Suicide Squad

If you want science fiction that respects its own premise, Suicide Squad is available in Australia on Amazon Prime Video and Stan, and in the US on HBO Max Amazon Channel and YouTube TV right now. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. A 6/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Will Smith's performance is the anchor the more ambitious scenes need. Available now on Amazon Prime Video — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Suicide Squad is worth clearing space for. The world-building is meticulous, but it is the characters who carry Suicide Squad through its more ambitious moments. From DC Comics comes the Suicide Squad, an antihero team of incarcerated supervillains who act as deniable assets for the United States government, undertaking high-risk black ops missions in exchange for commuted prison sentences. Will Smith and Jared Leto lead a cast that never lets the concept overwhelm the characters. It hit screens in 2016. What separates Suicide Squad from lesser genre entertainment is a willingness to let the concept cost the characters something. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

Suicide Squad is satisfying on multiple levels — something to watch and something to think about after. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single evening. Watch for Will Smith in particular — the performance elevates the material. Satisfying on multiple levels.