Things to stream

Dave Chappelle: Sticks and Stones Netflix

After setting the comedy special world on fire last year with his long-awaited return to standup and leaving plenty of controversy in his wake, Chappelle again goes where few other comedians dare. It’s not for the faint-hearted, but as always he throws caution to the wind and provides a scathing and uncomfortable look at everything from the allegations against Michael Jackson to trans people, gun violence and of course the deeply divisive racial politics of present-day US society.

Ellen: The Ellen Pakkies Story Showmax

Director Daryne Joshua’s difficult and moving examination of the life of Ellen Pakkies and her turbulent relationship with her drugaddicted son, based on a true story, is a hard-hitting, necessary and cleverly executed film that raises several important issues about the realities of life in some of SA’s poorest and most marginalised communities.

Carnival Row Amazon Prime Video

Based on the 2005 book by Travis Beacham, this lush fantasy series is set in a Victorian world of fairies, humans, murder and intrigue. Starring Orlando Bloom and Cara Delevingne, it’s a dark magical thriller that mixes Jack the Ripper with Arthur Conan Doyle’s favourite pasttime — exploring the existence of mythical creatures and their relationship to the human world.

Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance

Netflix

When he made his film Dark Crystal in the 1980s, Muppets creator Jim Henson was disappointed by the failure of the box office to take to his dark fantasy creation. However, thanks to home video and word of mouth the film became a cult classic, much celebrated by the time Henson died. Now his family have returned to the world of the original to create a wide-ranging prequel that pays homage to Henson’s imaginative and enduring creative genius.