August has been another great month when it comes to watching new and returning favourite TV shows, as well as enjoying some brilliant movies. And here are just 5 movies and TV shows to binge watch this month;
When They See Us
I'm honestly not sure when a TV show last stayed with me or affected me quite like this one. Comprising of four episodes, When They See Us is based on the Central Park Five case of the late 1980's/early 90's. If you haven't heard of it before, five young boys were charged with the assault and rape of a jogger in New York's Central Park. Mainly due to false confessions and racial profiling.
I knew that it would be a tough watch. But I didn't expect it to be quite as devastating and heartbreaking. Having watched series' like The Confession Tapes (see my review here). I had an idea how the coerced confessions would take place. But to see every single technique employed to pit these boys against each other is gut wrenching as is everything that follows. When it comes to the best movies and TV shows to binge watch this month, this would be my top pick. All I can do is urge you to watch this for yourself.
★★★★★
Us
As a big fan of Jordan Peele's first foray into the horror genre with Get Out, I was always going to watch his next next movie Us. And when it came out on DVD at the start of August I bought it the very same day, watching it that evening. Whilst I wouldn't compare it to Get Out, I enjoyed it in its own right. And it had me on the edge of my seat the whole way through. You know that uneasy way you can often feel when watching a horror. I felt that even though there wasn't a ghost or jump scare in sight.
I've never been a fan of halls of mirrors at fun fairs. However, now I definitely won't ever be visiting one, after watching Us. As soon as it was done I was straight on YouTube watching the theory and hidden meaning videos. I won't ruin the ending. But when you find out what has happened, that uneasy feeling in your stomach will feel even worse. I did guess that everything might not be right with Adelaide. But I couldn't have guessed quite what was going on with the 'tethered', making it well worth a watch.
★★★★
Orange Is The New Black
One of the OG Netflix Originals that I was hooked on from the very beginning, I have a lot of love for OITNB. The characters, storylines, comedic moments and flashbacks have kept me coming back to the series year after year. That was until season six, which just seemed to drag and focus on characters with absolutely zero likeability or redeeming features (aka. Badison). I sadly gave up about half way through that season. But when I heard that season seven would be its last, I knew that I simply had to find out how it would all end.
Cue me skipping ahead to season seven after reading a couple of catch up articles. And I can happily say that OITNB is back on top form with season seven. The way in which it wraps up was both brilliant and a little bit heartbreaking. Adding what is the current immigration and deportation landscape in America was such a boundary breaking move, like OITNB has always been known for. The scene with Maritza on the plane is one of the most upsetting that I've seen both on the show. And in a long time generally.
★★★★★ (apart from season six which was ★★/did not finish)
Manifest
When me and my family were over in the US at the end of September/start of October last year we discovered Manifest. And I've got a feeling that the plot will be one that a lot of people will be interested in. A flight, that has been missing for over five years, touches down at the airport only for those on board to feel like they've only been on the plane for a few hours. Not a single passenger has aged a day. But everyone they know has moved on without them.
That in itself is interesting enough. Then it all gets a bit supernatural with the passengers getting 'callings' and seeing and hearing things that either solve crime, connect them to others or predict the future. I would liken it to Lost in some ways and it can get rather ridiculous at times. But if you're looking for something to watch that doesn't require too much thought, even despite the various different goings on happening, give Manifest a try. You'll find it on NOW TV or Sky box sets here in the UK. It has also been renewed for a second season, after being one of the biggest TV hits in the US last year.
★★★
Venom
As a big fan of Tom Hardy, I actually watched Venom on my flight to New York earlier in the year. My parents picked up the DVD whilst out shopping as it was down to £6 and they both wanted to see it. And I really enjoyed watching Venom again. It's one of those rare movies where you can actually comprehend everything that Tom is saying (I still have no idea what he was saying 70% of the time as Bane). And it was a pleasant surprise to see Jenny Slate, who will always be Mona-Lisa Sapperstein to me and Riz Ahmed, who I watched last month in The Night Of.
It's a fun comic book movie and to be totally honest, that's what I feel that landscape needs. I've frankly had enough of the Avengers-type movies where you need to have seen all twenty or so movies that lead up to it to have any idea what's going on. That's why I think movies like Deadpool and Shazam have done so well as they're not taking themselves too seriously. What do you think?
★★★★
So those are just some movies and TV shows to binge watch this month.
What have you been watching recently? Have you seen any of the TV shows or movies in this month's blog post? If so, what did you think of them?
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