Netflix’s Morbius, Spiderhead, and more new movies to watch at home

Happy Friday, Polygon readers! This week brings a slew of new movie releases to streaming services and to rent or buy on VOD.

In the lead this week is Netflix spider head, the new film by Joseph Kosinski. Kosinski directed Top Gun: Maverickone of our picks for the best movies of 2022, and Polygon readers might also remember its famous armament of war commercial from 2006. This time around, he’s working with Chris Hemsworth, Miles Teller and the writing team behind the films Deadpool and 6 Underground on cerebral science fiction.

We would be remiss not to mention Morbius, which is now available at a reduced rental price of $5.99. Please Morb responsibly.

There’s also the long-awaited release of Phil Tippett’s nightmarish horror crazy godtwo recent Oscar nominees making their streaming debuts, a slew of new Netflix action movies, and more!

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spider head

Where to watch: Available to stream on Netflix

Picture: Netflix

“Top Gun: Maverick director Joseph Kosinski and the screenwriters of dead Pool team up to adapt a dystopian short story from George Saunders” is a true description of a real movie that really exists. Set in a state-of-the-art penitentiary where inmates are forced to undergo a series of mind-altering drug trials in exchange for commuted sentences, spider head follows the story of Jeff (Miles Teller) and Lizzy (Jurnee Smollett), two test subjects who form an unlikely connection under the watchful eye of Steve Abnesti (Chris Hemsworth), an elusive tech visionary whose deranged philosophy of “better living through chemistry” threatens the sanity (and life) of everyone in the facility.

In our opinion:

Despite the dystopian premise, Kosinski brings a light touch to spider head. Colorful cinematography and fiery editing contrast the tragic backstories and dark living conditions of the characters, and highlight the disparity between the chemically-induced nightmarish highs and lows of Abnesti’s experiments. Midway through the film, Abnesti asks Jeff to describe the worst day of his life as two’s trip on a feel-good drug. Jeff recalls the day his father abandoned him, laughing hysterically the whole time. This general mood of emotional boost runs through everyone spider headand Kosinski effectively exploits its sinister undertones.

Morbius

Where to watch: Available to rent for $5.99 on Amazon, Apple, and Vudu

Picture: Sony Pictures

Sony’s latest Marvel movie is another anti-hero story, as Jared Leto plays doctor-turned-vampire Michael Morbius. When he tests himself for a cure for his rare blood disease, he transforms into the unholy creation you see above. And now you can rent it for the discounted price of $5.99.

In our opinion:

One of the important lessons of Venomsuccess was that if unimaginative superhero franchise films to have to be produced, they can still feel useful if fueled by smart and fun performances. Audiences show up for characters they love, but they also show up for characters played by peopleby actors who give them bizarre quirks and specific mannerisms. Morbius this is what happens when there is a studio desire for another Venombut without thinking too much about how Venom connected with anyone. He’s only there to connect with a burgeoning crossover franchise. (As a pair of nonsensical mid-credits scenes indicate.)

The worst person in the world

Where to watch: Available to stream on Hulu

Picture: Neon

The third film in what has been described as director Joachim Trier’s “Oslo trilogy” The worst person in the world is a dark romantic comedy centered on Julie (Renate Reinsve), a medical student who stumbles upon a disappointing love life and troubled career path. Following her through four years of her life, the film explores Julie’s stunted growth to maturity and her emotional blocks about love, life and professional success.

From our roundup of the best movies of 2021:

Trier spices up with magical, realistic touches that further enliven an already compelling storyline supported by nuanced three-dimensional characters. Reinsve’s groundbreaking performances give the film its most striking element. She evokes her character’s conflicted state in a captivating way, with seductive effervescence and authentic personality. The ever-memorable actor Anders Danielsen Lie, a regular Trier collaborator, completes his work in a harrowing, but still intellectually stimulating role as one of his partners.

crazy god

Where to watch: Available to stream on Shudder

Image: Tippett Studio

Nearly 30 years in the making, VFX artist-director Phil Tippett crazy god is a nightmarish odyssey through a dystopian world of Boschian grotesques and spooky landscapes. As the film’s plot takes precedence over its visuals, the story more or less follows a mysterious character known as “The Assassin” who descends into a world of titans and monsters on an unspecified quest.

father of the bride

Where to watch: Available to stream on HBO Max

Picture: HBO Max

The third film adaptation of Edward Streeter’s 1949 novel, this one stars Andy Garcia and Adria Arjona as father and wife, respectively. Unlike the 1950 version starring Spencer Tracy, Joan Bennett, and Elizabeth Taylor, or the 1991 film starring Steve Martin, Diane Keaton, and Kimberly Williams, the new adaptation centers on a Cuban-American family.

Lunana: a yak in the classroom

Where to watch: Available to stream on Netflix

Image: Dangphu Dingphu/Samuel Goldwyn Films

Nominated for Best International Feature at this year’s Oscars, Lunana: a yak in the classroom is a drama from Bhutan about a teacher who dreams of being a singer and is assigned to a class in a small mountain village.

Good luck to you, Leo Grande

Where to watch: Available to stream on Hulu

Image: Photos of the projectors

Director Sophie Hyde (Animals) and comedy writer Katy Brand team up for this sex comedy starring Emma Thompson as a retired widow who hires a sex worker (Daryl McCormack), hoping to spice things up and live something. something new.

Jerry and Marge go big

Where to watch: Available to stream on Paramount Plus

Photo: Jake Giles Netter/Paramount Plus

The devil wears Prada director David Frankel directs this true comedy written by Development stopped writer Brad Copeland. Bryan Cranston and Annette Bening star as a couple who win the lottery using math, then use the money to improve their town.

Cha Cha real smooth

Where to watch: Available to stream on Apple TV Plus

Picture: Apple TV Plus

This Sundance darling stars writer-director Cooper Raiff as a man working as a “party motivator” who strikes up a friendship with a mother (Dakota Johnson) and daughter (Vanessa Burghardt) at a bar mitzvah.

Collision

Where to watch: Available to stream on Netflix

Picture: Netflix

This South African crime thriller comes from French director Fabien Martorell, who has previously worked on documentaries and short films. Set in Johannesburg, the film follows the kidnapping of a young woman by a gangster and her parents’ efforts to rescue her.

centauro

Where to watch: Available to stream on Netflix

Picture: Netflix

This Spanish crime thriller follows Rafa (Àlex Monner), a professional motorcycle racer. When his mother gets in trouble with bad people, he uses his unique skills to help her, but will it jeopardize his career in the process?

Downton Abbey: A New Era

Where to watch: Available to rent for $19.99 on Amazon, Apple, and Vudu

Photo: Ben Blackall/Focus Features

The continuation of 2019 Downton Abbey movie, this new installment in the long-running franchise is coming to VOD for rental. In it, the Crawley family travels to France after a mysterious inheritance.

Father Stu

Where to watch: Available to rent for $5.99 on Amazon, Apple, and Vudu

Photo: Karen Ballard/Sony Pictures

Mark Wahlberg and Mel Gibson star in this faith-based image of a former boxer who becomes a Catholic priest. It is now available for rental at the reduced price of $5.99.

Backfire

Where to watch: Available to rent for $5.99 on Amazon, Apple, and Vudu

Picture: Saban Films

Former UFC champion Randy Couture stars alongside Cam Gigandet and Louis Mandylor in this crime thriller about a thief seeking revenge on the crew who betrayed him. There is also a cryptocurrency subplot, apparently.