My tolerance for bleak is almost zero these days. And not just these serial killer dramas (or the documentaries/true crime) but even stuff like Black Mirror that I loved, I have no interest in. Time is a precious commodity and I no longer want to waste it on bleakness.
I’m drawn more and more towards documentaries, which I already loved, but now I’m in love with a documentary filmmaker,
Human (and non human) stories, told well, that are life affirming, please 
You seen Tinker Taylor soldier spy with Oldman ?
And bridge of Spies? Hanks
Absolutely same here. I had to turn the Netflix Jeffery Dahmer thing off after about five minutes, and I still cant bring myself to watch Adolescence. I used to watch all kinds of bleak grimness up until the last few years.
Yep, it’s weird with being such a big fan of horror since I was a wee kid.
A couple of recent recommendations are Fire in Babylon and Songs of Earth (Storyville).
The Windies cricket doc? Love that.
I’m not sure if it’s just getting older or having children that’s done it, but I’m like this with anything too violent these days too, I loved Top Boy a few years ago for example, but really struggled to watch the last series.
Yeah I managed 5 minutes of Peaky Blinders and the same with the new House of Guinness
Just gratuitous (but also terrible acting and dialogue so that helps)
House of Guinness, god, what a shit show. Looked like it was made with a three figure CGI budget and 15 extras for the crowd scenes.
Bridge Of Spies is massively underrated imo. Rylance is brilliant in it too.
Did you see the Irish take on it?!
On a spy tip I enjoyed this from a couple of years back. Damian Lewis and Guy Pearce are both top, top actors playing British stiff upper lip spies in a twisty tale of 1960s espionage. Pour a stiff Whiskey and absorb the atmosphere
I lasted twenty minutes of the Ed Gein. Couldn’t get past the voice.
Enjoyed Black Rabbit in the end. Not without its flaws but a good watch I thought.
Likewise Blue Lights 3.
Just started Film Club. First episode in and I’m cautiously optimistic.
Yeah, so good. And I don’t like cricket (I love it).
I remember being buzzing that The Road was being made into a film. I liked it but it hit me hard. My two boys were similar age to the boy and the end fucking killed me emotionally for weeks. So being a dad did have an effect.
I just decided about 3 years ago to spend my time on things that are meaningful and bring me joy/fulfilment/add value or some human spirit/soul to life. And not just what I watch - music, work, relationships, family… everything.
I changed career from an electrician to working in social and mental health care. It can be bleak as you can get dealing with people in their worst moments in life - suicide attempts, end of life, vulnerable teenagers. And on about a third of the salary. I wouldn’t change it for the world. Wonderful people and even making a tiny positive difference to someones day is a gift. It’s a big fuck you to a lot of the internet/online culture of nihilism and cynicism and the promotion of the worst in human behaviour.
Tried to watch Civil War and gave up very quick. Not a judgement on the quality of the film/acting or whatever, just doesn’t interest me at all. Would rather read watch a documentary about some old Italian Truffle Hunters, or smoke a spliff and listen to Alice Coltrane, or walk to the beach with the dog, spend too many hours trying to make the perfect snare, Anything 
The incongruous soundtrack as well- same technique as per Peaky Blinders.
If you’re going to set a show in the past the soundtrack generally speaking needs to be relevant to the period imo
i like this. sames.
i think what i said in the “slow TV” thread applies here - i’m so tired of tv and movies trying to make me feel something - scared, angry, thrilled, envious, whatever. i like watching low-stakes things in which people do things well - cook, build, repair, design, create. i don’t wanna know about evil. only wanna know about love.
Watch Songs of Earth if you haven’t already. It’s on iPlayer here.
A beautiful film.
That looks good, ta for heads up.