Eric
I can't imagine what it must be like to lose a child. Benedict Cumberbatch's character unravels as he faces this horrific situation in Netflix's Eric. But apart from the insanity, there's a father-son connection that's heart-warming.
The Sculptress
I've re-read some old favourites this summer. Minette Walters' award winning books were big news in the 90s when they were adapted for TV. The chilling story in The Sculptress (partially based on a true story) is one of my favourites of hers.
The Conjuring: Last rites
The Conjuring horror series comes to an end of sorts with this ninth instalment. It’s easy to dismiss this as juvenile but with a story based on reality it’s also
Presumed innocent
You'd think lawyers know their way around the law, and would know how to handle being accused of murder, right? Jake Gyllenhaal's performance is riveting as that lawyer in Apple TV's Presumed Innocent; he keeps you guessing till the very end. Did he, or didn't he, do it?
MI9
Many people are familiar with Britain's MI-5 and MI-6 from movies and TV, but few know there were many more Military Intelligence units. Helen Fry delves into the depths of Britain's National Archives to unlock the history of MI-9, the department responsible for freeing captured prisoners of war during World War II.
Jaws – 50th anniversary
One of the movies that started the summer blockbuster trend. One of the great pieces from Steven Spielberg. Remastered and available (also in IMAX and other formats), the 50th anniversary edition of Jaws is sure to attract film lovers for its historical significance.
On Call
There are many police procedurals on TV; people like them, so why stop making them? Adding something interesting is what keeps us glued to the screen. Amazon took the immediacy of live television and blended it with the streets of Long Beach for a first-person view of life on the thin blue line.
How Democracies Die
It sometimes feel like we're living at the edge of our democratic norms, but is this really the case or is the news full of doom and gloom? Livitsky and Ziblatt analyse patterns from the recent past to show how democracy faltered under certain conditions, and then apply those patterns to what we're seeing today.
Fantastic Four: First steps
Critics have long slammed the Marvel Cinematic Universe's failings, and fans have long claimed it's still going strong. Both are wrong, but this retro-futuristically styled family caper is a popcorn-fuelled audience-favourite fillip for Marvel.
Cross
Amazon Prime has lots of dross, but Cross is not one of them. This psychological drama takes the viewer round Washington DC as Detective Alex Cross hunts criminals connected to his own family.