MINDHUNTER
A slow burner for sure but this is a Netflix show that once it has its hooks in you its very hard to stop an inevitable binge watching session to blitz through the first series. Mindhunters is the story of early criminal profiling, specifically serial killers and how two FBI agents expand criminal science by delving into the psychology of what makes a serial killer kill. There's a really nice offset between the two lead characters that starts to gel around episode 3 as FBI agents Holden Ford (Jonathan Groff) and Bill Tench (Holt McCallany),try to mind map the thoughts, processes and quirks behind some of America's most notorious killers. produced by David Fincher and Charlize Theron its one to watch for sure.
Why is it worth it?: It's a fascinating insight into how the FBI created criminal profiling when serial killers or 'sequence' killers first came under any major scrutiny in criminal science during the late 70's, the interviews with serial killer Ed Kemper is gripping and if you search on Youtube for the real Ed kemper interview you'll see why.
production values are superb from the clothes, cars and music and it has that 'Deer Hunter' movie feel to the look of it with a sprinkling of Finchers Se7en for the darker side of human nature. The first and last 2 episodes of the 10 episode run were directed by David Fincher.
OZARK
Take him or leave him Jason Bateman does a fantastic job in this Netflix series based around a money laundering financial adviser called Marty Byrd played by Bateman that has to clean money for a Columbian drug cartel but who also manages to drag his disfunctional family into the hell of it. In the midst of it all he heads out to the Ozarks in the belief that tourism will be a way to clean vast sums of money with no interference from law enforcement - the fact he manages to piss off local drug dealers, resident Rednecks and attract the attention of a very unflinching FBI man not to mention sharing a purchased house with the dying owner still in residence makes for a great cocktail of characters.
Why is it worth it? The character studies alone make for some truly entertaining TV and how Batemans character seems to dig a bigger hole for himself yet still manages to come out the other side episode to episode is edge of the seat stuff, great performance from actress Laura Linney too.
Breaking Bad
If you've not seen Breaking Bad there's only really one question - why not?, it's perhaps one of the best written TV shows ever made.Labelled as a neo western crime drama it delivers in spades in every single episode, it takes you up high but will then drop down on you with emotional gravitas that leaves you numb. Created by Vince Gilligan it follows Walter White (Brain Cranston), a high school chemistry teacher diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer, together with his former student Jessie Pinkman (Aaron Paul) he embarks on a life of crime cooking crystal meth to secure the financial future of his family.
Why is it worth it? 16 Prime Time Emmy Awards, two Golden Globes pus a shed load more awards and accolades -its metacritic score got higher with every season and reached 99 out of 100 for season five. Walter White and his descent from struggling chemistry teacher to cold blooded drug kingpin is pure TV history.
Stranger Things Season 2
The ultimate homage to 80's genre films returns for a second season, set in the fictional town of Hawkins Indiana in the 1980's the show quickly gained a cult following and one of Netflix's hottest shows. Great performances from Mathew Modine (season one) and David Harbour who will soon be taking on red skinned Hellboy duties. Also stars Winona Ryder and while I've never been a fan she shines as chaotic mom Joyce Byers. The biggest accolade goes to the cast of kids, Will, Finn Caleb and Gaten and the mysterious Millie or 'Eleven' as she is also known. It's absolutely a must for Sci-Fi fans.
Why is it worth it? It taps into 80's America with such aplomb that it feels super relevant and yet really nostalgic at the same time, you watch it and feel so connected to the show,especially if you were between the ages of 10-15 during the early or mid 80's. The sci-fi aspect mixes secret government installations, a bit of E.T, a little bit of Wargames and sprinkles this with some very dark X-Files stuff to boot too.
Hannibal
Like me you probably think that only the actor Anthony Hopkins could and should play Hannibal Lecter as a character on screen. I went into this show thinking that there's no way that Mads Mikkelsen could pull this off - remember him?, he was the Bond villain with the weepy eye that dripped blood in Casino Royale. How wrong I was. The show absolutely excels in writing and performances and a supporting cast that includes Laurence Fishburn as FBI director Jack Crawford. The series focuses on the early relationship of criminal profiler Will Graham played by Hugh Dancy and Psychiatrist Hannibal Lecter. Graham works with the behavioral sciences dept for the FBI and has a real knack of getting inside killers minds but loses himself a little every time he goes into these trance like dream states. Graham is being mislead by the devious Lecter as he tries to steer focus from his own cannibalistic acts and murders.This show is dark, very dark, extremely graphic and pulls no punches.
Why is it worth it? - Do yourself a huge favor, get into the first two episodes at least before deciding it doesn't fit, by that time it'll have you hooked, its like CSI meets Se7en.Hugh Dancy absolutely gives this role his all, its a really engaging performance and the cooking, yes, the cooking and recipes in this show that are served up by Lecter are drop dead amazing. Above all that its a show that wasn't afraid to explore the edge of the darkest most depraved human mind and explore the darker world of serial killing.
The Punisher
Setting aside the previous screen interpretations from the likes of Dolph Lungren,Thomas Jane and the lesser received version of the character by the otherwise decent Ray Stevenson, Marvels walking death dealer gets his own show on Netflix after guest appearing in season 2 of the brilliant Daredevil show also on Netflix.
This time round Frank Castle, aka The Punisher is played by Walking Dead and Fury actor John Bernthall who absolutely soaks this role up. Season one kicks off with a 13 episode run and will no doubt enjoy additional season runs if the writing stays sharp and true to the character. If you ever read the Punisher comic series War Zone by John Romitta sr or read the War Journal series drawn by Jim Lee then this is surely a must.
Why is it worth it? If season 2 appearances in Daredevil is anything to go by - this could finally be the version of the Punisher character that thousands of comic book fans have been begging for. Bernthall lives and breathes the role totally and is fully aware of the responsibilities he has to Punisher fans, it'll be dark, brutal and full on.
NARCOS
Subtitles oh for the love of god, why?, I can't be arsed reading AND watching at the same time, but hold that thought because you'll be missing a superbly crafted series on NETFLIX that sheds light on possibly one of the worlds most notorious and dangerous criminals in modern history. The series also combines English language and subtitles are only for native Columbian characters like Pablo Escobar played by the brilliant Wagner Moura. While Escobar as a character does take up a lot of screen time (obviously) the DEA side also helps drive the narrative of the show. Actors Pedro Pascal and Boyd Holbrook play the U.S DEA agents Javier Pena and Steve Murphy hellbent on tracking Escobar and taking him and the Medellin cartel down. NARCOS weaves through Pablo's rise to power as Columbia's richest and most powerful man through his Cocaine empire with the first two seaons focused on Escobar. Season 3 focuses on Javier Pena and his task of going after the Cali cartel and the cocaine flooding into Miami.
Why is it worth it?: The show provides a truly unique insight into Pablo Escobar, his power, his wealth and the lengths he would go to to retain that power and wealth. The show tells a story from both sides, one from Escobars criminal empire and the government led forces including the DEA that were out to end his career criminal ways. The show is a real gripper too, great writing and Wagner Moura is absolutely on form as Escobar. Season 3 is a slow burner to begin with but from episode 5 really ups the pace to a nail biting finish.
NETFLIX for the most part more than makes up for the deluge of mediocrity found on the service with its great range of original content and NETFLIX exclusives. While it has always been secretive in the numbers of active subscribers and viewer figures the US subscriber service for NETFLIX has over 48% more content than its UK counterpart and therefore provides a lot more value for money. US subscribers have access to 5663 titles, 4339 of those are movies and 1326 are TV shows for $7.99 a month. The UK on the other hand has 2967 shows for its subscribers, with 2425 of those being movies and the other 542 being TV shows for $7.73 a month. France, Germany, Holland and Greece all pay $9.39 for around 1780 titles.
Current estimates put NETFLIX at around just over 100 million subscribers globally with an aggressive production schedule that will see it release 80 original films in 2018.
'Bright', the Will Smith Sci-Fi cop actioner directed by David Ayer (End of Watch, Fury) saw NETFLIX stump up $90 Million in production costs. Martin Scorsese's "The Irishman" due to air in 2019 had a price tag of $46 Million and stars Robert De Niro. NETFLIX also snapped up the 'hot' script for Sci-Fi thriller "Power" written by Mattson Tomlin which several other studios were apparently also bidding on, Power will be directed by Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman who previously collaborated on Nerve and Viral but are probably better known for Paranormal Activity 3 and 4.
The Frank Grillo Heist thriller 'Wheelman' also found its home as a NETFLIX original movie and its currently available to stream and was produced by Joe Carnahan (The Grey).
NETFLIX's content spend for 2018 will be between $7-8 Billion and its 80 movie catalogue outstrips Disney, Warners and Universals output for 2018 combined. The spend means that NETFLIX has become a real contender within the entertainment sector and puts additional pressure on other content creators to deliver competitive material. HBO spent $2.5 Billion on original content this year and CBS spent $4 Billion. Amazon Prime allocated $4.5 Billion to creating original content this year which means that if anything NETFLIX is upping the level of competition and the yard stick for other content creators to match.
original content drives subscriber growth and due to the digital climate and current technology for streaming it means that feeding a growing consumer base with a steady flow of entertainment is crucial in order to stay out in front.
10 Movies that need a run on NETFLIX (UK)
- Maggie - Arnies underrated indie Zombie flick
- The Hateful Eight - Reservoir Dogs meets Django Unchained
- Hell or Highwater - Chris Pine and Ben Foster crime thriller
- Spotlight - Mark Ruffalo Boston Globe drama
- Non Stop - Liam Neeson Air Marshall thriller
- Silence of the Lambs - The classic Hannibal Lecter
- Prisoners - Hugh Jackman kidnap thriller
- The Town - Ben Affeck heist thriller set in Boston
- Inception - Leonardo Di Caprio and Tom Hardy's mind bending thriller
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