It’s the beginning of a new month, which means HBO Max is saying goodbye to many films and hello to new ones. HBO Max also has new seasons of shows viewers can’t watch anywhere else, giving them all the more reason to subscribe to the premium service.
With so many fan favorites, this weekend will surely be busy for HBO Max subscribers. Luckily, CBR is here with recommendations to add to the watchlist. Among the new movies arriving in HBO Max’s library are two thrillers starring Anya Taylor-Joy, Last Night in Soho and Thoroughbreds, and the heartfelt disaster film The Impossible. There are also new seasons of a reality competition show and a paranormal mockumentary to dive into. While summer is heating up and July comes in full swing, catch up on these fan-favorite movies and TV shows on HBO Max this weekend.
Last Night in Soho Takes the Party Back to the 1960s
As another addition to Edgar Wright’s stellar resume, Last Night in Soho hops on the trend of period films and psychological thrillers to create a colorful trip. Last Night in Soho was among the many movies added to HBO Max’s library for July, and it’s enough to make people pay the high subscription fee. Despite receiving mixed criticism for its writing, the cinematography, costume design and unique direction are enough to soften the critiques. Anya Taylor-Joy, Matt Smith and Thomasin McKenzie’s exemplary performances don’t hurt too badly either. It also marks the final film appearances of Diana Rigg and Margaret Nolan, who both died in 2020.
Last Night in Soho is much more than meets the eye. While opening on McKenzie’s Eloise, who aspires to be a fashion designer that focuses on the Swinging Sixties, the film turns into something entirely more twisting and compelling. She begins to have dreams about Taylor-Joy’s Sandie, who is an aspiring singer in the 1960s, but her dreams start to flood into real life. Last Night in Soho is delicious and slick, thanks to the illustrated screenplay that is supported by Wright’s ability to use images to weave the story together, piece-by-piece.
Thoroughbreds Puts the Heart in Heartless
If viewers can’t get enough of Anya Taylor-Joy, the next stop is a tragically underrated film, Thoroughbreds. While not as flashy as Last Night in Soho, Thoroughbreds still exercises the mind, twisting the narrative with unexpected turns and character arcs. It’s still a wonder how Cory Finley, director of Thoroughbreds and Bad Education, isn’t a well-renowned director after the release of this black comedy film. Finley manages to create such an unpredictable film that stands out in the teen thriller genre.
Thoroughbreds follows two teenage girls — Olivia Cooke as Amanda and Taylor-Joy as Lily, two former best friends who are now dangerous allies. The two couldn’t be more different, with Amanda as a disturbed and unapologetically blunt teenager who’s had a troubling experience with animal cruelty and Lily as preppy and innocent. But the two girls find that when they combine forces, their homicidal sides start to become transparent. When Lily expresses her hatred for her stepfather, Amanda suggests killing him. The film turns into a masterclass of wickedness and the old “fake-it-till-you-make-it,” with an elaborate robbery scheme and the childhood friends finding their bond again.
The Impossible Balances Emotion and Thrills
For many fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s loud-mouthed Spider-Man, The Impossible is better known as the film that started it all for Tom Holland. Making his film debut as a child actor, Holland really made his paycheck worth it in this disaster film. But other than the connection to another MCU actor, The Impossible is just full of performances that make the viewing experience worth the while. Naomi Watts was nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for Best Actress, and deservedly so. Ewan McGregor (who’s most recently dipped his toes back into the Star Wars franchise) also holds the film up on his shoulders as he stays bloody and determined for most of the story.
The Impossible is based on the true experience of María Belón and her family, who survived the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. Watts and McGregor star as Maria and Henry, parents of Lucas, Thomas and Simon. The family is vacationing in Thailand when the tsunami hits with no warning, and the family has to endure the chaotic aftermath to find each other again. Most impressive, the tsunami scenes were not all digital effects — the crew created real water surges in a massive water tank, which Watts and Holland spent five weeks filming in. Holland later described the experience as “scary” and “brutal,” but the result was nothing less than compelling.
The Bridge Season 2 Raises the Stakes
Most reality competition shows these days focus on just that — the competition — and enforce an “every man for himself” mentality. The Bridge has that same underlying feel — seeing that only one person wins the cash prize — but it’s less about the result and more about the journey that brings them there. The Bridge is also a British adaptation of the Spanish reality show El Puente, which follows the same premise.
Like most reality competition shows, The Bridge brings together 12 contestants from different backgrounds. They all have to work together to build a bridge from one dock of their campsite to another destination (where the cash prize is kept) that’s roughly 1,000 feet long in 12 days. It may seem like finishing the bridge is the end of the road, but there’s a catch. When the team’s finished, they all have to pick the winner of the prize based on their contribution to the bridge’s completion. The first season took place in the Welsh hills, but the second season travels a bit further to Ha Long Bay in Vietnam. Another key difference is that Season 2 features another team to compete against, unlike Season 1, which just had one team to follow.
Wellington Paranormal Season 3 Continues the Supernatural Hunt
Before Wellington Paranormal‘s last season drops on July 28 on HBO Max, make sure to catch up with the gang in Season 3, which is still releasing new episodes. Everyone’s favorite New Zealand police squad is back to take down only the scariest supernatural threats in this hilarious mockumentary. And this time, it’s some of the most dangerous cases yet. It isn’t surprising to learn that Taika Waititi is an executive producer on the show, given the show’s outlandish personality that carries over from his series What We Do in the Shadows.
This season’s supernatural cases are some of the best and might even sound familiar to viewers. The Season 3 premiere searches for an invisible creature, and for The Boys fans, it might feel reminiscent of the days when Translucent was still a big threat. There’s also a shapeshifter that takes the shape of the thing people fear the most — much like the Boggart from the Harry Potter universe. And just to remind viewers that the series wouldn’t be possible without Waititi, Episode 5 is titled “The Revengers.” There’s another Easter egg for all the MCU fans, particularly Thor: Ragnarok.