Clown

Right now you can watch Clown in the US on Netflix, and in the UK on STUDIOCANAL PRESENTS Apple TV Channel and Studiocanal Presents Amazon Channel — and it earns its twists rather than manufacturing them. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. With 1,469 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. Watch Andy Powers work — the performance is a masterclass in restraint. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Netflix.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Clown is worth clearing space for. The plotting gives Clown its backbone, but it is the characters you come back for. A loving father finds a clown suit for his son's birthday party, only to realize the suit is part of an evil curse that turns its wearer into a killer. Andy Powers and Laura Allen lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 2014. What distinguishes the best crime dramas from the rest is whether the character work can carry scenes where the mystery takes a breath — Clown passes that test consistently. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

If you cannot walk away from a good mystery, Clown will keep you hooked. It does not lean on comparisons to make its case. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single evening. Andy Powers anchors it, but the writing does the real work. If you are going to commit to one crime drama this month, make it this one.