Kill Bill: Vol. 1

Kill Bill: Vol. 1 is currently streaming in Australia on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, and in the US on Philo and YouTube TV, and its case-by-case structure never gets in the way of the bigger story. It says what it needs to say in one sitting, no filler. An 8/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Uma Thurman leads a cast that carries the story without ever feeling mechanical. Available now on Netflix — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Kill Bill: Vol. 1 is worth clearing space for. At its heart, Kill Bill: Vol. 1 understands what makes crime drama work — character first, plot second. An assassin is shot by her ruthless employer, Bill, and other members of their assassination circle – but she lives to plot her vengeance. The writing gets a boost from Uma Thurman and Lucy Liu, who sell every scene they're in. Kill Bill: Vol. 1 came out in 2003. What makes Kill Bill: Vol. 1 hold up is that the resolution matters less than how the characters get there. It rarely drops the ball, and when it does, it recovers fast.

If you cannot walk away from a good mystery, Kill Bill: Vol. 1 will keep you hooked. It does not lean on comparisons to make its case. A contained runtime means every scene is doing real work. Uma Thurman 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.