By Sam Crocker
Managing Editor
Presumeably, if you’re reading this, you’re in college, so it’s pretty likely you’ve used Netflix. It seems a Netflix account is as common as a shower caddy or one of those cool Thermos-cups-with-the-straws for college kids. For many, Netflix is the answer to boredom or the go-to for procrastination.
Sometimes, the smorgasbord of shows and movies seems so vast that it is hard to tell what is going to be an addictive watch and what is going to be a complete waste of your precious time. This list of eight TV shows and movies will hopefully provide some new Netflix content to tickle your fancy.
TV
“The Following”
Joe Carroll, an idolized serial killer, escapes from prison and starts a wave of murders. The former detective who caught Carroll, Ryan Hardy, is asked to return to the FBI to stop him, but it soon becomes evident that Carroll is not acting alone. Can Hardy stop Carroll and his team of dedicated fans on their murder spree?
Led by Kevin Bacon and James Purefoy, this crime drama is quite addictive. The thrilling twists and turns in the plot leave even the most savvy crime fans picking their jaws up off the floor. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself watching one episode after another; the cliffhanger endings are excruciating!
“The Inbetweeners”
This comedy series follows four oddball friends who aren’t quite cool enough to be part of the “cool” clique. Set in the last two years of high school in England, this series leaves many looking back at their own teenage social lives and realizing just how futile it all was.
This TV series was a massive hit back in the UK and has something of a cult following in the US. It is a comedy show that will genuinely leave you laughing aloud, and because the show is made of individual 30-minute episodes, they’re easy to snack on one at a time. If you enjoy these, there are also two feature length Inbetweeners movies. However, only one has reached the American Netflix so far.
“Luther”
London detective John Luther struggles to maintain his personal sanity as he contends with the dark, psychological factors underlying the gruesome crimes he solves. As Luther is pushed further and further by the insane criminals he is attempting to catch, his own life is stretching his patience to the limit.
If you like “Sherlock,” then you will enjoy “Luther.” A BBC crime series lead brilliantly by London native Idris Elba, who has been tipped to be the next James Bond, this dark drama is bound to leave chills running down your spine. Don’t watch before bed!
Movies
“Chef”
This delicious movie gives the audience a peek inside the life of a top chef searching for his utopia. Carl Casper is an LA chef with a temper, and when a well-known food critic doesn’t like his food Casper lashes out and loses his way on the path to chef glory. He returns home to Miami and begins cooking from a food truck, repairing the relationship with his food and family.
This is a heartwarming story of a man attempting to rediscover the essence of his passion. Jon Favreau’s character is genuinely loveable. However, unless you have food to cook available, I would suggest you don’t watch this movie; it made me absolutely starving.
“Filth”
As dark comedies go, “Filth” is about as dark as it gets. An arrogant, corrupt cop sees his latest murder case as a path to promotion, but the investigation begins to bring the mentally ill officer closer to the reality that he wasn’t even aware existed.
This surreal indie comedy features one of James McAvoy’s most prominent performances. Some may have a hard time understanding the strong Scottish slang being used, but the plot is wild enough to keep you interested, and is easy enough for you to follow even if you don’t understand what “swally” means.
“Snatch”
This Guy Ritchie masterpiece documents the life of an illegal boxing promoter, played by Jason Statham, who gets in trouble with a local gangster when a fight that he’s fixed goes awry. The solution culminates in death, robbery and a group of savvy gypsies.
As far as gangster movies go, there are not many that beat “Snatch” in clever storylines. This is personally my favorite Jason Statham performance because he does more than just fight scenes.
“Anchorman 2: Supersized Edition”
Generally it was agreed amongst the viewing audience that the sequel to “Anchorman” was nowhere near as strong as the original. However, I was left giggling away at the supersized edition just as much as I did the first “Anchorman.”
The storyline isn’t as clear as the original version’s, but who wants to watch a Will Ferrell movie for the story?
