Well, we can’t win them all. Unfortunately my second edition of Scream or Skip is a disappointing one, because on the whole I was underwhelmed by what I watched and played this month.
Scream or Skip
Scream or Skip, that is the question. With so much horror out there to watch and play, our senior entertainment writer, Lucy Buglass, is here to help you decide what’s worth your time (or worth a Scream) and what’s not (and so worth a Skip). Her goal is to help you beat the endless scrolling and spend more time enjoying some great TV shows, movies, and games. Read the full series here.
But, worry not. The title that stood out to me most this month is widely accessible on Netflix, one of the best streaming services, and it’s incredibly good indeed.
I would love to hear your thoughts on either of these titles, especially if you think I’m wrong about the two skips. After all, I would love it if they hit the mark for someone out there, even if they didn’t do it for me.
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Read on to find out more about what I watched and played in July.
Movie: Her Private Hell
Where to watch: In theaters worldwide
Lucy’s verdict: Skip
Look, I’m really gutted about this one. It gives me no pleasure to say that Her Private Hell was a huge let down, and a rare flop for Nicolas Winding Refn. I loved The Neon Demon and Drive, but his latest feature was too abstract and stylish to the point it lacked any real substance.
It’s such a shame, because lead star Sophie Thatcher is excellent in everything she does. Here, she plays a young woman trying to find her father as a mysterious mist engulfs a futuristic metropolis, and it’s just not good at all. If you’d like to see Thatcher in a different horror, I definitely recommend Heretic instead.
TV show: The East Palace
Where to watch: Netflix (worldwide)
Lucy’s verdict: Scream
If you watch one thing on Netflix this week, make it The East Palace. I quickly devoured this eight-part series and now I’m hungry for more, because it’s a wonderfully crafted limited series.
The scary K-Drama centers around a man who walks the spirit world and a court lady who can hear the dead, as they enter the East Palace by the king’s orders and attempt to unravel its dark secrets. It’s got gorgeous cinematography, even more gorgeous period settings, and some great scares throughout. I’m a huge fan of this series and I really hope it finds a bigger fanbase, because it deserves every single one.
Game: The Mound – Omen of Cthulhu
Where to play: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC
Lucy’s verdict: Skip
No disrespect to the cosmic entity or anything, but I’m tired of Cthulhu themed things. We’ve had a lot of them recently and usually I’m all for Lovecraftian things, but The Mound – Omen of Cthulhu is a poorly made game which seems to be riding the recent Cthulhu craze.
There’s a lot to criticize here. The combat is stiff and janky and I didn’t enjoy the solo mode because the AI companions were unreliable. It’s clear this game is designed for multiplayer, and I did see moderate improvement when roping friends into playing it with me, but if you’re a solo player it’s a punishing experience. It also feels repetitive, so I’d discourage you from playing if you don’t want to do the same things a million times over.
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lucy.buglass@futurenet.com (Lucy Buglass)
