Our picks of the best flicks, music, books, games and TV to get into this season.
Watching
Child’s Play
Love him or hate him, there’s no denying that the infamous Chucky doll is somewhat synonymous with 80s slasher films and inducing nightmares. Well, brace yourself, 2019 sees a reboot of the original Child’s Play with the 21st Century flick hitting cinemas June 21. Single mother Karen (Aubrey Plaza) gifts her son Andy (Gabriel Bateman) a Chucky doll which, of course, is evil as all get out. Things start to get out of hand when the ‘doll’ takes on a mind of its own and starts to wreak havoc.
21 Bridges
Pulling in the big celeb names (Chadwick Boseman, J. K. Simmons and Sienna Miller), Brian Kirk’s upcoming action-thriller 21 Bridges (out July 11) sees Boseman as a disgraced NYPD detective who has a chance to redeem himself after he’s tasked with hunting down a cop killer on the loose. Bursting at the seams with plot twists, conspiracies and a helluva lot of action, 21 Bridges is a high-octane flick that’ll have you on the edge from start to finish.
Late Night
Emma Thompson and Mindy Kaling star in Late Night, a comedy-drama that sees Thompson’s character Katherine on the verge of losing her prime-time slot with her talk show. In an effort to up her street cred – and ratings – she employs Molly Patel (Kaling), her first female writer, to up the ante and add some much needed spice to the show. What follows is an unexpectedly hilarious turn of events as both women, who are polar opposites, become united by their love of a biting punchline. Catch this film when it drops on July 25.
Listening
Hatchie - Keepsake
It’s been a whirlwind of a year for Australian native Harriette Pilbeam aka Hatchie, whose itinerary included jet-setting for her first North American tour, being signed with Double Double Whammy and releasing her first EP, Sugar & Spice. But the 25-year-old ain’t slowing down, with her full-length album Keepsake dropping June 21. Expect a sweet concoction of swoony melodies and dreamy guitar tones from the 10-track album.
Calexico and Iron & Wine - Years to Burn
It’s been 14 years since indie folk-rock stalwarts Calexico and Iron & Wine collaborated, but come June 14 they’ll release their highly anticipated album Years to Burn. Recorded at Sound Emporium Studios in Nashville (which has seen the likes of Barbra Streisand, Shania Twain and R.E.M pass through), the upcoming eight-track album is set to feature the airy acoustic progression and uplifting harmonies both artists are renowned for if the lead track “Father Mountain” is anything to go by.
Mini Mansions - Guy Walks Into A Bar...
LA rockers Mini Mansions are doing us a solid and will release their third studio album Guy Walks Into A Bar… on all major streaming giants on July 26. Described by Queens of the Stone Age alum Michael Shuman as “a relatable catharsis for anyone who’s ever had the ground pulled under from them”, nothing but greatness is on the cards.
Reading
Call Me Evie
J. P. Pomare’s recent release is a literary goldmine for those who love a novel steeped in chills and thrills. Is the novel’s titular character really named Evie? And what did she do that resulted in her being taken away from her hometown?
My Bedroom Is An Office & Other Interior Design Dilemmas
Joanna Thornhill’s savvy guide is jam-packed with inspirational and practical advice that will help you achieve a home that rocks a great aesthetic.
Playing
Jak & Daxter
We at Cityscape love a throwback and while it may not be an upcoming release, the Jak & Daxter trilogy is a game that holds a special place in our heart, so shout out to Andy Gavin and Jason Rubin for creating one of the more iconic games that came out in the early 2000s. Soppiness aside, the adventures of Jak and his sidekick Daxter are filled to the brim with epic challenges, a well-structured plot and let’s face it, graphics that held up pretty well for its turn of the millennium release. And with most games sporting a re-mastered overhaul, including J & D, fans of the dynamic duo can keep the spirit alive on PS4 consoles. Hoorah.
Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fuelled
Before Mario Kart Wii was a thing, kids (and adults) were soaking up the gaming goodness of Crash Team Racing and with the recent re-masters of the original Crash Bandicoot trilogy welcomed with warm arms, there was a public outcry that CTR get the revamp it deserved. Well, pleas and prayers have been answered, Crash Team Racing is back baby! The new and improved Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled will be up for grabs come June 21 and will rock your fave content plus have bits from Crash Nitro Kart sprinkled into the mix – it’s a beautiful combo. We won’t blame you if you decide to forgo any social plans you had locked in when it comes out, we’re already scheduling in gameplay time.
Bingewatching
Love, Death, Robots
You know a TV series is going to be wicked when heavyweights David Fincher (Fight Club, Gone Girl) and Tim Miller (Deadpool) take on the roles of producer and director. A beautifully crafted animated masterpiece – no seriously, the animation team have outdone themselves on this one – Love, Death, Robots is an anthology series where each episode hones in on a different plot. From exploring alternate histories to robots traversing post-apocalyptic cities and dealing with super-intelligent yoghurt, the TV series has been compared to series like Black Mirror and Twilight Zone. A must watch for those who love something a little left of centre.
The Split
Abi Morgan’s (The Iron Lady, The Hour) latest venture The Split is rife with dark humour, drama and so much sass. The legal drama follows the Defoes, a family of lawyers working the high-end divorce circuit. Throw into the mix the fact the eldest Defoe child – played by the ever brilliant Nicola Walker of River fame – cuts ties with her family’s firm and joins a rival firm, a smorgasbord of family antics takes place and the fact that Papa Defoe has been absent for 30 years for reasons that are unbeknownst to the audience, makes for a great series to bingewatch and soak up – and with only six episodes, you may as well get your watch on.
After Life
Ricky Gervais has been a busy man and his upcoming series After Life sees him credited as creator, executive producer and director – oh and he’s also the lead character. The black comedy follows the life of Tony (Gervais), a recent widower who (apologies for the brevity) hates the world. With appearances from Brit acting royalty – we see you David Bradley and Dame Penelope Wilton – After Life, is a well-crafted and very honest depiction of how one handles various situations around death and grief. Throw into the mix Gervais’ witty quips and deliciously dark humour and you’ve got yourself a Netflix series that’s most definitely worth a watch.