Netflix Highlights: Headshot, The Devil's Candy, My Scientology Movie

So what do you do with a sick day aside from recover? Go through some items in your Netflix cue of course! And yes I still say cue, it will always be a cue to me. So today I thought I would highlight three worthwhile movies that perhaps aren't worth a full review, but will please fans of their respective genres.

Headshot

If you've been hankering for more of The Raid star Iko Uwais and sweet pencak silat action then this action thriller should tide you over until Gareth Evans makes his next movie. After opening with a violent prison break, we're introduced to the amnesiac Ishmael. Unable to remember who he his, Ishmael is startled to discover that he's being pursued by a violent crime lord...and that he has the skills to fight his way to freedom.

Much like The Raid, Headshot is a bloody brutal martial arts flick with a great mixture of weapons, guns, and hand to hand combat. The main differences are a stronger emphasis on story, the eventual reveal of Ishmael's origins is something new, and perhaps less polished fight work. There's plenty of swirling camera work including some great circular motions around two fighters and the gunfights feel appropriately chaotic, but the speed and physical feats are slightly toned down. Granted these are all minor complaints since this still runs circles around B-level Hollywood fare any day.

The Devil's Candy

If you ever wanted a more even-handed portrayal of metal heads, a horror movie is the last place you'd look. And yet, this creeper from writer/director Sean Byrne does exactly that. In it, an artist, his wife, and his doting daughter move into a home...where the previous owners just died. While saying must more would be considered spoiler territory in an already short film, the movie does an excellent job at keeping the audience guessing about who's the villain, what's going on, and if anyone involved will make it out alive.

Still my favorite aspect of this film is the metal loving father/daughter duo and the patient mother. Too often I feel like these kinds of characters are either people on the fringes or weirdos. Not so here. They're a loving family unit where two of them have a shared love of a particular genre. It's strange that feels revolutionary to me, but I was a big fan of it and this movie.

My Scientology Movie

At this rate, we're going to get a quality and horrifying documentary about The Church of Scientology ever year. Instead of documenting the church's notorious history, filmmaker Louis Theroux aims to recreate past events within the church while poking and prodding former members and the Church itself for more information.

The end result is notably lighter than Going Clear but still features insight into how the Church sucks in, maintains, and abuses members, and the abusive tactics they use towards those that leave. There are some uncomfortable laughs in this movie but it's nothing short of fascinating.