Groundhog Day
dir. Harold Ramis (1993)
Perfectly executed, its scenario grounded in the real-world town of Punxsutawney and its annual Groundhog Day festival, the story riffing through loops that, while sometimes as dark as they are funny, reveal a surprising measure of philosophical depth. High re-watch value (appropriately).
Russian Doll, Season 1
(Netflix, 2019)
Groundhog Day meets Sliding Doors, only darker. Russian Doll is jarringly self-indulgent in the early episodes but comes into its own once the glorification of New York eases off (allowing for a proper exploration of concept). Natasha Lyonne rocks the lead role.
The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle
by Stuart Turton (Raven, 2018); audiobook read by Jot Davies (Bolinda, 2018)
The combination of body-swapping protagonist and Groundhog Day recurrence makes for an intricate, shifting tangle of a murder mystery. The plot is skilfully woven overall yet clumsy in places, and becomes overlong as Turton works towards a purpose beyond his original premise.
Eureka, Season 3
created by Andrew Cosby & Jaime Paglia (Sci-Fi Channel, 2008-2009)
Eureka’s format affords plenty of scope for reworking science fiction tropes — such as ‘I Do Over’, a higher stakes Groundhog Day — with the daily peril kept bubbling along by a cosy regular cast and an idiosyncratic procession of guest stars. Alan Ruck!