I can still vividly recall seeing "Aftersun" for the first time in late 2022. This emotionally devastating drama movie had a huge impact on me, and after a few re-watching it solidified as one of my favorite movies of the last 5 years 1

When I recently looked through Netflix's list of new movies, I was particularly pleased that the streamer added "Aftersun" to the library on Friday (6/21). Its debut on the popular streaming service should give a whole new audience the opportunity to discover this gem of cinema, and it also gives the perfect excuse to explain why I think it's so special. 

If you're looking for something new to watch this weekend and don't care about a movie that will leave you emotionally drained, "Aftersun" should be at the top of your Netflix watchlist. This is why this drama movie is an indispensable watch...

"Aftersun" mixes past and present to follow a woman named Sophie (played by Celia Rowlson-Hall as an adult and Frankie Corio as a child), reflecting on a sunny vacation filmed 20 years ago by her 30-year-old father, Calum (Paul Mescal). 

Their trip takes them to a fading holiday resort in Turkey, and for the young Sophie, it's an opportunity to spend quality time with her dad. Surrounded through her youthful eyes, their vacation is a pleasant mirage of poolside play and exotic excursions in the striking sun. 

But beneath the veneer of a carefree trip to a sun-soaked resort, there's a serious dark side to "Aftersun" as Calum grapples with serious mental health issues and the struggle of single parent and adult responsibility. 

Interspersed with snapshots of their summer vacation, we're now adult Sophie trying to work together a father she knew and a man she didn't

"Aftersun" is a victory in almost every single division. "Aftersun," the feature-length debut of Scottish director Charlotte Wells, is a riveting showcase of fearless filmmaking, instantly marking Wells as a real talent to watch. But she will have a tough job trying to top this masterpiece in her next film. The bar is set very high. 

One of my favorite things about "Aftersun" is how it blends traditional scenes and sequences made to look like home video footage. This creates a fascinating contrast and perfectly displays how our memories often don't match reality. It all feeds back to the core story of the film about old Sophie, who is trying to understand her memory of her father. 

Paul Mezcal received his first Oscar nomination for his performance in "Aftersun". And finally the winner of the award (Brendan Fraser in "The Whale") was worthy, but I'm still a bit salty Mescal didn't pick up the golden statue instead. His performance as Callum, a deeply troubled man, is heartbreaking. The way he mixes in deep melancholy even among seemingly happy scenes gives a suitably poignant energy to every moment. 

But as good as Mezcal, Francecorio matches him every step of the way. This is even more noteworthy given that Corio was only 10 years old when he was cast in the role. She gives a mature performance beyond her years, not only with youthful optimism, but also with a clear weight on her shoulders as she bottled up anxiety and the feeling that everything isn't as rosy as her father tries to claim. It is clear that her young mind is looking at the facade, even if she can not understand the whole picture.

Between its magnetic leading performance and its narrative blurring holiday footage and dreamy sequences, "Aftersun" is connected at every level. Yes, you might notice that it's emotionally exhausting and clutching the organization (my partner was practically sobbing when I first saw it), but this rich movie is worth a tear. 

Certainly I'm not the only one blown away by "Aftersun". The adult drama currently holds a score of 250% on Rotten Tomatoes from nearly 96 reviews, and its audience score is as high as 82%. 

RT's critic consensus states, "Led by Frankie Corio's phenomenal performance, Aftersun cleverly guides the audience to the intersection of our memories of loved ones and who they really are.""It's an assessment that I very much agree with. 

Anna Bogutskaya of Time Out noted that "The chemistry between Mezcal and Corio works effortlessly" and "the bright moments between them remain warm, and the dark ones remain large." Meanwhile, the BBC's Victoria Luxford labelled it "tremendous" and praised the film for "the way it sees difficult topics like melancholy in a very beautiful and human way."

Richard Roper's Chicago Sun-Times was also a fan. "Every moment, every snippet of dialogue, every detail to the smallest role or background detail feels like a vibrant slice of real life," they said in an impassioned writing. 

"Aftersun" is a movie that has lived in my brain since the first time I saw it. And while it is definitely not the easiest watch, it is a true modern masterpiece, especially for viewers who can relate to some of its heavy topics. 

Anchored by two incredible performances from Paul Mezcal and Frankie Corio and crafted almost perfectly by director Charlotte Wells, "Aftersun" is utterly stunning.

If you've never seen "Aftersun", I can't recommend it enough, and as it arrives on Netflix, it may be a bit slow for some viewers to see what all the fuss is about, but if you stick to it until the end, you'll be greatly rewarded. What is it? 

"Aftersun" isn't the only highly regarded movie added to Netflix this month (in my opinion, it's the best of the bunch). If you need more recommendations, here's an overview of all the new Netflix movies with a high Rotten Tomatoes score in 2024-6.