As the new year begins, entertainment options abound with the return of popular series and a fresh thriller movie. Bakersfield Life recommends 'The Pitt' on HBO Max, 'School Spirits' on Paramount+, and Sam Raimi's 'Send Help' in theaters. These selections cater to fans of medical dramas, supernatural tales, and survival horror.
The second season of 'The Pitt' premieres on HBO Max on January 8. This medical procedural drama, created by R. Scott Gemmill and executive produced by John Wells and Noah Wyle, draws from the team's experience on the NBC series 'ER'. Wyle stars as Dr. Michael 'Robby' Robinavitch, who leads the emergency room at the Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center, nicknamed 'the Pitt'. The first season explored Robby's grief over his mentor's death during the COVID pandemic while mentoring four new staff members. The new episodes, set over the Fourth of July weekend, depict escalating chaos with graphic depictions of injuries, including burns. Unlike traditional case-of-the-week formats, each installment covers one hour of a shift, allowing cases to unfold across the season. The show began airing on TNT in December to reach cable audiences without HBO Max access.
' School Spirits' returns for its third season on Paramount+ on January 28. The supernatural series centers on high school student Maddie, played by Peyton List, who is trapped in a limbo with other deceased teens from Split River High across different eras. Maddie seeks answers about the school's history of student deaths and her own predicament, maintaining limited interactions with the living world through her friend Simon, portrayed by Kristian Ventura. Season three reverses their situations, with Maddie returning to life and Simon becoming trapped. The cast includes Milo Manheim as Wally, a football player who died during a game, and Kiara Pichardo as Nicole, a close friend of Maddie and Simon. Jennifer Tilly joins as Dr. Deborah Hunter-Price, appealing to fans of 'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills'.
January often sees studios release films with uncertain box-office prospects, but 'Send Help' stands out as a survival horror thriller directed by Sam Raimi. Known for the 'Evil Dead' franchise, the 'Spider-Man' trilogy from 2002-2007, and films like 'The Gift' (2000) and 'Drag Me to Hell' (2009), Raimi reunites with Rachel McAdams from 'Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness'. Dylan O'Brien, recognized from MTV's 'Teen Wolf' and the 'Maze Runner' trilogy, co-stars. The plot follows an executive (O'Brien) whose plane crashes, stranding him and his colleague (McAdams) on a desert island. She takes charge in survival efforts—hunting, foraging, and scouting—while he resists, leading to a tense battle of wills amid violence and gore. The film arrives in theaters on January 30.
