There's so many movies that I love that I feel like I can talk about with others forever. I could hit up ten people right now and talk about Lord of the Rings...or Forrest Gump...or Titanic. I said ten people but you and I both know that's a stretch and I don't have that many friends. That's besides the point though. There are movies that are so engrained in our cultural landscape, that the mention of them sparks conversation and debate. Awards, critical acclaim, much-discussed moments, accolades on accolades. You name it. Yet, there are a bunch of movies, however, that I feel like people don't give enough attention to. I could hit up ten people right now (I'm sticking with this number) and ask them about some of the films on this list, and I may be met with no response or "I haven't seen that" or "stop texting me please for the love of God." I think that needs to change. So I decided to put together a list of the top 20 most underrated movies...according to me. There's no criteria for this. Some of these were straight to DVD, some of these bombed at the box office, and some were actually well-reviewed, box office success. But nonetheless, they are movies that I care about and movies that have impacted or affected me in one way or another. And above all else, movies that I believe deserve more attention. I've compiled #20-#11 in this article. The top 10 will be posted soon. Take a look, keep an open mind, and maybe add some of these to that imaginary list of movies that you'll definitely watch one day.
#20. Swiss Army Man
Starting off with one of the strangest movies that I’ve ever seen. It's not one of my all time favorites...but when I was compiling this list, I felt like it simply had to be included. It’s one of those movies that I loved but am not sure if I should shout it from the rooftops or just pretend like I’ve never heard of a movie in which Daniel Radcliffe plays a farting corpse. Yeah, I said what I said.
“Swiss Army Man” is exceptionally strange, oddly touching, and more deep than it even had to be. It’s unforgettable – whether you completely despise it or perhaps just couldn’t resist its inexplicable charm, like myself. I’ve never thought of Daniel Radcliffe, our beloved Harry Potter, as a good actor. In fact, I’ve always thought of him as very, very below average. However, he was a pleasant surprise in this. His on-screen partner, Paul Dano, is as impressive here as he is in everything else.
This movie is a weird one. A really weird one. But I couldn’t help but smile and laugh while watching. And who would’ve thought that a movie that opens with Paul Dano sailing on the back of a corpse powered by the power of its farts would also make me cry?
If it comes across on the surface as a juvenile film filled to the brim with potty humor, I promise there’s more than meets the eye. There’s a plethora of psychological themes bubbling beneath the surface and it borders on the heartbreaking at times. There’s something about it. If you watch this and hate it, please don’t come find me. But who knows, you may end up loving it like I did.
#19. The Belko Experiment
This movie is “Battle Royale” meets “Saw” meets “The Cabin in the Woods” meets “Office Space.” If that sounds like something you’re into, then what are you waiting for? I went into this movie with absolutely zero expectations. I remember the trailer going around social media a decent amount but once it came into theaters and no one seemed to talk about it anymore, I just assumed the worst. I still went down to the cinema and gave it a chance. I’m glad I did.
Perhaps the low expectations boosted my experience, but I know I walked away thinking I had just had a fun, very entertaining ride. It felt like a throwback to the mid-00’s “torture porn” phase that became so prevalent after “Saw.” (FYI: I hate the term “torture porn” but I’m using it.) To put it simply, it had been a while since I saw a movie that was just good, gory fun.
The movie has it’s issues. It’s certainly not great. But it knows what it is and it does that well. There’s also some really awesome, well-shot sequences set to some interesting music choices and enhanced by some pretty captivating lighting. There’s script issues, lazy writing, stupid characters with absurd reactions to their surroundings – but the actors do a more than commendable job, particularly John Gallagher Jr. and Tony Goldwyn. It’s not the greatest, scariest, or most original movie…but it combines suspense, gore, and humor in a very entertaining way. It deserves some more praise. Plus it has exploding heads.
#18. Beach Rats
Beach Rats deals with sexuality, toxic masculinity, homophobia, etc. in a very serious and human way. It’s ultimately a character study — exploring a character attempting to come to terms with who he is while dealing with an overwhelming sense of doubt and uncertainty at every turn.
Harris Dickinson, who plays the lead role in his film debut, is perfectly cast and brings such a sense of grounded realism to the role. On a technical note, the film is beautifully shot and feels like poetry on screen. There’s so much said in so little and the color-drenched 16mm cinematography paired with a memorable score creates a visceral, and anxiety-inducing world. The movie is beautiful to look at with its lingering shots and close-ups. When you add in the minimal dialogue and a director that knows how to paint a world so vividly, we are able to really get into the
mindset of a tortured and complicated character. The movie doesn’t shy away from sex scenes and is quite graphic, which may be a turn off for some viewers. Despite that, I feel like these topics were handled quite tastefully and believe that it was completely necessary to tell this story as authentically and realistically as possible.
The movie is quite reminiscent of “Moonlight” but despite the similar themes, these are vastly different characters in much different communities. It’s not the most exciting or easy watch but it’s a well-made and memorable take on very real issues.
#17. Ingrid Goes West
When I went into “Ingrid Goes West” the only thing that I knew about it was that Ingrid was going west. It seemed like it would be a comedy with some dramatic elements sprinkled in but it ended up being a whole lot more than that. It’s certainly a dark comedy, more dark than comedy at times.
There’s some unsettling things at work that will surely bring on moments of anxiety, but it manages to never lose its charm. There’s a fine line here between an enjoyable, funny movie and a dark look into mental illness, it walks it well and manages to deliver on both accounts. The acting is what makes this movie work so well. Aubrey Plaza is really wonderful here and is able to drop the deadpan shtick that you know from Parks and Rec and offer the whole spectrum of emotions that I've been waiting to see her deliver. She’ll make you laugh out loud and want to cry the next. Elizabeth Olsen is perfect as your modern day, typical “California girl.” And O’Shea Jackson Jr. is incredible promising. His charm is palpable and he proves he’s more than just playing his dad in “Straight Outta Compton.”
As a whole, the movie is a wonderful mix of fun, strange, and unsettling. It manages to tell a cautionary tale about the dangers of social media, while exploring issues of mental health – and it’ll make you laugh too. What more could you want?
#16. Love, Simon
Love, Simon can be a really cheesy movie. It recycles about 15-20 different tropes that you see in every single high school teen movie. There’s characters in here that would never exist in the real world. It’s essentially a more modern day “A Cinderella Story” except Hilary Duff isn’t in it. I guess you could say the main difference here is also the most important one — and it’s that the main character is gay. Knowing this, the fact that you’ve probably seen parts of this movie before again and again suddenly don't seem to matter. It actually boosts the story. For the first time, a major studio released a romantic teen comedy with a gay lead. So, yeah, it’s a little cheesy but that's kind of the point.
I saw this movie in theaters and people legitimately cheered and clapped at moments. Normally, I’d just say: "please shut the fuck up" but here, it elevated the atmosphere. Nick Robinson does a spectacular job in the lead role. They handled sensitive issues with a lot of care. There’s so many ways this movie could’ve been a colossal, try-hard failure but it hit all the right notes. Literally and figuratively. Literally, because Jack Antonoff of Bleachers curated the entire film soundtrack and it’s amazing and that’s that on that. At the end of the day, it’s a movie that could help a lot of people, especially teenagers and I think it’s really cool that big studios are willing to make and release a movie like this. And it’s cool that this one was actually good. Did I mention that soundtrack? Damn.
#15. Creep & Creep 2
I’m grouping Creep and Creep 2 together because they’re both worth the watch and also such great companion pieces, it wouldn’t feel right to leave out the sequel. These movies are incredibly strange but just prove that you don’t need a huge budget, a pulsing score, or high end special effects to scare. All you need is a camera with some good acting and you can achieve a genuinely spine-tingling movie.
I’ll watch basically anything that the Duplass brothers are attached to and these are some really unique movies that are worth the look. I don’t find either one to have many straight-forward scares, but there are some genuinely creepy and unsettling moments — particularly in the first movie. It’s the subtleties here that are so effective. In the moments where Duplass loses emotion on his face. Or the moments where he’s so giddy. A little too giddy. Or when he speaks about cold-blooded murder in a matter-of-fact tone. You know his character is batshit crazy but you, for some strange reason, kind of like him. And that’s what helps to make these movies fun. They are character-driven horror movies that offer a very different take than you’re used to. When I close my eyes at night, sometimes I see that fucking werewolf mask and that’s enough to scare me forever. Give these a go.
#14. Can You Ever Forgive Me?
There was some slight Oscar for this movie before its premiere – buzz that did result in nominations for both Melissa McCarthy and her scene-stealing partner, Richard E. Grant. Despite the nominations, box office and award show buzz died relatively quickly and I don’t know many people who saw or talk about this interesting little movie.
It’s a relatively straight-forward film in the way it handles its true story, but it carries a lot of heart. Melissa McCarthy is spectacular here, showing off her true range and potential as an actress. She brings a lot of subtleties and nuances to the character which give her depth, despite being a cold and unhappy individual. Her character may be though and unfriendly but above all, she’s lonely and afraid. McCarthy captures her essence wonderfully. This may not be a movie you revisit all the time but it’s certainly worth the watch. The true story is captivating, but it’s the acting and humanity that you’ll remember.
#13. Mid90s
I saw Mid90s once in theaters and haven’t had the chance to rewatch it since, despite meaning to. It’s a coming of age movie that manages to provide a few laughs here and there, but presents a rather sobering and intense look at life for its lead character, a 13-year-old trying his hardest to fit in with a group of older skaters.
Mid90s was written and directed by Jonah Hill. This wasn’t the type of film that I was expecting as a debut for Hill but he managed to make it work successfully. He touches upon a certain sense
of nostalgia, especially in how he brings the 90s back to life. Shooting in 4:3 on 16mm film was a smart choice that helps bring this movie to another level. It not only matches the aesthetic of the time but it is imperative in creating the atmosphere that makes this film a memorable one.
Sunny Suljic who plays the lead Stevie, does an incredible job in his film debut. He’s 13, just like his character. He brings a strong sense of realism to the role and you begin to care for him immediately. He’s a sad and lonely character, desperate for approval and desperate to fit in, emboldened by his growing resentment towards his mother and older brother.
It’s a brief movie and one that’s perhaps a bit rough around the edges at times, but it’s a very promising debut from Jonah Hill and a film that should surely elicit an emotional response. There’s a lot to enjoy, love and dissect, especially in the relationships that Hill crafts and cultivates between his ensemble. I haven’t heard much talk for this movie and I’d like to see that change.
#12. It Comes At Night
“It Comes at Night” is one of those movies that I imagine a lot of people will say they hated because it’s boring. They’ll say it sucked because they were misled. And I say to that: "I don’t care." Don't blame a movie because the marketing made you think it was a horror. This movie is an illustration into the idea that the most terrifying things can’t always be seen. It’s not a straightforward horror movie. It’s not a movie that offers explanations or back stories. As viewers, we are thrown into the thick of things and the tension doesn’t let up. The terror in this film isn’t in ghosts or masked murderers – but rather in the fear of the unknown, in our paranoia, in our primal instincts to survive and to protect ourselves and those that we love.
The director, Trey Edward Schults, does an amazing job of crafting a truly atmospheric film. The muted color scheme and dark lighting help to build this atmosphere but what really elevates this film is that way in which Schults manages to heighten anxiety through his alternating use of aspect ratios. It was something that he did in his (also underrated) debut “Krisha” and he uses the trick in this movie as well. It’s subtle, but it’s an interesting aesthetic decision that really pays off. There’s a feeling of dread throughout and it’s not long until you feel the same paranoia and skepticism that the characters do.
Joel Edgerton stars and he’s awesome here, like he is in every single movie. The rest of the supporting cast is impressive, as well. Give this movie a chance if you’re up for it. It’s not your average, jump-scare horror movie. But it’s well-shot, well-acted, well-scored, and well-just-about-everything. I thoroughly enjoyed my viewing experience and the film was able to evoke a myriad of emotions. Just when you let your guard down for a second, something ratchets up the tension once again. It’s a story about who we are as people when faced with the unknown, and above all it’s an underrated movie.
11. The Cabin in the Woods
I waited so patiently for this movie when it was coming out. It was shelved for two years. And then it came. And went. It made some money but nothing crazy. And then it was one of those movies that a handful of people had seen...but simply not enough. For my liking, anyway. I try to watch it at least once a year and revisit the infectiously fun horror world that Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard, the ultimate dream team, brought to life.
I love satirical horror comedies. Scream is my favorite movie of all time. So when “The Cabin in the Woods” came on my radar, I was thrilled. This movie takes the horror genre and dissects it -- almost to a fault. Every single horror trope or theme or element is on full display here and they want you to know it. It picks apart horror movies and how stale they’ve become but do so in a way that pays tribute to them. It’s often funny, occasionally scary (sorta), and just a whole lot of fun to sit down and watch.
There’s so much I could talk about but then that would give it all away. So I’ll try to be brief on this one. Just know it’s one of my all time favorites and a highly underrated good time. Go in with as little knowledge as possible and enjoy the ride. I wrote one of my final papers in school on this movie, so if that doesn’t convince you, I don’t know what will.
Ok, that's all for now. Any that you've seen? Any that you love too? Or maybe some that you think are trash and don't deserve to be called "underrated"? (If so, don't tell me. That'll just hurt my feelings.)
What will show up in #10-#1?
Stay tuned.
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