The Rake

The Rake, in the US on Amazon Prime Video and YouTube TV, takes its characters as seriously as it takes its plot. The runtime earns every minute, with nothing here that feels like padding. 34 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. Watch it for Rachel Melvin — one of the stronger performances out there right now. 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, The Rake is worth clearing space for. Character-driven storytelling at its most effective — The Rake earns every emotional beat it goes for. Ben and Ashley come together 20 years after the murder of their parents to determine the cause of their parents' death. Ashley is troubled by the idea that the thing that took her parents' lives may not be finished with her family. Rachel Melvin and Shenae Grimes-Beech lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It hit screens in 2018. 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.

For anyone looking for storytelling that takes its characters seriously, The Rake delivers. 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. Rachel Melvin carries the material with a performance that rewards close attention. Worth starting sooner rather than later.

The Rake was released in 2018, directed by Tony Wash. The full 78-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.