New to Streaming: Queer, Tendaberry, Bring Them Down, A Complete Unknown, and More

      Each week we spotlight the significant titles that have recently arrived on streaming platforms in the United States. Take a look at this week’s picks below and previous compilations here.

      Bring Them Down (Christopher Andrews)

      Christopher Andrews’ Bring Them Down proves to be a test of endurance without any reward. The film starts with a shocking car crash on a twisting road in rural Ireland and quickly follows up with scenes depicting horrific animal cruelty, including an ear being literally blown off someone’s head, replete with more disturbing imagery. While such acts can be deeply impactful when executed in remarkable films—like Andrea Arnold’s 2021 documentary Cow, for example. – Christopher S. (full review)

      Where to Stream: MUBI (free for 30 days)

      A Complete Unknown (James Mangold)

      A Complete Unknown frequently appears adrift in its attempts to measure up to its eclectic background. It tracks Dylan (Timothée Chalamet) from the moment he hitchhiked into New York City in early 1961 to his iconic, famously contentious performance at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival, where his choice to incorporate electric rock into an environment that had idolized his acoustic roots was perceived as a betrayal. This timeframe, which concludes before the now-83-year-old had even reached 25, coincidentally represents the bulk of the popular knowledge of Dylan. There are later milestones that many can easily reference: the twin triumphs of Blood on the Tracks and Desire in the mid-70s, his eagerly anticipated Grammy win for Time Out of Mind; the only one specifically mentioned in the final title cards is his unexpected Nobel Prize for Literature win, which is almost dismissed in text form. – Ryan S. (full review)

      Where to Stream: Hulu

      The Line (Ethan Berger)

      The Line is unpleasant. But it ought to be, right? Penned by Ethan Berger and Alex Russek and directed by Berger in his feature debut, this film tells a story about a college fraternity and all the dreadful transgressions carried out in the name of tradition and brotherhood. Alex Wolff stars as Tom, a sophomore with poor grades but a good standing within his fraternity, KNA. Their president, Todd (Lewis Pullman, excellent in this role), has identified Tom as his successor. The film unfolds during the pledge period when a new group of freshmen is subjected to torment and trials to earn the right to join KNA. – Dan M. (full review)

      Where to Stream: Hulu

      Nocturnes (Anirban Dutta and Anupama Srinivasan)

      I was fortunate enough to watch this beautiful documentary in a cinema, which provided me with eighty-two minutes of sheer joy. Co-directors Anirban Dutta and Anupama Srinivasan have created a captivating film featuring genuinely moving cinematography (by Satya Rai Nagpaul) and uniquely resonant sound design (by Tom Paul and Shreyank Nanjappa). There’s an element of mystery and enchantment in this narrative, perhaps even divine. Ecologist and postdoctoral researcher Mansi Mungee, along with her assistant, Bicki, appears to have discovered the secret to happiness, which lies in living within the Eastern Himalayan forest while studying moth behavior. Moths play a crucial role, we learn; they are vital to the forest's balance. Even though some only exist for two or three days, they have been on Earth for nearly 300 million years! That predates dinosaurs and flowering plants. Moths have endured five mass extinctions, mastering and shaping the concept of Time. Who are we in relation to the moths? How can we share their air? – Lucia S.

      Where to Stream: VOD

      Queer (Luca Guadagnino)

      Building on the solid foundation of Justin Kuritzkes’ script, which takes bold creative strides to explore what remains unspoken in William S. Burroughs’ cryptic novella, Guadagnino has crafted a film adaptation that not only respects but expands upon an iconic text. A mix of humor, eroticism, and profound sadness, it’s a tonal and emotional chameleon that delves into the endless solitude of queer love. Drew Starkey delivers a breakout performance, while Daniel Craig embodies a tragic everyman haunted by a relentless desire for connection. A surreal and enlightening piece of cinema that touches on genuine emotions. – Zhuo-Ning Su

      Where to Stream: Max

      The Rule of Jenny Pen (James Ashcroft)

      Three decades after Brian De Palma’s wildly unhinged psychological thriller Raising Cain, John Lithgow once again finds a cinematic role that allows him to portray deranged malevolence. New Zealand director James Ashcroft’s The Rule of Jenny Pen, following his Sundance-selected Coming Home in the Dark, features Lithgow as Dave Crealy, a nursing-home resident who thrives on inflicting psychological and physical distress on his fellow residents, particularly the newcomer Stefan Mortensen (