Netflix has quietly dropped a crime drama that deserves far more attention than it’s getting, and if you’re someone who lives for the slow burn of a well-crafted detective story, you need to stop what you’re doing and add MR MERCEDES to your queue immediately. Originally airing on the now-defunct Audience Network back in 2017, this adaptation of Stephen King’s Bill Hodges trilogy has finally found its way to streaming, bringing with it a 91 percent Rotten Tomatoes score and the kind of dark, methodical tension that makes truly great detective fiction unforgettable.
At its core, MR MERCEDES follows retired detective Bill Hodges, a man who should be enjoying his golden years but instead finds himself psychologically terrorized by the one case he couldn’t close. A serial killer begins sending him letters and emails, taunting him about a horrific crime in which a stolen Mercedes was deliberately driven into a crowd of innocent people. What starts as psychological warfare soon escalates into something far more dangerous, forcing Hodges out of retirement and into a crusade that blurs the line between justice and obsession. The Netflix description puts it simply but effectively: a retired detective haunted by a deadly unsolved crime hunting for the merciless killer behind an intentional act of mass violence.
What elevates MR MERCEDES beyond standard crime procedural fare is its cast, a collection of actors who bring genuine weight to material that could easily veer into melodrama in lesser hands. Brendan Gleeson, fresh off his acclaimed performance in THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN, anchors the series as Hodges, delivering the kind of lived-in, weary performance that makes you believe every mistake and regret etched into his character’s past. Opposite him, Harry Treadaway from PENNY DREADFUL takes on the role of Brady Hartsfield, the killer whose cat-and-mouse game with Hodges forms the show’s dark heart. Holland Taylor, known for her work in TWO AND A HALF MEN, appears as Ida Silver, while Justine Lupe, who would later gain recognition in SUCCESSION, plays Holly Gibney, a character King fans will recognize as one of his most enduring creations.
Stephen King adaptations are notoriously hit or miss, with Hollywood’s track record ranging from the sublime to the unwatchable, but MR MERCEDES belongs firmly in the former category. The series understands what makes King’s crime writing work, the way he burrows into the psychology of both hunter and hunted, the unglamorous reality of detective work, and the toll that violence takes on everyone it touches. This isn’t a show about flashy forensics or last-minute twists, though it has its share of shocking moments. Instead, it’s about obsession, guilt, and the impossible question of whether you can ever really leave your work behind when your work involves staring into the darkest corners of human nature.
For anyone who’s been craving something with more substance than the typical Netflix true crime docuseries or formulaic procedural, MR MERCEDES offers something richer and more unsettling. It’s a show that takes its time, that lets tension build in the spaces between conversations, that trusts its audience to stay invested even when the pace slows to a crawl. The fact that it comes from King’s source material is almost a bonus, what matters is that it’s simply excellent television that somehow slipped under the radar during its original run and now deserves a second chance to find the audience it should have had all along.
Andrew Scott is about to steal another movie and we`re absolutely here for it! 🔍
The trailer for WAKE UP DEAD MAN: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY has dropped, and our beloved Irish actor is joining Daniel Craig`s Benoit Blanc for what looks like the most deliciously twisted instalment yet.
Scott plays bestselling author Lee Ross, one of several suspects in a seemingly impossible murder that rocks a small town`s religious community.
More at irishfilmtv.com.
From GLADIATOR II`s arena to the quiet forests of Maine collecting folk songs on wax cylinders—Paul Mescal`s latest role in THE HISTORY OF SOUND might be his most vulnerable yet.
Now on @amazonprime, the film follows Lionel, a shy musician from a Kentucky farm in the 1910s, who meets David White (Josh O`Connor) at the New England Conservatory.
More at irishfilmtv.com.
For more than two decades, Domhnall Gleeson has carved out one of the most diverse and compelling careers in contemporary cinema.
Watch Domhnall break down his career in his latest @esquire interview!
Link in bio ❤️
Adapted from Louise Kennedy`s bestselling novel, TRESPASSES stars Gillian Anderson as executive producer and cast member.
Kennedy praises the "ear-perfect, sexy script" and "gorgeously melancholic aesthetic vision" that brings her Women`s Prize-shortlisted novel to life.
Premieres Sunday 9pm on Channel 4, more at irishfilmtv.com.
THE IRIS AFFAIR is a high-stakes chase thriller that turns Italy into a deadly playground where genius meets danger.
Created by LUTHER mastermind Neil Cross, this Sky Original delivers cinematic tension where trust is fatal and every move could be your last. Two minds. One secret. No escape.
More at irishfilmtv.com.
** NEW TRAILER ALERT **
Roadside Attractions has unveiled the first trailer for H IS FOR HAWK, and it`s breathtaking. Brendan Gleeson appears as the father whose absence shapes everything, bringing his signature depth to a role that haunts the entire film.
Watch now at irishfilmtv.com.
🎬 HAMNET has officially overtaken Paul Thomas Anderson`s ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER as the Oscar frontrunner!
Chloé Zhao`s Shakespeare-inspired drama now leads with a 96.8% chance of nomination, fueled by its Telluride buzz and Toronto People`s Choice win.
More at irishfilmtv.com.
The DERRY GIRLS creator is back with HOW TO GET TO HEAVEN FROM BELFAST — and it`s the show Lisa McGee says she`s always wanted to make. 🍀
Three childhood friends. One mysterious death. A wake that goes sideways. Eight episodes of chaos, secrets, and arguments about eyelash extensions.
More at irishfilmtv.com.
Pierce Brosnan trades his 007 tuxedo for raw, devastating drama in CURTAIN CALL—arriving on digital November 10.
Starring opposite Jessica Lange, Brosnan continues his brilliant pivot from action hero to serious character actor, exploring the heartbreaking reality of dementia in the theatre world.
Watch trailer on irishfilmtv.com.
Colin Farrell`s latest is dividing audiences, but everyone agrees on one thing: his performance is absolutely magnetic ✨
The Oscar-nominated Irish actor stars as Lord Doyle, a spiraling gambler in neon-soaked Macao searching for redemption.
Don`t miss Farrell at his destructive best, now on @netflix!
Daniel Day-Lewis is BACK and we`re not ready for how devastating ANEMONE is 😭
After 7 years away from the screen, Day-Lewis returns in this quiet Irish masterpiece directed by his son Ronan. It`s not a flashy comeback—it`s something far more powerful. A meditation on isolation, guilt, and the human connections we can`t outrun, no matter how far we go.
ANEMONE is now on Prime!
Barry Keoghan goes blonde and badass for CRIME 101! 🎬
The Irish star trades blows with Chris Hemsworth and Mark Ruffalo in this high-stakes crime thriller, playing Orman, a thief whose methods are as disturbing as they are effective. With Detective Lou Lubesnick (Ruffalo) closing in and rival criminal Davis (Hemsworth) in his way, this heist is about to get messy.
More at irishfilmtv.com.
When Colin Farrell had to choose between a guaranteed paycheck on a hit TV show and a one-in-a-million shot at Hollywood, everyone told him he was insane. His friends said don`t do it. His family couldn`t understand it. He did it anyway.
Now in BALLAD OF A SMALL PLAYER (in select UK/Ireland cinemas Oct 17, Netflix Oct 29), he plays a man who understands risk better than anyone. Because Farrell`s been there. He bet everything on himself when he had nothing, and that decision changed everything.
Sometimes the craziest move is the only one worth making. 🎬
More at irishfilmtv.com.
Andrew Scott`s hot streak continues 🔥
From the Hot Priest in FLEABAG to his heartbreaking turn in ALL OF US STRANGERS, he`s now bringing that signature intensity to BLUE MOON as composer Richard Rodgers.
The film hits theaters Friday, more at irishfilmtv.com.
Michael Fassbender is trading the big screen for Netflix royalty!
The Irish-German powerhouse is set to play Joe Kennedy Sr. in KENNEDY, an 8-episode drama diving deep into America`s most mythologized family. No release date yet, but with Fassbender leading, this one`s already on our watchlist. 👑
More at irishfilmtv.com.
