What's on DocPlay in May

Here's everything that's streaming on DocPlay in May 2026.

We’re warming up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup: Kenny Dalglish, the new documentary from Oscar®-winner Asif Kapadia, streams exclusively on DocPlay from May 14. 

The Scottish soccer icon, who played for Liverpool and Scotland, comes to life in a vivid portrait of his sporting and personal successes. Releasing forty years after the world-changing disaster, Chernobyl: Utopia in Flames is a gripping portrait of the 1986 nuclear explosion and its aftermath. 

Released by Neon in the US, Men of War offers a shockingly prescient account of how, in 2020, a ragtag group of American-led insurrectionists attempted to infiltrate Venezuela and overthrow the regime of Nicolas Maduro. Or spice up your life with three-part BBC series Spice Girls: How Girl Power Changed the World.

4 May

Chernobyl: Utopia in Flames (Exclusive)

A new four-part German production about the 1986 nuclear disaster: the true story of Chernobyl is even more complex, more human, and more shocking than we could ever have imagined.

14 May

Kenny Dalglish (Exclusive)

The new documentary from Oscar®-winning director Asif Kapadia (Senna), Kenny Dalglish offers an in-depth portrait of the Scottish soccer icon. 

18 May

Spice Girls: How Girl Power Changed the World

The must-see story of how five ordinary women became the Spice Girls. A three-episode series from the BBC.

18 May

Freddie: The Final Act

The story of the extraordinary final chapter of Freddie Mercury’s life and how, after his death, Queen staged one of the biggest concerts in history.

21 May

Antidote (Exclusive)

What is the cost of speaking truth to power? In Putin’s Russia, it could mean your life. An immersive and chilling documentary, Antidote follows in real time a whistleblower from inside Russia's poison program, a prominent political activist, and a Russian journalist forced to go into hiding. 

21 May

Men of War (Exclusive)

In May 2020, a ragtag group of American-led insurrectionists attempted to infiltrate Venezuela and overthrow the regime of Nicolas Maduro. 

25 May

This Is A Bomb (Exclusive)

In 1980, an ingenious boobie-trapped ticking time bomb - filled with 1,000 pounds of dynamite - was wheeled in the front doors of Harvey’s Wagon Wheel Casino in Lake Tahoe. Along with the bomb was a note demanding $3 million within 24 hours. While the bomb squad attempts to disarm the explosive, the FBI races the clock to deliver the ransom and simultaneously catch the extortionists. Nothing goes as planned, and each step uncovers darker secrets and suspicions of a deeper motive. 

Armageddon Expo 2026: Talking The Boys with Speciality costume designer LJ Shannon

Ahead of her trip to the Auckland Autumn Armageddon Expo, costume designer Laura Jean Shannon spoke about her work on The Boys, cosplay and also the one person she'd have killed to have met.

To get more on the upcoming Auckland Armageddon Expo, head to armageddonexpo.com.

Hi Laura, how are you? 
I am great but please call me Laura Jean or LJ! 

Have you ever been to New Zealand before?

I have not but I have always wanted to visit! I wish I could be there longer as the list of things I would like to see is endless, but I am thrilled for the opportunity to experience a small slice of your beautiful country. Someday I will return to tour the countryside but for now Hobbiton and Armageddon will be the highlights as I get to immerse into the Auckland vibe ...

How did you get started in costume designing and creation?

I guess it all started when I was a kid really, enamored by sci fi and fantasy films that I would pour over the designs of. I loved getting to escape into other worlds. I studied sculpture and graphic design in college but had a lifelong collection of clothing from around the world and always put things together in unique ways but ultimately, I found my inspiration in NYC in the 90’s post college when I moved there and started working as a Production Assistant in the Costume Department on Feature Films which lead to my designing indies like Requiem For a Dream.

You seem to have an incredible team around you in Team LJ Supersuits - how did all that start?

I am truly blessed with the best of the best. I always say, “I am only as good as the company I keep” and I truly mean that and take it to heart. I do my best to cultivate not only amazing artisans and makers but also amazing people who all share the passion I do for what we create together. It is a collaborative art form so I am so lucky I get to choose to collaborate with wonderful people.
Team LJ Supersuits specifically started with "Black Lightning". The Showrunner and studio were looking for a cinematic visual for the Supersuits but needed them to be able to be practically worn for a TV shooting schedule and budget.
We started small, Sarah, our concept artist and me in a literal closet at WB! We've since grown exponentially as the needs and the projects expanded and we morph and grow or contract as the projects ebb and flow. 

A basic build team on one show is around 30 people, but sometimes our team is 45 strong, sometimes 80, sometimes over 100 if you take into consideration all set teams on our combined shows. However, the core is about 16.

We obviously can't not ask about your work on The Boys - as there are some New Zealanders involved in Karl Urban and Antony Starr. Would you mind giving us a bit of an insight into how you created outfits for them and what their initial reactions to them were?

Ant is my Kiwi brother! Homelander was one of the very first characters I created with our Showrunner, Eric Kripke, for a pilot presentation to get our first season green-lit. The moment I met Ant I knew we had a force that would elevate not only the character but the show as a whole. Antony’s ability to morph into his character and express such a wealth of emotions with the smallest expressions is a true gift. He has incredible instincts that Eric Kripke trusts and they have a wonderful working relationship where the development of Homelander is a true group effort. Also, he is just a delight as a human being and I adore him as a friend.

Karl I met the day he came to meet with the fellas, Kripke, Seth and Evan, on the Sony lot… I knew as I stood on the stoop of the Point Grey offices chatting with him that he was the one.. he has grit and gravitas, what was needed for the role. I was not responsible for his costumes as I am an Associate Producer on The Boys and design the Supersuits but helped find awesome fellow Costume Designers to design the show at large. Carrie Grace created the iconic Butcher look in the pilot that has since lived on and been enhanced by Joyce Schure season 1, Rebecca Gregg Season 2 and Michael Ground seasons 3-5.

The Homelander outfit is so iconic and such a subtle twist on the Superman suit, did you ever think it would go on to be so embraced in its genre?

Thanks! The edict going into The Boys was to create a totally legitimate superhero universe of our own that could play with the big two, Marvel and DC, both whom I have designed for on some iconic shows and films. It was my job to make costumes that would be steeped in lore and nod to other iconic tropes from existing universes but that were grounded in our own universe that focused on science and nothing mystical. I loved that challenge and took it very seriously. 

I did think that Homelander would become iconic. I worked hard to get him to have all the things needed to become so from my end and the beauty of our show is that the writing sets the tone for excellence and then actors like Ant breathe the life needed into the supersuits to create something unique and special.

How do you feel now the series is ending - did you manage to sneak away any of the outfits from the show and do you have a favourite?

I feel honored and humbled and it is a bittersweet end. Bitter because it is the end of an era, sweet because what a brilliant era it has been! Wish I could sneak away some of the supersuits but alas, they are not mine to sneak, but I will always have them in my heart. I always say asking me which suit is my fave is like asking which of my children I love most, luckily I only have one child = but I love each of my superheroes with all my heart for their backstory and journey.

Cosplay is such a big thing on the convention circuit, what does it feel like to see people wearing the outfits you've designed? And conversely, what's been the best fan interaction you've had?

We LOVE the fans!!! We always talk in fittings about how exciting it will be to see cosplayers interpret our designs. It is a huge heartfelt moment when I see something that came from my brain brought to life by someone that was inspired by the work my team and I did together… 

I am at SDCC annually so there are lots of amazing stories I have of interacting with fans that continues to inspire me as a Designer and as a human being who believes in the greater conciseness, a hopeful future and the importance of camaraderie and acceptance. I have always believed that the genres of superheroes, sci fi and fantasy allow for us to expand our minds and belong to something greater. A shared experience by dreamers who fit best where they can be their true selves. 

I think cosplayers appreciate the opportunity to explore possibilities and being able to be a part of that makes me feel warm and fuzzy.

Are there any outfits you would have liked to have designed, and if so, which ones and why?

There is always something I would love to design but also- I do not really have design envy because I love seeing what other designers come up with and as artists we all inform each other in a lot of ways..

I have been so lucky to have the opportunity to design some cool shit (that's the technical term!) so, this question is a hard one to really have a response to as I love whatever I am doing when I am doing it so....The universe sends me where I am meant to be to design the things that then become my children and labors of love, so I am content! I look forward to seeing what unknown may be around the corner.

You've had a wonderful and varied career across films and tV, from the likes of Elf to Murderbot, is there any costume you've been part of that still sticks with you - and if so, why? And how do you begin with the initial concept of a design?

They are all a part of my DNA and I carry each one with me…

Recently I was interviewed for a book on Elf and put together a bunch of visuals to share of my process.. it was such a great walk down memory lane to pour through all of my process materials… luckily I am a pack rat and had a ton of analog files of things so much now is digital, it was nice to have all my handwritten notes and things on the sketches and Swatches. Murderbot was also one that will always hold a special place in my heart. It was awesome to have a shop that built things in-house and achieve such a unique tone with the sec-units…

Though each final product is unique and the build parameters differ for the needs. The initial concept of all designs starts with these basic steps:

1- meet with the Showrunner (TV) or Director (Film) and get their insights into the project and characters 

2- start getting a broad spectrum of visuals together for research based upon the flow of ideas I get 

3-create mood boards of the research visuals that resonate as a collage of ideas to inspire initial jumping off point for designs 

4-begin exploring basic silhouettes, shapes and ideas in thumbnails 

5-get feedback from Showrunner or director 

6- play with colors and textures in thumbnail stage still, dialing in several possible contender ideas 

7-figure out direction from thumbnails with feedback from the showrunner/director to create a rendering

8-start the build with the approved rendering of design 

How was working with Rhys Darby on Jumanji?

Rhys is the best! Have you read his children’s books? They are awesome ! We had to recreate the original costume I designed for “Welcome to the Jungle” for this third installment.

We had a challenging shoot for many reasons, our industry has tightened the belt, so even big budget blockbusters these days are feeling rather compressed and more difficult to navigate, thanks to truncated shooting schedules, coupled with location travel and some crazy weather, made for some intense days that made us feel like WE were IN Jumanji! 

I would often invoke Nigel Billingsley’s famous line in those moments and say to the team “WELCOME TO JUMANJI!” 

The Boys is obviously finishing, but you're back with the prequel series Vought Rising, what sneaks can you give us about the costumes for that please?

Well I am not allowed to give sneaks!!! BUT you can see our first looks of the main 4 that were released in the trades last August! You can see them on my instagram @LJSupersuits

Love getting to tuck into an origin story! 

We hear you're a bit of a self-confessed geek too, who would be your ideal person to hang out with at a convention and why?

True story…I have had the pleasure of hanging with some icons at cons.. one of my first cons I had just designed Scott Pilgrim vs the World and was asked to judge the Masquerade at SDCC (which I do yearly with my son- highlight of our year!) my fellow judge was Bob Blackman who designed Star Trek next Gen and MANY others.. yes, I am a Trekkie… it was such a delight to hear him talk about how some of the fans had better time and resources than us CDs get so some of the craftsmanship can be glorious!

But I guess I would have killed to meet Leonard Nimoy because Spock! Need I say more? 

Catch LJ Shannon at Armageddon Expo from April 25-27!

Ring brings 4K video to battery-powered doorbells for the first time

• Ring is introducing its first and most advanced battery-powered 4K Video doorbell to date, Battery Video Doorbell Pro (2nd Gen)
• Additionally, Ring is introducing one 4K wired video doorbell and three 2K video doorbells, expanding high-resolution video across its portfolio
• Two new solar accessories are also coming to market, offering more mounting and power options for Australian customers

Ring is introducing its first-ever battery-powered 2K and 4K doorbells, delivering sharper video and more flexible installation across its doorbell lineup. Starting at $149 AUD and available for pre-order today, the new doorbells bring even clearer video to homes. Each device also includes a free trial of Ring Protect Pro, which unlocks premium intelligence features such as Video Descriptions. 

 

“This launch marks an important step forward for Ring across Australia, reflecting our continued focus on innovation and customer choice. With a more versatile lineup spanning 4K video, battery, wired and solar-powered options, we’re enabling customers to tailor their setup to suit their home and lifestyle. It underscores our commitment to delivering high-quality, reliable technology that enhances how people stay connected to their homes,” says Mark Fletcher, APAC Managing Director for Ring.

 

Premium 4K Video Clarity

Battery Video Doorbell Pro (2nd Gen) is Ring's most advanced battery-powered doorbell to date. It features Retinal 4K video and delivers up to 10x Enhanced Zoom, capturing front-door activity, packages, and other details with greater clarity day or night. 

A redesigned internal architecture powers Ring’s fastest-charging battery to date, helping the device stay up and running while supporting high-resolution video and advanced features. The result is front-door security that installs virtually anywhere without rewiring. 

Ring is also introducing Wired Video Doorbell Elite (2nd Gen), which features Retinal 4K and 10X Enhanced Zoom, true colour video in low light, smarter motion alerts, and remote access control – all with native Power over Ethernet for reliable, always-on connectivity. 

 

Three New 2K Doorbells

Alongside the 4K doorbells, Ring is introducing three new Retinal 2K doorbells at different price points and installation types: 

• Battery Video Doorbell Plus (2nd Gen) features a Quick Release Battery Pack, making it faster and easier to recharge while delivering sharp 2K video. 
• Battery Video Doorbell (2nd Gen) offers clear 2K video and up to 6x Enhanced Zoom in a streamlined, rechargeable design. 
• Wired Video Doorbell (2nd Gen) includes Retinal 2K Video and is designed for homes with existing doorbell wiring. 

Solar Accessories for Continuous Power and Flexible Installation

Ring is also introducing new solar accessories designed to extend battery life and provide more flexible installation options for battery-powered doorbells. Available at launch, these accessories support Battery Video Doorbell Pro (2nd Gen), Battery Video Doorbell Plus (2nd Gen), and Battery Video Doorbell (2nd Gen).

 

Ring Doorbell Solar Charger integrates directly into the mounting design, allowing customers to mount their doorbell on top of the charger. With just 3–4 hours of direct sunlight per day, Solar Charger helps keep doorbells charged with minimal maintenance.

 

Ring Doorbell Solar Panel extends the life of the Doorbell battery by delivering continuous power, reducing the need for manual recharging. Designed with higher power output to support more advanced doorbells, Solar Panel helps minimise interruptions to home monitoring. Its flexible installation options – including roof mounting and adjustable angles – enable optimal solar exposure and efficient charging performance. 

 

Get even more from your Doorbell with a Ring Protect 

With a Ring Protect plan, you get access to video recording and enhanced features for your doorbell, offering greater control and visibility over what’s happening at home. 

With a Ring Protect plan, customers can: 

• Get Video Descriptions that summarise motion activity in plain language, so you can understand what happened without opening your Ring app or watching the full clip. 
• Access Video Search using keywords like “person,” “package,” or “car” to find specific moments faster. 
• Review recorded events for longer with up to 180 days of video history, making it easy to revisit important events. 
• Use Extended Live View to stay connected to what’s happening in real time for longer. 

By pairing high-resolution video with these added capabilities, a Ring subscription helps turn everyday footage into more useful information so customers can stay informed without scrolling through clips. 

 

Pricing and Availability

The new doorbells and solar products are available for pre-order starting today:

• Ring Battery Video Doorbell Pro (2nd Gen): $399
• Ring Battery Video Doorbell Plus (2nd Gen): $249
• Ring Battery Video Doorbell (2nd Gen): $149
• Ring Wired Video Doorbell (2nd Gen): $99
• Ring Wired Video Doorbell Elite (2nd Gen): $749
• Ring Doorbell Solar Charger: $79
• Ring Doorbell Solar Panel: $89

The Punisher: One Last Kill releases trailer, imagery

The special debuts May 13 at 1PM NZST, exclusively on Disney+ 

A trailer, key art and stills for the intense, highly anticipated “A Marvel Television Special Presentation: The Punisher: One Last Kill,” starring Jon Bernthal as the titular vigilante, aka Frank Castle, has been unveiled ahead of its Disney+ debut. 

In the special, Frank searches for meaning beyond revenge, when an unexpected force pulls him back into the fight.

“A Marvel Television Special Presentation: The Punisher: One Last Kill” is directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green from a script co-written by Bernthal and Green. The special episode debuts May 13 at 1pm NZST, exclusively on Disney+.

MOUSE: P.I. For Hire Unveils Extra Sharp Launch Trailer Ahead of April 16 Release

PlaySide Studios and Fumi Games have unveiled an extra sharp launch trailer for their upcoming noir-inspired first-person shooter, MOUSE: P.I. For Hire, ahead of its release on April 16 for PC via Steam, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch 2.

In this trailer, players can check out brand-new gameplay footage, as Jack Pepper swings into action to solve the case and save the future of Mouseberg.

This epic new trailer showcases the entire package that is MOUSE: P.I. For Hire, from the action-packed combat to the noir-fueled detective story, diverse cartoon environments, original jazz tunes and so much more. Starring the iconic Troy Baker as Private Investigator Jack Pepper, players must clear the streets of Mouseburg from crooked cops and heavily armed gangs in order to get to the bottom of the corruption, kidnapping and murder plaguing the city. 

The trailer also gives a fresh look at the other features that MOUSE: P.I. For Hire has to offer, including fully hand-drawn cutscenes, weapon upgrades, collectibles and even a baseball card minigame! Wield creatively twisted firearms, consume powerful upgrades and hunt for clues in this retro-vibed adventure that stands as the best modern-day reliving of classic 1930s cartoons.

Malcolm In The Middle: Life's Still Unfair: Review

Malcolm In The Middle: Life's Still Unfair is an odd beast.

As Scrubs winds up the first season of its reboot, the 1990s sitcom about a smart kid and his scrappy family comes running out of the gate, saying it has a decent raison d'etre too.

But in truth, it's really only the last episode of the four-episode mini-series that truly brings the chaos of the original to mind, squandering the promise that it had.

Centring around Hal (a wonderfully game Bryan Cranston) and Lois (Jane Kaczmarek) and their 40th anniversary together, the scene is set for a solid family reunion. But there's one hitch - Malcolm (Frankie Muniz) who's decided for years to sideline his family in the belief that they make him a worse person, and bring out the neuroses in him that have been unchecked for years and has therefore thrived.

However, when Hal and Lois show up at his house to bring him back, it sparks an existential crisis in all of them - especially as Malcolm's now a single father to a daughter Leah. As if that wasn't enough, Lois is trying to plan the perfect party for her and Hal, a rampage that's got everyone in her sights and no time for any other drama whatsoever.

The opening and final episode of the four-part series are the best ones. With anarchy running through the anniversary do and the crashing of many storylines, Malcolm In The Middle: Life's Still Unfair clearly still has the edge it needs and channels a sadness that's inherent in many families.

Dealing with empty nest syndrome, parental pressures and sibling rivalries was what the show did best - and this latest pushes it to an extreme, despite keeping some of drama grounded amid a myriad of unnecessary fourth wall breaks.

Cranston's easily the MVP of the piece, sending his Hal on an insane trip (literally) and yet providing insight into the harsh reality of being a father. Picking up the intergenerational trauma some 20 years on was never going to be an easy task for creator Linwood Boomer and while parts of it work, the general unevenness of the tone throughout makes this reunion some what of a damp squib.

Guess after all this time, Life is still unfair.

Malcolm In The Middle: Life's Still Unfair is streaming now on Disney+

Ecovacs launches Deebot T80S Omni in New Zealand

Ecovacs Robotics, a pioneer in service robotics and ANZ market leader, has today launched the DEEBOT T80S OMNI, aimed at delivering the very best in advanced roller mopping technology to a more accessible price point. 

Purpose built to meet core users’ demands for powerful performance, edge-to-edge coverage and minimal maintenance, available for RRP $1999 NZD, the T80S OMNI brings next-generation floor cleaning to a more accessible price point. Featuring OZMO ROLLER 2.0, upgraded TruEdge 3.0 cleaning and Triple Lift technology that intelligently raising and lowering the brushes and roller, the T80S OMNI delivers seamless, thorough cleaning from bathroom tiles to hardwood floors and carpets.

Upgraded Technology for a Spotless, Tangle-Free Clean

At the heart of the T80S OMNI is the OZMO ROLLER 2.0 with TruEdge 3.0 Extreme Edge Cleaning. The OZMO ROLLER 2.0 delivers highly concentrated cleaning power, generating 3,800Pa of mopping pressure — up to 16 times stronger than traditional dual-plate systems — at a speed of 220 rpm. Paired with an upgraded high-density nylon mop roller, it effectively removes stubborn stains while remaining gentle on floors, delivering a streak-free finish.

Originally debuting on the DEEBOT X8 family, ECOVACS’ OZMO ROLLER mopping technology has already earned global acclaim, with more than 1.6 million robotic vacuum cleaners sold worldwide. With the T80S OMNI, that proven innovation becomes available to broader generation of consumers seeking premium performance without the premium price.

The upgraded TruEdge 3.0 Extreme Edge Cleaning technology features a 1.5 cm extended air-cushion suspended roller and newly added soft rubber support wheels, allowing the robot to glide seamlessly along skirting boards and into corners for true edge-to-edge coverage, ideal for both compact apartments and busy family homes.

Designed to adapt intelligently to real-life changing scenarios, the Triple Lift for Brushes and Rollers automatically adjust depending on floor type. On carpets, the roller mop lifts while suction power increases to keep carpets dry and thoroughly vacuumed. For liquid spills, both brushes lift to prevent contamination while grid-pattern cleaning tackles stubborn stains. When handling large debris, the side brush lifts to reduce scattering as the main brush boosts suction power.

With up to 24,800Pa of suction power and the enhanced ZeroTangle 3.0 Anti-Tangle System,  the T80S OMNI is engineered to effortlessly capture dust, debris, and pet hair with minimal brush maintenance, supporting smoother, uninterrupted cleaning over time. 

Smarter Navigation for Seamless, Full-Coverage Cleaning

Powered by a cutting-edge Vision-Language Model, the AIVI 3D 3.0 Omni-Approach Technology precisely identifies and maps the contours of all obstacles, enabling the robot to navigate and move seamlessly alongside them in real time. Its ultra-slim 98mm profile and high-traction drive wheels allow it to glide under furniture and overcome thresholds up to 20mm, wet or dry, making it well suited to varied floorplans. 

Upgraded OMNI Station for Effortless, Hands-Free Maintenance

The upgraded OMNI Station sets a new standard in hands-free floor care, combining Hot Water Soak Washing with 63°C Hot Air Rolling Drying for a deeper, full drying the mop in just two hours to reduce odours and maintain freshness. It automatically empties the dustbin with up to 90 days of storage and offers up to 150 days of hands-free mop tray maintenance, reinforcing ECOVACS’ commitment to delivering a truly all-in-one cleaning solutions.

Stylish, intelligent and built to deliver exceptional value, the DEEBOT T80S OMNI represents the next evolution of accessible roller mopping technology bringing advanced performance, thoughtful design and everyday convenience together in one seamless solution.

“Roller Mopping has redefined what consumers should expect from robotic floor cleaning,” said Karen Powell, Regional Director of ANZ at ECOVACS Robotics.

“The DEEBOT T80S OMNI brings our leading roller mopping technology into a more accessible space, delivering powerful, edge-to-edge cleaning in a design that fits seamlessly into modern Australian and New Zealand homes. It’s about giving more people access to innovation that genuinely improves everyday life and delivers on our commitment of products Created For Ease.”

Pricing and Availability

In New Zealand it has a recommended retail price of NZD $1,999, available from Harvey Norman, JB HiFi, Noel Leeming & PB Tech.

Saros: PS5 Preview

On an alien planet, a man in a spacesuit awakes alone. 

As he stumbles into consciousness, around him stretches the ruins of architecture, their glistening white remains crumbling before him as they lift into the sky. The ground is grey, with flashes of red. He grasps at a necklace with a sun pendant on it, throws it on, decries that he did what he had to do and lifts up his gun before going off into a destination unknown, guided by a mysterious female voice.

It's the opening moments of Saros, the new bullet ballet shooter from Returnal and Resogun developer Housemarque. The upcoming dark sci-if game has a lot to live up to ahead of its April 30 release date.

Not only does it have to impress an audience of gamers, but it's also got to pull back those who found Returnal's incredibly difficult shooter too much of a frustration to play with.

Yet it appears Housemarque's ready to, as the game's tagline goes, "Come back stronger." Not only has it built on the same kind of visuals and dynamics which made Returnal's sci-fi gameplay so immersive, but it appears the developers have listened to the feedback of those who threw down Returnal in anger (this reviewer included) because its roguelike properties and continual deaths became a self-flagellating game for sadomasochists.

Get ready for plenty of bullets and a need to dodge.

Set on the ever-changing world of Carcosa (much of Returnal's DNA is coursing through this game), you play Arjun Devraj, an enforcer who's looking for a way to get off the planet and save his crewmates, while uncovering the reality of what happened to some of those who went missing during a solar eclipse. As if that wasn't enough to contend with, everything changes on Carcosa when an eclipse hits the planet, causing the world to become darker in more ways than one.

Based on the three hours that was made available for preview, with two distinct biomes on offer (the second of which wasn't able to be seen due to the fact the game is still difficult, but not punishing), Saros is a real contender for the sci-fi event of the year, a game that infuses HR Giger's horrors with straight out shooter mechanics. 

Clear, crisp graphics never once drop their frame rate during frenetic action.

Even though Housemarque doesn't feel like it's devolved too far away from Returnal's DNA (what is with the studio's obsessions with flailing tentacles?), the game itself feels rich in its world-building, deep in its suspicion and paranoia and infused through with mysteries that will need to be solved. Perhaps the three hours didn't reveal too much of the narrative due to the continual dying, but given the demo was playable from the start of the game and had a learning curve, the jury is still out on whether it will stick the landing or if players will engage that far with its tantalising hints, despite developer Gregory Louden promising there's a rich narrative and a great ensemble cast to see unfurl.

Death is an important part of Saros - and not just in ways that will make you want to hurl your controller at the screen. Each time Arjun dies (and he will, no matter what your proficiency level is), he gets to use the resources he's extracted from the runs to power up at base before heading back out. Housemarque contends that gamers can do 30-minute stints within Saros and its marauding forces without feeling like progress has been cheated from them when they die. It's a clever touch that sees the studio deliver on its "come back stronger" mantra and one that actually ensures replayability, thanks to combat that feels easier once you know what you're doing.

Get used to see this view a lot - it's where you go early on when you die.

That's not to say it's not frustrating - and certainly, there's nothing worse than making headway into the level before being taken out by the myriad of bullets heading your way. However, Arjun has some tricks up his sleeve for fighting back. From a shield which can be deployed to protect and absorb alien fire before using it back against them, to a crafty use of the adaptive triggers to toggle stronger weapons, Housemarque really feel like they've thought about what you need from an experience like this before deploying it.

In terms of the alien life-forms on Carcosa, they're floating, tentacle-waving creatures - or metallic egg-shaped machines firing on you. After a while, it becomes more evolved - from suicidal flying squids to crab-like scuttling monsters, the threat is very mobile and very nasty. But just when you think you've got a handle on what Carcosa can send your way, the game decides to shift. 

Getting to what would clearly be a mid-level point and dispatching a boss, the game introduces a richly crafted cutscene that shows an eclipse in progress, which completely changes the game, corrupting the environs, leaving grass turned into waving tentacles and upgrading the marauding creatures that live within.

The preview provides a brief insight into the relationship between the protagonist and his crew - and it's tetchy to say the least.

It's no wonder death is to be embraced and evolved in Saros - there's certainly plenty of it.

It's also a smooth and steady visual experience, with no sign of freezing during a screenful of bullets, a lead character needing to race across the screen and rich sci-fi imagery needing to be deployed. This is a perfectly executed kinetic experience, one that rewards its growing difficulty, but is confident enough to accept that alienation isn't the best idea for its audience.

Whether the full narrative lands remains to be seen, and the trope of a crew on an alien world struggling to survive while working out what happened isn't a new one - but based on Saros' gameplay, it's one title that will become a real talking point over the coming months - and one that will cement Housemarque as a studio that adapts and changes as much as the worlds it in its own output do.

Saros releases exclusively on PlayStation on April 30.

To pre-order Saros on Playstation, go to the PlayStation store here.

The Choral: Blu Ray Review

Cast: Ralph Fiennes, Mark Addy, Roger Allam, Alun Armstrong
Director: Nicholas Hytner

To say that the Choral is a genial film that feels anchored in yesteryear may feel like damning it with feint praise.

But in truth, the crowd-pleasing set-up-north tone of a mismatched group of people coming together to learn song The Dream of Gerontius for a performance is the kind of movie the older generation get less of in multiplexes these days.

With the backdrop of World War I taking the eligible men away from their lives working at the mill in the UK Northern town of Yorkshire, it aims to mine the same kind of humour and heart as The Full Monty did way back when.

When the town's choir master chooses to sign up for war, the local society finds themselves bereft of a leader. However, hope comes to them in the form of Ralph Fiennes' refined and sophisticated Dr Guthrie - but with one issue. Having lived in Germany and with a penchant for quoting the foreign artists, he's dismissed as being a German-lover, leading to friction within the choir and the Yorkshire society itself. 

It's pretty obvious where The Choral is going as a film. In its gentle edges and wartime humour, British whimsy and generally affable approach to the whole affair, it never really achieves a depth as perhaps it could. It's rarely helped by a large cast of characters that feel lightly sketched over and achieve only moments of stereotyped expectation.

Then again, it never quite sinks into the cliche you'd expect and thanks to Fiennes' presence and the solid performance of the other players, the film feels like a comforting effort. Some of the more subtle edges, including a homosexual subtext and longing, are nicely played out and generally solidly executed.

It's not that it never hits the right note, because in truth, there's been much worse fare from British cinema - doused in a reality throughout of life, love and tragedy, The Choral occasionally hits some highs, but never leaves you regretting having watched it.

The Boys: Season 5: Review

"Just when I thought there was a ceiling to how fucking weird you could get" is a line spoken midway through episode three of the final season of The Boys.

To reveal the context is to wade into spoilers, but in truth, it could be a mantra for the final season of the twisted humans vs superhumans series that's finally reaching a conclusion after years of overt grossness, exploding heads and shocking moments.

But the fifth season of the show packs punches, gut-wrenching moments and rug-pull moments that have been hinted at for years - and yet somehow, it still manages to deliver some truly shocking sequences that couldn't be predicted.

As it kicks off, Hughie, Frenchie and Mother's Milk are stuck in a Vought Freedom Camp, while Butcher, Kimiko and Annie face dilemmas of their own. Homelander's grip on reality is flailing and his desire to be greater than what he is threatens to be derailed by his own desire to secure his legacy and ascend to his own self-appointed Messiahnic status.

It may be a spoiler to reveal more (and indeed Prime Video's requested most of the best twists are kept under wraps), but it's not really much of a spoiler to say that of the six episodes made available for press for the highly anticipated final season of The Boys, it feels like the show's firing on all cylinders - and even creatively, finds a different way to tell a whole raft of stories in a later episode.

Ideological arguments come into play in parts as the desire to forgive haunts some members of The Boys and the cost of ascension plays on other minds. Whereas Season 4 of The Boys tended to fly a little close to the less subtle approach of parallels with modern day America, the latest season has stepped away from the more overt edges and decided to concentrate squarely on giving the characters the send-off you'd expect after years of investment.

But it's not without the trademark moments the franchise and its sister show Gen V have come to offer. From elongated testicles as weapons to bloody explosions, it's all in the final season - and then some - and yet, at its heart, this still remains a series that's open to exploring the moral dilemma of what supreme power can bring and how it can destroy and galvanise those within its grasp.

Seemingly doomed romances play out among the gang and while there's occasionally a feeling that this is all building up to a finale, there are enough shocks and twists to ensure that the last season delivers what the first promised.

All of the cast more than provide enough for their respective characters, trading on years of your own investment, and while The Boys has teetered dangerously close in the past to becoming the satire it was mocking, this season feels like it's gone back to basics. Sure, there are some meta moments where characters bemoan their journeys and a writer mocks the fact finales have a lot to wrap up and contend with, but largely, the satirical edges and blatant real-world digs are few and far in between this time.

Six out of eight episodes of the final season of The Boys were made available for the purpose of this review.   

The Boys begins streaming on Prime Video from Wednesday, April 8.

Anaconda: Blu Ray Review

Anaconda: Movie Review

Cast: Jack Black, Paul Rudd, Thandiye Newton, Steve Zahn
Director: Tom Gormican

The 2025 version of Anaconda is an odd piece of film-making.

Wanting to be a comedy first and foremost, it fails to deliver a large number of laughs, despite some genuinely funny moments.

Jack Black and Paul Rudd star as best friends Doug and Griff, who’ve drifted apart over the years. The pair has always dreamt of remaking their all-time favourite movie Anaconda, thanks to a love of gonzo film-making in their younger years.

But when Doug, who’s now stuck making wedding videos and wanting to be more, catches up with his pal, who’s a failing bit part actor in Hollywood, fired for overplaying his scenes, they, coupled with a midlife crisis, decide to give it a go. Especially when Griff tells him they have the rights to the film.

So heading to the jungles of the Amazon, along with friends Claire and Kenny (Thandiye Newton and Steve Zahn, largely overlooked) they start filming. But when they cross paths with an on-the-run Ana (Daniela Melchior) and a large anaconda, things get more complicated.

Unsure if it wants to be a meta-nod to the original or mocking the cheesy quality of the Jon Voight, Ice Cube and Jennifer Lopez-starring vehicle which became a cult hit, the 2025 Anaconda suffers from a crisis of confidence. As it slithers between comedy, knowing winks to the audiences and commentary on who owns IP these days, coupled with Black’s manic OTT performance and Rudd’s easy-going charm, the film itself sheds as many skins as its own snake, before ultimately devouring itself ouroboros style.

The mix of tones doesn’t help matters and for every low-level gag there is, there’s a smart one hiding in the background, trying desperately for air. As the low-rent CGI anaconda continues to slither on and off screen, things take a turn for the less-ambitious (although one questions whether this is a nod to the B-movie madness of the original or a budgetary necessity.

Most egregiously, Newton is criminally overlooked in this bro-heavy story outing, a fact that seems more ironic than intentional.

Ultimately, the film collapses on itself, delivering a just-above average time depending on how many drinks you’ve had. And no matter how often they show montages of Black’s character trying to write a script, the film never works as a tribute to its roots or a modern-day satire on filmmaking.

It should have been hiss-terical – instead, it’s anything but.

What's on Disney+ in May

Rivals Season 2 (May 15)

Disney+ has confirmed the award-winning hit series, “Rivals” will return for its second season on 15^th May with even more drama, wit and desire. The second season continues the adaptation of the late and much-missed Dame Jilly Cooper’s beloved novel, “Rivals”, introducing the glamorous world of polo and surprising new twists, alongside heightened boardroom drama and deeper romantic entanglements. The Hulu Original series will return in two six-episode batches, the first will debut on May 15 with a three-episode premiere and the second batch will follow later in the year on Disney+.

The battle for the Central South West television franchise reaches a fever pitch as the war between Corinium and Venturer enters a dangerous new phase. More ruthless than ever, Tony Baddingham is determined to dismantle his rivals piece-by-piece, weaponising scandal and manipulating those closest to him to maintain his grip on power. 

Amidst the hedonistic glamour of 80s excess, the personal lives of our Rutshire heroes spiral into chaos. Marriages fracture under the weight of ambition, illicit affairs threaten to shatter families, and long-buried secrets ignite with explosive consequences. As rivalries push everyone to the brink, loyalties are tested and hearts are broken in the pursuit of victory. But what is the true cost of war?

Reprising their iconic roles are David Tennant (‘Doctor Who’, ‘The Thursday Murder Club’) as Lord Tony Baddingham, Alex Hassell (‘The Tragedy of Macbeth’, ‘The Boys’) as Rupert Campbell-Black, Aidan Turner (‘Poldark’, ‘The Hobbit Trilogy’) as Declan O’Hara, Nafessa Williams (‘Black Lightning’, ‘Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody’) as Cameron Cook, Bella Maclean (‘Sex Education’, ‘London Tide’) as Taggie O’Hara, Katherine Parkinson (‘Humans’, ‘Here We Go’) as Lizzie Vereker, Danny Dyer (‘EastEnders', ‘The Football Factory’) as Freddie Jones, Victoria Smurfit (‘Bloodlands’, ‘Once Upon A Time’) as Maud O’Hara, Claire Rushbrook (‘Sherwood’, ‘Ali and Ava’) as Lady Monica Baddingham, Oliver Chris (‘The Crown’, ‘Trying’) as James Vereker, Lisa McGrillis (‘Maternal’, ‘Mum’) as Valerie Jones, Emily Atack (‘The Emily Atack Show’, ‘The Inbetweeners’) as Sarah Stratton, Rufus Jones (‘W1A’, ‘Home’) as Paul Stratton, Luca Pasqualino (‘The Musketeers’, ‘Shantaram’) as Basil ‘Bas’ Baddingham, Catriona Chandler as Caitlin O'Hara (‘Wild Cherry’, ‘Pistol’), Annabel Scholey (‘The Split’) as Beattie Johnson, Gary Lamont (‘Boiling Point’, ‘Outlander’) as Charles Fairburn, Hubert Burton (‘Wolf Hall’, ‘Living’) as Gerald Middleton, Gabriel Tierney (‘Enola Holmes 2’, ‘The Winter King’) as Patrick O’Hara, Lara Peake (‘How To Have Sex’, ‘Reunion’) as Daysee Butler and Bryony Hannah (‘Talamasca’, 'Call The Midwife') as Dierdre Kilpatrick.

This season also sees the addition of new guest stars, Hayley Atwell (‘Mission Impossible’, ‘Agent Carter’) as Helen Gordon, Rupert Campbell-Black’s ex-wife and mother of his two children, and Rupert Everett (‘Napoleon’, ‘My Policeman’) as her husband Malise Gordon, Campbell Black’s former show-jumping coach and mentor. Further names joining the ensemble include Maxim Ays (‘Boarders’, ‘Sanditon’), Holly Cattle (‘Young Sherlock’, ‘Mr Loverman’), Oliver Dench (‘Hotel Portofino’,  ‘Domina’), Amanda Lawrence (‘Malory Towers, Star Wars: The Last Jedi), Bobby Lockwood (‘Wolfblood, Here We Go’), Eliot Salt (‘Slow Horses’, ‘Normal People’), and Jonny Weldon (‘One Day’, ‘Brassic’).

“Rivals”, made by Happy Prince, part of ITV Studios, is executive produced by Dominic Treadwell-Collins (‘A Very English Scandal’, ‘Holding’, ‘EastEnders’), Alexander Lamb (‘Ackley Bridge’, ‘The Bay’, ‘We Hunt Together’), Felicity Blunt, Elliot Hegarty (‘Cheaters’, ‘Ted Lasso’), Olivier Award-winning playwright Laura Wade (‘The Riot Club’), “Rivals” author Dame Jilly Cooper and for Disney+, Jonny Richards. Eliza Mellor (‘The Midwich Cuckoos’, ‘Behind Her Eyes’, ‘Poldark’) returns as Series Producer. It is written by Dominic Treadwell-Collins, Laura Wade, Sophie Goodhart, Sam Hoare, Mimi Hare, Clare Naylor, Sorcha Kurien-Walsh and Dare Aiyegbayo, directed by Elliot Hegarty, Jamie J Johnson and Dee Koppang O’Leary.  “Rivals” is based on the novel of the same name, part of Cooper’s bestselling Rutshire Chronicles. The series was commissioned by VP Scripted Content for Disney+ EMEA, Lee Mason.

Crime 101: Prime Video Movie Review

Crime 101: Movie Review

Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Halle Berry, Barry Keoghan, Monica Barbaro, Nick Nolte
Director: Bart Layton

Crime 101’s desire to take seemingly disparate storylines and blend them into one proves to be a frustrating attempt in a film that’s slick and stylish, but somewhat disappointingly really has little under the hood.

Hemsworth is Mike, a driver for hire and solo criminal whose push for perfection helps him initiate a series of jewellery heists without consequence in Los Angeles. Ruffalo is dishevelled and disheartened detective Lou, whose theory that a lone wolf is acting is scoffed at by his colleagues and sees him roundly mocked. And on the outskirts of this is Halle Berry’s Sharon Coombs, an insurer whose role in an insurance company is fading due to the men in charge dismissing her as ageing out.

When one of Mike’s jobs goes awry and he narrowly escapes with his life, the sense of self-doubt puts him on a path to apparent destruction – especially as his handler (a grizzled Nolte) believes he’s no longer needed.

Director Bart Layton knows how to layer the tension on in large swathes of Crime 101 and despite a stellar cast, the intersecting story spends an inordinate amount of time wallowing in set-up before delivering a payoff that’s not entirely worthy of the journey itself.

While a wiry Keoghan adds a spruce of energy to the somewhat muted proceedings, the film never quite reaches full throttle, despite looking entirely polished and impressive. (Even a car chase sequence feels adequate and perfunctory, rather than brimming with edge-of-your-seat stakes.)

It may look slick and may deliver in patches, but Hemsworth’s more muted and oddly twitchy performance, along with an arc that feels like it stumbles when it needs to soar, means Crime 101’s overall feeling is one of frustration and style over substance.

Small character moments, such as the final section of the film offers, add much to what’s gone on – but while it’s solid enough, the fact it’s taken nigh on two hours to get to this stage does little to expel any niggling edges of growing annoyance. Ultimately Crime 101 promises much, but unfortunately delivers not nearly enough to justify its polished occasionally tense movie.

Win tickets to see Billie Eilish - Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour Live in 3D in cinemas

To celebrate the release of Billie Eilish - Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour Live in 3D in cinemas on May 7, thanks to Paramount Pictures NZ, you can win tickets!

About Billie Eilish - Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour Live in 3D

Directed by: James Cameron and Billie Eilish

Captured during her sold-out world tour, BILLIE EILISH - HIT ME HARD AND SOFT: THE TOUR (LIVE IN 3D) brings an innovative new concert experience to the big screen from one of the most celebrated and successful artists of her generation. Presented in immersive 3D.

Billie Eilish - Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour Live in 3D is in cinemas May 7!