What's on Shudder in November

Here's what's on Shudder in November 2026.

New Group – Shudder Original Film

New Film Premieres Exclusively on Shudder and AMC+ Friday 6 November

High school student Ai sees her world collapse when a strange cult-like mentality gradually turns people around her into mindless followers who can transform simple gymnastics routines into a nightmarish dance of death. Written and directed by Yûta Shimotsu (Best Wishes to All), and starring Anna Yamada, Yuzu Aoki and Pierre Taki.

Tinsman Road (2025)  – Shudder Exclusive Film

New Film Premieres Exclusively on Shudder and AMC+ Friday 13 November

In the backwoods of New Jersey, a young man navigates the serpentine mystery surrounding his long-missing sister and their family home.

The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula – Shudder Original Series

New Episodes Premiere Tuesdays Exclusively on Shudder and AMC+

The four-time Emmy-nominated series, created and hosted by the Boulet Brothers, recipients of the Critics Choice Association’s Reality TV Award, is Shudder's highest-performing unscripted original franchise and continues to be one of the platform's most popular series. The new season also marks the tenth anniversary of its original Halloween debut. The forthcoming seventh season features some of the series’ most brilliantly unhinged and cutting-edge underground artists, a collection of beloved guest judges including Rose McGowan, Doug Jones, David Dastmalchian, Harvey Guillén, Rachel True, Darren Stein, Lloyd Kaufman, Brandon Rogers, James A. Janisse, Chelsea Rebecca, Yvie Oddly, Lauren LaVera, Bailey Sarian, Howard Berger, and previous The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula winners Landon Cider, Dahli, and Asia Consent, and the craziest elimination challenges in ten years of the show. The season will also pay homage to the grimy, tactile VHS horror of the 1980s and ‘90s through ambitious cinematic sequences that will celebrate some of the genre’s most iconic films

Shudder’s Library Highlights:

Theatre of Horrors – premieres Sunday 1 November

An experimental play becomes a study in horror when four eager actors discover their brilliant, avant-garde director is a homicidal madman.

Sweeney Todd (1928) – premieres Sunday 1 November

A man dreams he is the ‘demon barber’ who cuts sailors’ throats for jewels and uses the corpses for pies.

The Lighthouse Keepers (1929) – premieres Sunday 1 November

A son is bitten by a rabid dog before leaving with his father for a month in a remote lighthouse.

Cold Meat – premieres Sunday 1 November

A driver rescues a waitress from her ex and continues driving until he crashes in a snowstorm. Injured and trapped in a ravine, he fights for survival but it soon becomes clear that the cold is not the greatest danger.

Let it Snow – premieres Sunday 1 November

Separated from her fiancé after sneaking into a restricted slope, Mia, a free-riding snowboarder, must survive not only against nature but also the masked snowmobile rider who is out for her blood.

Handling the Undead – premieres Sunday 1 November

On a hot summer day in Oslo, the dead mysteriously awaken, and three families are thrown into chaos when their deceased loved ones come back to them.

Survive – premieres Sunday 1 November

A couple celebrates their son’s birthday in the middle of the ocean on their boat. A violent storm hits and brings up hungry creatures from the depths, and they fight for their survival.

Strange Harvest – premieres Friday 20 November

Detectives are thrust into a chilling hunt for “Mr. Shiny,” a sadistic serial killer from the past whose return marks the beginning of a new wave of grotesque, otherworldly crimes tied to a dark cosmic force.

Blood of the Vampire – premieres Friday 20 November

In 1870 Transylvania, scientist Dr. Callistratus is put to death by villagers who wrongly believe he’s a vampire. However, his horribly disfigured henchman, Carl is on hand to orchestrate a life-saving stunt.

The Flesh Eaters – premieres Friday 27 November

A group of young adults trapped on a desert island find the water inhabited by a violent form of flesh-eating organism.

What's on AMC+ in November

Here's everything that's streaming on AMC+ in November 2026.

Braxton Family Values

Seasons 5, 6 & 7 Binge Premieres Thursday 24 November Exclusively on AMC+

The series spotlights the turbulent yet relatable relationships, careers and personal lives of sisters Toni, Tamar, Towanda, Trina and Traci Braxton and matriarch Miss E. Sparks continue to fly amongst this sassy, outspoken and tight-knit group of women all striving for stardom while loving, laughing and feuding as only sisters can.

Archive X: Unexplained Phenomena – AMC+ Exclusive Series

Season Finale on Exclusively on AMC+ Thursday 5 November

Hosted by Professor Jeffrey J. Kripal, a leading scholar of extraordinary human experiences, the series follows everyday individuals, many of whom have never spoken publicly before, are invited to reveal their new and personal encounters with unexplained phenomena. The stories told add to a trove already containing over one million pieces of evidence – collected for nearly a century – investigating telepathy, near-death experiences, UFO encounters, alien abductions, prophetic dreams, and messages from the beyond.  Included in the series is work by Pulitzer Prize-winning Harvard psychiatrist Dr. John E. Mack and bestselling author Whitley Strieber.  Together their accounts raise a larger question at the heart of Archive X: Unexplained Phenomena – what if these seemingly separate mysteries are not separate at all?

Love After Lockup: Relationship Rehab – AMC+ Original Series

Episodes Premiere Saturdays on AMC+ until Season Finale on 28 November 

Five fan-favorite couples from the Love After Lockup franchise embark on a transformative journey with psychiatrist and nationally recognized relationship expert Dr. Ish Major, working to heal old wounds and rebuild their relationships. Throughout the series, the couples will confront the unresolved hurt and ongoing pressures that have shaped their relationships as they participate in a program designed by Dr. Ish specifically for this group. Guided through difficult conversations and emotional breakthroughs, they will be forced to examine what keeps them together, what stands between them and whether their relationships can survive the process. As buried secrets and painful truths emerge, tensions will rise and all five relationships will be pushed to their limits. In the end, Dr. Ish will help them determine whether these relationships can be repaired or if some may be beyond saving.

PlexPlatinum Weddings

Seasons 1 & 2 Binge Premieres Thursday 24 November Exclusively on AMC+

A wedding ring worth a quarter of a million dollars, a $30,000 cake and a groom entering on an elephant are among the eye-popping excesses featured in this look at over-the-top nuptials. From fantastic food to fabulous fashions -- including multiple wedding dresses -- and luxurious locales, brides and their grooms go all-out to plan the wedding to end all weddings.

Ghosts in the Hood (TV Series 2016– )

Series Binge Premieres Sunday, 1 November on AMC+  

Members of the ghost-hunting Official Paranormal Operations (O.P.O.) team conduct paranormal investigations in neighborhoods throughout Los Angeles in this series that blends humor with the supernatural. Each episode features the O.P.O. responding to two clients who believe they have experienced ghostly encounters, whether their house is haunted or spirits overrun a business. The team -- led by CEO Defecio Stoglin, who founded the organization to help ordinary people deal with supernatural problems -- looks into unexplained phenomena in areas of Los Angeles that include Compton, South Central, Inglewood and downtown L.A.

Apidya Special: PS5 Review

Developed by Team Apidya
Published by Team Apidya
Platform: PS5

If the idea of playing A Bug's Life through the lens of a shoot-em-up appeals to you, then really, look no further than the 2026 update of the 1992 Amiga game, Apidya.

In this side-scrolling 24-pixel remake (rebuilt from the ground up) you play as Ikuro, a character who's turned into a bee and let loose in the garden of nature with no option but to shoot the flying critters that infest your world. (A better allegory for the bugs menace of summer months has yet to be seen.)

There's a simple premise here and really, deep introspection of the story isn't necessary - what matters in a game like this is simply the power of the shooting and the gameplay. And it's something Team Apidya understands well and executes brilliantly.

With a raft of options that allow you to choose the difficulty, when you want to gain extra lives and if you get to carry on your weapon power-ups, you'd think the game was setting itself up for being over within moments.

But in truth, Team Apidya's game is as hard as it could be, while always leaving you being in reach of perfecting it. Critters fly at you from within the screen, from on the ground and leap out without warning. 

There's nothing new here that the likes of Defender and other shoot-em-ups of the genre haven't already provided, but Apidya Special is just fun to play, with smooth graphics and action. (Though occasionally, it can be hard to see the ground-based animals launching attacks at you.)

The option to flick between 16:9 and the original 4:3 coin-op gameplay is also welcome too - and can be done mid-game without any noticeable lag and in a way that also changes how some of the creatures in the game look. It's a cool little option and the fact it's done with such ease is nothing short of impressive.

Sometimes, games like this don't need to be complicated - they don't need to have a hook and they don't need to be the most complicated thing to play. Apidya Special fits all of those with ease and as a result, it's an absolute blast to play.

What's on Prime Video in November

Here's everything that's streaming on Prime Video in November 2026.

November on Prime Video is stacked as the highly anticipated third season of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power launches with Middle-earth engulfed in war and Sauron sets out to forge the One Ring; and an iconic sci-fi franchise returns with Blade Runner 2099, starring Michelle Yeoh and Hunter Schafer, which follows a fugitive forced to team up with a Replicant.

Nicholas Cage stars as NFL icon John Madden alongside an all-star cast including Christian Bale and Sienna Miller in MADDEN;  and executive produced by Michael B. Jordan and Lonnie Ali, The Greatest, is the first authorised scripted series chronicling the life of Muhammad Ali.

Plus, the 2026-27 season of NBA on Prime kicks off October 24, including exclusive coverage of the Emirates NBA Cup 2026 from October 31. TONY starring Dominic Sessa as Anthony Bourdain streams exclusively on Prime Video October 26.

All this and more, in November on Prime Video.

NBA ON PRIME

STREAMING SATURDAY 24 OCTOBER

Basketball fans, get ready — the 2026-27 season of NBA on Prime starts October 24. Stream live games, catch the biggest matchups of the season, and never miss a highlight. From the regular season through to the playoffs, you’ll have courtside access anytime, anywhere. Prime Video will be the exclusive streaming service for 66 regular-season NBA games, the 2026 Emirates NBA cup, the play-in tournament and select games from the NBA Playoffs.

NBA on Prime tips off with Champions the New York Knicks who begin their title defence on the road against East Coast rivals the Boston Celtics, followed by a Texas showdown as beaten finalists the San Antonio Spurs host the Houston Rockets, in a huge double header to start the season on Prime Video.

Prime Video brings the action closer than ever—whether you’re backing your team, following your favourite stars, or just here for the slam dunks.

Plus fans can also catch every minute of the action with an NBA League Pass Add-On Subscription with packages starting from $24.99/month NZD.

EMIRATES NBA CUP 2026

STREAMING SATURDAY 31 OCTOBER

The high-stakes action of the Emirates NBA Cup 2026 begins October 31 for five-straight weeks of Group Play doubleheaders, exclusive to Prime Video.

The tournament kicks off with the Knicks visiting LeBron James and the Philadelphia 76ers, then Luka Dončić and the Lakers meet Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors. The final day of Group Play on Prime will feature the Heat vs the Knicks followed by the Lakers vs the Spurs. 

The Emirates NBA Cup Knockout rounds will stream on Prime Video tipping off with the quarterfinals on December 5. 6, semifinals on December 9 and concluding with the championship game on December 12.

TONY

STREAMING MONDAY 26 OCTOBER

A 19-year-old Anthony Bourdain travels to Provincetown and stumbles into the chaotic world of a restaurant kitchen, setting off a summer that will shape the course of his life.

TONY stars Dominic Sessa, Emilia Jones, Leo Woodall, Antonio Banderas, Stavros Halkias, Monica Raymund and more.

THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RINGS OF POWER SEASON THREE 

STREAMING WEDNESDAY 11 NOVEMBER

In Season Three, Middle-earth is at war. Five years have passed since the fall of Eregion. Sauron’s armies have marched across the whole of the world, conquering all in their path. Only a few isolated pockets stand between the Dark Lord and total victory – Khazad-dûm, where the Dwarves are now sealed deep within their mountain halls, and the elven realms of Lindon and Rivendell, which are protected by their Three Rings. But deep in the land of Mordor, in his newly completed tower of Barad-dûr, the Dark Lord toils day and night, obsessed with harnessing a power that will bring the last of his enemies to their knees: One Ring to rule them all... Now, all the free peoples of Middle-earth – Dwarves, Elves, Men, and Wizards alike – must find a way to come together, in a race against time to prevent Sauron from achieving his goal of utter domination of all life…

The first four episodes will premiere on November 11.  Episodes 305 & 306 will be available to stream on November 18, and the final two episodes of the season will be released on November 25.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power stars Morfydd Clark, Charlie Vickers, Jamie Campbell Bower, Daniel Weyman, Robert Aramayo, Ismael Cruz Córdova and more.

BLADE RUNNER 2099 SEASON ONE

STREAMING WEDNESDAY 25 NOVEMBER

Fifty years after the events of Blade Runner 2049, Los Angeles has been reborn, just not by humanity. Cora, a fugitive in a final bid to stop running, takes on one last identity: a Blade Runner. Forced to partner with Olwen, a Replicant days from dying, she hunts down a runaway hiding a truth that could collapse their fragile city.

Blade Runner 2099 stars Michelle Yeoh, Hunter Schafer, Dimitri Abold, Lewis Gribben and more.

MADDEN

STREAMING WEDNESDAY 18 NOVEMBER

Inspired by the life of a beloved American icon, MADDEN chronicles John Madden's incredible journey alongside best friend and true original Al Davis – from a Super Bowl-winning partnership with the Raiders, to becoming football’s most recognizable voice, to building the worldwide Madden NFL video game. MADDEN is the celebration of a brilliant mind whose once in a century spirit and personality, partnership with his daring wife Virginia, lifelong friendships, and infectious love of people and football transcended the world of sports.

MADDEN stars Nicolas Cage, Christian Bale, Kathryn Hahn, Sienna Miller, John Mulaney, Shane Gillis and more.

THE GREATEST SEASON ONE

STREAMING WEDNESDAY 4 NOVEMBER

The Greatest is an intimate exploration of the incomparable life of the boxing champion, humanitarian and global icon, Muhammad Ali. Executive produced by Lonnie Ali, the wife of the late luminary, The Greatest is the first authorized scripted series about the life of Muhammad Ali, offering unprecedented access and going beyond the amazing victories and defeats that made Ali a legend, both in and out of the ring.

The Greatest stars Jaalen Best, Omari Hardwick, Dana Gourrier, Amin Joseph, Kai Parham, Giovanni Ribisi and Michael Ealy.

The series is executive produced by Lonnie Ali, Ben Watkins, Michael B. Jordan’s Outlier Society as well as  Authentic Studios, Roc Nation, Shawn Carter, Polygram Entertainment, and Grace: A Storytelling Company. 

THE MONGOOSE

STREAMING WEDNESDAY 4 NOVEMBER

Accused of a crime he didn't commit and with nothing to lose, a war hero (Liam Neeson) battling PTSD leads law enforcement on a high-speed, cross-country car chase with the help of his brothers in arms, as a captivated public roots for his escape.

The Mongoose stars Liam Neeson, Marisa Tomei, Ving Rhames and Brett Tucker.

CAMPUS DRIVERS SEASON ONE

STREAMING FRIDAY 6 NOVEMBER

Lois has everything going for her: she's been accepted into the prestigious Belrose University alongside her lifelong love, Max. Lane, on the other hand, lives by his own rules. Creator of Campus Drivers, the hottest app on campus, he is as famous for his devastating smile as for his inability to commit. Their paths were never supposed to cross. Until the night when Lois, heartbroken, shows up on his doorstep. An unexpected cohabitation. Two worlds colliding. And an attraction impossible to ignore. But some encounters change everything… even awakening buried wounds. And when love arrives uninvited, nothing is certain anymore.

Campus Drivers stars Carmen Kassovitz, Baptiste Masseline, Madior Fall, Esteban Vial, Félix Nebel, Enzo Lorente, Paolo Luka-Noé, Eloïse Rey, Louna Balavoine, Cassandra Cano and more.

PERFECT LIARS

STREAMING FRIDAY 20 NOVEMBER

Welcome to Tagus, where power, privilege and deadly secrets hide behind perfect facades. Jude Derry arrives at an exclusive university with a hidden mission: to infiltrate the circle of the Cash brothers and uncover the truth about her brother's death. The three heirs to the family empire dominate Tagus with a magnetism that no one can resist. There’s Aegan, the charismatic and calculating firstborn, Adrik, the enigmatic and mysterious middle brother, and Aleixandre, the rebellious and unpredictable youngest.

What begins as personal revenge transforms into a dangerous triangle of seduction, forbidden attraction, and lies when Jude becomes entangled in the complex family dynamics of the Cashes. 

With each clue she uncovers, she draws closer to a truth that could not only destroy the powerful family - but also reveal secrets that perhaps she herself is not prepared to face.

The Spanish Original film is based on author Alex Mírez's novel, a Wattpad sensation which has captivated readers worldwide with over 140 million reads.

Perfect Liars stars Irene Balmes, Pau Simon, Gleb Abrosimov, and Pablo Scapigliati.   

IN THE GREY

STREAMING SATURDAY 14 NOVEMBER

A covert team of elite operatives are living in the shadows. When a ruthless despot steals a billion-dollar fortune, they're sent to steal it back - an impossible heist that erupts into a deadly game of strategy, deception and survival. 

In the Grey stars Henry Cavill, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Eiza González.

DEVILS' CREST SEASON ONE

STREAMING SATURDAY 7 NOVEMBER

The world's first fully immersive VR MMORPG, Actual Magic (AM), begins playtesting. Yuuma Ashihara, a 6th-grade student at Yukihana Elementary School, is instantly mesmerized by the VR world created by this new technology, and works together with his classmates to defeat the dungeon boss in AM.But after defeating the dungeon boss, a strange red light envelops Yuuma's avatar, causing him to lose consciousness. Forced to log out of AM, Yuuma opens his eyes to find a new world where the game, AM, has merged with reality. As he's still trying to figure out what's going on, Yuuma is approached by the prettiest girl in class, Sumika Watamaki. However, she's been tragically deformed, and looks just like one of the monsters from the game.

Devils’ Crest voice cast includes Haruka Shiraishi, Konomi Inagaki, Yûya Hirose and more.

THE CHOSEN SEASON SIX

STREAMING SUNDAY 15 NOVEMBER

The hour has come. Before the sun sets, Jesus of Nazareth will be dead. Season Six captures the historic events of Jesus' final day through the lives of those who love Him—and those who condemn Him. Pharisees call it justice. Romans call it peace. Followers call it murder. But in the face of loneliness and death, Jesus stands resolute in his plan that has always led to one place: the cross. The Chosen Season Six reveals how Jesus’ final hours changed the world forever.

The Chosen stars Jonathan Roumie, Shahar Isaac, Elizabeth Tabish, Paras Patel, Noah James and more.

HOKUM

STREAMING SATURDAY 21 NOVEMBER

When novelist Ohm Bauman (Adam Scott) retreats to a remote inn to scatter his parents' ashes, he is consumed by tales of a witch haunting the honeymoon suite. Disturbing visions and a shocking disappearance forces him to confront dark corners of his past.

Hokum stars Adam Scott, Peter Coonan, David Wilmot and more.

IN THE MIDDLE WITH WATTO

STREAMING NOW

Former Australia all-rounder Shane Watson and broadcaster Ollie Silverton bring you In The Middle With Watto — a cricket podcast that goes beyond the scorecard to talk about everything happening on and off the field.

From the biggest moments in international cricket, the latest drama in the dressing room and the stories behind the game, to the characters, controversies, laughs and everything in between, Shane and Ollie give you an unfiltered take on the world of cricket.

With Shane’s experience at the very highest level and Ollie’s love of the game, the pair are joined by some of the biggest names from cricket and beyond — from current stars and legendary players to coaches, commentators, celebrities and plenty of surprise guests. Episodes 1 and 2 are available to stream now with guests Brett Lee and Justin Langer.

The big games. The big characters. The stories you didn’t hear on the field. This is In The Middle With Watto.

STREAMING ON PRIME VIDEO

IN THE MIDDLE WITH WATTO (SERIES) — STREAMING NOW

NBA ON PRIME (LIVE SPORT) 24/10/2026

TONY (MOVIE) — 26/10/2026

EMIRATES NBA CUP 2026 (LIVE SPORT) — 31/10/2026

SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME (MOVIE) — 02/11/2026

THE GREATEST S1 (SERIES) — 04/11/2026

THE MONGOOSE (MOVIE) — 04/11/2026

THE TRAITORS ITALY S2 (SERIES) — 06/11/2026

CAMPUS DRIVERS S1 (SERIES) — 06/11/2026

DEVILS' CREST S1 (SERIES) — 07/11/2026

NBA: 76ERS VS. CAVALIERS (LIVE SPORT) 07/11/2026

THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RINGS OF POWER S3 (SERIES) — 11/11/2026

NBA: KNICKS VS. PACERS (LIVE SPORT) 13/11/2026

ROCK, PAPER, LANDMINES S1 (SERIES) — 13/11/2026

IN THE GREY (MOVIE) — 14/11/2026

THE CHOSEN S6 (SERIES) — 15/11/2026

THE TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE (MOVIE) — 17/11/2026

THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN – PART 1 (MOVIE) — 17/11/2026

TWILIGHT (MOVIE) — 17/11/2026

THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON (MOVIE) — 17/11/2026

MADDEN (MOVIE) — 18/11/2026

PERFECTOS MENTIROSOS (MOVIE) — 20/11/2026

MASQUERADE S1 (SERIES) — 20/11/2026

NBA: ROCKETS VS. NUGGETS (LIVE SPORT) 21/11/2026

NBA: RAPTORS VS. PISTONS (LIVE SPORT) 21/11/2026

HOKUM (MOVIE) — 21/11/2026

NEW WAVE S1 (SERIES) — 23/11/2026

BLADE RUNNER 2099 S1 (SERIES) — 25/11/2026

NINE TO SIX (SERIES) - 26/11/2026

DR. SEUSS' HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS (2000) (MOVIE) — 30/11/2026

MINIONS (MOVIE) — 30/11/2026

MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE (1987) (MOVIE) — 30/11/2026

21 JUMP STREET (MOVIE) — 30/11/2026

DESPICABLE ME 2 (MOVIE) — 30/11/2026

22 JUMP STREET (MOVIE) — 30/11/2026

WEST SIDE STORY (2021) (MOVIE) — 30/11/2026

DESPICABLE ME 3 (MOVIE) — 30/11/2026

LOVE ACTUALLY (MOVIE) — 30/11/2026

DR. SEUSS' THE GRINCH (2018) (MOVIE) — 30/11/2026

SLEEPING BEAUTY (1959) (MOVIE) — 30/11/2026

DESPICABLE ME (MOVIE) — 30/11/2026

 

Alpha Nomos: PS5 Review

Developed by RibCage Games
Published by RibCage Games
Platform: PS5

The rhythm game is perhaps a genre that's somewhat overdue for a twist.

Whether it's been the likes of Parappa the Rapper or Patapon, the simplicity has been about hitting the beat and keeping things moving, without ever compromising gameplay. And while games like SoundShapes and to a degree Rayman have played within the confines of the genre, there's been little adventure outside of the confines.

So RibCage Games' latest Alpha Nomos has a lot to live upto in a game that's been billed as Hi-Fi Rush meshed with Hades. 

You play as Cello, a puppet‑like clown in a ruined, toy‑infested world, who is searching for missing friends while being challenged at every step of the way by creatures and bosses. Armed initially with some xylophone blades that unleash pain as well as pleasurable notes, Cello must fight their way to answers and their friends.

Blending rhythm‑based combat with roguelite progression, the game actively seeks to make its soundtrack part of the gameplay, meaning attacks can string together the OST while unleashing damage on your opponents.

It's initially a tough ask, but once the rhythm gets its hooks into you, Alpha Nomos manages to mix its cute premise with some killer moves. And with a fluidity of action, it's really quite clever and pleasurable to play.

Granted, there's an occasional repetition of combat-based encounters and a feeling of hand-holding, but Alpha Nomos turns its intriguing premise into something that's different for a genre that's been crying out for creativity for years.

Progression helps here and as other weapons are unlocked - including a mix between saxophone and blade - the game keeps rolling on with clever twists to the action, even if the story feels somewhat constrained.

Overall, Cello is a nice colourful game to sink into - with its alluring beats and rhyming couplets dialogue, the game positions itself as something welcoming and different for the genre - and as a result, deserves to be embraced by those seeking out new ways of playing so that the beat goes on.

Wildwood: Movie Review

Cast: Carey Mulligan, Peyton Elisabeth Lee, Jacob Tremblay, Mahershala Ali, Angela Bassett, Awkwafina, Maya Erskine, Jake Johnson, Charlie Day, Tom Waits, Richard E. Grant, Amandla Stenberg, Jemaine Clement, Tantoo Cardinal, Len Cariou, Marc Evan Jackson
Director: Travis Knight

Coraline studio Laika's biggest stop-motion movie arrives and with it, a fantasy tale that's reminiscent of 1980s UK drama The Box of Delights and The Lord Of The Rings.

Lee is Prue, a teenager who finds her dad's tales of the dangers of the nearby forests tiresome and his insistence there's magic everywhere equally as dull. When her parents go out one day leaving her in charge of their young son Mac, she's warned not to take him outside.

Naturally rebelling against the warning, she introduces Mac to the world of Portland outside - but things soon go disastrously wrong when the boy is stolen by a murder of crows and taken deep into the nearby forest.

With no choice but to save him, Prue races headlong into an adventure she could never have imagined in a world she'd barely believe possible.

Adapted from Colin Meloy's 2011 fantasy novel, Laika's latest is a brilliant mix of stop-motion ambition, fantasy story elements you've seen plenty of times before and just magical scale and scope.

"I don't know whether this is terrifying or adorable," Prue breathlessly breathes after encountering a world of anthropomorphized animals and humans inside the woods. Knight and his Laika team have managed to make it both.

Sure, there's an argument that at 132 minutes Wildwood goes on a little long and there are a few moments where there's too much concentration on the technical wizardry and showing off its prowess, but at its heart, Wildwood is old fashioned, heartfelt storytelling that plays with the fairy tale elements of elements of Danish stories and countless other tales and fashions them painstakingly into something new and exciting.

Whether it's the tragedy of the Dowager Governess, the homage to The Birds, the epic battle ambition of The Lord of The Rings: The Two Towers or just the sheer adoration of Portland and its hipster ways, Wildwood captures them all in cinematic bundle that's unbelievably astounding.

Deeply rich and resonant storytelling adds dimension to what should be a by-the-numbers villain, a plucky teenager who learns about the reality of life and a young would-be hero who adores the fighting games but lacks the courage to be part of a real war. They're all tried and true formulae, but here Laika recognises they're tapestries to be woven deeper and their nature to be sewn in, rather than scattered over.

The visual prowess can't be overlooked here and just when you think the scale can't be beaten or the less nightmarish edge of Radiohead's There, There video are being outdone, Knight and his team produce an utterly astounding battle sequence that segues into something more mystical and elemental. It's heady stuff and the kind of visual material that reminds you what the magic of the movies truly is.

There's no denying Wildwood is incredible - if there's any justice, it will score the studio an Oscar - but at its heart, it's a reminder that even the most familiar of tales have new life to be breathed into them in the right hands.