New Releases for the week of August 2 - 8
Swallow
When Hunter Conrad (Bennett), a soft-spoken young woman from a lower working-class family in Upstate New York, marries Richie (Stowell), the son of a wealthy CEO set to inherit his father's Manhattan business, they move in together to the couple's first home, an extravagant home on the Hudson River. After moving into the palatial house, Hunter finds herself both unfulfilled and isolated in her marriage and notices her new husband's lack of respect and coldness towards her as she slowly becomes powerless in her own home. One day, after finding herself alone in the house, Hunter develops the compulsion to swallow a marble. In doing so, she finally feels in control of her ever-worsening circumstances. As her new-found habit grows, she begins to swallow batteries, thumbtacks and small figurines, but then Hunter realizes she is pregnant, and a trip to the hospital for a routine ultrasound is bound to uncover her secret.
Director: Carlo Mirabella-Davis. Stars: Haley Bennett, Austin Stowell, Denis O'Hare, Elizabeth Marvel, David Rasche, Luna Lauren Velez, Zabryna Guevara, Laith Nakli, Babak Tafti, Nicole Kang. 2020. 94 mins. Thriller.
The Soul Collector
It's 1977 and William Ziel (Breytenbach) and his wife, Sarah (Beckmann), are forced to return to the abandoned family farm, Hemelop-Aarde, in the South African countryside due to bankruptcy. Their recently adopted orphaned niece, Mary (Luna), relocates with them to the property, which they inherited from William's estranged father. When the fragmented family returns, Lazarus (Sebe), the farmhand who seemingly took care of William's father, Frederick (Clarke), during his last days also mysteriously returns to the property. After a chance encounter with Mary, Lazarus and the small girl develop a special bond despite Sarah's immediate misgivings, and Lazarus is welcomed into the home to help return it to working order. When the local community gets wind of Lazarus' suspicious return, whispers begin to circulate and, unbeknownst to the family, the sack that is constantly slung over Lazarus' shoulder contains a dark secret: a demon child with an insatiable appetite for human souls.
Director: Harold Holscher. Stars: Tshamano Sebe, Inge Beckmann, Keita Luna, Garth Breytenbach, Chris April, Luxolo Ndabedi, Owam Amey, Sindiwe Magona, Graham Clarke, Eve Maxagazo. 2019. 100 mins. Horror.
More 'Sack Lunch Bunch': John Mulaney variety moves to Comedy Central
John Mulaney as seen in "John Mulaney and the Snack Lunch Bunch"
More 'Sack Lunch Bunch': Kids really do say the darndest things, especially when they're performing material written by two-time Emmy winner John Mulaney.
Line of Duty, on AMC
In the Season 3 finale of this hit British procedural drama, D.S. Steve Arnott (Martin Compston) realizes he has been framed by someone within the department, and Cottan (Craig Parkinson) comes under suspicion. Vicky McClure also stars.
Room 104, on HBO
Sam (Jillian Bell), a woman staying in Room 104, is forced to confront her history of addiction in this new episode of the Duplass brothers' unique anthology series. This episode was directed by Karan Soni and written by Mark Duplass.
Q: I'm stumped. I remember seeing a British spy show featuring an agent named Sam McCready, but I don't remember much else about it. Can you find out what it was called?
Much like a good secret agent, this show went by many names, and you're never quite sure whose side it's on.
Was Sam McCready (played by British stage actor Alan Howard, "Strapless," 1989) a supporting character in a series of six spy movies? The star of one six-episode TV show called "Frederick Forsyth Presents"? Or the main character in a novel that was workshopped on TV before taking its final form?
Mom, on CBS
In this rebroadcast holiday special, Christy (Anna Faris) unwittingly forces Bonnie (Allison Janney) to relive painful Christmas memories when she decides to recount tales from her childhood to Bonnie’s sponsee, Patty (Kate Micucci).
Can't keep a good woman down: Quick-witted supernatural hunter is back in Season 4 of 'Wynonna Earp'
Tim Rozon and Melanie Scrofano star in "Wynonna Earp"
Good things come to those who wait, as the saying goes. That old phrase came true last week for loyal fans who lobbied to save a sci-fi series -- and won. Now, the adventure continues for a gunslinging demon hunter and her motley crew of allies.
Chicago P.D., on NBC
An already difficult case against an elusive drug ring leader becomes even more complicated when Rojas (Lisseth Chavez) discovers a possible connection to a loved one in this rebroadcast of the popular drama. Jason Beghe and Jesse Lee Soffer also star.
Q: Why did they change Perry Mason so much for the new HBO show? Why does everything always have to be so dark?
Fans of the original '50s/'60s show, and the later series of telefilms, were understandably jarred by HBO's new take on "Perry Mason."
The eight-episode miniseries (though we all know that these things have a way of being extended if they're successful) stars Matthew Rhys ("Brothers & Sisters") as a grittier, meaner version of the title character, made famous by Raymond Burr.
Modern Family, on ABC
The Pritchett-Dunphy-Tucker clan's story comes to an end in this rebroadcast of the series finale. The complexities of modern blended family life are hilariously portrayed in this series starring Sofia Vergara, Sarah Hyland, Julie Bowen and Ty Burrell.
