2022 turned out to be a year full of pleasant surprises for Netflix entertainment; in April, eight new thriller shows kept the audiences riveted. The month was particularly full of thrills. The Russian Doll and Barry series swiftly returned, followed by others like the Ambulance and the Northman. So, the spring movie season came in full swing; the thriller genre had plenty in store. It didn't matter whether some would be thrilled by fast car Ambulance chases or the Northman period pieces- the choice literally belonged to the crowds of audiences who were spoilt for choice.
In the meantime, things got even more exciting- the TV came to embrace the genre, so it delivered thrilling takes of memorable historical events, including the Watergate. There were also various continuations of Barry and other favourite series like Better Call Saul and the Russian Doll. So, when the time came for the Netflix curtain-raisers, everyone was ready for the party:
Under the Banner of Heaven: This thriller piece- Under the Banner of Heaven-hit Hulu at the end of April. Undoubtedly, 2021 had turned out to be an excellent year for Andrew Garfield. He joyfully received an Oscar nomination for a magnificent performance in the celebrated, record-breaking production Spider-Man, No Way Home, and The Eyes of Tammy Faye.
Clearly, the decorated star had no intention of ever slowing down with his exploits in 2022. Thus, it was no surprise when Garfield came out as an outstanding star in Under the Banner of Heaven. The thriller series was adapted from Jon Krakauer's book of the same name. In this film, the actor plays a curious, investigative detective trying to piece together a brutal murder mystery that extensively tests his mettle and tries his faith.
Ambulance: In this film, Danny lures Will in, all in a daring bank heist. Many know that Michael Bay isn't a stranger to such action thrillers- do you remember his famous exploits in The Rock and Bad Boys and Armageddon? Similarly, Michael's latest thriller production also features other renowned stars, including Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Jake Gyllenhaal, the siblings who have to think quickly once he realizes the heist has gone all wrong. So, the pair decide to hijack an ambulance, in the process holding Eiza Gonzalez captive.
Better Call Saul Season: Like the others, Better Call Saul Season also hit the silver screens in April 2022. The film features Bob Odenkirk playing Jimmy McGill in Season 3, Episode 2. Do you probably remember Breaking Bad? These were by far widely acclaimed as some of the most popular television series ever produced in recent decades. Interestingly, the series was widely loved by its fans and critics across the board.
Of course, Breaking Bad eventually ended; however, it came back as Better Call Saul, a spin-off series. This was back in 2015, some two years after the season finale of Breaking Bad. Indeed, Better Call Saul, which portrayed the titular attorney Bob Odenkirk's life, is now nearing the end of its cycle- what with the film doing its sixth and, perhaps, final season?
Russian Doll Season 2: The movie hit Netflix on April 20. Many agree that Russian Doll is a genuinely unique Netflix comedy-thriller production. This was particularly the case from around 2019 when the story of Natasha Leyonnes and Nadia Vulvokov slowly unfolded; yes, the latter couldn't ever seem to stay dead as expected. Why? Each time she dies, she's strangely thrown back to appear eerily at a friend's party. This seemed to trap her in an endless time loop. So, she meets another person in Season 1; this is none other than Alan Zaveri (Charlie Barnett) and goes through a similar cycle. Over the years, we haven't heard much about Season 2; nevertheless, Nadia's story starts picking up a few years later.
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent: Among the most recognizable characters here is Nicolas Cage. This is, perhaps, due to the many films he's graced over the years. The star actor has won 110 acting accolades on IMDB. In whatever role he takes, he- evidently- does all he can. He went ahead to earn an Oscar for his sterling performance in the film, Leaving Las Vegas. He's starred in several high-profile films, including the popular animated movie series like Teen Titans Go! Into the Spider-Verse and Spider-Man.
Nicolas Cage also graced Pig and Mandy and To the Movies, among others- including the blockbusters, Face Off, and Kick-Ass. Considering this, it didn't surprise many that Cage perfectly portrayed himself in the latest, successful film, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent. The riveting story has Cage acting for the CIA to infiltrate a billionaire fan's bash to get confidential information.