It's time for our weekly movie roundup. We've gone a little heavy on the scares this time, with two horror movies, and one crime thriller — one that also happens to be Anna Kendricks's directorial debut. It's an action-packed list overall, so grab a cup of coffee, and let's dive in.
The best new streaming movies this weekMaXXXine – October 18, Max
This movie follows Maxine Minx in 1980s Los Angeles as she pursues her Hollywood dreams. However, her past — particularly her connection to her evangelical preacher father — looms in the background. When her father comes into her life, Maxine must confront her religious upbringing and its consequences.
Maxine Minx is portrayed as selfish, ruthless, confident, sexually liberated, and defiantly independent—everything her father despises. While the film maintains the trilogy's horror elements, it also works as a commentary on how religious fundamentalism has shaped American society. Scary, but insightful.
Woman of the Hour – October 18, Netflix
Anna Kendrick makes her directorial debut with this chilling true-crime drama about one of the most disturbing moments in television history. Set in the 1970s, the film follows Cheryl Bradshaw, a contestant on The Dating Game who selects bachelor Rodney Alcala — unaware he is an active serial killer suspected of murdering up to 130 women.
The narrative unfolds non-linearly, interweaving Alcala's appearance on the show with scenes of his previous murders and encounters with victims. A pivotal scene occurs during a post-show drink, where Alcala's carefully maintained charm begins to slip. Watch how several women work to get Rodney behind bars.
Canary Black – October 24, Prime Video
When terrorists kidnap her husband, Avery faces an impossible choice: betray her country by stealing classified intelligence or lose her spouse forever. Cut off from her agency and without backup, she must rely on her combat training and underworld connections to navigate a complex web of betrayal.
Soon it becomes clear that nothing is as it seems, and every decision she makes could trigger catastrophic global consequences. Watch intense action sequences merge with the emotional weight of Avery's moral dilemma. Is she potentially betraying everything she's sworn to protect?
MadS – October 18, Shudder
This innovative French horror film unfolds in one continuous shot, following Romain, whose night turns catastrophic after picking up a mysterious bandaged woman. While driving home from his dealer's place, he meets the mutilated woman who plays an ominous recording suggesting she escaped from a nearby experimental facility. When she begins stabbing herself, contaminating Romain with her blood, it sets off a chain reaction of escalating horror.
The film shifts perspective halfway through to follow Lucille Guillaume's character as an infection spreads through the city. The one-shot technique only enhances the confusion and terror but there's none of the usual relief of cuts or perspective shifts. Not for the faint-hearted or ones in the mood for conventional horror.
Family Pack – October 23, Netflix
This French family adventure follows a modern family struggling to connect during what should be a simple game night at Grandpa Gilbert's house. When Jérôme attempts to unite his wife Marie, influencer daughter Clara, stepson Théo, and young daughter Louise through a mysterious board game found in his father's attic, they're suddenly transported to medieval times. Each family member gains unique powers — Clara becomes invisible (reflecting her social media obsession), while her grandfather Gilbert becomes a powerful Hunter with renewed mental clarity.
To return home, they must work together to identify werewolves hiding among the village residents. While maintaining a light tone with fish-out-of-water humor, the film gives you a glimpse of time's impact on relationships, particularly through Gilbert's poignant storyline as he enjoys his temporary clarity. If you like Jumanji (who doesn't?), you'll love this one.
What was new and worth watching over the last monthHere's a quick roundup of our previous lists if you missed them. Also, if you're in the mood for something else this weekend, we have a list of streaming shows to cater to that.
Daddy's Head – October 11, Shudder
After suddenly losing his father James in a car accident, Isaac is left alone with his stepmother Laura in their remote countryside home. Grief-stricken, Isaac starts seeing a dark, monstrous creature with his father's head in the most unexpected places — air vents, under furniture, lurking in the woods.
As Laura struggles with her new responsibilities and turns to alcohol for comfort, Isaac becomes obsessed with finding and reuniting with the creature he believes is his father. But this entity may have sinister intentions, blurring the line between grief-fueled delusion and supernatural horror. Can Laura overcome her pain to save Isaac before it's too late?
The Last of the Sea Women – October 11, Apple TV Plus
On South Korea's Jeju Island, a dwindling community of traditional women divers who harvest seafood without oxygen tanks fight to preserve their ancient way of life. As pollution and climate change threaten their livelihood, thirty-something divers Sohee Jin and Jeongmin Woo use social media to document their work and raise awareness.
But when Japan announces plans to release radioactive wastewater from Fukushima into the ocean, it could spell doom for these women and the delicate marine ecosystem they depend on. The women band together to protest and save their heritage, even as their numbers shrink.
Lonely Planet – October 11, Netflix
Writer Katherine travels to a retreat in Morocco hoping to rekindle her creative spark and avoid dealing with a failed relationship. There she meets rising literary star Lily Kemp and her non-writer boyfriend Owen. As Lily basks in praise from fellow writers, Owen feels left out and forms an unexpected connection with Katherine, leading to romantic tension and possible betrayal.
Katherine must confront her feelings for the younger man while trying to overcome her writer's block. But Owen's fragile ego and hedge fund troubles threaten to derail their budding relationship before it can begin in this romantic dramedy.
Mr. Crocket – October 11, Hulu
In 1993, a sinister children's show host named Mr. Crocket begins magically emerging from TV sets to kidnap young children, brutally murdering their parents in the process. After Mr. Crocket snatches her son Major, recently widowed Summer decides to track down the demonic entertainer and rescue her boy.
She joins forces with other bereaved parents Eddie and Rhonda, who have developed a psychic connection to Mr. Crocket through various TV sets. Using Rhonda's visions, the trio race to find their children and stop Mr. Crocket before he claims more victims. But the line between reality and nightmare blurs as they enter Mr. Crocket's twisted world of puppets and primary colors.
Sting – October 11, Hulu
Twelve-year-old Charlotte finds and secretly adopts an unusual spider-like creature, unaware of its alien origins and carnivorous appetite. As pets and neighbors begin to mysteriously disappear, Charlotte struggles to hide and feed her rapidly growing new friend.
When the alien spider escapes and goes on a killing spree through their apartment building, Charlotte must decide where her loyalties lie. Can she protect her monstrous pet, or will she have to destroy it to save her family and neighbors from becoming its next meal?
Brothers – October 17, Prime Video
Twins Moke and Jady Munger have always been petty criminals, following in the footsteps of their career felon mother who disappeared 30 years ago with stolen emeralds. When Jady gets out of prison early, he disrupts Moke's attempts at a normal life with a pregnant wife. Jady convinces his brother to join him for one last heist — secretly planning to recover their mother's stolen gems.
Their madcap road trip adventure involves run-ins with a corrupt cop, Jady's ditzy love interest….and it just gets crazier. As they bicker, they must decide if blood is thicker than water…or emeralds.
Dìdi – October 4, Peacock
On the cusp of high school, Chris struggles to find his place in a predominantly white community. He surrounds himself with other kids of color like Farad and Jimmy, but even they seem to be drifting towards a more assimilated "bro" culture that Chris can't quite fit into.
Chris harbors a crush on a girl named Madi, who gives him backhanded compliments about being "cute for an Asian boy." His attempts to be cool and masculine often backfire, leaving him feeling more isolated. At home, Chris clashes with his artistic mother, who faces challenges balancing her aspirations with her mother-in-law's expectations while her husband works in Taiwan. Chris's relationship with his older sister Vivian is initially antagonistic but softens as she recognizes his loneliness.
The Platform 2 – October 4, Netflix
How easily the oppressed can become oppressors when given a taste of control. The film picks up in the aftermath of the first movie's events, with the system in chaos after the protagonist's rebellious actions. A new arrival finds themselves thrust into this brutal world where a platform of food descends through hundreds of levels each day, leaving those on lower floors to starve if those above take more than their share.
This time, a mysterious leader has emerged, imposing their own brutal law within the prison. The newcomer must navigate this altered landscape, where the already tenuous rules of survival have been further warped. As they descend through the levels, they encounter both allies and enemies, each with their own agenda for survival or revolution.
Bad Boys: Ride or Die – October 8, Netflix
The film opens with Mike's wedding, a joyous occasion that takes a dark turn when Marcus suffers a near-fatal heart attack. During a brief encounter with the afterlife, Marcus receives a cryptic message from their old captain about an impending test Mike will face.
As Marcus recovers, the duo becomes embroiled in a complex case involving a dirty cop who's attempting to sully their former captain's legacy. The investigation leads them to cross paths with a U.S. Marshal who happens to be the captain's daughter, as well as Mike's ex-drug soldier son Armando, who they previously sent to prison. The case takes unexpected turns, forcing Mike and Marcus to confront ghosts from their past and question loyalties. Expect the franchise's signature blend of explosive action sequences, comedic banter between the leads, and unexpected plot twists, all while testing the bonds of their partnership and chosen family.
Caddo Lake – October 10, Max
Set in the atmospheric bayou town on the Texas-Louisiana border, Caddo Lake weaves a complex mystery that blends Southern Gothic elements with mind-bending sci-fi. The story centers on two main characters whose lives become entangled in the lake's strange phenomena.
When drought causes the lake's water levels to recede, it exposes evidence of past deaths and disappearances, setting off a chain of events that will forever alter history. As Paris and Ellie each set off on separate but interconnected journeys into the heart of the bayou, they encounter inexplicable temporal anomalies and must confront long-buried secrets.
V/H/S Beyond – October 4, Shudder
The sixth installment in the found-footage horror anthology series, V/H/S Beyond presents five new terrifying tales linked by themes of bodily transformation and encounters with the impossible. The wraparound segment follows a documentarian investigating a pair of VHS tapes allegedly capturing an alien encounter, setting the stage for the anthology's exploration of the uncanny caught on camera.
In Stork, a team of officers searching for missing babies stumbles upon a house overrun by grotesque horrors, leading to a chaotic, gory showdown. Dream Girl begins as paparazzi pursue a Bollywood star, only for one to discover an unimaginable secret in the celebrity's trailer, unleashing a frenetic and disorienting nightmare. V/H/S Beyond will shock, disorient, and unsettle you with its blend of cosmic horror, body transformation, and found-footage terror.
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