This week's streaming highlights include a genuinely creepy comedy horror starring Matthew Rhys, a grim documentary about a woman whose fiancé confessed to murder, and a Japanese drama about a fortune teller who lived an extraordinary life.
Pick of the Week: Widow's Bay
Could island town Widow's Bay become the next Martha's Vineyard? Despite non-existent Wi-Fi, a pervasive atmosphere of gloom, and his teenage son's brutal verdict that it is 'like a prison,' Matthew Rhys's mayor Tom Loftis believes so. However, the island is so steeped in sinister myths that it risks being the new Salem instead. Is there a supernatural element to its frequent fogs? An absurd suggestion, but Tom's attempts to turn Widow's Bay into a tourist destination seem cursed. Created by Parks & Recreation co-writer Katie Dippold, Widow's Bay sustains an unusual tone: comedic but not wacky, with horror elements that retain enough genuine creepiness to raise the stakes. (Apple TV, from Wednesday 29 April)
Should I Marry a Murderer?
When Dr. Caroline Muirhead said she was driving to the Scottish Highlands for a hill-walking date with a man she'd met online, her friends were cautious. 'What if he turned out to be a murderer?' one joked. Sometimes, it doesn't pay to jest about such things. Muirhead fell in love with Alexander McKellar, who was charismatic and, as she discovered after agreeing to marry him, responsible for the killing of cyclist Tony Parsons in 2017. This grimly compelling documentary series is rendered even more visceral by extensive mobile phone footage of the couple's relationship and Muirhead's anguished reflections. (Netflix, from Wednesday 29 April)
Songs in Sign Language
A lovely project to ensure everyone can enjoy Disney magic: director Hyrum Osmond has led a team of 20 animators to recreate three beloved songs from recent hit features with characters using American Sign Language. They worked with experts to create engaging videos for 'The Next Right Thing' (from Frozen 2), 'We Don't Talk About Bruno' (Encanto), and 'Beyond' (Moana 2). A short behind-the-scenes film explains how they did it. Here's hoping more Disney bangers receive the same treatment. (Disney+, from Monday 27 April)
Straight to Hell
One of the wilder lives of the 20th century gets a fictionalized treatment in this Japanese drama, exploring the vertiginous ups and terrifying downs of Kazuko Hosoki. She grew up during World War II, enduring poverty so extreme she subsisted on a diet of worms. Later, she became a nightclub host, fell into debt to organized crime gangs, and lost everything again. At which point, she reinvented herself as a fortune teller and hoodwinked the vulnerable. Glossy and melodramatic, but still a remarkable story. (Netflix, from Monday 27 April)
The House of the Spirits
Doing justice to the sheer scope of Isabel Allende's magical realist masterpiece in a TV series is ambitious. This adaptation, executive produced by Eva Longoria, boasts the author's approval and offers a faithful, lavishly realized version. It focuses on four generations of a Chilean family, most notably Clara (Dolores Fonzi), a woman with apparent clairvoyant abilities. Through the family's struggles and triumphs, a larger story unfolds: that of Chile itself as its people fought for social and political freedom across the 20th century. (Prime Video, from Wednesday 29 April)
Man on Fire
The fearsome special forces soldier gone to seed and struggling with civilian life is a familiar setup. The latest man-mountain to reveal his vulnerable side is John Creasy (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II). John is a washed-up mercenary grappling with PTSD, generally regarded as a spent force. But are his struggles to move on connected to his need for revenge after a mission that continues to haunt him? His need to confront his past takes him to Rio, where a mixture of dark professional obligations and even darker pleasures begins to unfold. (Netflix, from Thursday 30 April)
Taskmaster NZ
There's something utterly singular about Taskmaster; the comic chemistry between Greg Davies and Alex Horne and the atmosphere it produces is incredibly difficult to replicate. That hasn't stopped other countries from borrowing the format. If you can't get enough ridiculous parlour games, grotesque prize tasks, and peculiar presentational power dynamics, seasons one to three of Taskmaster New Zealand are available now. Jeremy Wells and Paul Williams serve as Greg and Alex surrogates, and while it's a little more reserved, it's still full of cheer. (Channel 4, from Friday 1 May)
