As we do every week, the Cinemast staff has some great new recommendations this week for your weekend Netflix watching delight! This week you’ll find drama and action coming out of your ears with our recommended titles. This weekend as you nestle in for some Netflix watching, check out some of our weekend recommendations and let us know what you think!
THE NIGHT COMES FOR US
Directed by: Timo Tjahjanto
Starring: Iko Uwais, Joe Taslim
Synopsis: Ito, a gangland enforcer, is caught amidst a treacherous and violent insurrection within his Triad crime family.
Why It’s Worth A Watch: With nonstop bloody violence and inventive choreography, this visceral narrative shows the best of Indonesian action. The film didn’t rise to the same fame as the film it is often compared to, The Raid 2, but the comparisons make sense, given Tjahjanto is a close collaborator with Gareth Evans (they co-directed the best segment in VHS2). However, this film is not to be missed for those who like their action by way of ultraviolence, head-smashing, and dismemberment. A masterpiece of splatter cinema. — Jeffery Sanders
THE FOREIGNER
Directed by: Martin Campbell
Starring: Jackie Chan, Pierce Brosnan, Katie Leung
Synopsis: A humble London businessman’s relentless search to find the terrorists that kidnapped his daughter leads to a cat-and-mouse conflict with a British government official whose own past may hold the clues to the identities of the elusive killers.
Why It’s Worth A Watch: Martin Campbell’s The Foreigner is a great mixture of drama and action thriller. The film is a rollercoaster of emotional moments and well-planned action sequences. Jackie Chan’s performance proves that he’s not just the action star. But also Oscar-worthy in his dramatic performance. Chan’s the man! Pierce Brosnan’s Irish accent may be a little off at times, even though he was originally born in Ireland. However, his performance is fantastic too. From both acting to directing to cinematic sequences–The Foreigner is one to watch this weekend! — John Pugh
WACO
Created by: Drew Dowdle, John Erick Dowdle
Starring: Michael Shannon, Taylor Kitsch, Andrea Riseborough
Synopsis: The FBI and ATF seize religious leader David Koresh’s Branch Davidian compound near Waco, Texas in the spring of 1993.
Why It’s Worth A Watch: This 6 episode miniseries follows the story of David Koresh and his Branch Davidian followers and the FBI agents involved in the infamous Waco, Texas massacre in the early ’90s. It’s a quick binge-watch for the weekend with great performances from Taylor Kitsch as Koresh and Michael Shannon as Gary Noesner, the FBI negotiator trying to strike a deal with Koresh. The cast is bolstered with an excellent supporting cast and weaves actual Waco news footage into the story, which really punctuates the harrowing ordeal. The miniseries pays respects where due to both sides of the standoff and it’s one that will have you on the edge of your seat, even if you know how it ends. — Brandon Treadway
EXTRACTION
Directed by: Sam Hargrave
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Rudhraksh Jaiswal
Synopsis: Tyler Rake, a fearless black market mercenary, embarks on the most deadly extraction of his career when he’s enlisted to rescue the kidnapped son of an imprisoned international crime lord.
Why It’s Worth A Watch: Above all, Extraction is worth a watch for the brilliantly conceived action sequences which include, among other things, a 12-minute oner that’s as intense as it is exhausting. Beyond that, screenwriter Joe Russo (who co-wrote and co-directed the last two Avengers movies) brings a surprising amount of weight to the proceedings while stunt coordinator Sam Hargrave makes a dynamic directorial debut. Did I fail to mention that Chris Hemsworth stars in this movie? Well, he does and he brings physicality and vulnerability in equal measure but he’s actually best in here when he’s sharing the screen with effective young co-star, Rudhraksh Jaiswal. Ultimately, what the ultra-violent Extraction lacks in originality, it more than makes up for in breathtaking action, a breakneck pace, and strong performances. If you want to read more, here’s our full review. — Adam Mast
