As the stream of new cinematic products entering the market in 2025 begins to lessen, passionate movie-seekers will still unearth a vast array of impressive fresh films available online. Exciting arrivals this week include the premier of the award-winning animated masterpiece ‘Flow,’ now available via paid video-on-demand services, recently crowned with a Golden Globe for Best Animated Film. Max plays host to ‘Look Into My Eyes,’ a deeply moving, yet unexpectedly optimistic documentary exploring the world of New York City’s psychic community. For lovers of the horror genre, Shudder brings ‘Get Away,’ a new horror-comedy film featuring the unanticipated but fantastic partnership of ‘Shaun of the Dead’s’ Nick Frost and Irish comedian Aisling Bea. Elsewhere, Hulu presents the intriguing new British thriller ‘American Star,’ and the somewhat overlooked crime drama ‘Focus,’ featuring the talents of Margot Robbie and Will Smith, has found a new digital home on Prime Video.
‘Look Into My Eyes’ on Max offers audiences a close, personal acquaintance with the domain of psychics. Instead of attempting to dispel doubt about their work, the film shines a light on the transformative power of empathy and human connections. Under the stewardship of Director Lana Wilson, ‘Look Into My Eyes’ presents a series of intimate exchanges between New York City psychics and their patrons, leaving viewers to draw their own conclusions about their profession. Regardless of your standpoint on supernatural phenomena, the unequivocal emotional release during these sessions is compelling viewing. The psychic subjects themselves are absolutely captivating to watch, providing a deep and entertaining dive into their universe.
Nick Frost, who first graced our screens twenty years ago in ‘Shaun of the Dead,’ returns to the genre in a new horror-comedy story from Shudder, ‘Get Away.’ Here, Frost takes on the mantle of a family man, alongside comedic force Aisling Bea, Sebastian Croft, and newcomer Maisie Ayres. The narrative follows their misfortune when a peaceful family retreat to an isolated Swedish island takes a dark and unexpected turn as they uncover a grim island secret. As the family battles with disturbing local residents and eerie customs, a more dread-inducing reality emerges when they learn of a loose serial killer. The locals concerningly seem to prioritize their impending festival over the serial killer threat.
The award-winning ‘Flow’ has captured attention since it clinched the Best Animated Film accolade at the 82nd Golden Globe Awards, and is finally making its appearance on paid video-on-demand channels. The predominantly silent animated feature narrates the struggles of a cat grappling with survival in the midst of cataclysic flooding that wipes out its home. Along with a group of assorted animals, our feline protagonist takes shelter on a boat, embarking on a journey through inundated terrains; a testament to endurance and the struggle to survive amid a radically altered world.
Though ‘Focus’ isn’t widely acknowledged as one of Margot Robbie’s significant triumphs, her stellar performance alongside co-star Will Smith in this underrated crime thriller is undeniably captivating. Robbie, famous for her role as ‘Barbie,’ slips into the character of Jess Barrett, an adventurous grifter who bites off more than she can chew in her attempt to fool the wrong person. Despite seeing through Jess’s scheme, the seasoned con-artist Nicky Spurgeon takes her under his tutelage, revealing to her the inner workings of their shady profession. As they become closer, a blossoming romance leads to Nicky severing ties with Jess, fearing complications. Fast forward three years and Nicky runs into Jess while embroiled in a high-stakes con in Buenos Aires; only this time around, Jess holds the winning cards.
The new Hulu offering, ‘American Star,’ explores the traditional narrative of a battle-scarred hitman undertaking a final assignment, but does so in a thoughtful, more reflective style. The brilliant Ian McShane captivates as Wilson, a hardened professional assassin and Falklands War veteran who stands poised to eliminate a stranger on the island of Fuerteventura in the Canaries. Discovering that his mark is absent, Wilson decides to take in the island life and gets increasingly involved with its community. With his defenses lowered, he finds time for self-reflection about the path he has walked and the retirement he faces; all before the inevitability of violence disrupts his introspection once again.
Netflix’s French action thriller, ‘Ad Vitam,’ directed by Rodolphe Lauga, spins the rather anguishing tale of Franck Lazarev, a disgraced operative of the GIGN, France’s national police counter-terrorism unit. After a close shave with death on the job, Franck rushes home to ensure the safety of his pregnant wife, Léo, only to witness her being kidnapped by an armed gang. As Léo’s life hangs in the balance, Franck is catapulted back into the chaotic, dangerous life. Despite the familiar premise and extensive flashbacks, ‘Ad Vitam’ is tense with personal threats and adrenaline-charged action sequences.
‘Edge of Tomorrow’ poses an existential dilemma: What becomes of Tom Cruise if he finds himself trapped in a ‘Groundhog Day’-like time loop, caught in the throes of a ferocious interstellar conflict? This is the unfathomable predicament Major William ‘Bill’ Cage is grappling with after being demoted for an act of cowardice and thrust into combat. An encounter with an alien forces him to relive the same day perpetually every time he falls in battle. Desperate to evade this gruesome cycle, he seeks out Sergeant Rita Vrataski, a reputed soldier believed to have similar experiences after an alien-blood encounter. Their mission: to free him from the eternal loop, annihilate the alien invaders, and safeguard humanity.