Scott “Kid Cudi” Mescudi co-created, executive produced, and lends his voice to the lead character in Netflix’s Entergalatic. The original animated special just dropped an official trailer and poster and confirmed a September 30, 2022 premiere date.
The voice cast also includes Jessica Williams, Timothée Chalamet, Ty Dolla $ign, Laura Harrier, and Vanessa Hudgens. In addition, Christopher Abbott, 070 Shake, Jaden Smith, Keith David, Teyana Taylor, Arturo Castro, and Macaulay Culkin lend their voices to the special.
Ian Edelman and Maurice Williams wrote the animated comedy, and serve as executive producers along with co-creator Kenya Barris, Karina Manashil, Fletcher Moules, and Dennis Cummings. Moules also directs.
Netflix released the following description of Entergalatic:
Scott “Kid Cudi” Mescudi and Kenya Barris join forces to present the television event Entergalatic, an original, immersive, animated story about a young artist named Jabari — voiced by Mescudi — as he attempts to balance love and success. Finding the latter brings Jabari a step closer to the former, when moving into his dream apartment introduces him to his new neighbor, photographer it-girl Meadow — voiced by Jessica Williams.
An explosion of art, music, and fashion, Entergalatic takes place in the only city that can handle all three: New York.
Julian Jones, Milly Alcock, and Fabien Frankel in ‘House of the Dragon’ season 1 episode 4 (Photograph by Ollie Upton / HBO)
HBO’s House of the Dragon season one episode four tests fans loyalty to #TeamRhaenyra and finally allows Alicent to show a little personality. Airing on September 11, 2022, “King of the Narrow Sea” focuses on key relationships and the politics of sitting on the Iron Throne. Episode four also serves to confirm what’s going on between Princess Rhaenyra and her uncle isn’t PG-rated.
Episode four begins with Princess Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock) listening to speeches delivered by elderly men and boys who are seeking her hand. She’s unimpressed, fidgety, and barely conceals a laugh as a young boy from House Blackwood attempts to win her over while being heckled by another potential suitor, a lord from House Bracken. (There’s no love lost between those two Houses.)
Swords are drawn and Rhaenyra leaves the room, all pretense at patience over as a fight breaks out between suitors. Blackwood emerges victorious.
Rhaenyra orders Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) to send instructions to ready the ship. She’s eager to return to King’s Landing and end this ridiculous pageant early.
On the ship, she seeks Criston’s opinion about how her father will take her dismissing all suitors and returning two months early. He declines to answer just as Daemon’s dragon, Caraxes, deliberately hits the ship before flying on to King’s Landing.
King Viserys (Paddy Considine) is seated on the Iron Throne as everyone gathers for the dramatic return of Prince Daemon. Princess Rhaenyra shadows Daemon (Matt Smith) as he approaches the King, and Daemon’s stopped by Lord Commander Ser Harrold Westerling (Graham McTavish) before he gets too close. Daemon presents his brother with a weapon to add to the throne.
Viserys wonders why he’s wearing a crown and Daemon explains he’s been named King of the Narrow Sea. “But I know that there is only one true King, Your Grace,” he says, kneeling. He gives his crown and the Stepstones to King Viserys.
Daemon confirms Lord Corlys Velaryon has returned home and there’s no one guarding the Stepstones.
Viserys accepts the crown and commands his brother to rise. They hug and all assembled applaud. Viserys admits the realm owes Daemon a great debt.
Later, a feast is laid out outside and the mood is festive. Viserys and Daemon joke about who was their mother’s favorite, with Viserys conceding he was never a great warrior. Princess Rhaenyra congratulates her uncle as Viserys and Daemon laugh at the Queen’s suggestion Daemon should view the new tapestries.
A few stern looks and a quick exchange indicate King Viserys isn’t happy Rhaenyra cut her tour short.
Rhaenyra separates herself from the celebration and Queen Alicent (Emily Carey) joins her for a quiet chat. They discuss the “tour” and Alicent reminds her that it’s rare for women to get a choice of who to marry. Rhaenyra says these men aren’t wooing her; they simply want her name and Valyrian blood. Still, Alicent thinks it’s romantic. Rhaenyra is cruel when she suggests it’s not romantic to be imprisoned in a castle and forced to squeeze out heirs.
Rhaenyra realizes her words have struck their mark and lightens the tone. She asks how angry her father is and Alicent admits he’s upset she shunned everyone after he arranged such a lengthy tour. Alicent confesses she doesn’t have many friends now, and Rhaenyra takes her hand and assures her she’s missed her too.
Milly Alcock and Matt Smith in ‘House of the Dragon’ season 1 episode 4 (Photograph by Ollie Upton / HBO)
Next, Rhaenyra has a private chat with Daemon and wonders about his real motivation for returning to King’s Landing. Daemon claims he needs the comforts of home, but Rhaenyra isn’t convinced that’s why he’s back. They compliment each other on maturing over the last four years, and Rhaenyra confesses she doesn’t like the idea of being sold off to whatever lord has the biggest castle.
Daemon smiles and reminds her there are worse things to be sold for. Plus, once she weds, she can do as she likes. It’s strictly a political arrangement. “You cannot live your life in fear, or you will forsake the best parts of it,” says Daemon.
Daemon comments on his dislike for his own wife and has no intention of impregnating her, noting a child probably wouldn’t grow in such a hostile environment.
The small council meets and Princess Rhaenyra is seated at the table with the men, a promotion from being just the king’s cupbearer. The topic is the Sea Snake’s continuing wounded pride over Lady Laena being passed over for Alicent. Grand Maester Mellos (David Horovitz) describes Lord Corlys as an overly proud man and thinks they should try to fix the slight. The Hand, Ser Otto Hightower (Rhy Ifans), interjects to reveal Corlys is working with the Sealord of Braavos. Corlys is offering a marriage between Lady Laena and the Sealord’s son.
If they wed, then that alliance with the Free Cities would mean King Viserys would need to seek his own marriage pact.
Elsewhere, Alicent tries to soothe her crying baby while Rhaenyra heads to bed, with her door guarded by Ser Criston.
Rhaenyra goes through a bag of clothes that have been left in her room and discovers a rolled-up note. It’s a map of her room with an X marking a spot on the wall next to her bed. She moves the furniture away and pushes open a secret door. She smiles and then disguises herself in the shabby clothes and a beanie from the bag.
She explores the secret passageway and discovers Daemon waiting for her. He’s wearing a cloak as they head off into the city. They walk among the townsfolk, some playing music, others having sex, and all having a good time. They’re unrecognizable and one man even calls Rhaenyra a boy as they make their way down the streets.
Meanwhile, Viserys bathes as Alicent orders his attendants to leave so she can see to her husband. He’s missing two fingers now and has other sores on his body that need caring for.
Back out on the streets, Daemon and Rhaenyra watch a play and hear the crowd boo when her name is mentioned as the heir. The crowd roars at the reenactment of Prince Aegon’s birth. An actress playing Rhaenyra sits on the throne (a toilet) as the narrator asks the crowd if they believe Rhaenyra would be a powerful queen or if she’d be feeble. Of course, the crowd answers feeble, and the narrator points out Aegon has two things Rhaenyra doesn’t: a conqueror’s name and a cock.
Daemon’s been observing Rhaenyra during this show. She claims not to care how the people feel, and her uncle advises her that she should if she expects to rule them someday.
They continue their stroll and Rhaenyra takes food without paying and runs off, enjoying the thrill of being incognito. Daemon follows, not bothering to run but at a good pace. Rhaenyra bumps into a member of the City Watch who recognizes her as the princess. He sends her on her way but not before advising her that next time she won’t be so lucky.
Daemon and Rhaenyra share a laugh as they continue to walk the streets.
The hour’s late when Viserys sends for Alicent. It’s apparent she doesn’t want to join him in bed. However, she does his bidding as an obedient queen.
Daemon takes Rhaenyra into a brothel, and she looks intrigued by all the naked people. He leads her into a room full of men and women having sex and explains this place is where people come to take what they want.
They continue to watch these strangers engaging in sex as Daemon says, “F**king is a pleasure, you see, for the woman as it is the man.” Daemon’s pleasure at the moment it seems would be to have sex with his niece.
They kiss as Daemon tells his beautiful niece that marriage is a duty, but “that doesn’t stop us from doing what we want and f**king who we want.” (Remember, the Targaryens have a history of incest, believing they need to keep their bloodline pure.)
The “marriage is a duty” point’s driven home by a shot of Alicent smiling at Viserys when he meets her eyes while having sex. When he looks away her smile quickly disappears, and her face becomes a blank slate once again.
Lust overpowers both Daemon and Rhaenyra, and they move into each other’s bodies. Daemon has his niece against the wall, back to him, as they give themselves over to their carnal feelings. (We all knew this was coming, right?) She turns around and stares into his eyes, playfully attempting to kiss him. Suddenly Daemon pulls away, pounds the wall next to Rhaenyra’s head, and leaves.
Rhaenyra’s confused as she clutches her shirt closed in front of her.
She hurries home, running past a young boy who falls into step behind her.
Alicent lies in bed staring at a rat on the bedpost while Viserys sleeps. The sheets are pulled back and the open sores on his back look painful and grotesque.
Rhaenyra makes it back to the castle and storms through the bedroom door past Ser Criston. He’s shocked to see her looking disheveled and she steals his helmet to keep him from alerting the lord commander. After she lures him into her room to retrieve his helmet, she shuts the door and kisses him. Criston stops her from taking off her shirt but allows her to lead him toward her bed.
Rhaenyra begins to remove his armor, starting with his arms. He won’t meet her eyes until she forces him to by bending down and staring into them, inches from his face. They kiss, and this time he remains still.
Rhaenyra continues to strip him of his armor. He’s conflicted and uncertain whether he should give in but, ultimately, the temptation and his urges are too strong to deny.
Criston stands before her naked, and Rhaenyra quickly loses her own minimal clothing. He’s gentle and slow as he places her on the bed. She rolls on top and is in ecstasy, and they continue making love while sitting up.
Paddy Considine and Rhys Ifans in ‘House of the Dragon’ season 1 episode 4 (Photograph by Ollie Upton / HBO)
Ser Otto’s awakened by a messenger sent by the White Worm. The boy who followed Rhaenyra speaks to Otto.
Daemon wakes in a bed in the brothel, with Mysaria standing above him. He asks if he’s her prisoner and she claims she’s his protector and that she’s not a common whore. The messenger boy interrupts and hands Mysaria (aka White Worm) money from Otto.
She tells Daemon to pay for the room on his way out.
The following morning Otto meets with King Viserys to share “discomforting” news about Rhaenyra. He reports the princess was in a pleasure house “engaged in behaviors unbecoming of a maiden” with her uncle. Viserys demands specifics and Otto spits out that they were seen coupling.
Viserys refuses to believe it and orders the messenger to be brought to him. Otto refuses to reveal his source and adds that several servants saw her leaving disguised as a page in the dark of night. Viserys is upset he had Rhaenyra spied upon and believes Otto so wants his own heir on the throne that he’s willing to destroy Rhaenyra’s reputation.
It’s only after Otto leaves that Alicent makes her presence known.
Ser Criston is uneasy in Rhaenyra’s presence as he explains he has a message from Queen Alicent.
Rhaenyra meets Alicent in the godswoods and Alicent demands to know what happened the previous evening. Alicent reveals her father accused Rhaenyra of f**king Daemon in a pleasure house.
Rhaenyra pauses and her lip quivers before responding, “That is a vile accusation.” (Rhaenyra’s quite the little actress.)
Alicent believes it’s possible since the Targaryens have queer customs. Rhaenyra begs her to believe she’s innocent and that she shouldn’t believe this gossip. Alicent reveals her father was told it happened and Rhaenyra is shocked. “To question my virtue is an act of treason,” says Rhaenyra.
Alicent admits she doesn’t know who told her dad and that she only overheard her father telling the King about what happened.
Rhaenyra explains she drank in several taverns and that although it was late, she remained with Daemon because he was her escort. They watched a show and went to a brothel, but Rhaenyra claims she was only a spectator. She adds that Daemon continued drinking and left her for a whore.
“I should have known better,” says Rhaenyra, adding, “Daemon never touched me.” Rhaenyra’s really laying it on thick and even swears upon the memory of her mother that nothing happened.
Alicent reminds her she needs to be careful with her reputation so that she doesn’t ruin everything. Rhaenyra claims she regrets what happened.
The Lord Commander and two members of the Kingsguard drag Daemon before King Viserys. Alone, Viserys asks about Rhaenyra and then delivers a swift kick while claiming Daemon defiled Rhaenyra. Daemon doesn’t think it matters since they did the same thing at Rhaenyra’s age.
Viserys doesn’t see it that way and Daemon, who should have kept his mouth shut, further enrages his brother by adding, “Better her first experience be with me than some whore.”
Viserys can’t believe Daemon ruined Rhaenyra. No lord will want her now, and Viserys suggests he should just disinherit her – just as he did Daemon. “I have spent a lifetime defending you, but your heart is even blacker than I thought,” growls Viserys.
Daemon reminds Viserys that when he offered up his crown, he promised he could have what he wants. He wants to marry Rhaenyra, in the tradition of their House. It doesn’t matter that he’s already wed; Aegon the Conqueror had two wives.
“You are no conqueror! You are a plague sent to destroy me!” says Viserys, holding his brother pinned to the floor and placing a blade to his neck.
Daemon promises to restore their House to its proper glory with Rhaenyra as his wife. Viserys believes Daemon lusts for the Iron Throne, not Rhaenyra. He orders Daemon to return to his wife and the Vale, and to be gone from his sight for good.
“As you wish, brother,” says Daemon to Viserys’ retreating back.
Later, Alicent asks if Viserys has talked to Rhaenyra and he admits he hasn’t. Alicent doesn’t think Rhaenyra is a liar but does believe Daemon lies more often than he speaks the truth. Viserys asks why Daemon would confess to this and Alicent believes he did so to further degrade his brother.
Whatever happened, Viserys is sure Rhaenyra isn’t innocent. Both she and Daemon are restless and chaotic. However, Alicent believes that because Rhaenyra swore to her that she’s still a maiden, then she is in fact still a virgin.
Paddy Considine and Milly Alcock in ‘House of the Dragon’ season 1 episode 4 (Photograph by Ollie Upton / HBO)
Rhaenyra’s the next to be brought before the King. (Ser Criston and Rhaenyra exchange a look before he shuts the door.) The conversation starts off calm and friendly, and they discuss Aegon the Conqueror’s dagger. It was Aenar’s before it was Aegon’s, and before that Viserys doesn’t know whose it was.
Before Aegon’s death, the Valyrian pyromancer hid his song in the steel. The fire makes the inscription appear and it reads: “From my blood come the prince that was promised. And his will be the song of ice and fire.”
Viserys reminds Rhaenyra that as his heir he’s given her the burden of this knowledge. That knowledge is larger than the throne, larger than her desires. Viserys doesn’t care about the truth; he cares that she’s damaged her reputation. Rhaenyra can’t believe that if she was a male, she could father bastards and no one would care. But as a woman, she’s not allowed to do what she pleases.
Despite what happened, King Viserys is not going to remove her as heir. He doesn’t want to sew further division. Instead, she’s to marry Laenor Velaryon, the son of the Sea Snake. Viserys calls her his political headache and with her wedding to Velaryon, the power of their Houses will be too strong for any force to want to take on.
Rhaenyra wonders what he’ll do about Ser Otto since he will do whatever it takes to put Aegon on the throne. Unity can’t be accomplished when The Hand is so self-interested. Viserys must know his daughter’s speaking the truth but seems blind to what The Hand is doing behind the scenes.
Rhaenyra agrees to marry Laenor Velaryon but first, he must deal with Ser Otto.
Viserys summons Ser Otto and recalls the death of his healthy father, Baelon the Brave, Rider of Vhagar, Heir to the Iron Throne, five days after being named The Hand to King Jaehaerys. Baelon’s swift death opened up the position and Ser Otto stepped in.
Otto claims it was his duty to take on the position. Viserys’ tone turns accusatory as he acknowledges Otto taught him how to be king, but those five days are eating at him. In those five days, Otto went from being just another man in King Jaehaerys’ court to the second most powerful man.
“I wonder, how long did it take you to choose yourself over your King?” asks Viserys.
Viserys calls Alicent a calculated distraction placed there by Otto. Viserys describes Otto’s judgment as compromised and no longer aligning with the realm. Otto insists he’s loyal, but Viserys strips him of his title while saying, “The Crown and the realm both owe you a debt that can never be repaid.”
Viserys no longer trusts his judgment. Otto looks stunned.
The episode ends with Grand Maester Mellos paying Rhaenyra a visit to deliver a tea that will rid her of any unwanted consequences. The tea was brewed at King Viserys’ instruction.
The trailer for Marvel Studios’ first special presentation opens with a warning: “This Halloween you can’t escape the shock, the terror of Werewolf By Night.” The teaser premiered during the D23 Expo 2022 and provided the first good luck at Gael Garcia Bernal (Station Eleven) as the titular character, revealed in glorious black and white.
Laura Donnelly (Outlander, The Nevers) co-stars as Elsa Bloodstone who, in the closing seconds of the trailer, appears to be about to become a meal for a very hungry werewolf. Oscar-winning composer Michael Giacchino (Up) takes the director’s seat for his first major project after helming two shorts.
Werewolf By Night will premiere on Disney+ on October 7, 2022. In addition to announcing the premiere date and dropping the trailer, Marvel Studios released a still, a poster, and a photo from the D23 panel.
The official trailer for Disney+’s National Treasure: Edge of History series begins with Sadusky (Harvey Keitel), a familiar face from the National Treasure films, passing along a clue to a treasure of utmost importance. The tie-in to the Nicolas Cage-led action-adventure films doesn’t stop there as the series was created by Cormac Wibberley and Marianne Wibberley, screenwriters of National Treasure (2004) and National Treasure: Book of Secrets (2007).
The official trailer debuted during the D23 Expo 2022 accompanied by the announcement the series will premiere on December 14, 2022.
The Wibberleys and Jerry Bruckheimer, Jonathan Littman, Jon Turteltaub, and KristieAnne Reed executive produce. Writer Rick Muirragui and director Mira Nair also executive produce.
Disney+ released the following description of National Treasure: Edge of History:
The series focuses on a young heroine, Jess (Lisette Olivera), a brilliant and resourceful DREAMer who embarks on the adventure of a lifetime to uncover the truth about her family’s mysterious past and save a lost Pan-American treasure. During the panel, executive producers Cormac and Marianne Wibberley shared their vision for the reboot of the smash hit franchise and how incredibly thrilled they are to showcase this dream cast for the series, which also includes Academy and Tony Award-winning actress Catherine Zeta-Jones. It was previously announced that Justin Bartha will guest star in the series, reprising his role as Riley Poole.
In addition to Olivera, the series also stars Zuri Reed (Flatbush Misdemeanors) as Tasha, Jess’ ride-or-die friend who joins the treasure hunt but is forced to reevaluate her belief system to help her best friend; Antonio Cipriano (Jagged Little Pill on Broadway) as Oren, a lovable but self-obsessed goofball with an encyclopedic knowledge of conspiracy theories that attempts to win back Tasha’s affections; and Jordan Rodrigues (Lady Bird) as Ethan, Jess’ childhood best friend who has loved her since the day they met.
Jake Austin Walker (Rectify) plays Liam, a swoon-worthy struggling musician, with a permanent chip on his shoulder, who comes from a long line of treasure hunters; Catherine Zeta-Jones (Chicago) is Billie, a badass billionaire, black-market antiquities expert and treasure hunter who lives by her own code; and Lyndon Smith (Parenthood) plays FBI Agent Ross, a dogged investigator who begins to realize there’s a greater conspiracy at hand.
In the official trailer for Lucasfilm’s The Mandalorian season three we see Baby Yoda…I know his name’s Grogu but he’ll always be Baby Yoda to me…and his adopted dad heading off on new adventures. The Book of Boba Fett‘s best episodes included the little green dude, and by the end of that miniseries, Baby Yoda had chosen Mando over continuing his Jedi training, setting up the plot for season three.
The upcoming season’s trailer reveals Mando’s been booted from the Mandalorian and is anxious to prove he’s still worthy. The trailer teases lots of action, lots of bonding scenes between Baby Yoda and Mando, and the return of Bo-Katan.
Pedro Pascal returns to lead the cast in the title role. Katee Sackhoff reprises her role as Bo-Katan, Amy Sedaris is back as the scene-stealing Peli Motto, Giancarlo Esposito returns as Moff Gideon, Carl Weathers returns as Greef Karga, and Emily Swallow’s back as the Armorer. Dave Filoni, Jon Favreau, Rick Famuyiwa, Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy, and Colin Wilson executive produce. Karen Gilchrist and Carrie Beck are co-executive producers.
The trailer debuted during the D23 Expo 2022, with Lucasfilm releasing a brief synopsis for the upcoming season set to premiere in 2023 on Disney+. Lucasfilm also shared five new season three photos.
“In the third season of The Mandalorian, the Mandalorian and Grogu have been reunited and continue their journey through the lawless galaxy.”
The final trailer has been released for Disney+’s Andor and the biggest takeaway is that, even though this is a prequel, it’s going to be essential that viewers rewatch Rogue One before September 21, 2022. The trailer was released during the D23 Expo 2022, with Kathleen Kennedy confirming production is underway on the second batch of 12 episodes of the series’ planned 24-episode run.
Diego Luna reprises his role as Cassian Andor for this action-filled prequel. The cast also includes Genevieve O’Reilly, Stellan Skarsgård, Forest Whitaker, Adria Arjona, Denise Gough, Kyle Soller, Fiona Shaw, and Faye Marsay.
Tony Gilroy created the series and serves as showrunner and executive producer. Diego Luna, Kathleen Kennedy, Sanne Wohlenberg, and Michelle Rejwan also executive produce. Directors include Toby Haynes, Susanna White, and Benjamin Caron.
The first three episodes will debut on Disney+ on September 21st.
Andor takes place five years before the events of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. The era featured in Andor is filled with danger, deception and intrigue where Cassian will embark on the path that is destined to turn him into a rebel hero.
Andor presents Star Wars from a different perspective, focusing on everyday people whose lives are affected by the Empire. The decisions they make have real consequences, and the stakes for them—and the galaxy—couldn’t be higher.
Disenchanted, the long-awaited, much-anticipated Enchanted sequel, dropped its first trailer during D23 Expo 2022. The first teaser trailer reveals Giselle (Amy Adams) has discovered life isn’t one big fairy tale and a happily ever after ending isn’t guaranteed. The two-minute teaser ends with a warning that nothing stays enchanted forever.
Patrick Dempsey reprises his role as Robert Philip, Idina Menzel returns as Nancy, and James Marsden’s back as Prince Edward. The sequel also stars Maya Rudolph as Malvina Monroe, Yvette Nicole Brown as Rosaleen, Jayma Mays as Ruby, and Gabriella Baldacchino as Morgan Philip.
Kevin Lima directed 2007’s Enchanted and Adam Shankman (Hairspray) is at the helm of the musical comedy’s sequel. Brigitte Hales wrote the screenplay, and Amy Adams, Barry Josephson, and Barry Sonnenfeld produced. Shankman, Jo Burn, and Sunil Perkash executive produced.
Enchanted‘s Oscar-nominated songwriting duo Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz returned to write new songs for the sequel.
Disenchanted is skipping a theatrical release and will premiere on Disney+ on November 24, 2022.
Disney+ released the following synopsis of the sequel:
“It has been 15 years since Giselle (Adams) and Robert (Dempsey) wed, but Giselle has grown disillusioned with life in the city, so they move their growing family to the sleepy suburban community of Monroeville in search of a more fairy tale life. Unfortunately, it isn’t the quick fix she had hoped for. Suburbia has a whole new set of rules and a local queen bee, Malvina Monroe (Rudolph), who makes Giselle feel more out of place than ever.
Frustrated that her happily ever after hasn’t been so easy to find, she turns to the magic of Andalasia for help, accidentally transforming the entire town into a real-life fairy tale and placing her family’s future happiness in jeopardy. Now, Giselle is in a race against time to reverse the spell and determine what happily ever after truly means to her and her family.”
The reboot of Criminal Minds for what will be its 16th season now has an official title. After taking a couple of years off, the popular drama returns with a new title – Criminal Minds: Evolution – and a new home on Paramount+.
The title announcement included details on the plot as well as the news that Zach Gilford (Midnight Mass) is joining season 16 as a recurring guest star. Per Paramount+, Gilford will play “Elias Voit, an operations analyst for a global cyber-security firm who has a dark side and obsession with death.”
Returning original cast members include Joe Mantegna, A.J. Cook, Kirsten Vangsness, Aisha Tyler, Adam Rodriguez, and Paget Brewster. The series also brought back Criminal Minds‘ Erica Messer as a writer, executive producer, and showrunner. Writer Breen Frazier, writer Christopher Barbour, director Glenn Kershaw, and Mark Gordon are also serving as executive producers.
Criminal Minds: Evolution is an ABC Signature and CBS Studios production.
The Plot: CBS’s original Criminal Minds series, which ran from 2005-2020, followed an elite team of FBI profilers who analyzed the country’s most twisted criminal minds, anticipating their next moves before they struck again. And now, the BAU is back! In the all-new Criminal Minds: Evolution episodes exclusively available on Paramount+, the FBI’s elite team of criminal profilers come up against their greatest threat yet, an UnSub who has used the pandemic to build a network of other serial killers. Now, as the world opens back up, the network goes operational, and our team must hunt them down, one murder at a time.
It’s the Airbnb experience created from the stuff nightmares are made of for a young woman who discovers the short-term rental home she’s about to stay in is double-booked in the horror film Barbarian.
Tess (Georgina Campbell, Suspicion), a documentary researcher, arrives late at night at the Airbnb she rented while in Detroit on a job interview. Stuck out in the pouring rain, she discovers that the key to the house is not in the lockbox. And, much to her surprise, someone is already in the house.
Keith (Bill Skarsgard, the IT films) comes to the door half asleep and informs Tess that he booked the house and has the paperwork to prove it. He invites her in out of the rain, and she reluctantly enters to compare their reservation confirmations.
Tess and Keith quickly realize that the company they went through must have accidentally double-booked the house. Keith helpfully suggests that she stay since it’s raining and since the rental is in a run-down part of town. It might not be safe for her to go out on her own searching for a hotel.
At first, Tess is understandably hesitant, but she finally agrees to stay. Determined to be a gentleman, Keith insists she take the bedroom and he’ll crash on the couch. As Keith and Tess enjoy some wine, chat, and get to know each other a little, Tess starts to relax and enjoy the company of her new housemate.
Later that night Tess wakes to find her bedroom door open and Keith asleep on the couch in the middle of a bad dream. Creeped out and concerned, she wakes him and asks if he opened her door. He claims he didn’t and is annoyed she woke him.
The next day after a successful job interview Tess returns to the rental and finds a note from Keith saying he left to run some errands, promising he’ll see her later that night. It’s while Tess is alone in the house that she accidentally locks herself in the basement while exploring and discovers a maze of hidden rooms, corridors, and stairs. This leads to her discovering the true horrors of the house.
Written and directed by Zach Cregger, Barbarian is a dark, disturbing, and twisted film with strong performances from its cast. Cregger doesn’t introduce anything new to the genre but does use some classic horror movie-making techniques to manipulate and scare the audience, including flashlights barely lighting up dark tunnels and doorways, weird sounds coming out of the darkness, and, of course, characters doing exactly what they shouldn’t do in a horror movie.
Georgina Campbell is wonderful as Tess, a smart and headstrong young woman who finds herself in a horrific nightmare but struggles to find a way to survive. Campbell subtly displays Tess’s wariness of Keith when she first meets him and her eventual fondness for him after their late-night chat. Campbell also displays genuine fear as her character goes through what can only be described as a living nightmare.
Justin Long steals every scene he’s in as AJ, a self-absorbed actor whose legal troubles cause him to end up at the same rental house that Tess and Keith are at in a surprising yet effective subplot.
The direction, set design, and cinematography are all extremely well done and generate a real sense of dread and fear.
Creepy and unsettling, Barbarian is a highly effective horror film that’s sure to make moviegoers anxious and squirm in their seats.
GRADE: B-
Rating: R (Nudity|Language Throughout|Disturbing Material|Some Strong Violence and Gore)
The trailer for Netflix’s The Watcher limited series plays like a walk-through of a house for sale, with Jennifer Coolidge starring as the realtor who guides interested buyers through their potential new digs. The limited series is based on the true story of a family who purchased 657 Boulevard, Westfield, New Jersey and were immediately targeted with creepy letters signed by “The Watcher.”
Netflix’s campaign for the series includes an actual listing of the residence on Zillow. The listing is by Karen Calhoun (Coolidge) and features photos, a detailed description of the home, and the series’ walk-through trailer.
The limited series’ cast includes Naomi Watts, Bobby Cannavale, Mia Farrow, Margo Martindale, and Terry Kinney. Joe Mantello, Richard Kind, Noma Dumezweni, Christopher McDonald, Michael Nouri, Isabel Gravitt, Henry Hunter Hall, and Luke David Blumm also star.
Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan created The Watcher and executive produce along with Alexis Martin Woodall, Eric Kovtun, Bryan Unkeless, Eric Newman, Paris Barclay, Naomi Watts, Ariel Schulman, Henry Joost, and Scoop Wasserstein.
Poster for Netflix’s limited series ‘The Watcher’
Netflix released the following description of the series:
Dean (Cannavale) and Nora Brannock (Watts) just purchased their dream home in the idyllic suburb of Westfield, New Jersey, but after putting all of their savings into closing the deal they soon realize the neighborhood is less than welcoming. There’s a kooky older woman named Pearl (Farrow) and her brother Jasper (Kinney), who sneaks into the Brannock’s house and hides in their dumbwaiter. There’s Karen (Coolidge), the realtor and an old acquaintance of Nora’s, who makes them feel like they don’t really belong, and nosy neighbors Mitch (Kind) and Mo (Martindale), who don’t seem to understand property lines.
Their icy welcome quickly turns into a full-blown living hell when ominous letters from someone calling themself “The Watcher” start arriving, terrorizing the Brannocks to their breaking point as the neighborhood’s sinister secrets come spilling out. Based on the true story of the infamous “Watcher” house in New Jersey.
