Neil Gaiman, the creator of The Sandmanwhich has become an instant hit on Netflix after it was adapted into a live-action series, has officially confirmed that the show will return for a second season.
Gaiman announced the news on social media with the caption: “The rumours are true. Netflix is thrilled that so many of you have been watching Sandman, and the thing we were all hoping would happen… has indeed happened…”
The post also includes a clip to tease the next season, featuring Dream’s helmet surfacing from the sand, before stating that “The Dream continues.”
The rumours are true. Netflix is thrilled that so many of you have been watching Sandman, and the thing we were all hoping would happen… has indeed happened… pic.twitter.com/zc5CrhsdZK
Released back in August, Netflix’s The Sandman tells the story of Morpheus, the Lord of Dreams and one of the seven Endless. When a man uses an occult ritual and traps Morpheus, the Endless was held captive for over a hundred years. Without the King of Dreams, chaos ensued in both the dreaming world and the waking world. After his escape, Morpheus finds his kingdom in ruins, and he goes on a journey to restore his powers and his kingdom.
The show’s source material, Neil Gaiman’s comic book series of the same name, first debuted in 1989. The critically-acclaimed title was among the first graphic novels to be part of The New York Times Best Seller list.
More details about the second season of The Sandman are yet to be revealed. You can stream the first season exclusively on Netflix. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to get the latest news on film, TV, and more updates around the city!
Since its arrival here in the Philippines, Netflix has been continuously bringing us great content to stream on our favorite devices. Whether it’s a compelling drama with interesting characters, a thrilling title that keeps us at the edge of our seats, comedies that give us our much-needed dose of laughter, or just anything that keeps us entertained on the couch or on the go, we surely can count on the streaming service’s rich library of shows and movies.
If you’re always on the lookout for Netflix’s latest releases, then look no further! We’ve listed down ten shows and films to anticipate and add to your watchlist this month of November!
In this sequel film, Enola Holmes opens her own detective agency and her first official case about a missing person would lead her to a bigger mystery that would require her to team up with her brother Sherlock.
The anime adaptation of the hit Webtoon series, Lookism tells the story of a high school student who gets bullied because of his looks. After transferring schools, he discovers that he can switch between his real body and the body of a handsome guy.
Starring Lindsay Lohan and Chord Overstreet, this new Christmas rom-com flick follows a woman who suffers from amnesia after a skiing accident. She is then found by a handsome lodge owner and his daughter.
Jason Momoa stars in this fantasy adventure film where a young girl discovers a map to the dream world of Slumberland, where she hopes to see her father once again.
This new spinoff series from the popular Addams Family franchise follows the young Wednesday Addams who gets transferred to Nevermore Academy where a supernatural mystery seems to follow her.
‘The School for Good and Evil’ presents itself as a fairy tale, complete with a narrator (by no less than Cate Blanchett), magic and mystical creatures, and an adventure centered on true love and friendship. It even goes as far as creating a world where fairy tales are true and that the stories are crafted in a mystical land where students are taught how to be good or evil so that they can create new stories to inspire the world.
While the film, directed by Paul Feig and co-written by Feig and David Magee (based on the book series of the same name by Soman Chainani), is filled to the brim with CGI-heavy moments of sword and sorcery and high fantasy, it also carries a tone that is whimsical, tongue-in-cheek even. It feels purposefully light-weight in its presentation, as if it doesn’t take itself too seriously, which may have been problematic if seen in the cinemas but watching it at home on Netflix gives it the right tonal atmosphere.
Photo: Netflix
After all, there’s never really any sense of danger to the film. The two protagonists, the best friends Sophie and Agatha (Sophia Anne Caruso and Sofia Wylie, respectively), live as outcasts in the village of Gavaldon. Touted as a witch, Agatha is almost attacked in an alleyway but is rescued by her best friend, who lives in a chaotic home with a stepmother who cares not for her and a father oblivious to her troubles. Reminiscent of other fairy tales like Cinderella for Sophie’s home environment or the fact that the two young girls like to frequent a bookshop that’s reminiscent of Belle in ‘Beauty and the Beast.’
When Sophie makes a wish to be a student in the School for Good and Evil, she and Agatha end up there and find themselves in quite a quandary: Sophie, who wishes to be a princess, is left at the School for Evil while Agatha, who didn’t want to go in the first place, is placed in the School for Good. The depictions of good and evil are very one-dimensional. They have uglification classes for the school of evil and, in the school for good, they have classes for beauty, which involves smiling and how to use it as a weapon.
Photo: Netflix
It is actually quite contrived if it weren’t for Agatha’s suspicion that something is amiss. Feig is not afraid to lay it all on thick, with big stars as the professors such as Charlize Theron as Lady Lesso, the dean of the School for Evil, and Kerry Washington as Professor Dovey, the dean of the School for Good. The two big stars, as well as Michelle Yeoh in a smaller role yet manages to pop in every scene she’s in, seem to understand the campy tone of the whole film. They are in on the joke and are having a lot of fun in the process and it amplifies the campy mood of ‘The School for Good and Evil’ but it also underscores Agatha’s complaints about the world.
Because as light and as frivolous as ‘The School for Good and Evil’ can be, it manages to question the morality of this world, the one-dimensional look into the binary of good and bad. In the process, it manages to serve as a sort of criticism against performative acts of goodness and questions deeper into how things are. It subverts the ideas of fairy tales and opens up doors to understanding the gray areas.
Photo: Netflix
While big stars like Theron, Washington, Yeoh, and Laurence Fishburne are having fun playing whimsical, it is Caruso and Wylie who are pushing the deeper thoughts of the story forward. Caruso is delightful as her portrayal of Sophie is one of utter belief in the ideology of the world of fairy tales while Wylie is the opposite, questioning everything and fighting against the facade of the things in front of her. Their chemistry grounds the film because it’s their friendship that is at the center of it all.
Yes, it’s light and easy and doesn’t take itself seriously. But that is what makes it enjoyable. It’s like a refreshing antithesis to the Harry Potter series and the seriousness of its later releases. It’s perfect for younger audiences and it’s not something I wouldn’t mind seeing more of in the future.
My Rating:
.
—
The School for Good and Evil is now streaming on Netflix.
Get whisked away into a world of fairy tales when The School for Good and Evil drops on Netflix tomorrow!
Based on the bestselling book series of the same name by Soman Chainani, The School for Good and Evil tells the story of the best friends Sophie (Sophia Anne Caruso) and Agatha (Sofia Wylie). While Sophie has always dreamt of becoming a princess, Agatha has always had the makings of a witch, but when the two are taken to the School for Good and Evil, they seem to have been sorted into the wrong schools: Agatha in the School for Good and Sophie in the School for Evil. As the duo tries to correct this mistake, a mysterious figure tied to Sophie surfaces, threatening to destroy the school and the world beyond entirely.
Watch the trailer for The School for Good and Evil below:
Before the film drops on Netflix this October 19, we got to chat with its lead stars Sofia Wylie who plays Agatha, and Sophia Anne Caruso who plays Sophie, through a virtual roundtable interview. Check out the highlights of the interview below:
What life lessons from the film did you pick up when shooting?
Sofia Wylie (SW): I think there are so many wonderful lessons in this movie. Something that I think I learned, was how beauty comes from within. Even though that’s so cheesy, it’s really so true. Growing up in this industry, I didn’t necessarily feel like I was the standard for beauty in a lot of my life, and I kind of struggled with accepting myself for what I am and what I look like, but as Agatha has this journey of self-love and self-discovery, I feel like I was also mirroring that journey while we were filming too.
Sophia Anne Caruso (SC): I think that the film has a lot of lessons in it. It was a long shooting process, and it was a difficult shoot in all the best ways. But a big theme in the movie is friendship and how powerful that is, so to have an awesome co-star by my side who also became a friend really proved that message to be true!
Photo courtesy of Netflix
What were your personal favorites when it comes to fairytales, and how did they resonate with you growing up?
SW: I think my favorite fairytale had to be The Little Mermaid. I was such a big fan of mermaids growing up. I would pray to God every night to make me a mermaid and wake up in the morning and I would place my finger in my sink with some water, and I would wait for about 5 minutes. Did I ever turn into a mermaid? That’s a secret I can’t tell, but I just wish I could be something more than just human. That’s always been a big dream of mine, to be this out-of-this-world thing.
SC: I always liked Alice in Wonderland growing up… I liked the idea of her, jumping down the rabbit hole and exploring a whole different world.
Photo courtesy of Netflix
How was the casting process for the film?
SW: My journey in booking the role of Agatha for this movie was long. I had a meeting with some of the producers of the film, I was really interested in being a part of it. I did, I think maybe two or three self-tapes? Before I got the call to have a chemistry test with Sophia Anne and Paul Feig.
After that, I think I waited for… I don’t really know how long, I felt like an eternity. But then I finally got the call that I had booked the role of Agatha and we were still in quarantine during that time so we didn’t know when the filming process would actually begin, but it ended up beginning about a year after I found out that I was going to play Agatha. So it was a really long process because of that but once I started filming, it felt like no time had passed at all and I was really ready to go. I had a really wonderful co-star to work with every single day, so it was a really wonderful process.
SC: My journey of getting this job started with meeting with Paul Feig. He and I were talking about the different work that we want to do, and I asked him if he had anything that we could work on together. He mentioned this project, then I made a tape for him then I tested with Sofia.
Photo courtesy of Netflix
Director Paul Feig encouraged you to have your own input on your characters’ looks. What were the elements that you added to your character?
SW: Renee [Ehrlich Kalfus], who was our wardrobe was so incredibly collaborative, as well as Paul Feig, he was really wonderful in allowing us to have a say in what we wanted to look like, how we wanted to act, what we wanted the environment to feel like and be– which was not something that I have ever experienced before, a very different environment to be a part of.
I think for me, as Agatha, I was able to incorporate my dream princess desires into her princess transition regarding hairstyles, as well as not allowing her curly hair to become straight. I did not want that to be a representation of what a princess should be, that her hair becomes straight if it’s curly. Her hair can still be curly and untamed and be out there, and that doesn’t take away from any form of princess-ness. The gowns are beautiful and I’m glad I got to send a lot of my personal aspirations.
SA: Everything was super collaborative, and I think we’re all on the same page anyway for the looks. Renee, the costume designer, we shared a lot of mood boards and we have a lot of the same imagery on there, so it was really great.
— The School for Good and Evil is directed by Paul Feig, and it also stars Kerry Washington, Charlize Theron, Laurence Fishburne, Jamie Flatters, Kit Young, and Rob Delaney. The film starts streaming on Netflix this October 19.
Soon to join Netflix’s Pinoy gems such as Through Night and Day and My Amanda is a new heartwarming film from director Marla Ancheta titled Doll House.
Starring Baron Geisler and the young Althea Ruedas, this new flick from the Finding Agnes director tells the story of a rock band singer Rustin, who has a troubled past. Due to drug addiction, Rustin abandoned his wife Sheena, and their baby Yumi. Years later in the Netherlands, Rustin finds the opportunity to become Yumi’s babysitter without her knowing about their blood ties, and tries to rekindle their long-lost relationship.
In a recent roundtable interview with the press, director Marla Ancheta, Baron Geisler, and Althea Ruedas talked about how the film took shape.
When the trailer dropped, viewers quickly saw Baron Geisler as fit for his role in the film, having been cast as an antagonist in many shows and films, but it was the hint of a dramatic redemption that really pumped the viewers. According to director Ancheta, the film’s producer suggested that Baron play Rustin, and she was on board with the idea immediately.
“I really want to touch the story of a family, relationship, and of course, since we have these good actors, kailangan maging believable ito na mag-ama kayo… Basically, dun ako mas naka-focus. It’s really more of how to deliver the characters at the same time, nasusundan mo kung paano nagde-develop yung relationship nilang mag-ama,” explained the director.
Geisler also talked about accepting the role: “What’s not to say ‘yes’ to? It’s a big project with Netflix, it’s a worldwide movie, it’s a big-budget film, and it’s a good role,” said Baron. “Now I’m on my knees, praying that I get to sustain this and get more substantial roles like this.”
Photo courtesy of Netflix
Furthermore, Baron Geisler also shared how the role came at the right time, just a few months after he promised his wife that he’d be in his own Netflix film.
“One time, me and my wife were watching Netflix, A Faraway Land,” says Baron. “I’m a good friend, best friend ko si Paolo Contis. Nagustuhan namin yung pelikula, and then my wife, nakita kong na-sad siya, na parang she wanted something like that for me. And then I said, you know what, one day I’m gonna have a film like that.
“And then I called up Paolo, I said ‘Pao, angganda ng pelikula mo pang-Hollywood! I love you! Congratulations! Walang jealousy to, punong-puno ng gratitude. Then simula nun, dun ako nagkaroon ng revelation na if you have this authentic appreciation for another actor, another film, and I want the same na mangyari sa akin, then God will give it to me, and wala pa yatang dalawang buwan biglang tinawagan akofor this film,” the actor added.
Photo courtesy of Netflix
As for Baron’s young co-star Althea, she shares that the atmosphere on set was fun, but at first, she also got nervous when she got the role. “Super nervous and excited po ako nung nalaman ko po na nakuha ko po yung role. Nervous because they’re all big stars na po, mga kasama ko po, pero excited po kasi it’s my first movie in Netflix po kaya thankful po ako kay Papa Jesus na binigay Nya po sakin ‘to,”
Asked about their favorite parts on the film and during the shoot, Althea tells the press: “Ang favorite scenes ko po talaga, yung mga bonding time po nila Yumi and Rusty, kasi talagang hindi po kami nag-aacting nun. Talagang nag-eenjoy lang po kami.”
Baron adds, “One of the best things that really got to me was the father-daughter love story. Me reconnecting with my daughter and the realization that I have a lot of unfinished business in life. And also, masasabi ko na heart and soul din ng movie na ‘to, malaking part si Direk Marla, because she has guided Althea and I all through out.”
Photo: Netflix
The film also stars Mary Joy Apostol, Phi Palmos, Katreena Beron, Izah Hankammer, Alwyn Uytingo, and Ricardo Cepeda. Doll House is now streaming on Netflix.
Just in time for the season of scares, Netflix is set to release the third installment of the gripping docuseries Unsolved Mysteries. Check out the trailer for the show’s third season below, which teases more disturbing crimes, bizarre disappearances, and even paranormal cases.
Unsolved Mysteries will release its three episodes every week starting from October 18. The first three episodes are titled Mystery at Mile Marker 45, Something in the Sky, and Body in Bags. On October 25, the next three episodes will drop: Death in a Vegas Motel, Paranormal Rangers, and What Happened to Josh?. Wrapping up the season on November 1 are the final three episodes: Body in the Bay, The Ghost in Apartment 14, and Abducted by a Parent.
Netflix’s Unsolved Mysteries is a reboot of the original show from the late ’80s. The reboot also comes from creators of the original docuseries, Cosgrove/Meurer Productions, alongside 21 Laps Entertainment, the producers of Stranger Things.
Watch the first two seasons of Unsolved Mysteries now on Netflix. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to get the latest news on film, TV, and more updates around the city!
Through recent years, Netflix‘s library of Filipino movies has grown significantly, with the streaming giant even helping local filmmakers to produce and put out their films for audiences in the Philippines and beyond. As such, the platform now has a great selection of movies across different genres. But if your choice of what films to watch is highly influenced by their awards and critics’ reviews, then this list is for you!
We’ve rounded up the Filipino movies on Netflix that have received positive praises and recognition from award-giving bodies. Check them out below:
Pan De Salawal (The Sweet Taste of Salted Bread and Undies)
Aside from winning four awards at the Cinemalaya Film Festival 2018, Pan De Salawal also won the Best Film and Best Screenplay awards in the Low Budget Category of Spain’s Calella Film Festival. It tells the story of the homeless girl Aguy who wears underwear over her head, and her newfound friend, the baker Sal who suffers from a kidney ailment.Watch Pan De Salawal on Netflix.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XNSWSK1ZuA
Fan Girl
Antoinette Jadaone’s Fan Girl swept 9 awards at the Metro Manila Film Festival 2020, including the Best Picture, Best Director, Best Lead Actor, and Best Lead Actress awards. Starring Charlie Dizon and Paulo Avelino, the film revolves around a teenage girl who gets to spend a night with her celebrity crush, but would soon discover the dark reality behind the revered star. Watch Fan Girl on Netflix.
Lola Igna
Lola Igna bagged four awards at the Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino 2019, including Best Film and Best Screenplay. The movie tells the story of the 118-year-old, grumpy old woman Igna who suddenly becomes a celebrity when she becomes eligible for the record of being “The Oldest Living Grandmother in the World.” This also brings her closer to her great-great-grandchild, softening her grumpy facade. Watch Lola Igna on Netflix.
Pamilya Ordinaryo (Ordinary People)
Aside from bagging multiple awards at the Cinemalaya Film Festival 2016, including Best Film, Best Actress, and Best Director, the film also went on to receive a Gawad Urian Award as well as more prizes overseas. The film follows a dirt-poor, teenage couple in Manila who desperately scours the gritty city to find their kidnapped baby. Watch Pamilya Ordinary on Netflix.
BuyBust
BuyBust won Best Picture and three more prizes at the 2019 Gawad Urian Awards. Erik Matti’s action flick with social commentary follows the PDEA agent Nina Manigan and her squad as they go on a mission to infiltrate the heart of Manila’s dangerous slums and capture a high-profile drug lord. But the mission goes south and Nina finds herself in a bloody fight for survival against brutal drug gangs and bloodthirsty citizens seeking for vengeance. Watch BuyBust on Netflix.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33XZIrH2Hk8
Birdshot
Mikhail Red’s Birdshot won the Critics’ Choice Award at the Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino 2017, and also took home prizes from the Tokyo International Film Festival and ASEAN Film Awards. The film follows the teenage farm girl who mistakenly shoots down an endangered Philippine Eagle. As authorities investigate the incident, a more horrific crime comes to light. Watch Birdshot on Netflix.
Hintayan Ng Langit (Heaven’s Waiting)
Taking home two awards at the QCinema International Film Festival back in 2018, Hintayan ng Langit stars the late Eddie Garcia opposite Gina Pareño. Set in purgatory which looks just like a hotel, the film follows Lisang who had been overstaying there for years because of her bad behavior. Soon, her ex-boyfriend finally arrives, annoying her as they were forced to share a room together. Watch Hintayan ng Langit on Netflix.
Kalel, 15
This film bagged awards from the Asian Film Festival 2020, Gawad Urian Awards 2020, FAMAS Awards 2019, and more. It tells the story of Kalel, a teenage Catholic boy who has a troubled parentage. When he is diagnosed with HIV, Kalel’s world proceeds to fall apart when his mother leaves him while his sister stays with her junkie boyfriend. He then meets with his father, who gives him money so he could live on his own, but Kalel had other plans. Watch Kalel, 15 on Netflix.
Iska
Iska bagged awards at the 2019 Cinemalaya festival, as well as prizes from multiple local and international award-giving bodies. The film follows Iska, an employee at one of UP’s photocopying centers, who faces the challenges of life head-on to provide for her autistic grandson. Watch Iska on Netflix.
Kung Paano Hinihintay and Dapithapon (Waiting for Sunset)
This film swept five awards at the Cinemalaya Film Festival in 2018 including Best Film and Best Screenplay. The movie is about an old unmarried couple, whose monotonous lives are shaken when the woman’s estranged husband reaches out, asking for forgiveness and reconciliation. Watch Kung Paano Hinihintay and Dapithapon on Netflix.
Netflix has revealed the full trailer for their latest horror anthology Guillermo Del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities! In the new show, the director of Pan’s Labyrinth and The Shape of Water presents eight sinister stories from today’s revered horror creators.
Watch the trailer for Guillermo Del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities below:
The episode titles and their respective directors have earlier been revealed through the show’s teaser. It includes The Autopsy directed by David Prior, The Outside by Ana Lily Amirpour, The Viewing by Panos Cosmatos, Dreams in the Witch House by Catherine Hardwicke, Lot 36 by Guillermo Navarro, Pickman’s Model by Keith Thomas, Graveyard Rats by Vincenzo Natali, and The Murmuring by Jennifer Kent.
Del Toro’s collection of terrifying tales is dropping on Netflix this Halloween season, October 25. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to get the latest news on film, TV, and more updates around the city!
Netflix has officially introduced the cast of Berlin, the upcoming spinoff series of La Casa de Papel or Money Heist. At a recent press conference, the lead actor Pedro Alonso was joined by his co-stars and the show’s creators to finally reveal what the new series will be about, teasing a romantic spin on the series.
Photo courtesy of Netflix
“Berlin’s character has the most sparkling personality to place it in another universe,” stated creators Esther Martínez Lobato and Álex Pina. “We loved the idea of introducing a new gang around Berlin in a completely different emotional state.”
Pina has also described the new series as “a trip through the golden age of the character, when he robbed around Europe crazy in love.” Furthermore, the co-creator teased that it will be “full of white-collar crimes, tension, travel, romance and, most interestingly, a sense of humor.”
In the prequel, the cunningly dangerous Berlin is joined by a different crew including the philanthropic professor Damián (Tristán Ulloa); the kamikaze who lives a risky life, Cameron (Begoña Vargas); Berlin’s faithful squire Roi (Julio Peña Fernández), and the relentless man of action Bruce (Joel Sánchez). Together, the gang pulls off a heist in Paris.
Photo courtesy of Netflix
To further tease the series, Pedro Alonso also recited the opening of the script: “There are only ten things that can turn a terrible day into a wonderful one. The first is love. And the truth, that wasn’t the case. My third wife had just left me…The second is a spoil of more than ten million euros. But it wasn’t the case either. We were going to steal the link to a much bigger heist, today’s was easy. But if you have a bad day, you can end up bringing a miserable to his knees and aiming for his head.”
Berlin or Andrés de Fonollosa acts as a brother and close confidant to the Professor in Money Heist, and served as the leader of the crew from inside the Mint of Spain. Despite his intelligence and charm, Berlin had been in conflict with his fellow thieves due to his psychopathic tendencies. But while he had his share of villainy throughout the series, Berlin’s complexities and his final act of redemption made the character a fan favorite from the franchise.
Berlin is created by Pina and Lobato, with its eight episodes to be directed by Albert Pintó, David Barrocal, and Geoffrey Cowper. The series begins shooting on October 3 in Paris.
Since its arrival here in the Philippines, Netflix has been continuously bringing us great content to stream on our favorite devices. Whether it’s a compelling drama with interesting characters, a thrilling title that keeps us at the edge of our seats, comedies that give us our much-needed dose of laughter, or just anything that keeps us entertained on the couch or on the go, we surely can count on the streaming service’s rich library of shows and movies.
If you’re always on the lookout for Netflix’s latest releases, then look no further! We’ve listed down ten shows and films to anticipate and add to your watchlist this month of October!
A boy named Craig befriends the aging billionaire Mr. Harrigan, but after the old man passes, Craig discovers that he can still communicate with his friend from beyond the grave.
Eight patients at a hospice for terminally ill young adults gather every night to tell each other creepy stories. The group also made a pact– whoever dies next must come back and give the group a sign from the beyond.
The Mole is a reality competition series where 12 players must overcome a series of challenges, while being sabotaged by a deceptive “mole” for their own gains. In the end, one player must expose the mole to win.
Sophie, who has always dreamt of becoming a princess; and her best friend Agatha, who has the makings of a witch, are brought to the magical School of Good and Evil, but they both find themselves wrongfully sorted in the schools.
Guillermo Del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities (Series)
Based on true events, this film follows a nurse who risks her life to uncover the truth behind a series of mysterious patient deaths, which she suspects are secretly caused by her colleague.
