Weekend watchlist: 10 TV shows and movies to check out

Unhinged (UAE cinemas): Russell Crowe plays a deranged driver in the psychological thriller ‘Unhinged’. When he crosses paths with an unassuming woman, Rachel, at an intersection, The Man makes her his target, taking “road rage” to a whole new level. Crowe has said that the film represents where we are in society, where deadly sprees have become less and less rare.

Pinocchio (UAE cinemas): The Italian fantasy film ‘Pinocchio’ is a critical hit, based on the 1883 book ‘The Adventures of Pinocchio’, penned by Italian author Carlo Collodi. The film, dubbed in English, combines fantasy with reality through the use of prosthetic make-up instead of CGI. It tells the classic story of the wooden boy (Federico Ielapi) who comes to life at the hands of Gepetto (Roberto Benignit), and whose nose grows with every lie he tells.

Cobra Kai (Netflix): Be careful with this one — the nostalgia might kick you right in the feels! In the hit TV series sequel to the ‘Karate Kid’ films, now in its second season, William Zabka and Ralph Macchio reprise their roles as nemeses Johnny Lawrence and Ralph Macchio 30 years later. The show is about redemption, rivalry and the true meaning of mercy and honour. You don’t have to have seen the films to understand the show; strategically placed flashbacks will fill you in on these characters’ rich history.

Intelligence (Starzplay): David Schwimmer stars across from Nick Mohammed in this TV-MA rated comedy series. The six-episode show follows a NSA agent Jerry Bernstein (Schwimmer) who joins forces with computer analyst Joseph Harries (Mohammed) to form a new cyber crimes unit in the UK’s Government Communications Headquarters. In July, the show was renewed for a second season.

Get Organized with The Home Edit (Netflix): It’s incredibly therapeutic to watch Netflix’s ‘Get Organized with The Home Edit’. Think of it as decluttering expert Marie Kondo on steroids. Two amiable women — Joanna and Clea — go into the homes of celebrities and ordinary folk to help them declutter. The reality show is pleasingly voyeuristic and rewarding to watch. Trust us, shelving has never looked cooler.

C U Soon (Amazon Prime Video): If you are in the mood for a well-made Malayalam thriller set in the UAE, director Mahesh Narayan’s ‘C U Soon’ starring Fahadh Faasil is a great choice. Without the usual cinematic crutches of bombastic dialogues, high budgets, suspenseful music and larger-than-life heroes, director Narayan gives us a crash course on keeping it simple, but not stupid. The acting by Roshan Matthews and Darshana Rajendran as a couple who meet on a dating app is splendid too.

War (UAE cinemas): If you have been missing larger-than-life, dashing Bollywood heroes obliterate their enemies on the big screen, then why not re-visit ‘War’, starring the hunky Hrithik Roshan and Tiger Shroff? This adventure flick is high on action and will appease the Bollywood potboiler fan in you. Plus, Roshan’s entry scene is a sight to behold.

#Alive (Netflix): Zombie films never go out of style, and here’s a new one that might hit close to home amid the pandemic. Set in South Korea, a video game live streamer is stuck at home as a zombie apocalypse breaks out outside. He has to figure out a way to survive even as the living dead are right at his door.

It’s Okay to Not Be Okay (Netflix): Elements of fantasy, romance and mental health awareness come together in this much-talked-about Korean drama. A mean-spirited — and very fashionable — children’s book author and a psych ward caretaker cross paths and find themselves on a journey to healing.

The Host (Netflix): If you’re a fan of South Korean director Bong Joon-ho’s Oscar-winning movie ‘Parasite’, his 2006 film ‘The Host’ is a must-watch. The exhilarating, highly rated thriller sees a snack bar owner attempt to rescue his daughter from the clutches of a giant sea monster. Weird, but interesting right?