Pick of the week
Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities
“Each of the episodes contains a whole world,” says showrunner Guillermo del Toro. “Some are savoury, some are sweet. You get a surprise from each of the bites … ” The multiple Oscar-winning director is at the helm of two episodes of this eight-part anthology of weird, uncanny standalone stories. Expect a smörgåsbord of dark delights from a starry and lavish series, such as the claustrophobic and nauseating battle between grave-robber and vermin in Graveyard Rats (above), and Tim Blake Nelson having a terrifying subterranean adventure in Lot 36. With horrors ranging from the subtly quotidian to the opulently gothic, it’s a perfect treat for Halloween.
Netflix, from Tuesday 25 October
***
The Devil’s Hour
This relentless horror mystery stars Jessica Raine as the unfortunate Lucy. She has a lot on her plate: a stressful job, a son who is withdrawn to the point of catatonia and a foul-mouthed, dementia-stricken mother. And those aren’t the worst of her problems. Every night, she wakes from a nightmare at exactly 3.33am – the “Devil’s Hour” – when, legend has it, dark thoughts invade the brain. But could Lucy be the conduit for all of this darkness? Peter Capaldi’s unspeakably sinister Gideon may have the answer. It won’t be uncovered easily, though. This is tense, visceral stuff and Raine is excellent as a woman on the edge.
Prime Video, from Friday 28 October
***
The BMF Documentary: Blowing Money Fast
Demetrius “Big Meech” and Terry “Southwest T” Flenory were the BMF (Black Mafia Family), a Detroit crime syndicate that operated from the mid-80s to 2005, when the DEA came calling. This documentary series (produced by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, who also had a hand in a drama about the organisation in 2021) explores the turf wars, the massive drug deals, the wildly extravagant parties and eventually, the downfall of the organisation. The archive footage is plentiful and striking but the tone never quite feels rigorous enough for the brutal subject matter.
Lionsgate+, from Sunday 23 October
***
Women of Steel
It has been a landmark year for mainstream representation of women’s sport. If that’s mainly thanks to the triumphant England women’s football team, the rugby league side will be hoping for a similar profile boost. Across its various platforms, the BBC will be broadcasting every game from the Women’s Rugby League World Cup – and this documentary will introduce you to the team and tell their stories. Via intimate, behind-the-scenes access, we meet a team of gifted amateurs as they hold down jobs while preparing for an international tournament.
BBC iPlayer, from Monday 24 October
***
Grey’s Anatomy
“You will save lives with this equipment. And you will end them.” A new batch of interns have arrived in Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital and they’re preparing to learn some life-and-death lessons. We’ve now reached season 19 of this drama and the formula remains the same – white-coated romantic intrigue jostles for space with white-knuckle medical action. Showrunner Shonda Rhimes always imbues her work with nuance, though, so if Grey’s Anatomy sometimes feels predictable, it’s always stylish and well constructed.
Disney+, from Wednesday 26 October
***
The Mysterious Benedict Society
This adventure series adapted from Trenton Lee Stewart’s novels has the look and feel of a Wes Anderson film aimed at slightly eccentric young adults. After foiling LD Curtain’s nefarious plan in season one, the four gifted orphans at the story’s heart have gone their separate ways. But Mr Benedict (Tony Hale) summons them again with grave news. His brother is back in action and has a new plan with mind-controlling, world-threatening potential. Cue a quirky European travelogue involving a kidnapping, much island-hopping and the odd tantrum.
Disney+, from Wednesday 26 October
***
The Bastard Son & the Devil Himself
Adolescence is hard enough without being the son of “the most evil bloodwitch that ever lived”. But this is the lot of 16-year-old Nathan Byrn in this adaptation of Sally Green’s Half Bad young adult trilogy. In many ways, it’s a standard teen drama, albeit one with a notable subtext: a semi-submerged but long-running standoff between Blood witches (rare, dangerous) and Fairborn witches (numerous, basic). It’s a lively, likable affair and Nathan is played with just the right amount of diffident and charming bafflement by Jay Lycurgo.
Netflix, from Friday 28 October
