What Movie Should I Watch Tonight? ‘Strange Way of Life’ on Netflix

Dying to watch something good tonight but don’t have a lot of time? We have the perfect recommendation. Pedro Almodóvar‘s 2023 short film Strange Way of Life — starring Ethan Hawke and Pedro Pascal as former lovers — has newly been added to the Netflix catalog.

The 31-minute movie premiered to high acclaim during last year’s movie festival circuit and currently has a 76% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes with 95 reviews.

After screening at popular venues like the Cannes Film Festival and the Toronto International Film Festival, the movie was released theatrically in the United States in October 2023.

Told as a romantic drama and a Western, Strange Way of Life follows Silva (Pascal) as he visits Sheriff Jake (Hawke) in the aftermath of the murder of the lawman’s brother’s wife. The two are former lovers and Silva has an ulterior motive.

The movie is filled with sensual camerawork and suspenseful moments as viewers connect the dots of Silva and Jake’s relationship. By the end, the short has transformed into a poignant mediation on love, family, and sacrifice.

As a short, the movie leaves much more to be desired. The ending feels rushed and the story is underexplored as it leaves “slice-of-life” territory and shifts into something bigger. Perhaps the short will get the big Hollywood treatment that Shiva Baby and Marcel the Shell with Shoes On received, both being shorts that were later adapted into feature-length films. In all, if a short leaves that much to be desired, it must’ve been something special to begin with.

Wondering why we are recommending Strange Way of Life tonight? Out of all nights? Get the movie queued up and we’ll tell you.

Why Watch Strange Way of Life Tonight?

The obvious answer is: because you finally can! Strange Way of Life had a limited theatrical release and was recently added to Netflix — making it accessible to the general population. So, if you’ve been hearing of this short film (or not) and haven’t had a chance to see it, there’s never been a better time than now.

Strange Way of Life is romantic and moving and it would be a shame not to celebrate its streaming premiere. Whether you’re putting the movie on for a quick watch after your children go to bed or making it into an at-home cinematic event with popcorn, wine, and friends, it’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser.

It’s also worth mentioning that the movie’s leads, Pascal and Hawke, are major stars with promising filmographies, and director Almodóvar is a queer icon. A dream trio!

Seriously, what are you waiting for? The movie is a short and sweet romantic drama with horses, old-fashioned guns, and a raw exploration of longing and intimacy. Get streaming!

Synopsis: To protect his son from a murder accusation, a cowboy has an intimate encounter with an ex-lover — now a sheriff — in hopes of influencing the lawman.

Cast: Ethan Hawke, Pedro Pascal

Release Date: October 6, 2023

Where to Stream: Netflix