In The Heights: Neon NZ Film Review

There's no denying the vibrant nature of Lin-Manuel Miranda's passion comes shining through from the get-go in In The Heights.

But it's accentuated by Crazy Rich Asians John M Chu's camera and eye for how to put together an eye-popping spectacle that sizzles like a hot summer should.

Over the 143 minutes run time (which does suffer from some bloat in the back half), In The Heights is the cinematic equivalent of a high blast of Vitamin D straight into your eyeballs.

It's the story of Usnavi (Ramos, a charismatic lead) who's spent his entire life in the New York suburb of Washington Heights but dreams of heading back to his Dominican Republic homeland - despite running a successful bodega in the hub of his community.

But when he gets his chance, it soon appears that not all as it seems, and with the temperature rising, and a city-wide blackout coming, the pressure is on Usnavi and his small circle of friends to make the decisions that are right for them.

Plot (and its few shortcomings in the final furlong) are largely irrelevant to In The Heights, Lin-Manuel Miranda's pre-Hamilton love letter to community, family and heart in New York.

There's a life-affirming vibe from the beginning, and while as with most musicals it feels like conflict is set up as high stakes early on and then summarily dismissed or solved in the final stretch, In The 

Heights manages to be more about the journey than the final destination.

And what a journey it is, thanks to the precision with which Chu has shot.

Large musical numbers bristle with energy, and high performance dancers; whether it's the dizzying opening which sees you meeting all of the residents, or a pool-set number that's got something in every frame that commands your attention, through to an almost-balletic piece on the side of a building, Chu's execution is severely on point, and yet never isolating to the casual viewer in any shape or form.

It helps that the young cast have a good chemistry, and appear on screen to at least have relatively strong pipes as well, giving the music a street-feel, an urgency and a toe-tapping demeanour which is hard to ignore.

And it's never been a more multicultural cast as well, giving credence to the 2021 push to get more diverse voices and faces on screen (even if there is a bit of an ongoing furore over the lack of Latinx actors cast within).

The overriding feeling with In The Heights is one of unbridled joy.

Its execution is uplifting, its performances are magnetic, and its pull is undeniable. It's the breeziest film you'll see all year, but it's never patronising to its audience - it's smart, sassy and electric.

Rūrangi: Neon NZ Film Review

Director Max Currie's webseries Rūrangi is a sharply-lensed story that in many ways is a very familiar one.

A breakout performance from Elz Carrad as trans-activist Caz anchors the story that in fairness hints at times in what may come in a sequel. 

Caz starts the film/ webseries happy, helping the gender community post activism, and try and take on the walls of bigotry within Auckland. However, Caz is living a lie, dating a sportsman and apparently slightly conflicted over identity.

When tragedy strikes, Caz is forced home to a rural community once left behind and has to deal again with old prejudices anew - as well as trying to reconcile with a father who doesn't want to know.

Rūrangi starts with a blast of energy, and joie de vivre, that it feels obvious to know what's coming - such happiness can't last. However, Carrad carries Caz with such charisma that the central performance lifts the script from beyond its trope trappings, and its all-too-familiar reconciliation narrative.

Scenes with Arlo Green feel real, personal and hint at pasts gone but not forgotten - the characters here are fully drawn and fleshed out within minutes of appearing on screen, and draw audiences in right away. 

Born of a need to tell a story of a community not be about one, Rūrangi has lofty ambitions over its 5 part series. And it rightly deserves plaudits for its use of diversity in front and behind the camera.

Director Max Currie has an eye for the intimate, and the script from Cole Meyers has a penchant for character moments that ring with veracity. And some of the bucolic backgrounds look wondrous, taking in both the beauty and stifling nature of rural lifestyles.

However, in the wider writing, the film/ webseries feels a little light on the heft, shoving in topics that are current concerns but are narratively left wanting, hinting frustratingly at future dalliances on the screen yet to come.

An early suicide is treated heavily in the beginning, but disappears into the background, a catalyst of the return home, but also burdened with hints of what's gone unexplored threatening to bubble up later on; a Māori woman struggles to connect with the language once forgotten, and talk of phosphates within the land simmer in the background.

A final sequence feels more cliched than celebratory, riddled as it is with stereotyped prejudice and awkward exposition (though, while granted this may be the reality of rural life and acceptances, a little more subtlety would have left the end feeling less rushed and ultimately more transcendent.)

There's much to love in Rūrangi, however, one can't help but feel the second series will make a more effective companion piece, picking up some loose ends and tightening the focus more. 

When the film's centred around Caz, thanks to an Aaron Paul-like Elz Carrad, it soars; when it tries to bring in other issues, it flounders and flails.

Rūrangi is a film of a personal nature, and it's this connection that lasts - coupled with the launch of Elz Carrad as a bona fide star, it remains watchable and a welcome sign that New Zealand stories are widening their sights.

What's on DocPlay in May

Here's everything streaming on DocPlay in May.

5 May

Regenerating Australia

What would Australia look like in 2030 if we simply listened to the needs of its people? Regenerating Australia is a 17-minute short film based on a four-month interview process with a diverse group of Australians who shared their hopes and dreams for the country's future. Set on New Year's Eve of December 2029, a news anchor is ending the nightly bulletin with a look back at the decade 'that could be’; a decade that saw Australia transition to a fairer, cleaner, more community focused economy. The film is a construction of news reports and press conferences featuring high profile journalists, politicians, business leaders and citizens such as Kerry O'Brien, Sandra Sully, Gorgi Coghlan, Patrick Abboud, Larissa Behrendt and David Pocock.

16 May

The Price of Peace

A fascinating insight to a New Zealand that remains startlingly divided and unequal. "E hara e koe" ('The guilt is yours') says Rangi Kemara to the judge sitting before him. The Maori man stands in court, flanked by tribal leader Tame Iti and two others, between them accused of eleven counts including murder, kidnapping and firing at police. Rangi's defiant response alludes to years of distrust and sporadic violence between the New Zealand government and the Maori people. The Ruatoki Valley is an area of stunning natural beauty, but it is also the location of a suspected terrorist training camp, allegedly presided over by Tame Iti. Defense counsel Russell Fairbrother acknowledges the jury's verdict will be tight, explaining, "I think we have two strong cultures in this country and the two cultures don't talk easily together".

23 May

Bombora - The Story of Australian Surfing

The extraordinary tale of how surfing went from an obscure pastime reserved for Hawaiian Kings to become an Australian obsession, an international sport and finally, a global phenomenon. Global surfing culture is a mix of wildness, grace and cool that is utterly Australian, but how did a nation of people, who mostly couldn't swim, turn a Polynesian pastime into a national obsession and international cultural force? From the time we first took on the waves in the late 19th century, Australians were hooked on surfing. 

26 May

When a City Rises

EXCLUSIVE

When a city rises up against a superpower, everyone must decide how far they will go for freedom. 

Hong Kong 2019 - the world has seen the iconic images of protestors covered in black, tossing back tear gas, waving black flags, protesting against the authoritarian superpower that is China in order to fight for a democratic future. It is easy to be caught up in the action, in the glorification of bravery and sacrifice. But away from the limelight, who are these hidden people concealed underneath their masks? What are the protestors really fighting for? What is at stake for them?

30 May

Italy's Uncharted Islands

Embark on a journey to Italy to explore the various islands with their different geological origins and their very own characteristics in flora, fauna, and culture. Our journey starts near Sardinia, at the Sulcis Archipelago. From here, we head towards the Campania Archipelago near Naples in the Tyrrhenian Sea. A short detour to the north of Italy takes us to the largest island in southern Europe's inland waters, Monte Isola in Lake Iseo and its small neighbouring islands. Back to the sea, we explore the Tuscan Archipelago in all its diversity at the height of Florence, followed by the Egadi Islands, located in the west of Sicily. We conclude the trip on the island of Pantelleria. On hikes and boat trips, we discover the geographical and ecological characteristics of each archipelago and island.

What's on Disney+ in May

Here's everything coming to Disney+ on May, including the return of Ewan McGregor as Obi Wan Kenobi.

27 May

Obi-Wan Kenobi

Disney+ Original Series

Season 1 | 2 Episode Premiere

Obi-Wan Kenobi” begins 10 years after the dramatic events of “Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith” where Obi-Wan Kenobi faced his greatest defeat—the downfall and corruption of his best friend and Jedi apprentice, Anakin Skywalker, who turned to the dark side as evil Sith Lord Darth Vader.

31 May

Pistol

Original Series

Series Premiere - All Episodes

Based on Jones’ memoir, the series tells the story of a band of spotty, noisy, working-class kids with “no future,” who shook the boring, corrupt Establishment to its core, threatened to bring down the government and changed music and culture forever.

20 May

Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers

Disney+ Original

Premiere

Chip and Dale are living amongst cartoons and humans in modern-day Los Angeles, but their lives are quite different now. It has been decades since their successful television series was cancelled, and the former pals have gone their separate ways, so when a former cast mate mysteriously disappears, they must take on their Rescue Rangers detective personas to save their friend.

20 May

The Valet

STAR Original

Premiere

In “The Valet,” world famous movie star, Olivia (Samara Weaving) faces a PR disaster when a paparazzi snaps a photo of her with her married lover, Vincent (Max Greenfield). The hard-working valet Antonio (Eugenio Derbez) accidentally appears in the same photo and is enlisted to pose as Olivia’s new boyfriend as a cover up. This ruse with Olivia thrusts Antonio into the spotlight and unexpected chaos. In this fish out of water romantic comedy, two worlds and cultures collide as both Olivia and Antonio start to see themselves more clearly than ever before

13 May

Sneakerella

Disney+ Original

Premiere

In this high-energy, music-driven “Cinderella” story - El, an aspiring sneaker designer from Queens, works as a stock boy in a shoe store and hides his talent. Sparks fly after a chance encounter with Kira King, a Manhattan Princess Charming of sorts. With a nudge from his best friend and a sprinkle of magic, El finds the courage to lace up and dream big.

Also in May…

4 May

Disney+ Original

Disney Gallery: Star Wars: The Book of Boba Fett

Series

9-1-1: Lone Star - Season 2

Better Things - Season 5

Promised Land - Season 1

The Strain - Season 1-4

6 May

Movies

Rules Don't Apply

Shutter

Bohemian Rhapsody

11 May

Disney+ Original

The Quest - Season 1

Marvel Studios: Assembled - The Making of Moon Knight

Series

Africa's Deadliest - Season 7

The League - Season 1-7

Trafficked with Mariana Van Zeller - Season 2

13 May

Movies

The Revenant

Documentaries

Inside North Korea: The Cyber State

Inside North Korea: The Next Leader

Thailand's Wild Cats

18 May

Disney+ Original

The Wonderful Winter of Mickey Mouse

Movies

The Client

JFK

Series

9-1-1 - Season 4

Apocalypse: Hitler Takes on the East: Season 1

Chain of Command: Season 1

Code Black: Season 1-3

Terriers: Season 1

20 May

Series

Baymax & Mochi (Shorts) - Season 1

Mickey Mouse Squad: La Batalla Por El Zasca - Season 1

November Story - Season 1

OK Computer - Season 1

25 May

Series

Unknown Europe - Season 1

27 May

Disney+ Original

We Feed People

Series

Parched: Season 1

The Kardashians New episodes weekly on Thursday

Moon Knight Season 1 New episodes weekly on Wednesday, finale 4 May

How I Met Your Father Season 1 Finale 4 May

Grey's Anatomy Season 18 New episodes weekly on Wednesday from 11 May

This is Us Season 6 New episodes weekly on Thursday

Bob's Burgers Season 12 New episodes weekly on Wednesday from 11 May

Big Sky Season 2 New episodes weekly on Wednesday, finale 25 May

The Hardy Boys Season 2 New episodes weekly on Wednesday

Station 19 Season 5 New episodes weekly on Wednesday

Men on a Mission Season 1 Finale 4 May

Spidey and His Amazing Friends Season 1 New episode 11 May

Weird West: PS5 Review 

Developed by WolfEye Studios
Published by Devolver Digital
Platform: PS5

If you've ever thought that what the Wild West needed was a touch of the supernatural, then you'll be positively frothing at the mouth for anthology RPG Weird West.

A top-down game with some odder elements, Weird West puts you into the body of an amnesiac protagonist and then drops you into a world where you have no clue what's going on - so consequently, as the character finds out, so do you. But as if that wasn't enough, through five different stories, you change lead and get different perspectives on the world the developers have created.

A basic artwork covers the game as you move from area to area, encountering townsfolk of the wild west world, and uncovering missions on the side, confrontations and the mysteries within.

From gunslinging combat, which is controlled by twin sticks, and which takes a little time to master, to the ability to throw oil lamps at enemies or within the environment, Weird West uses physics in its gameplay to make it feel more realistic. Experimentation is part of the key of Weird West's gameplay, and given that bullets or weapons aren't easily to hand, a sense of environmental awareness makes survival a lot easier.

Stealth may be the key to getting through Weird West's intricacies and occasional narrative weirdness, but if you give yourself into the rhythms of Weird West, the pleasures of this wild west set of stories may just surprise you.

A review code was provided by the publisher for the purposes of this review.

What's on in Netflix in May 2022

Another month means another raft of content for Netflix in May 2022.

This month Netflix brings you some of the most anticipated shows fans have been waiting for. Let’s start by travelling back to the 1980s and The Upside Down… 

That’s right! Volume 1 of the long awaited Stranger Things 4 is landing on Netflix this month. With our favourite group of friends now grown up, the complexities of high school haven't made things any easier. In this most vulnerable time, a new and horrifying supernatural threat surfaces, presenting a gruesome mystery. If solved, will this finally put an end to the horrors of The Upside Down?

 Joining us in a bit of time travel is Rebel Wilson in Senior Year. Follow the story of a high school cheerleader who wakes up from being in a coma for 20 years! Now she's 37, newly awake and ready to live out her high school dream: becoming prom queen. 

We will also see the return of some fan favourites including the reality social experiment, The Circle Season 4,  the Emmy-winning animated anthology series, Love, Death & Robots Volume 3 and the captivating thriller show, Who Killed Sara? Season 3. 

Action and adventure fans can enjoy The Suicide Squad when it lands on service; a dysfunctional squad of supervillains infiltrate a remote island on a mission to destroy a secret government experiment. 

ORIGINAL SERIES

The Circle: Season 4 (Rolling episodes from 04/05/2022)

Episodes 1-4 (04/05/2022)

Episodes  5-8 (11/04/2022)

Episodes 9-12 (18/05/2022) 

Episode 13 (25/05/2022)

They're chatty. They're shady. They're secretly famous. They're this season's players — and all bets are off as they compete for the ultimate prize.

Summertime: Season 3 (04/05/2022)

Another summer, another string of love triangles as the group navigates their passions and tests the boundaries of friendship.

El marginal: Season 5 (04/05/2022)

In this final season, Miguel seeks redemption behind bars, Diosito struggles in the outside world, and a cult threatens to become Puente Viejo's demise.

The Pentaverate (05/05/2022)

After influencing global events for centuries, a secret society faces a dangerous threat from within. Can a Canadian reporter save them — and the world?

Clark (05/05/2022)

This is the unbelievable story of Clark Olofsson, the controversial criminal who inspired the term "Stockholm syndrome." Based on his truths and lies.

Blood Sisters (05/05/2022)

Bound by a dangerous secret, best friends Sarah and Kemi are forced to go on the run after a wealthy groom disappears during his engagement party.

Welcome to Eden (06/05/2022)

A group of young adults attend a party on a remote island, but the supposed paradise they find waiting for them is anything but.

The Sound of Magic (06/05/2022)

A magician living in an abandoned theme park makes troubles disappear, and hope reappear, for a disenchanted teen enduring harsh realities.

Workin' Moms: Season 6 (10/05/2022)

Work-life balance?!? What's that? Kate, Anne, Jenny, Sloane and Val are clocking in overtime handling big problems at the office and at home.

Brotherhood: Season 2 (11/05/2022)

In the aftermath of a deadly riot, Edson and Cristina grapple with new enemies and threats. But as the stakes rise, their bond is tested.

42 Days of Darkness (11/05/2022)

A woman leads a frantic search to find her missing sister in a town in Chile amid a media storm and the police investigation. Inspired by a true case.

Savage Beauty (12/05/2022)

Seeking revenge for her tragic past, a mysterious woman embeds herself in a powerful family who possess a global beauty empire — and dark secrets.

The Life and Movies of Erşan Kuneri (13/05/2022)

Reexamining his own legacy, a renowned figure in erotic cinema decides to branch out and make movies in other genres, from sci-fi to medieval action.

The Lincoln Lawyer (13/05/2022)

An iconoclastic idealist runs his law practice out of the back of his Lincoln in this series based on Michael Connelly's bestselling novels.

Bling Empire: Season 2 (13/05/2022)

Los Angeles’s beloved uber-rich Asians are back with even more luxury, glamour and crazy. This season, a romance between Kevin and Kim percolates, Cherie and Jessey’s relationship is questioned, and as Kane and Kevin’s best bud friendship is tested, Beverly Hills’s rivaling queens, Christine and Anna, put a new twist on the art of social warfare. But through it all, the one thing these friends hold dearest to their hearts is their love for each other…and of course, impeccable style.

New Heights (13/05/2022)

When business consultant Michi Wyss inherits his late father’s troubled farm he must confront his rural past — and his family’s future.

The Future Diary: Season 2 (Rolling episodes from 17/05/2022)

Episodes 1-4 (17/05/2022)

Episodes 5-6 (24/05/2022)

Episodes 7-9 (31/05/2022)

A brand-new love story unfolds when a young office worker in Tokyo finds herself caught between a charming bartender and a handsome medical student.

Who Killed Sara?: Season 3 (18/05/2022)

In this final season, as enemies become allies and the truth is finally exposed, Álex becomes fixated on solving a new enigma: What happened to Sara?

Love on the Spectrum U.S. (18/05/2022)

Following the success of the multi-award winning Australian series, this insightful and warmhearted US based docu-series follows autistic people as they navigate the world of dating and relationships.

Insiders: Season 2 (Rolling episodes from 19/05/2022)

Episodes 1-3 (19/05/2022)

Episodes 4-7 (26/05/2022)

Ten new candidates sign up for a casting call for a reality show, unaware the cameras have already started rolling. Let the mind games begin — again.

Love, Death & Robots: Volume 3 (20/05/2022)

Uncanny worlds, violent delights and twisted kicks await in the third volume of the Emmy-winning animated anthology from Tim Miller and David Fincher.

Wrong Side of the Tracks (20/05/2022)

A war veteran angry at the drug dealers and troublemakers infiltrating his neighborhood sets out to reform his wayward teenage granddaughter.

Somebody Feed Phil: Season 5 (25/05/2022)

In a new season of his reality series, "Everybody Loves Raymond" creator Phil Rosenthal travels the globe to take in local cuisine and culture of new destinations, including Oaxaca, Maine, Helsinki, Portland and Madrid.

Stranger Things 4: Volume 1 (27/05/2022)

Darkness returns to Hawkins just in time for spring break, triggering fresh terror, disturbing memories — and the threat of war.

Welcome to Wedding Hell (Coming Soon)

A marriage proposal is supposed to be a happy ending. But for one couple, it becomes the beginning of an uphill struggle over wedding preparations.

NETFLIX FILM

40 Years Young (04/05/2022)

After learning a bitter truth, a chef joins his best friend and restaurant partner in a culinary competition in Cancún to reignite his zest for life.

Thar (06/05/2022)

A veteran cop sees the chance to prove himself when murder and a stranger's grisly torture plot shake the walls of a sleepy desert town.

The Takedown (06/05/2022)

Forced to reteam after a decade, two mismatched cops investigate a murder in a divided French town, where a wider conspiracy looms.

Along for the Ride (06/05/2022)

The summer before college, studious Auden meets mysterious Eli, and — on nightly quests — he helps her experience the carefree teen life she was missing.

Marmaduke (06/05/2022)

Messy and mischievous Marmaduke has a big heart but can't stay out of trouble! Does he have what it takes to shine in the swanky dog show world?

The Getaway King (11/05/2022)

A folk-hero bandit known for his many prison breaks considers a fresh life path when he gets a new girlfriend. Based on the life of Zdzisław Najmrodzki.

Senior Year (13/05/2022)

A cheerleading stunt gone wrong landed her in a 20-year coma. Now she's 37, newly awake and ready to live out her high school dream: becoming prom queen.

The Perfect Family (18/05/2022)

At first, Lucía is taken aback by her son's girlfriend's eclectic family, but little does she know the impact they'll have on her prim and proper life.

Toscana (18/05/2022)

When a Danish chef travels to Tuscany to sell his father's business, he meets a local woman who inspires him to rethink his approach to life and love. 

A Perfect Pairing (19/05/2022)

To land a major client, a hard-driving LA wine-company exec (Victoria Justice) travels to an Australian sheep station, where she ends up working as a ranch hand and sparking with a rugged local (Adam Demos).

F*ck Love Too (20/05/2022)

Love triangles and lingering doubts put relationships to the test as Lisa faces a difficult choice, Jack lands in a crisis and Bo questions her marriage.

Godspeed (23/05/2022)

An ex-army captain travels to Dalyan to stop his friend's beloved from marrying another man, but grief and trauma from a combat tragedy mar his journey.

Larva Pendant (25/05/2022)

When Yellow gets trapped by a mean and mischievous cat Red rushes (noisily) to his rescue.

NETFLIX COMEDY SPECIALS

Christina P: Mom Genes (08/05/2022)

Christina P is back and better than ever in her new Netflix comedy special Mom Genes. No detail is too intimate as Christina hilariously shares the trials and tribulations of motherhood, marriage, and everything in between. Filmed at the Gramercy Theatre in New York City, Christina P: Mom Genes premieres globally on Netflix this Mother’s Day, May 8th, 2022.

Rodrigo Sant’Anna: I've Arrived (19/05/2022)

A new comedy special from Rodrigo Sant’Anna.

NETFLIX DOCUMENTARIES 

Hold Your Breath: The Ice Dive (03/05/2022)

Follow free diver Johanna Nordblad in this documentary as she attempts to break the world record for distance traveled under ice with one breath.

Meltdown: Three Mile Island (04/05/2022)

From the acclaimed producers of Erin Brockovich and Academy Award-nominated® director Kief Davidson (The Ivory Game) comes a gripping four-part documentary series that tells the story of ordinary people having the courage to do extraordinary things. Meltdown tackles the near catastrophe at Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania through the lens of chief engineer and whistleblower, Richard Parks, as well as the community it impacted. Dramatic reenactments, archival footage, never-before-seen home video, and in-depth interviews bring viewers into the worst nuclear incident in U.S. history.

Wild Babies (05/05/2022)

Follow the adventures of baby lions, elephants, penguins, pangolins and more as they learn to navigate the highs and lows of life in the wild.

Our Father (11/05/2022)

After a woman's at-home DNA test reveals multiple half-siblings, she discovers a shocking scheme involving donor sperm and a popular fertility doctor.

Cyber Hell: Exposing an Internet Horror (18/05/2022)

Anonymous and exploitative, a network of online chat rooms ran rampant with sex crimes. The hunt to take down its operators required guts and tenacity.

The G Word with Adam Conover (19/05/2022)

The G Word with Adam Conover is a hybrid comedy-documentary series that pulls back the curtain on the surprising ways the US government impacts our everyday lives, from the mundane to the life changing. With his signature blend of irreverence and insight, Conover explores the government’s triumphs, failures, and what we might be able to do to change it. Based on The Fifth Risk: Undoing Democracy by best-selling author Michael Lewis (The Big Short, Moneyball), The G Word with Adam Conover is produced by Higher Ground alongside Adam Conover, Jon Cohen, and Jon Wolf of Fair Point.

The Photographer: Murder in Pinamar (19/05/2022)

This documentary examines the murder of photojournalist José Luis Cabezas, a crime that shook Argentina and exposed a political and financial conspiracy.

NETFLIX KIDS & FAMILY

Octonauts: Above & Beyond: Season 2 (02/05/2022)

Captain Barnacles, Kwazii and crew discover new environments and protect more critter friends as they hop around the globe on exciting missions.

The Boss Baby: Back in the Crib (19/05/2022)

Picking up where "The Boss Baby: Family Business" left off, adult Ted Templeton Jr. uses Tina’s magical formula to turn himself back into the Boss Baby. But returning to BabyCorp is anything but child’s play.

Sea of Love (23/05/2022)

Bruda and his sea animal friends go on mini-adventures in the ocean and discover that everyday moments are filled with bits of magic.

My Little Pony: Make Your Mark (26/05/2022)

When Zipp realizes that the power of the crystals are fading, she goes on a mission to figure out why.

Mighty Little Bheem: I Love Taj Mahal (30/05/2022)

On a trip to the beautiful Taj Mahal, Bheem gets distracted trying to return a little girl's lost teddy bear before someone steals it!

NETFLIX  ANIME

Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 Sustainable War (09/05/2022)

In the year 2045, Motoko Kusanagi and Section 9 return to fight a dangerous new threat in this feature-length recut of the first season of "SAC_2045."

Vampire in the Garden (16/05/2022)

Though mortal enemies, a human girl and a vampire queen set out in search of the paradise where humans and vampires once coexisted in peace.

Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045: Season 2 (23/05/2022)

In the year 2045, cybernetic mercenary Motoko Kusanagi returns to Section 9 to face a dangerous new threat: the posthumans.

NETFLIX GAMES

Townsmen - A Kingdom Rebuilt (Coming Soon)

Build a medieval city, make smart financial decisions and do whatever it takes to keep your people happy. Who knew running a kingdom was so tough?

Dragon Up (Coming Soon)

Hatch and collect rare dragons — then help them revive their magic in this colourful and beautifully animated idle adventure game.

Moonlighter (Coming Soon)

By day, manage a shop in an idyllic village. By night, explore dungeons, slay monsters and unlock mysteries in this best-of-both-worlds adventure.

Exploding Kittens - The Game (Coming Soon)

Bring the catnip. Draw as many cards as you can, and do your best to dodge — or defuse — fatal felines. Or else, boom goes the dynamite!

LICENSED HIGHLIGHTS

Star Trek Beyond (02/05/2022)

After an alien seeking revenge on Starfleet destroys the Enterprise and maroons its crew on a lost planet, Capt. Kirk must prevent another attack.

The Suicide Squad (03/05/2022)

A dysfunctional squad of supervillains infiltrates a remote island on a mission to destroy a secret government experiment.

The Cup (12/05/2022)

When his brother suffers a fatal fall seven days before Australia's prestigious Melbourne Cup, a young jockey gives everything he has to make history.

The Nightingale (15/05/2022)

An imprisoned Irish woman teams up with an Indigenous tracker in 19th-century Tasmania to exact revenge on a sadistic British lieutenant and his troops.

Reminiscence (17/05/2022)

A private investigator who specializes in reconnecting people with lost memories stumbles into a conspiracy when he takes on a mysterious client.

The Pentaverate

Coming to Netflix: May 5th

Mike Myers as a Canadian journalist embroiled in a deep conspiracy plot.

Along for the Ride 

Coming to Netflix: May 6th

Produced by Screen Arcade, this new romance teen movie stars Emma Pasarow, Andie MacDowell, Dermot Mulroney, and Kate Bosworth, and is based on the book by Sarah Dessen about two teens enjoying what summer they have left together before they head out to college.

Senior Year

Coming to Netflix: May 13th

Rebel Wilson in a new comedy.

“After a cheerleader falls off a pyramid and into a 20 year coma, she wakes up as a 37-year-old woman, ready to return to high school, regain her status and claim the prom queen crown that eluded her.”

The Lincoln Lawyer (Season 1)

Coming to Netflix: May 13th

The new series adaptation The Lincoln Lawyer which has already seen a major adaptation in the form of the Matthew McConaughey movie.

The new series stars Neve Campbell, Christopher Gorham, and Jazz Raycole.

The Boss Baby: Back in the Crib (Season 1)

Coming to Netflix: May 19th

“Following the events of ‘The Boss Baby: Family Business’ Theodore Templeton is framed for embezzlement and forced to revert back to his old Boss Baby self and crash with his brother Tim and his two nieces, brainy big kid Tabitha and fellow Baby Corp employee Tina. Together, Boss Baby and Tina co-lead a new Field Team fighting to increase Baby Love while keeping a new group of arch-nemeses – The Uncuddleables – from destroying Baby Corp itself.”

My Little Pony: Make Your Mark (2022)

Coming to Netflix: May 26th

Stranger Things (Season 4 – Volume 1)

Coming to Netflix: May 27th

After nearly three years of waiting, we’re finally heading back to Hawkins (among other destinations) for a supersized fourth season of Stranger Things that kicks off at the end of May 2022.

The first batch of episodes will arrive on May 27th with the remaining episodes then coming on July 1st.

Other English Language Netflix Originals Coming in May 2022

Octonauts: Above & Beyond (Season 2) – Kids animated series – May 2nd

Blood Sisters (Season 1) – African drama series – May 3rd

The Circle (Season 4) – Reality series – May 4th (new episodes weekly)

Wild Babies (Season 1) – Nature docuseries – May 5th

Somebody Feed Phil (Season 5) – Food docu-series – May 25th

Non-English Language Netflix Originals Coming in May 2022

Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 (Season 2)

Coming to Netflix: May TBD

Language: Japanese

Clark (Limited Series)

Coming to Netflix: May 5th

Language: Swedish

Bill Skarsgård will headline this new Swedish series about a notorious bank robber Clark Olofsson who largely is associated with the phrase “The Stockholm syndrome”.

The Sound of Magic

Coming to Netflix: May 6th

Language: Korean

“A touching drama about Yoon Ah-yi, a girl who had to grow up too fast, and Rieul, a mysterious magician who — although grown up — wants to remain as a kid.”

The Takedown

Coming to Netflix: May 6th

Language: French

The movie, directed by Louis Leterrier, is about two cops with very different style and sees them travel across France for a brand new case.

Vampire in the Garden (Season 1)

Coming to Netflix: May 16th

Language: Japanese

Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 (Season 2)

Coming to Netflix: May 23rd

Language: Japanese

Ghost in the Shell SAC 2045

Other Netflix Originals Coming in May 2022

El Marginal (Season 5) – Argentinian thriller series – May 4th

Summertime (Season 3) – Italian romance series – May 4th

Welcome to Eden (Season 1) – Spanish-language sci-fi series – May 6th

42 Days of Darkness (Season 1) – Spanish-language crime thriller series – May 11th

The Future Diary (Season 2) – Japanese reality series – May 17th

The Photographer: Murder in Pinamar – Argentinian documentary – May 19th