Painkiller

Painkiller is an American drama limited series made for Netflix and created by Micah Fitzerman-Blue and Noah Harpster. The six-episode series, which is based on Patrick Radden Keefe's New Yorker article "The Family That Built an Empire of Pain" and Pain Killer: An Empire of Deceit and the Origin of America’s Opioid Epidemic by Barry Meier, focuses on the birth of the opioid crisis with an emphasis on Purdue Pharma, the manufacturer of OxyContin.

The series stars Uzo Aduba (Orange Is the New Black), Taylor Kitsch (Friday Night Lights), Carolina Bartczak (X-Men: Apocalypse), John Ales (Euphoria), Sam Anderson (Forrest Gump, Lost), and Matthew Broderick (Ferris Bueller’s Day Off) as Richard Sackler, the American billionaire businessman and physician who was the chairman and president of Purdue Pharma.

Painkiller premiered on Netflix on August 10, 2023. Watch the official trailer below.

The Meg

Director Jon Turteltaub

Genre Action | Horror | Sci-Fi

Cast Jason Statham, Ruby Rose, Rainn Wilson, Robert Taylor

Rating PG-13

Release Date August 10th, 2018

“After escaping an attack by what he claims was by a 70-foot shark, Jonas Taylor must confront his fears to save those trapped in a sunken submersible.”

From director Jon Turteltaub, the man who brought us 3 Ninjas, Cool Runnings, National Treasure, and Last Vegas, The Meg is a sci-fi action/horror film based on the novel by Steve Alten. The story is about a man named Jonas Taylor who claims to have escaped a 70-foot shark, and soon after must face his fears and save those trapped in a sunken submersible. The cast includes Jason Statham, Ruby Rose, Rainn Wilson, and Robert Taylor. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, The Meg:

• Eli Roth was attached as director before he was replaced with Jon Turteltaub. Roth left due to creative differences with the studio, namely that he wanted the film to maintain both its R-rating and a $150 million budget. It's also rumored that Roth, on top of writing and directing, also wanted to play the lead role of Jonas, but the studio believed he didn't have the star power.
• MEG is based on the book, MEG: A Novel of Deep Terror, and is the first book that Steve Alten has ever published.

Slender Man

Director Sylvain White

Genre Horror

Cast Joey King, Annalise Basso, Javier Botet, Julia Goldani Telles

Rating PG-13

Release Date August 10th, 2018

“Slender Man tells the story of a tall, thin horrifying figure with unnaturally long arms and a featureless face, who is reputed to be responsible for the haunting and disappearance of countless children and teens.”

From director Sylvain White (Stomp the Yard, The Losers), Slender Man is a horror film based on the character created by Eric "Victor Surge" Knudsen. Knudsen submitted a creepy image of The Slender Man on an online blog and thus began the beginning of a cult following. As the story goes, the mere presence of Slender Man is linked to the haunting and disappearance of countless children and teens. The cast includes Joey King, Annalise Basso, Javier Botet (as Slender Man), and Julia Goldani Telles. Check out the official trailers below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Slender Man:

• Joey King and Javier Botet have both played characters in the Conjuring Universe. King played as Christine in The Conjuring and Botet played as The Crooked Man in The Conjuring 2.

BlacKkKlansman

Director Spike Lee

Genre Biography | Comedy | Crime

Cast John David Washington, Adam Driver, Laura Harrier, Topher Grace

Rating Unrated

Release Date August 10th, 2018

“Ron Stallworth, an African-American police officer from Colorado, successfully managed to infiltrate the local Ku Klux Klan and became the head of the local chapter.”

From director Spike Lee, who also co-wrote the screenplay, BlacKkKlansman is a crime biography with a comedic twist, telling the true story of an African American police officer who was able to successfully infiltrate the Ku Klux Klan and eventually become the head of the local chapter. The cast includes John David Washington, Adam Driver, Laura Harrier, and Topher Grace. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, BlacKkKlansman:

• After the investigation into the Klan was closed, Stallworth kept it a secret and told no one about his role in it. He went on to work for the Utah Department of Public Safety as an investigator for nearly 20 years, and retired in 2005. In January of 2006, he gave an interview to the Deseret News of Salt Lake City, in which he related all the details of his infiltration and investigation.
• John David Washington is the son of Denzel Washington, who appeared in four films directed by Spike Lee.

A Prayer Before Dawn

Director Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire

Genre Action | Biography | Crime

Cast Joe Cole, Vithaya Pansringarm, Panya Yimmumphai, Nicolas Shake

Rating R

Release Date August 10th, 2018 (Limited)

“The true story of an English boxer incarcerated in one of Thailand’s most notorious prisons as he fights in Muay Thai tournaments to earn his freedom.”

From director Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire, A Prayer Before Dawn is based on the real-life of Billy Moore who survived a Thai prison by becoming a Muay Thai boxing champion. A24 continues to churn out hits and if early critic feedback is any indication this is going to be yet another gem!! The cast includes Joe Cole, Vithaya Pansringarm, Panya Yimmumphai, and Nicolas Shake. Check out the official trailers below!!

Ted Takes Film Facts, A Prayer Before Dawn:

• The inmates in the film are all played by real ex-inmates who have served time in Thai prisons.
• Joe Cole went through months of extensive boxing training and spend much time with the real Billy Moore and his family in Liverpool before shooting started.
• The real Billy Moore makes an appearance in the film as his own father, who had died of cancer before filming began.

Summer of 84

Director François Simard, Anouk Whissell, Yoann-Karl Whissell

Genre Drama | Horror | Mystery

Cast Graham Verchere, Judah Lewis, Caleb Emery, Cory Gruter-Andrew

Rating Unrated

Release Date August 10th, 2018 (Limited)

“After suspecting that their police officer neighbor is a serial killer, a group of teenage friends spend their summer spying on him and gathering evidence, but as they get closer to discovering the truth, things get dangerous.”

From directors François Simard and Anouk and Yoann-Karl Whissell, Summer of 84 is a horror drama that tells the story of a group of teenage friends who suspect their police offer neighbor might be a serial killer, but as they begin spying on him and gathering clews things take a dangerous turn. The cast includes Graham Verchere, Judah Lewis, Caleb Emery, and Cory Gruter-Andrew. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Summer of 84:

• The film premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival.

Along Came the Devil

Director Jason DeVan

Genre Drama | Horror | Thriller

Cast Sydney Sweeney,  Madison Lintz, Bruce Davison, Jessica Barth

Rating TV-14

Release Date August 10th, 2018 (Limited & On-Demand)

“After a troubled childhood, Ashley searches for a connection, and unknowingly invites in a demonic force, which leaves her loved ones fighting for her soul.”

Directed by Jason DeVan and co-written in collaboration with his wife Heather as well as Dylan Matlock, Originally titled "Tell Me Your Name", the film follows a troubled teen named Ashley, who can’t seem to cope with her mother’s death and is sent to live with her estranged aunt Tanya when her older sister heads off to college. Back in her mom’s old hometown, Ashley can’t escape the sense that something is terribly wrong and visions of her deceased mother drive her to a dangerous seance that threatens her very soul. The cast includes Sydney Sweeney,  Madison Lintz, Bruce Davison, and Jessica Barth. Check out the official trailer below!! 

Madeline's Madeline

Director Josephine Decker

Genre Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Cast Helena Howard, Miranda July, Molly Parker, Okwui Okpokwasili

Rating Unrated

Release Date August 10th, 2018 (Limited)

“A theater director’s latest project takes on a life of its own when her young star takes her performance too seriously.”

Co-written and directed by Josephine Decker, Madeline's Madeline is a drama thriller about a production for a play that takes on a life of its own when its young star takes her performance too seriously. The cast includes Helena Howard, Miranda July, Molly Parker, and Okwui Okpokwasili. Check out the official trailer below!!

BuyBust

Director Erik Matti

Genre Action | Thriller

Cast Anne Curtis, Brandon Vera, Victor Neri, Arjo Atayde

Rating Unrated

Release Date August 10th, 2018 (Limited)

“An anti-drug enforcement agency stages a massive drug bust in the slums of Manila.”

From director Erik Matti, BuyBust is an action thriller about an epic fight after a anti-drug enforcement agency stages a massive drug bust in the slums if Manila. The cast includes Anne Curtis, Brandon Vera, Victor Neri, and Arjo Atayde. Check out the official trailer below!!