About this episode Tune in every Friday evening for your essential guide to the latest streaming releases across Netflix, Apple TV, Prime Video, Hulu, Disney+, Paramount+, and Peacock. Our expert critic meticulously sifts through the newest content, offering sharp insights and honest reviews to help you confidently decide what to watch and what to skip, saving you precious time and guaranteeing quality entertainment for your weekend.
0:00 The number one show on Netflix, worldwide, is a new series about a woman who may or may not have killed her parents with an axe in 1892.0:09 That’s right, Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story just completely took over the global streaming charts.0:16 Last week, in our big streaming showdown, we were looking at a dozen different contenders for your weekend.0:23 This week, one show—and one very old, very grim story—just lapped the entire field.0:29 So here’s the lay of the land for your weekend.0:32 The big theme is… well, it’s October.0:34 So it’s horror and true crime everywhere you look.0:38 On Netflix, besides Lizzie Borden holding the top spot, there’s also The Widower: ‘Til Death Do Us Part, a new true crime doc that, in a rare move, dropped today on Netflix, Hulu, AND Disney+.0:51 For something lighter, there’s a new comedy called Crazy Rich, Incredibly Broke, which sounds exactly like what it is.0:59 And a big new adaptation of East of Eden is also landing.1:03 Over on Hulu, they are not messing around.1:06 They’re basically turning their homepage into the world’s best-curated video store horror aisle.1:12 You’ve got modern classics like Midsommar and Hereditary ready to go, plus a new original film called Hokum that’s getting absolutely stellar early buzz.1:23 Prime Video is answering with a new adaptation of Stephen King’s Carrie from horror master Mike Flanagan.1:30 And for the real slasher fans, Peacock has maybe the biggest event of the month: Crystal Lake, the Friday the 13th prequel series starring the great Linda Cardellini.1:41 As for the others?1:43 Paramount+ is sticking to its guns with its CBS procedurals like NCIS, and Apple TV Plus is pretty quiet this week.1:51 Okay, so let's dig into the two big stories here.1:54 First, the absolute dominance of Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story.1:58 Why is a story from the nineteenth century the number one show on the planet right now?2:04 Because it’s a perfect example of a pattern we’re seeing over and over.2:09 This is the Ryan Murphy playbook, applied to history.2:13 You take a famous, sensationalized crime, you cast it beautifully, you give it impeccable production design, and you present it not as a dry documentary, but as a full-blown prestige drama.2:26 We saw this with Dahmer, with Versace, and now with Lizzie Borden.2:30 It’s a formula that turns true crime into a cultural event.2:34 It’s less "whodunnit" and more "why-dunnit," exploring the social context and the psychology.2:41 And let’s be real, the Lizzie Borden story is one of the great American myths—it has everything.2:47 Family drama, brutal violence, a controversial trial, and an ending that people STILL argue about over a century later.2:55 It’s basically the original watercooler show.2:58 So is it worth your time?3:00 If you liked the other Monster series, then ABSOLUTELY.3:04 This is exactly what you’re looking for.3:07 If you’re looking for a straightforward mystery, though, you might be frustrated.3:12 This is all about mood and character, not just clues.3:16 The other big story is the sheer volume of horror.3:19 It's an avalanche.3:20 And this is where you need a guide, because you could spend your whole weekend scrolling and never press play.3:28 So here’s my take.3:29 The one you should prioritize is on Hulu, and it’s called Hokum.3:34 TV Guide is calling it "a real terrifying treat" and one of the most acclaimed horror films of the year.3:41 That’s a signal you don’t ignore.3:43 The other must-see, especially if you have any nostalgia for 80s slashers, is Crystal Lake on Peacock.3:50 A prequel to Friday the 13th could have been a cheap cash-in, but putting Linda Cardellini in the lead role tells me they’re taking this seriously.4:00 It’s a sign of quality.4:02 So what do you skip?4:03 Honestly, you can probably skip the random foreign zombie movies on Prime Video unless you are a hardcore completionist.4:11 And Mike Flanagan's Carrie?4:13 Look, I love Flanagan, but we’ve had several versions of Carrie.4:17 Unless you’re a die-hard Stephen King fan who needs to see every adaptation, your time is better spent on something genuinely new, like Hokum.4:27 So what does this all set up?4:29 This week shows that the streaming wars are no longer about having something for everyone all the time.4:36 They’re about winning a specific mood, for a specific month.4:40 Right now, it’s a battle to be your home for horror and suspense.4:45 Netflix, Hulu, and Peacock are all making a hard play for that title.4:49 They’re betting that if they can capture your October, they can keep you for November.4:55 Your move is to be smart about it—cherry-pick the best from each of them, and build your own perfect Halloween marathon.
