Our monthly round-up of what to watch on Netflix October 2019’s highlights include people stranded in grass fields, financial scams and plenty of horror.
Eli
What it’s about: An 11-year-old boy Eli, is plagued with an incurable illness that forces him to be quarantined from the world and faced with dwindling options, his parents opt to try out a doctor whose experimental treatments might be his last hope. But as Eli undergoes treatment, he begins experiencing haunting visions that make him realise the doctor might have ulterior motives.
Who’s in it: Charlie Shotwell (Captain Fantastic) stars as the title character while Stranger Things‘ breakout star Sadie Sink also makes an appearance.
Why watch it: Eli is directed by Ciaran Foy, who has previously directed horror flicks Sinister 2 and Citadel, so he’s not exactly a newbie to the genre (though we can’t vouch for the quality).
When it’s available: October 11
In the Tall Grass
What it’s about: Yet another film adaptation of Stephen King’s books – this year alone has seen Pet Sematary, It and the upcoming Doctor Sleep (a sequel to his classic The Shining) revived on the big screen. There are no clowns in In The Tall Grass, which sees siblings Becky and Cal on a road trip through small town America. They pull up beside a grassy field to take a rest, but they begin hearing voices for help coming from within the field and being decent folks, venture in to help – eventually coming to the realisation that there is something very very wrong about this seemingly ordinary grass field.
Who’s in it: Avery Whitted, Laysla De Oliveira and Will Buie Jr.
Why watch it: Vincenzo Natali directed In The Tall Grass – if you’re unfamiliar with him, he’s the same director behind cult ’90s psycho thriller Cube. Also, the idea of a grass field being scary is quite… novel.
When it’s available: October 4
The Laundromat
What it’s about: An irreverent, comedic take on the Panama Papers – the exposé of the real life global corruption of the financial system by some of the world’s wealthiest individuals and its consequences for the working class.
Who’s in it: Meryl Streep plays an ordinary woman ensnared in complicated schemes by shell companies, while Gary Oldman and Antonio Banderas play the masterminds behind Mossack Fonseca, the Panamanian law firm at the center of the Panama Papers.
Why watch it: It’s the perfect film for these wacky, Trumpian times but it doesn’t take itself too seriously. Also, Meryl Streep?
When it’s available: October 4
