The Best 2020 Netflix Originals You’re Missing Out On
2020 is seeing some Netflix originals getting
a lot of positive buzz. From dramas to gripping documentaries, the streaming giant is experimenting with plenty of fresh ideas.
With Netflix’s release schedule ramping up more than ever, you mustn’t miss out on these 7 hidden gems.
Dracula
Over the years, there have been endless films and TV shows inspired by Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel Dracula.
Now, the world’s most famous vampire has come to life once more during a new BBC series, which is out there in America exclusively on Netflix. And with the creators of Sherlock working behind the scenes, you know that the writing will be clever and engaging.
If you’re familiar with the story of Dracula already, the general narrative of this series probably won’t surprise you…at least, not at the beginning. The unwitting Jonathan Harker travels to Transylvania to meet his mysterious new real estate client and finalize the sale of his home, but little does he know that he is walking into a trap set by a vampire.
This time around, the showrunners took some creative liberties, especially as the series progresses. Initially, the episodes take place in the late 1800s, so you’ll get plenty of that classic Dracula vibe.
Then, with the final installment, the show jumps forward in time and delivers a modern twist on the ancient bloodsucker. Plus, there’s no denying that the higher production value means this adaptation is more visually striking than some of the previous versions of Dracula.
If you’re a big fan of horror, this series is a solid choice, and with only three episodes, you could sink your teeth into the whole series in one afternoon.
The Decline
The Decline is a thriller out of Quebec that features a group of Canadian survivalists who have just arrived at a training camp. This collection of strangers may be divided in their political beliefs and backgrounds, but they can all agree on one thing: our modern society is doomed to collapse, and when it happens, they’re going to be ready.
Alain, who runs the camp, kicks things off by teaching the participants some useful skills that they might need if civilization breaks down, like growing their own food and protecting themselves with some serious weaponry. Suddenly, the group descends into chaos when
a training session, involving explosives, results in a tragic fatality. And while it was clearly an accident, they don’t know what to do next.
Alain is far too paranoid to allow law enforcement on his massive, secluded property, but some of the participants want to report what happened. As tensions in the group turn violent, the survivalists must learn how to survive one another, rather than a disaster from the outside
world.
The Stranger
If you’re looking for an addictive thriller to binge-watch, then get comfortable and settle in with the first episode of The Stranger.
Based on the Harlan Coben novel of the same name, this British mystery follows the life of Adam Price, who learns a devastating secret about his wife from a woman he’s never met before.
She informs Adam that his wife, Corinne, faked
a pregnancy. And when Corinne finds out that Adam knows the truth, she disappears. But it turns out that this isn’t the only secret that this enigmatic stranger is hiding up her sleeve.
The tension continually builds throughout the series, and you’ll be on the edge of your seat as you watch the stranger at the center of this story unravel the lives of all those around her.
Bloodride
Bloodride is a Norwegian horror anthology that will literally take you on an extremely wild ride. The show perfectly balances frightening scenes, suspense, and morbid humor. While the anthology format can be difficult to master, this series definitely pulls it off.
Each episode begins with an intro scene on a bus, featuring the characters that will appear in the series. Although their stories are not interconnected,
the terrifying bus driver indicates that all the passengers are headed for an eerie destination.
The various stories featured in Bloodride take viewers from a village that’s the home of an ancient sacrificial Viking stone, which the residents use for their own nefarious purposes, to a creative writing class, where
a student finds out that she’s living in a classmate’s horrific story.
With six unique episodes to delve into, you’re bound to find a few favorites that will genuinely make your skin crawl.
The Coldest Game
The Cold War-era drama The Coldest Game received positive attention on the awards circuit in Poland, but it isn’t well-known internationally, not yet, anyway. Now that the film has officially been released on Netflix, American audiences can finally see it for themselves.