Streaming columnist NICK OVERALL revels in a murder mystery that’s doesn’t have a jaded, weary eyed investigator at its centre, but four unassuming retirees with a burning interest in true crime.

I love a gritty murder mystery as much as the next person, but sometimes all the alcoholic, divorced detectives and gloomy blue lighting can get a little tiring.

Therefore, it’s refreshing to see a new crime flick, The Thursday Murder Club, on Netflix, which rounds up an unconventional group of characters to crack a case.

It’s not a jaded, weary eyed investigator at the centre of this murder plot, but four unassuming retirees with a burning interest in true crime.

This peculiar quartet meet every Thursday to discuss famous cold cases and study how they were solved.

Amongst the group is Elizabeth, an ex-spy who hasn’t lost her eye for detail; Ron, a fiery former union leader; Joyce, a retired nurse who knows how to work the room; and Ibrahim, a former psychiatrist fascinated by how the mind ticks.

This curious crime hobby of theirs is usually done for fun, but that changes when an actual murder takes place that’s connected to the retirement home.

Now the club has to put their passion and life experience to the test if they are to solve a real case.

It’s based on an international best selling book by Richard Osman, which came out in 2020. The premise was begging for a Netflix adaptation and the cast playing this motley crew of murder sleuths is stacked with big names. Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley and David Tennant are all in the line up.

It’s part drama but more comedy with some surprisingly emotional twists.

It won’t be for everyone, but the Thursday Murder Club’s biggest strength is undoubtedly lighting up a genre so often full of relentless doom and gloom.

THIS month SBS On Demand has picked up a new thriller series that comes from Mark Williams, a co-creator of Netflix’s hit series Ozark.

Despite a lacklustre ending after four seasons, Ozark stands as one the Netflix’s strongest original series, so any new project from Williams was bound to generate some hype.

Williams’ new series is called Safe Harbor and it follows a talented computer hacker named Tobias (played by Game of Thrones star Alfie Allen) who, together with his ambitious best friend Marco, dreams of breaking into the world of tech billionaires.

An unexpected opportunity comes along when the duo has a run-in with the Irish mafia, which wants Tobias’ skills to hack into the port security system at Rotterdam, allowing them to discreetly move huge drug shipments.

What starts as a way to make some quick money soon spirals out of control as Tobias and Marco get pulled deeper into the mob’s world.

To those who have watched Ozark this all may sound somewhat familiar. A genius with a specialised talent that becomes a tool for organised crime. Even if Safe Harbor is retreading some of the same ground as Ozark, the hook is so irresistible it doesn’t matter anyway. The first eight episodes are now streaming.

AS realism in war films goes, it doesn’t get much more authentic than what is on display in Warfare.

The new film streaming on Amazon Prime Video tells the story of a real life US Navy Seal operation that went horribly wrong in Iraq in 2006.

Seal Team Alpha One were forced into an intense and deadly firefight when Al-Qaeda soldiers engaged them inside a civilian building in the city of Ramadi.

Ray Mendoza, one of the Navy Seals involved, has co-written and co-directed this new film alongside Alex Garland in order to tell the harrowing story in all its details.

The film uses first-hand accounts from those who were on the ground and plays out in real time. The real-life firefight lasted around 90 brutal minutes, the same length as the film. It’s 90 minutes well worth the time.