MUST-WATCH: Something magical this way comes

This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Mads Mikkelsen in a scene from "Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore." (Warner Bros. Pictures via AP) © 2021 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

By James Mackin

Posted April 19, 2022 3:43 pm.

Last Updated April 24, 2022 12:51 pm.

Ever wanted to watch another film about the wizarding world? Well a new one is out now! But is it going to make the top spot of the MUST-WATCH Top 10? Or could that go to an anthology show about the wives of America’s most powerful men? Perhaps a new Canadian film about the troubled relationship between two sisters? You’ll have to keep reading to find out!

Choose or Die

Where to watch: Netflix

We’re starting this week off with some horror!

Choose or Die is a new film about a scary retro video game. A college student called Kayla (played by Iola Evans from the 100) discovers a choose your adventure video game that begins to affect everything around you when you play it. Should she keep playing and see if she can win, or should she step away before she loses herself? This film also stars Asa Butterfield (from Ender’s Game) and Eddie Marsan (from the World’s End).

You can watch this film on Netflix now!

We’re starting off this week with some horror!

Choose or Die is a new film starring Iola Evans (from the 400), Asa Butterfield (from Sex Education), and Eddie Marsan (from the World’s End). Evans plays a college student working as a cleaner to support her mother. She also collects retro video games and computer parts for Butterfield’s character. Eventually, she finds a video game called CURS>R. This game starts off easy enough, but very quickly it forces the player into sadistic decisions that affect the world around them. And the further you progress in the game, the more sadistic and personal the decisions become.

You can watch this film on Netflix now!

Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore

Where to watch: Cinemas

Next up, let’s take another trip to the wizarding world of Hogwarts!

Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore is the third entry in the Fantastic Beasts series, and the 11th film in the Harry Potter franchise. This newest film sees Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore (played here by Jude Law from the Young Pope) forming a team, including our hero Newt Scamander (played by Eddie Redmayne from the Theory of Everything). The team’s purpose is to stop Gellert Grindelwald (now played by Mads Mikkelsen from Another Round) from taking over both the magical world, and the Muggle world. They’ll have to travel all over the world, and encounter old friends turned foes, to save everyone.

You can watch this film in cinemas now!

Outer Range

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

Now, let’s take a look at some sci-fi on the ranch!

Royal Abbott (played by Josh Brolin) approaches a giant hole on his ranch in Outer Range.

Outer Range stars Josh Brolin (from Sicario and Avengers: Infinity War) as a ranch owner in Wyoming called Royal Abbott. With his family, he oversees a massive plot of land. One day, a hitchhiker called Autumn (played by Imogen Poots from Green Room) comes to camp on the land with Royal’s permission, and finds that a symbol that’s plagued her mind is starting to appear on the ranch. Then one night, Royal discovers a large hole in the middle of the ranch. Autumn and Royal decide to keep this hole a secret, but there are others who want to descend and learn whatever they can. This show also stars Lili Taylor (from Perry Mason), Tom Pelphrey (from Ozark) and Noah Reid (from Schitt’s Creek).

You can watch the first two episodes on Amazon Prime Video now!

All My Puny Sorrows

Where to watch: Cinemas

Next up, it’s time for a new Canadian film (just ahead of National Canadian Film day on April 20th)!

All My Puny Sorrows is an adaptation of the novel by Miriam Toews. It’s about two sisters who grew up in a Mennonite family, Yoli (played by Alison Pill from Picard and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World) and Elf (played by Sarah Gadon from Enemy and Alias Grace). They’ve left their religious lives behind, and Elf has moved on to become a famous concert pianist. As for Yoli, she’s a moderately successful writer, but she feels like she’s stuck living in her sister’s shadow. Both share a family trauma, which causes Elf to attempt suicide. Yoli flies out to her to help her recuperate, while Elf is trying to decide whether or not she actually wants to die.

You can watch this film in cinemas now!

The First Lady

Where to watch: Crave

Lastly, we’re wrapping this week up with a look at some famous First Ladies!

Betty Ford (Michelle Pfeiffer), Michelle Obama (Viola Davis), and Eleanor Roosevelt (Gillian Anderson) in Showtime’s The First Lady.

The First Lady is a new anthology show on Showtime. It takes a look at the changes in America’s history from the perspective of the closest confidant of certain Presidents. The First Ladies covered in the first season are Michelle Obama (played by Viola Davis from Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom), Betty Ford (played by Michelle Pfeiffer from the Age of Innocence), and Eleanor Roosevelt (played by Gillian Anderson from the Crown). Joining them as their husbands are O.T. Fagbenle (from the Handmaid’s Tale), Aaron Eckhardt (from the Dark Knight), and Kiefer Sutherland (from 24). This show showcases their personal struggles, such as Ford’s alcoholism and bouts with breast cancer, as they tackle some of the biggest issues in the world.

You can watch the first episode on Crave now!