Credit: Netflix

Netflix has decided to let the last week of April be a little quiet, and if you were hoping for a massive content drop on Netflix this week, you might want to temper expectations a bit. But that doesn’t mean there is nothing worth your time. In fact, we feel that with fewer releases, each title gets a bit more room to breathe, and there are a couple here that genuinely stand out.

The series side of things starts a bit earlier this time, with Straight to Hell releasing on April 27. It’s a Japanese drama centred on Kazuko Hosoki, a hugely influential and controversial fortune-teller. Now, this isn’t just a straightforward rise-to-fame story because it goes beyond that. It explores the darker side of celebrity and power. Erika Toda is leading the show, and from the premise alone, we can feel that this series will spark debate as much as it entertains. Definitely one for viewers who like character-driven drama.

Also landing the same day is Supernova: Genesis, which is a bit of a wild card entry to this list. It’s about a live boxing event featuring a mix of fighters, entertainers and even influencers, all taking place in Mexico City. Of course, this show is meant more for entertainment and drama than being an actual sporting event, but that’ll also get it a wider reach. Whether that’s your thing or not, it’s the sort of content Netflix has been experimenting with lately.

Then, on April 28, we are moving into proper gritty territory with Homicide Squad: New Orleans. This is a reality crime series following homicide detectives as they work cases in New Orleans. If you are a fan of crime dramas and love mysteries, this one has to be added to your watchlist. And since it leans more towards reality, it’ll likely hit the mark.

On April 29, we have two movies releasing on Netflix that bring two very different flavours. First up is Je m’appelle Agneta, a Swedish romantic drama that dresses up in the themes of reinvention and late-life self-discovery. It follows Agneta, a woman who’s essentially had enough of being overlooked and decides to shake things up by moving abroad for a fresh start. With all the happy endings and got-it-all-figured-out genres of romance movies, the reclaiming-your-life type looks very refreshing.

On the complete opposite end of the spectrum, you’ve got Should I Marry A Murderer?, which is as dramatic as the title suggests, except it isn’t a movie. This is a British documentary that takes you into a real-life case involving a woman who discovered her fiancé was tied to a murder investigation. And please don’t confuse it for dramatised fluff either. It is real, very, very real. And you are getting true crime and psychological drama all in one; what else is better?

Finally, rounding off about half the week on April 30 is Man on Fire. This one is probably the biggest draw of the week, with Yahya Abdul-Mateen II stepping into the role of John Creasy. It’s a remake of the famous book of the same name by the British author Philip Nicholson, the most famous version of which was made in 2004 with Denzel Washington as the lead. But this version is going to be a series, and every eye is going to be on Mateen and how well he continues the legacy.

Every movie and series coming to Netflix this week

Movies

April 29

• Je m’appelle Agneta
• Should I Marry A Murderer?

Series

April 27

• Straight to Hell
• Supernova: Genesis

April 28

• Homicide Squad: New Orleans

April 30

• Man on Fire