A spin-off that took me back to school; a thriller that made me reflect upon how I spend my time; a socio-political horror that made me feel angry; a master film-maker’s return to his favourite genre that made me believe that something innovative can still be done in done-to-death genres; and lastly, a sports comedy drama that slapped me in the face with a much needed wave of positivity. Have watched quite a few films and series in recent times and here are the five that really worked for me:

COBRA KAI

If you grew up in the ’90s and loved The Karate Kid, do not miss this series. Back when I was in school, martial arts was all the rage due to the global emergence of Hong Kong films, featuring legends like Jackie Chan and Jet Li. The Karate Kid was the perfect underdog story, where the bullied, weak Daniel, fought back against his tormentors and found his place in the world, under the mentorship of the amazing Mr. Miyagi.

Almost 35 years after the original film, in creating Cobra Kai, Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg (who are obviously huge fans of the original film and its sequels), have used the formula of Terminator 2 and made the antagonist of the first film, the protagonist of the series. One thing I distinctly remember about watching the original film is how much I hated the bad guy, Johnny Lawrence. It was a real pleasure seeing the character lose in the climax. However, in Cobra Kai, the entire word of the Karate Kid films is seen from the perspective of the now middle-aged Johnny Lawrence. William Zabka has reprised his role as Johhny, and so has Ralph Macchio, the original Karate Kid.

However, Cobra Kai has humanised the villain beautifully and created a strong, emotional connect. William Zabka has overshadowed every other actor, including his on- screen nemesis, in every scene. The series is an underdog story, just like the previous films, but the writing is smarter and more self-aware than ever before. Spanning through three superb seasons, the mentor— mentee relationships form the crux of the story, and Zabka is amazing as the reluctant mentor who is having a hard time letting go of the lessons his toxic mentor had once taught him. The action choreography is stunning, and thankfully, largely VFX free. The fights are old school and reminded me of old Jackie Chan flicks. This is how you a flip a concept and rejuvenate an old, obsolete franchise. Do not miss.

OLD

M. Night Shyamalan’s film Old basically takes the director back to his roots of suspense and twist endings and is almost like a tribute to shows like The X-Files, Twilight Zone and Lost. After having a dream run with films like The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable and Signs in his initial years, Shyamalan kind of lost his touch and was completely written off due to back-to-back disappointing films. He had a renaissance with the excellent The Visit in 2015, and followed it up with the mind-blowing Split in 2016. In Old, while using tropes of different other films/series, Shyamalan has used his expertise to build a suspenseful, mysterious atmosphere, which makes the film’s world familiar, yet consistently gripping. The story is simple. A group of tourists get stuck at a secluded beach, and, suddenly start aging at an exceptionally fast pace. They literally watch their lives go by at a super-fast pace. The film offers quite a few surprises, but unfortunately, most of them have already been revealed in the trailer.

The children go through puberty and become adults in a matter of hours; a girl gets pregnant and delivers a baby within 10 minutes or so; wounds heal almost instantly; and most importantly, death comes rather fast. As the characters of the film realise that their time is running out at a very fast pace, they understand the value of time and the significance of the moments they spend with their loved ones.

Amidst all the twists and turns and horrifying sequences, there is a quaint moment in the last act of the film, where a family accepts their fate and just sit with each other, simply appreciating each other’s presence in their lives. This is a stand-out moment in the film and really made me question how I spend my time. Beyond the thrills, Old makes you realise that the best gift you can give anyone is your time.

TED LASSO

Like Cobra Kai, Ted Lasso is another show that deals heavily with mentor–mentee relationships. The story is set in the world of soccer, but it is more about managing people and fighting one’s own demons than about sports. The element that stands out most about this series is the sheer extent of positivity. In current times, the world of web series and films are full of grey characters. On screen unapologetic bad guys are usually celebrated. In these circumstances, the protagonist of the series, Ted Lasso, comes as a whiff of fresh air. Optimistic and friendly to the extent of being irritating, Ted is an American college football coach who finds himself coaching a professional soccer team in England. While he is like a fish out of water and is set up for failure by his own boss, how he fights against all odds and wins everyone over with his positivity forms the crux of the story. Ted Lasso is a feel-good entertainer of the highest order that is sure to make you feel good about yourself. While this dramedy keeps things mostly light-hearted, the emotional quotient is strong too. Each character has a well-developed journey.

The series also highlights the importance of self-care and confronting one’s mental issues rather than suppressing them. Jason Sudeikis has been a part of numerous extremely successful comedy films, but this is him at his career best. The supporting cast is strong too and you will feel for each character. Though consistently funny, the show never goes over the top and keeps the gags realistic. If you have had a bad day/week, trust me, this series is going to work like magic. And the best part is, you do not have to be a sports fan to enjoy it.

CANDYMAN

The film, which essentially highlights an urban legend of a vengeful ghost, has followed the latest trend of representing relevant social or political issues through horror. Candyman is socio-political horror at its best and deals with police brutality against Black Americans. It draws a direct parallel to the unfortunate murder of George Floyd by a cop, which led to the Black Lives Matter movement and protests in 2020.

The film follows an artist, Anthony, who ends up researching the urban legend of ‘The Candyman’ in order to find inspiration for his art. As he goes deep into the world of the myth, facts and fiction collide, and the vengeful ghost apparently returns, killing off people who playfully summon him by calling out his name five times in front of a mirror. While the film is refreshingly low on jump scares, its kill scenes are innovative and stylised. The use of reflective surfaces is extremely sleek and unique. Rather than being a scare fest, Candyman integrates actual history and political events to represent real-life horrors.

The vengeful ghost becomes a personification of the angst felt by people who have been met with injustice and discrimination. Though the film avoids too much violence and gore, there is a series of transformations that the protagonist goes through, which is sure to make your blood curdle. Don’t want to give any spoilers, but I am officially terrified of bees after watching the film.

The climax goes into a rather unexpected territory with the revelation of the actual bad guy, and the representation of the ghost. Rather than sending shivers down your spine, the last scene of the film almost plays out like a superhero origin story. Instead of being scared of him, you will end up rooting for the monster. Most importantly, you will feel angry for the atrocities that have been committed on the unfortunate.

MALIGNANT

Being the creator of franchises like Saw, The Conjuring and Insidious, James Wan is easily the biggest name in horror today. So, when he returns to the genre after quite a few years, expectations are bound to be high. After an intriguing opening sequence that sets the mood, the first two acts of Malignant are almost sure to disappoint you.

While the use of VFX is great in depicting the protagonist’s visions of the violent acts committed by the antagonist of the piece, the scary scenes seem quite generic and nothing exceptional happens. The first two acts are full of typical psychological horror film tropes and everything seems hackneyed and familiar.

But just as you get comfortable and are about to write the film off as lame, comes the masterful, genre-bending third act! The last 30 minutes or so pack a strong punch and are sure to surprise you. While the twist in the tale related to identity might seem similar to many other films, its usage and connection to a really disturbing legend/real incident makes it work. If you want to check out the incident, Google ‘Edward Mordake.’

James Wan has always been a master at using state of the art technology to create terrific atmosphere and build suspense. However, more than scary sequences, Wan’s biggest contribution has been to deliver memorable antagonists. From Saw’s Jigsaw to The Conjuring’s The Nun, Wan has introduced quite an impressive array of iconic movie monsters. With Malignant, this tradition has continued and Wan has created another truly memorable and unique monster, which is a huge achievement in itself.

The antagonist, Gabriel, is the walking talking twist in the tale. There are two back-to- back action sequences in the climax, which make you watch in awe and make you wonder how the makers of the film pulled off such bonkers sequences with aplomb. The scare quotient is low and I feel that the film has been falsely marketed as an out-and-out horror film. People expecting another Conjuring are bound to be disappointed. Malignant works more effectively as a thriller. The innovative and action-packed narrative is thoroughly engaging and the last 30 minutes more than make up for the earlier portions.