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Due to the Christmas holiday, today I’m offering some suggestions for this week’s premieres. Happy New Year and see you next week!
What’s coming
What’s new on major streaming platforms
Our family Christmas (2024)
Christmas Eve at Miller’s Point. Premiere on Filmelier+ on December 25, 107 min.
The film takes place on what is likely the last time the Balsanos reunite at the family home: the matriarch’s health is deteriorating and it has been decided to place her in a clinic and sell the property, a surprise to several guests. Meanwhile, the children play and the teenagers decide to escape for an adventure on the streets of suburban Long Island. With Francesca Scorsese, Maria Dizzia, Michael Cera and other vaguely familiar faces.
Stranger Things (2016-25)
Premiere on Netflix December 31, fifth season, one episode.
The big series finale arrives at 10 p.m. – and don’t forget that the episode will last 2h05min. The three previous episodes are already broadcast, starting at 10 p.m. this Thursday (25).
Ghost Light (2024)
Ghost light. Available on rental platforms from December 25, 115 min.
Dan (Keith Kupferer), a quiet factory worker, unexpectedly joins a theater troupe alongside his daughter, Daisy (Kathleen Mallen Kupferer).
Written and directed by Alex Thompson and Kelly O’Sullivan, the duo behind my beloved “Little Frances” (2019, Appearance and runtime), was one of my favorite films of last year, presented at the São Paulo Film Festival. I’ll be back in a few weeks with more reasons to see it.
M3GAN2.0 (2025)
Arriving on Prime Video December 26, 120 min.
Two years after the events of “M3GAN” (2022), Gemma (Allison Williams) rewires the killer robot doll so she can take on Amelia, another doll created using M3GAN technology stolen by the military.
Twilight of Chaos (1987)
The last of England. Arrives at Filmicca on December 26, 87 min.
One of many collaborations between Tilda Swinton and multi-artist Derek Jarman, “Twilight of Chaos” is a visual poem about the decline of the United Kingdom during the reign of Margaret Thatcher.
One Hell of a Summer (2023)
One hell of a summer. Coming to HBO Max December 26, 88 min.
Co-written and co-directed by Finn Wolfhard (of “Stranger Things”), alongside Billy Bryk (“Ghostbusters: Beyond”), it stars Fred Hechinger (“The White Lotus”) as Jason, a counselor at Camp Pineway who is a little too old for the job compared to his colleagues. When the team reunites at summer camp before the kids arrive, they discover that a masked killer has killed the owners of the place – and wants to kill more.
The Ugly Stepsister (2025)
Den stygge stesøsteren. Premiere on Mubi December 26, 109 min.
“Cinderella” meets “The Substance” in this Norwegian film nominated for the Oscar for Best Makeup. To compete with her beautiful half-sister Agnes (Thea Sofie Loch Ness) for the attention of Prince Julian (Isac Calmroth), Elvira (Lea Myren) undergoes a series of cosmetic procedures and grotesque treatments.
Seymour Hersh: In Search of the Truth (2025)
Cover. Premiere on Netflix December 26, 117 min.
Also shortlisted for the Oscar, this documentary by Laura Poitras (“Four Citizen”) and Mark Obenhaus looks at the journey of journalist Seymour Hersh, who reluctantly gives access to his collections and discusses his participation in the coverage of scandals in American politics, such as war crimes in Vietnam and Cambodia, the torture of prisoners at Abu Ghraib and Watergate.
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