What We’re Watching This Summer
As record-high temperatures sweep the nation this summer, it’s the perfect time to stay inside and watch a movie or TV show. Whether you head to an air-conditioned theater to watch a new movie or stream the latest limited series at home on your couch, there are plenty of mystery and thriller options to check out this summer. Here’s what we plan to watch as we avoid the scorching heat of the outside world.
Presumed Innocent
Jake Gyllenhaal takes over for Harrison Ford in this limited series adaptation of Scott Turow’s perennially popular novel, which was previously made into a movie in 1990. Gyllenhaal plays prosecutor Rusty Sabich, whose world is thrown into chaos when he’s accused of murdering his colleague (with whom he was having an affair). Rusty works to clear his name and discover the real killer, while finding himself on the opposite side of the legal system he’s so expertly navigated in the past. Now streaming on Apple TV+.
MaXXXine
Director Ti West and star Mia Goth wrap up their retro horror trilogy that began with 2022’s X and Pearl. Goth returns as X protagonist Maxine Minx, who survived that movie’s bloodbath and is living in Los Angeles in 1985, trying to make it as a Hollywood actress. Getting in the way of her dreams is the infamous killer known as the Night Stalker, as well as the usual array of sleazy showbiz types. West goes full-on ’80s neon with the visual style, and the supporting cast includes Elizabeth Debicki as the director of Maxine’s film and Giancarlo Esposito as her agent. In theaters July 5.
Longlegs
It’s kind of hard to believe that it’s taken Nicolas Cage this long to play a serial killer, but writer-director Oz Perkins finally gives him the opportunity in this intense horror movie. Cage plays the title character, a mysterious murderer who’s eluded the FBI for years. Horror mainstay Maika Monroe plays a rookie FBI agent assigned to the Longlegs case, who uncovers possible occult activity and a personal connection to the killer as she delves deeper into the mystery. Early film festival response has been especially positive about Cage’s unique, terrifying performance. In theaters July 12.
Lady in the Lake
Natalie Portman makes her debut as a TV series regular in this adaptation of Laura Lippman’s acclaimed 2019 novel. Portman plays an investigative journalist in 1960s Baltimore, looking into the unsolved killings of a Black bartender and an 11-year-old Jewish girl. Portman’s Maddie Schwartz finds herself in the middle of the city’s racial and religious conflicts, as she uncovers details about the killings that reval ugly bigotry and racism. Maddie herself also faces prejudice, as a determined woman in a male-dominated field, unwilling to give up on finding the truth. Premieres July 19 on Apple TV+.
Trap
It may seem like M. Night Shyamalan has revealed the big twist of his latest movie in the trailer, but Shyamalan would never let that kind of secret get out if he didn’t have something else up his sleeve. So it’s safe to say that the reveal of Josh Hartnett’s seemingly harmless suburban dad as a vicious serial killer is just the initial set-up. Hartnett’s Cooper takes his daughter to a concert by a pop star (played by Shyamalan’s daughter Saleka), which he discovers has been staged as an elaborate trap to catch him. Presumably further twists ensue as he attempts to evade authorities. In theaters August 2.
Bad Monkey
Ted Lasso co-creator Bill Lawrence switches genres with this comedic mystery series based on the Carl Hiaasen novel. Vince Vaughn stars as Andrew Yancy, a former police detective now working as a restaurant inspector in South Florida. He gets involved in an international criminal investigation when he’s tasked with taking care of a severed arm found by a tourist on a fishing trip. Bad Monkey is the first screen adaptation of a Hiaasen novel in nearly 20 years, and it should be a reminder that his quirky thrillers full of oddball characters make perfect source material for movies and TV series. Premieres August 14 on Apple TV+.
Blink Twice
Actress Zoë Kravitz must have called in all of her celebrity favors for her directorial debut. The sprawling cast of the darkly comedic thriller includes Christian Slater, Simon Rex, Adria Arjona, Kyle MacLachlan, Haley Joel Osment and Geena Davis, as characters who converge on a tech billionaire’s private island. Channing Tatum plays the sinister mogul, with Naomi Ackie as a naïve waitress who’s unprepared for the dangers she has to confront when her friend (Alia Shawkat) goes missing and no one will acknowledge she was ever there. It may have something to do with the ominous rituals and the unexplained memory loss, though. In theaters August 23.
Only Murders in the Building season 4
The hilarious mystery comedy series starring Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez as a trio of true-crime podcasters investigating murders in their upscale New York City apartment building keeps expanding its scope each season. The upcoming fourth season will see the trio travel to Los Angeles as they try to solve the murder of Sazz Pataki (Jane Lynch), the longtime stunt double for Martin’s veteran TV star Charles-Haden Savage. The all-star lineup of guest stars set for the new season includes Molly Shannon, Eva Longoria, Eugene Levy, Kumail Nanjiani, Zach Galifianakis and Melissa McCarthy. Premieres August 27 on Hulu.
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Josh Bell is a freelance writer and movie/TV critic based in Las Vegas. He’s the former film editor of Las Vegas Weekly and the former TV comedies guide for About.com. He has written about movies, TV, and pop culture for Vulture, IndieWire, CBR, Inverse, Crooked Marquee, and more. With comedian Jason Harris, he co-hosts the podcast Awesome Movie Year.