What to watch on Netflix: Week of 12/2

Matthew Ellmore/Staff Writer

Netflix offers a wide array of content for its viewers to watch, and it can be daunting to skim through its large collection to try and find something that interests you. However, there are some documentaries, series, and movies that are available on Netflix and that stand out from the rest. Some of them may be well-known, others may not. Hopefully, you can find something that interests you.

“Cam” (2018)

“CAM” is a psychological thriller that gains most of its driving force from technology. Like the popular show “Black Mirror,” “CAM” uses the dangers of technology to analyze the concept of identity and the world of webcamming. The film follows Alice, a camgirl who discovers she’s been replaced on her show with an lookalike of herself. Instead of being a straightforward movie about internet dangers, “CAM” addresses many growing concerns of the modern age. The film touches upon the need for desire and how that need magnifies in the digital world. It also addresses how far some people are willing to go to receive validation. Like many thrillers, the movie does not answer the concerns that have been frequently voiced about technology. It instead chooses to portray those concerns and asks its viewers to come up with their own opinions.

“Norsemen” (2016-2018)

“Norsemen” is a Norwegian comedy series about a group of Vikings who live in the village of Northeim. On paper, a comedic historical series about Vikings wouldn’t seem like it would work. Most of history has portrayed Vikings as a stoic and heroic group of people, shying away from no battle or war. With all of this going against it, “Norsemen” shouldn’t work. But it does, and it does so wonderfully. There’s still a lot of the gritty and dirty aspects involved in the show, but this aesthetic is surrounded by humor. The humor is subtle and not over the top, and it blends in with the rest of the show to depict an honest portrayal of the lives of Vikings. It’s dry and dark humor, much like the people the show is representing, but there’s still so much that it brings out in the characters. If you’re looking for a show that’s much quirkier and more distinct from other historical series like “Vikings” and “Game of Thrones,” “Norsemen” should be right up your alley.

“Amy” (2015)

Asif Kapadia was approached to make a documentary about Amy Winehouse in 2012, only a year after her death. Three years later, the film was released. “Amy” is a deep, soul-shattering look at the life of Amy Winehouse. Instead of focusing on who Amy Winehouse the singer was, audiences get a deeper look at who Amy the person was. The film includes footage of Amy Winehouse performing for home videos as a child and includes interviews with family and friends, telling us about the sides of Amy Winehouse that only those who were intimate with her could see. “Amy” is not afraid to show the unglamorous side of fame, the inner demons that Winehouse faced and her constant battles with press and privacy. It’s also not afraid to admit Amy’s poor choices and the consequences of those choices. It doesn’t demonize Winehouse or the paparazzi or family and friends that encouraged Winehouse’s behaviours; it gives an honest look at the complexities of fame and the people that fall into the spotlight.

Photo by Erik Witsoe on Unsplash.

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