Movies
Misha and the Wolves — Netflix. A woman claims that when she was a child during the Holocaust, she traveled many miles and survived in the woods because wolves took her in to be part of their pack. Her story becomes an international bestseller. But is it true? The truth is stranger than fiction, and will likely make you angry. Here’s the [trailer].
Woken — Amazon Prime. A pregnant woman wakes up with amnesia on a remote island. The people of the island don’t want her to leave. Why? She begins to have flashes of memories. I was telling the TV, “Just tell her why!” But there is a reason why, and it wasn’t what I was expecting. [Trailer]
Series
The Murder of Rachel Nickell — Netflix. In the 1990s in England, a sweet young child is present when his mother is murdered. The documentary covers the investigation and how the father raises the child. Unfortunately, there are some heartbreaking twists. “A true-crime documentary directed by Lucy Bowden that explores the botched police investigation, archival footage, and interviews with Nickell’s partner, André Hanscombe, and her son, Alex Hanscombe.” (Netflix) [Trailer]
The Chestnut Man — Netflix. A Danish series about a serial killer who goes after moms he’s deemed unfit. A chestnut figure has been left at each scene, bearing the fingerprints of a girl presumed dead for a year. Is she still alive or is it a cruel twist? The mystery is wrapped up in Season 1. Season 2 resumes with the characters a few years later, with a different mystery and some startling twists. I’m not sure I liked it as much as Season 1, but it’s good. [Trailer for Season One]
Big Girls Wanted: Escaping Pearadise — HBO Max. Of course you know I have to recommend some kind of cult show, and I’d say this one qualifies, in a way. A community is formed around a desire to be big without shame. Is it really a safe place for heavy women? “Pearadise promised safety, a body-positive utopia for plus-size women to be loved. What begins as sisterhood turns dark as survivors make allegations of coercive control, fetish, and assault, while gates stay open to new believers.” (HBO) [Trailer on YouTube]