Planning to watch Materialists, Subham or Devil's Double: Next Level? Read this
Why is your life a never-ending soap? Why is it not a romantic comedy but a depressing art house film? Why are you trapped in a trope — are you even real, or fiction by some bad writer scribbling with crayons and his tongue out? Celine Song's Materialists is a romantic comedy set in the reality check of your bank balance, what you can afford, and what you can deliver. Samantha Prabhu's debut production Subham is about a neighbourhood haunted by dead grannies who possess new brides to resume their soap binge, their souls still awaiting closure and an ending before they can rest in peace. And Devil's Double: Next Level, where a YouTuber finds himself trapped in a horror movie he must survive and outsmart with all the clichés he knows about the genre.
What a week for meta storytelling!
Love in times of uncertainty
Materialists is understandably getting mixed, polarising reactions from the audience — so real and savage it slaps the romance out of our senses before offering a warm shoulder.
My editor was irritated by the script, which she declared too sappy and stereotypical for this age of cynicism where bank balances trump moody romance. But, isn't the fantasy the reason we go to the movies?
Yes — except this very story has been done before, and better. By a 22-year-old screenwriter named Helen Childress, whose script Reality Bites convinced her friend Winona Ryder to hire her friends — two guys named Ben Stiller and Ethan Hawke — to direct and act in the movie.
Thirty years later, it still holds up — and how! As a sharper articulation of the ideas behind Materialists, with tighter writing filled with genuine ache and longing in 'the winter of our discontent', Ethan Hawke channelling Jesse even before he became the Jesse from Linklater's Before trilogy.
Materialists does have its merits. The cast is easy on the eyes: Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans, Pedro Pascal. Occasionally, there's a good line: 'When you are lost, just go where love is.'
Cute. But try topping this one from Reality Bites: 'All I want is a couch, a couple smokes, a cup of coffee, and a little bit of conversation. You and me and five bucks.'
So here's the math: Reality Bites: 100 > Materialists: 1
Ghost stories
Santhanam's follow-up to DD Returns, Devil's Double: Next Level (streaming on Zee5), has such a fun premise. YouTube film critics are targeted by the ghost of a dead producer in a movie hall that traps them in a film. Though full of potential jokes, the movie settles for the bare minimum.
Yet, it cracks you up every now and then, saving the punchline for the end.
How do you get out of a bad franchise? Don't kill the villain. Kill the hero. Kill the star. Five stars for the messaging, three for the movie.
In Subham, the laughs come from men trying to shoot an alternate version of the never-ending soap — one with an ending that can finally provide closure to the dead grannies who've possessed their brides to catch up on their favourite show.
While figuring out what ending would make them happy, the men also become better humans. The film is less of a horror flick and more of a smart ode to the power of movies — like Be Kind, Rewind, where the guys running the video store shoot their own versions of their favourite films.
Subham is now streaming on Disney.
Getting lost in the movies could be a holiday, a getaway vacation or a nightmare. Choose wisely.
From the hottest shows to hidden gems, overlooked classics to guilty pleasures, FOMO Fix is a fortnightly compass through the chaos of content. Expect timely recommendations, spoiler-free insights, and an honest heads-up on what to not miss.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
"This is a film about friendship": Abhishek Bachchan talks about his upcoming project 'Kaalidhar Laapataa'
Actor Abhishek Bachchan talked about his upcoming film 'Kaalidhar Laapataa' and shared why he decided to be part of the project. Actor Abhishek Bachchan talked about his upcoming film 'Kaalidhar Laapataa' and shared why he decided to be part of the project. Directed by Madhumita , the film also features Daivik Bhagela and Zeeshan Ayyub in pivotal roles. In a conversation with ANI, he said, "Nikkhil Adv(producer) approached me. Nikkhil is a very old friend of mine. I have known him since he was an assistant director. He approached me and said that this is a story and we want you to hear it. As soon as I heard it, I said yes." While praising the director, he added, "The way Madhumita, the director of this film, told me the story, the way she wanted to make this film, I really liked it. Especially the values in this film, what I learned from the story.. I really liked it. This is a film about friendship, a journey in life, what to do and what not to do, what to do for yourself, what to do for your family. I liked all these things..." On his preparation for his role, he shared, "We have to wek very hard. The good thing is, most of the work was already written in the script. So, the writers who do the work, it is very important, because it makes our work very easy. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Here's A List Of Cheapest Steel Suppliers (See List) Steel Suppliers | search ads Search Now Undo And Madhumita, when we used to sit on the readings of this film, we used to do our workshops, of it was already on paper. You just had to say the lines honestly. She used to handle the rest. So, Madhumita should get the credit for this." Bachchan gives credit to the director for taking care of minute details in filmmaking. "Madhumita is a very particular director. Although, this is her first Hindi film. She has done a lot of Tamil films before this. But still, she pays attention to everything. And I think that is visible. From casting to production design, costume, dialogue, pronunciation, speech, everything. So, when your director pays attention to all these things, our work becomes very easy. " Earlier, taking to his X, Abhishek Bachchan shared the poster of his upcoming film directed by Madhumita and set to stream on Zee5. The film will be released on an OTT platform on July the poster, the actor is seen sitting in a tree sporting a dense beard. The actor wore a white checked shirt and pyjamas. The background appeared to be that of a sharing the poster, Abhishek Bachchan wrote, "Sometimes, getting lost isn't a detour, it's where the real story begins. Full of dreams, twists, and the people who make it worth it. #KaalidharLaapata premieres 4th July, only on #ZEE5." 'Kaalidhar Laapata' features Abhishek Bachchan in the titular role, alongside Daivik Bhagela and Zeeshan Ayyub in pivotal roles. Before announcing the project, the actor shared a cryptic post on X. The note which reads like a poem talks about the desire to hide away from everyone in order to find oneself again, "Main ekbaar lapaata hona chahta hoon, bheed mein khud ko phir se paana chahta hoon. Jo kuch bhi tha sab de diya apno ke liye, ab zara sa waqt bas apne liye chahta hoon (I want to be lost once, I want to find myself in a crowd. Whatever was mine, I gave away for the sake of my own kin. Now I wish to take out some time for my own self)." Abhishek was last seen in Housefull 5. It starred Riteish Deshmukh and Akshay Kumar in the lead roles. The actor will also be seen in the Riteish Deshmukh and Sanjay Dutt starrer 'Raja Shivaji'.The film will hit the theatres on May 1, 2026 in Marathi, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam. The film will be directed by Riteish Deshmukh and also stars Genelia Deshmukh, Mahesh Manjrekar , Fardeen Khan, and Ajay-Atul and legendary cinematographer Santosh Sivan have come on board to enhance the musical and cinematography of the film, which is currently in production across Mumbai and Wai in Maharashtra.
Mint
5 hours ago
- Mint
OTT releases this weekend: From Ground Zero to Kpop Demon Hunters -- Movies, web series to watch
If you enjoy international films and series, there's a lot to explore on OTT platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, ZEE5, and Jio Hotstar. So why wait? Have a look at the complete list of new releases in different languages. Emraan Hashmi stars in this army drama based on real events. The story follows a secret mission to take down feared terrorist Ghazi Baba. The film is directed by Tejas Prabha Vijay Deoskar and features strong performances by Sai Tamhankar and Zoya Hussain. Punjabi singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh plays a fun and clumsy detective trying to solve the mysterious death of a rich businessman. The film also stars Diana Penty, Boman Irani, and Chunky Pandey. It's a mix of laughs, confusion, and clues. India's most-loved comedy show is back! The new season begins with Salman Khan as the first guest. Expect jokes, celebrity chats, and Kapil Sharma's unbeatable comic timing. This family drama tells the story of Prince, a quiet man who owns a bridal shop. His life changes when he marries Chinju Rani, a bold and lively woman. The film explores love, cultural differences, and emotional challenges in their new life together. When police officer Ambili Raju goes missing, a new investigation begins. SI Noble starts to uncover secrets within the police department. This season is serious and well-written, looking at justice and the human side of law enforcement. This animated musical is full of action and style. It follows three global K-pop stars who secretly fight demons. The film mixes catchy songs with wild supernatural fights. A South African comedy about a couple who launch a baby product brand. As they try to look perfect for the public, their relationship starts falling apart. The film is a funny look at modern life, fame, and family. This emotional crime series follows Gabrielle Mosely as she helps find missing people. She also deals with painful memories from her own past. The show mixes mystery with heartfelt moments. A powerful documentary about the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire in London. Told through the words of survivors, witnesses, and investigators, it looks closely at what went wrong and the strength of those who lived through it. 'Kaulitz & Kaulitz' – Season 2 – Netflix This reality show follows Tom and Bill Kaulitz, twins and bandmates from Tokio Hotel. It shows their personal lives, filled with fashion, humour, and sibling moments. A Spanish teen drama set at a top sports academy. Young athletes try to balance dreams, pressure, and finding themselves. It's an emotional journey where every win has a cost. A reality series about actress and model Yolanthe Cabau. She lives a glamorous life in Los Angeles but also deals with emotional challenges from her past.
News18
6 hours ago
- News18
Pasoorian: First Track Of Diljit Dosanjh, Neeru Bajwa's Sardaar Ji 3 Unveiled
Last Updated: Sung by Diljit himself, the track is written and composed by Happy Raikoti. It depicts Diljit's character trying his level best to convince Neeru. Diljit Dosanjh is awaiting the release of his upcoming Punjabi horror comedy, Sardaar Ji 3, slated to hit the big screens on June 27. Directed by Amar Hundal, the film features Neeru Bajwa, Manav Vij, Gulshan Grover, Jasmin Bajwa, Sapna Pabbi and others in significant roles. Ahead of its release, the makers have now dropped a new single from the film, titled Pasoorian, leaving fans excited for the upcoming part of the hit franchise. Taking to Instagram, Diljit shared the video of the song and wrote in the caption, 'PASOORIYAN OUT NOW ON YOUTUBE. Sardaar Ji 3 – in Theaters 27th JUNE." Crooned by Diljit himself, the song is written and composed by Happy Raikoti. It depicts Diljit's character trying his level best to convince Neeru. Their bickering chemistry is the highlight of this track. Fans and admirers were quick to share their reactions to the song. An Instagram user wrote, 'Loved it." Another one commented, 'What a beautiful song and Diljit's voice makes each and every song more beautiful." One of them shared, 'Always entertaining paaji." View this post on Instagram A post shared by DILJIT DOSANJH (@diljitdosanjh) Recently, the makers unveiled the film's official teaser, which received positive responses from fans and admirers. It begins with a group of armed troops approaching one of the UK's most haunted castles. After being defeated in an instant by an unknown ghost, the owner decides to seek Dosanjh's help. The video then shows an amusing encounter with his in-house witches, who want a medical kit, a make-up box and other goods. At the end of the clip, Dosanjh is seen fighting with a ghost in the UK mansion, claiming that he plans to fight him because he did not add 'Ji' after 'Sardaar' when greeting him. Sardaar Ji is one the most loved horror-comedy franchises of the Punjabi film industry. The first instalment of the film was released in 2015 and the second part came in 2016. Besides this, Diljit has a thriller film, Detective Sherdil, slated to be released on the OTT platform Zee5 on June 20. He has now begun the shooting for a new schedule of his highly anticipated war film, Border 2 in Pune. Directed by Anurag Singh, the film features Varun Dhawan, Sunny Deol, Ahan Shetty and Sonam Bajwa in the leads. First Published:
