This week on What The Hell Should I Watch? I fly solo and tackle a mixed bag of new releases — including the return of one of horror’s most famous franchises, an intense erotic drama of class systems, a hockey remake that Chloe and I first saw at VIFF, and a sharp thriller about obsession and proximity to fame.
I also added a classic and influential stand-up film to my physical media collection and preview what I’m hoping to watch next week.
Fresh For Your Eyeballs
First up is Scream 7, the latest entry in the long-running franchise. After years of twists, creative shakeups, and controversy behind the scenes, Ghostface returns once again. This time the story centers on Sidney Prescott as her quiet new life is disrupted when a new killer emerges — and her daughter becomes the next target. I definitely have a lot of vitriol to get out about this one and have my regrets in NOT boycotting.
Next is Dreams, a tense erotic drama from director Michel Franco. The film follows a powerful American socialite and an undocumented Mexican ballet dancer whose affair spirals into something far more dangerous. Starring Jessica Chastain and Isaac Hernández, it’s a film about power, class, desire, and manipulation — and it’s definitely one that shows off that slow burn style that Franco is known for.
Then I revisit a film Chloe and I caught at the Vancouver International Film Festival: Youngblood, out this week in theaters. This reimagining of the classic hockey drama follows a talented young player trying to prove himself after joining a tough team in Hamilton. It hits a lot of familiar sports-movie beats, but there’s still plenty to talk about when it comes to how this version handles the material and what it chooses to ignore.
Finally, I look at Lurker, a tense and unsettling story about fame and proximity to it. The film follows a retail worker who manages to worm his way into the inner circle of an up-and-coming musician. As access grows, so does the danger. It’s a sharp little thriller about obsession, jealousy, and the strange dynamics that surround celebrity culture, very fitting for our current social media and celebrity crossover.
New To The Library
This week I added Richard Pryor: Here and Now to my collection, now on 4K. It joins Live on the Sunset Strip on my shelf, and it’s notable because Pryor actually directed this one himself — making it his theatrical directing debut. It’s always great seeing classic stand-up performances get proper restorations.
A Taste of Next Week
Here’s what I’m hoping to dig into next week:
Hoppers
The Bride!
Protector
War Machine
…and possibly a few other surprises depending on what lands on my screen.
New episodes of What The Hell Should I Watch? drop every week.
Steve Stebbing 