Win a double pass to see Scream VI at the movies

To celebrate the release of Scream VI in cinemas March 9, thanks to Paramount Pictures New Zealand, you could win a double pass.

About Scream VI

Following the latest Ghostface killings, the four survivors leave Woodsboro behind and start a fresh chapter.

In Scream VI, Melissa Barrera (“Sam Carpenter”), Jasmin Savoy Brown (“Mindy Meeks-Martin”), Mason Gooding (“Chad Meeks-Martin”), Jenna Ortega (“Tara Carpenter”), Hayden Panettiere (“Kirby Reed”) and Courteney Cox (“Gale Weathers”) return to their roles in the franchise alongside Jack Champion, Henry Czerny, Liana Liberato, Dermot Mulroney, Devyn Nekoda, Tony Revolori, Josh Segarra, and Samara Weaving.

Scream VI is in cinemas March 9.

To win, Just flick an email to darrensworldofentertainment@gmail.com and you're in the draw! Make sure you put SCREAM as the subject.

Hogwarts Legacy: PS5 Review

Developed by Avalanche Software
Published by Warner Bros Games
Platform: PS5

The wizarding world of Harry Potter is one which has, in truth, been ripe for the gaming world but has never quite progressed beyond the LEGO iterations.

So this latest, from Avalanche Software, has a lot to live up to - and delivers a lot on the promise of what a a Harry Potter world game could be. Set a century before the Harry Potter franchise and within the walls of Hogwarts, you get to play a new student, who's thrust into both a world of spells but also hidden secrets deep within.

Anyone with just cursory knowledge of JK Rowling's world will find much to delight in here; and rabid fans who know their Gryffindor from their Slytherin will be excited at what's been crafted together, a role-playing game that makes the most of the technology and also visual elements of the Harry Potter universe.

With spells lighting up the screen, and the corridors of Hogwarts coming alive with characters and feels like a true representation of the world that's been created. Quests and mini episodic edges give Hogwarts Legacy the feeling of a rounded story, albeit one that does feel familiar in parts.

The magic does take a little time to learn and there's a slight feeling that sometimes the repetitive nature of the spells can be a bit much, but when it comes together, it's a cohesive experience.

In terms of immersion into the wizarding world, this is a second to none experience. It may have been targeted by trolls unable to appreciate the wonderful work done by developers, but Hogwarts Legacy deserves to be viewed alone for what it is - a deeply immersive Potter universe-based game that many can enjoy and be thrilled by.

Forspoken: PS5 Review

Developed by Luminous Productions
Released by Square Enix
Platform: PS5

Forspoken is an interesting game, a curious mix between magic and parkour, snark and fantasy.

It's the story of Frey, an always on the verge of trouble kinda girl who one night finds herself spirited away via a portal to another world. Which is fortuitous given she's about to be majorly on the wrong side of proceedings.

And which also is in part how Forspoken feels a little flimsy in its narrative execution. As Frey escapes New York for Athia, she finds a world overrun by tyrants and sets out to free them - mainly with the help of a sentient bracelet....

Forspoken isn't a bad game per se, and certainly the damning reports which have been cast upon it seem more than a little harsh. It may suffer from some character leaps and may also have an overly almost hostile relationship between its odd couple Frey and the bracelet, but when it comes together, it shines.

Dragons tear through the skies, magical wolves haunt corners - there's plenty in the world of Athia to mark it out as something that's worth exploring. It's just the reason for fighting for it, is never fully clear or exploited to its best iteration.

The magical parkour element though marks it out. Fast and fluid, when it gels, it truly soars. There's nothing more thrilling than running up buildings and unleashing on the elementals and threats below - and graphically, the game doesn't let up either, offering quick pacy action when it's needed most.

It may have a lack of charisma among its characters, and you're never quite sure whether the bracelet actually likes Frey, but Forspoken has a glimmer of something in a new IP that may not quite mark it out above the rest of the pack, but does indicate that with a bit more depth, this could be a game series that grows in strength when it hits the ground running.

What's on DocPlay in March

Here's what's on DocPlay in March.

2 March

A House Made of Splinters

The Lysychansk Centre in Eastern Ukraine houses the kids of unfit parents while they await court proceedings determining their future – young cast-offs of alcoholism, addiction, violence and the social trauma of the nearby Russia conflict that has disturbed the region since 2014. A House Made of Splinters presents a fly-on-the-wall account of the lives of a handful of children at the centre, who play games, make friends and manage contact with their unreliable parents, all while the clock ticks on a nine-month residency that, upon termination, will see them released back to their homes, or into guardianship, or sent to an orphanage. 

2023 Academy Award, Best Documentary Feature, Nominee.

Colours of China

20 March

The natural cycles of the universe impact each other in a never-ending circle of five interconnected forces, each represented by colour, season, compass point, emotion and location. Colours of China takes the audience on a breathtaking journey through one of the world’s most fascinating and diverse nations.

Everybody's Oma

9 March

XFilmmaker Jason van Genderen is obsessed with making home videos about his elderly mother and, when he creates a supermarket at home during lockdown, he accidentally turns ‘Oma’ into an internet celebrity. Their heart-warming home movies quickly attract a worldwide audience of over 100,000,000 people. This is an unforgettable story of a family that comes together whilst beautifully falling apart.

My Old School

23 March

The astonishing true story of Scotland's most notorious imposter. It's 1993 and 16 year old Brandon is the new kid in school. Soon he’s top of the class, acing exams and even taking the lead in the school musical. He’s the model pupil, until he's unmasked.

Greenhouse by Joost

16  March

Environmental campaigner Joost Bakker, was once dubbed the ‘Poster Boy of Zero Waste Living’ by The New York Times. This inspiring feature documentary follows Bakker as he builds a self-sustaining home, an ecosystem that provides its occupants with water, energy, shelter and nourishment.

Win a double pass to see MISSING in the cinema

To celebrate the release of MISSING in cinemas now, thanks to Sony Pictures New Zealand, you can win a double pass.

About MISSING

From the minds behind Searching comes Missing, a thrilling roller-coaster mystery that makes you wonder how well you know those closest to you. 

When her mother (Nia Long) disappears while on vacation in Colombia with her new boyfriend, June’s (Storm Reid) search for answers is hindered by international red tape. 

Stuck thousands of miles away in Los Angeles, June creatively uses all the latest technology at her fingertips to try and find her before it’s too late. 

But as she digs deeper, her digital sleuthing raises more questions than answers...and when June unravels secrets about her mom, she discovers that she never really knew her at all. 

MISSING is in cinemas now

What's on Netflix in March

With the change of seasons comes an exciting lineup of fresh Netflix content that's bound to leave you on the edge of your seat. As the temperature starts to drop, check out the Netflix highlights for March.

You: Season 4 Part 2 (March 9)

Premiering on March 9, You: Season 4 Part 2 promises more drama, romance and psychotic behaviour from our favourite walking red-flag, Joe. Starting anew in London, Joe vows to bury the past and be his best self. But on the rocky road to redemption, a new obsession starts to take hold.

Luther: The Fallen Sun (March 10)

On March 10, get ready for the ultimate thriller experience with Luther: The Fallen Sun, starring Idris Elba. Haunted by an unsolved murder, brilliant but disgraced London police detective John Luther (Elba) breaks out of prison to hunt down a sadistic serial killer.

Shadow and Bone: Season 2 (March 16)

Get ready to return to the Grishaverse! Shadow and Bone season 2 is coming to Netflix on March 16. On the run after the showdown with Kirigan, Alina and Mal find new allies — and face heartrending choices — in their quest for more mythical amplifiers.

The Magician's Elephant (March 17) 

Produced by Sydney-based animation studio Animal Logic, The Magician's Elephant is a magical tale that brings to life the enchanting world of Kate DiCamillo's beloved novel. It follows a determined boy who accepts a king's challenge to perform three impossible tasks in exchange for a magical elephant — and the chance to chase his destiny.

Wellmania (March 29)

Get ready for Wellmania, the new Netflix dramedy series starring Celeste Barber, filmed on Gadigal Country (Sydney). When a health crisis forces Liv (Barber) to rethink her “live fast, die young” attitude, she jumps into a wellness journey to get better — even if it kills her.

Murder Mystery 2 (March 31)

On March 31, Netflix brings you the iconic duo of Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler in Murder Mystery 2. Now full-time detectives struggling to get their private eye agency off the ground, Nick (Sandler) and Audrey Spitz (Aniston) find themselves at the centre of an international abduction when their friend the Maharaja is kidnapped at his own lavish wedding.

ORIGINAL SERIES

Cheat (01/03/2023)

Equal parts brains and blagging, this quiz show expects and encourages contestants to cheat their way to a cash prize. The one rule? Don't get caught!

Wrong Side of the Tracks: Season 2 (01/03/2023)

When his teenage granddaughter falls victim to the drug dealers overtaking his neighborhood, a fed-up war veteran takes matters into his own hands.

Masameer County: Season 2 (02/03/2023)

Offering a humorous view of a changing Saudi, this season includes a risky 24-hour mission, a shocking elevator ride and a rocket launch gone rogue.

Sex/Life: Season 2 (02/03/2023)

SEX/LIFE is the story of a love triangle between a woman, her husband, and her past that takes a provocative new look at female identity and desire. We pick up right in the moment of Billie’s stunning proposal to Brad which ended the first season, and then ride the emotional fallout which comes in its wake.

Framed! A Sicilian Murder Mystery: Season 2 (02/03/2023)

As the police continue to search for Gambino's killer, Valentino, Salvo and their loved ones somehow become more mixed up in the crime's aftermath.

Next in Fashion: Season 2 (03/03/2023)

Supermodel Gigi Hadid joins co-host Tan France and a lineup of expert judges for a second round of fierce competition to find fashion's next trendsetter.

Divorce Attorney Shin (04/03/2023)

Driven by a personal tragedy, a pianist-turned-lawyer navigates the complex world of divorce — fighting for his clients to win by any means necessary.

You: Season 4 Part 2 (09/03/2023)

Starting anew in London, Joe vows to bury the past and be his best self. But on the rocky road to redemption, a new obsession starts to take hold.

The Glory Part 2 (10/03/2023)

Years after surviving horrific abuse in high school, a woman puts an elaborate revenge scheme in motion to make the perpetrators pay for their crimes.

Rana Naidu (10/03/2023)

Rana Naidu can solve any problem in Bollywood. But when his father is suddenly released from prison, the one mess he can’t handle may be his own.

Outlast (10/03/2023)

In the extreme Alaskan wild, 16 survivalists compete for a chance to win a massive cash prize — but these lone wolves must be part of a team to win.

Ariyoshi Assists (14/03/2023)

He's usually the host; but this time, Ariyoshi lets a rotating cast of celebrities be the MC of the show while he claims the role of bemused assistant.

The Law of the Jungle (15/03/2023)

In the middle of the jungle, twelve strangers must work as a team, or sabotage each other for a cut of a jackpot. A fierce competition, both mentally and physically, where every player has their price.

Shadow and Bone: Season 2 (16/03/2023)

On the run after the showdown with Kirigan, Alina and Mal find new allies — and face heartrending choices — in their quest for more mythical amplifiers.

Sky High: The Series (17/03/2023)

When her husband dies, Sole decides that the best way to take care of her son is to become a crime boss — even if that means being her father's enemy.

Dance 100 (17/03/2023)

To win $100,000, eight choreographers must create increasingly complex routines for an ever-growing number of elite dancers — who are also the judges.

Maestro in Blue (17/03/2023)

A musician goes to lead a festival on a scenic island, where he begins an unexpected romance and finds himself entwined in other people's problems.

Invisible City: Season 2 (22/03/2023)

Reawakened in sacred water, a father desperately searches for his daughter, leading him to discover his true nature buried within.

The Kingdom: Season 2 (22/03/2023)

El Reino will return for a second and final season with an epic battle between evil and good. The show tells the story of the religious leader Emilio Vázquez Pena, who in season 1 was left the presidential front-runner after his running mate was assassinated.

The Night Agent (23/03/2023)

While monitoring an emergency line, a vigilant FBI agent answers a call that plunges him into a deadly conspiracy involving a mole at the White House.

Love Is Blind: Season 4 (Rolling Episodes)

Episodes 1-5 (24/03/2023)

Episodes 6-8 (31/03/2023)

More single people who are ready to prioritize love over looks hit the pods to flirt, fall, and — if they're lucky — find someone they want to marry.

Wellmania (29/03/2023)

When a health crisis forces Liv to rethink her “live fast, die young” attitude, she jumps into a wellness journey to get better — even if it kills her.

Unseen (29/03/2023)

A nondescript house cleaner desperately searches for her husband as a shadowy conspiracy dredges up past tragedies and ultimately drives her to murder.

Unstable (30/03/2023)

An introverted son must work for his successful, wildly eccentric father in order to save his dad — and his company — from disaster.

Riverdale: Season 7 (30/03/2023)

The supernatural crime drama returns for its seventh — and — final season.

From Me to You: Kimi ni Todoke (30/03/2023)

Put off by her gloomy demeanor, Sawako has a hard time fitting in — but when an outgoing classmate approaches her, life takes a turn for the better.

Copycat Killer (31/03/2023)

When a spate of grisly murders throws a city into chaos, a tenacious prosecutor must brace for a cat-and-mouse game against a dangerous manipulator.

Agent Elvis (Coming Soon)

In this adult animated comedy, Elvis trades his jumpsuit for a jetpack when he joins a secret spy program to stop villains from destroying the world.

I Am Georgina: Season 2 (Coming Soon)

Sometimes the best and worst moments come all at once. Join the roller coaster ride that is the life of international star Georgina Rodríguez.

NETFLIX FILM

Tonight You're Sleeping with Me (01/03/2023)

Stuck in a passionless marriage, a journalist must choose between her distant but loving husband and a younger ex-boyfriend who has reentered her life.

Love at First Kiss (03/03/2023)

Javier can see the future... and he finally knows who the love of his life is. There's just one problem: It's his best friend's girlfriend.

Faraway (08/03/2023)

After inheriting a house on a Croatian island, a woman embarks on a spur-of-the-moment trip that reignites her joy in life and opens a door to new love.

Have a nice day! (10/03/2023)

A retired radio host bags groceries to earn money to attend his former employer's anniversary party, where he hopes to reunite with the love of his life.

Luther: The Fallen Sun (10/03/2023)

Haunted by an unsolved murder, brilliant but disgraced London police detective John Luther breaks out of prison to hunt down a sadistic serial killer.

Still Time (16/03/2023)

Dante has a beautiful relationship with his girlfriend Alice, but he has a bad one with Time: absorbed by the many commitments of his daily life, he always arrives late and has the impression that his life is flowing too quickly. The day he turns forty, that impression becomes reality and Dante finds himself jumping forward from year to year, no longer having any control over his life.

In His Shadow (17/03/2023)

After the death of their father, two half-brothers find themselves on opposite sides of an escalating conflict with tragic consequences.

Noise (17/03/2023)

After moving his family into his childhood home, a man's investigation into a local factory accident connected to his father unveils dark family secrets.

The Magician's Elephant (17/03/2023)

A determined boy accepts a king's challenge to perform three impossible tasks in exchange for a magical elephant — and the chance to chase his destiny.

Johnny (23/03/2023)

After a court order sends him to work at a hospice, an ex-criminal strikes up a friendship with a compassionate priest who changes his life.

Chor Nikal Ke Bhaga (24/03/2023)

A flight attendant and her boyfriend must steal a cache of diamonds to clear an old debt — but the plan spins into mayhem when the plane is hijacked.

Kill Boksoon (31/03/2023)

At work, she's a renowned assassin. At home, she's a single mom to a teenage daughter. Killing? That's easy. It's parenting that's the hard part.

Murder Mystery 2 (31/03/2023)

Now full-time detectives struggling to get their private eye agency off the ground, Nick and Audrey Spitz find themselves at the center of an international abduction when their friend the Maharaja is kidnapped at his own lavish wedding.

Furies (Coming Soon)

A trio of furious vigilantes unites to take down a sinister crime syndicate that controls the mean streets of '90s Saigon in this prequel to "Furie."

NETFLIX COMEDY SPECIALS

Chris Rock: Selective Outrage (04/03/2023)

Chris Rock makes comedy history as he performs stand-up in real time for Netflix’s first global live-streaming event.

Bert Kreischer: Razzle Dazzle (14/03/2023)

Shameless — and shirtless — as ever, Bert spills on bodily emissions, being bullied by his kids and the explosive end to his family's escape room outing.

Mae Martin: SAP (28/03/2023)

Mae Martin makes their hour-long comedy special debut with Sap, directed by Abbi Jacobson. The award-winning comedian, writer, and actor, best known for their critically acclaimed series FEEL GOOD, reflects on a world off its axis, from a mythical moose encounter to the gender spectrum in "Beauty and the Beast", in this new stand-up special.

Mae Martin: SAP premieres globally on Netflix on March 28.

NETFLIX DOCUMENTARIES 

Monique Olivier: Accessory to Evil (02/03/2023)

From 1987 to 2003, Michel Fourniret cemented his legacy as France’s most infamous murderer. But his wife was an enigma: Was she a pawn or a participant?

MH370: The Plane That Disappeared (08/03/2023)

In 2014, a plane with 239 people aboard vanishes from all radar. This docuseries delves into one of our greatest modern mysteries: Flight MH370.

Money Shot: The Pornhub Story (15/03/2023)

Featuring interviews with performers, activists and past employees, this documentary offers a deep dive into the successes and scandals of Pornhub.

Waco: American Apocalypse (22/03/2023)

This immersive three-part Netflix documentary series is the definitive account of what happened in Waco, Texas in 1993 when cult leader David Koresh faced off against the federal government in a bloody 51-day siege. Released to coincide with the 30th anniversary of this national tragedy, the series is directed by acclaimed filmmaker Tiller Russell (Night Stalker) and features exclusive access to recently unearthed videotapes filmed inside the FBI Crisis Negotiation Unit, as well as raw news footage never released to the American public, and FBI recordings.

Emergency: NYC (29/03/2023)

Go from helicopter to hospital with trauma team professionals across New York City as they provide life-saving aid and share their personal stories.

Big Mäck: Gangsters and Gold (30/03/2023)

A man is convicted of a robbery he didn’t commit and spends nine years in jail. Decades later, he becomes a suspect again — but is he still innocent?

NETFLIX KIDS & FAMILY

Karate Sheep (02/03/2023)

Keeping a flock of sheep safe from a hungry wolf is hard work! Luckily, Wanda and Trico have a few tricks — and kicks — up their woolly sleeves.

Ridley Jones: Season 5 (06/03/2023)

New powers, new tools, new adventures! Ridley and the Eyes are doing more than ever before on their mission to keep the museum and its secrets safe.

Gabby's Dollhouse: Season 7 (20/03/2023)

Gabby and her best pal Pandy Paws meet fairies, find treasure and go on wild adventures inside her super-special dollhouse. Come play and sing along!

We Lost Our Human (21/03/2023)

There's been a glitch — all the humans are gone! Can you help pampered pet siblings Pud and Ham journey to the center of the universe to fix it?

LICENSED HIGHLIGHTS

The Conjuring (01/03/2023)

After moving into a Rhode Island farmhouse, a family experiences supernatural occurrences and seeks help from a pair of noted paranormal investigators.

The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (01/03/2023)

Two paranormal investigators risk their lives to prove the existence of demonic forces in order to exonerate a young man accused of murder.

Babyteeth (01/03/2023)

Seriously ill teenager Milla shocks her overprotective parents when she falls for Moses, a drug-dealing dropout who's surprisingly good for her.

In the Heights (22/03/2023)

Fueled by music and café con leche, a bodega owner and his tight-knit crew of regulars chase dreams and face challenges in NYC’s Washington Heights.

Atlanta: Season 3 (24/03/2023)

The crew heads to Europe in the midst of Paper Boi's tour and adjusts to their newfound success — and strange new surroundings.

Cocaine Bear: Movie Review

Cast: Keri Russell, O'Shea Jackson Jr, Ray Liotta, Margo Martindale, Jesse Tyler Ferguson
Director: Elizabeth Banks

Much like a cocaine high itself, Cocaine Bear is here for a good time, not a long time.

Unashamedly mixing slasher with comedy, this B-movie about a bear that's supposedly ingested large amounts of cocaine after it fell from the sky before going on a rampage isn't afraid to simply do what it needs to do to get laughs and gory kills.

When a group of oddballs converge on a mountain for differing reasons (a mum trying to retrieve her missing kid, a park ranger trying to impress her boss, a pair of would-be crims under orders to get back the lost drugs and a detective trying to bring down a kingpin), the recipe is purely set for 80s-inspired mayhem, with lashes of knowing comedy as this feral Yogi Bear goes looking for more than just picnic baskets.

Based on the apparently true story of a cocaine dealer who killed himself accidentally in the air and scattering his drugs all over the ground, Banks makes great fist of the archive footage from the time and setting the tone for this offbeat romp that's aiming purely for crowd-pleasing (and will land depending on how many beers you've had beforehand).

Yet there are moments when it feels like the pacing is somewhat off in this film which somehow manages to feel its 90 minute run time toward the end - and there's no denying the film fizzles toward the end rather than ending on a triumphant high. Splitting the disparate characters into groups as they converge yields minimum reward dramatically, but at least stretches out some of the film in between the inevitable CGI carnage.

And there are moments when some of the CG carnage doesn't quite meet the high standards you'd expect - even if this is a B-movie wannabe.

But there are times when Banks gets it spot on. 

Much like the effect spinach has on Popeye, the cocaine fuelling the Weta-FX CGI created bear leads to some gloriously OTT moments, with an ambulance sequence set to Depeche Mode's seminal Just Can't get Enough proving to be a highlight.

It does exactly what it says on the tin and there is almost a feeling that it's winking at the audience, but while it wastes some of its cast with fleeting characterisation, feels piecemeal and disjointed in parts and only Ray Liotta is playing it straight in a film where everybody else is in for the comedy - yet there's no denying Cocaine Bear has the chops to provide a good fleeting time at the cinema while it lasts even if the high is a shallow, ultimately disappointing one. 

What's on Neon in March

Here's everything coming to Neon in March 2023

Yellowjackets S2 (March 24)

Part survival epic part psychological horror, and part coming-of-age drama, Yellowjackets chronicles four women bonded by a 1996 plane crash that stranded their high school soccer team in the Canadian wilderness for 19 months. Season 2 follows the team as they battle a brutal winter with little food amidst the challenge of staying warm and alive, and in present day more survivors come to light. 

Starring Aotearoa's own Melanie Lynskey and Simone Kessell, plus Cristina Ricci, Juliette Lewis, Tawny Cypress, and Elijah Wood. 

Succession S4 (March 27)

The sale of media conglomerate Waystar Royco to tech visionary Lukas Matsson moves ever closer. The prospect of this seismic sale provokes existential angst and familial division among the Roys as they anticipate what their lives will look like once the deal is complete. A power struggle ensues as the family weighs up a future where their cultural and political weight is severely curtailed. Starring Brian Cox, Jeremy Strong, Sarah Snook, Kieran Culkin, Alan Ruck, Matthew Macfadyen, and Nicholas Braun. 

Rain Dogs (March 8)

A dark comedy from the brilliant new voice of Cash Carraway, Rain Dogs chronicles the life of Costello Jones, a devoted mother who wants more for her precocious young daughter, Iris. As she hustles to survive, Costello leans on Selby, Iris's pseudo father (and Costello's pseudo soulmate), and Gloria, the duo's loyal yet chaotic godmother/best friend together forming a makeshift swaggerous family bound by a complex but deep-rooted love and defiance towards a system built against them. An extraordinary tale of a mother's love for her daughter, Rain Dogs explores a dysfunctional family on the fringes of society, attempting to go straight in a crooked world. 

Starring Daisy May Cooper, Jack Farthing, Ronke Adekoluejo, Adrian Edmondson and Fleur Tashjiian. 

A Town Called Malice (March 26)

If Dallas made love to Pulp Fiction to the sounds of Duran Duran, they'd give birth to A Town Called Malice. This intoxicating cocktail of crime thriller and family saga in the early '80s follows the Lords - a family of former South London gangsters who've fallen to the bottom of the criminal food chain and they're not happy about it. When they flee to the Costa del Sol in Spain following a gangland battle, the Lords realise this is a golden opportunity to re- invent themselves and re-capture their former glory. However, they spend as much time battling each other as they do their opponents. This high-octane thriller is a musical love letter to the '80s - filled with romance, obsession, violence, deceit and swagger. Welcome to the Costa del Crime! 

Starring Martha Plimpton, Jason Flemyng, Jack Rowan, Tahirah Sharif, Daniel Sharman and Eliza Butterworth. 

Gotham Knights (March 17)

In the wake of Bruce Wayne's murder, his adopted son, Turner Hayes, and the kids of some of Batman's enemies are framed for the crime. As the city becomes more dangerous, these mismatched fugitives will become Gotham's next generation of saviours. 

Starring Oscar Morgan, Navia Robinson, Fallon Smythe, Tyler Dichiara, Olivia Rose Keegan, Anna Lore, Rahart Adams and Misha Collins. 

Movies

Elvis (March 21)

From visionary, Oscar-nominated filmmaker Baz Luhrmann, Elvis chronicles the life and music of Elvis Presley, seen through the lens of his complicated relationship with his enigmatic manager, Colonel Tom Parker. Spanning over 20 years, from Presley's rise to 

to fame to his unprecedented stardom. Starring Austin Butler, Tom Hanks, Helen Thomson, Richard Roxburgh, and Olivia DeJonge. 

Where the Crawdads Sing (March 28)

A young woman who raised herself in the dangerous marshlands of North Carolina, becomes the prime suspect in the murder of a man she was once involved with. Starring Daisy Edgar-Jones, Taylor John Smith, Harris Dickinson, Michael Hyatt, David Strathairn, and Sterling Macer, Jr. 

Muru (March 1)

Local Police Sergeant 'Taffy' Tāwharau must choose between duty to his badge or his people, when the Government invokes antiterrorism powers to launch an armed raid on his remote Urewera community. Contains dialogue in te reo Māori, with English subtitles. Starring Cliff Curtis, Jay Ryan and Manu Bennett. 

White Elephant (March 5)

When two cops witness an assassination attempt, a ruthless crime boss orders Gabriel Tancredi, an ex-Marine turned mob enforcer, to eliminate all threats. With an eager underling 

underling out to prove himself, rival gangs making moves, and a rising body count, every step Tancredi makes threatens lives - including his own. Starring Bruce Willis, Olga Kurylenko, John Malkovich and Michael Rooker. 

Good Luck to you Leo Grande (March 19)

Retired widow Nancy Stokes hires a good-looking young sex worker called Leo Grande, in the hope of enjoying a night of pleasure and self-discovery after an unfulfilling married life. As Nancy embarks on a post-marital sexual awakening and Leo draws on his skills and charm, together they find a surprising human connection. Starring Emma Thompson, Daryl McCormack and Isabella Laughland. 

Nope (March 9)

A new terror from the mind of Academy Award® winner Jordan Peele. After the death of their father, two siblings observe a strange phenomena in the sky above their ranch. Obsessed with getting it on camera, the pair's efforts to chase the spectacle soon bring terrifying consequences and unimaginable horror. Starring Daniel Kaluya, Keke Palmer and Steven Yeun. 

Missing: Movie Review

Cast: Storm Reid, Nia Long, Ken Leung, Joaquim de Almedia 

Director: Will Merrick, Nick Johnson

Functioning as both a standalone thematic sequel to 2018's Searching and a commentary on true crime obsessions since that film, 2023 always-on-screen movie Missing makes great use of suspense and tension, as well as a empathetic lead - even if it tries too many breakneck WTF twists too often.

Storm Reid stars as June, an always-online teen who's grown distant from her mother (Nia Long) after her father died when she was young.

Unhappy her mom has a new beau Kevin (Lost's Ken Leung) and they're about to head to Columbia on holiday, June's dismissive of her concerns and plans a party when they're gone.

But when June heads to meet them at the airport for pick up and they don't show, she begins a race against the clock search to locate her mother from the confines of her bedroom and using only her internet wiles.

Pacy, slick and stylish, with nods to Netflix's influence in the true crime world and slyly commenting on how everyone thinks they can solve a crime, (as well as some terrifying parallels and inadvertent commentary on missing UK mother Nicola Bulley) Missing manages to make something of a good strong fist of its mix of suspense and grounded acting from Reid.

However, at times, the film pushes against the bounds of credulity by piling one twist and reveal one after another - so much so that the cinematic house of cards threatens to narratively topple throughout the film's back half.

Yet, through a combination of slick editing, overuse of graphics, and a wry nod to the fact June is more internet savvy than Searching's John Cho's character was, the film lays terrifyingly bare the darker online world and the ease of which to track people.

Despite being drowned in technology throughout Missing, the film doesn't lose sight of the human element. And while June's connection to a hired low-rent oddjob man in Columbia may be an obvious father figure element, the warmth between Joaquim de Almedia and Storm Reid makes it a relationship that's easy to latch on to.

The film's ultimate reveals dash away any hint of doubt or misdirection with an almost OTT psychodrama that plays out - and while that leaves a slightly sourer taste in the mouth given the narrative desire to push as far as is humanly possible and pull the rug out from the audience, it's in the quieter moments that Missing truly excels.

When Missing's logic comes together, it does so flawlessly, and while the filmmakers are to be commended for going big, this twisty techno-thriller works better when it focuses more on the real fears of abandonment, of not knowing what's happened and of being powerless to stop any of it from afar.

PlayStation VR2: Review

Simplicity is the key to 2023's much-anticipated PSVR2 release.

The first headset which released back in 2016 was something of a bulky beast that was all wires and required multiple connections to ensure you were tuned in to the next wave of gaming.

The 2023 PlayStation Virtual Reality experience has thankfully learned from all the wired chaos that became an impediment to even taking the set out of the box and connecting it.

This time, though, PlayStation has made it infinitely simple to set up and start, which may leave you somewhat frothing at the mouth, given the $1000 outlay you have to stump up to get the box itself.

With just a headset, some wired earphones and a pair of Sense ring-like controllers, as well as a couple of cables, you've every right to feel shortchanged when you open up the box - as well as for one particular reason which will become clearer later.

However, whereas the previous slightly heavier set caused nausea and also sweats in the VR world, this latest is a sleeker, slightly lighter and infinitely smoother experience that is more about getting you plugged in and getting going.

With the use of buttons on the headset itself to power up, and dials to adjust the inner screens and headband, the hardware is more about ensuring you've no need to mess around while you get ready to game.

It still has a similar look to the first PlayStation VR headset, and still requires you to put it on via loosening and tightening a headband, but the PSVR2 fits more snugly on the head and doesn't feel as hefty as the prior unit did.

Once you've connected the set to the front of the PlayStation, there's a satisfying rumble once the helmet's switched on to signify you have power and it's into the set up and pairing of the controllers. It's easy stuff and by keeping it simple and practical - and accessible - anyone can dive in. There's mapping of game areas to be done, and as the initial set up is carried out, the set lets you see externally what's happening as it creates a gaming area - something ensuring you're not quite fully cut off from the rest of the world.

Pairing the controllers is easy too, with the ring-like controllers easy to use, easy to adapt to (once you've got over the fact they're split) and feel very natural sat in your hands.

With two OLED panels, the vision is crystal clear and sharp (2000 x2040 per eye) and with the use of foveated rendering, which blurs the edges of the screen to provide the power to what your eyes are focussed on, there's more of an emphasis on ensuring what's in front of you is what matters most in this latest headset.

And what plays out with some of the games in terms of visuals is utterly mind-blowing. (Though PSVR games don't work with the new headset as they're not technically upgraded for the latest specs.)

Perhaps nowhere more so than in Horizon VR: Call of the Mountain, where you're whisked into Aloy's world and given the chance to marvel at what's around and above you, rather than just what's in front of you.

Taking on the role of a disgraced Carja warrior Ryas, the game begins with you captured and being led downstream in a boat. As you scan around the jungle, Horizon: Zero Dawn's robot dinosaur machines spring vividly to life; a little less than a few moments into the game, and a Tallneck towers above you, its skyscraper-like edges forcing you to lift your eyes to the sky in wonder.

It's stirring stuff that shows the capability of what PSVR2 can achieve. From scaling vertiginous heights to using the Sense controllers and its adaptive triggers to power your bow when you're battling the machines, this is a game that feels worthy of the awe it induces and brings a world to life. For an AAA launch title, it's compelling stuff that makes an obvious argument for the capability of the hardware.

As is usual with the games Virtual Reality offers up, others concentrate more on the experience than a gaming narrative. One such of these is Kayak VR: Mirage, a game which will give you a workout and also lets you simply sit back and glide through some of the finest imagined waters. While there is a competitive element for powering through zones, Kayak VR Mirage's truest power comes from simply sitting back and watching the world around you, as creatures dart around clear aquatic vistas. Don't be surprised though if your arms hurt a little after playing - after all, this relies on the mechanics of using a paddle to get from A to B - but it's the perfect virtual escape from the daily grind.

It's not all perfect with the PSVR2 though.

The lack of real battery power in the Sense controllers is frustrating, with the controllers lasting only four or five hours. Granted, it's probably enough for a single session, but given the frequency with which you're likely to play the games, it's a bit of a pain. 

And it's a pain that's exacerbated by the fact the controllers essentially need a docking device to charge both at the same time, which is a separate $100 purchase on top of the $1000 set. It's almost insulting it wasn't included in the box, given how vital it is. Once one controller loses power, you can't simply play on with one controller. You'll need to charge before you go - something that can't be done with just one wire into the console.

While the headphones attach securely to the inner top of the helmet, they feel flimsy, attached as they are to just a plastic bar - and they lack the quality of a Pulse headset or a decent pair of wired headphones. Again, these have been done to prevent bulkiness in the sets, but it does feel like sound, which is so vital to the immersive nature of the set, hasn't quite got the treatment it deserves.

These flaws feel more like niggles than crippling disasters for the launch of PlayStation VR2 but in truth, laying down nearly $1000 for the set and discovering there's more needed does leave a slightly sour taste in the mouth.

But lined up with the likes of Horizon VR, there feels like plenty of promise than this is the VR headset that will make a gaming difference - as long as games come, and not just cheap carnival-like thrills that prove fleeting and gimmicky as were part of PSVR1's reign, the future of gaming could be a very interesting and involving one.

A PlayStation VR2 helmet and access to various gaming titles were provided to this outlet for the purposes of this review.

What's on Disney+ in March

The Mandalorian (March 1)

The journeys of the Mandalorian through the Star Wars galaxy continue. Once a lone bounty hunter, Din Djarin has reunited with Grogu. 

Meanwhile, the New Republic struggles to lead the galaxy away from its dark history. 

The Mandalorian will cross paths with old allies and make new enemies as he and Grogu continue their journey together.

The series stars Pedro Pascal, Katee Sackhoff, Carl Weathers, Amy Sedaris, Emily Swallow and Giancarlo Esposito. The directors of the eight-episode Season 3 include Rick Famuyiwa, Rachel Morrison, Lee Isaac Chung, Carl Weathers, Peter Ramsey and Bryce Dallas Howard.

6 March

History of the World, Part II

STAR Original Series

Season Premiere

After waiting over 40 years, there is finally a sequel to the seminal Mel Brooks film, History of the World, Part I, with each episode featuring a variety of sketches that take us through different periods of human history.

8 March

The Banshees of Inisherin

Set on a remote island off the west coast of Ireland, "The Banshees of Inisherin" follows lifelong friends Pádraic (Colin Farrell) and Colm (Brendan Gleeson), who find themselves at an impasse when Colm unexpectedly puts an end to their friendship. A stunned Pádraic, aided by his sister Siobhan (Kerry Condon) and troubled young islander Dominic (Barry Keoghan), endeavours to repair the relationship, refusing to take no for an answer. But Pádraic's repeated efforts only strengthen his former friend’s resolve and when Colm delivers a desperate ultimatum, events swiftly escalate, with shocking consequences.

17 March

Boston Strangler

STAR Original Movie

Premiere

Award-winning writer-director Matt Ruskin’s “Boston Strangler” is a true-crime thriller about the trailblazing reporters who broke the story of the notorious Boston Strangler murders of the 1960s. The film follows Loretta McLaughlin, a reporter for the Record-American newspaper, who becomes the first journalist to connect the Boston Strangler murders. As the mysterious killer claims more and more victims, Loretta attempts to continue her investigation alongside colleague and confidante Jean Cole, yet the duo finds themselves stymied by the rampant sexism of the era. Nevertheless, McLaughlin and Cole bravely pursue the story at great personal risk, putting their own lives on the line in their quest to uncover the truth.

10 March

Chang Can Dunk

Disney+ Original Movie

Premiere

“Chang Can Dunk” follows Chang, a 16-year-old, Asian American high school student in the marching band, who bets the school basketball star that he can dunk by Homecoming. The bet leads the 5’ 8” Chang on a quest to find the hops he needs to dunk in order to impress his crush, Kristy, and finally gain the attention and respect of his high school peers. But before he can rise up and truly throw one down, he’ll have to reexamine everything he knows about himself, his friendships and his family.

17 March

Bono & The Edge: A Sort of Homecoming, with Dave Letterman

Disney+ Original

Premiere

U2’s Bono and the Edge make a timely return to Dublin with Dave Letterman, reflecting on their journey as musicians and friends. The film features never-before-seen footage and interviews detailing their songwriting process and the inspiration behind their greatest hits.

31 March

Doogie Kamealoha, M.D.: Season 2

Disney+ Original Series

Season Premiere

When Lahela’s (Peyton Elizabeth Lee) first love, Walter (Alex Aiono) returns from the World Surf Tour, he’s not the same boyfriend she said good-bye to months before. But she’s not the same girl either. That becomes clear when she meets a bad boy on a dirt bike, Nico (Milo Manheim.) She’s faced with a decision: fight for what she knows is true, or give new love a chance. It’s all complicated by the pressures of being a teenage doctor. Luckily, she has her family, coworkers and best friend Steph (Emma Meisel) to support her along the way.

Also in March…

1 March

International

Virgin: The Series: Season 1

3 March

Disney+ Original

The Wonderful Autumn of Mickey Mouse

STAR Original

Finding Michael

International

New Year's Eve

Special

Making the Wish: Disney's Newest Cruise Ship

8 March

Disney+ Original

Mpower: Season 1

STAR Original

Will Trent

International

The Cry of the Butterflies: Season 1

Series

Air Crash Investigation: Season 22

Still Missing Morgan: Season 1

10 March

STAR Original

UnPrisoned: Season 1

International

The Nightingale of Bursa

Movies

Believe Me: The Abduction of Lisa McVey

Killer Under the Bed

11 March

Series

Pandora: Beneath the Paradise: Season 1

15 March

Disney+ Original

Turning the Tables with Robin Roberts: Season 2

STAR Original

Where is Private Dulaney?: Season 1

International

Wedding Agreement the Series: Season 1

Series

Doogie Howser, M.D.: Season 1-4

22 March

Series

SuperKitties: Season 1

24 March

STAR Original

Up Here: Season 1

29 March

STAR Original

The Watchful Eye: Season 1

International

The King of TV: Season 1-2

Series

Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom: Season 2

Marvel's Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur: Season 1

31 March

STAR Original

Rye Lane

New Episodes

How I Met Your Father: Season 2 New episodes weekly on Tuesdays

Grey’s Anatomy: Season 19 Midseason return 8 March, new episodes weekly on Wednesdays

Not Dead Yet New episodes weekly on Thursdays

The Simpsons: Season 34 New episodes weekly on Wednesdays from 15 March

American Dad: Season 18 New episodes weekly on Wednesdays

Bob's Burgers: Season 13 New episodes weekly on Wednesdays from 22 March

Station 19: Season 6 Midseason return 8 March, new episodes weekly on Wednesdays

Star Wars: The Bad Batch: Season 2 New episodes weekly on Wednesdays, double episode finale 29 March

Alaska Daily New episodes weekly on Wednesdays

Tokyo Revengers: Season 2 New episodes weekly on Sundays

Big Bet: Season 2 New episodes weekly on Wednesdays, finale 22 March

Call It Love: Season 1 2x new episodes weekly on Wednesdays

Dino Ranch: Season 2 4x new episodes 1 March

Eureka!: Season 1 6x new episodes 15 March

Firebuds: Season 1 4x new episodes 1 March

Hamster & Gretel: Season 1 New episodes 29 March

Marvel's Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur: Season 1 5x new episodes on 1 March, 5x new episodes on 29 March

Spidey and His Amazing Friends: Season 2 New episode 1 March and 8 March

What's on Prime Video in March

Here's what's playing on Prime Video in March.

Daisy Jones & The Six

Daisy Jones & The Six, the original series, which premieres March 3, with new episodes released every Friday through March 24, exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.

Based on the New York Times best-selling novel, Daisy Jones & the Six, follows the story of the iconic 1970s band, fronted by two feuding yet charismatic lead singers, Daisy Jones and Billy Dunne. 

Drawn together by personal and artistic chemistry, their complicated musical partnership catapulted the band from obscurity to unbelievable fame. And then, after a sold-out show at Chicago's Soldier Field, they suddenly called it quits. 

Now, decades later, the band members finally agree to reveal the truth. Set to the soundtrack of original music from the Daisy Jones & the Six—this is the story of how an iconic band imploded at the height of its powers.

The series stars Riley Keough as Daisy Jones, Sam Claflin as Billy Dunne, Camila Morrone as Camila Dunne, Will Harrison as Graham Dunne, Suki Waterhouse as Karen Sirko, Josh Whitehouse as Eddie Roundtree, Sebastian Chacon as Warren Rojas, Nabiyah Be as Simone Jackson, and Tom Wright as Teddy Price, with a special guest appearance by Timothy Olyphant as Rod Reyes.

THE POWER

AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY FROM FRIDAY 31 MARCH

The Power is our world, but for one twist of nature. Suddenly, and without warning, teenage girls develop the power to electrocute people at will. The series features a cast of remarkable characters from London to Seattle, Nigeria to Eastern Europe, as the Power evolves from a tingle in teenagers’ collarbones to a complete reversal of the power balance of the world. The emotionally driven global thriller from SISTER (Chernobyl) is based on British author Naomi Alderman’s award-winning novel.

The Power stars Toni Collette, John Leguizamo, Auli’i Cravalho, Toheeb Jimoh, Josh Charles, Eddie Marsan, Ria Zmitrowicz, Zrinka Cvitešić and Halle Bush.

CLASS OF ‘07

AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY FROM FRIDAY 17 MARCH

Class of ‘07 is a comedy about a never-ending high school reunion with life and death stakes. When an apocalypse hits during the 10 year reunion of an all-girls high school, a group of women must find a way to survive atop the island peak of their high school campus. 

Now freshly entangled in decade-old drama, their greatest threat to survival isn’t the end of the world, but each other. A love letter to female friendship, Class of ‘07 is about old friends finding their way back to each other, in the most absurd of settings: the apocalypse. 

Class of ‘07 stars Emily Browning, Caitlin Stacey, Megan Smart, Claire Lovering, Sana’a Shaik, Sarah Krndija, Steph Tisdell, Bernie Van Tiel, Chi Nguyễn, Emma Horn, Rose Flanagan and Debra Lawrance

DAVE HUGHES: RIDICULOUS 

AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY FROM FRIDAY 24 MARCH

While Melbourne was locked down, Dave Hughes was trending. He went viral during the pandemic and managed to get himself in trouble with pretty much everyone. Luckily, Hughesy is zen. He is at peace with the chaos he creates, knowing that from great turmoil comes even greater material. Hughesy has always attacked his comedy like a man with nothing to lose. A week hasn’t gone by in the last 25 years that Hughesy hasn’t done stand-up, whether headlining an iconic theatre or jumping up at a tiny club. What has worried him by day becomes fodder for that night’s material. To him, every audience is a great crowd and they should never forget that. 

COACH PRIME

AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY FROM FRIDAY 3 MARCH

Coach Prime is a four-episode docu-series that takes viewers inside Jackson State University’s football program and their historic 2022 season, led by Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders. The series follows the 2022 Jackson State University Tigers football team at practice and during games, in the locker room, off the field, and in the community, throughout their 12-0, undefeated SWAC Championship season. These four new episodes explore how the team and the community united together during a season unlike any other and features a wide range of celebrity guests who educate and inspire.

PERFECT ADDICTION

AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY FROM FRIDAY 24 MARCH

MMA trainer Sienna Lane (Kiana Madeira) thought she had finally got her life together: A nice apartment, her dream job, and Jax (Matthew Noszka), the love of her life. Jax and Sienna seemed to be the unbreakable couple, moving from strength to strength, as Sienna trained Jax to become the ultimate MMA underground champion. Everything felt perfect…until it wasn’t, when she catches Jax cheating on her with her younger sister. Facing the ultimate betrayal from those closest to her, Sienna sets out for revenge, and intends to hit Jax where it hurts the most—in the ring. The perfect opportunity presents itself in the form of underdog Kayden Williams (Ross Butler). Kayden is moody, resentful, and undisciplined, but without a doubt a great fighter. Kayden and Sienna soon realise that, to achieve their goals, they are going to have to work together to bring down Jax in the ring. But when Sienna and Kayden get closer outside the ring, the path to the champion’s title gets a little more complicated.

Perfect Addiction stars Manu Bennett, Poppy Gilbert, Ross Butler and Kiana Madeira

LAST LIGHT 

AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY FROM FRIDAY 10 MARCH

Emmy nominees Matthew Fox (Lost) and Joanne Froggatt (Downton Abbey) star in this disaster series following a family separated by the sudden collapsing of society. Petro-chemist Andy Nielsen knows how dependent the world is on oil; if something were to happen to the world's oil supply, it would set off a chain reaction: transportation would grind to a halt, supplies would cease to be delivered, law enforcement would be overwhelmed. While on a business trip to the Middle East, Andy realizes that his worst fears are coming true and his family is separated at this crucial moment. His teenage daughter, Laura, is alone at home in London while his wife, Elena, and young son, Sam, are in Paris. Amid this chaos, each family member will sacrifice everything to find one another, despite the distance and the dangers that separate them.

Last Light stars Matthew Fox, Joanne Froggatt, Alyth Ross and Taylor Fay

SWARM 

AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY FROM FRIDAY 17 MARCH

From Donald Glover and Janine Nabers, Swarm a  young woman's obsession with a pop star, takes a dark turn.

Swarm stars Dominique Fishback, Chloë Bailey, Damson Idris

MARCH 2023 HIGHLIGHTS: 

DAISY JONES AND THE SIX S1 (TV) 3/03/23

COACH PRIME S1 (TV) 3/03/23

MEN (MOVIE) 3/03/23

WHITE ELEPHANT (MOVIE) 5/03/23

CHRISTMAS IN PARADISE (MOVIE) 8/03/23

NOPE (MOVIE) 9/03/23

HUGH VAN CUYLENBURG: G.E.M (MOVIE) 9/03/23 

LAST LIGHT S1 (TV) 10/03/23

THE FORGIVEN (MOVIE) 15/03/23

THE O.C S1-4 (TV) 15/03/23

FALLING SKIES S1 - S5 (TV) 15/03/23

SWARM(TV) 17/03/23

CLASS OF '07 (TV) 17/03/23

GOOD LUCK TO YOU, LEO GRANDE (MOVIE) 19/03/23

NEIGHBOURS S20 PART 1 (TV) 22/03/23

YOU WON'T BE ALONE (MOVIE) 23/03/23

PERFECT ADDICTION (MOVIE) 24/03/23

DAVE HUGHES: RIDICULOUS (TV) 24/03/23

WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING (MOVIE) 28/03/23

BEAST (MOVIE) 30/03/23

THE POWER S1 (TV) 31/03/23

What's on Shudder in March

As we march into Autumn, here's everything that's playing on Shudder.

Spoonful of Sugar – A Shudder Original 

Premieres Thursday 2 March 

Millicent is taking a semester off from her studies to concentrate on her thesis about children with severe allergies, which makes her the perfect person to take care of little Johnny, a sickly, mute child who suffers from every allergy under the sun, from nickel to artificial fabric. 

His overbearing mother, Rebecca, is an accomplished author who is focused on her latest  book release, while his dissatisfied father, Jacob, spends sweaty, shirtless days toiling away on a  carpentry project in the backyard. Starring Morgan Saylor, Kat Foster and Myko Olivier. 

Leave – A Shudder Exclusive 

Premieres Friday 17 March  

As an infant, Hunter White was discovered abandoned in a New England cemetery. She was wrapped in a piece of cloth covered in satanic symbols, and around her neck hung a Wolf’s Cross pendant. 20 years later, she is obsessed with finding out why she was abandoned and who her biological parents are.

Starring  Alicia von Rittberg, Ellen Dorrit Petersen, Herman Tømmeraas, Stig Amdam and Morten Holst. 

The Unheard– A Shudder Original 

Premieres Friday 31 March 

After a young deaf woman undergoes experimental treatment to regain her hearing, she fears she is not alone while recovering at her family’s beach home - all while uncovering family secrets and experiencing psychological strife and auditory hallucinations. 

Starring Lachlan Watson, Nick Sandow and Brendan Meyer.

Women Talking: Movie Review

Cast: Jessie Buckley, Claire Foy, Rooney Mara, Ben Whishaw, Frances McDormand

Director: Sarah Polley

Harrowing, hard-viewing and yet somehow cathartically uplifting, Sarah Polley's Women Talking feels like a tour de force playlet writ large for the big screen.

However, there's no denying this 100 minute tale of a group of women discussing their future after being drugged, raped and impregnated by the men of their religious community is anything but a stern warning and rejoinder to toxic male behaviour.

Yet it's also not misanthropic too, thanks to a sensitive turn by Ben Whishaw, as the community teacher August brought in to take notes for the women as they decide whether to stay and fight, leave or do nothing after a bridge too far.

In amongst this group are a range of women who've been gaslit, and who are now in fear of their lives - but each has a different reason for the communal rage they share. From Claire Foy's Salome who worries she'll lose her soul if she stays longer as she'll kill someone, to Jessie Buckley's indignant and angry Mariche whose children are in the sights to Frances McDormand's Scarface who refuses to go or be part of the discussion, every tale is handled with sensitivity and a feeling of rounded characters.

Flashbacks of bruised thighs or bleeding births show the horror of the men, who remain faceless throughout in this; Polley makes a conscious choice to only show the face of August and the boys of the commune, at once granting them a chance for redemption while robbing the guilty of a presence.

The film's more interested in the debate and the philosophy rather than the reconstruction of what's happened - but it loses none of the power from its telling from doing so. 

Polley has taken Miriam Toews's book, which was inspired by the sustained abuse of hundreds at the Manitoba Colony in Bolivia between 2005 and 2009, and fashioned it into a kind of one set stage play that still has something uplifting to proffer despite its brutal premise.

With a greyed out aesthetic and a sheen of sparsity, this lean production relies on the power of its cast to provide a truly haunting and compelling film that provokes plenty of discussion after the lights have gone out.

While it could have gone hard on the angry side and condemnation, it simply presents the facts and shows the effects to ensure the 12 Angry Men elements feel more organic rather than overly produced - it's an important difference and the film retains its power greatly from doing so.

There's plenty to debate here. From forgiveness to nature and nurture, the fruits and ramifications for any parent or person in a position of power are many, but not once does Polley turn to editorialising, preferring to leave a more aloof directorial touch to do the necessary work.

Polley trusts in her actors to deliver, and they do - without a doubt, Women Talking may be one of the hardest films of 2023, but thanks to a sensitive delivery, its powerful message will live long after the lights have gone up.

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania: Movie Review

Cast: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Kathryn Newton, Michelle Pfeiffer, Michael Douglas, Jonathan Majors
Director: Peyton Reed

Returning once again and with the giant-sized job of kicking off Phase 5 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Paul Rudd's Scott Lang finds himself - and his erstwhile family sucked into the Quantum realm when his daughter Cassie (Newton) messes up an experiment.

As they try to escape, Lang and his crew find a new threat rising from deep below and one that Hope's mother (Pfeiffer) had thought long buried and forgotten - Kang The Conqueror (Lovecraft Country's Jonathan Majors).

Largely confined to more larky escapades, Ant-Man goes bigger in this latest Peyton Reed outing - but ironically, despite his size feels sidelined throughout.

Serving more as an ensemble riff on a Star Wars cantina cum Disney's Strange World outing in the quantum realm, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania does a great job of seeding Jonathan Majors antagonist Kang as a soft spoken menace - but somehow manages little else.

Forced into groups, Ant-Man and his daughter try to bond despite abandonment issues, while Wasp Hope (Lilly) tries to get answers from her mom - both groups feel Piecemeal at times  with only Rudd's huge empathy and angrier side nicely standing out as proceedings continue.

Newton has fun as Cassie even if the "Even if this isn't your fight you still should" mantra is overtly hammered home repeatedly throughout. While one sequence feels like Majors' first appearance in Lovecraft Country, the action in the weird CGI heavy quantum realm never really rises above the rote full scale destruction we've witnessed countless times before, and grown weary of. And there are narrative issues as an uprising is seeded early on with weird and wonderful creatures, but who are left to become deus ex machina in the film's final act.

Perhaps Marvel could have gone weirder in its animal antics and certainly flexed its multiversal muscles a little more in this its 31st outing. Though it is commendable to see the usually smug Lang suffering more of an existential crisis this time around - and still unsure of his place in the world of the Avengers.

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania somehow feels slight in its introduction of its next phase with slow setup shoehorned in after Rudd's initial self-deprecating imposter syndrome humour. 

It may aim for epic but with Majors and Rudd really only rising to the occasion and with the film's females vociferously sidelined after strong early ensemble antics, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania feels like a more muted Marvel than a monster-sized kickoff for phase 5.

Dead Space: PS5 Review

Developed by Visceral Games, Motive Studio
Published by EA
Platform: PS5

Sometimes a classic is a classic for simple reasons.

Such as it is with the 2023 remake of Dead Space, a remake that doesn't veer too far from its original path, but feels fresh and revitalised for the new version.

For those unfamiliar with the 2008 version, Dead Space follows protagonist Isaac as he heads to doomed spaceship the USG Ishimura to try and find his girlfriend. But when his own craft crashes into the ship ahead of boarding, Isaac and his colleagues find themselves in a dire strait as disfigured vicious creatures attack them.

Suddenly, for Isaac and his crew, it's a case of survival in among the rafters of the Ishimura.

What Dead Space's remake has done is take an original and given it a polish to enhance the experience; but what's transpired is a game that builds on its basics and makes use of the next gen capabilities to deliver a truly terrifying experience.

The Ishimura's ramshackle corridors creak with uncertainty and with hidden dangers, and thanks to the use of sound, the atmospherics of this terrifying title come hauntingly to life and prove to be viscerally frightening.

From the dank darkness of the corridors to the genuinely upsetting body horror of the necromorphs which stalk your every move, Dead Space builds on the tensions you'd expect to make for an experience that's hard to shake.

While there are one or two deviations from the original game, these add to the overall feel of the game and Isaac's quest to find his better half. Minor deviations in light around the ship build atmosphere and choices where you have to decide whether to leave the lights on make for tension-filled moments.

Dead Space respects its roots but also delivers more than enough to justify its presence on the next generation platforms. It's a thrilling sci-fi ride that's blessed with sheer terror and also fits perfectly into the genre it belongs in - but this remake also elevates the original and leaves the recently released The Callisto Protocol lost in space over what a truly terrifying horror experience set within a spaceship should be.

PowerWash Simulator: PS5 Review

Developed by Futurlab
Published by Square Enix
Platform: PS5

It's hard to explain exactly why PowerWash Simulator can prove to be such a relaxing tonic.

At its core, all it really is is a simple game that you can do in real life - pick up a water blaster and hose things down with precision, clearing the grime and cleaning the scene. It would be trite to say it's a game that relies on difficulty and one which builds to a crescendo on each level, because at the end of the day, all you're doing is simply washing down various items.

Starting off with a van and a pressure gun, you get to build your business up after taking on varying degrees of requests and carrying out successful washes. Each wash sees you contacted by further would-be customers who've heard of your reputation and are keen to ensure your keep it clean mantra can extend to them.

In truth, some of this game is about endurance and patience - there's a degree of monotony that creeps in every time even though you can reinvest your earnings in newer and fancier equipment before repeating the same methodology.

Extended nozzles, cleaning solutions, different guns - there's enough to play around with to achieve the perfect loadout, but you'll quickly settle on what works for you and leave it. The console launch edition comes with the Tomb Raider castle to clean up and there are plenty of levels to go through.

From time to time there's an issue getting 100% of an area clean, and occasionally a few areas of levels said they're clean even though they were blatantly dirty, but the niggles with this game are few and far in between.

PowerWash Simulator is good clean fun, but probably best done when you're in a relaxed state of mind rather than in need of a desperate gaming fix.

Mister Organ: DVD Review

Director: David Farrier

Tickled director David Farrier's latest is an intriguing affair, an exploration of what happens when a filmmaker becomes too attached to its subject and what happens when the strands of reality become too far entangled to unwind.

As ever with Farrier's intrigue at falling down a rabbit hole, it's the story of how he spent 5 years investigating what would appear to have been a simple case of a bully overzealously clamping people outside an Auckland shop which developed into a toxic relationship that may have you in mind of Louis Theroux's investigative friendship with Jimmy Savile.

As Farrier investigates Michael Organ the man behind the clamping farrago, a trail of victims whose lives have been irrevocably ruined by this narcissist begin to emerge - and much like a moth to a flame, Farrier edges closer into Organ's orbit with no real indication he's able to pull out.

The initially frivolous edges of Mister Organ soon give way to a darker tinged piece that really start to show Farrier coming unhinged, rather than his documentary subject. It's a fascinating insight into how obsession can unravel, and it's genuinely upsetting to see this documentary maker almost destroyed by half a decade's worth of time consumed.

Whilst the doco makes strenuous mention of the time involved, there's little indication of how that's played out on screen, which makes it akin to feeling like Farrier's time with Organ has happened over a week period. While that doesn't detract from his vulnerability, some sense of a time frame would have helped Mister Organ achieve an even more sinister effect.

Wondrously helmed by DP Dominic Fryer, what is really a series of meetings between two people sparkles on screen. The mundanities of small town New Zealand look astonishingly realised, and the seedy underbelly of the world comes to the fore.

There are some frustrations - chiefly, there's never really a sense of understanding why Farrier continues to pursue his subject for years other than to get some answers and because he "really winds up" Farrier himself. 

Hints of trouble come from interview subjects who don't really want to be on camera - and an inference one person in Organ's orbit committed suicide because of him is never really addressed directly by its accused.

Yet conversely, it's in these moments the film does come alive though - a sense of a Damocles sword above Farrier's head that he's made for himself, and a tangible feeling that he's never really in control of proceedings - or depressingly, the narrative itself - as he hopes to crack the seemingly dangerous and toxic enigma of Organ. 

Best seen unresearched and a depressing portrait of narcissism in its many forms - both in and behind the camera - Mister Organ may leave you with more questions than answers ultimately, but it's a troubling journey that provides no real resolution and leaves you dangling, desperate - and yet terrified - for more.