Sneha Jaiswal's Blog, page 39

North of North Review: Anna Lambe Brings Sunshine to Icy Arctic

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram) Click here for audio review

I’m an Indian who has spent most of her life in the south of India, in a city where the average temperature hovers around 30 degrees Celsius on most days. So if you ask me to imagine life in the Arctic at minus 30 degrees, I’d picture freezing, bleak, depressing days of gaand-faad thand (translation: cold that would tear my poor coastal bum apart). But Netflix’s North of North introduces a surprisingly bright, colorful, and vibrant side of the Arctic: all seen through the eyes of protagonist Siaja.

“You’re like a cross between Snow White and Pocahontas… Snowcahontas!”

A character aptly coos to protagonist Siaja, played by the gorgeous Anna Lambe. She does look like a princess, even if she doesn’t feel like it. Siaja is a 26-year-old Inuk woman who married too soon and is now attempting to forge her own independent identity in her tiny Arctic village, Ice Cove. Although the brutal cold of the region is fierce, it’s nothing compared to the icy treatment she receives from the tightly knit community when she tries to leave her overbearing, self-centered husband Ting (Kelly William), a hotshot pilot and the town’s golden boy. Ting is Ken to Siaja’s Barbie, except Siaja doesn’t want to play ‘house’ anymore.

The eight-part Season 1 (oh, there better be a Season 2!) of North of North begins with a broke Siaja moving into her mother Neevee’s (Maika Harper) house with her adorable daughter, Bun (Keira Cooper). A single mother herself and a small business owner, Neevee isn’t thrilled to have her privacy infringed upon, but you can’t really let your daughter and granddaughter be homeless, can you? Thus begins Siaja’s mission, which includes finding a full-time job, helping the community, and maybe finding new love on the side.

The cinematography is stunning, capturing life in the Arctic in vivid shades — from seal-hunting expeditions to quirky traditional gaming competitions and the possibilities of shamans existing in families. Viewers unfamiliar with the Inuk way of life will learn a thing or two. An upbeat background score, often repeating an indie track that sounds like someone sexily breathing against someone’s neck (especially during tense or exciting scenes), really helps set the mood in many moments.

Maika Harper’s Neevee is laidback, free-spirited, but feral when needed, making her one of the most interesting characters in the show. The love-hate relationship between Neevee and Siaja would be entertainingly relatable to many viewers. And what makes it more complicated is the fact that Neevee (a recovering alcoholic) clearly has her own closet full of skeletons. So ‘North of North’ also focuses on Siaja accidentally finding out her biological dad’s identity and then attempting to build a relationship with him. Anna Lambe is undoubtedly the standout star of the show; her cheery “never give up” attitude, even when it borders on annoying optimism, is incredibly endearing.

Jay Ryan plays Alistair, a senior researcher for a company looking to build a research facility in Ice Cove, while Braeden Clarke plays his assistant, Kuuk. These two newcomers breathe life into the town’s almost-dead dating scene. Siaja is hilariously encouraged by her two young co-workers to lose her “second virginity” (their words, not mine) and dive into the town’s limited dating pool. So there’s plenty of comedic moments through the episodes, whilst it also deals with more serious themes like dysfunctional familial relationships.

A major subplot of North of North focuses on Siaja’s efforts to win over her new boss, Helen (Mary Lynn Rajskub), to secure a permanent position as her assistant. Helen, the town manager, is comically skeptical of Siaja’s capabilities, but the two eventually build an understanding, their dynamic subtly representing how non-natives (Helen isn’t Inuk) and natives can coexist and support each other. The show also delicately explores why some natives harbor resentment toward ‘outsiders.’

Honestly, while the show is formulaic in parts, its focus on Inuk culture and community sets it apart from typical “finding yourself” stories. But it’s not just the cultural backdrop, the spirited cast makes Siaja’s journey to establishing an identity beyond being the town hottie’s wife a truly binge-worthy experience.

Rating: 4 on 5 stars. Watch ‘North of North’ on Netflix.

Read Next: ‘Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer’ Docu-Series Review

Flowers of Evil Volume 8 Review: Old Ghosts Resurface

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

While these chapters didn’t feature any shocking scenes, you know, the kind meant to make the reader uncomfortable or go, “WTF did I just read?”, this still turns out to be one of the strongest volumes of Flowers of Evil by Shuzo Oshimi. No more underwear stealing, shack burning, knife wielding, and crazy criminal stuff for now.

Volume 7 ended with Kasuga’s new friend, Tokiwa, announcing that her boyfriend was coming to visit. So, Volume 8 opens with Tokiwa asking Kasuga to remain in her room while she goes out to meet her boyfriend, Koji, outside her house. Eventually, though, she introduces the two, leading to a very awkward encounter. Both irritated and intrigued by Kasuga’s sudden closeness to his girlfriend, Koji pressures him into attending a party with them, which only amplifies the protagonist’s discomfort.

Beyond exploring how Kasuga’s growing friendship with Tokiwa impacts both their lives, this volume also reintroduces a familiar face to stir up trouble in Kasuga’s ‘new’ life. If nothing else, this character acts as a trigger for the eruption of buried thoughts and feelings in the now subdued Kasuga. I don’t want to reveal too much to keep the review free from major spoilers and disrupted your reading experience, so let’s keep things cryptic.

While the earlier volumes of Flowers of Evil might have felt like they could be classified as horror manga, thanks to the creepy, bizarre events unfolding between the characters, instead, Volume 8 is more grounded, yet brimming with emotional turbulence. For instance, at the party, Kasuga is low-key bullied for being “different,” especially when he awkwardly admits, “I don’t really get that stuff,” in response to a question about his dating life. Or how Tokiwa quietly reveals that none of her friends know about her reading habit, since no one else shares her interest. These high school dynamics will strike a chord with many readers.

Tightly paced and well-drawn, Flowers of Evil Volume 8 is an engaging read that ends on a cliffhanger, one that hints at a significant shift in Kasuga and Tokiwa’s relationship.

Rating: 4 on 5. ‘Flowers of Evil’ is also on Kindle Unlimited.

Read Next: ‘The Girl Who Owned a City’ Graphic Novel Review

Also Read: Shubeik Lubeik Review: Fantastic Blend of Magical Realism (audio version below)

‘Close To You’ Series Review: Love in Loops and Bicycles

Follow us on Twitter | Instagram

Soft gazes, stolen kisses, time loops, and unexpected reunions… the 2025 Korean mini-series Close To You by GND Studio delivers four bite-sized love stories, all available to watch on YouTube.

Spanning eight episodes in total, each story unfolds across two episodes, each under 14 minutes, great for web viewers seeking quick breaks between work or chores. Also, of-course, if you’re looking for a simple, fluffy, cozy romantic show.

The first, titled Riding a Bicycle, features one of the cutest pairs in the series, offering the quintessential ‘friends to lovers’ tale. Actors Yoon-woo and Jae-hyeop play friends Do-wan and Jae-yul, who’ve just finished high-school and are looking forward to University life. The two friends spend the night and next morning together, cycling along the Han River in a tender, slow-burn setup. The actors are incredibly cute together, and it’s pretty obvious they are smitten with each other and want to be more than friends.

In fact, three out of the four stories revolve around the ‘friends to lovers’ trope. The second, Friendship Bracelet, is an offbeat tale about Si-hwan (Kim Jung-seok), who uses a time-travel bracelet to rewind a meeting with his friend Joo-chan (Park Jae-ha) he secretly loves. Each time he rewinds time, he attempts to confess his feelings in a “better” way. The time-loop adds a touch of comedy, though the chemistry between the leads is a bit lukewarm.

The third short, The Last Diary, follows Ha-min (Kim Hyeong-seo), a young man vacationing in his countryside home – only to discover he must share the space with a stranger: a charming guest who turns out to be his mother’s friend. It’s the only story where the protagonists are strangers at first, and the only one with a surprisingly poignant ending.

The final entry, Sunset Boulevard, is a workplace romance where two former university friends reunite. Kwak Geon-Hee plays Taeyoon, who joins a new work-place, only to realize his beloved Uni senior Hyunwoo (Ji Yoon-Jae) is also his colleague. The two used to be in the same film club, but when Hyunwoo pretends to not remember Taeyoon, the former reminds him of a memory that makes Hyunwoo uncomfortable, changing their dynamic completely.

While GND is a small studio, the budget constraints aren’t visible, as the creators manage to deliver well-shot, soft, and cutesy romances. The setting are limited, but that’s what adds a intimate, cozy layer to the show. Admittedly, all of them feel a bit fleeting, but the chemistry, especially in the first story, is worth watching. Yoon-woo and Jae-hyeop should totally get their own full-fledged rom-com.

Rating: 3.5 on 5. Watch ‘Close to You’ on YouTube.

Read Next: Secret Relationships Review: Three Rivals, Zero Boundaries

Also Read: ‘Gel Boys’ Review: Situationship Hell (Short Audio Review below)

Lost in Starlight: Netflix’s First Korean Animated Film Is a Sci-Fi Romance

Follow us on Twitter | Instagram

“Never forget Jay, somewhere in this universe, there is someone always supporting you”

Kim Tae-Ri voices the protagonist, Nan-young, an astronaut thrilled at the chance to explore space and travel to Mars. Chosen for a Mars probe project, her journey takes a turn when she crosses paths with Jay (voiced by Hong Kyung), a musician. The two bump into each other on the street, and sparks fly instantly. But will Jay ever see Nan-young again, or will he lose her to the stars?

The animation is vibrant and colorful, reminiscent of the palette from Netflix’s 2022 animated film Entergalactic, another romantic tale, though grounded on Earth despite its cosmic name. In contrast, Lost in Starlight offers glimpses of Nan-young’s life beyond the atmosphere. As she floats through space, her heart remains tethered to Jay on Earth.

How their story unfolds, and what the Mars probe project means for Nan-young’s life, seems to be at the heart of the film. Directed by Han Ji-won, the teaser is dreamy, sparkly, and intriguing. Lost in Starlight premieres on Netflix on May 30. Watch the trailer on YouTube, it’s also embedded below.

Alienated #1 Review: Off To A Weird Start

Follow us on Twitter | Instagram

“Today marks the day that extraterrestrial aliens have made contact…”

Issue #1 of the 2025 comic-book series Alienated by Taki Soma, with art by John Broglia, starts off with a shocked family watching a live broadcast where a reporter announces that dead aliens are being found across the globe, while she stands right in front of one of the bodies. A pretty good opening that immediately sets up the basic premise.

The first chapter mainly focuses on how several dead aliens are scattered around the Earth, but one grandfather finds a live one in his closet, barely clinging to life. In true cinematic fashion, the grandpa, named TJ, presses the alien’s chest, giving him CPR and reviving him. Now, he and his grandchildren team up to keep the alien, whom they simply name ‘Alien’ (LOL), safe from the prying, dangerous eyes of the rest of the world.

The first issue is only 25 pages long, and that’s pretty much what happens in this opening chapter. It does end on an interesting cliffhanger, hinting that the alien knows about an impending danger to Earth. However, he’s still learning the human language with TJ and the kids, so he cannot communicate what’s going on. Although the fact that Alien is seemingly the only survivor of what could’ve been a mass escape from their home planet, humans should be worried about what comes next.

The artwork is colorful, bright, and slightly old-school, and the funniest part about Alienated is the alien’s character design, a very cliché human-like form, almost like E.T., with big beady eyes and a shriveled grey body.

Honestly, I’m not sure what to make of this comic-book series just yet. I’ll need to read a couple more issues to form a solid opinion. It’s planned as a six-part series, so let’s wait and watch.

Alienated is also on Kindle Unlimited.

Read Next: ‘The Girl Who Owned a City’ Graphic Novel Review

Also Read: Shubeik Lubeik Review: Fantastic Blend of Magical Realism (audio version below)

Heesu in Class 2 Review: More Like ‘Teens in Class 2’

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

‘Heesu in Class 2’ is the kind of title that makes you want to be invested in the story of the lead character, Heesu, but somehow, a whole lot of other characters keep interrupting our view of Heesu’s world — like the guy who sits behind Heesu and joins a knitting class to impress his crush. It’s a subplot that wasn’t even part of the original webtoon this Korean series has been adapted from. But okay, let’s discuss the plot first.

Directed by Park Kyung Min, the ten-episode series stars Ahn Ji Ho as Lee Heesu, the baby of his family, with three feisty older sisters constantly entangled in romantic drama. What about Heesu? Well, he’s popular at school for giving dating advice to fellow teens but has never been in a relationship himself and is stuck in unrequited love with his childhood best friend Chan Young (Cho Jun Young), a star athlete who constantly changes girlfriends. When handsome neighbor and class topper Kim Seung Won (Lee Sang Jun) starts paying a lot of attention to Heesu, a new romance brews. But can Heesu in Class 2 truly move on from Chan Young?

The series focuses on two major romantic subplots: one is Heesu’s feelings for Chan Young and his growing bond with Seung Won, while the other follows Chan Young falling in love for the first time with a student named Ji Yu (Kim Do Yeon), who turns out to be his favorite YouTube singer, Summer. Ji Yu is introduced a little later but quickly becomes central to both Chan Young’s and the viewer’s heart. Kim Do Yeon adorably emotes Ji Yu’s sunny dual personality, an ‘ice princess’ at school but a warm, goofy friend behind the scenes, Ji Yu shares strong chemistry with Seung Won too. Lee Sang Jun is charming as Seung Won, playing a nerdier, less musical counterpart to Ji Yu.

Heesu in Class 2 tries to balance both couples equally, though at times Chan Young and Ji Yu’s romance seems to dominate, mostly because it moves faster. Meanwhile, Heesu and Seung Won’s love story is a slow burn, capturing their shy struggles with confessing their feelings. Seung Won, though seemingly aloof, is hopelessly in love with Heesu and even invents a fake crush to get closer to him. Their platonic build-up has a few sweet moments but definitely deserved more screen time.

Ahn Ji Ho is adorable as Heesu, a sweet dreamer who loves stargazing and solving other people’s problems, skills honed by growing up with three outspoken sisters. Kim Han Na, Park Kyung Hye, and Jung Ye Nok play the sisters, adding comic relief through their constant bickering and love-life messes. Their chaotic dining table discussions subtly shape Heesu’s view of romance. Honestly, more scenes with the sisters would have been more enjoyable than some of the unnecessary focus on Chan Young’s tennis playing in the show.

The webtoon kept a razor-sharp focus on Heesu, with all other characters revolving around him. The live-action series, however, often pushes him to the periphery. So many major changes from the source material were made that the showrunners could have renamed the series to lower expectations about Heesu’s screen time. They should’ve taken notes from Netflix’s Heartstopper, another comic adaptation that balances multiple relationships without sidelining its leads. In Heesu in Class 2, just when a scene starts to build excitement between Heesu and Seung Won, especially in the last few episodes, the focus abruptly shifts to Chan Young and Ji Yu. The 2024 Korean series ‘Love in the Big City’ is an even better example of how the creators keep a tight focus on the primary protagonist of the show.

Cho Jun Young is very cute as Chan Young, you can see why Heesu is hopelessly smitten, but it’s still absurd how clueless he remains about Heesu’s feelings despite them spending so much time together that you’d think they were twins. In the webtoon, Chan Young is far more perceptive and aware of Heesu’s interests. Similarly, Ji Yu’s character was just a regular girl in the comic, but the show turns her into an aspiring K-pop singer, adding several trope-y angles. Ironically, for a series where music becomes important, Heesu in Class 2‘s background score and songs aren’t very memorable.

All that said, the cinematography is breezy, the cast has good chemistry, but those hoping for a faithful adaptation may leave disappointed. Overall, Heesu in Class 2 is a cutesy drama best suited for viewers looking for a light high-school romance featuring multiple protagonists, but not necessarily a deep dive into Heesu’s story.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars. Watch the series on Viki.

Read Next: Secret Relationships Review: Three Rivals, Zero Boundaries

Also Read: ‘Gel Boys’ Review: Situationship Hell (Short Audio Review below)

Babygirl Review: Nicole Kidman’s Hot CEO Affair Is A Cold Mess

Rating: 2.5 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

Are women in power any different than men?

Written and directed by Halina Rejin, Babygirl follows Romy, a successful woman CEO, and her lurid affair with a young intern, which jeopardizes her family life with her husband and two daughters. We’re already used to seeing men in power chasing younger employees, so except for the gender swap, it’s not entirely a new premise. But with stars like Nicole Kidman and Antonio Banderas headlining it, there’s an added zing to the film.

I was excited to watch this, but here’s what immediately frustrated me about Babygirl – Harris Dickinson, who plays Samuel, the young intern Nicole Kidman’s Romy sleeps with, is a total dick from his very first interaction with Romy. In the first few minutes of the film, the two coincidentally meet right before he is about to start his first day as an intern at Romy’s firm. An unhinged big dog goes berserk on the streets, heading dangerously toward Romy, giving her a near panic attack, but before the dog can bite or scratch her, he is distracted by Samuel, who calms the dog down. It’s not his dog.

“How did you get the dog to calm down?”

Romy asks Samuel a few minutes after he is introduced as one of the new interns by her junior.

“I gave it a cookie.”

“Do you always carry one on you?”

“Why? Do you want one?”

WTF?

Who in their right mind talks to their CEO like that on the first day of their job, especially when you’re completely at the bottom of the pile, just an intern expected to fetch coffees? This is after he already asks her a rude question at the interns’ meeting and is practically shooed away by Romy’s assistant over his insolence.

And Romy doesn’t even say anything. She stutters like an idiot and doesn’t behave like a woman at the top of the ladder at all. You wonder if there’s some backstory – and there really isn’t. Of course, the core part of the story is about how Romy’s sex life with her theater husband Jacob (Antonio Banderas) is completely vanilla and how she craves exciting, deviant stuff in bed, including being humiliated. But unless Samuel somehow already knew about her inner desires, his first interaction with her makes no sense whatsoever, and would, in reality, get him fired on his first day. It’s not even like Samuel is made to look like salivating material on his first day, he is wearing a suit, but he looks like some homeless dude who borrowed someone else’s clothes for the day.

The problem is that Halina Rejin never lays a believable foundation for Romy and Samuel’s affair. Their dominant-submissive dynamic kicks off from their very first scene together, without any buildup, making the story feel flat and emotionally unearned. As a result, Babygirl lacks the tension and curve of highs and lows that could have made their relationship (and the film) truly gripping.

Once the sexual affair between the older CEO and intern is underway, their dynamic does become interesting, with Samuel’s hot-and-cold behavior toward Romy becoming more believable. Babygirl is filled with sexual scenes involving the leads going to seedy hotels and sweaty pubs, acting out their ‘forbidden’ desires. And while Romy gets a huge kick out of sleeping with the young, hot intern, she is also constantly anxious about being found out. A CEO sleeping with an intern is the kind of thing that gets a CEO fired after all.

Romy’s constant shift between pleasure and paranoia is one of the highlights of Babygirl, with Nicole Kidman fantastically expressing these emotions. However, toward the end of the film, Romy is handed ‘woke’ lines that make no sense for her character, who is likely in her late 40s or 50s (the age is never spelled out, but Nicole was 56 when the film came out). The 2002 film Secretary, starring James Spader and Maggie Gyllenhaal, was far grittier in its exploration of a deviant sexual relationship between a boss and an underling.

In the climactic conflict, Romy tries to blame her childhood experiences for her mistakes and even cites how therapy hasn’t helped her. But in a fitting moment, her husband calls her out for being a terrible human being using nonsensical excuses to justify an unforgivable breach of trust.

The ending is a mess but finally gives Romy a true moment of power and a convenient closing chapter. Overall, Babygirl is a film that could’ve been so much more but ultimately ends up just another steamy movie about a person in power starting an affair with a young employee and getting away with it.

Rating: 2.5 on 5 stars. Watch Babygirl on Prime Video.

Read Next: Holland Review: Suburban Secrets Boil Over in Last Act

Also Read: Nadaaniyan Movie Review: Cringe Max (audio version below)

Nawab Review: This Short Film Celebrates Canine Love

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

‘Bhabhi he is such a good dog, aapko abhi tak pyaar kaise nahi hua issey?’ (Translation: How have you not fallen in love with him yet?)

Aparshakti Khurana plays Nikhil, a man who sets out on a mission to find a new home for his beloved pet dog after his wife leaves him, refusing to take the dog along, in the short film Nawab.

Written and directed by Mansi Jain, the ten-minute film opens with Nikhil having a restrained argument with his wife over their collapsing marriage. Then there’s Nawab, a beautiful black Labrador, who now faces the threat of homelessness due to his owners’ separation.

Nikhil first tries to rehome Nawab with his own sister-in-law, highlighting all of his pet’s best qualities – making you wonder how he hasn’t fallen hopelessly in love with the sweet boy himself. In desperation, Nikhil even considers leaving Nawab at a pet shelter. However, the more time he spends trying to escape his responsibilities, the more perspectives he gains about pets and what it truly means to be a pet parent.

Since Nawab is only ten minutes long, the adorable black Lab doesn’t get quite as much screen time as pet lovers might hope. However, the climactic moments are comically entertaining, and overall, this short film delivers a sweet little lesson on canine love.

Rating: 3.5 on 5. Watch ‘Nawab’ on Prime Video.

Read Next: Holland Review: Suburban Secrets Boil Over in Last Act

Also Read: Nadaaniyan Movie Review: Cringe Max (audio version below)

Flowers of Evil Volume 7 Review: New School, New Friends

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

This is what we needed! A total change of scene in Flowers of Evil by Shuzo Oshimi, which follows Kasuga, a young, nerdy boy corrupted by a twisted bully at school. Volume 6 of the manga series ended with an intense cliffhanger, showing Kasuga and Nakamura stepping onto the main stage at the summer festival with a huge knife, intent on committing a drastically violent act to shock the town.

The first chapter in Flowers of Evil Volume 7 reveals the aftermath, with the teens failing in their stunt to stun the town. Kasuga’s parents, who were already at the end of their tether with his unruly antics, act on their warnings and move away. As a result, the bulk of the new volume follows Kasuga settling into a new school and living a rather ordinary life, although he clearly still misses Nakamura. Readers don’t learn her fate, at least not in these chapters.

Kasuga’s personality shift is stark. From being obsessively disruptive to match Nakamura’s disgust with all things “normal,” he reverts to being a quiet introvert. However, he isn’t a total loner and has made new friends. If there’s one unfortunate change in Kasuga, it’s the fact that he gives up reading, his once-beloved hobby, which Nakamura never cared for. But a new character, Tokiwa, a beautiful, popular girl from another class, reignites a storm inside his heart.

At this point, Kasuga and Tokiwa’s relationship isn’t romantic; they simply bond over books. But it’s evident that this strange new friendship between the “hot girl” on campus and the odd new boy is going to stir trouble. Kasuga’s friends are already suspicious, shocked, and unhappy that Tokiwa talks to him, while she won’t even cast a glance at them. Plus, she has an older boyfriend who looks like he could be trouble.

It is Charles Baudelaire’s Flowers of Evil, once Kasuga’s favorite book, that stirs up things in his life again. But where his new school life will lead him remains a mystery. The fresh setting breathes new life into the series, otherwise, as I’ve said before, Shuzo Oshimi probably should have ended it by Volume 4, because things were getting overstretched. With new characters on the scene, there are exciting plot possibilities on the horizon.

The most interesting twist in Volume 7 is the introduction of Tokiwa, who seems to be an even bigger bibliophile than Kasuga. Tokiwa also displays some arrogance and subtle manipulative traits like Nakamura, but her personality isn’t nearly as destructive. She’s friendly on the surface, has regular friends, and goes to karaoke parties – however, what’s really going on in her head is anybody’s guess. I enjoyed this volume a lot more than the last two and am genuinely looking forward to seeing where the story goes next.

Rating: 4 on 5. ‘Flowers of Evil’ is on Kindle Unlimited.

Read Next: ‘The Girl Who Owned a City’ Graphic Novel Review

Also Read: ‘Gel Boys’ Review: Situationship Hell Ft Siam Square (Short Audio Review Below)

Sirens Trailer: Sibling Rescue Mission Meets Cult Chic

Follow us on Twitter | Instagram

“What is this place? And why does everyone look like an easter egg?”

Devon used to be super close to her sister Simone, but things take a dark turn when she discovers her sibling has fallen dangerously under the spell of her new boss, Michaela Kell – a woman who runs a cult-like business on a posh estate. Determined to save Simone, Devon does everything she can to convince her to leave. But breaking free from a magnetic cult leader’s grip? Never easy.

Netflix has unveiled the official trailer for its upcoming thriller series Sirens, starring Julianne Moore as the enigmatic Michaela Kell. Meghann Fahy plays the fiercely determined Devon, who’s hellbent on rescuing her sister Simone, portrayed by Milly Alcock. The trailer opens with the familiar melody of Gotye’s Somebody That I Used to Know, only to reveal it’s actually Doechii’s viral track Anxiety, which cleverly samples the same tune, a sharp and timely music choice, considering the song’s massive popularity on social media right now.

The plot looks refreshingly offbeat, and Julianne Moore nails the role of the charismatic, manipulative “super boss” with ease. Meghann Fahy and Milly Alcock also showcase a fun, love-hate sibling dynamic as Devon and Simone. The platinum-haired Simone, who could’ve walked right off the set of Stepford Wives, is so far gone under Michaela’s influence that she doesn’t even flinch when offered a piece of her boss’s half-chewed gum. Ew. LOL.

So, what exactly is Michaela Kell’s deal? And will Devon save her sister from the creepy boss’ clutches? Thankfully, the trailer doesn’t give much away – leaving viewers to tune in and unravel the mystery themselves.

The series will be streaming from May 22 on Netflix.