Latest news with #Scream
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Netflix's new No. 1 show is a soapy crime drama — and I'm surprised how much I want to binge-watch it
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Netflix's new crime drama 'The Waterfront' is basically a more grown-up spin on 'Dawson's Creek.' It follows an extended cast of characters in a waterside town as their personal drama entangles with their somehow even more chaotic professional lives. While its cast may be comprised of (mostly) adults, the melodrama feels just as soapy as the problems faced by Dawson and his pals in the iconic teen drama series. Only this time, there are more references to drug smuggling and high-stakes criminal activity than fretting over not getting asked to prom. Considering 'The Waterfront' comes from Kevin Williamson, creator of 'Dawson's Creek' as well as 'The Vampire Diaries' and the 'Scream' movie franchise, it's not a huge surprise that its tone is more sudsy than serious. And yet, despite things verging on cheesy on more than one occasion, after starting the series this week, I feel a strong compulsion to binge the rest right now. And clearly I'm not the only one who's been hooked by the new series. After about 24 hours on the platform, "The Waterfront" has rocketed straight to the No. 1 spot in the Netflix top 10 most-watched list. It's currently the most popular show on the service in several countries, including the U.S. So, if you're looking for a summer binge-watch, 'The Waterfront' might just be the perfect candidate, offering eight episodes stuffed with twists, betrayals, and 'shocking' revelations. It's a frothy throwback to a previous era of television, and I'm surprised how much that simple concept still appeals. Inspired by true events, 'The Waterfront' is set in the fictional North Caroline beach town of Havenport, a location controlled by the Buckley family. This chaotic clang has a tight grip on everything from the local restaurants to the fishing industry that keeps Havenport ticking. However, their empire is built on sand, and starts to crumble when patriarch Harlan (Holt McCallany) steps back from business after suffering a heart attack, and his reckless son Cane (Jake Weary) attempts to fill the void with some pretty disastrous results. It soon becomes clear that when you swim in murky waters, you don't come out clean. Thrown into the mix are the matriarchy of the family, Belle (Maria Bello), and daughter Bree (Melissa Benoist), a young mother struggling with addiction and battling over custody of her son. Let's just say, the Buckleys aren't exactly a picture of the perfect American family. As the authorities start investigating a double homicide, which could implicate the Buckleys in a series of narcotic crimes, the family finds themselves scrambling to cover their tracks, but their interpersonal fighting threatens to sink everything they've built even before the cops can uncover their secrets. It soon becomes clear that when you swim in murky waters, you don't come out clean. After streaming the first couple of episodes of 'The Waterfront,' one thing is very clear: This show is basically a slick-looking soap opera. It's stuffed with clunky dialogue exchanges, characters making decisions that in reality would lead them to ruin (but somehow work out), and a sense of escalation that sees the rabbit hole of chaos the Buckleys have dug only get bigger with each passing scene. It's certainly not awards-caliber drama. Yet, it's just self-aware enough to remain highly watchable. It's the sort of disposable TV that dominated the pre-streaming era of television. You could easily imagine the season being stretched to 20+ episodes, with a whole load of additional sideplots added to bulk things out. While the crime aspect is pretty prominent throughout — with Harlan and Cane's attempts to bring their unstable empire back under control taking the lion's share of the early screentime — the aspect that appealed to me most was actually Bree's attempts to connect with her estranged son, and her snarky snipe at her ex-husband. Benoist is a bit of a show stealer. Based on what I've consumed so far, 'The Waterfront' isn't a crime drama series that is going to live long in the memory. Heck, after just two episodes, the earliest moments are becoming a bit hazy, but I still feel surprisingly compelled to keep watching and see where this ride concludes. The show's combination of criminal dealings and relationship drama — in between drug dealings, Cane is trying to reconnect with a former flame — is a potent mix, and narrative wrinkles are dished out at a frequent enough clip that you can mostly gloss over the often hamfisted scripting and the times where the plot askews logic in favour of a big twist. 'The Waterfront' has arrived on Netflix at just the right time. Its beachside setting and its easy-watching nature feels fitting for the summer months. It's a Netflix original series you can consume in a relatively short amount of time, mostly enjoy while it lasts, and then move on without any lingering thoughts. It's probably not going to be ranked in many best-of-the-year lists. But that's not necessarily a deal-breaker. At least for me, I'm happy to make room in my streaming schedule for a show that offers intrigue, even if I can already tell it's not going to be a show that lives long in the memory. At least in the moment, there's enough soapy substance to keep me invested, and I'm curious to see where the Buckleys end up by the final episode. If you're itching for a Netflix show you can tear through in just a few evenings, or a single weekend, then 'The Waterfront' should fit the bill nicely. It's not going to leave the enduring legacy of some of Kevin Williamson's previous work, but it's pretty watchable, even if you can excuse some hokey dialogue. Meanwhile, if you're looking for more streaming options, check out our guide to everything added to Netflix in June 2025, which includes plenty of bingeable shows and original movies. Watch "The Waterfront" on Netflix now New on Netflix in June 2025 Netflix has racked up 15 No. 1 shows in 2025 (so far) Netflix drops first look at new political thriller series
Express Tribune
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Netflix drops ‘The Waterfront', inspired by creator's real-life family drug ties
Netflix's new drama The Waterfront, which premiered on June 19, takes viewers deep into a coastal town torn apart by secrets, legacy, and survival—and it's rooted in real life. The eight-episode series comes from Kevin Williamson, the mind behind Scream, Dawson's Creek, and The Vampire Diaries. This time, Williamson delivers a raw, personal story inspired by his own father's descent into drug smuggling in the 1980s. The series stars Holt McCallany, Maria Bello, Melissa Benoist, and Jake Weary as members of the Buckley family, who were once-respected figures in the fictional town of Havenport, North Carolina. Once dominant in the local fishing industry, the Buckleys are now unraveling amid addiction, financial hardship, and long-buried betrayals. Behind the family's polished public image is a messy tangle of secrets and a willingness to do whatever it takes to maintain control—even if it means turning on one another. While the Buckleys are fictional, the emotional core of the story is deeply personal to Williamson. In recent interviews, the showrunner shared that his father, a fisherman by trade, began smuggling drugs during hard times to support the family. The consequences of that decision left a mark on Williamson's childhood and have stayed with him since. 'This is the story I've been circling for decades,' he said, referencing how the themes of loss, identity, and buried secrets have been present throughout his career—from slasher films like Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer to coming-of-age dramas. The Waterfront offers a gritty, emotionally charged look at the cost of survival and legacy—with Williamson finally confronting a story he's been carrying most of his life.
Time Out
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Where was ‘The Waterfront' filmed? Behind the scenes on Netflix's new crime drama
Netflix's The Waterfront mixes Ozark with Succession – and it all unfolds by the water in North Carolina. The show is the handiwork of Scream creator Kevin Williamson and boasts of an intriguing cast, including chiselled character actor Holt McCallany, Mario Bello, and actor-singer Melissa Benoist. The dynastic drama, which should also appeal to fans of Netflix's Florida Keys thriller Bloodline (2015-2017), is set in the coastal town of Havenport, North Carolina. Here's where you can find its seaside setting in real life. What happens in The Waterfront? After suffering not just one, but two heart attacks, Harlan Buckley (Black Bag 's Holt McCallany) is struggling to keep his family afloat as the controlling destiny in the fictional coastal town of Havenport, North Carolina. For decades, the Buckley family have controlled the local fishing industry and the town's picturesque restaurant scene. Following Harlan's brushes with death, it's up to his long-suffering wife Belle (A History of Violence 's Maria Bello) and their son Cane (Jake Weary) to make sure that the Buckley family maintains its dominance and reputation. Unfortunately for Harlan, that approach soon gets the family into even more trouble. Despite his ill-health, Harlan is forced to take back control – all while trying to keep an eye on his daughter Bree (Melissa Benoist), who lost custody of her son after her issues with addiction. With stunning locations and idyllic views, as well as murder, sex, romance, betrayal, and plenty of melodrama, The Waterfront is the sort of Netflix show you begin on Friday, only to have somehow watched it all by Saturday afternoon. Here's everything you need to know about its locations, cast, and how to watch it. Where was The Waterfront filmed? There is some bad news for fans of The Waterfront who are eager to visit the city of Havenport – it doesn't actually exist. Instead, The Waterfront was shot in the cities of Wilmington and Southport, North Carolina. Wilmington, North Carolina According to Port City Daily, when production took place in Wilmington, the cast and crew shot at the Suites On Market motel, the Cotton Exchange shopping complex by the Riverfront, on North Front Street in the Historic district, round the corner at the private Cape Fear Club, and at the Little Drum Landing event venue on Ann Street. Southport, North Carolina Meanwhile over in Southport, the city's officials took to Instagram to reveal that filming occurred in various restaurants, including Fishy Fishy Cafe, Morningstar Marina, and Potter's Seafood, each of which are bound to explode in popularity once The Waterfront hits Netflix. Kevin Williamson, The Waterfront's creator and showrunner who also wrote Scream, The Faculty, Dawson's Creek, and The Vampire Diaries, has made a habit out of shooting in his home state. Williamson was born in New Bern, North Carolina, and attended East Carolina University in nearby Greenville. I Know What You Did Last Summer, which Williamson wrote, was also shot in Southport back in 1996, while his beloved teen drama Dawson's Creek filmed in and around Wilmington for its six seasons between 1998 and 2003. Williamson has also teased that The Waterfront needed to be both set in and shot in North Carolina, because it was inspired by true events. While he's yet to provide concrete details on who influenced the Buckley family, his father Wade Williamson worked as a fisherman in North Carolina. Williamson even admitted to the Netflix website that his dad was a drug runner during this time. 'I come from a long line of fishermen,' explains Williamson. 'The fishing industry sort of upturned in the '80s – it all started to go away, and my dad couldn't feed his family. So someone came along and said, 'Hey, if you do this one thing, you can make all this money.' And it was hard to say no to… my dad – a very, very good man – got tempted to do some things that weren't so legal and got in some trouble. [But] it put food on the table, helped me go to college.' Who is in The Waterfront? The Waterfront looks destined to attract a cavalcade of viewers thanks to its all-star cast, too. In recent years, Holt McCallany has become one of most underrated actors in America, thanks to his work in Mindhunter and The Iron Claw. The leading role of Harlan gives McCallany plenty to dig into and he clearly relishes playing a despicable but still captivating patriarch. Maria Bello is the perfect foil for McCallany as his wife Mae. Audiences will recognise her from the likes of A History Of Violence, Grown Ups, Prisoners, and Beef, and she always makes everything she appears in better merely with her presence. Mae's decision to put her family first leads her to make some very bad decisions, but Bello ensures that you always still relate to her efforts. The other most recognisable performer in The Waterfront is Melissa Benoit, who shot to fame with the titular role in Supergirl, which ran for six seasons. She also appeared in the Oscar winning Whiplash, the Paramount miniseries Waco, and the action thriller Patriots Day. But the character Bree is much more hot-tempered and cunning than we've seen her before. That '70s Show star Topher Grace plays against type as drug smuggler Grady. While he comes from a rich family of lawyers and doctors, Grady made some poor decisions in the tech world that landed him in jail. After being released from prison, he started a poppy farm which ultimately leads to him butting heads with the Buckley family. The Waterfront's cast is rounded out by Jake Weary as Harlan's only son Cane, Humberly González as Cane's high school sweetheart Jenna, who has just returned to town and causes Cane to reconsider his relationship with his devoted wife Peyton, played by Danielle Campbell. There's also Gerardo Celasco as DEA Agent Marcus Sanchez, who keeps a watchful eye on the criminal exploits of the Buckley family. How can I watch The Waterfront and when does it come out? All eight episodes of The Waterfront will be available to watch on Netflix on June 19. Is there a trailer for The Waterfront? Yes, there is – in fact, you can watch it below. The best TV and streaming shows of 2025 (so far).
New York Post
a day ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
'Dawson's Creek' creator Kevin Williamson on possible reboot
Dawson may cry again. 'Dawson's Creek' aired on The WB from 1998 to 2003, created by Kevin Williamson – and in this age of endless spinoffs and reboots, it's possible that it could come back. 'Not in television form. I think there's other ways that [a 'Dawson's Creek' revival] can come to fruition,' Williamson, 60, exclusively told The Post. 'But I'm not so sure… I feel complete. I feel like we told the story.' Advertisement 9 Joshua Jackson, Katie Holmes, Michelle Williams and James Van Der Beek in 'Dawson's Creek.' ©Sony Pictures Television/Courtesy Everett Collection 9 Kevin Williamson at the CBS segment of the 2019 Summer TCA Press Tour at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on August 1, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California. Getty Images 9 Michelle Williams, James Van Der Beek, Katie Holmes and Joshua Jackson in 'Dawson's Creek.' ©Columbia Tristar/Courtesy Everett Collection Advertisement The 'Scream' screenwriter noted that at the end of the teen drama, 'we even flash forward five years at the end to show where all the characters ended up, and how they were doing.' He added, 'I feel that's a box, and it's exactly where it should be.' 'Dawson's Creek' was set in the fictional town of Capeside, Mass. The cult classic ran for six seasons, following the lives of aspiring teenage filmmaker Dawson Leery (James Van Der Beek), his best friend Joey (Katie Holmes), his other underachiever friend, Pacey (Joshua Jackson), and the new girl from the big city, Jen (Michelle Williams). 9 James Van Der Beek in 'Dawson's Creek.' Courtesy Everett Collection Advertisement 9 James Van Der Beek, Michelle Williams, Katie Holmes and Joshua Jackson in 'Dawson's Creek.' ©Columbia Pictures/courtesy Everett Co / Everett Collection 9 Katie Holmes and James Van Der Beek in 'Dawson's Creek.' ©Columbia Tristar/Courtesy Everett Collection Dawson, Joey, and Pacey were an iconic '90s TV love triangle. The show ultimately ends with Jen dying, Pacey and Joey together, and Dawson having a successful Hollywood career. Advertisement 'Dawson's Creek' proved to be a starmaker, launching the careers of Van Der Beek, 48, Holmes, 46, Williams, 44, and Jackson, 47, as well as Busy Philipps. 9 Kevin Williamson attends 'Barbara Berlanti Heroes Gala' Benefiting F*ck Cancer at Barker Hangar on October 01, 2022 in Santa Monica, California. Getty Images for F*ck Cancer 9 Kerr Smith, Michelle Williams, James Van Der Beek, Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson, and Busy Philips on 'Dawson's Creek.' Warner Bros. 9 Michelle Williams, James Van Der Beek, Joshua Jackson and Katie Holmes in 'Dawson's Creek.' ©Columbia Tristar/Courtesy Everett Collection 'We were making this little bitty show for this little-bitty network, and we had no idea that it would explode the way it did,' Williamson said. 'That cast was terrific. It's hard to stumble upon a cast like that.' Williamson, who is now working on the Netflix crime drama 'The Waterfront,' isn't opposed to the show getting another life. 'But I'm not so sure… I feel complete. I feel like we told the story,' he explained. 'If someone else comes along with a great idea and can just freshen it up and do something new to it… I mean, I'll be the first one there to watch it. But I don't think that probably it will be me.'
New York Post
a day ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Kevin Williamson reacts to 'Scream 7' turmoil, cast shakeups
He'll be right back. Kevin Williamson, screenwriter for the first 'Scream' movie, is returning to direct the upcoming 'Scream 7,' premiering on February 27, 2026. 'Oh, it's been awesome [to return]. I've always been on the fringes of the last few 'Scream' movies, as sort of the granddaddy of the franchise,' he exclusively told The Post. Advertisement 8 Neve Campbell in 'Scream 4.' ©Dimension Films/Courtesy Everett Collection 8 Kevin Williamson, on set of 'Scream 5' in 2022. ©Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection Williamson, 60, who also created the classic teen drama 'Dawson's Creek,' wrote the first 'Scream' screenplay that launched the hit slasher franchise in 1996, as well as the screenplay for 'Scream 2' in 1997 and 'Scream 4' in 2011. Advertisement He was a producer on all of the 'Scream' films. In the upcoming 2026 movie, he's in the director's chair. 'They've been very kind to me and very welcoming,' he told The Post while promoting his new Netflix show, 'The Waterfront.' 8 Courteney Cox, Jamie Kennedy and Neve Campbell in 'Scream.' ©Dimension Films/Courtesy Everett Collection 'And then they allowed me to direct this one. And we had a blast,' Williamson added. 'It was so nice to work with Courteney Cox and Sidney and tell a new story. So, I hope people like it.' Advertisement The franchise follows Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell), who was a high school teen in the first movie. By the seventh installment, she'll be a mother with a teen daughter (Isabel May). In the first movie, Sidney is terrorized by Ghostface, a killer with a black cloak and white scream mask who ends up being two people: her boyfriend, Billy Loomis (Skeet Ulrich) and his obnoxious friend, Stu Macher (Matthew Lillard). 8 Skeet Ulrich, Jamie Kennedy and Matthew Lillard in 'Scream.' ©Dimension Films/Courtesy Everett Collection 8 Matthew Lillard and Rose McGowan in 'Scream.' ©Dimension Films/Courtesy Everett Collection Advertisement David Arquette co-starred as the hapless sheriff, Dewey Riley, while Cox played investigative journalist Gale Weathers. Lillard is returning for 'Scream 7' despite Stu getting killed off at the end of the first movie. Subsequent Ghostface killers have been different people in each film. When asked what he can share about Lillard's role in 'Scream 7,' Williamson quipped, 'Nothing. Not one word.' 8 Courteney Cox and David Arquette in 'Scream.' Courtesy Everett Collection 'But I will say, I love Matthew,' he continued. 'And it was such a pleasure to call him up. They let me be the one to call and ask them back to the franchise. And that was a really nice phone call.' 'Scream 7' has had behind-the-scenes upheaval, as Jenna Ortega and Melissa Barrera were originally slated to star in the flick before they exited the project and the movie got retooled. The first version of the horror film began to fall apart in 2023 when original directors Tyler Gillett and Matt Bettinelli-Olpin left the franchise to direct Barrera in a Universal movie titled 'Abigail.' 8 Jasmin Savoy Brown, Jenna Ortega and Melissa Barrera attend the Global Premiere of Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group's 'Scream VI' at AMC Lincoln Square on March 6, 2023 in New York, New York. Getty Images for Paramount Pictures Advertisement Later that year, Barrera, 34, was fired for expressing support for Palestine amid the Israeli-Hamas war in Gaza. Sources reportedly told Deadline that Barrera was let go from the production due to 'her Instagram stories which have been perceived as anti-Semitic.' It was initially reported that Ortega left the franchise due to 'pay and scheduling issues,' but in April, the 'Wednesday' star told The Cut, 'The Melissa stuff was happening…If 'Scream 7' wasn't going to be with that team of directors and those people I fell in love with, then it didn't seem like the right move for me in my career at the time.' 8 Kevin Williamson attends the 'The Vampire Diaries' panel during Comic-Con International 2016 at San Diego Convention Center on July 23, 2016 in San Diego, California. Getty Images Advertisement Williamson, meanwhile, said he is 'on the fringes' of the situation. 'Watching that all go down, and I'm not even sure what happened. I can't really speak to it, because I wasn't a part of it,' he told the Post. 'The thing about 'Scream' is it can live in any form. And you can return to a character like Sidney and Gale and tell that story, and then the next one can be about someone else,' he noted. 'I really like the idea that 'Scream' has evolved into a franchise that can expand in those ways.'
