How characters communicate—or fail to—is a driving force in this week’s new streaming movies. From the unspoken love in a sci-fi romance to the brutal language of violence in an action thriller, these five films explore the many ways we connect and clash with one another.
In All of You (Apple TV+, Sept 26), the central conflict revolves around a lack of communication. Imogen Poots and Jenna Coleman play two best friends whose unspoken love for each other creates a powerful emotional tension. The film promises to be a nuanced exploration of what happens when the most important things are left unsaid.
At the opposite end of the spectrum is Ballerina (Starz, Sept 25). In the John Wick universe, the primary form of communication is violence. Actions speak louder than words, and every fight is a dialogue of intent, skill, and desperation. Ana de Armas’s character expresses her grief and rage through brutal, decisive action, not speeches.
The Surfer (Hulu, Sept 25) depicts a complete breakdown of communication. A simple verbal disagreement between Nicolas Cage’s character and a group of locals escalates into a psychological war because neither side is willing or able to find common ground. The film is a chilling look at how quickly civility can dissolve into primal conflict.
Karate Kid: Legends (Netflix, Sept 27) champions a different kind of non-verbal communication: the discipline of martial arts. For the student Li, karate becomes a way to express himself and find his confidence when words fail. Mentorship, too, is shown to be about more than just talking; it’s about demonstrating principles through action.
Finally, in M3GAN 2.0 (Peacock), the communication is between creator and creation. Gemma must find a way to control and direct M3GAN, an AI who communicates through a mix of logic, mimicry, and deadly force. It’s a complex dialogue between human and machine with the fate of the world at stake.