Whilst the world is on pause and your Filmhouse Sunderland visits aren’t possible, we’re keeping the independent cinema flag flying with our new weekly watch lists from Chris & Jonny, the people behind the project. 

Each Friday, we’ll post a list of four films that are currently available across BBC iPlayer, All4, Netflix and Amazon Prime that we think you should seek out. 

This week’s selection is…

Morvern Callar (15) (200) (BBC iPlayer)

Samantha Morton is compelling in Lynne Ramsay’s follow up to her debut film Ratcatcher. Based on Alan Warner’s novel, Morton plays unambitious Scottish shelf stacker Morvern, whose novelist boyfriend commits suicide over Christmas. After several days inventing stories to explain his absence, and after disposing of his body and clearing out his bank account, Morvern finds a novel he completed before killing himself. Sending it to publishing houses as her own work, the book is promptly bought and Morvern uses the advance to head off on a Spanish holiday with her best friend Lanna. A dreamlike film with a pulsing performance from Morton as a woman emerging from a cocoon, Morvern Callar is transportive, poetic and beguiling.

The Descent (15) (2005) (All 4)

Geordie horror maestro Neil Marshall’s grisly and attention-grabbing movie is a masterpiece of claustrophobia, fear and tension.  A year after a severe emotional trauma, Sarah (Shauna Macdonald) goes to North Carolina to spend some time exploring caves with her friends. But after descending underground, the women find strange cave paintings and evidence of an earlier expedition, and learn that they are not alone….

His House (15) (2020) (Netflix)

Newly-released, this astonishing debut film from Remi Weekes expertly melds horror and social commentary. Refugee couple Bol (Sope Dirisu) and Rial (Wunmi Mosaku) make a harrowing escape from war-torn South Sudan and struggle to adjust to a new life in an English town. Placed in a grimy council house by their Case Worker Mark (Matt Smith), the pair begin to realise that there is evil lurking beneath the surface of their new home…

The Limey (18) (1999) (Amazon Prime)
Steven Soderbergh’s stylish neo-noir provides a showcase for leading man Terence Stamp. Stamp is Wilson, a tough English ex-con who travels to Los Angeles to avenge his daughter’s death. Hunting for clues, he finds himself up against Valentine (Peter Fonda), who’s backed up by an army of L.A.’s toughest. Mean and moody, the film pits two of the biggest icons of the 1960s against one another, set against a glittering LA backdrop.

We’d love to hear what you think of the films we recommend – let us know!

See you next week,

Chris & Jonny