New to Streaming: The Shrouds, The Phoenician Scheme, Ghost Trail, Invention, and More

      Each week, we showcase the notable titles that have recently been released on streaming platforms in the United States. Check out this week's picks below, along with previous round-ups here.

      **All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt (Raven Jackson)**

      Raven Jackson’s debut film feels as if it has emerged from deep within the earth. This poetic and contemplative work distills cinema to its essence, offering a breathtaking mosaic of experiences and memories. Centered on Mack, a Black woman from Mississippi, the film provides glimpses into her childhood, teenage years, and beyond, creating a uniquely sensory experience this year. Filmed beautifully in 35mm by Jomo Fray and edited by Lee Chatametikool, a collaborator of Apichatpong Weerasethakul, it expresses reverence for nature and a celebration of human connection that feels increasingly rare in contemporary American cinema. – Jordan R.

      **Where to Stream:** Prime Video

      **The Ballad of Genesis and Lady Jaye (Marie Losier)**

      This heartwarming film tells the story of industrial music trailblazer Genesis Breyer P-Orridge and h/er partner, Lady Jaye Breyer. Over seven years, Marie Losier crafts an intimate portrayal that mixes footage of the couple's everyday life with rare archival clips from their art performances.

      **Where to Stream:** Le Cinéma Club

      **Ghost Trail (Jonathan Millet)**

      While the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine have dominated news cycles, the Syrian civil war, which erupted after the 2011 Arab Spring, remains relatively overlooked. This ongoing conflict has resulted in over a decade of fighting and significant humanitarian crises, displacing 13 million Syrians. These refugees, lost in foreign lands seeking asylum, are still searching for answers and possibly retribution. Jonathan Millet’s debut narrative feature, *Ghost Trail*, delves into the psyche of a survivor and highlights the costs of a conflict that the world seems to have forgotten. – Ankit J. (full review)

      **Where to Stream:** VOD

      **Hot Spring Shark Attack (Morihito Inoue)**

      Following the predictably formulaic *Jurassic World Rebirth*, those seeking a creature feature with some eccentric energy should turn to Morihito Inoue’s *Hot Spring Shark Attack*. Set in a hot spring town besieged by sharks, this film, just under 75 minutes long, brims with ideas, offering a blend of freneticism that is simultaneously thrilling and exhausting. It's worth watching for anyone curious if, 50 years post-*Jaws*, new concepts can emerged in the shark thriller genre. – Jordan R.

      **Where to Stream:** VOD

      **In the Lost Lands (Paul W.S. Anderson)**

      Paul W.S. Anderson’s *In the Lost Lands* begins with an unusual framing device that returns only at the end. This adaptation of a George R. R. Martin story lacks context initially, but eventually reveals a powerful Queen who feels deprived of the world’s true mysteries. She enlists the witch Grey Alys (portrayed by Milla Jovovich) to grant her the ability to transform into a werewolf. The film mainly consists of seemingly disjointed action scenes devoid of narrative coherence. However, this approach creates a thrilling experience rather than confusion. – Neil B. (full review)

      **Where to Stream:** Hulu

      **Invention (Courtney Stephens)**

      Grief manifests in many forms, and in Courtney Stephens’ *Invention*, speculative fiction intertwines with personal history to reflect on how we cope with loss. The story focuses on Callie Hernandez, an actress and filmmaker whose father died from a COVID-related illness in 2021. The film contains considerable archival footage of her father, previously a telemarketer for new-age healing techniques, but it also proposes an alternate reality where a patent for an electromagnetic healing device is left to her in his will. *Invention* explores themes of death, mourning, and the human tendency to believe in conspiracy. – Rory O. (full review)

      **Where to Stream:** MUBI (free for 30 days)

      **Pavements (Alex Ross Perry)**

      As the Hollywood superhero-industrial complex wanes, the universe represented by *Rolling Stone* and *Spin* magazines is being rapidly constructed. The concept of “pre-awareness” parallels Spotify's algorithm that tracks billions of song plays to confirm the lasting appeal of past popular music. Unlike the brilliant *Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story*, which critiques the nostalgia leveraged by such films, Alex Ross Perry’s *Pavements* seeks to honor ’90s slacker icons while capturing the attempts of young actors to embody the quirks of seasoned, road-weary musicians. Good luck, Timothée. – David K. (full review)

      **Where to Stream:** MUBI (free for 30 days)

      **The Phoenician Scheme (Wes Anderson)**