Stream Warriors: May 6, 2022
Each week, Neon Splatter contributors offer up some viewing options found on streaming (U.S. unless otherwise noted). Movies, TV shows, specials, and more. New and old, from all sorts of genres and nations. Most importantly, we deem them worthy of your time.
Kiley Fox: THE MECHANIC (1972)
What It Is: A professional hit man is planning to retire, always a difficult move for one in such a profession. A young apprentice appears to be eager to learn all the skills of the trade - but is that all he wants?
Where It Is: Amazon Prime, Paramount+
Why You Should Watch It: “This is my favorite Bronson film. I think the chemistry between him and Jan-Michael Vincent really works. It's suspenseful yet thoughtful. I love how it looks and feels.”
Alexis M. Collazo: Peaky Blinders (2013-2022)
What It Is: Birmingham, UK, 1919. In the aftermath of WW1, the Shelby family are making a name for themselves as bookmakers, racketeers and gangsters. Nominally the head of the family is the oldest brother, Arthur, but the real brains, ambition and drive in the organization lies with Tommy, the second oldest. He will carve out an empire for himself that will stretch beyond Birmingham. This with the aid of his family and his gang, the Peaky Blinders.
Where It Is: Netflix
Why You Should Watch It: “Thomas Shelby maybe the leader of the notorious gang Peaky Blinders, but he’s the bad guy you want to root for. He’s more honest and upfront than any of the so-called good guys, plus he’s always five steps ahead. Couldn’t stop watching to see what new scheme he came up with and how he extricated himself and his family from deadly situations.”
Khayla McGowan: WandaVision (2021)
What It Is: Blends the style of classic sitcoms with the MCU, in which Wanda Maximoff and Vision - two super-powered beings living their ideal suburban lives - begin to suspect that everything is not as it seems.
Where It Is: Disney+
Why You Should Watch It: “In preparation for DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS, I've been doing a breakneck sprint binge of everything I think would be required viewing for it. Revisiting WandaVision was like watching it for the first time (I still believe this is one of the best Marvel properties ever made), but with an added sense of horror at knowing what was to come! As a horror and Marvel fan, I'm loving the steer to merging the two and am excited to see the followup to this story this coming weekend!”
Jeremy Lowe: THE WOLF OF SNOW HOLLOW (2020)
What It Is: Terror grips a small mountain town as bodies are discovered after each full moon. Losing sleep, raising a teenage daughter, and caring for his ailing father, officer Marshall struggles to remind himself there's no such thing as werewolves.
Where It Is: Amazon Prime
Why You Should Watch It: “THE WOLF OF SNOW HOLLOW is one of the best werewolf movies ever. Smart, funny, and a real emotional roller coaster. Just think FARGO meets THE HOWLING. Really depicted alcoholism and mental health issues realistically. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!”
Rob Dean: Adult Swim Presents Ambient Swim (2021 - )
What It Is: 30-minute episodes of low key content and music to help you relax. This includes Hand drawn digital animation to spool down your mind, 8-bit animation from Paul Roberson and a selection of music from Warp Records, organic graphic animations driven by relaxing synthesized music, soothing old footage narrated by Joe Pera, and/or a tribute to retro ‘90s animation scored by Com Truise.
Where It Is: HBO Max
Why You Should Watch It: “Soundtracks of ChillWave, VaporWave, Lo-Fi beats, and genuinely calming electronic music, while utilizing impressive animation incorporating a myriad of styles and methods. They combine to create engaging visuals with soothing sounds. The Joe Pera episode is completely different from the rest and especially terrific as it feels like you are finally able to catch your breath.”
Brief preview of these entries and the vibes they make:
@adultswim A hand drawn tribute to retro 90’s anime featuring a soundtrack by Com Truise. Ambient Swim Vol. 2 now on @hbomax #adultswim #ambientswim #ambient #animation #comtruise ♬ original sound - [adult swim]