IMDb Staff Picks for January 2024: James G.

One of the great things about Jonathan Glazer's crime film 'Sexy Beast' was it left you wanting more. Specifically, more of the completely unhinged criminal, Don Logan (played with ferocious gusto by Ben Kingsley). That film hinted at a rich backstory of the characters’ criminal past, and this prequel series gets to explore the relationships that exploded on screen over two decades ago. As the younger Don, Emun Elliott has big shoes to fill, but it will be fun to see another actor’s spin on the character. I encourage anyone who loved 'Sexy Beast' to "turn this opportunity YES!"

Series premieres Thursday, Jan. 25 on Paramount+

Shot on location in London, this dystopian drama was developed within Sundance's Screenwriting and Directing Lab by co-directors Daniel Kaluuya and Kibwe Tavares. Depicting the struggles of class, community, and displacement, the filmmakers drew inspiration from films ranging from 'Paper Moon' to 'Beasts of the Southern Wild.' There’s a lot to be excited about here, from performances by rapper/actor Kano and newcomer Jedaiah Bannerman to Kaluuya's debut behind the camera to the authentically futuristic vision of London.

Premieres Friday, Jan. 19 on Netflix

After the lightning in a bottle of Season 1, I've had a tough time getting hyped for each new season of "True Detective." But with creator Nic Pizzolatto taking a backseat from the (he’s still an executive producer), "Night Country" marks a new frontier for the series. While everyone is (rightfully) thrilled to watch Jodie Foster team up with former boxing champ Kali Reis for this chilly mystery, I’m particularly excited to see what new showrunner Issa López brings to the table. I’ve been following her since 2017's 'Tigers Are Not Afraid,' which was a hauntingly beautiful horror film about street kids coping with cartel violence and the ghosts left behind.

Series premieres Sunday, Jan. 14 on Max

It's a film about the dead coming back to life, but don’t call it a zombie movie. Thea Hvistendahl makes her feature directorial debut at Sundance this year with this adaptation of a novel by John Ajvide Lindqvist. Focusing less on the grotesqueness nature of reanimated corpses and more about grief and mortality, the film still looks absolutely chilling and looks as though it will stretch genre boundaries. Definitely my cup of tea.

Premieres in theaters Saturday, Jan. 20 at the Sundance Film Festival and online from Jan. 25 to Jan. 28

One of my resolutions for the new year is to watch more documentaries, and this unconventional profile of poet Nikki Giovanni caught my eye at last year's Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Grand Jury Prize in the U.S. Documentary Competition. A collage of interviews, and visual representations of Giovanni’s life and work, 'Going to Mars' will satisfy my itch for a cosmic intersection of art, activism, and cinema.

Streaming on Max