Weekend watchlist: 10 TV shows and movies to check out

‘Venom: Let There Be Carnage’ (UAE cinemas): Following the hit original movie from 2018, Eddie Brock returns to shake up the big screen. The character, played brilliantly by Tom Hardy, is still dealing with being attached to a shape-shifting extraterrestrial called Venom. However, when a serial killer Cletus Kasady also gets his own alien symbiote, Brock and Venom have to come together to take on this villain.

‘The Last Duel’ (UAE cinemas): The new historical drama from director Ridley Scott is based on a book of the same name and features an all-star cast of Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Jodie Comer and Adam Driver. The movie is set in 1386 and follows the story of a knight who challenges his friend and squire to a duel after the knight’s wife accuses the friend of raping her.

‘Hosala Rakh’ (UAE cinemas): This light-hearted Punjabi romantic comedy is a great way to unwind over the weekend. It stars Diljit Dosanjh as a single father to a son who attempts to find love again. The movie explores what happens when he crosses paths with his ex who returns to his city after seven years. It also stars Sonam Bajwa, Shehnaaz Gill and Shinda Grewal.

‘Maid’ (Netflix): This new series is a raw and heartbreaking account of one woman’s journey to break free from a tough life. Inspired by the book ‘Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother’s Will to Survive’ by Stephanie Land, the show follows Alex, a mother of one who leaves her abusive partner and turns to housecleaning to make a living and put a roof over their heads.

‘The Baby-Sitters Club’ (Netflix): Here’s another series based on the popular books. ‘The Baby-Sitters Club’ is a fun comedy drama based on seven friends who start their own babysitting business. The young girls end up grappling with the rollercoaster of school, new relationships and important life lessons.

‘Incarnate’ (Netflix): Dr Seth Ember (Aaron Eckhart) has the ability to go into the minds of the possessed and get them out – it’s something he’s been doing since a demon controlling a woman crashed into his car and killed his family. The hunt for that demon has now come to a head – it’s possessing a young boy whose mum has asked Ember for his help. Mortal versus monster – let the fight for life begin.

‘No One Gets Out Alive’ (Netflix): Strange sounds, visions of people who aren’t around. A tough life awaits Ambar who is an undocumented immigrant in America. She’s trying to piece her life together in an unknown land after her mum’s death — this story is frightening and not just because of the supernatural. Humans - conniving and manipulative — feature in this journey as well.

‘House of Secrets: The Burari Deaths’ (Netflix): It’s not an easy watch, but this riveting documentary about the deaths of 11 members of a family in India’s Burari area of Delhi is a must-watch. Directed by Leena Yadav of ‘Parched’ and ‘Rajma Chawal’ fame, the plot of this docu-series is chilling. But what’s more scary is that it’s not fiction, but a real-life incident that sent shock-waves across India. A family across three generations were found hanging from the ceiling — blindfolded, gagged, and their hands tied behind their backs. Multiple theories on their death are explored in this series. If you are looking for closure to one of the most mysterious mass deaths in India, you are not going to get it here. But this well-made series makes for an impressive one-time viewing. It’s fascinating, morbid and macabre.

‘Rashmi Rocket’ (Zee5): Bollywood actress Taapsee Pannu has earned enough street-cred to ensure that if she’s in a film, then it’s a reason enough to watch it. But it’s not just Pannu who’s the biggest draw here. Out on Zee5 on October 15, this sports drama explores the controversial gender-testing process among female professional athletes. Pannu plays a running champion who’s found to have too much testosterone and is disgraced. She hits back and it’s her fight for earning back her dignity and her honour.

‘Udham Singh’ (Amazon Prime Video): Director Shoojit Sircar and actor Vicky Kaushal have trained their collection concentration on bringing to life the times of Indian revolutionary Udham Singh. This icon assassinated Michael O’Dwyer, the former lieutenant governor of Punjab, on March 13, 1940, in London, in retaliation for the Jallianwala Bagh massacre of 1919, is revered in Punjab and the rest of India. His rage against the British who colonised India will be chronicled in this biopic. It’s out on October 16.