Netflix is set to launch into 2024 with a chilling glimpse into a dystopian future with the release of the trailer for “The Kitchen.” The film, co-directed by Kibwe Tavares and Daniel Kaluuya, who also serves as co-writer and co-producer, is scheduled to start streaming on January 19th, 2024.
The storyline unfolds in a near-future London where the wealth gap has been pushed to its limits, leaving only one remaining bastion of social housing—The Kitchen. In this desolate setting, we encounter Izi, portrayed by Kane Robinson (also known as Kano), a lone resident grappling with the necessity of staying, and 12-year-old Benji, played by newcomer Jedaiah Bannerman, on a quest to find family amid the societal collapse.
The film introduces an unlikely duo navigating a system stacked against them, struggling to form a connection amid the ruins of a fractured society. Hope Ikpoku Jnr, Ian Wright, BackRoad Gee, Cristale, Teija Kabs, and Demmy Ladipo round out the cast.
Watch the trailer below
Kaluuya, reflecting on the film, shared, “I feel like every city has a ‘Kitchen,’ and I think because of the history of London and the Blitz, it’s more pronounced. We were bombed, and we survived. There are still traces of that within our being, but the class system dims us, so [with this film], I’m like, ‘Take the light and shine!’”
“The Kitchen” aligns with the dystopian trend of 2024, joining releases like Alex Garland’s “Civil War” and a “Fallout” adaptation on Prime Video. The film premieres on Netflix on January 19, 2024, with select UK cinemas showing it from January 12. The debut has already earned praise for its striking visuals and impactful social commentary.