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Season 1 – Shadowplay

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Watch Shadowplay — Season 1 with a subscription on Netflix.

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Taylor Kitsch

Max Mclaughlin

Michael C. Hall

Tom Franklin

Logan Marshall-Green

Moritz Mclaughlin

Elsie Garten

Tuppence Middleton

Claire Franklin

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The Defeated Season 1 Review – a gripping postwar thriller with a unique perspective

Thanks to a welcome German perspective, some solid performances, and a propulsive mystery, The Defeated  is a gripping thriller.

This recap of The Defeated Season 1 is spoiler-free.

Nazis are the quintessential villains of all popular culture, and indeed of history. Nobody ever gets tired of defeating them, and there’s rarely ever any moral ambiguity in doing so. Books, video games, television shows, and movies have toppled the Third Reich time and time again, and yet it never quite feels like enough. What’s unusual about The Defeated , a new eight-part German-Canadian collaboration now streaming on Netflix is that it frames its setting of a bombed-out post-war Berlin within a specifically German perspective, despite its classically handsome American protagonist. It isn’t trying to engender any sympathy for the Nazis, you understand, but to point out, often very effectively, that there was an entire country full of people who were forced to live under their rule and exist in their wake.

One such person is Elsie (Nina Hoss), a former schoolteacher turned head of a fledgling police force that Brooklyn detective Max McLaughlin (Taylor Kitsch) is sent to whip into shape. It’s the smallest department in the American Occupied Zone, staffed mainly by teenagers and entirely by civilians, but it’s caught in the middle of rivalrous factions that include the Allied occupiers, a serial killer, a crime boss, former Nazis, and those just trying to make do without antagonizing any or all of the above.

Virtually nobody is doing a good job of this, since the lawlessness of a Berlin that has been decimated by ordnance and the breakdown of political leadership is providing a hotbed of criminal activity. Everyone is looting to survive, many are killing for pleasure, and American GIs are raping the local women with enough frequency that a local crime boss, the enigmatic Engelmacher , or “Angel Maker”, is using the promise of backstreet abortions as a recruitment tool. If this were all Max and Elsie had to worry about it’d be quite enough, but they’re also besieged on all sides by the nebulous motivations of Max’s superior, Tom Franklin (Michael C. Hall), and his flirty, often drunk wife Claire (Tuppence Middleton), and the exploits of Max’s missing GI brother Moritz (Logan Marshall-Green), who went AWOL after being among the American division who discovered the first German death camp at Dachau .

There’s a pulpiness to all this that stands in stark contrast to the pitch-dark themes and a convincing simulacrum of a decimated Berlin that has been brought to life with impressive production design. It’s part earnest historical drama and part pulpy mystery; that it does both things really rather well is a bit of a welcome surprise, especially since it manages to do them at the same time. Anyone after a more lighthearted experience will be better looking elsewhere since The Defeated isn’t interested in giving you an easy ride, but it does provide a relatively unique and welcome slant on the Second World War – and it’s a gripping thriller for as long as it lasts.

Article by Jonathon Wilson

Jonathon is one of the co-founders of Ready Steady Cut and has been an instrumental part of the team since its inception in 2017. Jonathon has remained involved in all aspects of the site’s operation, mainly dedicated to its content output, remaining one of its primary Entertainment writers while also functioning as our dedicated Commissioning Editor, publishing over 6,500 articles.

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If it seems to you like any one of the last four German series that Netflix has pumped out might be just what you’re looking for — or, even, all four — then I think it’s fair to say that The Defeated is for you. Written and directed by the Swedish filmmaker- Björn Stein, it is set in post-war Germany.

– The Defeated review does not contain any spoilers –

The Defeated joins the league of Babylon Berlin, Dark , and You Are Wanted in being created for Netflix by a team of resilient and driven writers/directors duo. It’s a period drama that is dense, thought-provoking and will stay with you long after it’s over.

Netflix’s The Defeated Sets Into Motion the German Perspective

I am not a fan of historical dramas, but I began watching The Defeated series because of its star-studded cast. My hunch was right, and I was already hooked on to the series in the first episode. Taylor Kitsch articulates the power of storytelling with a compelling portrayal of the protagonist – Max McLaughlin.

Max is accompanied by Michael C. Hall, who dons the role of Tom Franklin and Nina Hoss, who plays the role of Elsie Garten. I am sold on the performances and the perspective which breaks the shackles of the viewing experience.

The Defeated , also called Shadowplay , stands out for approaching its subject matter vividly, making it as distinctive as it is gripping. Set in the backdrop of a defeated, devastated Berlin, the Netflix Original Series took inspiration from real-life events when Berlin was under the four-power partition. It is a fantastic watch.

Every Frame of The Defeated Unfolds an Unspeakable Horror

In a world where every life seems to have zero value, the viewer becomes accustomed to the futility of such situations. This is a world where everyone has broken out of their humanity and embraced their most base, primitive instincts. It is an allegory about post-war/post-revolution Berlin and how historically, the warring sides have committed unspeakable atrocities like manslaughter, rape and more.

If there is one thing that stands out above all else, it’s authenticity. It’s so well put together and demonstrates just how little conflict motivation changes from generation to generation. Propaganda to dehumanize the enemy worked just as well in Vietnam as in the First World War.

This is why most war series try explaining the violence and horror of war as a rationale for conflict. Still, The Defeated shows us what we already know, that no matter how good our intentions are, people will do terrible things when they’re backed into a corner.

Also Read: Netflix’s Memories of a Murderer: The Nilsen Tapes Review

The Defeated Series- A Nation Trying to Rebuild Its Lost Glory

Without a character arc, we are thrust into the world of post-war Germany through its narrative frame: a defeated nation trying to rebuild itself on an economic policy of self-destruction. This is where I loved The Defeated the most; it’s not only very different but also wickedly cynical in its storytelling.

It’s different from anything I’ve seen in a while, but that doesn’t stop it from keeping you at the edge of your seat for those who aren’t necessarily familiar with the time or Berlin. The Defeated is a series that stands out from the pack in terms of characterizations and production value.

If it were just that — a punishment for Nazis — The Defeated would be of great value. But it’s got more up its sleeve than that, and I’d argue that it’s best served as not just an interesting frame but an effective depiction of desperate survival and shifting morals through hardship.

The Defeated is A Massive Undertaking By Netflix

This series receives its title from the fall of Berlin, which it depicts in detail, and by its stylistic choice to focus on the horrors and traumas of war rather than celebrating its wartime heroism.

The show’s protagonists find themselves embroiled amid impossible predicaments fuelled by treason and gruesome crimes. The post-war Berlin setting is both the backdrop and a character all its own, adopting a film noir aesthetic that’s particularly effective in its consistency.

This is a grim collection of broken, war-weary people existing on the fringes of society and in constant fear of being discovered. Still, they are brought into sharp relief by the optimistic promise of a hopeful tomorrow.

The post-war scene is the perfect ground for a mystery like this – petty criminals and black markets are aplenty, and enough time has passed for wounds to start healing while deep hatred is still fresh.

Stream It Or Skip It?

Watching The Defeated on Netflix has been a mixed bag for me. Now, that statement is made with absolutely no mincing of words whatsoever. Who knew a show about Nazi Germany could be so interesting?

The saga is surprisingly good, despite its incredibly bleak premise. I found it oddly easy to watch and enjoyed it far more than I thought I would. Much of this is due to the stellar performances from its actors, impressive cinematography and a convincing mystery theme.

The Defeated is streaming on Netflix .

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• The Defeated

Torture porn

I got through two episodes looking for some reason to continue to watch a fascinating premise for a series. After watching a whole lot of murder (graphic, ugly and pretty close to gratuitous) there are only layers of ugliness to explore, with little to nothing redeemable to wait on.

I was let down by the inaccuracies in the uniforms in the American military uniforms. The story line still intrigues me.

Watching a woman being barbecued slowly over several interspersed scenes was sickening.

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The Defeated Season 1 Review – An engaging post-war thriller

Episode Guide

Episode 1 Episode 2 Episode 3 Episode 4 Episode 5 Episode 6 Episode 7 Episode 8

The Defeated’s story takes place in post-war Berlin. Germany is a mess, split into four different sectors occupied by the Russians, French, British and the US, respectively. With each country vying to strengthen their hold, at the center of this is Brooklyn-based policeman Max McLaughlin. He’s tasked with getting the police force of Berlin back up to scratch.

Max takes his orders from Tom Franklin, his superior. And as we soon come to find out during the first episode, Max’s real reason for arriving in Germany is to try and find his older brother, Moritz.

In order to pursue that thread, Max shows up at the police station, currently run by professor-turned-police officer Elsie Garten. The death of a girl called Anne Friedrich sparks an investigation while hostilities continue to spill over outside. Namely, this comes in the form of Russian Military Officer Alexander Izosimov.

Whispers of a man known simply as “Angel Maker” simmer in the background, caring for a young woman called Karin who may or may not be involved in some way to all of this.

These seemingly disparate storylines do eventually collide together, with mafia ties, secret letters, espionage and some well-timed shocking twists throughout the 8 episodes. All of this builds up to a somewhat polarizing ending, one with enough in the tank for a second season but a satisfyingly ambiguous conclusion on its own.

There are a couple of contrivances with the main plot but for the most part it’s easy to look past in the wake of such an interesting setting. The smart choice of cutting from the uplifting news reels at the start of the show across to the war-torn buildings of Berlin serves up a wonderful juxtaposition and visually, The Defeated is fantastic.

The cinematography and set design of The Defeated are both excellent, showing off the ruined buildings through establishing shots and with enough variation between the different districts to keep things engaging.

The set design in general is wonderful too and each area – from the bustling streets to the war-torn ruins – feel like they have a rich history behind them. It also helps that this level of detail extends across to the characters too, with shades of grey for almost everyone… except for the Russians.

Despite such great work done to humanize the German soldiers, it’s perhaps a little disappointing to see the Russians portrayed as the big bad villains. It feels like an overdone trope by this point.

There’s also an awful lot going on here. Multiple subplots interweave together and early on it all feels rather busy, with the run-time split between various different subplots – to varying degrees of success.

During the later chapters, when the action picks up and some of the more dramatic elements spill over, things do improve but it could well put some people off – especially given the middle chapters are a little overlong.

While this is a far cry from the excellence of something like Babylon Berlin, the great set design, an interesting story and likable protagonists are enough to make The Defeated worth checking out.

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• Verdict - 7/10 7/10

6 thoughts on “The Defeated Season 1 Review – An engaging post-war thriller”

i am in season 3 and so far like it – i’m not sure how “historically accurate” but i def plan to do my own research . i have not realized the f bomb yet lol. Every movie from historical to fiction sure has a lot of cigs !!!. i find myself having an odd sort of understanding and alliance w Moritz!! Poetic justice appreciation or just thinking of how could anyone have participated in the horrors of those camps .

Actually quite a thrilling movie until the very end. The dying brother. The detective brother what goes. THe alcoholic wife of the crooked State Department official could have had a nicer ending with the Brooklyn detective cop. Also left open was the murderous compliant women taking care of the woman’s two children.

I’ve watched Episode 1 and am into Episode 2. As I’ve watched I’ve compared it to the Lowe book “Savage Continent” – which describes Europe in the first months and years after the end of the War. While, of course, the story is fiction, the kinds of things depicted are comparable to realities described in the book. If one thinks the dark portrayal of Russian occupation troops is overdone, one should probably check into the history of Russian occupation troops. No fiction is perfectly accurate – but this is quite good based on what I’ve seen so far. I saw some reviews complaining about the “F” word. It may be over-used in the show, but it was certainly used in WWII and thereafter. The acronyms “snafu” and “fubar” originate in the allied military – most attribute them to the US military (Marines?). By war’s end they were quite common – and the “f” in each of them is exactly what you’d think it is. The “f” word was regular parlance after the war. I’ve also been to Berlin and seen some of the remains like the Kaiser Wilhelm church. The depiction of Berlin post-war is stunningly well done. I’d rate this better than “Berlin Babylon” (which I loved). Why? For all that it lacks the flash of that production, it gets us in the grit of a world that needs exploring. The exploring in “The Defeated” is good.

Beautifully reconstructed…beautiful camera work. A bit slow. Nina hoss fantastic not so sure about Taylor …..the use of the word f……was not spoken back then. A total mistake. Look at wilder…foreign affair. Same period. A good series. Just saw two episodes.

I”m liking it.

Peace of trash. Totally Unreliable lack of basic research. So inaccurate that I do not where to start.

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The defeated, common sense media reviewers.

Slow-burn WWII-set drama has violence, language.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Teamwork, courage, and perseverance are what it ta

Police superintendent Eliza exhibits courage under

There are no people of color in the first episode

Violence, including gun violence and an execution

A woman pretends to be a prostitute to catch rapis

Swear words including "s--t," "damn," "bloody," f-

A scene with cigarettes (which were used as "payme

Parents need to know that The Defeated is a period mystery-action-drama that follows a New York police detective on assignment in Germany after WWII who hopes to find his brother. The series features many scenes with violence, including descriptions of sexual violence and scenes with brutalized bodies, and…

Positive Messages

Teamwork , courage, and perseverance are what it takes to try to restore order and balance to a broken society.

Positive Role Models

Police superintendent Eliza exhibits courage under fire -- literally and figuratively. She wants to help her war-torn country, Germany, get back on its feet. The volunteers who enlist to serve under her as police officers are also brave, hoping to bring civility and peace back to their land.

Diverse Representations

There are no people of color in the first episode of the series, and it seems to remain that way for the remainder of the series as well. This could be ahistorical, since there were many people of color who were also persecuted in Nazi Germany along with the Jewish population. However, Eliza does represent a refreshing change when it comes to who gets to be shown as a police superintendent. Eliza manages both men and women, and serves as a rare example of a female character in power in a period drama.

Did we miss something on diversity? Suggest an update.

Violence & Scariness

Violence, including gun violence and an execution at gunpoint, a brutalized family, and other forms of graphic imagery. Descriptions of rape and murder. The series itself is set after the end of WWII, as Germany is rebuilding after experiencing violence. Max gets a rock thrown at the back of his head by kids who rob him. Images of Nazi symbols, such as the swastika.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

A woman pretends to be a prostitute to catch rapists. A survivor describes how her rapist told her was he was "f--king himself clean" and that "even German whores should be paid." Sexual plays on words and overtones, such as "my cat is stuck" and suggestions of having sex.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Swear words including "s--t," "damn," "bloody," f--king," "f--k," "whores," "hell," "f--ker." Ableist terms like "stupid."

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

A scene with cigarettes (which were used as "payment" after a rape), a mention of working in a beer house, a scene with people drinking alcohol.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that The Defeated is a period mystery-action-drama that follows a New York police detective on assignment in Germany after WWII who hopes to find his brother. The series features many scenes with violence, including descriptions of sexual violence and scenes with brutalized bodies, and scenes with swear words.

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Community Reviews

• Parents say (1)

Based on 1 parent review

Important history.... except for the gore.

What's the story.

THE DEFEATED is a simmering mystery within a police drama set amid the ruins of Germany after WWII. The series follows Max McLaughlin ( Taylor Kitsch ), a New York police detective who takes an assignment to help re-establish a German police unit. While on assignment, McLaughlin tries to find what happened to his older brother, leading to gruesome clues.

Is It Any Good?

This show is a dark, slow-burn series that would be fantastic for viewers who love anything dealing with WWII. The Defeated focuses on a time period in Germany that is glossed over in American history classes -- when Germany was recovering from the wreckage and embarrassment of the war. While the Nazis were defeated, Germany's average citizenry -- people who were left behind who didn't support the Nazis -- were left to clean up mess and face harm from American, Russian, and German troops alike. It's fascinating to consider what it might have been like for Germany's people to pick up the pieces after this dark time in German history.

Kitsch often doesn't get the credit he deserves in Hollywood for his commitment to his roles, and seeing how The Defeated hasn't been renewed yet, it would seem that trend sadly continues. However, the actor is wholly devoted to his role as Max and centers the series with his nods to the classic hard-boiled detective archetype. Max's co-lead at the police department, superintendent Eliza (Nina Hoss), is caring, warm, and exhibits courageous leadership thanks to Hoss' portrayal. Overall, The Defeated seems like a small cult classic in the making for those who love the history and culture of post-WWII Europe.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about the series' focus on WWII. How does the war inform the series?

How do Max and Eliza help re-establish a police department in war-torn Germany?

How are courage, perseverance, and teamwork represented within the police department?

How does violence add or detract from the series' storyline?

• Premiere date : October 30, 2020
• Cast : Taylor Kitsch , Michael C. Hall , Nina Hoss , Tuppence Middleton
• Network : Netflix
• Genre : Drama
• Topics : History
• Character Strengths : Courage , Perseverance , Teamwork
• TV rating : TV-MA
• Last updated : February 17, 2023

Did we miss something on diversity?

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The Post-War Drama ‘The Defeated’ Would Like to Be Your New Netflix Obsession

Taylor kitsch is back onscreen with a chaotic-looking detective series set in post-world war ii berlin..

The Defeated , originally titled  Shadowplay,  arrived on Netflix (NFLX) on Thursday, August 19, with little fanfare. These days, if you aren’t a live-action adaptation of a beloved animated series, an A-list fronted blockbuster movie, or a new season of an existing hit, you may not get much of a marketing push from Netflix. The streamer releases more than 350 originals per year, after all. But The Defeated  has put together an eye-catching cast of underrated talents and coupled it with a unique concept that is worthy of a perusal.

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Netflix’s official synopsis reads: “Max McLaughlin is an American cop who arrives in Berlin in the summer of 1946 to help create a police force in the chaotic aftermath of the war.”

Taylor Kitsch , he of  Friday Night Lights  fame and  True Detective  Season 2 infamy, plays protagonist Max McLaughlin. Max is attempting to institute new reforms and improvements in Berlin’s police force, but must deal with the traumatic aftermath of war and internal opposition. Michel C. Hall ( Dexter ) plays Tom Franklin, a fellow officer helping to set up the new police force. Hall’s role is small, likely as he was busy filming the  Dexter  revival.  Logan Marshall-Green ( Upgrade ) plays Moritz McLaughlin, Max’s brother, who can be both foil and ally.

Nina Hoss ( Homeland ) is cast as Elise Garten , a former linguistics teacher who joins the police force and must contend with gender politics from small-minded colleagues. She’s joined by Tuppence Middleton ( Mank ), who plays Claire Franklin, Tom’s daughter.

Is it a bit jarring to see Max, an NYPD detective from Brooklyn, flaunt about post-WWII Berlin to organize a makeshift police force? Yes. But there’s a grittiness there as he assumes command of untrained civilians armed with sticks and pipes who are attempting to curtail the chaos of Berlin. Not every streaming drama needs to be a blockbuster superhero series or set in Middle Earth to wring out a drop of drama.

• SEE ALSO : Will Keen On Playing Vladimir Putin On Broadway in ‘Patriots’

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Is Netflix’s The Defeated Based on a True Story?

Conceived by Swedish filmmaker Måns Mårlind and Björn Stein (‘ Midnight Sun ’), ‘The Defeated’ (alternative title: ‘Shadowplay’) is an English-language period thriller series of historical fascination and political repercussions. Set in the aftermath of the fall of Berlin at the end of WWII, the story follows Brooklyn-based cop Max McLaughlin who embarks upon a journey to war-torn Germany to cover the ends of an international crisis. Hitler is dead, the city is in tatters, but the tyrant’s ghost is still present to mobilize the surviving members of the Nazis.

At this juncture, McLaughlin must gather a force to delve deeper into the ruins of autocracy to unearth devastating revelations. Taylor Kitsch (‘ True Detective ’) acts in the central role, while an A-lister cast ensemble including Mala Emde and Michael C. Hall (‘ Dexter ’), and Logan Marshall-Green assists him in the journey. Historical pieces often contain at least a few anachronisms, and you may want to know whether the story is rooted in reality. If that is the case, allow us to divulge to you what we know.

Is The Defeated A True Story?

‘The Defeated’ is partially based on a true story. Although the scope of the series is fictional, it definitely takes inspiration from real-life events and characters in history. The brooding story is set in the lawless and gritty dystopia of Berlin after the fall of the Third Reich. It follows policeman Max McLaughlin as he tracks down a local post-war gang-leader in Berlin named Warner “Engelmacher” Gladow (Sebastian Koch gives a stellar performance in the role). The story of the series was conceived by Swedish filmmaker Måns Mårlind, who also took up the responsibility of directing the series with his long-time collaborator friend Björn Stein.

And while writing the screenplay, the Swedish filmmaker seemingly took inspiration from the pages of a dark chapter in world history. Mårlind initially sought to tell a story about broken cities and people. According to the director, one can draw semblances between Berlin in 1946 and the war in Syria in contemporary times. In crux, the story is about human nature and the human condition at a time when humanity is pushed to the limits. The times of war reveal the true extremes of the human self, in directions both good and bad. That is what initially gave the co-director the idea for the story and the screenplay.

In creating the skeleton, he was seemingly inspired by the popular children’s illustrated verse-tale ‘Max and Moritz: A Story of Seven Boyish Pranks.’ The story revolves around two American prankster boys and their seven misadventures in Germany. There have been visual adaptations of the story in graphic novels, danced burlesques, and even a live-action musical adaptation. Mårlind knew the story from his father and revisited the tale when he went to the restaurant in Berlin named after Max and Moritz. He wanted to use the material while spinning something menacing out of it. In glimpses of innovation, the city is covered in dust, and characters often break the fourth wall by confiding in the camera.

The villainous mafia boss of the story is seemingly based on the real-life organized crime leader Werner Gladow, who reportedly founded Berlin’s largest criminal organization in 1948. 17-year-old Gladow had the dream to become the Al Capone of Germany. He read books after books and watched movies on his favorite role model to prepare himself for the daunting role. A war veteran, Gladow took to the streets in the aftermath of the war, and he was still a small-time crook at that time. Following the devastating war, Gladow rose to prominence by controlling the tobacco business. The economy of Germany was dwindling following the earth-shattering war, and tobacco took on the role of a background currency of exchange.

We have previously seen various depictions of WWII in cinema, from ‘ Schindler’s List ’ to ‘ Dunkirk .’ The Cold War is also quite a popular theme for filmmakers as backdrops for sinister spy thrillers. But the immediate aftermath of the war is not a time in history many visual works focus on since the plight and loss of people in the aftermath of a World War do not quite make for a Disney adventure. However, light perhaps shines the brightest through ruins, and the glimpses of goodness shown in the series are heart-wrenching.

Cinematographically, the series blends a tinge of Scandi Noir, but the director was more inclined towards war-torn Syria for the look and feel. His extensive research reinstated the belief, as he found out that Berlin in 1946 was scorching hot rather than a gloomy blue cold. Considering all the aspects, the director paid minute attention to details to minimize anachronistic goofs. But the story finally becomes grounded in reality through its relentless pursuit of goodness in the ruins of a civilization.

Read More:  Where Is The Defeated Filmed?

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The Defeated (2020)

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• amazing opening credits that set the perfect post war film noir vibe
• insane set design, very rich, dense and real. It really felt like huge city that was recently destroyed. I can only think of the eye for detail and money that went into this. Also the use of real explosions and real buildings really amazed me multiple times
• Showing the horror and horrible things people did during and after the war without holding back. There is some serious f'up things that happen in this series but I think it's only fair to show these cruelties in a post war series. If this was a netflix series I'm sure it would've been way softer and not so real.
• Excellent acting. Loved all the actors, German and American. Also loved that they spoke German a lot. All the storylines of each character is really gripping. With the right ise of flashbacks at perfect timings.
• Very well written. The story almost felt like a theatre play in a good way. Small additions to the story like the testimony scenes of the characters with the white light where they talk about something very personal were a beautiful addition and made the story that much denser and more believable

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The Defeated

It is 1946 and nypd detective max mclaughlin has been sent to post war berlin to help establish a police force in the defeated. he is also looking for his missing brother and trying to track down the angel maker in this gripping thriller drama..

Also known as Shadowplay , The Defeated is a reasonably hard-hitting drama available on Netflix. Starring Taylor Kitsch, Michael C. Hall, Logan Marshall Green and Nina Hoss, the show is set in 1946 post war Berlin.

Max McLaughlin (Taylor Kitsch), an American cop from Brooklyn, New York has been sent to Berlin to help establish a relatively new police station. Staffed mostly by untrained civilians and German women, not only does McLaughlin have to hit the ground running solving crime, but he also has an ulterior motive for being there. His brother Moritz (Logan Marshall Green) was an enlisted soldier who has yet to return home and Max wants to find him.

The city is in chaos, crime is rampant, and the big case facing the inexperienced new police force is that of the Angel Maker. An unknown assailant, the Angel Maker helps women in need, particularly for abortions. However, there is a price to be paid and the women who don't pay it – largely by going into prostitution – are soon murdered.

Every lead that Max and Detective Elsie Garten (Nina Hoss) manage to get results in another dead end. The Angel Maker is always two steps ahead because, in the chaotic aftermath of war, information is a commodity and he has plenty of ways of getting it.

McLaughlin directly reports to Tom Franklin (Michael C Hall) at the American Consulate and soon finds himself more of a babysitter to his wife Claire Franklin (Tuppence Middleton) rather than doing his job as a police officer. So between being at Franklin's beck and call, trying to find his brother and tracking down the Angel Maker, Max McLaughlin has a lot going on.

To ramp up the drama even more, it soon becomes clear that somebody is killing ex nazis who have gone into hiding and over the course of the eight episodes of The Defeated we discover who that is, adding another layer of intrigue in the show. Though I should point out that it is pretty graphic. Grim and graphic.

There really is a lot to unpack in The Defeated . Despite the fact that Berlin has been split into four quarters – the French, British, Russians and Americans, there are no good guys. They all want a piece of the city and the future of Germany and will do whatever they want to get it.

It's about power and betrayal, politics, crime and love and honestly, is one of the better, more complex shows streaming on Netflix. The cast is brilliant, the interwoven storylines are excellent and even the fact that characters of the same nationality speak in that language to each other is pretty forward-thinking.

The Defeated Season 1 is a winner so let's see if they can continue the high production levels and story in season 2.

Will There Be A Season 2 Of The Defeated?

The good news for fans is that yes, there will be a second season of The Defeated . Originally it was decided that the story will be told over 16 episodes, split over two parts.

Filming for season 2 should have started in 2020 but faced delays. However, production was in full swing back in January 2021 so we should see the new season very soon.

Where was The Defeated Filmed?

The Defeated was filmed entirely in the Czech Republic. For maximum authenticity, the series avoided film studios, shooting entirely on location.

The crew used numerous sites across the country, including Karlovy Vary, Doksy, Ploskovice, Lenesice, Usti nad Labem, Mlada Boleslav, Kladno, Slapy, and Prague.

Who Are The Cast Of The Defeated?

Taylor Kitsch plays the lead Max McLaughlin, an American cop sent to Berlin, in the immediate aftermath of world war 2, to help create a police force. Fans of Kitsch will already know him from the hugely successful Friday Night Lights , True Detective and 21 Bridges .

Michael C Hall plays Tom Franklin an American Ambassador to Germany. While he's integral to one of the storylines, his role isn't as prominent as some others. None the less he adds a certain weight to the show and turns in a great performance.

Who knew that Logan Marshall Green could be so utterly compelling? Playing Moritz McLaughlin, he's clearly a complicated if a slightly unhinged character that really brings the thriller element to this drama series. If you can't get enough of him check out Prometheus , How It Ends and season 2 of Big Sky .

Nina Hoss plays Detective Garten who heads the small police force in Berlin. Her husband is still missing from the war and while she does a good job, she must rely on Max a lot to help solve the biggest crime they are all facing. A terrific actor she can also be seen in the drama series Criminal: Germany , also available to stream on Netflix.

Tuppence Middleton plays Claire, wife of the American Ambassador. An excellent role, she oozes disdain for Berlin and the post war world she must now live in. To escape the drudgery she more or less becomes a high functioning alcoholic who develops feelings for Max.

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• Great collection of Kids series and movies.

• Visually Very impressive
• Multiple Storylines
• Very Balanced
• Highly Engaging
• That Accent From Taylor Kitsch!
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• Some Aspects Are Very Graphic

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Daniel November 23, 2022, 4:36 pm

Taylor Kitsch still a bad actor in that caricatural story. A lot of anachronistic situations. Disappointing.

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Why Max McLaughlin From The Defeated Looks So Familiar

There's no shortage of mystery at the heart of Netflix's new algorithm-friendly series "The Defeated," which blends historical drama with edge-of-your-seat murder investigation.

Originally known as "Shadowplay" in Germany, where it premiered last year, "The Defeated" follows New York cop Max McLaughlin as he moves to Berlin in 1946 and teams up with the inexperienced Elsie Garten (Nina Hoss) to help rebuild the American sector of the city's police force in the aftermath of World War II. The lawlessness and opportunity for criminals call to mind the similarly divided post-war Vienna of director Carol Reed and author Graham Greene's "The Third Man," where the racket in question involved Orson Welles' presumed-dead Harry Lime selling diluted penicillin to doctors and hospitals on the black market. Max and Elsie, on the other hand, are hunting a serial killer, as well as Max's brother Moritz (Logan Marshall-Green), who is taking post-war justice into his own hands by killing former Nazi party members.

But it doesn't take a great detective to figure out where you might have seen Max before. Actor Taylor Kitsch has done films and TV shows big and small, but some of those roles really stand out from the pack. 

Taylor Kitsch was one of the big breakouts on Friday Night Lights

There's a good chance this first item might be the one that jogs your memory about Kitsch, who played a key role on NBC's much-loved but little-watched classic about a small-town football team (okay, two small-town football teams) in West Texas and the teens and adults whose lives are intertwined with them. On a series that served as a launchpad for loads of young actors , accelerating the careers of Michael B. Jordan, Jesse Plemons, Jurnee Smollett, and Adrianne Palicki, among others, Kitsch was arguably its biggest breakout star (other than perhaps Connie Britton).

Kitsch, a former hockey player, played Tim Riggins, the hard-running, hard-drinking fullback of the Dillon Panthers. Riggins was, in many ways, the heart of the show, the place where good intentions –– both his and other people's –– meet the complicated mess of real-world desire and upbringing. (For instance, sneaking around with your best friend's girlfriend after he's paralyzed in a freak football accident.) 

Kitsch admitted that "Friday Night Lights" was a great early gig for him because of his comfort in improvising — something the cast did a lot of on that show — and a natural affinity for the character that made it easy to go to the places the scripts required Riggins to go. "If I had nothing going on in the brain, I could just shut down," he told The Off Camera Show in a 2018 interview, "And it would be Riggins." This isn't to say there wasn't some learning curve. "I didn't even know where Texas was," he joked, referring to the time when he got the call that he had landed the part.

Taylor Kitsch went to Mars as John Carter

"John Carter" wasn't Kitsch's first film role. He had small parts in "John Tucker Must Die," "Snakes on a Plane," and "The Covenant" in 2006, the same year "Friday Night Lights" premiered. In 2009, he played Gambit in "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," but if that's the project you remember him from, then that's unfortunate because we're pretty sure Hugh Jackman, Ryan Reynolds, and everyone else who appeared in it would rather you just forget that it ever happened.

But "John Carter" was meant to be the film that launched him into a new stratosphere of stardom. It was his first lead role, top-lining one of the most expensive movies Hollywood had ever made. "John Carter" was the first live-action effort from Andrew Stanton, the director of "Finding Nemo" and "WALL-E," based on the classic early sci-fi efforts of Edgar Rice Burroughs. But whether due to a disappointing critical reaction or a confusing marketing campaign, the film's box office returns disappointed, and its planned sequels were shelved.

But Kitsch has consistently said that he doesn't regret his work on the film at all. In 2019, he told The Hollywood Reporter that he was seeing an uptick in interest in the film, or at least in people approaching him on the street about it after it had landed on streaming. "I guess people who watch it now for the first time can take a lot more away from it than people did at first," Kitsch said. "It's always flattering, and I learned a ton on that movie. I honestly don't see it as a failure."

Taylor Kitsch got sunk on Battleship

"John Carter" was only the first of Kitsch's big-budget blockbusters in 2012. That summer, he re-teamed with "Friday Night Lights" creator Peter Berg for the director's military science-fiction board game-inspired blockbuster "Battleship."

"Battleship" sees Kitsch's Lieutenant Alex Hopper and crew do battle with a fleet of alien spaceships in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Hawaii. Alex is undisciplined and on the verge of a court-martial, but ends up taking command after aliens devastate the American fleet and formulating a plan to fight back and sink their mothership.

"Battleship" was largely panned by critics, but its bigger issues were at the box office , where it had the misfortune of opening just two weeks after the all-conquering box office titan "The Avengers." The film made just $65 million at the U.S. box office, and while it did better overseas, it still proved to be a money loser. The one-two punch of "John Carter" and "Battleship" wrecked Kitsch's career as a blockbuster leading man for the time being.

Taylor Kitsch was on the case in Season 2 of True Detective

Despite the above failures, Kitsch soon found an alternative path as a character actor and co-lead in still-prestigious projects that didn't come with the expectations of a $200 million budget. In 2015, he starred alongside Colin Farrell and Rachel McAdams in the second season of the HBO crime anthology "True Detective," playing California Highway Patrol officer Paul Woodrugh.

Woodrugh is undergoing a personal crisis, haunted by his actions in combat and confusion over his sexuality. He's riding his motorcycle without headlights at night when he discovers the body of Vinci city manager Ben Caspere (Bo McCann) on the beach with his eyes burned out, setting the central mystery in motion.

Woodrugh works with detectives Ray Velcoro (Farrell) and Ani Bezzerides (McAdams) to uncover the complex plot of embezzlement and fraud that led to Caspere's murder, but winds up shot and killed by crooked cop Lieutenant Burris (James Frain) in the show's penultimate episode, an outcome Kitsch told Variety was sad but appropriate. "I think it's true we tried to martyr that character. He never got to come out of the closet," he said. "Just the life he led, he was always in the shadows of his own self. I think that was also a beautiful part to play as well."

Taylor Kitsch played a cult leader on Waco

In 2018, Kitsch went back to Texas to take on the real-life role of cult leader David Koresh in the Paramount Network miniseries "Waco."

The series tells the story of Koresh and his Branch Davidians, who were in a 51-day standoff with the FBI and ATF in 1993 that ended in the deaths of 76 cult members in the compound. As Koresh, Kitsch had to find the balance between charm and megalomania. He played someone who was able to recruit such a large number of followers (and convince them to give him the amount of control that they did over their lives), but also willing to hold out against the agencies seeking his arrest for that length of time. 

Some critics thought the series worked too hard to make the cult leader a sympathetic figure, but the reviews largely praised the acting, particularly Kitsch's performance, with New York Magazine calling him "quietly charismatic." The series' writing fared less favorably in their estimation, with the show failing to weave together its multiple storylines into a satisfying whole.

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Why the defeated isn't getting a season 2.

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25 Biggest Netflix TV Shows Of All Time

Power book iv: force season 3 - confirmation & everything we know about the final season, strange new worlds can save a classic star trek character after 58 years.

• "The Defeated" season 2 will not be happening despite its popularity on Netflix.
• The show was intended to have a limited number of episodes, with a total of 16 split into two parts.
• The final eight episodes are currently in production and will wrap up minor storylines while providing closure for fans.

The first season of The Defeated premiered on Netflix in 2021 and found an audience, but unfortunately for those viewers, while more episodes are expected, The Defeated season 2 is not happening. The show was originally released in 2020 under the name Shadowplay after being produced by the German-based company Tandem Productions. The Defeated stars Taylor Kitsch as Max McLaughlin, an NYPD detective traveling to Berlin in 1946. As he looks for his brother Moritz (Logan Marshall-Green), Max helps start a new police department in the city.

The cast also features Dexter star Michael C. Hall as Tom Franklin, Tuppence Middleton as Claire Franklin, Nina Hoss as German police officer Elsie Garten, and Sebastian Koch as Dr. Hermann Gladow. The Defeated received positive reviews from critics and audiences when it was first released, and the show being added to Netflix in 2021 led to an increase in its popularity. Since The Defeated debuted on Netflix, there are questions about what is next for the show and when new seasons might arrive. But while the show is not yet finished, it's already known that The Defeated will not be continuing with season 2.

Netflix shows continue to break viewing records with the biggest series surpassing the 1 billion hours viewed mark.

The Defeated Was Only Supposed To Have 16 Episodes

It was always meant to be short.

Over the years, TV shows have been releasing fewer episodes and taking longer between seasons. From the time The Defeated was initially created, the show was always intended to have a limited number of episodes. In 2019, it was reported that The Defeated 's run was supposed to be 16 episodes split into two parts (via Deadline ). The first eight episodes were filmed in 2019 and released in 2020. The cast of The Defeated was supposed to film the second set of episodes in 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic delayed filming.

In January 2021, Logan Marshall-Green shared a behind-the-scenes photo on Instagram during the filming of The Defeated , signaling production for the final eight episodes of the show had started. However, there have not been any updates on when filming commenced or when the last eight episodes might be released. There has also not been any news about whether the series is canceled. Regardless, producers always intended for The Defeated to be a miniseries split into two parts, so any future episodes will be part of the originally conceived plan instead of The Defeated season 2.

What Could Happen When The Defeated Returns

There are minor stories to wrap up.

The eighth episode of The Defeated , titled "Homecoming," ends on an optimistic note. Most of the major storylines are wrapped up, while minor ones are left open to explore. Max and Moritz finally confront one another and come to terms with what happened the night their father died. Max shoots Moritz but does not kill him, and Moritz is later seen trying to make his way to Italy. Meanwhile, Elsie is reunited with her husband (Benjamin Sadler).

Outside the overarching crime story, the biggest questions left in The Defeated center around the characters' interpersonal relationships . What will happen to Elsie and Max now that her husband is back home? Does Max have closure about his relationship with his brother? With Moritz trying to escape to Italy, it's likely that he and Max will cross paths once again but will be even more at odds with each other. Because The Defeated was written to have 16 episodes, the show should provide the closure fans need while still delivering the captivating drama of the first chapter.

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‘the big bend’ review: an alluring and intimate drama steeped in edge-of-the-world peril.

Writer-director Brett Wagner’s feature zeroes in on two young families whose getaway to a remote corner of Texas veers into rough terrain.

By Sheri Linden

Sheri Linden

Senior Copy Editor/Film Critic

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Jodie foster prefers the "technical sides" of filmmaking: "never fell in love with the acting part", woody harrelson on why he hasn't owned a cell phone in three years, the big bend.

They’re on their way to visit friends who have renovated an adobe on 20 acres of cactus and scrub. The expanse of the Lone Star state that unwinds before them (a region that figures significantly in the final stretches of the Lily Gladstone indie The Unknown Country ) suggests a permeable border between the alluring and the precarious, a collision of dreamscape and the everyday that’s a defining quality of Wagner’s film.

Long before a visit to the national park turns disastrous, the four actors are superb at conveying the connections and rifts among their characters, and the ways this reunion will not be a simple vacation. The groaning water heater that Mac intends to repair adds an ominous bass note to the sense of looming calamity.

Friends since college, Mac and Cory are kept at arm’s length by Cory’s heavy secret. In that backyard tub and, later, enjoying a mud bath by the river, the two women are more open with each other, although Georgia does most of the unloading. Melanie, who appears to be in the early months of pregnancy, responds to her friend’s inquiring gaze with a denial that leaves Georgia unconvinced but not about to push it.

Mac and Georgia’s sons (played by brothers Gavin Mathews and Grae Mathews) are about the same ages as the visiting girls, and the kids quickly establish a rapport. But the younger girl, Fiona (Delilah Wagner), has a tendency to wander off — onto the moonlit porch to peer into the outspread desert, or, later, into the welcoming sphere of exceptionally amenable wild horses. With a creative purposefulness that artists in nearby Marfa would admire, she constructs a kind of Rube Goldberg water sculpture. And when she discovers a mud-encrusted toad, she alone is certain that it isn’t dead, making its resuscitation her project.

What drives the movie isn’t this action contrivance, though it’s nicely played by Masciangelo and the young Wagner and reveals the drama’s underlying optimism (embodied, too, in the yearning Americana of the score by Alejandro Rose-Garcia and Julian Cassia). The beating heart of The Big Bend is something more amorphous, the emotional pressures that each of the couples are facing, and how their time together in this rugged terrain pushes them to the surface.

The arresting landscape is alive in the elegant widescreen camerawork by cinematographer Paul Atkins (who has worked on a number of nature documentaries as well as serving as second unit DP on The Revenant and To the Wonder ), which captures not just the rocky outcrops and wind-strewn detritus but the overwhelming mood of isolation in a place where streetlights and sidewalks are nonexistent and Wi-Fi signals are iffy.

If there’s a comic edge, late in the proceedings, to the declaration by older boy Connor (Grae Mathews) that “the grown-ups are thinking,” the sarcasm is earned. On the same night that the two dads make one of the worst mistakes a parent can make, the two moms have been getting wasted on tequila. Snapping to attention to deal with a waking nightmare, everyone must do their best not to fall apart.

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'A Lot to Be Excited About': Galactus Actor Praises The Fantastic Four Script

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Actor Ralph Ineson will be playing a major role in The Fantastic Four , the upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe film. He's playing Galactus, the antagonist, and he's opened up about his thoughts about taking on the role.

The Harry Potter alum commented on his casting during a new interview with The Movie Dweeb . While he could confirm that he is playing Galactus , as has been reported, the actor could not share anything else specific about the plot of his character. He was able to comment on how excited he is to be a part of the project, and shared how he came to appreciate the screenplay even more after having his son educated him on Marvel lore.

The First 10 Marvel Villains to Defeat The Fantastic Four (in Chronological Order)

Some of the Fantastic Four's earliest villains, like Mole Man and Doctor Doom, were also some of the First Family's first foes to ever defeat them.

"I think I'm just excited to be part of this absolutely insane huge world ," Ineson said. "It's Galactus. I can't say much, but it's Galactus. There's a lot to be excited about."

"I loved it when I got the part, and read the script. So I was like, 'That's cool as f***.'"

Ineson added, "It's great, and I'm not someone who knows the whole lore of Marvel .... [My son has been] teaching me a lot. I loved it when I got the part, and read the script. So I was like, 'That's cool as f***.' And now , the more I've understood about the universe, and the way it all fits together, I'm like, 'Yeah, that's really cool as f***.' "

Paul Walter Hauser Prepares for The Fantastic Four Role With Pro Wrestling Appearance

Ahead of the filming of The Fantastic Four, Paul Walter Hauser is stepping into the ring for a free-to-watch event from MLW.

There's a lot of pressure on the film to do well, given how the last time The Fantastic Four was adapted for the big screen didn't turn out very well . For his part, Ineson commented on his potential future as Galactus, and he said he'd be happy to see that happen, as that would indicate that the new version of The Fantastic Four is a big success.

Will The Fantastic Four Be a Hit?

"Yeah, because that would mean that the film's successful," Ineson said. "That's kind of what we're in for. So yeah, that would be an ideal outcome for everybody involved, but obviously especially for me.

The starring cast of the film also includes Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards, aka Mister Fantastic; Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm, aka Invisible Woman; Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm, aka Human Torch; and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm, aka The Thing. Paul Walter Hauser , John Malkovich, and Natasha Lyonne are also starring in mystery roles. Matt Shakman is directing the feature film.

The Fantastic Four is slated to hit movie theaters on July 25, 2025.

Source: The Movie Dweeb

The Fantastic Four

One of Marvel's most iconic families makes it back to the big screen, the Fantastic Four.

'The Boys' Season 4 Just Aired One of the Show's Grossest Scenes Yet

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Editor's note: The below contains spoilers for The Boys Season 4, Episode 4.

The Big Picture

• Sister Sage's self-lobotomy scene in The Boys Season 4 breaks the norm by being gruesome without surprise or excessive blood.
• Sister Sage's frequent self-lobotomies hint at a potential vulnerability for her character, which could be exploited by enemies like The Boys.
• Sage's lobotomy reveals a surprising aspect of her character that could also foreshadow a certain fate for her in Season 4.

It doesn’t matter whether you’ve watched The Boys or not — its reputation for having some of the most audaciously lewd and gory scenes put on screen precedes itself. From heads exploding to the more recent Vought on Ice bloodbath, the series has cracked the code on the formula designed to make its audience squirm in discomfort. As a result, it takes something quite disarming to stand out amid the onslaught – but the latest episode of The Boys Season 4, " Wisdom of the Ages ," has just that in the form of a lobotomy — something viewers themselves might want after watching the scene.

A group of vigilantes set out to take down corrupt superheroes who abuse their superpowers.

Why Does Sister Sage Lobotomize Herself in 'The Boys' Season 4?

Every Supe's power comes with a burden, and for Sister Sage ( Susan Heyward ), it turns out that being the smartest person in the world can become incredibly exhausting. As teased at the tail end of Episode 3 , there is a way for Sage to turn off her brain and relinquish her responsibilities so she can watch Transformers 2 and eat a Bloomin’ Onion — but it’s a little more strenuous than just flicking on the TV.

After Sister Sage summons The Deep ( Chace Crawford ), he confronts her about her mercurial attitude towards him, but she explains what she has to do to unwind and how Compound V affects her anatomy. Sage explains that while most adults' brains grow until they're around 25, her brain is irregular and continues to regenerate , constantly increasing in capacity. This explains how she can speed read, as we saw in Episode 1 when Homelander visited her book-filled apartment. Sage states that if she were stabbed through the heart, she’d die like anyone else, but stab her in the brain, and, “the little fucking bitch grows back.” Of course, The Deep likely wasn’t listening at all because he assumes the orbitoclast tool that Sage uses to lobotomize herself is a sex toy. While the exchange between them starts humorously enough, it quickly takes a more disturbing turn.

Sister Sage's Lobotomy Is an Attack on the Senses in 'The Boys'

The gory scenes in The Boys grab the audience's attention through various methods: surprise, shock, and, more often than not, visually demonstrating how much blood is in the human body. But Sister Sage’s lobotomy scene breaks all those rules. There’s no surprise, like Annika ( Ana Sani ) being lasered to death by Homelander ( Antony Starr ) after he swears on his son’s life, and there isn’t much blood either. We’re told point-blank by Sage what to expect as she breaks it down for The Deep, but it’s still impossible to refrain from cringing as Deep leans in with the orbitoclast, and an extreme close-up shows the tool slowly encroaching on her eye.

If the idea of The Deep performing a lobotomy isn’t already terrifying enough, it gets worse once Sage instructs him to “use the hammer” and scrape her brains out. That’s when the sounds kick in, meaning not even the safety of your eyelids can save you from the horror. As squelches and squishes ensue, perhaps the worst bit is the chisel-like sounds of the rod burrowing itself in Sage's brain as The Deep decimates her frontal lobe . Following what feels like an eternity (a mere three minutes), The Deep extracts the orbitoclast. Despite a small streak of blood from the impromptu operation, Sage is fine, and, in her lobotomized state, she can rationalize going to Pound Town with The Deep as she promised in exchange for the assist.

Is Sister Sage’s Lobotomy Foreshadowing Her Defeat in 'The Boys' Season 4?

Although Sage may be the calmest and most collected character on the show ( besides the equally dangerous supe Victoria Neuman ), the need to escape her brain is a tell that she’s carrying a little more serious of a burden than she’s letting on. It appears Sage lobotomizes herself rather frequently as the “operation” seemed more cathartic and even pleasurable than painful for her. Whether it's an end-of-day ritual or a cheat day once a week, the idea that Homelander’s new right-hand and smartest woman in the world is purposefully dumbing herself down means there are times when she — and by extension, Vought — is vulnerable.

The Boys (and likely most of Vought and The Seven) don’t know that Sage lobotomizes herself to unwind, but, once they find out, it could be a game-changer in their fight against Homelander . We’re still unaware of how long it takes for Sage's frontal lobe to grow back, but what we do know is Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen clocks in at exactly two and a half hours long, meaning Butcher ( Karl Urban ) and company have more than enough time to do some serious damage without Sage intervening. While this presents a potential problem for Sage, perhaps the bigger issue concerns The Deep. How is his octopus lover Ambrosious ( Tilda Swinton ) going to feel when she discovers the real reason he’s been neglecting to clean her tank of all those algae blooms?

The Boys Season 4 premieres new episodes weekly on Prime Video in the U.S.

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‘Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle’ Review: Drama on the Court

This film extends the story told in an anime series about high school volleyball teams.

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By Maya Phillips

For someone unfamiliar with “Haikyu!!,” the anime adaptation of a slice-of-life manga about a high school volleyball team, the premise may seem a bit niche. And yet the series, which continues in the form of the film “Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle,” has always excelled at making its wholesome sports drama accessible to every kind of audience — especially those who may not know anything about volleyball.

The series focuses on Shoyo Hinata, a short teenager who dreams of becoming a volleyball champion like his idol, a small-statured ace called the Little Giant. He enrolls at the Little Giant’s former high school, Karasuno, and joins the volleyball team with his middle school nemesis, Tobio Kageyama. The two boys form a superhuman pair that helps revitalize the team and offers Karasuno the opportunity to return to its former glory.

Directed by Susumu Mitsunaka, “The Dumpster Battle,” which feels like more of an extended episode than a stand-alone film, picks up during Karasuno’s heated competition at the spring nationals. They are set to go against Nekoma, another team with which they’ve been caught for years in a friendly rivalry. The match takes up the entire movie, with flashbacks and series callbacks fully contextualizing the relationships and stakes at work in the game.

As in every match in the series, the Dumpster Battle uses imaginative visual metaphors to depict each team’s offensive and defensive strategies and overall playing philosophies. Karasuno is the crow, with Hinata’s awe-inspiring leaps above the court represented by a crow making an airborne attack. Nekoma is the cat, grounded with solid defense, stalking and manipulating its prey until it can find the right moment to clip the crow’s feathers. And both of these underdog squads want to earn respect and fight their way out of the dumpster.

Leading Nekoma is Kenma Kozume, an apathetic teen with no stamina and little athletic prowess who would rather play video games than volleyball. But Kenma, whom Hinata befriended at a training camp earlier in the series, is also Nekoma’s mastermind, meticulously planning their attacks while his teammates make up for the athleticism he lacks.

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Justin timberlake breaks silence on dwi arrest telling fans during concert, “it’s been tough”, vertical acquires supernatural horror pic ‘the damned’ ahead of tribeca premiere.

By Matt Grobar

Matt Grobar

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EXCLUSIVE : In advance of its world premiere at the Tribeca Festival, scheduled for June 6th, the supernatural horror film The Damned , marking the feature directorial debut of Thordur Palsson ( The Valhalla Murders ), has locked in North American distribution with Vertical . The film will be released later this year.

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 Pic’s cast also includes Joe Cole ( Peaky Blinders ), Turlough Convery ( Killing Eve ), Lewis Gribben ( Somewhere Boy ), Francis McGee ( Kin ), Mícheál Óg Lane ( The Guard ), Rory McCann ( Game of Thrones ) and Siobhan Finneran ( Happy Valley ). Emilie Jouffroy and Kamilla Kristiane Hodol produced for Elation Pictures, alongside John Keville and Conor Barry for Wild Atlantic Pictures, and Tim Headington, Theresa Steele Page and Nate Kamiya for Ley Line Entertainment. The co-producers are Guðmundur Arnar Guðmundsson and Anton Máni Svansson for Join Motion Pictures, and Benoit Roland for Wrong Men.

Ley Line Entertainment financed alongside BCP, with the film also receiving support from Screen Ireland, Wallimage and the U.K. Global Screen Fund. Exec producers are David Darby and Lauren Shelton for Ley Line, John P Gleeson and Oisín O’Neill for BCP, Niamh Fagan for Screen Ireland, and Dave Bishop, George Hamilton and Luane Gauer for Protagonist Pictures.

Protagonist Pictures is handling worldwide sales.

“We are so excited to work with Vertical on the release of our film,” said the filmmakers in a joint statement to Deadline. “Their enthusiasm for the film combined with their track record of successfully connecting bold films with an audience gives us great hope for the future of The Damned in North America.”

Partner Peter Jarowey and Piantedosi negotiated the deal on behalf of Vertical, with Protagonist Pictures and CAA Media Finance repping the production.

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