The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman is back with Invincible, a new ultra-violent animated series on Amazon Prime – and it’s damn good!
Invincible tells the story of Mark Grayson (Steven Yeun) a seemingly normal teenager and son of Omni-Man, an extraterrestrial superhero with Earth-shattering powers. Eventually, Mark will inherit his father’s abilities and join him in fighting crime and laser-beaming people in half. He starts to realise, that his father, the most powerful being on the planet isn’t the hero everyone thinks he is. He might just be just like a version of Homelander -only with a Tom Selleck moustache (That’s a fantastic combination). Heads will roll. Guts will spill.
Omni-Man
And, man, what a fantastic cast. We have Steven Yeun, J.K. Simmons, Sandra Oh, Mark Hamill, Zachary Quinto, Seth Rogen, Clancy Brown, Walton Goggins and loads more.
And Amazon Prime caught me again. I thought I was sitting down to the full first season. Nope. There were only three episodes which left me with a thirst for more. Thanks for that Amazon. So now the wait begins for episode 4. I can’t wait. I am really enjoying it.
Invincible first appeared in an issue of Savage Dragon in 2002. It then got its own series and was published in 2003. It ended in 2017 after 144 issues.
If you fancy yourself some adult animation and beautiful gratuitous ultra-violence then stop what you’re doing and go and check out Robert Kirkman’s Invincible on Amazon Prime Video.
How long until the news is announced that we will get a live-action version or spin-off movie? I’ll give it one month.
Season one consists of 8-episodes. Only 3 episodes have been released so far. It’s up to you, check it out now and wait weekly or starve yourself so you can binge it in its entirety. Either way, I hope you enjoy it.
Keanu Reeves will star in adaptations of HIS OWN new ultra-violent comic BRZRKR
Keanu Reeves has ventured into something completely new and unexpected. He has just made his writing debut with a new ultra-violent graphic novel called BRZRKR. A new 12-part series written by Keanu Reeves with New York Times bestselling co-writer Matt Kindt (Folklords, Bang!) & artist Ron Garney (Wolverine, Captain America).
Netflix did not take long to snatch up the rights to adapt BRZRKR. Keanu just cooked up a franchise and Netflix smelt what was cooking.
The first issue is was just released at the start of the month 03/03/21 by Boom Studios!.
Check out the amazing cover art for Issue 1
BRZRKR: VOLUME 1
BRZRKR” is a brutally epic saga about an immortal warrior’s 80,000-year fight through the ages. The man known only as “B” is half-mortal and half-god, cursed and compelled to violence, even at the sacrifice of his sanity. But after wandering the earth for centuries, B may have finally found a refuge — working for the U.S. government to fight the battles too violent and too dangerous for anyone else. In exchange, B will be granted the one thing he desires — the truth about his endless blood-soaked existence, and how to end it.
We all know it, don’t we? – there is no better hardcore violence than what we see in graphic novels. They know no boundaries, they can go anywhere, right to the ultimate extreme, they can do anything. Those boundaries usually come with a screen adaptation where they would tone down the content to supposedly suit the viewer “cough cough” @Preacher. With streaming services like Netflix, or Prime, we are getting to see a more truthful version of graphic novel adaptations.
We also have another ultra-violent adaptation hitting Netflix next month called Homunculus. It is based on a Manga by Ichi the Killer creator Hideo Yamamoto & described as “extreme psychological horror”. What I am trying to say is that Netflix doesn’t care about certification or ratings – they care about viewers. Violence has more than proven to bring in the numbers. People like to see carnage, death and destruction. It’s pretty simple: violence sells. Netflix knows this & will be doing the same with BRZRKR. I can not wait to see the insanity that’s in store.
We have learnt some new information about HBO’s upcoming adaptation of Naughty Dog’s The Last Of Us.
Ok superfans…brace yourself because we are about to enter a world of change.
Here’s what Druckmann said in an interview with IGN about what we should expect from the first season of the new HBO series
“the philosophical underpinnings of the story will be similar to what Joel and Ellie go through in the 2013 game. But as far as the superficial things, like should a character wear the same plaid shirt or the same red shirt? They might or might not appear in it, that’s way less important to us than getting the core of who these people are and the core of their journey.
In the game, you have to train the player about mechanics. You have to have more violence and more spectacle to some degree than you would need on a TV show because you don’t need to train people on how to use a gun. So that’s something that’s been really different, and HBO’s been great in pushing us to move away from hardcore action and focus more on the drama of the character. Some of my favourite episodes so far have deviated greatly from the story, and I can’t wait for people to see them.”
I am sure whatever direction they’re going to go is going to be amazing. You only have to look at who’s involved in the series to know that. I could’ve done without hearing they’re steering away from the action though.
The game itself isn’t really that action-packed anyway. Yes, it certainly has its moments but it is way more stealthy. Most of the action comes from the different characters we meet along the way. I am sure that just like in the game when action is required, we will not be disappointed.
When Pedro Pascal was cast as Joel it was met with some mixed feelings. I even saw a hashtag from people that really made me chuckle: #NotMyJoel. HA, really?. Was I expecting Pascal to get cast?. No. Did I cry like a big baby? Also no!. Yeah, to me and millions of others, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau seemed like a perfect fitting for the role of Joel but I can’t wait to see what Pascal brings to the table. The man is a terrific actor, highly sought after and has been killing it lately.
What it all boils down to was that people were (are) getting pissed off at the casting of a CGI character. The man doesn’t even exist, he is a computer-generated image lol but still…#NotMyJoel. Humans baffle me sometimes.
Stay tuned for more information on the HBO The Last of Us series on Moviehooker. We will be with the series every step of the way. As always, thanks for reading.
Article by GG Founder/Owner/BigCheese @ Moviehooker
It’s getting closer, the wait is almost over – Zack Snyder’s Army of the Dead is almost here, but that ain’t all we’re getting!
It looks like Netflix have high hopes for Zack Snyder’s upcoming zombie film Army of The Dead. It has been announced that a feature-length prequel to Army of the Dead is on the way also. And not only that, we will be treated to a wonderful 4-part animated series that takes us back to the origin of infection.
As I have said before, Army of the Dead has been around a long time. In fact, it was written just 4-years after the release of Snyder’s DOTD remake. It has been on a shelf since 2008. So, just my personal opinion, I think when Snyder wrote Army of the Dead then it was at least set in the same universe as DOTD. Now those rumours are said not to be true. But, if it was a sequel, prequel or set in the same universe as Dawn of the Dead, then that would destroy or mess up the plans for more movies. And we know what more movies means?…more cash and BOOM – a franchise! Army of the Dead is now a standalone film with no ties to an already owned franchise.
Very little information is available but I can tell you that they are happening: A feature-length movie and an animated series, both prequels to Snyder’s upcoming zombie film Army of the Dead.
More Zombie Action Coming From Netflix in 2021
We should also see the return of the fantastic zombie series Black Summer as it returns for a second season.
If you haven’t checked out Black Summer then please do. I really enjoyed it despite reading some really bad reviews for it. A great approach to the zombie apocalypse that focuses way more than the action than the soap opera-style drama. Stephen King also gave it a special mention on Twitter recently.
No details regarding the release for the new season but it is said to be dropping sometime this year.
More from the great Kingdom
South Korean zombie series, Kingdom will also be returning with a special feature-length episode called Kingdom: Ashin of the North ahead of the third season. The special one-off episode will be an origin story of the resurrection flower.
In the meantime, Army of the Dead will release on Netflix on May 21st. The teaser trailer drops this Thursday!
Check out our brand new list of excellent TV shows that may have missed and slipped under the radar for some.
No Man’s Land
As tense as they come, No Man’s Land is a terrific production between France & Turkey. It deals with a group of female Kurdish resistance fighters who dedicate their lives on the frontline fighting ISIS.
After seeing a video of a suicide bombing online, Antoine drops everything and goes in search of his presumably dead sister, Anna.
Season one has just wrapped after 8-episodes. A very powerful series with excellent character development, making you understand the choices of each individual character and how they arrived at where they are.
Little Drummer Girl
Another one I am late to the game with. Little Drummer Girl is directed by none other than Park Chan Wook (Oldboy). Starring Florence Pugh, Alexander Skarsgård and Michael Shannon
An actress is recruited by a secret spy agency to infiltrate a terrorist organisation. Her role: to become the ex-girlfriend of a wanted terrorist and gather intel.
Full of top-notch performances but yet again Florence Pugh steals the show. After her intense performance as Danni in Midsommar, she continues to show growing-strength in every role she is choosing. Without a doubt, my favourite actress at the minute.
The Outsider
Based on a novel by Stephen King and starring Jason Bateman. The Outsider was a hugely popular HBO series that got released last year.
Multiple eyewitnesses claim to have seen a blood-soaked killer in the same area a brutal killing of a young boy has taken place. The cops soon realise that something otherworldly and more sinister is at work.
A solid series that does sort of drag out a bit but still well worth your time and commitment.
Sharp Objects
Sharp Objects follows reporter, Camille. After fleeing her small town, its horrible memories and her controlling mother, she is forced back home to cover the story of a murdered kid. It doesn’t take long to notice why she left as her memories start to flood back which is deeply affecting her mental state.
In a way, Sharp Objects reminded me a little of Martha Marcy May Marlene in the way the flashbacks are told.
The Act
I just fucking knew that it was going to be bleak (I mean, look at that poster…deranged!). No monsters, no zombies, ghosts or vampires, this award-winning series deals with something way scarier than any fictional monster – humans…and based on a shocking true story as well.
Patricia Arquette plays the mother of Gypsy Rose, a young kid who has every sort of illness imaginable. She is wheelchair-bound, fed through a tube in her stomach and has to sleep with oxygen masks covering her whole face. As well as all of the above-mentioned, she has serious life-threatening allergies. But, maybe her daughter ain’t as sick as she seems
As well as Patricia Arquette giving us a terrifying performance as Dee Dee Blanchard, Joey King, who plays the daughter, Gypsy Rose is every bit as good. Both of them together is one of the strongest TV duos in recent memory.
That’s it for this list of TV Shows You May Have Missed. Hope we have hooked you up with some nice binge-worthy material. As always, thanks for reading.
Article by GG Founder/Owner/BigCheese @ Moviehooker
We are back with another list of awesome content on Netflix. Below, in no particular order are the Top Ten Best South Korean TV Shows On Netflix
If you haven’t already, you should be checking out the amazing South Korean content on Netflix. If you’re a fan of SK films then get ready to be submerged in hours of highly-addictive crime, drama, comedy and horror. These are Moviehooker’s Top Ten Best South Korean TV Shows on Netflix. We hope you enjoy
KINGDOM
Ok, chances are, you’ve already checked out Kingdom. But without a shadow of a doubt, it is one of the best things on Netflix
The series focuses on a rare flower that has resurrection powers which bring the dead back to life. Kingdom has a huge budget, full of jaw-dropping set pieces, gore and action. Series two was released last year with a third season coming in 2021
There is also a one-off episode titled Kingdom: Ashin Of The North that will also be released before we get season 3. The one-off special is based on the short Burning Hell and will tell the origin story of the resurrection flower.
TUNNEL
A detective is somehow thrown 30-years into the future. While searching for clues in 1986, detective Park Gwang-ho finds himself in modern-day South Korea in 2016.
This show has a bit of everything. A highly-addictive series that ticks all the boxes making this one of the best crime shows there is.
SIGNAL
Another K-drama that deals with the past and present. Two detectives, one from the past and one in present-day both work to bring down a serial killer.
The crimes portrayed in Signal are based on the real-life murders that inspired many South Korean films including Bong Joon-ho’s phenomenal Memories of Murder.
THE GOOD DETECTIVE
The Good Detective focuses on two cops; Oh Ji Hyuk, a fresh graduate from the Korean National Police University and detective Gang Do Chang who is known for his hard work, dedication to the force and conviction records.
When a man is wrongly convicted of the murder of a young woman and sentenced to death Detective Oh Ji Hyuk finds new evidence proving his innocence.
But with this newfound evidence, Detective Gang Do Chang who was the arresting officer must admit that he was wrong. This ignites a search for the truth to free the wrongly convicted man from death row. Detective Gang Do Chang isn’t ready to admit his errors and tries to cover his tracks.
This a brand new Netflix series that just arrived less than a week ago.
STRANGER
Stranger is more of a political drama dealing with corruption from the highest levels of power. The series focuses on prosecutor Hwang Shi Mok as he tries to bring down those responsible for a murder where a man died in a frenzied knife attack.
Our main protagonist is highly intelligent and almost void of any emotion after having an operation as a kid because he was using too much of his brain. The only problem is, he also carries the traits of a psychopath.
I have no idea how 4 Blocks got past me. In a way, it’s great because I get to binge everything that is available…well, on Amazon Prime anyways.
4 Blocks is set in Berlin, it focuses on a Lebanese drug cartel/mafia run by Toni Hamady. Toni and his gang of Arab thugs make their fortune preying on the weak and vulnerable, getting the poor addicted to crack.
When their lifelong buddy, Vince arrives back on the scene after being away for decades he is quickly taken under Toni’s wing. But unlike, Toni, everyone isn’t as fast to trust, Vince.
A bitter turf breaks out between Toni & co and a local German biker gang called The Cthulhus (yay! An H.P Lovecraft reference).
4 Blocks is highly addictive….just like the crack they’re pushing.
The setting of all the high rise flats, drug dealers living the life of luxury while the majority of people suffer because of desperation and addiction is just like the fantastic Gomorrah. I made that comparison 5-minutes into the first episode. Then, the biker gang comes into it which really gives it a Sons of Anarchy vibe.
Season 2 deals with the same crimelords, only we get more gangs involved…and if you think the bikers were badass, then wait until you meet the others
There is a third season released (TNT Original) but as of yet, it ain’t available on Amazon Prime.
So, if you’re a fan of Gomorrah, Sons of Anarchy or any other really respected crime/mafia series then I advise you to get on 4 Blocks as soon as possible. You won’t be disappointed.
One of the best things I have watched in a long time. I was so gutted that season 3 wasn’t available on Amazon Prime. For those of you that have access to TNT, I am sure you’ll get hooked up with season 3 there. Lucky you!
Deadline has just reported that Tim Burton will make an Addams Family TV series
What a perfect way for Burton to make his small-screen debut than to resurrect the perfect American family. It is also rumoured that this new take on the franchise will be set in present-day America (oh dear Jesus). Not only that, but apparently the new tv show will be shown through the eyes of Wednesday Addams.
How good would it be if Christina Ricci now plays the role of Morticia Addams? Is there a more perfect casting that hasn’t happened yet?
Why has nobody ever put Burton and the Addams Family together? I mean, come on, now that this has been announced, it seems crazy that they have never collaborated together before.
With Burton’s previous movies like Sleepy Hollow, Dark Shadows, BeetleJuice & Edward Scissorhands – The Addams Family seems like a more than perfect match for Burton.
The Addams Family and its sequels, tv show and even the recent animated film were all fantastic. Ok, the animated film that was recently released (with a sequel on the way next year) was more light-hearted but it was still a hugely enjoyable watch. Most of us grew up with the movies, and to this day, they’re still eerily relevant. They were dark and filled with jokes we definitely understand more as adults. They’re a prime example of “they don’t make them like they used to”.
Burton is rumoured to be directing all the episodes. Alfred Gough and Miles Millar (Smallville) are set to write the new series. As for where we will get see it if it will be Netflix or Amazon or some other streaming platform. The bidding war has now begun.
More information to follow as its announced. As always, thanks for reading.
Words by Gary Gamble Founder/Owner/BigCheese @ Moviehooker
As soon as the news broke that David Tennant would be playing real-life British serial killer Dennis (Des) Nilsen, it was a drama I was really excited about to be brought to the small screen.
Des Nilsen was responsible for the murder of 15 young men. He was arrested in the early 80s’ when human remains were found blocking the drain to the apartment building he was living in. His crimes were unthinkable, cruel & sadistic reminding us of serial killers like Jeffrey Dahmer.
But when he was arrested, it took a long time for people to believe that such a friendly and normal guy would be capable of such horrific murders. His method was either strangulation or drowning. If that wasn’t bad enough, he kept the bodies for months and would occasionally watch TV with the corpse placed in the other chair in his small London apartment.
The killing began in his previous home where he was able to bring the bodies outside at night and burn them. He would throw some car tyres on top to mask the smell of burning flesh. Then when he moved to the apartment, because he lived on the top floor, he boiled the remains until he was able to flush them down the toilet.
As a fan of anything true crime, I was really looking forward to seeing Tennant in this role.
However, Nilson was known for being a normal person. He states that it was a relief when he was arrested. He would have killed more if the cops didn’t catch him. Although we know that the man talking is a monster capable of horrendous atrocities, Tennant doesn’t have a chance to show a much darker side to his acting.
Cameron Briton played mommy’s boy, Ed Kemper, the viewer was left speechless and horrified. He went into great detail about the crimes he committed. There was very little graphic content, it was all done in the interview process.
Unfortunately, for me, Des just came across as dull and a wasted opportunity for Tennant. Although the crimes shocked the world, this reimagining failed to shock me as a viewer.
I think Tennant did a great job with what he had
It just wasn’t enough for me. Even the documentaries I have watched created more cinematic tension with their reenactments. For example, when Nilsen confessed to the murder of so many people in the back of the cop car. There was nothing to show the terror in the cop’s eyes. Such a revealing part of the story was looked over in the blink of an eye. Even listening to the interviews with the arresting officers, their retelling of the events were scary. You could see it in their eyes.
Some may enjoy Des more than others.
It ain’t visually graphic, and apart from a few chilling moments from Tennant, there was very little tension. But hey, that’s coming from me, someone who bathes in the darkness of bleak & morbid cinema.
To me, Des was a poor man’s Mindhunter that followed the same path. A series about someone wanting to write a book so that others can understand how the mind of a killer works. We just never get inside the mind of the killer.
5/10
As always thanks for reading.
Article by GG Founder/Owner/BigCheese @ Moviehooker
Like the rest of the world at the minute, I have been on a serious TV Series binge.
Most of these I had no idea about so I hope you all will find something to keep you all entertained and sane for a little longer at least! I hope you enjoy it.
8 Days
8 Days is a series about a large asteroid that’s about to hit Europe. It deals with multiple characters as they try to escape a lawless city where everyone has turned to violence to try and survive.
I think this is a realistic
Sløborn
We have another viral outbreak series from Europe. This time, a group of survivors on a island off of the North Coast must try and avoid infection from a deadly new virus that claiming the lives of everyone and everything it infects.
Some of you may have had enough of these types of series’. This was shot before our pandemic hit….and it is scarily realistic.
Der Pass
Der Pass is yet another reimagining of Swedish/Danish crime classic, The Bridge. Only this time, it deals with two cops; one from Germany and one from Austria.
They have changed quite a bit…and for the better too. Previous remakes (English-French, American-Mexican) followed the same formula with the female cop having Aspergers. There is none of that in Der Pass. Pretty much, the similarities stop after they find the body laid out across the German and Austrian border.
A dark and intelligent serial killer drama. The serial killer reminds me of a mix of the Unabomber and Lloyd Christmas from, Dumb & Dumber (only without the comedy).
Biohackers
Biohackers is also from Germany and deals with a group of young students who are trying to change DNA patterns.
This was a bit of a slow start but there are enough interesting characters to keep us watching.
When we know what’s going on, it really takes a dark turn. It is scary in the sense that anyone who has the knowledge to do anything with DNA etc. If they become unhinged and unpredictable, we are all in very big trouble.
The Third Day is probably the most ambitious tv show in years. The series deals with characters that get stranded on a small English island. The island is only accessible when the tide is out.
So, here is why it is one of the most ambitious tv shows in years. As well as a 6-part series, The Third Day also has an unbelievable 12-hour theatrical special.
Without giving too much away, the series deals with a festival called Osea, the 12-hour special is a live event and it must be the Osea festival in its entirety. I haven’t seen the special yet. Yeah, I know we are all in lockdown…but come on! 12-hours is a bit much. Even if it is broken into two 6-hours parts.
To me, The Third Day was a perfect blend of films like Midsommar, The Wicker Man and Ben Wheatley’s, Kill List.
Each episode is a different season so you have to keep in mind…even though there are weekly episodes, they are set weeks or months apart from the previous episode. The special will tie together and fill in the blanks.
I have to say that Jude Law’s performance was flawless. He really is a superb actor and in The Third Day, he really gives it his all.
Here is a link to the special. Don’t forget you must watch the other episodes first. Actually, I think the order to watch them is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, SPECIAL, 7 Autumn Part 1 Autumn Part 2
Brave New World
Some of you may like this more than I did…that’s why it makes the list. I mean, it is far from bad, but it just wasn’t for me.
It deals with a new utopian society of people who are all connected to a large system with a wifi contact lense.
This new world has rules though. Basically, all of our feelings that made us human are prohibited and kept at bay by popping numerous pills. Those who are still in the old world are known as Savages and act as a form of entertainment for the new world.
This series is from Russia and start the lead actor (Kirill Käro) from the fantastic Netflix sci-fi series, Better Than Us.
To The Lake deals with a virus that is rapidly spreading across Russia. Don’t be expecting zombies, this is just a nasty old virus that makes the eyes all crazy.
What I loved about this was that it was set in the country. When shit hits the fan, it’s every man and woman for themselves. I think I got a little bit too much of enjoyment from seeing elderly Russian ladies who look like they could wrestle a bear carrying automatic weapons. They take bad-assery to the the next level…all the way up to 11.
Well, that’s it for this list. I hope I have hooked you up with a new series or two. As always, thanks for reading.
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