Need to give your brain the night off and watch a soap opera about a desperate, dysfunctional and good-looking fishing family in North Carolina? Netflix provides just that with “The Waterfront,” featuring a scene-stealing performance from a former TV star that you’ve gotta see to appreciate.
The series tops this week’s roundup of new shows and movies to watch, in a week where Pixar’s impressive new film “Elio” also lands in theaters.
“The Waterfront”: A couple or so episodes into Netflix’s soap opera about a corrupt, desperate North Carolina fishing family running drugs in order to stay solvent, a dramatic shift occurs that pole vaults what’s been an average if well-acted guilty pleasure into an absolute must watch: the appearance of actor Topher Grace.
No, seriously.
The “That ‘70s Show” actor steals every delicious scene as a chatty, self-described sociopath/narcissist drug runner who creates mayhem for the dysfunctional Buckley kin, all of whom have big problems remaining faithful to their partners. Grace is over-the-top comedic gold in Kevin Williamson’s enjoyably ridiculous and addictive series, a violent, sexy summer bonanza where nearly everyone isn’t above killing someone to protect the family name. “Inspired by true events,” this one’s adorned with eye candy and anchors itself around the exploits and machinations of the Buckley empire, overseen by fishing power couple Harlan (Holt McCallany) and Belle (Maria Bello).
Belle is in charge and runs the fishery and restaurant while Harlan is sidelined by a bad ticker and a foul temper, but is still a force in the biz and the family. They stay committed to each other but every now and then succumb to temptation — especially Harlan. Their two offspring — Cane (Jake Weary) and recovering addict Bree (Melissa Benoist) — are estranged and tangled up in a fishing net of relationship issues. Williamson further spices up this gumbo with a hunky bartender (Rafael L. Silva) who’s terrible at his job; a hunky DEA agent with a past (Gerardo Celasco); Cane’s old flame Jenna (Humberly González) who is a big-time journalist even though she never seems to work much; and Cane’s shrewd and well-put-together wife Peyton (Danielle Campbell).
“The Waterfront” is a keeper because of the outrageous behavior of its morally compromised characters — with Grace leading he way. Details: 3 stars out of 4; drops June 19 on Netflix.
“Eye for an Eye”: Berkeley native Colin Tilley, employs his background as a prolific creator of music videos to powerful effect in this Florida-set nightmare-inducer that’s based on a graphic novel about the Sandman legend. Tilley’s highly atmospheric horror entry is full of surreal imagery and tells a freaky Stephen King-worthy story about doling out comeuppance to a string bullies through time. The Sandman comes calling and pokes out the eyes of offenders, then adds them to his collection. Whitney Peak stars as Anna, who moves in with her sightless grandma May (S. Epatha Merkerson) after her parents die in a car crash. Granny doesn’t have all the shingles in her own rafters and has been in a feud with her sister. Anna goes on to befriend two restless teens, the cruel (when inebriated) Shawn (an outstanding Finn Bennett from “True Detective: Night Country”) and Julie (Laken Giles). She’s there when Shawn gets violent with a kid on rollerblades, reawakening the Sandman. Tilley creates vivid, surreal images that stick to your subconscious from beginning to end. An opening sequence involving Yellowjacket cheerleaders (a reference to his Berkeley High School mascot) is a pastiche of a David Lynch films. “Eye for an Eye” is built around that and some terrific performances across the board from Tilley’s cast. Even if the taut screenplay somewhat disappoints in the finale, Tilley keeps the visual aspects first-rate and never loses sight of what he has set out to accomplish. Horror fans should be sure to rent this under-the-radar genre standout and unfurl the welcome mat to Tilley. Details: 3½ stars; opens in limited release June 20, also available On Demand.
“Hell Motel”: Aaron Martin and Ian Carpenter (whose three-season “Slasher” anthology series is now available on Netflix) deploy their vast knowledge of gory cinema in this eight-episode bloodfest, and it is their cheeky delivery and bows to classic genre films that make this series so enjoyable. So much so that you can forgive it for being a bit rote. The story is equal parts Agatha Christie (“And Then There Was None”) and “Saw” and “Scream.” Ten true-crime and horror disciples get invited to the reopening of the Cold River Motel, the spot where gruesome, satanic-flavored slayings of 30-year-old newlyweds once occurred. The motel has just received a huge overhaul and now plays up its violent past with lurid delight. When a nasty storm swoops in, the first victim falls and gets hard-boiled in a sauna. The “kills” from there — about one per episode — get more outlandish and Grand Guignol-ish. The formula of one death per episode does get belabored eventually, but Martin and Carpenter perk it up with flashbacks that dig into the twisted backgrounds of each motel guest — including a woman who lusts after convicted slaughterers, an academic, a veteran final girl actress, a podcaster/blogger who survived his own slasher and two RV drivers who want out of the rain. Of the cast, Eric McCormack (“Will & Grace”) vamps it up the best with his character, a pain-in-the-butt chef who goes out on a limb to create his sicko entrees. But don’t get too attached to any of these morally unsound characters, since all are mere bait for this killer. The last two episodes of the series are the best, and offer a good twist certain to appeal to slasher fans. As a horror buff, I appreciated the many references to classic films, including to “When a Stranger Calls.” Details: 2½ stars; two episodes available this week with one following per week through July 29, available on Shudder and AMC+.
“Don’t Tell Larry”: Hyper-efficient and aggressively ambitious Susan (Patty Guggenheim) has been on an employee-of the-year streak some seven years and she sees the plaques on the wall at Good Luck Cruises every day to prove it. So it’s easy what she assumes she just one notch below CEO Bruce (Ed Begley Jr.). Those hopes to land the top spot crumble when odd-duck Larry (a very funny Kiel Kennedy) lands a job without being qualified and then receives special treatment from Bruce. When Bruce meets a most unfortunate demise, Susan will stop at nothing to win the title and keep Larry in his place. Directors and screenwriters Greg Porper and John Schimke’s dark workplace comedy elaborates on its original short film and takes its premise and stretches it out to preposterous, but funny lengths. At times, the comedy grazes the mark rather than nails it (a bit about Larry’s grandmother with dementia lands like a thud), but often it is funny as Susan and her co-worker buddy Patrick (Kenneth Mosley) fumble and bumble about trying to get Susan the big job and getting into all sorts of mischief. “Don’t Tell Larry” is a snappy indie comedy that has just enough cringey laughs (especially that urine test) to recommend it. Details: 2½ stars; available to rent June 20.
Contact Randy Myers at [email protected].
