Couch Cinema: Weekly Streaming Roundup (August 7th – 14th, 2024)

Welcome to the inaugural edition of “Couch Cinema,” your ultimate guide to the latest films now available for streaming online. Selecting a movie from streaming apps can be a daunting task, and I appreciate the value of a good recommendation. Whether it’s a film you’ve never heard of or one you’ve been meaning to watch but forgot about, just having someone suggest a title can make all the difference. Each week, I’ll share a curated mix of personal recommendations that I’ve seen and films from my own watchlist. I’ll spotlight a few titles that have just landed on streaming services and highlight why they might deserve your attention. If this helps you find something to watch, then mission accomplished. This week’s picks include some great 2024 releases, as well as hidden gems from the past decade featuring well-known stars in lesser-seen roles.

LATEST SCARES

NIGHT SWIM (2024)

Directed by Bryce McGuire
Universal Pictures | 116 min | Rated PG-13

“Night Swim” may not be the year’s top horror hit, but it’s worth a watch. Produced by horror masterminds Blumhouse and James Wan, it stars Wyatt Russell and Kerry Condon as they navigate the chilling mysteries of their new home’s haunted pool.

UNSEEN ON THE BIG SCREEN

The Woman King (2022)

Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood
Sony Pictures | 135 min | Rated PG-13

Despite its Oscar-worthy appeal, “The Woman King” was completely overlooked by the Academy. Viola Davis delivers a powerful performance as the leader of an all-female army in 1800s South Africa.

MUST-STREAM OF THE WEEK

The Bikeriders (2024)

Directed by Jeff Nichols
Universal Pictures | 116 min | Rated R

One of my top picks for 2024, “The Bikeriders” features stellar performances by Tom Hardy, Austin Butler, and Jodie Comer. This nuanced drama delves into the lives of a motorcycle club, which starts out innocent and becomes something much darker.

DIRECTOR’S SPOTLIGHT

Mud (2013)

Directed by Jeff Nichols
Lionsgate | 131 min | Rated PG-13

Jeff Nichols has quietly become one of my favorite directors in the industry today. More than a decade before “The Bikeriders,” Nichols directed the acclaimed film “Mud,” featuring a standout performance by Matthew McConaughey, playing a hiding fugitive.

GOLDEN STATUE SPOTLIGHT

Daughters (2024)

Directed by Natalie Rae & Angela Patton
Netflix | 107 min | Rated PG-13

Premiering at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival and clinching the Audience Award for U.S. Documentary, “Daughters” poignantly captures the true story of a Daddy Daughter Dance organized for fathers incarcerated in a Washington, D.C. prison.

TOP OF MY QUEUE

Beast (2017)

Directed by Michael Pearce
Lionsgate | 104 min | Rated R

Before starring in “The Lost Daughter” and “Women Talking,” Jessie Buckley made her debut in the British thriller “Beast,” portraying a woman from an isolated community who encounters a mysterious outsider.

UNDER-THE-RADAR RELEASE

Inherit The Viper (2019)

Directed by Anthony Jerjen
Lionsgate Films | 90 min | Rated R

Amidst this current Josh Hartnett renaissance (“Trap” & “Oppenheimer”), there’s a lesser-known Lionsgate feature from 2019 titled “Inherit The Viper,” in which he co-stars with Bruce Dern.

SCI-FI SUGGESTION

400 DAYS (2015)

Directed by Matt Osterman
Universal Pictures | 91 min | Not Rated

An intriguing sci-fi plot and a solid cast are usually all it takes for a film to make it onto my watchlist. “400 Days,” starring Brandon Routh, Caity Lotz, and Dane Cook, features four astronauts in deep space for over a year, grappling with the aftereffects.

STAR POWER

GRETA (2019)

Directed by Neil Jordan
Universal Pictures | 99 min | Rated R

Couple Neil Jordan’s impressive directorial history with Isabelle Huppert, Chloë Grace Moretz, and Maika Monroe, and it was hard not to anticipate something extraordinary from “Greta.” While it didn’t quite meet my lofty hopes, it was still an intriguing thriller.