This weekend promises to be exciting for film enthusiasts with the premieres of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning and Disney’s live-action adaptation of Lilo & Stitch. If you’ve set aside time for these two blockbusters, don’t forget that Monday is Memorial Day, making it the perfect opportunity to sneak in one more movie to maximize your three-day weekend.
As usual, various good titles will be leaving Netflix on June 1st. Here are five films worth watching before they transition to other platforms or vanish into the vast realm of video-on-demand services.
Is Child’s Play/Chucky the most underrated horror franchise? Thanks to writer-director Don Mancini’s dedication to innovating his slasher formula across 37 years, it certainly ranks high, even in the era of direct-to-video releases.
C ult of Chucky continues from the ending of 2013’s Curse of Chucky, where the maniacal doll targets Nica Pierce (Fiona Dourif, daughter of Chucky’s voice actor, Brad Dourif) and murders her family. Ultimately, Nica is blamed for the killings and committed to a mental institution. In Cult of Chucky, she’s manipulated by a cruel psychiatrist into believing that Chucky was merely a figment of her imagination—until the doll reappears to wreak havoc once again. It’s a blood-splattered twist that amps up the grotesque humor. Mancini cleverly introduces multiple Chucky dolls, ensuring plenty of macabre fun.
If you haven’t met Big Nick (Gerard Butler), the notorious dirty cop, now’s the time: the gripping Den of Thieves 2: Pantera is also streaming on Netflix, but don’t miss the chance to catch the first film in the series before it leaves. Writer-director Christian Gudegast gives Heat a grittier twist as Butler’s weary, on-the-brink-of-divorce antihero chases a gang of ex-Marines executing elaborate bank heists.
Pablo Schreiber (Halo) delivers a powerful performance as Ray, the heist leader, while O’Shea Jackson Jr. and 50 Cent add swagger to the heist crew reminiscent of Ocean’s 11. However, it’s Butler’s portrayal of Nick—bumbling and struggling with life—that carries the film, providing an unexpected emotional core as the narrative heads toward a climactic Federal Reserve showdown. At a hefty 140 minutes filled with gritty action, Den of Thieves stands out as a unique cinematic experience.
Maaaaaa! Blumhouse promotes this psychological horror film from The Help director Tate Taylor as “from the producer of Get Out and Halloween,” but Ma is far more playful and meme-worthy than either of those titles, which is a welcome surprise. It’s anchored by Oscar-winner Octavia Spencer, whose vindictive Sue Ann resonates with the intensity of Kathy Bates’ Annie Wilkes in Misery and Glenn Close’s Alex Forrest in Fatal Attraction.
Initially, "Ma" is a local fixture known for buying alcohol for teenagers and offering them a safe place to hang out, but her ulterior motives lead to a series of chaotic events. Critics have analyzed Ma for its themes surrounding race, but for those seeking pure entertainment, the melodramatic horror aspects certainly deliver.
Fans of Indian action films should not miss Ramayya Vasthavayya (2013), a revenge thriller starring N.T. Rama Rao Jr. (RRR), who has such a knack for dramatic slow-motion moments that cinema was lucky to arrive at the right moment in his timeline. Compared to the stylistic exuberance of RRR or the playful action-comedy of Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota (The Man Who Feels No Pain), Ramayya Vasthavayya adheres to more traditional tropes. Nandu (NTR) is head over heels for Akarsha (played by the renowned Samantha), but he harbors some secrets that lead to violent confrontations. Director Harish Shankar ensures that NTR looks stunning throughout, whether he’s facing physical attacks or dishing out punishment.
Lastly, much like Quentin Tarantino, we here at Polygon endorse Russell Crowe’s under-seen pandemic release, Unhinged. In this road-rage horror-thriller, Crowe plays the antagonist, bumping into an overworked single mother (Caren Pistorius) in a tense confrontation after she struggles to get her son to school.
The title is fitting: Crowe’s "The Man" embodies unhinged chaos! Instead of ignoring the honking vehicle behind him, he engages in a terrifying encounter reminiscent of Duel. Crowe commits fully to this animalistic portrayal, reminiscent of his role as Maximus in Gladiator, yet he surprisingly left empty-handed during awards season.
