'Mindhunter' Season 2 Fans Should Stream 'Bernie' for More True Crime
To honor 'Where'd You Go, Bernadette' and 'Mindhunter' Season 2.
It’s a big weekend for true crime enthusiasts as Mindhunter Season 2 hits Netflix. Meanwhile, Richard Linklater’s Where’d You Go, Bernadette — in theaters Friday — feels like the naturalist director’s most accessible film yet. So why not combine the two by watching Linklater’s most underappreciated true-crime movie? If you’ve been putting off watching the dark comedy Bernie, this is the weekend to do it.
Not a fan of Jack Black? Don’t worry, we’ve got three more streaming recommendations in this week’s Thursday Multiverse to get you through the dog days of summer.
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Jack Black stars in 'Bernie'.
If You Like True Crime and Richard Linklater, Bernie Is the Movie for You
The latest movie from writer-director Richard Linklater, Where’d You Go, Bernadette, hits theaters this weekend, and this dramatic comedy looks a lot more upbeat than his previous movies like Boyhood or Before Midnight. But if you’re looking for something darker, why not (re)watch Bernie? Linklater’s 2012 dark comedy starring Jack Black is truly stranger than fiction, and no, it’s not a Bernie Sanders biopic. That won’t come out for another decade at least.
Black plays Bernie Tiede, an assistant mortician who’s widely beloved by the folks living in Carthage, Texas, in 1996. He develops a relationship with a cruel, wealthy older woman who everyone hates. In a moment of frustration at the constant verbal abuse, he kills her and hides her body for months while using her money to support local businesses. The community loved him so much they rallied behind him even after police received a confession, and they blamed her for the drama. Yes, all of this really happened.
Bernie is wickedly amusing for a true crime story and totally worth watching for anyone obsessed with murder who also appreciates Linklater’s work — but this movie is accessible and enjoyable enough for just about anyone. — Corey Plante
Aquaman Is Now Available on HBO and, Yes, It’s Still a Lot of Fun
If you missed it in theaters last year, fret not because Aquaman is finally available to stream on HBO. Despite this being one of the DCEU’s least talked about films — especially when compared with the never-ending Batman v Superman commentary — it’s a whole lot of fun.
DC Comics often focuses on characters who feel out of place in one way or another, and Aquaman is no different. Born to a landwelling human and an Atlantean queen from the sea, Arthur Curry (Jason Momoa) knew early on that he was different, even if he didn’t grow up knowing much about his Atlantean heritage. However, it isn’t long before he’s thrown into some family drama and forced to battle his half-brother, King Orm (Patrick Wilson), who’s intent on starting a war between Atlantis and the polluting landwellers.
Aquaman is a thrilling adventure with surprisingly good underwater effects and riveting action sequences. In addition to being reminiscent of its comic book counterpart, the film also explores Aquaman’s bi-cultural background, his reservations with becoming a superhero, and his journey to bridging the gap between both worlds. — Mae Abdulbaki
- Watch Aquaman on HBO.
Wu Assassins Gives Birth to the New Kung Fu Renaissance
While everyone you know is watching The Boys on Amazon, Netflix quietly released a new, equally violent action series you shouldn’t miss out on. Wu Assassins premiered August 8, and it’s basically what Marvel’s Iron Fist should have been from the start: an ensemble Asian and Asian-American cast in a modern fantasy where a San Francisco chef discovers he is the reincarnation of ancient warrior monks.
The series stars Iko Uwais (The Raid), Lewis Tan (Into the Badlands), Mark Dacascos (John Wick: Chapter 3), Byron Mann (Street Fighter), and Li Jun Li (The Exorcist), all of whom play slick kung fu ass kickers in one of the most thrilling Netflix originals yet. They participate in a growing war against the Chinese Triad’s pursuit of deadly ancient powers that could threaten the world. The show explores the underbelly of San Francisco’s Chinatown while introducing a relevant and compelling fantasy twist. — Eric Francisco
- Watch Wu Assassins only on Netflix.
Rocko’s Modern Life Is Just as Funny as You Remember, and Way Smarter, Too
If you’re anything like me, this one almost flew under your radar, but the Rocko’s Modern Life revival is well worth the 45 minutes it takes to watch on Netflix. Titled Rocko’s Modern Life: Static Cling, the animated special modernizes the ‘90s Nickelodeon classic for our own era, complete with jokes about iPhone consumerism and YouTube influencers. This world is just as funny as you remember while packing a sharp critique of everything from fan entitlement to anti-trans bigotry.
Rocko’s Modern Life ended with a spaceship carrying Rocko, Heffer, and Filburt into outer space, and they finally return to Earth just as the Netflix special begins. There’s a fair amount of culture shock, but the biggest change is that Rocko’s favorite show, The Fatheads, has gone off the air. The rest of the story is devoted to bringing the series-within-a-series back, which is exactly as meta as it sounds but way more enjoyable.
Even if you weren’t a huge fan or Rocko’s Modern Life in the ‘90s, this special is worth checking out. Sadly, the rest of the series isn’t streaming on Netflix, or anywhere else for that matter. Your only option is to catch it on cable or buy individual episodes from Amazon. As Filburt would say, “Oh, fishsticks.” — Jake Kleinman
- Watch Rocko’s Modern Life: Static Cling only on Netflix.
Got a movie or TV show to recommend? Email it to us at corey@inverse.com and maybe we’ll feature it in next week’s newsletter.
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