Welcome back to What the Hell Should I Watch?, your weekly Friday rundown of new movies, indie discoveries, and streaming picks worth your time.
This week’s episode is stacked with new releases, festival favorites, and under-the-radar gems, including a surprising turn from Bradley Cooper as a filmmaker, a chilling indie thriller that got under my skin fast, and a beautifully intimate drama about family, forgiveness, and creative healing.
Fresh For Your Eyeballs
I dive into several new films that couldn’t be more different in tone — but all left a mark:
Is This Thing On – Bradley Cooper dials back prestige and finds something far more human, with a terrific dramatic performance from Will Arnett alongside Laura Dern. A grounded, empathetic look at divorce, identity, and starting over.
Father, Mother, Sister, Brother – Jim Jarmusch returns with a quiet, vignette-driven meditation on family estrangement, connection, and love, featuring Tom Waits, Adam Driver, Cate Blanchett, and more.
The Plague – One of the most unsettling films I’ve seen in a long time. Set at a youth water polo camp, this psychological thriller turns bullying into real-world horror, anchored by a fearless young cast and a bone-deep sense of dread.
The Damned – A stark, atmospheric piece of Scandinavian folk horror set in a frozen fishing village, where one cruel decision unleashes something ancient and terrifying.
Exhibiting Forgiveness – A powerful, intimate indie drama about art, estranged fathers, and the complicated work of healing, led by outstanding performances from André Holland and Andra Day.
Look Into My Eyes – A quietly fascinating documentary that explores professional psychics and their clients, walking a careful line between skepticism, belief, and emotional truth.
Streaming Picks
On the streaming side, I catch up on:
Yellowjackets – Season 3 (Crave) – A noticeable course correction after a shaky second season, with stronger focus and momentum as the series heads toward its endgame.
Evolution of a Black Quarterback (Prime Video) – A thoughtful sports documentary examining the history, barriers, and impact of Black quarterbacks in the NFL.
1923 – Season 2 (Paramount+) – I wrap up the latest chapter in the Yellowstone universe, breaking down what works, what doesn’t, and why this might be the strongest of Taylor Sheridan’s prequel series.
A Taste of Next Week
Coming up next episode: 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, Joe Carnahan’s The RIP, Jodie Foster’s French-language drama A Private Life, plus a couple international films I’m eager to dig into.
If you’re looking for honest movie recommendations, thoughtful criticism, and a weekly guide through the overwhelming world of new releases and streaming, you’re in the right place.
New episodes drop every Friday at 9am Pacific
Like, subscribe, and let me know what you watched this week.
Steve Stebbing 