Stuck on what to stream this month? Unlike other lists, we’re on hand to recommend a variety of films for every mood, from tear-jerkers to trailblazers. Here are our picks for the best films to stream in the UK this month.
The Silver Screen Classic
Suspicion (1941) dir. Alfred Hitchcock
Joan Fontaine and Cary Grant star in this exciting romantic thriller that grips you from the outset. A lesser-seen Hitchcock film with just as much suspense as his more notable productions, Suspicion is an intriguing watch perfect for a weekend spent indoors. Grant portrays charming scoundrel Johnnie Aysgarth, who has lured in Fontaine’s wealthy yet unassuming Lina. A tale of speculation and intrigue, Suspicion draws famous Hitchcock-ian stars together to create a dramatically shot and brilliantly performed thrill ride. You would expect nothing less from the master of suspense.
Available to stream on BBC iPlayer
The Underrated
Handsome Devil (2016) dir. John Butler
Award-winning Irish director John Butler’s fourth film Handsome Devil is the perfect romantic comedy-drama. Set in an elite, all-boys boarding school in Ireland, Handsome Devil examines society from the perspective of youth – a perspective offered through the film’s two central characters Ned Roche (Fionn O’Shea) and Conor Masters (Nicholas Galitzine). Successfully blending in humour, offered by the wonderful Andrew Scott who stars as quirky teacher Dan Sherry, Handsome Devil delves into issues of social stratification, homophobia and expectations. O’Shea and Galitzine stun as their characters explore themselves and their positions within the world around them.
Available to stream on Netflix
The Underseen
Limbo (2020) dir. Ben Sharrock
Premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival just last year, Limbo is a perfect example of New Scottish Cinema being brought to our screens in recent years. Nominated for awards at the BAFTAs, British Independent Film Awards (BIFAs), and listed as an official selection at Cannes Film Festival, Limbo is an eccentric observation of life as a refugee. Omar (Amir El-Masry) is a young Syrian musician who journeys from his homeland to a remote fictional island off the coast of Scotland, fighting for asylum seeker rights as he meets a larger group of refugees. Sharrock’s debut directorial feature is a brilliant film to not only bring joy but also realign our watching with a film that offers purpose and love. The refugee experience is a theme explored sparingly in cinema. Limbo brings this to light as a truly underseen gem.
Available to stream on MUBI
The Foreign Language Gem
Why Don’t You Just Die! (2018) dir. Kirill Sokolov
If you’re looking for a wacky film to stick on your screen then Why Don’t You Just Die! is the film for you. Directed by the incredibly versatile Russian filmmaker Kirill Sokolov and with plot twists galore, Why Don’t You Just Die! captures your attention in an instant, drawing you into its narrative through intense characters and punchy editing. Jump cuts, fast-paced cinematography and a lot of fake blood are all elements that make Sokolov’s feature one to watch. Merging comedy, gore and drama, Why Don’t You Just Die! is a film you can’t take your eyes off. Russian cinema isn’t all too accessible here in the UK, yet any streaming platform pushing for foreign language marvels like this is something that cannot be ignored.
Available to stream on All 4
The Tearjerker
The Selfish Giant (2013) dir. Clio Barnard
Northern wonder Clio Barnard’s beautiful coming-of-age drama The Selfish Giant, set in cold, working-class Bradford, is an emotional rollercoaster. Discussing issues of class and the importance of industry in small towns, The Selfish Giant is a beautiful tale of teenagers Arbor (Conner Chapman) and Swifty (Shaun Thomas) whose lives are derailed when Arbor’s hyperactivity disorder ends up with both boys suspended from school. When the boys turn to stealing to make ends meet and occupy their time, they discover the importance of human-animal friendships to bring meaning to their existence. As one of Barnard’s must-watches, The Selfish Giant will get the tears brewing for certain.
Available to stream on BritBox
The Feel-Good
The Holiday (2006) dir. Nancy Meyers
Nothing screams Christmas movie night quite like the romantic comedy film The Holiday. Using the classic life-swap trope, Iris Simpkins, portrayed by Kate Winslet, travels from cold and windy Britain to the fast-paced world of Los Angeles to get away from her current love life troubles. She arranges a life exchange places with the uptight Amanda Woods (Cameron Diaz), with the pair spending the holidays with one another’s families instead of their own. Nancy Meyers’ feel-good hit is a sure set way to enjoy your evening, using a selection of stellar actors and stunning locations to put you in a festive mood. The Holiday deals with heartbreak and newfound romance and is an engrossing tale told under the beautiful falling snow of festive joy in differing communities.
Available to stream on Netflix
The Trailblazing
Pressure (1976) dir. Horace Ové
Known as the first black feature film in Britain, Pressure is a hard-hitting drama that feels both revolutionary and cutting-edge. Artist and photographer-turned director Horace Ové’s seminal film is certainly an intense watch, exploring the pressure put on black youths in 1970s London. Ové’s feature is powerful, dealing with issues of identity and the troubles of youth. Police power and presence is a topic explored throughout the film, which feels as timely now as it would have almost five decades ago. Pressure is a tough watch but is truly worth it to understand the passion of the UK’s first black British film.
Available to stream on BFI Player
The Transgressive
Hellraiser (1987) dir. Clive Barker
The first entry in what became an eleven-part franchise, Hellraiser is an intense ride. Known as the cult directorial debut from horror writer-filmmaker Clive Barker, Hellraiser is a supernatural horror that has divided critics and audiences since its release. Sadomasochistic other-worldly beings known as Cenobites are accidentally summoned by the Cotton family through a mysterious puzzle box in this 80s shocker that will leave your jaw hanging open. A British horror that remains as hot-blooded today as it always has, Hellraiser is a film that needs no introduction—yet needs a slight warning for those intending to watch!
Available to stream on Amazon Prime
Read More:
- Films To Stream In The UK In November 2021
- Films To Stream In The UK In October 2021
- Films To Stream In The UK In September 2021
- Films To Stream In The UK In August 2021
Words by Katie Evans
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