Lomu: Movie Review

Director: Gavin Fitzgerald, Vea Mafile'o

Much more than a documentary charting the rise of New Zealand's first rugby mega-star, Lomu is an intriguing look at the other side of the Tongan rugby legend.

But it's not one that's fully rounded, thanks to the lack of involvement of some figures in his personal life. In recent years, the Tongan rugby legend has become a divisive figure with schisms between his family and ex-wives only adding to the drama of his tragically brief life.

That aside, directors Gavin Fitzgerald and Vea Mafile'o's generous documentary does much to create a vision of a man who was clearly destined for greatness, but seemingly didn't quite know how to make the most of it.

From his early days as a schoolboy at South Auckland's Wesley College to pursuing his dream of becoming an All Black, the directors fashion a largely sympathetic and human portrait of the man. Blessed with plenty of archive footage, including some never-before-seen footage from life in Tonga, they assemble a foundation of not only the man, but those around him who shaped him - for better or for worse.

In many ways, it's a traditional sports doco, filled with footage of great moments from on the field and of life growing up in South Auckland, carefully and concisely assembled with great sensitivity by the filmmakers.

Yet at times, it's also frustrating with the more pertinent conflicts in his life mentioned in passing, rather than in depth. That's not to say what emerges is a hagiography in any shape or form, but moments that hint at Lomu's desire to simply run away from problems or cut off situations arise only to be left unexplored by subjects at hand who could have provided insight.

If the first hour of the doco feels celebratory as it tracks a humble man's rise to success with just a desire and a drive, the second half takes a more maudlin tone as it exposes the extent of the secrecy over Lomu's kidney issues, the way he kept the problems to himself and how much of an impact it had on the national psyche.

There are plenty of raw insights here and there's a great deal of honesty in the commentary from Lomu's mum over her hurt and pain through the years, as well as carefully chosen footage of Lomu in Tonga candidly revealing his own thoughts, plus commentary on the reality of domestic violence doled out by family members - it's an honest look into how families work and grow under pressure.

Much like Lomu's death did in New Zealand, the revelation he died comes as an absolute bolt out of the blue during the doco, kicking off another set of ugly revelations about family rows and financial matters. While this side of Lomu is rarely known to many, the filmmakers deserve to be commended for their handling of these moments as they try to present a rounded picture of the man, as well as celebrating his attitude and aptitude.

Lomu deserves to be seen; in some ways, it's a surprising film that is more than just a film about a sportsman who shaped the New Zealand collective psyche - it's painfully raw, emotive and ultimately uplifting.

What's on Shudder in September

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

The Creep Tapes – Shudder Original Series

Two-Episode Season 3 Premiere Exclusively on Shudder and AMC+ Friday 15 September

From writers and executive producers Mark Duplass and Patrick Brice, season three continues to expose a collection of video tapes from the secret vault of the world's deadliest and most socially uncomfortable serial killer (Duplass). Unfortunately, as the tape rolls, the killer’s questionable intentions surface with his increasingly odd behavior and the victims will learn they may have made a deadly mistake.   Guest stars including Kate Siegel (Carrie), Nic Hamilton (IT), Elliott Fulham (Terrifier 2, Terrifier 3) and Duplass’ daughter, Ora Duplass (Coven Academy), who will star in a throwback episode.

Parasomnia – Shudder Original Film

New Film Premieres Exclusively on Shudder and AMC+ Friday 4 September

Riley (Jasmine Mathews, The Tomorrow War, Sweetbitter) is a young woman tormented by night terrors and a past of unresolved tragedy. When her best friend is the latest to go missing, she begins to suspect a demonic figure lurking in her sleep has crossed over into the real world. 

Goody Goody – Shudder Original Film

New Film Premieres Exclusively on Shudder and AMC+ Friday 18 September

Lulled into a necessary sense of comfort during a long home birth process, expecting parents Samantha Robinson, The Love Witch and Colby Hollman, Fear the Walking Dead) and their midwife (Colleen Foy, Station 19) begin to realize something may be horribly wrong. A blizzard rages outside, trapping the family in their home as increasingly sinister complications arise.

Shudder’s Library Highlights: 

Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare – premieres Tuesday 1 September

Wendy Darling strikes out in an attempt to rescue her brother Michael from the clutches of the evil Peter Pan. Along the way she meets Tinkerbell, who will be seen taking heroin, believing it’s pixie dust. 

Bambi: The Reckoning – premieres Tuesday 1 September

A car wreck strands a mother and her son in the deep woods where a mutated, vengeful deer stalks them. As local hunters and an obsessive grandmother converge, the forest becomes a bloody arena for a grieving creature’s primal rage. 

The Horseman – premieres Tuesday 1 September

When a group of tourists in a New Orleans haunted swamp tour find themselves stranded in the wilderness, their evening of fun and spooks turns into a horrific nightmare. 

Irrefutable Truth About Demons – premieres Tuesday 1 September

An anthropologist’s life and reality are ripped apart by a satanic cult.

Exorcismo – premieres Tuesday 1 September

A young woman participates (unknowingly) in a satanic ceremony and gets possessed by the spirit of her late father. 

The Silent Scream – premieres Tuesday 1 September

During her first semester at college, a co-ed finds housing at a seaside mansion, where, following the death of a fellow student, she becomes entangled in a murder mystery surrounding the property and its secretive tenants. 

Butcher, Baker Nightmare, Maker – premieres Tuesday 1 September

An orphaned teenager finds himself being dominated by his aunt who’s hellbent on keeping him with her at all costs. 

The Serpent’s Skin – premieres Monday 7 September

After escaping her transphobic hometown, Anna meets goth tattoo artist Gen. They bond over shared supernatural abilities, but Gen’s tattoo accidentally conjures up a demon before their romance can bloom. 

Its Name Was Mormo – premieres Monday 7 September

A young family’s life unravels into chaos as a sinister presence targets each member in its own malicious manner. Through the lens of police evidence, Mark, Diana and Mia endure the torment of a demon deeply rooted in Greek mythology.  

Borderline – premieres Friday 11 September

A pop superstar and her athlete boyfriend try to survive a determined stalker who want to marry her in 1990 Los Angeles. 

It Will Find You – premieres Friday 11 September

An orphaned teenager finds himself being dominated by his aunt who’s hellbent on keeping him with her at all costs. 

Before the Fall (4K Restoration) – premieres Monday 14 September

The world learns that an earth-shattering meteorite will collide with Earth in 72 hours. As global systems collapse and society descends into chaos, aimless drifter Ale plans to spend his last three days drinking and blasting records, until the arrival of a mysterious stranger forces him to confront a more immediate threat.

Dead By Dawn (2025) – premieres Monday 14 September

Actors rehearsing at the mysterious Heissenhoff theater face a deadly threat when a masked killer appears. The theater, play and murders are revealed to be of an occult ritual. 

Dinner to Die For – premieres Monday 14 September

Hanna, a culinary photographer, and her friend Evan share a passion for trye crime content. When Evan suggests role playing their own true crime scenario involving a killer meal and the girl next door, things take a twisted turn. 

The House Was Not Hungry Then – premieres Monday 14 September

While searching for her estranged father, a young woman breaks into an empty house in the countryside where every visitor disappears. Now she must avoid the man posing as a real estate agent who lures victims inside. 

The Degenerate: The Life and Films of Andy Milligan – premieres Monday 21 September

NYC filmmaker Andy Milligan made low-budget shock films in the 60s and 70s before dying of AIDS. The documentary reveals his complex life and fierce directing style. 

Blood Thirsty Butchers – premieres Monday 21 September

A murderous barber and his equally psychopathic friend, a baker, hatch a plan to murder and make human pies to be sold in his shop. Directed by Andy Milligan. 

The Man with Two Heads – premieres Monday 21 September

Serum obtained from a brain after a mass murder transforms the good Dr. Jekyll of London into the evil Mr. Blood. Directed by Andy Milligan.

The Rats Are Coming! The Werewolves Are Here! – premieres Monday 21 September

The daughter in a family of werewolves decides to put an end to the family curse. Directed by Andy Milligan. 

Hallucination Generation – premieres Monday 21 September

A juvenile is mad at his mom so he leaves his home in San Francisco to join a charismatic LSD guru’s cult in Spain and tunes in and drops out. He also gets involved in murder. 

The Corpse Collector – premieres Monday 21 September

An ambulance corpse-van driver falls for the mistress of a brutal mafia boss. 

Above the Knee – premieres Monday 23 September

Amir has a secret. He is tormented by visions of his leg rotting and longs to cut it off, convinced it doesn’t belong to him. So he devises a plan that will drag everyone around him into his relentless quest for a dark redemption. 

Maniac Cop – premieres Monday 23 September

A killer dressed in a police uniform begins murdering innocent people on the streets of New York City.

What's on Netflix in September

Here's everything that's streaming on Netflix in September 2026.

The Gentlemen Season 2 (September 3)

It’s been one year since Eddie and Susie joined forces to work together in Bobby’s criminal empire overseas. As they drive to expand their enterprise, the decisions Bobby is making seem to be increasingly unsound.  Now Eddie and Susie must decide whether to take action or risk losing it all, but unfettered ambition never ends well…

CREATOR: Guy Ritchie

WRITERS: Guy Ritchie and Matthew Read

DIRECTORS: Guy Ritchie, Eran Creevy

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Guy Ritchie; Will Gould, Matthew Read, Frith Tiplady and Simon 

Crawford Collins for Moonage Pictures; Ivan Atkinson

PRODUCERS: Laura Jackson, Max Keene

PRODUCTION COMPANIES: Moonage Pictures, part of ITV Studios, and Miramax Television for 

Netflix

CAST: Theo James, Kaya Scodelario, Daniel Ings, Ray Winstone, Joely Richardson, Vinnie Jones, Jasmine Blackborow, Michael Vu, Harry Goodwins, Ruby Sear, Pearce Quigley, and Giancarlo Esposito

FORMAT: 8 x 60 minute episodes 

What's on AMC+ in September

Here's what's streaming on AMC+ in September 2026.

Love After Lockup: The Road to Rehab – AMC+ Exclusive Special

New Special Premieres Saturday, 26 September on AMC+ 

Meet the cast of the all-new series, Love After Lockup: Relationship Rehab. This one-hour introduction special spotlights the five Lockup couples embarking an intensity therapy journey with Dr. Ish and outlines the issues they need to address to keep their relationships alive.

The Walking Dead: Dead City – AMC Original Series

New Episodes Premiere Sundays Until the Season Finale 13 September on AMC+ 

In season three, Maggie (Lauren Cohan) and Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) finally put aside their differences to build the first thriving community in Manhattan since the apocalypse, but when chaos in the city begins to arise, they are forced to question: have they learned from their old wounds or will their dark past spell doom for the entire city?  Also starring Jimmi Simpson, Raúl Castillo, Aimee Garcia, Logan Kim and Michael Emery. 

Age Inappropriate – AMC+ Exclusive Series

New Episodes Fridays on AMC+ Until the Season Finale 25 September 

New unscripted series offers an unfiltered look inside the lives of five couples navigating extreme age‑gap relationships. The eight‑episode series reveals the complexities of power dynamics, family pressure, stereotypes, financial imbalance and yes, true love, when it comes to May-December romances. Experience, money and life stage are powerful forces that can turn passion into pressure, sexual chemistry into combustion and ultimately, love into hate. Can couples separated by decades truly build a lasting love, or is the writing already on the wall? 

PlayStation: New DualSense Wireless Controller - Iconic Blue Special Edition unveiled

Inspired by PlayStation’s storied heritage, here’s a first look at the DualSense wireless controller – Icon Blue Special Edition, which features unique, layered shades of blue and a glossy pattern of PlayStation shapes on the touch pad. 

"From the moment the console powers on and the DualSense controller lights up, that signature blue glow signals the start of something special. It’s the spark that draws you into new worlds and immersive gameplay. 

"Inspired by PlayStation’s iconic shades of blue, this design captures the feeling of anticipation and wonder every time you pick up the controller. As a nod to our origins, we added Katakana characters on the back that spell our name the Japanese way: Pureisutēshon,“ says Leo Cardoso from PlayStation's Color, Material and Finish design team.

DualSense wireless controller - Icon Blue Special Edition
 RRP: NZD $149.95
Preorder Start: 27 August 2026, 10AM NZT
Release Date: 25 September 2026

Marvel: Tokon Fighting Souls: PS5 Review

Developer: Arc System Works
Published by Sony Interactive
Platform: PS5

The Marvel vs Capcom games have forever left a mark on the fighting genre.

But a new 2026 contender has emerged to ensure that brawling is as much fun as you'd remember from either your Street Fighter days or hanging back at the arcades trying to get one over on your mates.

However, the twist with Marvel: Tokon Fighting Souls is that the game has taken a deep roster of Marvel superheroes, patched a relatively rough story behind the combat and beatdowns and delivered a 4v4 combat experience, rather than the traditional 3v3 tag team-ups that you'd get from prior games.

As a result, Marvel: Tokon Fighting Souls delivers perhaps one of the most entertaining and colourful beat-em-ups, albeit one that has a story mode that seems to go on forever, keeping you away from the fighting.

A visually energetic spectacle in many ways, what impresses with Fighting Souls is how crystal clear its graphics are, how crisp the action is and how satisfying the beatdowns can be. There's an air of clarity here which makes the fighting easy to adapt to and welcoming to anyone, regardless of whether they've played the genre before.

With some 20 Marvel characters (though no sign of the X-Men yet), there's plenty of fan favourites to squad up with. Whether it's Spider-Man, Iron Man or Carnage, the Marvel roster is well represented in action that's satisfying to execute.

Granted, there's an element of button mashing in parts and some of the game requires you to think about strategy as you tag in and out of various combinations, but largely Marvel: Tokon Fighting Souls is more interested in anyone come and pick up the controller before getting involved.

With offline modes and online battles to explore, there's plenty of content for brawlers to dive into - and the game does more than enough to engage players with whatever they want to play. There's a depth that Arc System Works have brought to the game and it's more than enough to satiate both the rabid Marvel fans and the casual players alike.

The only real time the game starts to drag for casual users in during the Story Mode which deploys the flipbook comic panels to strong effect as it tells the story, but slows the pace as you have to go through endless pages of dialogue and reveals before getting to any of the real action within.

It's also worth highlighting that the game never looks cluttered when it delivers its action, no matter how many characters are on the screen and how brutal the fights get. Sometimes with some of the coin-op games, these kinds of titles can end up feeling like they're over-stuffed graphically, and while Fighting Souls pushes its 4v4 teamplay, there's never any real sign that the game's struggling on the hardware front.

With unique gameplay to each character (for example, Captain America can use his shield offensively and defensively), Arc System Works has taken time and care to ensure nothing feels like a cut and paste mechanic lazily deployed to every fighter. Consequently, it means players will want to have their own favourites and can deliver their own level of gameplay to each character they use.

It remains to be seen what future characters will be used in any planned DLC, but for now, given its smooth execution and its simple playability, Marvel: Tokon Fighting Souls feels like the perfect way to wile away those gaming sessions.