Following the theme from the previous documentary series, this psychological thriller follows a young mother, Rosie, living in a restrictive Christian cult in rural England whose life is upended by the arrival of a mysterious escaped convict. With the ensemble cast led by two stalwarts of British thespians, Christopher Eccleston and Siobhan Finneran, this is worth a look, but it is somewhat formulaic and repetitive, even though the escaped convict scenario is a different aspect. There are some excellent performances which lift it above the mundane. Interesting to see Jim Loach directing, following his father Ken’s profession.

This was a must-watch for me due to the story being penned by the talented Dan Levy of Schitts Creek, who also stars as anxious reverend Nicky who is coerced by his erratic sister Morgan into attempting to pull off a small-time heist for their dying grandmother, which quickly spirals out of control. This is a dark comedy, family drama and mob thriller with the incompetent siblings at the centre somehow overcoming all the obstacles they encounter. But there’s one person who steals every scene she appears in, and that is Laurie Metcalfe as the overbearing mother Linda. There have been criticisms of the plot shifting genres, but I found it to be a series outside the general, formulaic fare on offer.

This scenario has been played out on a number of occasions in TV and film, but with Kate Hudson back for Season 2, it made the cut. Hudson stars as Isla, the only sister in a family of brothers, who is appointed as president of the Los Angeles Waves, when her brother is forced to resign. Hudson’s performance, Ray Romano as the new coach and the chemistry between the characters makes for entertaining viewing as Isla fights to prove she belongs in her leadership role while her brother Cam plots a comeback. Of course it is not perfect, but Kate will always have me on her side.

There’s an excellent ensemble cast attached to Season 2 of this entertaining dark comedy drama led by Oscar Isaac and Carey Mulligan, where the focus is shifted from a single road rage incident to a sprawling clash of generations and class within an exclusive country club. This is a story of blackmail and corporate espionage involving a ruthless Korean billionaire. There is a lot going on here and towards the finale it borders on the ridiculous, with one wondering whether these selfish, materialistic characters deserve any justice.

There are a number of excellent documentaries on Netflix, spanning a variety of subjects, which will take prominence in this month’s selection. Top of the list would be this beautifully shot, compelling series set in the lush Ugandan Ngogo Forest, in the Kibale National Park. Filmed over 25 years by the team behind Rise of the Warrior Apes, the crew was fully accepted by the chimps, resulting in stunning, intimate footage. Focusing on the power struggle of alpha male Jackson and his rivals, revealing complex politics, hierarchy, and strong emotional bonds. Currently, there is, what has been described as, the most violent chimpanzee civil war in 500 years as the group splits into two factions. This is riveting viewing… and oddly it is all very familiar behaviour.

Although this crime series is somewhat drawn out, especially as the perpetrator is revealed in the title, an interesting scenario unfolds in this closeknit group of friends. It is disturbing viewing as the rural community of Korso begin to become aware of the violent entity living among them, with distrust and fear becoming the norm. For Amanda, Nichlas and Kiri, it marks the beginning of their worst nightmare as they realise that their former friend had planned and carried out assaults, kidnappings and murder while partying and having fun alongside them. It raises the question; does one really know what goes on when friends are in their own environment. A chilling exploration of those who easily blend into society whilst following their own sadistic path.

And now for something completely different… I must confess to my fondness for Zach Galifianakis. I find him highly amusing and I was looking forward to his take on gardening. His authentic passion for horticulture shines through in this series. He blends his deadpan humour with his sincerity for seeking a path to sustainable food production. The children assisting him in his endeavours embrace his inner child as they react to his silly jokes and antics. In these tumultuous times Zach brings a little joy into our existence. His hair alone is something to behold.

From gardening to sport. With the World Cup of the beautiful game on the horizon, this documentary explores the life, career, and legal challenges of the Brazilian soccer icon Ronaldinho from the young prodigy in Porto Alegre to global sports star. It celebrates the Brazilian maestro’s genius, joy, and profound impact on football, as well as his personal struggles and professional decline. There are insights from teammates and peers such as Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Ronaldo Nazário. Brazil is the most successful country in the history of the World Cup tournament, qualifying for every edition. If you are a fan of one of football’s most entertaining players, this one will be of great interest.

This is a riveting but disturbing look into a breakaway polygamist cult. It follows cult expert Christine Marie and videographer Tolga Katas as they infiltrate the inner circle of Samuel Bateman, a self-proclaimed “prophet” who filled the vacuum left by Warren Jeffs in the FLDS community. It will cause most viewers to be angry and upset due to its focus on human trafficking and child abuse. The alarming aspect is that there are a number of these documentaries on this subject available, which begs the question; why is this not investigated by those in authority? I, for one, do not understand why this behaviour is allowed to prevail. Rachel Dretzin is also behind Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey.

This Chilean true-crime thriller has been dubbed “slow-burn”, and it is repetitive and drawn out to some extent, but it is more about the characters involved than an all-action crime scenario, focusing on grief, societal pressures, and secrets in a tight community when a teenager disappears exposing the hypocrisy of a supposedly perfect municipality. The boy’s mother, Vanessa, comes up against a wall of betrayal as she fights to find her son’s murderer. The outcome is never really resolved as Vanessa comes up against the powers of the Catholic Church and their rules on the secrets of confession. Quite a realistic drama, but a little frustrating whilst awaiting the result of the investigation.