If you’re a fan of documentaries, Showmax has an impressive lineup this November that you wouldn’t want to miss.
Among the highlights are The Station Strangler and Action S, two gripping films that dive deep into real-life mysteries and critical global issues.
With compelling storytelling and meticulous research, these documentaries explore complex themes, unraveling captivating narratives that will both educate and entertain. Whether you’re interested in true crime or international affairs, these selections offer a fresh perspective on the world’s most intriguing stories.
Here are some of the top picks to add to your watchlist.
THE STATION STRANGLER | Stream from today
The latest true-crime feature documentary from IdeaCandy (Tracking Thabo Bester, Devilsdorp), The Station Strangler investigates the serial killer who is believed to have killed 21 young boys and one adult from the late 80s to the mid-90s on the Cape Flats.
Norman Simons, a school teacher, was arrested but only convicted of one of the murders. Twenty-eight years after his imprisonment, Simons was released on parole, opening up fresh wounds in a community where justice has been denied for too long.
The Station Strangler features interviews with family members of the victims, lead investigator JD Kotze, serial killer profiler Micki Pistorius (above), and Dr Allan Boesak, among others.
Director Nadine Cloete won the Audience Award at Encounters for Action Kommandant, while her short Address Unknown won the SAFTA for Best Short Film.
Sunday Times calls The Station Strangler “chilling”, adding: “Cloete is a formidable force in South African filmmaking, known for her fearless explorations of the country’s most poignant and untold stories … With The Station Strangler, she continues to challenge and redefine documentary filmmaking … infusing the documentary with a depth of empathy and meticulous storytelling.”
BRANDY HELLVILLE & THE CULT OF FAST FASHION | Stream from today
Brandy Hellville & The Cult of Fast Fashion uncovers the toxic origins and culture of the Brandy Melville teen brand and the global ramifications of mass-produced clothing.
Based on Business Insider investigative reporter Kate Taylor’s shocking 2021 exposé, the HBO documentary is directed by Oscar and Emmy winner Eva Orner, with Oscar winner Simon Chinn (Searching for Sugar Man) and Oscar nominee Jonathan Chinn (David Holmes: The Boy Who Lived) producing.
Brandy Hellville & The Cult of Fast Fashion examines the far-reaching repercussions of mass-produced fast fashion, travelling to Accra, Ghana, a destination for discarded textiles that end up polluting landfills and waters.
The documentary has a 100% critics’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with Decider saying, “Even though many of us know in our hearts that fast fashion is bad news, the film puts faces to its victims and clearly illustrates just how wasteful and destructive it is.”
ACTION S1 | First on Showmax | Binge from Monday, 11 November
Action is an adrenaline-fueled docuseries following the 87North stunt team as they take centre stage for once. Diving into the making of The Fall Guy and Violent Night, the six-part series reveals the captivating stories of ordinary individuals who have been drawn to the high-octane, highly skilled, and often perilous world of film stunts.
Look out for interviews with the likes of John Wick star Keanu Reeves; The Fall Guy director David Leitch, a former stunt guy; and Leitch’s wife, Kelly McCormick, a producer on Bullet Train and executive producer on ast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw, as well as some of Hollywood’s most legendary stunties and the stunt coordinators behind some of the most explosive action sequences in movies today.
Also watch the blockbuster movie The Fall Guy, starring Ryan Gosling, on Showmax from Monday, 18 November.
SERGIO LEONE: THE ITALIAN WHO INVENTED AMERICA | First on Showmax | Stream from Wednesday, 13 November
Sergio Leone: The Italian Who Invented America pays homage to the pioneer of the spaghetti western, Italian film director Sergio Leone, whose iconic films like The Good, the Bad and the Ugly and Once Upon a Time in the West made him one of the most influential filmmakers in history, catapulted Clint Eastwood (above) to stardom, and inspired some of the biggest directors working today.
Drawing on archive footage of Leone himself, the film features interviews with collaborators and artists who were influenced by his work, including directors Martin Scorsese, Quentin Tarantino, and Steven Spielberg, as well as comic book legend Frank Miller and Oscar-winning composer Ennio Morricone.
Sergio Leone: The Italian Who Invented America premiered at the Venice Film Festival and was named Documentary of the Year by the Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists.
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