There’s a lot of content to stream on Netflix. It’s ever-present, ever-ready, and everything you need no matter what genre you’re looking for. But Netflix’s streaming catalogue is also ever-changing with new titles and originals coming and going month to month. We keep track of the monthlycomingsandgoings, but we wanted to focus our recommendations a bit,just like we did for September.
We didn’t just rehash Netflix original content; this list comprises new movies that were added to Netflix in October 2019, ones we’ve seen, ones we’ve loved, and ones that make us laugh, cry, or hide under the covers. Check out a sweet sampling of streaming tricks and treats below.
For even more Netflix recommendations, here’s a look at our other handy guides:
In the Tall Grass
Director:Vincenzo Natali
Writers:Vincenzo Natali, Stephen King & Joe Hill (novella)
Cast:Laysla De Oliveira, Avery Whitted, Patrick Wilson, Will Buie Jr., Harrison Gilbertson
Netflix has tapped into the well that isStephen Kingin a big way. But with the adaptation ofIn the Tall Grass, they’ve also got a handle on the next generation of horror authors withJoe Hill. The premise is simple: Passersby are called into a vast field of tall grass by people pleading for help, only to be unable to find their way back out again. But since this is a King & Son joint, abject horror obviously waits for them among the greenery…
In her reviewof the new Netflix adaptation, our ownHaleigh Foutchcalled the feature film “ambitious, imaginative, and artfully presented, taking King and Hill’s contained short and transforming it to a more expansive, sometimes confounding universe of horrors.In the Tall Grassdoesn’t always work, but when it does, it’s compelling and gorgeous, and yet another film on the Netflix roster I wish more people had an opportunity to see in theaters.” That’s more than enough reason to add it to your watch-list today.
Directed by:Wes Craven
Written by:Kevin Williamson
Cast:Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, Jerry O’Connell, Timothy Olyphant, Liev Schreiber, Laurie Metcalf, Jamie Kennedy, and Sarah Michelle Gellar
Horror sequels are always hit or miss, butScream 2falls squarely into the former category—especially considering expectations.Screamwas a bona fide phenomenon, so in following up their meta story of a slasher obsessed with scary movies,Wes CravenandKevin Williamsondrew inspiration from horror movie franchises themselves. The result is another whip smart slasher, this time set against the backdrop of college asNeve Campbell’s Sidney Prescott is trying to move on from Woodsboro. But the past always has a habit of catching up, and this whodunit has a clever twist that ties directly into the roots of the original film—even if Williamson had to change the killer’s identity during production when the top secret script was leaked online. Fun and scary in equal measure,Scream 2is a winner. –Adam Chitwood
Director:Michael Bay
Writers:George Gallo, Michael Barrie, Jim Mulholland, Doug Richardson
Cast:Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Joe Pantoliano, Téa Leoni, Theresa Randle, Tchéky Karyo
Bad Boys. [Insert “Whatcha gonna do?” joke here] With the third installment in theBadBoysfranchise set to kick off 2020 right, now’s a great time to go back to where it all began with this 1995 action-comedy classic. The title team of Smith’s Mike Lowrey and Lawrence’s Marcus Burnett took theOdd Couplekind of buddy cop comedy that had gained a bit of a resurgence with 80s franchises likeLethal Weaponand48 Hrs.and gave it that hyperactive 90s flair thanks to Bay’s kinetic brand of filmmaking. Smith and Lawrence were riding high on TV fame, and though they’d dabbled in feature films a bit to that point,Bad Boyslaunched them into the stratosphere. It’s a wild ride and a perfect watch any time.
Director:Paul Haggis
Writers:Paul Haggis, Bobby Moresco
Cast:Don Cheadle, Sandra Bullock, Thandie Newton, Matt Dillon, Tony Danza, Keith David, Loretta Devine, Jennifer Esposito, William Fichtner, Brendan Fraser, Terrence Howard, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Michael Peña, Ryan Phillippe
Crashis probably still making people angry. The 2004 flick landed three Oscar wins including Best Picture, beating out other pictures you might have heard of likeBrokeback Mountain;Capote;Good Night, and Good Luck; andMunich. Yeah, some folks are still sore about it 15 years later, but the good news is that you can watch the controversial award-winner on Netflix now.
I’m actually curious to see how this movie’s plot plays out today. Inspired by a real-life carjacking of Haggis in the early 90s, the movie features an ensemble cast representing various demographics, an important point considering that the story hinges on racial tensions in Los Angeles. The interweaving narrative links a number of disparate characters together in a variety of ways, some that lean into tropes and stereotypes and some that defy them, ultimately leaving viewers with a lot to think about if not a lot to feel particularly good about.Crashis worth a watch for the cinephiles out there to complete your collection, but it’s probably ripe for a new interpretation in this modern, more socially conscious era.
Trainspotting
Director:Danny Boyle
Writers:Irvine Welsh (novel), John Hodge (screenplay)
Cast:Ewan McGregor, Ewen Bremner, Jonny Lee Miller, Kevin McKidd, Robert Carlyle, Kelly Macdonald, Peter Mullan
Trainspottingis easily one of the best movies ever made. That should be enough to get you to watch it this weekend. It wasn’t Danny Boyle’s feature debut but it certainly was the title that put him on worldwide radar of filmmaking talent. It marked the second collaboration for Boyle and John Hodge, a feat they’d repeat forT2 Trainspottingin 2017. Another fruit of that collaborative effort? The then-rising talent ofEwanMcGregor, who starred in their 1994 filmShallow Gravebefore taking on the role of Renton. The rest is history.
Trainspottingexplores the drug scene at the heart of Edinburgh and one man’s attempt to escape its many vices. A heady trip through the criminal underworld and all its excesses, viewers follow along as Renton tries to kick his heroin habit with the help (and hindrance) of his fellow addict pals. It’s a long strange trip into the depths of drug use and dealing, to the heights of sobriety and responsibility–or are those the other way around?–and back again. It asks a lot of existential questions (along with some questionable escapades) about life, the state of the cities they dwell in, and the choices we make throughout our lives. It’s also completely bonkers. Give this one a watch whether it’s your first time or your fiftieth.
