YOU
Netflix
This gripping 10-part series, based on the Caroline Kepnes novel of the same name, stars Penn Badgley as Joe, a charming and intelligent bookstore manager who becomes fascinated with the beautiful Guinevere (Elizabeth Lail). This fascination quickly turns to obsession. We’ve seen this story before, though what makes this one particularly fascinating is that we see it from the stalker’s perspective, giving us a human perspective on a character that’s normally portrayed as the villain, even forcing us to question our own mentality in the search for love. With the stunning New York backdrop, You is a creepily intense thriller that will have viewers hooked from start to finish. ****LS
THE A.B.C MURDERS
BBC (available on BBC iPlayer)
This latest Agatha Christie adaptation on the BBC introduces John Malkovich as an aging Hercule Poirot, now a shadow of his former self, but with a trick or two up his immaculate sleeves. Poirot is brought back into the world of crime when sent a series of taunting letters detailing a series of increasingly brutal murders. Malkovich is passable as Poirot, but pales in comparison to his predecessors, David Suchet and Peter Ustinov – a glaring feature being his inconsistent accent which detracts from his overall performance. With an excellent supporting cast and a slow-burning plot that keeps the viewer constantly guessing, The A.B.C Murders follows in the footsteps of many an excellent Christie adaptation. ****GE
THE BOYS IN THE BAND
Second Sight (Blu-ray/DVD)
Directed by William Friedkin (who would follow this up with The French Connection and The Exorcist), The Boys In The Band remains one of the first US films to openly depict gay men onscreen. An adaptation of the 1968 play of the same name, with all the same cast members, it retains a certain searing power, even though its stage origins do box the film in at times. There is a vein of self-hatred running through the film that would earn it criticism today, but as a time capsule of gay life in the immediate aftermath of Stonewall (the play was performed a year beforehand), it’s utterly fascinating. ***FT
SHIRKERS
Netflix
Forget Roma. Forget Bird Box. This is the Netflix film everybody ought to see. In 1992, a group of Singaporean teenage girls put together a film called Shirkers, with the aid of their film school teacher, the mysterious Georges Cardona. Afterwards, he disappears with all of the film, leaving everybody else crestfallen. 20 years later, the film resurfaces (albeit without audio), and director Sandi Tan pieces together the story of Cardona, a strange, almost obsessive figure at the margins of the film industry. Absolutely riveting in its depiction of all-encompassing creative endeavour can be, and how heartbreaking it is when all that effort is ripped out from under you. *****FT
WIM WENDERS: JOURNEYS OF NO RETURN
Mubi
Mubi, a streaming service for fans of more arthouse-y or unique cinematic offerings, is currently running a three-month retrospective of the German master Wim Wenders, focusing on his road movies. At their best, they are gloriously elegiac, ambling works, delving deep into an alienated, post-WWII psyche. Films like Alice In The Cities, The American Friend, and the all-time great Paris, Texas remain as evocative as ever, but there are also lesser-seen gems such as Tokyo-Ga soon to come. Catch-up whilst you still can! *****FT