All relationships have to end

Rental Family, starring Brendan Fraser, is set in present-day Tokyo. Phillip, an American actor who has reached a dead end in his life, lands an unusual job at a Japanese "rental family" company. He begins to portray missing family members - such as a father, a husband, or a friend - for strangers. Gradually, these enacted relationships start to evolve into genuine emotional bonds. It comes as no surprise that the film develops into a deeply touching, heartwarming story.

We have to listen to the ocean

Kraken (2026) is a Norwegian monster and disaster horror film directed by Pål Øie. Strange things begin to happen in a deep fjord. Wild salmon are dying in droves, some aquatic creatures are fleeing en masse toward the mainland, and people are disappearing. And that is where the money - and the ideas - run out in this film. 

Out of the shadows and into the sun

A documentary film that tells the story of the 50-year history of Iron Maiden, one of the world's best heavy metal bands. A journey from the pubs of East London to the world’s largest stadiums—featuring lineup changes, hardships, illnesses, success, and a return to the top. Perspectives are also provided by famous fans such as Javier Bardem, Lars Ulrich, Tom Morello, and the Nifelheim brothers, Per and Erik Gustavsson. Above all, a 50th-anniversary celebration - by a truly unique and outstanding band - that gives you goosebumps. Incredible.

Have a nice death

Kind of fun. A dark sci-fi comedy directed by Bong Joon-ho, best known for the film Parasite. Humanity sends an expedition to colonize a distant ice planet. Mickey (Robert Pattison) is a worker tasked with handling the most dangerous jobs - which makes sense, given that he is an expendable employee. When he dies, he is simply printed again, yet the memories of his predecessor remain. Problems arise when he is believed to be dead and the next version of him is printed. The idea is absolutely brilliant, but somehow the execution in this film falls short.

Just questions. Lots of questions.

This is a clever, highly distinctive, and exceptionally entertaining miniseries that blends sci-fi, mystery, and British drama and comedy. A warm-hearted show created by actor Mackenzie Crook - known, in particular, from The Office. Michael Sleep’s (the brilliant Pearce Quickley) girlfriend disappeared years ago, and he has not been able to move on with his life. He receives from his father (the equally excellent Michael Palin) an alchemical recipe that can be used to grow small, magical creatures (known as homunculi). With their help, it should be possible to predict the future and get an answer as to whether the wife will ever return. Michael begins crafting creatures in his garden shed, sparking the interest of curious neighbors and colleagues. Such excellently crafted entertainment that you’ll happily devour it in one sitting. Hopefully, there are sequels on the way.

The spirit of all our faiths

Roland Emmerich’s disaster films (Independence Day, Godzilla, The Day After Tomorrow, and this one—the 2009 film 2012) are often viewed as something of a joke. But, much like with farces, if you encounter them rarely enough, you might even come to appreciate them. Here, the Earth faces destruction - a near-total apocalypse - and somewhere, in the shadowy chambers of businessmen, politicians and the super-rich, vessels are being built - a kind of Noah’s Ark - to which only a select few have the right of access, allowing them to escape the fate that is consuming this world. Silly antics and completely nonsensical action, but quite entertaining - even though (spoiler alert) an estimated 7 billion people die in the film. Practically the entire human race.

Everyone's entitled to one good scare

John Carpenter’s original Halloween (1978) has spawned a total of 12 sequels. The deeply disturbed Michael Myers kills his sister and is subsequently committed to a mental institution, from which he escapes to continue his killing spree. The film is an absolute masterpiece of the horror genre and gave rise to a subgenre defined by a villain hiding behind a mask - a concept that has, in turn, inspired thousands of filmmakers. Starring Jamie Lee Curtis and Donald Pleasance.

Until we settle on a sewer grate

Watching farcical comedies like this more than once in a blue moon would be too much, but when viewed very infrequently, one can actually enjoy them - to a certain extent, at least. In the film, a group of friends sets out to create a reboot of the original Anaconda - the 1997 movie starring Jennifer Lopez, Jon Voight, Eric Stoltz, and Ice Cube - which happens to be a shared favorite of theirs. Naturally, they try to squeeze every bit of fun out of the whole endeavor. It is highly disposable, easily forgotten entertainment, but as mentioned, when you watch something like this only rarely, it’s actually quite an enjoyable experience.

We are not alone

It is certainly a high-quality production - what else would you expect from a film directed by Steven Spielberg? Yet, some of his former brilliance seems to have vanished. When compared to his earlier works - such as Indiana Jones, E.T., Jaws, Schindler’s List, or Saving Private Ryan - this feels like run-of-the-mill stuff. The premise is fine, but many of the action sequences are, if not outright flawed, at least rather unimaginative and quite silly. A very mediocre piece of work.

The bottom of the well

A talented musician prone to depression returns to his home turf - a small town in Western Finland - to clear his head. Egged on by old acquaintances, he begins composing and performing highly marginal, pseudo-artistic stuff - the kind that defies the norms of traditional classical music and might not be well-received in sophisticated, high-culture circles. Jossain on valo joka ei sammu (A Light That Never Goes Out), by Lauri-Matti Parppei, is a film that looks and feels just like real life; a fairly conventional Finnish drama that works well enough for as long as you care to watch it.

The quickest way to escape your problems

Although it’s completely silly and the script doesn’t hold up to even the slightest scrutiny, it can at least be enjoyed as pure entertainment. A couple finds themselves accompanied on a hot-air balloon trip by a truly nasty woman, and up there - a million kilometers in the sky - their conflicts can take a rather dangerous turn. This is one of those movies where you can just laugh at the flaws and its stupidity; it’s not going to ruin your day. 

Humans do stupid things all the time

This series features a few inconsequential - and even quite annoying - characters who get far too much screen time. However, the core premise - an endearing alien settling into a small Colorado town - is otherwise executed brilliantly; Alan Tudyk, who plays the outsider, delivers comedy at its finest with his superb, understated, deadpan performance. In short: the second season of Resident Alien.

All this philosophy, let's get rid of it

Absolutely fantastic. The 1966 film Fahrenheit 451, directed by François Truffaut and starring Julie Christie and Oskar Werner. Based on the book by Ray Bradbury. Nostalgic sci-fi set in a dystopian world where reading or owning books is against the law - and the fire department’s job, instead of putting out fires, is to burn those dreadful tomes!

Tables don't bleed blood

In itself, everything here is spot on. Backrooms is a scary horror film, steeped in mystery. It is superbly executed - and superbly acted, too. However, with these kinds of unique stories - which can be interpreted in a thousand different ways - one can just as easily end up feeling frustrated. Still, it is chillingly intriguing.

Crosses to gallows

Fauda continues to be incredibly intense. The ongoing feud and relentless killings between Israel’s secret service and Hamas keep escalating to new levels. The fifth season makes a brief detour to Marseille, France - a move that triggers an absolutely wild, intense spiral of violence and death. This magnificent series has not shown any signs of weakening for a single moment.

When the time comes

A special forces soldier and his dog become stranded in the Alaskan wilderness after their plane breaks down, sparking an intense struggle for survival. When depicting the shared survival and perilous adventures of an animal and its human, there is always a risk that the story will devolve into a tear-jerker. Fortunately, this film was crafted as a sufficiently intense survival story - not devoid of emotion, but realistic enough to offer more than just the interaction between a human and a dog.

Standing on plastic

Everything that needs to be said about this has already been said. It remains a damn good action movie - one of the genre's elite - and the chemistry between Danny Glover and Mel Gibson works brilliantly. Plus, Joe Pesci’s character adds an extra layer of entertainment.