Buzz
If you're like me, you probably ran through all the good mainstream movies on your streaming platform about a month into the first lockdown. Fortunately, there’s a hidden world of amazing, underappreciated films buried deep within your streaming service—if you take the time to dig. After you’ve wrapped up your binge of FBoy Island, give these gems a try.
Enter the Fat Dragon (2020)
I chose to watch Enter the Fat Dragon thinking it’d be one of those ‘so bad it’s good’ experiences. I mean, how far can a movie go with the concept of 'a guy in a fat suit doing martial arts?' Surprisingly, quite far. Fat Dragon is so good it’s good. The film’s plot moves fast enough that you barely notice how nonsensical it can be, the jokes land (especially the clever jabs at martial arts movie clichés only diehard fans will appreciate), and the fight scenes are as over-the-top and intricate as any Busby Berkeley routine, just with a lot more punches to the face. Bonus: you can watch it for free on Hoopla, thanks to your local library.
Where to watch: Hoopla
The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976)
David Bowie is a legend, but this Nicholas Roeg film is probably on your radar only if you're an art-film aficionado or someone who aims to tick off the whole Criterion Collection. I first attempted to watch it at 15, during a massive Bowie obsession. St. David plays the isolated alien protagonist in The Man Who Fell to Earth. However, my teenage self found it dull and baffling, so I turned it off pretty quickly. I’m pleased to admit I was wrong.
Though it lacks the flashy special effects and fast-paced action typical of sci-fi, through (somewhat) more mature eyes, The Man Who Fell to Earth reveals itself as a captivating and eerie meditation on corruption, alienation, and despair. It’s a throwback to an era of filmmaking when directors took daring chances to create unique, lasting art. While the film doesn’t always hit the mark, it comes close—and what more could you ask from a free streaming option?
Where to watch: Prime Video
Creep (2014)
This low-budget, found-footage horror film revolves around a videographer hired to record the final messages of a terminally ill man (Mark Duplass, delivering one of the most unsettling performances in horror). As the man’s story unravels, it becomes evident that there’s something deeply wrong with him, and it’s not cancer. A masterclass in the potential of just two actors and a cabin in the woods, Creep slowly builds a chilling atmosphere, culminating in a jaw-dropping, horrifying conclusion.
Where to watch: Netflix
Jasper Mall (2020)
This contemplative documentary unfolds without narration or interviews. It simply captures the everyday lives of the workers and shoppers of a fading mall in Alabama, an enormous, almost empty space that was once the vibrant heart of a small Southern town’s commercial and social life. If you're in the mood for a poignant exploration of America's changing landscape and the struggles of ordinary people, Jasper Mall is a must-watch.
Where to watch: Prime Video
Parents (1989)
This criminally overlooked dark comedy blends cannibalism, paranoia, and suburban decay, extracting both horror and humor from the trauma and helplessness of childhood. In Parents, the 1950s ideal of conformity descends into madness, raising unsettling questions that every child secretly wonders: What if my parents don’t really care about my well-being? And what if they’re so depraved, the things they do are beyond even the darkest imagination? With incredible performances from Randy Quaid (who knew he could play such a white-bread psychopath?) and Mary Beth Hurt, this is a hidden gem almost no one has seen.
Where to stream: Prime Video
Chocolate (2009)
If you choose to watch Chocolate (and you absolutely should), try to overlook the film’s disjointed first half-hour. Here’s what you need to know: Zen is a mute teenage girl with a disorder resembling autism, and her childhood consisted of watching Bruce Lee films. When her family is threatened by Yakuza thugs, Zen goes into full-on rage mode, tapping into the superhuman fighting skills she picked up from those old action movies.
Yanin “Jeeja” Vismistananda is the perfect action movie star, and the fight scenes—no CGI, no wires, no gimmicks—are a jaw-dropping display of athleticism and audacity. These kinds of stunts could never happen in the U.S. because insurance companies would never sign off on them. Stick around after the credits for the blooper reel of stunts gone wrong. It’s as painful as it sounds.
Where to watch: Prime Video
Timecrimes (2007)
This film gained some attention when it was released in the mid-2000s, but unless you were into film blogs or a fan of Spanish-language cinema, it likely slipped under your radar. As someone who’s a sucker for time-travel flicks, I can tell you that Timecrimes is a particularly strong example of the genre. Hector is an ordinary guy living in Spain, spending his days fixing up his house with his wife. His life is predictable—until one day he follows a beautiful young woman to a secret time travel lab next door. Soon, Hector is tangled in time itself, facing off against a murderous future version of himself and potentially unraveling the very fabric of reality by creating a dangerous time paradox. Hats off to director Nacho Vigalondo for crafting a mind-bending time-travel movie that somehow still manages to make sense.
Where to watch: Prime Video
Vivarium (2019)
This Irish sci-fi/comedy features Jesse Eisenberg as part of a young married couple looking for a new home. They find themselves in an empty suburban development, surrounded by identical “dream homes,” and quickly realize they’re trapped. And they stay trapped. For years.
With such a bizarre and far-fetched premise, it seems impossible to imagine the story having a satisfying conclusion. Yet, Vivarium manages to pull it off. A mix of sharp social commentary, an eerie atmosphere, and dark humor, Vivarium exceeds all expectations and is much more captivating than it has any right to be.
Where to watch: Prime Video
Phase IV (1974)
Looking at the poster and premise of Phase IV, I expected a classic 1970s nature-gone-wild film, with mutated ants attacking and people frantically running around covered in insects. But Phase IV is much more than that. It’s far more in line with Kubrick’s precise, chilling 2001 than with cheesy creature features like Empire of the Ants or The Swarm. The film’s tale of scientists battling a sentient anthill probes deep into the nature of thought, the clash between collectivism and individualism, and the unsettling feeling of humanity confronting an alien intelligence. And yes, there are mutated ants attacking and people running around screaming, covered in insects. A total win-win.
Where to watch: Hulu, Paramount+
The Love Witch (2016)
The Love Witch is a true gem for film enthusiasts. Writer/director Anne Biller crafts a stunning feminist tale, using 1960s-inspired costumes, makeup, sets, and filming techniques to create a vibrant, technicolor experience. It feels like it was made in 1965. If you love powerful sorceresses in stylish mod outfits, cheeky Satanic rituals, wild acid-trip sequences, and sharp commentary on the complexities of male/female dynamics, then you have to watch The Love Witch. It’ll totally blow your mind.
Where to watch: Fubo, AMC+
