Spring isn’t here just yet, which means there are plenty of weekends left to indulge in the joys of winter nights spent indoors. There’s no better way to spend a winter weekend than curling up on the couch to watch a riveting movie. Plus, with the seemingly never-ending national lockdown, you’ll have loads more time to enjoy your couch and your TV this month. Not sure what to watch on Showmax? Here are our picks for the best international movies to watch on the streaming platform this month.
MIDSOMMAR | Folk horror
In Midsommar, a troubled couple travels to a rural Swedish town’s fabled midsummer festival, but what begins as an idyllic retreat quickly devolves into an increasingly violent and bizarre competition at the hands of a pagan cult.
Oscar nominee Florence Pugh stars alongside Jack Reynor and William Jackson Harper for this must-watch film. Written and directed by multi-award-winning director Ari Aster, Midsommar won five 2020 Fangoria Chainsaw Awards, including Best Wide-Release Film, and 21 other accolades around the world. “If you’re looking for the scariest movie ever shot in blinding sunlight, the raw and riveting Midsommar is it,” says Rolling Stone.
RUN | Thriller
Psychological thriller Run stars Emmy and Golden Globe winner Sarah Paulson and introduces Kiera Allen as a homeschooled, wheelchair-bound teenager who begins to suspect her mother is keeping a dark secret from her.
The first female wheelchair-using actress to star in a suspense film since 1948, Allen won the 2021 Spotlight Award from the Hollywood Critics Association, with Paulson nominated for Best Actress at the 2020 Fright Meter Awards.
Written and directed by Aneesh Chaganty and co-written and produced by Sev Ohanian, Run broke records to become Hulu’s most successful original film on its release late last year.
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PINOCCHIO | Fairy tale
Pinocchio, based on the beloved fairy tale by Carlo Collodi, stars Oscar winner Roberto Benigni as the old woodcarver Geppetto, whose puppet creation, Pinocchio (newcomer Federico Ielapi), magically comes to life. Naive and curious, Pinocchio tumbles from one misadventure to the next as he is tricked, kidnapped and chased by bandits on his quest to become a real boy.
Directed by Matteo Garrone, Pinocchio was nominated for two 2021 Oscars, for its costume design and makeup and hairstyling. Sticking closely to Carlo Collodi’s original story, Matteo Garrone’s Pinocchio pulls every string to create a visually stunning film that proves some tales really are timeless.
As with so many fairy tales, although it’s based on a children’s novel, Pinocchio can be unsettling and dark at times. Now dubbed into English, Pinocchio is recommended for ages 10+ by Common Sense Media.
WAR WITH GRANDPA | Family comedy
Peter and his grandpa used to be very close, but when Grandpa Jack moves in with the family, Peter is forced to give up his most prized possession: his bedroom. Peter will stop at nothing to get his room back, scheming with friends to devise a series of pranks to drive his grandpa out. However, grandpa doesn’t give up easily, and it turns into an all-out war between the two.
War With Grandpa stars Robert De Niro, Uma Thurman, and rising child star Oakes Fegley. Joining the cast is Christopher Walken, Jane Seymour and Cheech Marin.
War With Grandpa is recommended for ages 8+ by Common Sense Media, where they praise De Niro’s “charming performance” and say, “This impish comedy brings the whole family together with a nod to appreciating their elders just a little more.”
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BLADE (BOXSET) | Action
Calling all Blade fans – Marvel just gave us awesome news: production is due to start next year on the revival of Blade, with double Oscar winner Mahershala Ali as the iconic vampire hunter.
So what better way to celebrate than a weekend binge with Wesley Snipes in the cult comic book trilogy Blade, Blade II, and Blade: Trinity? All three films were written by David S. Goyer, who also directed the third instalment. The franchise grossed over $400million worldwide, with double Oscar winner Guillermo del Toro helming the sequel.
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