Accident

Thriller. With Stephanie Shield, Roxane Hayward and Tyrone Keogh. 16LV. Director: Dan Tondowski. Two American teenagers tell their parents they’re taking the last bus out of town to attend a music festival but they’re really meeting friends. When their ride doesn’t show up, Caroline (Hayward) and Jess (Shield) find themselves stranded on the side of the road.

Then two men (Keogh and Keenan Arrison) offer them a lift in their muscle car. Caroline jumps at the chance while Jess reluctantly agrees.

A confrontation causes the driver to

THE PUNISHER SEASON 1

Vigilante Frank Castle, also known as The Punisher, has been the subject of three movies of varying quality, but the best screen adaptation of this Marvel Comics anti-hero has been his supporting role in season 2 of Daredevil on Netflix.

Jon Bernthal reprises the role of Frank, now the star of his own 13-part series set after the events of Daredevil. The former Marine is still on his vengeance-fuelled mission to punish his family’s killers when he becomes entangled in a conspiracy linked to his past. lose control and what started out as a joyride for the guys turns into the girls’ worst nightmare as they find themselves having to fight to stay alive.

This French-South African co-production was shot locally, with the Western Cape standing in for California.

At first the movie feels like a somewhat generic thriller, but in his directorial debut Tondowski builds up tension by starting off slowly before speeding towards a clever twist.

His creative use of sound, design and lighting also elevates the material while the all-South African cast give sterling performances.

With vivid cinematography this is a movie worth seeing.

THE CROWN SEASON 2

Season 1 of this classy British production about the reign of Queen Elizabeth II won several awards, including two Golden Globes and three Emmys. It depicted events from the wedding of Elizabeth (Claire Foy) and Prince Philip (Matt Smith) in 1947 until 1955 when she denied her sister, Princess Margaret (Vanessa Kirby), permission to marry Air Force Captain Peter Townsend (Ben Miles).

Season 2 opens with the Suez crisis of 1956. During this turmoil Elizabeth also has to handle rumours of Philip’s infidelity. Expect another dose of elegant period drama.