The best new streaming movies this week: Wolfs and more

Written on 10/03/2024

Annesha Basu

Paramount Players

We’re excited for today’s list — loads on horror in store for you. We’ve got Brad Pitt and Clooney starrer too, so you’ll be glued to your couch all weekend. Grab a cup of coffee, and lets begin.

The best new streaming movies this week

Apartment 7A – September 27, Paramount Plus

Release date: September 20, 2024
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Rating: R
Director: Natalie Erika James
Cast: Julia Garner, Dianne Wiest, Kevin McNally, Jim Sturgess, Marli Siu, Rosy McEwen, Andrew Buchan

This Rosemary’s Baby prequel focuses on Terry Gionoffrio, an ambitious dancer in 1960s New York whose Broadway dreams are crushed by a foot injury. Taken in by the mysterious Castevets, Terry is given a rent-free apartment in their building. But, there’s a catch. As her fortunes improve, she becomes entangled in the couple’s sinister plans involving devil worship.

The Castevets are on the search for a young woman to help them challenge God’s dominance, and Terry is a potential candidate. Same as Rosemary’s Baby, there’s a lot of subtext about ambition, pregnancy, and women’s isolation in the era, building tension as Terry’s involvement with the Castevets deepens and her true role in their scheme becomes clear.

Oddity – September 27, Shudder

Release date: August 20, 2024
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Rating: R
Director: Damian Mc Carthy
Cast: Carolyn Bracken, Gwilym Lee, Tadhg Murphy, Caroline Menton, Jonathan French, Steve Wall, Joe Rooney

This psychological horror begins with Dani alone in an old stone country house when a one-eyed stranger warns her of imminent danger. A year after Dani’s mysterious death, her widower Ted visits Dani’s blind twin Darcy, who possesses the ability to read objects. Ted brings the glass eye of the man who warned Dani, hoping Darcy can uncover the truth.

The plot thickens with the introduction of a creepy wooden man statue and Ted’s new girlfriend Yana. Something’s definitely up as more supernatural elements emerge, and the tension escalates. The film plays with perceptions of reality, blurring the lines between the explicable and the paranormal as the characters unravel the circumstances of Dani’s death.

Will & Harper – September 27, Netflix

Release date: January 22, 2024
Genre: Documentary
Rating: R
Director: Josh Greenbaum
Cast: Will Ferrell, Harper Steele, Tim Meadows, Seth Meyers, Kristen Wiig, Colin Jost, Lorne Michaels

This documentary chronicles Will Ferrell’s road trip across America with his longtime friend Harper Steele, who has recently come out as a transgender woman. The film intimately captures their friendship through Harper’s transition and traverses various parts of the country, including potentially less accepting areas. If you’re coming out, the themes of curiosity, vulnerability will resonate with you.

The documentary provides candid moments of Harper answering personal questions about her transition, while also showcasing Ferrell’s process of learning to support his friend. Their journey includes encounters with diverse Americans, offering a nuanced look at acceptance and understanding in different communities.

Wolfs – September 27, Apple TV Plus

Release date: September 1, 2024
Genre: Crime, Thriller
Rating: R
Director: Jon Watts
Cast: George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Austin Abrams, Poorna Jagannathan, Amy Ryan, Zlatko Burić, Richard Kind

This crime caper comedy stars George Clooney and Brad Pitt as rival fixers called to clean up a messy situation in a New York hotel room. When a woman discovers a man (supposedly not a prostitute) dead in her room, she calls Clooney’s character. Pitt’s character also arrives, sent by the hotel. As they attempt to handle the situation, they uncover drugs and become entangled with dangerous gangs.

The plot thickens when the supposedly dead man turns out to be alive and on the run. Clooney and Pitt’s characters are forced to work together despite their preference for solo operations. Their witty banter and conflicting methods drive the story as they race to resolve the increasingly complicated scenario before it spirals out of control.

Asphalt City – September 28, Hulu

Release date: March 29, 2024
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Rating: R
Director: Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire
Cast: Sean Penn, Tye Sheridan, Gbenga Akinnagbe, Raquel Nave, Kali Reis, Michael Pitt, Katherine Waterston

This gritty drama follows Ollie Cross, a young paramedic in New York City studying to become a doctor. Assigned to the night shift, he’s partnered with seasoned medic Gene Rutkovsky. The film offers a stark portrayal of their nightly 911 calls, showcasing the harsh realities and moral dilemmas faced by first responders in the city.

Both characters grapple with personal issues: Ollie struggles to connect with others and adjust to the job’s intensity, while Gene deals with the aftermath of a divorce and receives unexpected news that weighs heavily on him. The story builds to a climax when a particularly challenging call puts the partners at odds over how to handle a patient, forcing them to make difficult choices with potentially far-reaching consequences. The film doesn’t shy away from the bleakness of their experiences, offering a raw and unflinching look at life as a paramedic in a tough urban environment.

The Strangers: Chapter 1 – September 30, Starz

Release date: May 17, 2024
Genre: Horror
Rating: R
Director: Renny Harlin
Cast: Madelaine Petsch, Froy Gutierrez, Gabriel Basso, Ema Horvath, Richard Brake, Rachel Shenton, Ella Bruccoleri

This reimagining of the 2008 home invasion thriller follows Maya and Ryan, a couple driving to Seattle for Maya’s job interview. When their car breaks down, they’re forced to stay in a secluded AirBnB. As night falls, they’re terrorized by three masked strangers in a similar fashion to the original film, with the killers using psychological tactics before resorting to violence.

However, this version introduces a nearby town of suspicious locals, adding a new layer to the mystery of the killers’ identities. The film attempts to balance nostalgia for the original with updates for a new generation, including more elaborate chase sequences and a broader scope. Despite these changes, it struggles to capture the same level of terror and nihilism that made its predecessor so impactful. And remember the iconic final scene? There’s with a slight twist on that one in this version.

What was new and worth watching over the last month

Here’s a quick roundup of our previous lists if you missed them. Also, if you’re in the mood for something else this weekend, we have a list of streaming shows to cater to that.

Dandelion – September 20, AMC+

Release date: March 10, 2024
Genre: Drama, Romance
Rating: R
Director: Nicole Riegel
Cast: KiKi Layne, Thomas Doherty, Melanie Nicholls-King, Brady Stablein, Jack Stablein, Grace Kaiser

Aspiring musician Dandelion feels trapped in Cincinnati, playing to indifferent crowds at a hotel bar while caring for her ailing mother. Frustrated by her lack of recognition and her mother’s discouragement, Dandelion takes a leap of faith when she learns about a music festival in South Dakota. There, she meets Casey, a brooding Scottish musician who has given up on his own dreams.

Dandelion and Casey connect through music and a budding romance, soul-searching hikes and passionate duets. For the first time, Dandelion experiences the thrill of truly living her art. As the festival draws to a close, Dandelion must decide whether to return to her responsibilities in Cincinnati or pursue her newfound passion, knowing that either choice will change her life forever.

His Three Daughters – September 20, Netflix

Release date: September 6, 2024
Genre: Drama
Rating: R
Director: Azazel Jacobs
Cast: Carrie Coon, Natasha Lyonne, Elizabeth Olsen, Jay O. Sanders, Jovan Adepo, Rudy Galvan, Jose Febus

Three estranged sisters — Katie, Christina, and Rachel — reunite at their childhood home in New York City as their father, Vinny, lies on his deathbed. As they meet in the cramped apartment where Rachel still lives, old tensions resurface and new revelations come to light. Katie, the eldest, masks her emotions with efficiency, taking charge of the situation while struggling with her own guilt. Christina, ever the peacemaker, hides behind a brittle smile as she grapples with unresolved issues. Rachel, living in closest proximity to their dying father, bears the weight of daily care and impending loss.

As the sisters navigate the surreal experience of waiting for their father to die, they’re forced to confront their shared past and individual struggles. Through heated arguments, moments of unexpected humor, and quiet revelations, they begin to reconnect and understand each other in new ways.

I Saw the TV Glow – September 20, Max

Release date: May 17, 2024
Genre: Drama, Horror
Rating: PG-13
Director: Jane Schoenbrun
Cast: Justice Smith, Brigette Lundy-Paine, Ian Foreman, Helena Howard, Lindsey Jordan, Danielle Deadwyler, Fred Durst

This movie follows Owen, a 12-year-old boy who becomes captivated by a late-night fantasy TV show called The Pink Opaque. When he meets Maddy, an older girl obsessed with the same show, they form an unlikely friendship centered around their shared passion. As Owen grows into his teens, his connection with Maddy deepens, but their relationship remains largely defined by their mutual obsession with the show.

When The Pink Opaque is suddenly canceled, Owen and Maddy’s grip on reality begins to slip. Years later, a chance encounter between the now-adult pair forces them to question everything they thought they knew about their shared past, the nature of their reality, and their own identities. This movie is part coming-of-age story and part psychological thriller, how often does that happen?

The Garfield Movie – September 21, Netflix

Release date: May 24, 2024
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Rating: PG
Director: Mark Dindal
Cast: Chris Pratt, Samuel L. Jackson, Hannah Waddingham, Ving Rhames, Nicholas Hoult, Cecily Strong, Harvey Guillén

In this animated adventure, the beloved lasagna-loving, Monday-hating cat Garfield finds his comfortable life turned upside down when he unexpectedly reunites with his long-lost father, Vic. Vic, a scruffy alley cat with a mysterious past, suddenly reappears in Garfield’s life, setting off a chain of events that propels the indoor feline and his friend Odie far beyond their cozy home.

What follows is an unlikely heist caper as Garfield, Odie, and Vic go on a high-stakes adventure filled with humor, heart, and unexpected dangers. Garfield must confront his own fears, learn to trust his newfound family, and ultimately discover what it truly means to be a hero.

Killer Heat – September 26, Prime Video

Release date: September 26, 2024
Genre: Crime, Mystery
Rating: R
Director: Philippe Lacôte
Cast: Richard Madden, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Shailene Woodley, Manos Gavras, Babou Ceesay, Clare Holman, Argyris Gaganis

Set against the sun-drenched backdrop of Crete, Killer Heat follows Nick, a private detective haunted by his own past, as he’s called to investigate a seemingly straightforward accidental death. Leo, an experienced free-climber, has fallen from a cliff face, but his sister-in-law Penelope suspects foul play. As Nick gets deeper into the case, he uncovers a web of secrets surrounding Leo’s wealthy and influential family, including his identical twin brother.

As the investigation heats up, so does the tension between Nick and Penelope. Flashbacks to Nick’s own troubled history as a jealous husband begin to cloud his judgment, forcing him to confront his own biases and demons. With danger lurking around every corner and trust in short supply, Nick must navigate lies, betrayal, and hidden motives to uncover the truth. But in a place where the line between accident and murder is as thin as air, Nick soon realizes that solving this case may put his own life in danger.

Boy Kills World – September 13, Hulu

Release date: April 26, 2024
Genre: Action, Crime, Thriller
Rating: R
Director: Moritz Mohr
Cast: Bill Skarsgård, Jessica Rothe, H. Jon Benjamin, Michelle Dockery, Brett Gelman, Sharlto Copley, Andrew Koji

In a dystopian world, a deaf and mute young man known only as Boy witnesses the brutal murder of his family by Hilda Van Der Koy, a ruthless dictator. Rescued by a mysterious shaman, Boy is trained to become a lethal killing machine. Now an adult, Boy vows revenge against Hilda’s regime.

Unable to speak, Boy’s thoughts are voiced by an irreverent inner monologue that sounds like an old arcade game. As Boy cuts a bloody swath through Hilda’s minions, he’s helped by the imaginary presence of his deceased little sister and a cast of eccentric characters. But when he meets Hilda, he realizes everything is not what it seems.

Civil War – September 13, Max

Release date: April 12, 2024
Genre: Action, Adventure, Thriller
Rating: R
Director: Alex Garland
Cast: Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, Cailee Spaeny, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Nelson Lee, Nick Offerman, Jefferson White

In a near-future America torn apart by civil war, veteran photojournalist Lee leads a team of reporters on a dangerous cross-country journey to Washington D.C. Their goal: to interview the president before rebel forces overthrow the government.

As they travel across a war-ravaged landscape, they encounter both civilian militias and government forces. Their journey forces them to confront the ethical dilemmas of reporting on societal collapse and question their motivations.

The Feeling That the Time for Doing Something Has Passed – September 13, Hulu

Release date: April 26, 2024
Genre: Comedy
Rating: N.A.
Director: Joanna Arnow
Cast: Joanna Arnow, Scott Cohen, Babak Tafti, Peter Vack, Michael Cyril Creighton, Alysia Reiner, Parish Bradley

Ann is a socially awkward young woman in New York City, drifting through uncomfortable personal and professional situations. She’s trying to find meaning and connection through various relationships, including a long-term BDSM arrangement with an older man who seems indifferent to her.

At work, Ann faces mundane humiliations and a sense of purposelessness. Her interactions with her parents are stilted and unfulfilling. As Ann moves through explicitly depicted sexual encounters, awkward social situations, and moments of quiet desperation, the film builds an accurate portrait of the millennial struggle to forge genuine connections in modern urban life.

In a Violent Nature – September 13, Shudder

Release date: January 22, 2024
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Rating: NR
Director: Chris Nash
Cast: Ry Barrett, Andrea Pavlovic, Cameron Love, Reece Presley, Liam Leone, Charlotte Creaghan, Lea Rose Sebastianis

Deep in a remote wilderness, a masked, seemingly supernatural killer goes on a systematic rampage. The film unfolds with minimal dialogue or music, relying instead on ambient forest sounds and long, static shots that create an eerie atmosphere.

Brief flashbacks hint at the killer’s tragic origins. As the body count rises, the killer encounters increasingly prepared and desperate survivors. The film maintains its unconventional approach, shedding typical slasher movie techniques in favor of a more detached, observational style.

Uglies – September 13, Netflix

Release date: September 13, 2024
Genre: Action, Adventure
Rating: PG-13
Director: McG
Cast: Joey King, Brianne Tju, Laverne Cox, Chase Stokes, Kevin Miles, Kelly Gale, Keith Powers

In a future society, all citizens undergo mandatory plastic surgery at the age of 16 to achieve a standardized ideal of beauty. Tally Youngblood cannot wait for this day to come. She’ll finally go from “Ugly” to “Pretty,” allowing her to live in the gleaming city and party with her recently-transformed friend Peris.

However, Tally’s worldview is challenged when she befriends Shay, a fellow Ugly who questions the system and tells her about a rebel community living off the grid. Tally’s journey leads her to this grid, where she meets the charismatic David and learns disturbing truths about her society. As she grows closer to the rebels, Tally must choose between the promise of prescribed beauty and a harder life of freedom.

Handling the Undead – September 17, Hulu

Release date: February 9, 2024
Genre: Drama, Horror, Mystery
Rating: N.A.
Director: Thea Hvistendahl
Cast: Renate Reinsve, Anders Danielsen Lie, Bahar Pars, Bjørn Sundquist, Denise Trankalis, Bente Børsum, Jan Hrynkiewicz

In Oslo, a strange electrical phenomenon causes recently deceased people to inexplicably return to life. The film follows three families as they grapple with the sudden reappearance of their dead loved ones. These resurrected individuals are not violent zombies but confused, barely functioning shells of their former selves.

The authorities attempt to control the situation, leading to conflicts with those who want to keep their loved ones at home. Meanwhile, scientists race to understand the phenomenon, uncovering disturbing implications about the nature of consciousness and death itself. The story builds to a climax, forcing the characters to confront brutal truths about love, grief, and letting go.