One of the most popular watches on Netflix the past two months has been Adolescence. The limited series comes from Stephen Graham and Jack Thorne, with all four episodes directed by Philip Barantini. It’s an emotional rollercoaster that also features incredible, unique production in what feels like a single, sustained shot.
If you binged your way through it and are looking for more, you’re in luck. This isn’t the first time Barantini and Graham have collaborated. And if you’re looking for the perfect fusion of wanting to continue something in the style of Adolescence and you’re also missing the FX series The Bear, there’s an option that’s the perfect fusion—Boiling Point.
The pair combined for Boiling Point in 2021. It’s a tight 92-minute film that follows a chef (Graham) as he’s going through a heck of a night. His personal life is a mess, it’s caused him to miss things at work, and he arrives to a powder keg. There’s an inspection, a special guest with his own agenda, and pressure to turn things around quickly. All of it brings things to a boil for our chef, ending with a climactic moment you won’t soon forget.
Much like Adolescence, it features the feel of a near continuous tracking shot. You follow our lead chef and the rest of the kitchen staff, restaurant staff, and even guests throughout the night in the restaurant. It’s a tense and engaging film. It reminds me, in a lot of ways, of the kind of stories we get from The Bear. From a style standpoint, it’s quite similar to what the pair do in Adolescence.
But if one 90-minute film doesn’t do it for you, you’re in luck. The pair continued Boiling Point—along with the rest of the cast—as a limited series in 2023. The series picks up eight months after the events of the film and showcases the cast in new tough situations. While Graham appears, he’s more of a supporting player in the continuing series.
Instead, much of the run of the series follows Carly (Vinette Robinson), who was the right-hand woman in the film and now is running a kitchen of her own. She, too, is facing myriad problems and pressures. She has personal issues, financial strains, and more as she tries to make this new venture work.
The series features most of the cast from the original film now working with Carly. It feels like a strong continuation, and it’s also available to binge on Netflix.
So, if you’re looking for a new story to capture your attention and you loved the cast and feel of Adolescence, Boiling Point is for you!