Around the Bend

You don't need another "must-watch drama" list — Around the Bend earns the spot regardless. The runtime earns every minute, with nothing here that feels like padding. 55 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. Christopher Walken's performance alone is worth the time investment. Available now — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Around the Bend is worth clearing space for. Around the Bend takes its time building the world its characters inhabit, and the patience pays off. A tale of four generations of men, all of whom have had their offspring at a young age: a great-grandfather, a grandfather, a father in his twenties and a son who is about 7 years old. When the oldest member passes away, the trio heads out on the road together in the Southwest to search out an old family secret that connects to their past. Christopher Walken and David Eigenberg lead a cast doing genuinely serious work here. It was released in 2004. The writing trusts the audience to sit with ambiguity rather than wrapping everything up in a tidy conclusion — it is the approach that separates good drama from great. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

Around the Bend is what you recommend to people who say they do not really watch much. It has built its own audience without needing a direct comparison. The complete film is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Christopher Walken is the centre of it, and it is one of their strongest performances on record. The patience it asks of you early on is paid back with interest.

Around the Bend was released in 2004, directed by Jordan Roberts. The full 85-minute film is available to watch now. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just search the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.