife.
My Next Guest with David Letterman (Netflix Original) – 25 October
In this latest episode of Letterman’s Netflix show he spends time both inside and outside the studio with Shah Rukh Khan.
Prank Encounters, Season One (Netflix Original)
The latest hidden camera prank show which takes the joke further than ever before in pranks that are both hilarious and cringe-worthy.
Rattlesnake (Netflix Original) – 25 October
In this Netflix original horror, when a stranger saves her daughter from certain death, she is then called upon to repay her debt.
The Untamed – Season One – 25 October
This is Supernatural for China, with two ghost hunters travelling historic China and solving mysteries until the find the dark force that is behind everything.
The Last Whistle (2019) – 26 October
When a star player dies during practice, everyone looks at the celebrated coach, and start to wonder if his training methods and win at any cost attitude are working.