Best new films on streaming – quick links
The Ugly Stepsister (17 November) – Shudder
- Director: Emilie Blichfeldt
- Genre: Horror
- Cast: Lea Myren, Thea Sofie, Loch Næss, Ane Dahl Torp, Flo Fagerli
- Runtime: 109 minutes
A sinister twist on the classic Cinderella story, The Ugly Stepsister follows Elvira as she prepares to earn the prince’s affection at any cost. In a kingdom where beauty is a brutal business, Elvira will compete with the beautiful and enchanting Agnes to become the belle of the ball. Watch the trailer.
Thoughts & Prayers (19 November) – HBO Max
- Director: Zackary Canepari, Jessica Dimmock
- Genre: Documentary
This arresting yet sobering feature documentary captures the current landscape of America’s school safety rituals, where classrooms double as tactical training grounds, bullet-proof backpacks become armour and conferences showcase the latest survival gadgets for a nation where mass shootings have become a part of everyday life.
Equal parts absurd and unsettlingly real, the film traces the USD$3 billion active shooter preparedness industry and its effect on students and educators, raising important questions. What are the unintended consequences of intense preparations? How does a focus on combatting violence potentially obscure efforts to treat the causes of gun violence and seek prevention? Watch the trailer.
The Follies (20 November) – Netflix
- Director: Rodrigo GarcÃa
- Genre: Drama
- Cast: Naian González Norvind, Adriana Barraza, Ilse Salas, Cassandra Ciangherotti
- Runtime: 121 minutes
Six women are bonded by a shared ‘friend’ – madness. It visits them all, prompting them to distill reality, make bold decisions and transform their lives. Watch the trailer.
The Family Plan 2 (21 November) – Apple TV
- Director: Simon Cellan Jones
- Genre: Action, Comedy
- Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Michelle Monaghan, Kit Harington
- Runtime: 106 minutes
Dan plans the perfect vacation during the Holiday season for his wife Jessica and their kids to celebrate overseas – until a mysterious figure from his past shows up with unfinished business. An international game of cat-and-mouse ensues as Dan and his family battle, bicker and bond their way through a series of bank heists, holiday hijinks and car chases amid scenic European terrain. Watch the trailer.
Novocaine No Pain (21 November) – Binge, Paramount+
- Director: Dan Berk, Robert Olsen
- Genre: Comedy
- Cast: Jack Quaid, Amber Midthunder
- Runtime: 110 minutes
Nathan Caine (Jack Quaid) has lived a quiet life with a rare genetic disorder that makes him unable to feel any physical pain. When the girl of his dreams, Sherry (Amber Midthunder), is taken hostage in a daring bank heist, Nathan turns his lack of pain into his greatest weapon as he plunges into a dangerous rescue mission. Watch the trailer.
