Steve Stebbing

What The Hell Should I Watch – Jan 30

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January 30, 2026

Welcome back to What the Hell Should I Watch?, where I sort through the week’s new releases, streaming titles, and upcoming films so you don’t have to gamble your time on trailers and algorithms.

This week’s episode is a heavy mix of genre, emotion, and pop culture detours — from bleak sci-fi and horror reboots to one of the most devastating documentaries I’ve seen in a long time, plus a surprising amount of wrestling and Marvel along the way.

🎬 Fresh For Your Eyeballs

I start with a slate of new theatrical and festival titles, breaking down what works, what doesn’t, and what’s worth your attention:

Mercy – A contained sci-fi courtroom thriller built around a man judged by an artificial intelligence. It’s a high-concept premise that leans into performance and moral questions more than spectacle, and I dig into whether it sustains its tension or collapses under its own idea.

Return to Silent Hill – The latest attempt to revive the iconic horror franchise, leaning into atmosphere and familiar imagery while struggling to recapture what made the original games so unsettling in the first place.

The Things You Kill – A dark, psychologically driven thriller that explores guilt, obsession, and violence, using restraint and mood to slowly tighten the screws.

H Is for Hawk – A quiet, reflective drama about grief, nature, and healing, adapting the acclaimed memoir into something deliberately patient and emotionally grounded.

The Voice of Hind Rajab – One of the most powerful and heartbreaking films of the year. This true story drama confronts tragedy within the Gaza strip with clarity and compassion, and I talk about why it hit so hard and why it’s essential viewing despite how difficult it is to watch.

📺 Streaming Picks

On the streaming side, I take a look at The Rip, the gritty Netflix crime thriller reuniting Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. It’s a throwback cop movie with modern polish, and I unpack where it delivers satisfying genre pleasures and where it feels like comfort food for grown-up movie fans.

📦 Also on My Radar

I also catch up with a few notable series and franchise detours:

Wonder Man – Marvel steps away from pure superhero spectacle into something more character-driven and oddly introspective, blending comedy, showbiz satire, and superpowers.

WWE: Unreal – Season 2 – A behind-the-scenes look at professional wrestling that drops kayfabe and leans into storytelling, personalities, and production reality.

Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft – The animated series expands the Tomb Raider universe with action, adventure, and a surprisingly emotional core.

👀 A Taste of Next Week

Looking ahead, next episode will include Send Help, Shelter, Iron Lung, The Wrecking Crew, and Whistle — another stacked slate that promises genre chaos and tough conversations.

If you’re trying to figure out what’s actually worth watching in theatres, on streaming, or on your own shelves, this episode is about separating curiosity from commitment and finding the titles that deserve your time.

👉 New episodes drop every Friday at 9am Pacific

What The Hell Should I Watch – Jan 23

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January 23, 2026

Welcome back to What the Hell Should I Watch?, where each Friday Chloe and I sift through what’s actually out — from theatrical to catalog to streaming — and tell you what’s worth seeing, what’s worth skipping, and what’s questionable but interesting.

This week’s episode veers across genre and tone: we hit post-apocalyptic carnage, vampire cops, a quiet mystery that never quite clicked, and a few films that stir debate long after credits roll.

Fresh For Your Eyeballs

28 Years Later – The Bone Temple – The latest entry in this revived zombie saga pushes the apocalypse into surreal, wild territory with cult violence, dark humor, and some surprisingly bold tonal shifts. Ralph Fiennes and Jack O’Connell anchor a really weird, often powerful continuation of the franchise, and just when you think you know what it’s doing it does something completely different.

Night Patrol – Imagine a cop thriller crossed with a vampire movie, political allegory, and social commentary — that’s Night Patrol. It’s got a stacked cast and an ambitious premise, but the reach sometimes exceeds the grasp, with ideas that start strong and get a bit messy as the movie goes on.

A Private Life – We saw this at VIFF, and honestly, neither Chloe nor I were feeling it. Jodie Foster is great as always, but the slow, detached mystery just never pulled us in, and Chloe was a bit foggy on where it was actually headed.

New To The Library

This week’s home video and catalog pickups span from classic crime to deep-cut thrillers and long-running TV:

House of Darkness

Natural Born Killers: Director’s Cut

Thunderheart (4K)

Shameless: The Complete Series (Blu-ray)

Whether it’s revisiting a controversial Oliver Stone film or adding a brute-force TV binge to your shelf, I hit on why these are neat additions right now.

Butting In

Chloe jumps into Butting In this week with:

Mickey 17 – Bong Joon-ho’s sci-fi black comedy about a “disposable” crew member on an ice-world colony mission, played with manic energy by Robert Pattinson. It’s inventive and weird and not everything lands, but Chloe unpacked what she liked and why the tonal swings are worth talking about.

Shelby Oaks – A horror-leaning mystery built around found footage aesthetics and a long-lost ghost-hunting crew. It’s got some genuinely intriguing parts, but the style shifts and uneven scares make it a pretty divisive watch.

A Taste of Next Week

Up next: Mercy, Return to Silent Hill, The Things You Kill, Back to the Past, Atropia, Pike River, Wonder Man, The Voice of Hind Rajab, and The RIP. Plenty to chew on.

If you’re trying to figure out what to watch right now — in theaters, at home, or on your shelf — this episode has something for that mood.

What The Hell Should I Watch – Jan 16

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January 16, 2026

Welcome back to What the Hell Should I Watch?, your weekly Friday rundown of new movies, indie discoveries, and streaming picks worth your time.

This week’s episode is stacked with new releases, festival favorites, and under-the-radar gems, including a surprising turn from Bradley Cooper as a filmmaker, a chilling indie thriller that got under my skin fast, and a beautifully intimate drama about family, forgiveness, and creative healing.

Fresh For Your Eyeballs

I dive into several new films that couldn’t be more different in tone — but all left a mark:

Is This Thing On – Bradley Cooper dials back prestige and finds something far more human, with a terrific dramatic performance from Will Arnett alongside Laura Dern. A grounded, empathetic look at divorce, identity, and starting over.

Father, Mother, Sister, Brother – Jim Jarmusch returns with a quiet, vignette-driven meditation on family estrangement, connection, and love, featuring Tom Waits, Adam Driver, Cate Blanchett, and more.

The Plague – One of the most unsettling films I’ve seen in a long time. Set at a youth water polo camp, this psychological thriller turns bullying into real-world horror, anchored by a fearless young cast and a bone-deep sense of dread.

The Damned – A stark, atmospheric piece of Scandinavian folk horror set in a frozen fishing village, where one cruel decision unleashes something ancient and terrifying.

Exhibiting Forgiveness – A powerful, intimate indie drama about art, estranged fathers, and the complicated work of healing, led by outstanding performances from André Holland and Andra Day.

Look Into My Eyes – A quietly fascinating documentary that explores professional psychics and their clients, walking a careful line between skepticism, belief, and emotional truth.

Streaming Picks

On the streaming side, I catch up on:

Yellowjackets – Season 3 (Crave) – A noticeable course correction after a shaky second season, with stronger focus and momentum as the series heads toward its endgame.

Evolution of a Black Quarterback (Prime Video) – A thoughtful sports documentary examining the history, barriers, and impact of Black quarterbacks in the NFL.

1923 – Season 2 (Paramount+) – I wrap up the latest chapter in the Yellowstone universe, breaking down what works, what doesn’t, and why this might be the strongest of Taylor Sheridan’s prequel series.

A Taste of Next Week

Coming up next episode: 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, Joe Carnahan’s The RIP, Jodie Foster’s French-language drama A Private Life, plus a couple international films I’m eager to dig into.

If you’re looking for honest movie recommendations, thoughtful criticism, and a weekly guide through the overwhelming world of new releases and streaming, you’re in the right place.

New episodes drop every Friday at 9am Pacific

Like, subscribe, and let me know what you watched this week.

What The Hell Should I Watch – Jan 9

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January 9, 2026

This week on What The Hell Should I Watch, the slate is all over the place — which usually makes for the best conversations.

I kick things off with Fresh For Your Eyeballs, starting with Primate, a survival horror film built around a tropical getaway that goes violently wrong when a chimpanzee becomes a lethal threat. It’s a stripped-down, pressure-driven genre piece, and I dig into how well it sustains tension once the premise is fully on the table. From there, I pivot to The Choral, a World War I–set British drama that uses music and community as a way of processing loss, and then into Dead Man’s Wire, a true-crime–inspired thriller centered on a real hostage standoff, where performances and restraint matter as much as the story itself.

I wrap the segment with No Other Choice, Park Chan-wook’s latest, which carries a bit more weight than the rest. It’s a film Chloe and I first saw at the Vancouver International Film Festival, and it also happens to be her number-one film of 2025. That context shapes the conversation, especially when expectations are already sky-high and the film invites deeper discussion around control, consequence, and inevitability.

In the Streaming Pile, I spend time with Die My Love, focusing on Lynne Ramsay’s approach and Jennifer Lawrence’s performance at the center of it. Ramsay builds the film around emotional abrasion and instability, using Lawrence to explore postpartum depression in a way that’s deliberately raw and often uncomfortable. I dig into where that intensity feels purposeful, where it risks becoming exhausting, and whether the performance ultimately justifies how far the film pushes the audience.

Chloe jumps in for Butting In, taking on The SpongeBob Movie: Search for Squarepants and Sisu, two films that couldn’t be further apart in tone, intent, or audience — and that contrast alone makes the segment worth digging into.

What The Hell Should I Watch – Jan 2

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January 2, 2026

It’s the first What The Hell Should I Watch of the year, and I’m opening things up with a stacked slate of new releases, some wildly different genre swings, and a solid round of reminders as we look ahead to what’s coming next.

I kick things off with Marty Supreme, digging into where it lands for me and why it didn’t quite connect the way I hoped. From there, I dive into the latest reboot attempt with Anaconda, followed by the grim, heavy atmosphere of We Bury the Dead. I also spend time with The SpongeBob Movie: Search for Squarepants, breaking down how it plays for longtime fans versus newer audiences, and wrap up my reviews with The Housemaid, a thriller that gave me plenty to react to.

This week’s Butting In segment belongs to Chloe, and she tackles her homework pick Train Dreams, along with thoughts on Anniversary and the Netflix series Boots, bringing her own perspective to a very different set of titles than mine.

We also run through a few reminders worth flagging: Big Bold Beautiful Journey, The Black Phone 2, and Bugonia, all of which are inching closer and firmly on our radar.

And looking ahead to next week, we tease what’s coming up with Dead Man’s Wire, Is This Thing On, The Testament of Ann Lee, The Choral, and maybe even Primate, depending on how the release calendar shakes out.

Thanks for sticking with us through another year of movie chaos. You can catch the full episode now!

What The Hell Should I Watch – Dec 26

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December 26, 2025

It’s a special Boxing Day episode of What The Hell Should I Watch, and we’re closing out the year in a big way.

I lead things off with my full review of Avatar: Fire and Ash, digging into where this chapter lands in James Cameron’s ever-expanding Pandora saga. I get into the scale, the storytelling choices, what worked for me, what didn’t, and whether this entry deepens the franchise or starts to show some cracks as it grows.

From there, Chloe and I wrap up 2025 the only way that makes sense — by counting down our Top 10 Films of the Year. We break down the movies that stuck with us, surprised us, challenged us, and flat-out ruled, comparing lists, arguing rankings, and reflecting on what kind of year 2025 turned out to be at the movies.

It’s part celebration, part debate, and part look back at a stacked year for film — and a perfect way to send off 2025 before we jump headfirst into whatever chaos next year brings.

Listen now.

The 5th Annual STEBBIE Awards

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December 25, 2025

It’s that time of year again on The Night Shift with Shane Hewitt — welcome to the 5th Annual Stebbie Awards, my completely unofficial, deeply subjective, and wildly personal look back at the movies and performances that defined my year in film.

This isn’t about box office numbers, campaign buzz, or playing awards-season politics. The Stebbies exist to celebrate the films, performances, and creative swings that stuck with me — the ones I couldn’t shake, couldn’t stop thinking about, and couldn’t wait to talk about on the show.

From unforgettable lead performances and breakout turns, to my favourite genre entries, overlooked gems, and the films that absolutely wrecked me emotionally, the Stebbies are my chance to give credit where I think it’s due — whether the industry agrees or not.

As always, this is a solo ride, filled with passion, honesty, and a little bit of snark. Some picks will be obvious, some will be controversial, and a few might leave you wondering what the hell I was thinking — which, frankly, is the point.

Thanks for listening all year, for arguing with me online, and for sticking around through another season of What The Hell Should I Watch. Now let’s hand out some Stebbies.

What The Hell Should I Watch – Dec 19

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December 19, 2025

The holiday season is officially here, which means this week’s episode leans festive… but still sharp, still feral, and still very much What The Hell Should I Watch–coded. Chloe’s sitting this one out, but she’ll be back next week for the final episode of 2025 — and before we get there, there’s horror Santa carnage, a surprisingly emotional Neil Diamond tribute story, some of my backlog that has now made it to streaming, and a few hard truths about when genre swings do not connect.

🎄 NEW IN THEATRES

Silent Night, Deadly Night
Yes, that one — remade. This new take leans harder into vigilante mythology than pure slasher stupidity, giving its Santa-suited killer a warped moral compass and just enough purpose to separate it from the original’s grindhouse roots. It’s B-horror through and through, filmed in Winnipeg, splattered with blood, and oddly more thoughtful than expected. Not everything lands, but it’s far from the throwaway mess it could’ve been — and yes, the Nazi Christmas party sequence is as gleefully inflammatory as advertised.

Song Sung Blue
A mystery screening that turned into one of the episode’s biggest surprises. Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson star as a real-life Neil Diamond tribute duo whose partnership brings both joy and heartbreak. Directed by Craig Brewer, this isn’t a glossy jukebox movie — it’s a sincere, bittersweet character study anchored by two genuinely strong performances. Even if you’re not a Neil Diamond person going in, this one earns its emotional weight.

📺 NOW STREAMING

Roofman (Paramount+)
Channing Tatum plays a charismatic real-life criminal who hides out inside a toy store after escaping prison — and somehow turns that setup into a warm, human crime drama. Directed by Derek Cianfrance, this feels like a proper movie movie: charming, sad, funny, and quietly devastating. Kirsten Dunst is excellent, Peter Dinklage is deeply unpleasant (compliment), and the whole thing sneaks up on you in the best way.

The Home (Paramount+)
James DeMonaco (The Purge) tries something smaller and stranger… and it mostly collapses under its own weight. Pete Davidson brings almost nothing to a role that desperately needs emotional grounding, and while there are flashes of violence and intrigue, the film never earns them. A waste of a solid premise and a cast that deserved better.

The Thursday Murder Club (Netflix)
A glossy, charming, very Netflix murder mystery featuring Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley, and Celia Imrie. It plays like Knives Out on decaf — pleasant, well-cast, and clearly designed to launch a franchise. Not particularly daring, but entertaining enough to justify a cozy holiday watch.

Evil Does Not Exist (Criterion Channel)
Quiet, precise, and quietly devastating. Ryusuke Hamaguchi follows a rural Japanese community threatened by corporate “glamping,” crafting a film that’s funny, tense, and deeply unsettling in its restraint. One of the most thoughtful releases of the year — and a reminder of why the Criterion Channel is worth your money.

📡 SERIES WATCH

It: Welcome to Derry (Crave)
The It prequel series starts strong, stumbles hard in episode three, then recovers just enough to keep things interesting. There’s real promise here — especially in how it expands Stephen King’s world beyond Pennywise — but it’ll need a proper season-wide breakdown once Chloe’s caught up.

Murdaugh: Death in the Family (Disney+)
A dramatized take on one of the most disturbing true-crime sagas in recent memory. Jason Clarke excels at playing deeply unlikable men, and Patricia Arquette once again finds herself trapped in a morally rotten marriage. Still in progress, but grimly compelling so far.

📀 ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY

The Handmaid’s Tale — Complete Series (DVD)

Back to the Future: 40th Anniversary Trilogy (4K UHD)

🦇 FINAL WORD

With the series officially wrapped, it’s time to say it plainly: What We Do in the Shadows is one of the best TV comedies of the modern era. Smart, absurd, endlessly rewatchable — and Laszlo Cravensworth remains undefeated.

Next week: the final episode of 2025. Chloe returns, Avatar: Fire and Ash gets its reckoning, and we count down our Top 10 Films of the Year.

See you then.

What The Hell Should I Watch – Dec 12

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December 12, 2025

It’s another loaded week on What The Hell Should I Watch and we’re kicking things off with a huge sequel: Five Nights at Freddy’s 2. The first movie I already thought was pretty meh — and surprise, I still don’t really get the appeal. The fandom is huge, the lore is sprawling, the animatronics are doing whatever they do, but this franchise continues to be one of those things that just isn’t for me.

From there, I finally get into Hamnet, the film that absolutely floored me. Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal deliver devastating, career-best work, the filmmaking is top-tier, and it immediately shot into my awards-season must-watch list. Chloe hasn’t seen it yet — but I’m determined to fix that.

Next up is Dust Bunny, Bryan Fuller’s long-awaited feature directorial debut. It’s bold, grimy, neon-lit creature-feature madness with Mads Mikkelsen in full menace mode, and I had a blast with just how weird and stylized this thing gets.

We also roll through Jay Kelly, Noah Baumbach’s new meta actor drama starring George Clooney and Adam Sandler, and we dig into where it lands in his very self-reflective filmography. And on the opposite tonal end, we cover Beast of War, a tense, grounded, gritty piece that doesn’t need any festival hype to make an impact — it just hits hard on its own.

This week’s Butting In segment belongs to Chloe, and she brings the heat with her review of Bugonia — a wild, sharp, bold piece of filmmaking that gave her plenty to chew on.

New to the Library this week:

Good Fortune (Blu-ray)
The Strangers: Chapter 2 (Blu-ray)

And as always, we wrap things up with reminders and updates as we roll deeper into awards season and the holiday release stretch.

What The Hell Should I Watch – Dec 5th

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December 5, 2025

Chloe is down sick this week, so it’s a solo Stevil episode — but there’s a mountain of movies to cover, including one gigantic Disney sequel, a sharp new Rian Johnson mystery, festival favorites, and some heavy disappointment from a filmmaker I usually adore.

We kick things off with Zootopia 2, a surprisingly fun follow-up that avoids the worst sequelitis traps. The returning voice cast clicks, Ke Huy Quan is delightful, and there are some genuinely great laughs — even if a few plot beats feel predictable. Kids will love it, parents will be fine, and it’s a solid return to Zootopia after nearly a decade.

Then we jump to the one you’ll see on Netflix next week: Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery. Rian Johnson delivers again — sharper, more character-driven, and pointedly political in a way that will absolutely piss off the right people. Josh O’Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin and the ensemble are dynamite, and Benoit Blanc’s latest case is big-screen good… which is why it’s frustrating Netflix didn’t give it more theaters.

Up next is Merrily We Roll Along, a Broadway musical filmed with real cinematic intimacy. Jonathan Groff, Lindsay Mendez and Daniel Radcliffe are phenomenal, the performances soar, and the staging goes far beyond the usual “filmed on stage” vibe. Even as a self-described non-musical guy, I found myself really drawn in.

Then it’s back to VIFF with The Secret Agent, a vibrant, violent, darkly funny Brazilian thriller set against the political turmoil of the late ’70s. Wagner Moura continues to be the coolest human alive, Tania Maria steals scenes, and Udo Kier delivers one last unforgettable role. Brazil’s Oscar submission — and a damn good one.

We stay in the VIFF zone with Deathstalker, Steven Kostanski’s gloriously schlocky sword-and-sorcery remake. Rubber-mask monsters, creature effects, Frazetta vibes, Patton Oswalt voice work, and a cast clearly having the time of their lives. This is a midnight-movie riot waiting for a crowd.

In Streaming This Week, I dig into:

Left-Handed Girl (Netflix) — A gorgeously intimate Taipei-set family drama, shot on an iPhone with the scrappy beauty of Sean Baker’s best work lingering in memory. One of my favorite festival misses finally available to everyone.
After the Hunt (Prime Video) — Luca Guadagnino’s shockingly messy misfire. Great cast, frustrating script, baffling score, and nothing meaningful to say about the heavy topics it raises.
John Candy: I Like Me (Prime Video) — Colin Hanks directs a heartfelt, deeply human tribute to a Canadian legend. Funny, moving, and filled with love from friends, family, and collaborators. A must-watch for anyone who grew up quoting Uncle Buck.

New to the Library:

Gabby’s Dollhouse: Pawsome Edition (DVD)
The Gilded Age — Season 3 (DVD)

Yes, Gabby’s Dollhouse now lives on my shelf. Send help.

And finally, a reminder: the War of the Roses remake — starring Olivia Colman & Benedict Cumberbatch — is now out. I reviewed it back on September 5th, but here’s the short version: I liked it… right up until the part where I realized Kate McKinnon can actually be annoying.

🎥 Next Week:

Five Nights at Freddy’s 2
Hamnet (Chloé Zhao — massive awards buzz)
Jay Kelly (Noah Baumbach, Clooney, Sandler)
Oh. What. Fun. (Prime Video holiday comedy from Michael Showalter)