Netflix spent a lot of time and money at the Toronto International Film Festival a few weeks ago. The streaming site premiered some of its own original content and bought the rights to some movies that played well. Here are some new movies and shows coming to Netflix that premiered at TIFF and some premieres that made a name for themselves at other festivals.

 

“13th” (October 7)

Director Ava DuVernay, known for her work on “Selma,” pulled off something very rare in Hollywood: she made a movie in secret. When the lineup for the 2016 New York Film Festival was released, the title “13th” appeared listed as the opening film, much to everybody’s surprise. The title alludes to the 13th amendment to the US Constitution, in which slavery was outlawed. DuVernay’s documentary deals with the ways slavery transcended this amendment. This was the first time any documentary opened the New York Film Festival. DuVernay is one of the best filmmakers working today, so this is a big score for Netflix.

 

 

“The Siege of Jadotville” (October 7)

In 1961, a small group of Irish United Nations troops were stationed in Congo-Leopoldville. When a large army of mercenaries and soldiers loyal to anti-UN Prime Minister Moise Tshombe besieged their camp, they had to find a way to get out. This Netflix original movie is based on the book, “The Siege at Jadotville: The Irish Army’s Forgotten Battle by Declan Power.” It is a different kind of war movie and describes itself as an untold — but important story about war and peace in the 1960s.

 

 

“Justin Timberlake and the Tennessee Kids” (October 12)

JT and his band, the 16-piece Tennessee Kids, performed to a huge crowd at the Las Vegas MGM Grand earlier this year, playing hits old and new. Many cameras accompanied them under the direction of Jonathon Demme, famous for making the 1984 Talking Heads documentary “Stop Making Sense.” Timberlake and Demme combined surely makes for a great, classy show. This highly-produced concert documentary premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival this month to good reviews.

 

“Mascots” (October 13)

Christopher Guest, inventor of the mocumentary, writer of “This is Spinal Tap” and director of “Waiting for Guffman,” “Best in Show,” “A Mighty Wind” and “For Your Consideration,” made a movie for Netflix about Mascots. As always, Guest calls in an extraordinary cast to fill out roles of people taking something stupid way too seriously. The long list of comedic pros in “Mascots” includes Jane Lynch, Ed Begley, Jr., Zach Woods, Bob Balaban, Parker Posey, Fred Willard and Guest himself. This guy does not miss, so don’t miss this movie.

 

“7 Anos” (October 28)

Netflix’s first original Spanish language film shows four longtime friends who serve as the board of executives for their company. Shot in the style and attitude of “12 Angry Men,” this movie starts with the simple premise of the four friends having to pick one of themselves to go to jail for 7 to take the fall for the good of their company. The rest of the movie is completely character-driven as the relationships between each pair deteriorate. Looks like a great twist and new premise based off a classic.

 

“I Am the Pretty Thing that Lives in the House” (October 28)

It would not be October without scary movies. Indie writer/director Oz Perkins created this story around a sickly writer and his live-in nurse, who after taking care of the writer for some time, begins to wonder if his gruesome murder stories were based on the writer’s real life in that house. This is another Netflix pick from the Toronto International Film Festival. Horror movies are rare at established festivals, so when one makes it in, you know it is going to be good.

 

Leaving this month:

“Back to the Future,” “Back to the Future Part II,” “Back to the Future Part III,” “Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius,” “Saturday Night Live,” “The Warriors,” “The Interview,” “The Truman Show.”

 

Kyle Stevens is a junior advertising major. You can email him at ksteve03@syr.edu or reach him on Twitter at @kstevs_.

Published on September 25, 2016 at 10:57 pm