We hear all of the time how Netflix wants to become a major Hollywood presence — mostly in the context of the Oscar race — but we think they’ve got their eyes set on becoming something even bigger: The month of January. Yes, that’s right, the streaming service is dedicated to replicating the frigid start of every year, at least at the multiplex, and their output is constant proof of this. Take, for instance, the Michael Peña and Lizzy Caplan-starring thriller Extinction, for example, sold off to the streaming service because Universal didn’t think it’d find any success theatrically. It’s hitting Netflix later this month, and even though it’s hot as fuck out today, we’re already feeling a little colder, like how you do when you think of Antarctica during a really blistering summer run.
Check it out:
Well, that’s certainly odd enough to convince a studio that it won’t make any money (though we’re guessing it’s probably not an Annihilation, all things considered), but we’re encouraged by a number of things. For one, Peña and Kaplan are always lovely to see on screen and, though we really didn’t like his first feature Hounds of Love, there’s no denying that director Ben Young has a hell of a lot of talent.
Here’s a synopsis:
A working class father of the future faces recurring dreams of destruction by an unknown force. When his unwanted nightmares begin to affect his relationship with his family, he soon realizes they may be the key to a horrible reality, as a relentless alien attack begins to destroy the Earth. As the invaders’ assault progresses, he is forced to find both the strength to protect his family and an understanding of who he truly is.
Extinction hits Netflix on July 27. Let’s hope that it’s more Okja than The Cloverfield Paradox or Mute.
Featured image via Netflix.