Neon continues to bring in a convoy of quality shows and films. See our handpicked highlights below followed by the full release schedule.
Top picks: TV
The Lovers (September 8)
If we took a rough poll of the world’s romantics, I feel like the lilting Irish brogue would come out on top as the sexiest accent of them all. See that horny theory put to the test in this Belfast-set rom-com series, following the enemies-to-duhhh-Lovers arc between a supermarket worker and a boastful political broadcaster. The show promises “dark comedy and unexpected romance”, so apologies if we’ve spoiled that second part for you right here. Oops.
Telemarketers (September 12)
Could this HBO docuseries really have us rooting for a pack of money-grubbing, pleading, call centre scam artists? Told over three parts by a documentarian who once worked for telemarketing juggernaut CDG, this expose features a raucous cast of characters in an unspooling revelation of corruption—perhaps spiralling all the way upwards into national police forces. Substance-fuelled whistleblower Patrick J. Pespas is a true character, one of those rangy real-life figures that instantly reminds one of that whole deal about the truth being stranger than whatever.
Project Greenlight (September 27)
A fierce, emerging director. Issa Rae, Kumail Nanjiani, and Gina Prince-Bythewood as her producers. A whole development catalogued in the latest season of this Hollywood insider series…and only 17% on Rotten Tomatoes?!! The fact that Meko Winbush’s completed film, Gray Matter, is already out and available to stream will make this reality series an even more fascinating watch, as we get to see how the cinematic sausage got made.
Top picks: Movies
Crimes of the Future (September 1)
David Cronenberg heard that we’re all chowing down microplastics already, and so he simply had to birth this latest body-horror sci-fi vision, featuring a hilariously breathy Kristen Stewart as a performance art fangirl who memorably claims that “surgery is the new sex”. It feels weird to call this arch, icky film autobiographical, but Viggo Mortenson’s ailing artist is in some ways an analogue to the daddy of body horror himself: Cronenberg has no choice but to create the gloopy art he does, and we worshipful audiences are helpless but to misinterpret it. Lea Seydoux rounds out our grim little trio as Mortenson’s muse, in performances where bizarre new organs are grown and extracted from within him.
Knock at the Cabin (September 3)
Shyamapocalypse now? Or is it just cultish paranoia? M. Night pulled out all the stops for this eerie, well-acted thriller that sees a gay couple confronted by a quartet of doomsday prophets: if they’re willing to sacrifice one of their lives, an impending, world-ending event can be stopped. The twist-addicted director avoids his most blockbustery impulses for a tighter, more thoughtful mode of filmmaking, getting a great performance from his lead child actor as usual. And Dave Bautista is awesome as one of our four horseman—the kind of burly yet noble bloke you’d actually trust to guide you through mysterious endtimes.
Cocaine Bear (September 24)
Our critic Rory Doherty wasn’t a fan of this 1980s-set, does-what-it-says-on-the-tin horror-comedy, saying that there’s only so much the familiar cast can do “with a film clueless about how to give us a wild, gonzo experience”. I personally though it was more than enough fun, with one especially awesome ambulance chase scene and goofy intersecting storylines that mimic the era’s trashy, creature feature exploitations well. And for a movie with that title? You certainly get more than enough scenes of a giant carnivore eating, sniffing, and dancing about in party powder.
Everything Coming to Neon this September
September 1
The Carrie Diaries: Seasons 1-2
Crimes of the Future
Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Silent Night
September 2
Eiffel
Justine
A Man Called Otto
Spyders: Season 1-2
To Olivia
September 3
Bergman Island
Confessions of a Psycho Killer
Hey Duggee: Season 4
Knock at the Cabin
September 4
King Otto
Mass
My Salinger Year
September 5
The Big Trip 2: Special Delivery
September 6
A Black Lady Sketch Show: Season 6
Despicable Me
Despicable Me 2
Despicable Me 3
September 7
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
The Following: Seasons 1-3
September 8
The Lovers
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
September 9
Oddball
September 10
Top Gun
September 11
Get Hard
September 12
Telemarketers: Limited Series
September 13
Nancy Drew
Night Court
September 14
Battleship
Forrest Gump
September 15
Living
Swashbuckle: Season 7
September 16
Dennis the Menace
September 17
The Piano
September 18
Love to Love You: Donna Summer
September 20
Monster in Law
September 21
Annika: Season 2
Gemini Man
September 22
Lost In France
Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody
September 23
Family Camp
My Pet and Me: Teeny Tiny Creatures: Season 2
Singin’ In The Rain
September 24
Cocaine Bear
September 25
Grace’s Amazing Machines: Season 4
September 26
Scream VI
September 27
Project Greenlight
Tracy Morgan: Takin’ It Too Far
September 28
Our Idiot Brother
September 30
Paw Patrol: Season 8B
Wedding Crashers
