The end of this extremely strange summer season has arrived (autumn officially starts in the UK on 22 September) and, whether you managed to escape for a staycation or have been making do with socially distanced barbecues, a new season heralds the opportunity for a new start – which is something we could all do with right now.
For many September will also see the end of working-from-home and the long awaited return to the office. And, while we’re sure you can’t wait to get back to that ergonomic chair and a desk that isn’t also your chest-of-drawers, we also know there’s still nothing better at the end of a long day than a good Netflix session. Thankfully the streaming service has delivered in droves, with classic thrillers and a raft of new documentaries, films and series premiering this month. Here’s what to watch on Netflix UK in September…
Zodiac, 1 September
Frequently voted as one of the 20th Century’s best films (in fact only No Country For Old Men and There Will Be Blood have appeared on more top ten lists), this mystery thriller from Fight Club director David Fincher is based on the true story of the hunt for the Zodiac serial killer in 1960s San Francisco. Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo and Robert Downey Jr as the principal investigators, this suspenseful, atmospheric tale was widely praised for its grown-up, sophisticated take on the horror genre when it was first released in 2007 – and is well worth a rewatch now.
Chef’s Table: BBQ, 2 September
This Emmy-nominated food show has taken viewers behind the scenes in some of the world’s most prestigious restaurants and showed the processes and passions of some on the world’s best chefs – but now it’s delving into an entirely different cuisine altogether. Forget artfully tweezed micro herbs, foams and reductions, the latest season of Chef’s Table is all about big flavours and even bigger cuts of meat. Whether its Tootise Tomantez, the 85-year-old grandmother who still shovels coals in her Texas restaurants or the unique Outback grilling ingredients used by Australian chef Lennox Hastie, you’ll never settle for supermarket sausages on your barbecue again.
Away, 4 September
A sci-fi drama that’s as rooted in the Earth as it is in the stars, Away follows American astronaut Emma Green (Hilary Swank) as she prepares to lead an international crew on the first mission to Mars. But, not only is this space exploration event fraught with unknowns, it also means leaving her teenage daughter and ill husband behind for three years. Told across ten hour-long episodes, this is equal parts human story and futuristic space tale and promises a Swank performance to rival her Oscar-winning turn in Million Dollar Baby.
The Social Dilemma, 9 September
Ever worried about your over reliance on your phone and the sheer amount on time you spend scrolling through Instagram? You’re not alone but it’s also not your fault – as this searing documentary from Jeff Orlowski sets out to demonstrate. Bringing the same hard-nosed approach to social media that he did to climate change with Chasing Ice and Chasing Coral, The Social Dilemma sets its sights on those of us who thinks ourselves too savvy to be taken advantage of online – and then systematically shows us how wrong we are through interviews with the people who created the tech and lived to regret it. It might just shock you into finally quitting Facebook.
Ratched, 18 September
First announced in September 2017, Ratched may just be Netflix’s most highly anticipated release of the year. Created by Evan Romansky, with heavy creative input from Ryan Murphy (he of American Horror Story and Glee fame), the series stars Sarah Paulson as Mildred Ratched, the infamous asylum nurse of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Set in 1947, this origin story presents Ratched as the quintessential dedicated nurse whose inner darkness propels her to work her way into the mental health system, manipulating the staff and patients around her for her own nefarious ends. Horror fans – add it to you watch list now.
Enola Holmes, 23 September
After a little light relief? Look no further. This young, fun take on the Sherlock Holmes cannon sees Milly Bobby Brown (you know her as Eleven from Stranger Things) star as the titular character and younger sister of the famed super-sleuth. When their mother (Helena Bonham-Carter) goes missing, Enola takes on her brother – played by Henry Cavill – to become a detective in her own right and uncover the truth behind a mysterious young Lord. Expect capers, adventure and plenty of twists and turns in this family-friendly film that aims to introduce a new generation of fans to Sherlock lore.
These are the classic films to stream now…
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