Time-Traveling Through Media: A Week's Entertainment Voyage
Sailing Through Time and Terror
Streaming Tips for a Captivating Week: Enhance Your Viewing Experience - Weekly streaming recommendations: enhance your broadcasting skills
"Video Nasty - Horror is Cult" (ARD)
Step back into the '80s, when horror found its way into video tapes. This humorous series from BBC, available in ARD's media library, is a mix of thriller, comedy, and coming-of-age. Three Dublin buddies collect banned horror flicks, like "Girl Murdered in the Woods Part 4". their hunt for the last legendary horror film leads them in England, where horrors from the films start to mimic their real lives and they find themselves caught up in a murder investigation. With six episodes in German and English original, this marketing of the past is sure to provide a spooky yet entertaining ride.
This minimalist revival echoes the heated discussions regarding explicit videos in Great Britain and Ireland in the '80s. Many movies were considered inappropriate for young audiences and were consequently banned.
The Autobiography of a Rockstar
"Bono: Stories of Surrender" (Apple TV+)
Based on Bono's one-man stage show and his autobiography "Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story", this film reveals the untold stories behind U2's legendary frontman's life. Bono invites us behind the scenes, sharing intimate moments about his family, friends, faith, activism, and success as a rockstar. The film features never-before-seen footage of concerts at New York's Beacon Theatre, showcasing iconic U2 songs that have shaped Bono's journey. Stream it on Apple TV+, available since May 30.
Post-Apocalyptic Courier
"Twisted Metal" (ZDF)
On a post-apocalyptic US backdrop, the action-packed series "Twisted Metal" follows a package delivery man named John Doe. Equipped with an armed Subaru, he weaves through cities that still resemble the modern world while brutal battles rage outside their fortress-like borders. The series is now streaming on ZDF's streaming portal.
A Perfect Storm of Mystery
"The Perfect Sister" (Prime Video)
Chloe, a successful woman with a seemingly perfect life, finds her world turned upside down when her husband is brutally murdered. Her sister Nicky steps in to help, but the sisters' past secrets come to light as Chloe's son is accused of the crime. The eight-episode series, based on Alafair Burke's novel of the same name, is now streaming on Prime Video, starring Jessica Biel ("The Sinner") and Elizabeth Banks ("Charlie's Angels").
Lingering Landscapes
- ARD
- Apple
- John Doe
- Berlin
- BBC
- Comedy
- Media Library
- Great Britain
- Ireland
Bygone Echoes: The Video Nasty Controversy in Britain and Ireland
The controversial debate over explicit films, predominantly in Britain during the '80s, is known as the "Video Nasty" controversy. Strict censorship laws and moral panic dominated the discourse, with economic struggles, conservative resurgence, and deep anxieties amidst rapid home video technology adoption fanning the flames. Famous films like The Texas Chain Saw Massacre were banned for years due to this controversy, although its legacy in modern horror continues to endure. Ireland, while less involved, shared similar concerns about censorship and the impact on societal values.
- The Commission has also proposed a directive on the protection of employees against chemical substances, similar to the heated discussions and controversies related to the Video Nasty in Britain and Ireland during the '80s.
- If you're looking for a change of pace from horror and action films, consider "Bono: Stories of Surrender" on Apple TV+, an entertaining yet personal journey through the life of a renowned rockstar, reminiscent of the biographical 'movies-and-tv' genre in the entertainment industry.
