Querelle

Looking for a crime drama that earns its twists, available in the US on Amazon Prime Video and HBO Max Amazon Channel, and in the UK on Amazon Prime Video and BFI Player? Querelle is it. It says what it needs to say in one sitting, no filler. 209 viewers have already rated it on TMDB — the kind of consensus that does not happen by accident. Brad Davis anchors it, but the writing does the real work. Available now on Amazon Prime Video — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, Querelle earns its spot. The plotting gives Querelle its backbone, but it is the characters you come back for. French sailor Querelle arrives in Brest and starts frequenting a strange whorehouse. He discovers that his brother Robert is the lover of the lady owner, Lysiane. Here, you can play dice with Nono, Lysiane's husband: if you win, you are allowed to make love with Lysiane; if you lose, you have to make love with Nono... Credit to Brad Davis and Franco Nero for grounding it — this is a cast that earns the twists. It was released in 1982. Querelle is at its best in the quiet scenes between the plot beats, where the character work actually happens. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

Crime and mystery fans will find exactly what they are after in Querelle. It does not lean on comparisons to make its case. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single evening. Brad Davis's performance is the kind that shows up on best-of lists years later. If you have been looking for something to fill the gap left by a recently finished story, this is a reliable answer.

Querelle was released in 1982, directed by Rainer Werner Fassbinder. The full 109-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.