It is time for a round up of new films that I have seen on Netflix this month.
Fear Street: Prom Queen
After three films in the Fear Street series getting released in 2021 and nothing since, I assumed it was a self-contained trilogy. So, I was surprised to see a fourth film now, but there is plenty of more source material from author R.L. Stine. The first three were solid Netflix fayre without being outstanding, so I was expecting more of the same. As students at Shadyside High are preparing for the 1988 prom, the “It Girls” are fighting to get support to be voted Prom Queen. On the night of the prom, the candidates begin to be killed one by one. A good challenge for any viewer would be to write down every US high school/prom cliché and tick them off as they all inevitably appear. Not as good as 1980’s Prom Night but the kill scenes are well enough staged and the false ending works well.
Rating: 6 out of 10
A Widow’s Game
When Antonio Navarro Cerdán is stabbed to death in a Valencia, his widow, Maje (Ivana Baquero) and her lover Salva Rodrigo (Tristán Ulloa) are accused of the crime. This is based on a 2017 true story and suffers because the outcome is never in doubt. It works reasonably well as a procedural and Carmen Machi is good as the lead detective.
Rating: 5.5 out of 10
Tyler Perry’s Straw
Janiyah (Taraji P Henson) is a single mother who’s world unravels in chaos as her day goes from bad to worse to catastrophic as she struggles to care for her ill daughter. Perry generally churns out terrible glossy thrillers, so I had hopes that this seemingly gritty affair would be better than his usual output. It starts pretty well as Janivah’s struggles feel very realistic in modern day America. But when a robbery of the store where she works goes wrong, the story takes a turn for the ridiculous. Henson is excellent throughout in a thoroughly committed performance but the script is pretty dire, as is Teyana Taylor as an unbelievable detective.
Rating: 3.5 out of 10
Grenfell Uncovered
This is a documentary that traces the events, decisions and systemic failures that led to the devastating 2017 fire in London’s Grenfell Tower. It uses evidence from the public inquiry, investigative journalism and first hand testimony from survivors and the grieving. This is an extremely hard and moving watch. The failure to bring those responsible to justice is very reminiscent of Hillsborough and no doubt the same thing will happen with the next disaster in this country, as the lives of ordinary people are still callously disregarded by the powerful.
It is difficult to decide who comes off worst. Old Etonian Prime Minister David Cameron with his zeal to slash safety regulations, his hatchet man Eric Pickles who arrogantly seems affronted to be at the enquiry afterwards or senior civil servant, Brian Martin, who dismissed safety concerns with the comment “show me the bodies”. Then Prime Minister Theresa May who refused to meet the families of victims after the disaster at least has the courage to appear, unlike the previously mentioned criminals, but she is as evasive and weaselly as ever. Sobering stuff.
Rating: 8.5 out of 10
Off Track 2
In this sequel to 2022’s Off Track, Katia Winter returns as Lisa who is hesitating over marrying her boyfriend. Her brother, Daniel (Fredrik Hallgren) is on the verge of divorce and they team up again, along with Daniel’s wife, for another challenge, this time the Vätternrundan bike race. My main problem with Off Track was that too little time was spent on the competition itself and that is repeated here. It was nice to see the characters again though.
Rating: 5.5 out of 10