Now Available for Streaming: Materialists, Dangerous Animals, Little Buddha, Northern Lights, and More

      Every week, we showcase notable titles that have recently arrived on streaming services in the United States. Check out this week’s picks below and find past summaries here.

      **The Assessment (Fleur Fortune)**

      The "old world" is a desolate place. People still reside there, but for a limited time. In contrast, those living in the "new world" can live for centuries, thanks to a drug that slows the aging process. This revolutionary technology, however, comes with a catch: the combination of limited safe living spaces and a figurative form of immortality leads to competition for resources among an ever-expanding population. The solution was to take China's now-abandoned "one-child policy" to an extreme, making the birth of any children illegal unless a couple receives government approval, which is notoriously difficult to obtain. Couples must prove their worthiness through a week-long evaluation. This is the sci-fi premise of Fleur Fortune’s The Assessment. – Jared M. (full review)

      **Where to Stream:** Hulu

      **Dangerous Animals (Sean Byrne)**

      With Jaws marking its 50th anniversary, summer wouldn’t be complete without a shark film. After a ten-year hiatus, Sean Byrne, director of The Loved Ones, presents the best in its genre since Jaume Collet-Sera’s The Shallows, while also incorporating elements of a serial-killer thriller. Dangerous Animals benefits from an intensely villainous performance by Jai Courtney, who discovers unique ways to deliver his victims into the perilous waters. While it might not be more than a 90-minute thrill ride, the direction is sharp enough to ensure the audience feels they’re being guided by a skilled showman, crafting pure summer enjoyment. – Jordan R.

      **Where to Stream:** VOD

      **Daniela Forever (Nacho Vigalondo)**

      When Nicolás (Henry Golding) awakens from his dream, Daniela (Beatrice Grannò) has disappeared. It was not some wild adventure; it was merely them reminiscing about their first meeting. The recall is imperfect, or so Nicolás believes. Can we ever accurately remember every detail? Or realize that what seemed cool or funny may have been perceived as cruel? All that remains is the essence of what they had. The bad moments seem worse, and the good seem enhanced. Our emotions might not obscure reality; perhaps they shield us from it. Memory is what remains, what we cherish. – Jared M. (full review)

      **Where to Stream:** VOD

      **Eephus (Carson Lund)**

      If the ideal sports movie captures the essence of what draws someone to the game, Carson Lund’s Eephus may be the finest film about baseball. The film centers solely around a single round of America’s pastime and humorously illustrates the specific nuances, rhythms, and details of an amateur men’s league game. By subverting typical sports film tropes––which often showcase peak athletic performance in front of adoring crowds––Lund has created something uniquely engaging. Instead of grand slams and no-hitters, you’ll see plenty of mistakes amidst a group rich with beer bellies and worn muscles. Lund focuses on the peculiar social codes applicable only on the field, free from life's burdens and solely concentrated on the game’s rules. – Jordan R. (full review)

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

      **Great Absence (Kei Chika-ura)**

      One could argue that films about dementia share similarities with murder mysteries. Both feature a victim and a mysterious antagonist, along with flawed memories and misleading clues leading to an identity that must be reconstructed and momentarily unveiled. In this regard, Kei Chika-ura’s latest film, Great Absence, feels both natural and intriguing due to its thrilling, albeit occasionally unsuccessful, blend of Florian Zeller’s The Father and Bong Joon-ho’s Memories of Murder. – Oliver W. (full review)

      **Where to Stream:** VOD

      **Little Buddha (Bernardo Bertolucci)**

      Bernardo Bertolucci’s Little Buddha was re-released in theaters this past spring with a 4K restoration. The story follows Jesse, a 10-year-old American boy believed to be the reincarnation of the esteemed Buddhist monk Lama Dorje. His journey intertwines with that of Siddartha, detailing his path to enlightenment. Bertolucci and cinematographer Vittorio Storaro shot the dual narratives using 35mm and 65mm film formats, respectively. We interviewed Pietro Scalia, the film’s editor, who has won two Academy Awards for his editing on JFK and Black Hawk Down. Scalia has worked on a diverse array of films, from intimate dramas like Good Will Hunting to large-scale epics like Gladiator. His extensive filmography also includes Hannibal, Memoirs of a Geisha, The Martian