There are a lot of things that dictate what ends up on my monthly TBR-list, but off late nothing has shaped it the way Netflix does. The amount of books and graphic novels that are being adapted to Netflix original movies and series have increased at a rate that I, frankly, can’t keep up with. The aforementioned also applies to streaming services like Apple TV, Amazon, HBO and Peacock. However, for September 2020 I’d like to focus on Netflix, simply because they offer an excellent blend of genres.

So without further ado ….  

I am Thinking Of Ending Things

🎬 Charlie Kaufman

🎭 Psychological Thriller, Horror

📺 4 September on Netflix 

Plot:

Despite second thoughts about their relationship, a young woman takes a road trip with her new boyfriend to his family farm. Trapped at the farm during a snowstorm with Jake’s mother and father, the young woman begins to question the nature of everything she knew or understood about her boyfriend, herself, and the world.

Of all the adaptations that are scheduled for September, this one is highly anticipated. The novel by Iain Reid, was atmospheric, eerie and straight up unsettling for reasons I am still not able to pinpoint, but the reading experience was so unique, that I am certainly re-reading the novel before I dive into Charlie Kaufman’s movie adaptation.  

The movie is written and directed by Charlie Kaufman (Being John Malkovich) and according to Netflix I am thinking of Ending Things the movie will make something wholly original and unique from the book it’s based on. Which reads as code for “Charlie has taken a giant detour from the source material”. The knowledge that the book and movie will differ immensely doesn’t upset me in the slightest. If anything, it gives me something to look forward to. I’d really like to see what Iain Reid’s writing has inspired Charlie Kaufman to visualize. Judging from the trailer, the movie promises to be equally unsettling. 

So are you thinking of watching this?

The Devil all the time 

🎬 Antonio Campos

🎭 Psychological Thriller

📺 16 September on Netflix 

Plot:

Set in rural southern Ohio and West Virginia, ‘The Devil All the Time’ follows a cast of compelling and bizarre characters from the end of World War II to the 1960s. An unholy preacher, a twisted serial killer couple and crooked sheriff, who all converge around young Arvin Russell as he fights the evil forces that threaten him and his family.

The movie is based on Donald Ray Pollock’s 2011 novel of the same name, which I am compelled to dive into because of the intriguing premise and its current 4 star rating on Goodreads. 

Among others, Tom Holland, Sebastian Stan, Bill Skarsgard, Robert Pattinson, Riley Keogh make their appearance. Needless to say that this is on my must watch list. 

Ratched

🎭 Adventure, Drama, Crime and Mystery 

📺 18 September on Netflix

Strictly speaking this is not an adaptation but rather a series that is inspired by… The upcoming American psychological horror drama series, Ratched is based on the 1962 novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey. 

Plot:

The series tells the origin story of asylum nurse Mildred Ratched. In 1947, Mildred arrives in Northern California to seek employment at a leading psychiatric hospital where new and unsettling experiments have begun on the human mind. On a clandestine mission, Mildred presents herself as the perfect image of what a dedicated nurse should be, but the wheels are always turning and as she begins to infiltrate the mental health care system and those within it, Mildred’s stylish exterior belies a growing darkness that has long been smoldering within, revealing that true monsters are made, not born.

The conviction that this will be an excellent series, is solely based on the fact that Mildred Ratched is portrayed by nonother than ‘American Horror Stories’ Sarah Paulson. After 8 seasons on AHS, I consider Mrs. Paulson the Queen of Creepiness and I expect her to deliver next level psychological trauma to anyone who dares to watch this series.

Enola Holmes 

🎬 Harry Bradbeer

🎭 Adventure, Drama, Crime and Mystery 

📺 23 September on Netflix 

Plot:

When Enola Holmes-Sherlock’s teen sister-discovers her mother is missing, she sets off to find her, becoming a super-sleuth in her own right as she outwits her famous brother and unravels a dangerous conspiracy around a mysterious young Lord.

Millie Bobby Brown stars as the title character, while also serving as a producer on the film. Henry Cavill, Sam Claflin, Adeel Akhtar, Fiona Shaw, Frances de la Tour, Louis Partridge, Susie Wokoma and Helena Bonham Carter appear in supporting roles.

Although I am not the target audience, I have to admit that the trailer looks exciting enough to at least take a peak. As for the book series… I guess I was todays years old when I found out that this series even existed. The book series is by Nancy Springer and consists of 6 installments, which were published from 2006 tot 2010. Rumor has it that the premise of the movie is based on the first book in the series “The Case of the Missing Marquess”.

If the movie proofs to be interesting, I might revisit Enola Holmes’ adventures on audiobook.

Honorable Mention

Because this Netflix productions is not an adaptations but it’s definitely bookish!!

Bookmarks, celebrating black voices

🎬 Fracaswell Heyman

🎭 Adventure, Drama, Crime and Mystery 

📺 1 September on Netflix 

Netflix could not have dropped this at a better time in history, cause with the recent passing of Chadwick Boseman (King T’Challa – Black Panther) little brown babies are desperately in need of as much inspiration as they can get. Luckily this is what Bookmarks is all about!!

Bookmarks features various celebs such as Tiffany Haddish, Lupita Nyong’o, Jill Scott and Common who read children’s books from Black authors that center around themes of identity, justice and action. This brilliant endeavour is hosted by Marley Dias, 15-year-old author, activist and founder of #1000BlackGirlBooks. She is also the executive producer of this new Netflix series. The first collection, as Netflix has named it, might be aimed at the littlest ones, but guess who will be streaming each and every available episode.

As a firm believer that representation matters I can’t be anything but hyped. Cause what better way to represent than creating a platform for books by black authors and have these stories voiced by black icons!! 

Well, I guess this is what I’ll be focusing on in the month of September. Off course this is not the end-all and be-all of adaptations available for streaming, so if there is anything you think I should watch … feel free to let me know in the comments.