The Brainerd Dispatch - Today's Entertainment Magazine
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Brainerd Dispatch • July 23 - 29, 2023 •19 "The Ritual Killer" (2023) From director George Gallo ("Midnight Run," 1988) and writers Joe Lemmon ("The Comeback Trail," 2020), Francesco Cinquemani ("Beyond the Edge," 2018) and newcomer Giorgia Iannone, the 2023 film "The Ritual Killer" makes its streaming debut, Friday, July 21, on Hulu. Starring Morgan Freeman ("The Shawshank Redemption," 1994) and Cole Hauser ("Yellowstone"), this action-thriller flick joins the harrowing mission of Detective Lucas Boyd (Hauster), who, after the death of his daughter, enlists Dr. Mackles (Freeman) – an anthropologist and professor of African Studies – to help him hunt down the serial killer he suspects of her death. It's a search Boyd can't tackle on his own, s eeing as the killer appears to be murdering people according to a fatal tribal ritual known as "Muti," one he knows nothing about, but Dr. Mackles may just be hiding a secret of his own. An adrenaline-fuelled ride from start to finish, the film also stars Talia Asseraf ("Out of the Fight," 2020); Virginia Dru Bramblett ("Before I Wake," 2016); Luke Cannella ("Get Up Joe," 2017); Aurora Cossio ("Verdad Oculta"); Vernon Davis ("Chariot," 2022); Sidy Diop ("Holidays on Mars," 2020); Ron Goleman ("Rage," 2014); Christina Grandy ("Bruce Almighty," 2003); Murielle Hilaire ("The Love Punch," 2013); Brian Kurlander ("Duality," 2023) and more. "Space Oddity" (2022) A tribute to the moving lyrics of David Bowie's "Space Oddity" (1969), this romantic comedy – aptly named "Space Oddity" – will be available to stream as of Friday, July 21, on Hulu. Written by Rebecca Banner ("True Spirit," 2023) and directed by Kyra Sedgwick ("The Closer"), the film stars Kyle Allen ("West Side Story," 2021) as the often nihilistic Alex McAllister – a man with a simple mission in mind: secure the insur- ance necessary to take a one-way trip to Mars. Strug- gling after the death of his brother, Alex finds himself disconnected from the world around him, struggling to manage his anxieties while he remains behind, living on a dying planet. Unsure what to do, Alex turns his focus to the stars, and begins a decade-long plan that will (eventually, hopefully) land him on Mars. His plans are thrown for a loop, however, when Alex meets an Earth-bound insurance agent named Daisy (Alexandra Shipp, "X-Men: Apocalypse," 2016), who tags along for his rigorous training, and just might convince him that Earth isn't so bad after all. This 2022 film also features Madeline Brewer ("The Handmaid's Tale");; Simon Helberg ("The Big Bang Theory"); Carrie Preston ("Claws"); Kevin Bacon ("Footloose," 1984); Andrew Polk ("The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel"); Arden Myrin ("In- satiable"); Alessandra Rosenfeld ("Silly Girl," 2022); Tony Estrella ("Nova"); Liam Anderson ("Boston Stran- gler," 2023) and more. "Grown-ish" – Season 5 Season 5 of the coming-of-age comedy series, "Grown- ish," will be available to stream as of Wednesday, July 19, on Disney+. A spin-off of the much-beloved series, "Black-ish," the show follows the nearly-grown adven- tures of Zoey (Yara Shahidi, "Salt," 2010) and Andre Jr. (Marcus Scribner, "Ron's Gone Wrong," 2021) (aka Junior) – the almost, not-quite-yet "grown" children of "Black-ish" stars Dre (Anthony Anderson, "The Departed," 2006) and Rainbow (Tracee Ellis Ross, "The High Note," 2020) Johnson, tagging along as the duo navigate the world now that they've left their parent's "nest." Season 5 picks up as Zoey has graduated from college, leaving her younger brother Junior behind as he begins his own enrollment at Cal U. Just like his sister before him, Junior will soon learn that not every- thing is as he expects it to be in this new, independent world. The series also stars Trevor Jackson ("SuperFly," 2018); Diggy Simmons ("The Start Up," 2013); Francia Raisa ("How I Met Your Father"); Emily Arlook ("You People," 2023); Jordan Buhat ("Summer of 84," 2018); Chloe Bailey ("A Wrinkle in Time," 2018); Halle Bailey ("The Little Mermaid," 2023); Luka Sabbat ("The Dead Don't Die," 2019); Daniella Perkins ("Red Ruby"; Deon Cole ("The Harder They Fall," 2021); Tara Raani ("Storm," 2023; Justine Sky ("When I Consume You," 2021) and more. "SuperKitties" – Season 1 The entire first season of the adorable, action-packed animated series, "SuperKitties," will be available to stream, W ednesday, July 19, on Disney+. The story follows the adventures of Ginny, Sparks, Buddy and Bitsy, a litter of incredibly brave, kind, strong and smart kittens who together transform into the "SuperKitties" when trouble arises around town, as Disney describes: "defeating villains and imparting important messages of kindness, empathy, friendship, resilience and prob- lem-solving, the fluffy felines are on a mission to make the world a more caring and 'pawesome' place." With two 11-minutes stories each episode, the SuperKitties utilize their super skills and gadgets to thwart comical (and often punny) villains like the Cat Burglar, Mr. Pup- pypaws, the Lab Rat and Zsa-Zsa the cockatoo, doing all they can to protect Kittydale from danger, jumping into action with each and every "SuperKitty Call." "Su- perKitties" features the voice acting talents of Emma Berman ("Luca," 2021) as Ginny, Pyper Braun ("Erin & Aaron") as Bitsy, Jecobi Swain ("Firebuds") as Buddy and Cruz Flateau ("Kold x Windy") as Sparks. "Almost Paradise" – Season 2 The adventures of retired DEA agent Alex Walker (Christian Kane, "Leverage") continue as Season 2 of "Almost Paradise" premieres Friday, July 21, on Ama- zon Freevee. All 10 episodes will be released at once, returning viewers to a tropical paradise tucked in the Philippine archipelago – one that just so happens to be chock-full of danger for ex-agent Walker. "Despite his best efforts to transition from Jason Bourne to Jimmy Buffett," as Amazon says, Kane found himself pulled back into force during Season 1, joining his old friends – Ernesto Alamares (Arthur Acuna, "The Bourne Legacy," 2012) and Kai Mendoza (Samantha Richelle in her screen debut) – as they solved cases around the small island Walker hoped to make a relaxing home. It just may be back to retirement for Walker, however, as the Season 2 trailer shows the ex-agent claiming: "I'm turning over a new leaf: no stress, no drama," as his doctor warns that his hypertension – the cause of his initial retirement – could easily return if Kane were to continue with his current crime-solving extracurricu- lars. Still badgeless and "just an observer" of the local PD, this new series begins as Walker is left to wonder whether he belongs on the island of Cebu. "Minx" – Season 2 It's time for more pantsuits, disco and raunchy pho- toshoots, as Season 2 of the Starz series "Minx" premieres on Prime Video Friday, July 21. The fate of the show was left up in the air after being canceled by Max, but after an outcry from devoted fans, the '70s-based comedy was picked up by Starz, which continues the series where Max left off, with feminist entrepreneur Joyce (Ophelia Lovibond, "Elementary") and her ac- complice, Doug (Jake Johnson, "New Girl"), trying to keep their newly minted erotic magazine, "Minx," afloat despite outcries from the public — protests and a brewing lawsuit included. As of yet, not many details of the new season have been released, but a first look for the series sees the pair arriving at a party together, promising, at the very least, more colorful '70s fashion. The season will see the return of some familiar faces, including Michael Angarano ("I'm Dying Up Here") as Glenn; Jessica Lowe ("Wrecked") as Bambi; Oscar Montoya ("Bless the Harts") as Richie; Lennon Parham ("Playing House") as Shelly; and Idara Victor ("Alita: Battle Angel," 2019) as Tina. "They Cloned Tyrone" (2023) Jump straight into an otherworldly mystery with the pulpy new sci-fi caper "They Cloned Tyrone," premier - ing Friday, July 21, on Netflix, after having its release rescheduled from December. When Fontaine (John Boyega, "Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens," 2015), a neighborhood drug dealer, is shot dead by a rival (J. Alphonse Nicholson, "P-Valley"), he is under - standably shocked when he wakes up in his bed the next morning, completely unharmed. Determined to figure out exactly how he survived and miraculously recovered, Fontaine, Slick Charles (Jamie Foxx, "Day Shift," 2022) and Yo-Yo (Teyonah Parris, "Survivor's Remorse"), go hunting for answers and stumble upon a vast government conspiracy. "They Cloned Tyrone" comes from director Juel Taylor ("Creed II," 2018), who penned the film's screenplay with Tony Rettenmaier ("Space Jam: A New Legacy," 2021). Starring alongside Boyega, Foxx and Parris in the film are Kiefer Suther - land ("Designated Survivor") and David Alan Grier ("Joe Pickett"). "The Deepest Breath" (2023) Explore the harrowing world of professional deep sea free-diving with the release of "The Deepest Breath," premiering Wednesday, July 19, on Netflix. From A24 studios, this documentary from filmmaker Laura Mc - Gann ("Revolutions," 2016) tells the heart-stopping story of two athletes – safety diver Stephen Keenan and champion free diver Alessia Zecchini – united by their love of the (often dangerous) sport. While Zecchini trains to conquer a world record, Netflix claims the pair "form a powerful connection while chasing their dreams in the darkest depths of the ocean," making for a story of perseverance and connection. The stream - ing platform goes on to explain: "The film documents how the pair initially found the sport, how they met and the rewards — and risks — that followed," as the duo partakes in a sport much more sophisticated than your average dive. The athletes train rigorously, master- ing the art of breathing in order to take to the water without the scuba tanks that provide recreational divers with oxygen, as Zecchini and Keenan compete in "free immersion diving," which means they propel deep into the water all while holding one single breath. With footage from dives in the Bahamas, Rome, Ireland and more, the film follows this pro-diving duo into the depths and back again. Tara Raani and Justine Skye in "grown-ish" Art Acuña and Christian Kane in "Almost Paradise" Teyonah Parris, Jamie Foxx and John Boyega in "They Cloned Tyrone" Morgan Freeman and Cole Hauser star in "The Ritual Killer" STREAMING NOW