A decades-old mystery is examined in the documentary The Secrets We Bury. ID’s set a December 16, 2025 premiere for the documentary, which debuted at the Hamptons International Film Festival.
ID offers this description: “In the early 1960s, George Carroll walked out on his family, leaving his wife, Dorothy, and their four children behind. Decades later, the Carroll siblings are still left haunted by what happened to their father. Seeking much-needed closure for himself and his family, The Secrets We Bury follows Mike Carroll as he unravels the mystery of his father’s disappearance and uncovers a story much darker and more complex than his family could have imagined.
Told through extensive sit-down interviews with the Carroll siblings and layered with intimate archival footage of the Carroll family spanning decades of their lives, the documentary offers a sensitive look into one family’s journey to find closure. Part mystery and part family drama, The Secrets We Bury raises important questions about whose stories we choose to believe and why.”
The true crime documentary was directed by Emmy winner Patricia E. Gillespie (The Fire That Took Her).
Poster for ‘The Secrets We Bury’ (Photo Credit: ID)
Ella Langley performs on ‘THE 59TH ANNUAL CMA AWARDS’ (Disney/Frank Micelotta)
Riley Green, Ella Langley, and Lainey Wilson earned three awards each at the 59th Annual CMA Awards held on November 19, 2025 at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. Wilson, who served as the evening’s host, was named CMA Entertainer of the Year and won in the Album of the Year and Female Vocalist categories. Brooks & Dunn entered the CMA Awards record book with 20 wins.
The 2025 awards show’s standout performances included Wilson’s opening number and Kenny Chesney’s medley, as well as Kelsea Ballerini, Megan Moroney, and Luke Combs.
2025 CMA Awards Winners:
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
• Lainey Wilson
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
• “you look like you love me” – Ella Langley & Riley Green
Producer: Will Bundy
Mix Engineer: Jim Cooley
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
• Whirlwind – Lainey Wilson
Producer: Jay Joyce
Mix Engineers: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce
SONG OF THE YEAR
• “you look like you love you”
Songwriters: Riley Green, Ella Langley, Aaron Raitiere
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
• Lainey Wilson
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
• Cody Johnson
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
• The Red Clay Strays
VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
• Brooks & Dunn
MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR
• “Pour Me A Drink” – Post Malone (feat. Blake Shelton)
Producers: Louis Bell, Charlie Handsome
MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
• Paul Franklin – Steel Guitar
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
• “you look like you love me” – Ella Langley & Riley Green
Directors: Ella Langley, John Park, Wales Toney
Emma D’Arcy in ‘House of the Dragon’ season 3 (Photograph by Ollie Upton/HBO)
HBO has given early renewals to House of the Dragon and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. House of the Dragon earned a fourth season order and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, set for a January 2026 premiere, is confirmed to return for a second season. Season three of House of the Dragon will premiere in summer 2026, and season four is targeting a 2028 release.
The announcement was accompanied by new photos from both series in the Game of Thrones franchise.
“We are thrilled to be able to deliver new seasons of these two series for the next three years for the legion of fans of the Game of Thrones universe. Together, House of the Dragon and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms reveal just how expansive and richly imagined George R. R. Martin’s universe continues to be,” stated Francesca Orsi, EVP, HBO Programming, Head of HBO Drama Series and Films. “In January, I think audiences will be delighted by the inspiring underdog tale of Dunk and Egg that George and Ira Parker have captured so beautifully. And this summer, House of the Dragon is set to ignite once again with some of its most epic battles yet.”
Matt Smith in season 3 (Photograph by Theo Whiteman/HBO)
House of the Dragon is set 200 years before Game of Thrones and stars Matt Smith, Emma D’Arcy, Olivia Cooke, Steve Toussaint, Rhys Ifans, Fabien Frankel, Ewan Mitchell, and Tom Glynn-Carney. Sonoya Mizuno, Harry Collett, Bethany Antonia, Phoebe Campbell, Phia Saban, Jefferson Hall, and Matthew Needham also star. James Norton, Tom Bennett, Kieran Bew, Kurt Egyiawan, Freddie Fox, Clinton Liberty, Gayle Rankin, and Abubakar Salim fill out the ensemble.
Ryan Condal and author George R.R. Martin created the series, with Condal serving as showrunner. Condal, Martin, Sara Hess, Melissa Bernstein, Kevin de la Noy, Vince Gerardis, David Hancock, and Philippa Goslett executive produce.
Peter Claffey and Dexter Sol Ansell in ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ (Photograph by Steffan Hill/HBO)
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season one will premiere on Sunday, January 18, 2026 at 10pm ET/PT. The cast is led by Peter Claffey as Ser Duncan “Dunk” the Tall and Dexter Sol Ansell as Egg. Daniel Ings, Bertie Carvel, Danny Webb, Sam Spruell, Shaun Thomas, Finn Bennett, Edward Ashley, Tanzyn Crawford, Henry Ashton, Youssef Kerkour, Tom Vaughan-Lawlor, and Daniel Monks also star.
George R. R. Martin and Ira Parker created the series and serve as executive producers. Additional executive producers include Sarah Bradshaw, Owen Harris, Ryan Condal, and Vince Gerardis. Parker is the showrunner and Harris and Sarah Adina Smith are the directors.
Rental Family stars Oscar winner Brendan Fraser at his most effortlessly charming best, playing a down-on-his-luck actor best known for toothpaste commercials who’s living in a tiny apartment in Japan. His life takes a bizarre turn when he stumbles into the world of “Rental Family.” Owned and operated by Tada (Takehiro Hira, Shōgun), Rental Family offers people the opportunity to fill emotional gaps in their lives—be it a partner, a parent, or even just a guest at a specialized performance funeral.
Initially, Phillip is a bit freaked out by the concept but signs on since his prospects for other acting jobs are pretty limited. Tada wants him on board as the token white guy, and Phillip quickly learns there’s a large market for middle-aged white men in this very Japanese business. Phillip’s stunned to discover the jobs are complex, deeply emotional, and require a surprising amount of preparation.
His first gig has him masquerading as a Canadian fiancé to help a young woman—a lesbian who needs a guilt-free way to leave her traditional family and start her life with the one she truly loves. It’s a beautiful, selfless act, and watching Phillip overcome a panic attack (with the help of his coworker Aiko) to deliver this freedom to his fake bride is genuinely touching.
Aiko’s insight that they’re not lying but creating an opportunity for others is a powerful moment that reframes Phillip’s approach to his work. Phillip takes her words to heart, pouring his body and soul into each job. But even extensive preparation doesn’t prepare him for the emotional connection he makes with Rental Family’s clients. What started as just a paycheck evolves into something deeply moving and transformative as he comes to realize how much Rental Family profoundly impacts lives.
Writer/director Hikari and co-writer Stephen Blahut’s exquisitely crafted screenplay is matched by the incredible ensemble that includes Brendan Fraser, Takehiro Hira, Mari Yamamoto, Akira Emoto, and Shannon Mahina Gorman. Phillip’s arc is the heart of the film, and Fraser brilliantly embodies Phillip’s journey from a disillusioned actor watching the world from his small apartment’s window to a man who finds his purpose in these unique, manufactured connections. Fraser’s ability to convey earnestness is crucial, especially when Phillip has trouble grappling with the ethics of his new job.
Rental Family is a beautifully executed and heartfelt story of finding family where you least expect it. Hikari’s film shows that sometimes the roles we play for others—and the gentle lies we tell out of kindness—can have a profoundly positive impact. And for those seeking a brief escape from these troubling times—even if it’s just a few hours—Rental Family delivers the warm fuzzies with its truly uplifting and positive message.
GRADE: A
Rating: PG-13 for some strong language, thematic elements, and suggestive material
Running Time: 1 hour 43 minutes
Release Date: November 21, 2025
Studio: Searchlight Pictures
The promo for Fox’s Murder in a Small Town season two, episode nine teases that the season’s going to end with a “murderous” finale. But first, episode nine—”The Fall of Holman”—will air on Tuesday, November 25, 2025 at 8pm ET/PT.
“The Fall of Holman” Plot: Political deception is uncovered, and everyone becomes a suspect when Mayor Holman is attacked after hosting a fundraiser at her home. Meanwhile, Cassandra gets a frightening visit from someone from her past.
Rossif Sutherland stars as Karl Alberg and Kristin Kreuk plays Cassandra Lee. Mya Lowe is Corporal Edwina Yen, Savonna Spracklin is Isabella Harbud, Aaron Douglas is Sergeant Sid Sokolowski, Fritzy-Klevans Destine is Constable Andy Kendrick, and Marcia Gay Harden is Mayor Christie Holman. The series also features Bethany Brown, Marci T. House, and Joshua Close.
Murder in a Small Town Description, Courtesy of Fox:
Murder in a Small Town follows Karl Alberg (Sutherland), who recently moved to the quiet coastal town of Gibsons to be the new police chief and quickly learns that this gentle paradise has more than its share of secrets. As a world-class detective, Karl calls upon all his skills to solve murders that, even in this seemingly idyllic setting, continue to wash up on his shore. Meanwhile, his deepening relationship with the town librarian Cassandra Lee (Kreuk) is challenged as her career and community involvement take her in new and unexpected directions.
In the second season, Karl’s jurisdiction expands, and he has to contend with an increased caseload and limited resources, investigating cases like a body found at a local wedding between members of two feuding families; a double kidnapping that may mask an even bigger crime; a pop star who retreated to Gibsons for a quiet vacation only to be followed by a dangerous stalker; and many more.
Academy Award-winner Marcia Gay Harden joins the cast as Mayor Christie Holman, a practicing doctor, beloved figure in the community, and a consummate political operator. She has the best interests of the people of Gibsons at heart but sometimes lets her personal interests take precedence, as she complicates life for Karl and Cassandra.
According to a title card, the word Sisu is an untranslatable Finnish word for extreme determination, resilience, and courage. Writer/director Jalmari Helander (Rare Exports) took this term and ran with it a couple of years ago with his movie Sisu in which a Finnish soldier single-handedly slays dozens of Nazis. Well, Helander and his silent hero weren’t done. Both the director and character are back for more in Sisu: Road to Revenge.
Sisu: Road to Revenge sees one-man-army Aatami (Jorma Tommila reprising his role from the first movie) return to his home in Russian-occupied Finland after World War II. Once there, he discovers his wife and sons have been killed by the Red Army. Wanting a fresh start, he dismantles the house and packs up the lumber, intending to rebuild it in Finland.
Meanwhile, in Siberia, the commander of the regiment that killed Aatami’s family, Igor Draganov (Don’t Breathe’s Stephen Lang), is offered a deal. Kill the infamous soldier who has terrorized Russian and German forces, and he will be set free and handsomely rewarded. So, Draganov sets out to intercept Aatami on his way back to the Finnish border. But Aatami is still every bit a legendary killer, and he won’t go down easily.
With Sisu: Road to Revenge, Helander gives audiences everything they could ever want from a Sisu sequel. It’s just as bloody, gory, campy, and cartoonish as the first. The big difference is that Aatami is killing communists instead of Nazis. Which, admittedly, on a political level isn’t nearly as much fun to watch. But on a cinematic level, it’s every bit the movie Sisu was.
There’s a bit of a Mad Max: Fury Road vibe to the first half of Sisu: Road to Revenge. Aatami is basically trying to transport the components of his home back to Finland, and Draganov’s goons are in pursuit and trying to stop him. And their attempts utilize everything from motorcycles to airplanes.
That’s the “Road” part of Sisu: Road to Revenge. The “Revenge” part comes towards the second half once Aatami releases who has been stalking him and what that man did to his family. The hunter becomes the hunted, and the movie turns into a suspenseful slasher flick.
Both halves are awesome, though. Sisu: Road to Revenge knows exactly what kind of movie it is and doesn’t pretend to be anything else. It’s simply a splattery, exploitational combat movie. And that’s its biggest strength. Every kill is more brutal than the last, and the movie is absolutely gleeful in its violence. There’s a pitch-black comedy to the whole thing, like the movie is laughing along with the audience at all of this carnage.
There is one thing about Sisu: Road to Revenge that needs to be spoiled. Aatami’s faithful Bedlington Terrier returns from the first movie and lives through this one as well. So animal lovers can go into this sequel knowing that at least the dog doesn’t die. Lots of people die, but the dog lives.
There really isn’t much more to Sisu: Road to Revenge. Just an old guy killing Russians who are trying to kill him. The violence is graphic, the fights are insane, and the explosions are loud. There will be faux-intellectuals who will dismiss it as action porn, but those who liked Sisu will enjoy its sequel. It’s every bit as over-the-top, and every bit as fun.
GRADE: A
Rating: R for strong bloody violence, language, and gore
Runtime: 1 hour 28 minutes
Release Date: November 21, 2025
Xochitl Gomez (Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness) makes her Boston Blue debut on the series’ sixth episode, “Code of Ethics.” Episode six will air on Friday, November 21, 2025 at 10pm ET/PT on CBS.
CBS offers this description of Gomez’s recurring character, Penny: “A quick-witted, charming young woman with a mysterious past who crashes into Sean’s life.”
“Code of Ethics” Plot: With an assist from NYPD’s Maria Baez (Marisa Ramirez), Danny and Lena hunt down a serial home invader. Sean’s budding romance faces unexpected complications. Meanwhile, Mae and Sarah uncover a troubling leak that could upend the justice system.
Donnie Wahlberg stars as Danny Reagan, Sonequa Martin-Green plays Lena Silver, Marcus Scribner is Jonah Silver, Maggie Lawson is Sarah Silver, and Mika Amonson is Sean Reagan. Gloria Reuben stars as Mae Silver and Ernie Hudson plays Reverend Edwin Peters.
Donnie Wahlberg reprises his role as NYPD detective Danny Reagan in a universe expansion of the long-running top drama Blue Bloods. In this new series, Reagan takes a position with the Boston Police Department and is paired with Detective Lena Silver (Sonequa Martin-Green), the eldest daughter of a prominent law enforcement family.
The Silver family is comprised of Boston district attorney Mae Silver (Reuben), Boston PD detective Lena Silver, police superintendent Sarah Silver (Lawson), rookie cop Jonah Silver (Scribner) and renowned Baptist pastor Reverend Edwin Peters (Hudson). As Reagan settles into his new city, he also hopes to reconnect with his younger son, Sean (Amonsen), who is beginning his own career in Boston.
Executive producers include Donnie Wahlberg, Brandon Sonnier, Brandon Margolis, Jerry Bruckheimer, and KristieAnne Reed.
HBO’s set an early December premiere date for the latest installment in the Hard Knocks franchise, Hard Knocks: In Season with the NFC East. The new season will kick off on December 2, 2025, with new episodes airing on Tuesdays at 9pm ET/PT. Episodes will air through the playoffs in January 2026.
“Hard Knocks: In Season with the NFC East will follow the reigning Super Bowl LIX champion Philadelphia Eagles, the Dallas Cowboys, the New York Giants, and the Washington Commanders during the final stretch of the NFL season,” reads HBO’s synopsis. “From wins and losses to injuries and adversity, the series will capture an inside look at life in one of football’s most historic divisions.”
Football fan and Emmy nominee Liev Schreiber returns to narrate the season.
Christine Lahti (Evil) guest stars as Sharon’s mother on CBS’s season four, episode six of Fire Country. Episode six, “Your Voice in My Head,” will air on Friday, November 21, 2025 at 9pm ET/PT.
“Your Voice in My Head” Plot: Station 42 responds to a dangerous fire at a beloved local smokehouse where Jake is forced to confront memories of his late father and the place they once shared. Catherine Mallette directs from a script by India Gurley.
Max Thieriot stars as Bode, Kevin Alejandro is Manny, Diane Farr is Sharon, Jordan Calloway plays Jake, and Jules Latimer stars as Eve.
Fire Country stars Max Thieriot (SEAL TEAM) as Bode Leone, a young convict who sought redemption and a shortened prison sentence by joining a prison release firefighting program in Northern California, where he and other inmates were partnered with elite firefighters to extinguish massive, unpredictable wildfires across the region. It’s a high-risk, high-reward assignment, and the heat is turned up when Bode was assigned to the program in his rural hometown, where he was once a golden all-American son until his troubles began.
Years ago, Bode burned down everything in his life, leaving town with a big secret. Now he’s back, with the rap sheet of a criminal and the audacity to believe in a chance for redemption with Cal Fire.
Felicity Jones and Joel Edgerton in ‘Train Dreams’ (Photo Cr: Courtesy of Netflix)
Director and co-writer Clint Bentley’s gorgeous adaptation of Denis Johnson’s Train Dreams novella is a deeply moving look at the beauty and brutality of the American frontier. Set in the early 1900s, Train Dreams’ simple story explores love, loss, and the strength of the human spirit.
Joel Edgerton (Dark Matter) stars as Robert Grainier, a quiet, contemplative man who just exists until he meets the love of his life, Gladys (Felicity Jones, The Brutalist). Orphaned as a child, Robert never expected much from life, but meeting Gladys changes everything for him. The young couple moves quickly from courtship to marriage, building a life in the unforgiving Idaho wilderness that grows to include a beautiful baby girl.
Gladys and Katie give Robert’s life meaning, but it’s the railroad that provides his bread and butter. It’s a harsh life, with the possibility of a gruesome death just an ax swing away. His work takes him far from home for long stretches, but Gladys and Katie are always in his thoughts. Everything he does, all the grueling work and long hours, is to keep his family housed and fed. Love guides Robert’s life, and it’s that love that nearly destroys him.
A narrator tells much of Robert’s story in an almost folkloric way. The narration speaks of the small moments in Robert’s life, from the satisfying exhaustion after a physically punishing day to the unbreakable bond between this young, devoted couple. As utilized in Train Dreams, the narration is in no way a crutch. It’s essential and organic, feeling as though it’s just part of who Robert is.
The film’s storytelling power lies in its restraint. The stunning cinematography and gorgeous visuals don’t just fill the space around Robert; they envelop Robert and provide a deeper understanding of his inner thoughts and emotions. Train Dreams is one of the most visually stunning films of 2025.
Joel Edgerton is riveting as Robert Grainier, commanding the screen with a compelling quietude. Edgerton communicates everything Robert experiences with just a gesture or silent glance. Edgerton’s understated approach is perfect for this decent man who found meaning in love. Robert’s world is both tender and terrible, and Edgerton captures his joyous highs and devastating lows with a quiet intensity.
Train Dreams is a slow, immersive experience that examines a life well lived. The film presents a stunning and poignant journey, leaving the audience to consider the fleeting impact of those who drift in and out of our lives.
GRADE: A
Rating: PG-13 for some violence and sexuality
Running Time: 1 hour 42 minutes
Release Date: November 7, 2025 (Limited theatrical), November 21 on Netflix
Starring: Joel Edgerton, Felicity Jones, Clifton Collins Jr., and William H Macy
