Revving up for more Riverdale
Riverdale, Season Three First episode available Thursday, then weekly episodes
The town of Riverdale has been through a lot over the show’s past two seasons: the death of Jason Blossom at the hands of his own father, the Black Hood frightening everyone, all the intrigue with the Southside Serpents, and Hiram Lodge’s corruption.
So much for the quiet little town with friendly people that Jughead described at the beginning of season one. It appears that season three will be just as suspenseful and action-packed, only this time, it’s less about serial killers and more about a “crisis” that takes over the entire town.
What that crisis is, exactly, has remained deliberately ambiguous.
The series writer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa has already tweeted a photo of Archie in handcuffs and has already set the internet ablaze. The new villain of the series is the Gargoyle King, which resembles a monster. One plot arc of season three will involve a series of ritualistic crimes taking place in the area, and it’s likely this villain has something to do with that.
Unlike many series, Netflix still doles this teen pulp out in weekly doses and that seems to inflame interest even more.
The Haunting Of Hill House 10 episodes
This is an adaptation of the 1959 novel of the same name by Shirley Jackson, which is widely considered one of the most important horror novels in history, a meditation on gender roles in the 1950s, and a drama about the standards imposed on women and the limitations of their sanity under duress.
This 10-episode adaptation doesn’t stay entirely faithful to the source material but uses many of Jackson’s own lines, which come now from an unseen narrator — Steven Crain (Michiel Huisman).
The show moves the story to the modern day and instead of following the novel’s plot — about the paranormal investigation of a well-established haunted house — the series is a family tale, about an unfortunate lineage marred permanently by a house that provokes a number of pre-existing spiritual ailments. It’s a delight for horror fans and a timely release with Halloween just a few weeks away.
The Twilight Sagas: New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn, parts one and two Available Thursday
Whether you were a die-hard “TwiHeart” or perhaps you simply dipped in and out of the films for your recommended daily dose of Robert Pattinson, this noughties movie franchise left its mark on the teenage years of a generation.
We can argue that few, if any, of the entries were any good. We can argue their morality and/or philosophy and debate what (mixed) messages the core audience took from the series as a whole. But one cannot deny the cultural impact of the series.
It all started innocently — the Twilight books sold spectacularly and Hollywood spotted its chance. Catherine Hardwicke, who had form in alternative teen-angst movies thanks to her acclaimed Thirteen, was hired to direct.
It was aimed squarely at young female fans and was expected to do OK. Instead it turned into a box office supernova, with fans watching each instalment over and over again — all of which makes it perfect for Netflix.
Magic Mike (2012) Available now
There’s a lot more than oiled biceps and vigorous thrusting to Steven Soderbergh’s surprisingly sweet-natured tale of Florida male strippers, though there is more than enough of both to satisfy its obvious target audience of women and gay men.
Adam (Alex Pettyfer) is a naive 19-year-old introduced to the steamy world of stripping by superstar Mike (Channing Tatum).
But while Adam sees glamour, women and dollars, 30-something Mike recognises the shallowness of this manly burlesque, and, aided by Adam’s sister Brooke, begins to reassess his life. Magic Mike is beautifully shot and skilfully acted, and Tatum reveals not only legs smooth enough to make your average baby green with envy, but also an almost irresistible screen presence.