THiNC. Movie Spotlight #24 a Compendium. Over the past twenty four weeks THiNC. (IE. many of you have contributed as well) pulled together movie recommendations. And in the doing we just crossed a hundred different fantastic movies for you to weigh and consider. So, in honor of this little benchmark, I’ve pulled them all together, in one MASSIVE, check list. Print it. Scribble on them. Cross out the ones you’ve seen. Circle the ones that sound good. But most importantly, tell us about the ones you loved, the ones you despised.
Spotlight recommendation #1 – SYNCHRONIC – Brought to you by the team that gave us The Endless and Resolution. Some even say it’s the conclusion of the trilogy. This one will definitely warrant a post on THiNC. in due time. It’s the story of two New Orleans paramedics, whose lives are ripped apart after they encounter a series of horrific deaths linked to a designer drug with bizarre, otherworldly effects. (pulled that directly from IMDb). This is a 5/5 recommendation… very confident about this one. See it now. Find it HERE HERE and HERE. (Okay, so Synchronic was a bit of a disappointment. How did we start with this one for our list?? Gah. The rest were all brilliant… I promise. Cough.)
Spotlight recommendation #2 –NIGHT STALKER – If documentaries are your thing – and true crime dramas turn your crank, this might do it for you. With amazing production qualities and fantastic performances from everyone in this show. The limited docu-series “Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer” tells the true story of how one of the most notorious serial killers in American history was hunted down and brought to justice. This will hold your attention and is really well done – just decide if the topic is for you first. Check it out on Netflix right here.
Spotlight recommendation #3 -THE EMPTY MAN – This one is the surprise of the week. Based on outward appearances, you think this is going to be another run-of-the-mill horror flick. But it’s much more than that. It’s part mystery, part crime drama, part thriller, and whoa, it really twists the brain like a pretzel. When a young girl vanishes in a small Missouri town, an ex-cop gets pulled back in to investigate the case…but he soon uncovers a secretive cult…and their attempts to summon a mystical (and quite horrific) entity. You can watch it on Netflix here. And read my walkthrough here.
Spotlight recommendation #4 –THE FORGOTTEN – THiNC. has already told you about this particular film. But it’s getting lots of conversation over on the Patreon Chat server. It’s totally worth noting again, just in case you haven’t seen it already. The 2017 Korean film is a mind-job and a half. When his abducted brother returns seemingly a different man with no memory of the past 19 days, Jin-seok chases after the truth behind the kidnapping. THiNC. gave it 4/5 stars and this one will definitely leave you wondering what just happened when you are done. You can watch it over on Netflix.
Spotlight recommendation #5 – DON’T TELL A SOUL – Look. THiNC. is all about clever stories, tightly wound plots. And Hollywood-mold breaking scripts. It’s great to start with this one. I mean, look at this recommendation. Rainn Wilson (Uh, The Office’s Dwight Schrute??) as a security guard who catches two kids (one is played by Jack Dylan Grazer – IT) stealing from home, and then falls into a well. What happens next is about a million twists, and double backs. Yes, I know – that’s the quality of films you should expect from this list. You are welcome. Find it over on Play and Amazon. And read my review for Don’t tell a Soul here.
Spotlight recommendation #6 – 32 WEEKS – Mystery romance. After a car accident leaves a young woman with amnesia, she is torn between the new man in her life that she can’t remember and her ex who she can’t forget.You think it’s going to be a typical romantic indie, but then it surprises you with twists and turns which lead to an ending you won’t see coming! Watch it on Prime.
Spotlight recommendation #7 – WE ARE THE MISSING – THiNC. is all about new, and different. We Are The Missing is a crowdfunded thriller drama mockumentary. Funded for a couple bucks (literally) this film might just surprise you. It’s about a missing teen who has vanished. Through interviews with friends/family, various social media footage, and more, the story surrounding Riley starts to expand in scope…until her disappearance becomes something much more sinister!
Spotlight recommendation #8 – TRICKSTER – Is TV more your thing? Then maybe this next one is for you. Trickster! An Indigenous teen struggles to support his dysfunctional family as myth, magic, and monsters slowly infiltrate his life. Love to hear what you guys think of this one. Let us know in the comments. You can watch it on Prime for free.
Spotlight recommendation #9 – SUPER DARK TIMES – And something old. I have been trying to bring you flashback movie recommendations for a while now. Super Dark Times is a highly underrated film that you should definitely give a shot. It tells the story of a confluence of chaos and downward spirals amongst a few young teens. You can watch it over on Prime right now. Then join us for our discussion about Super Dark Times right here.
Spotlight recommendation #10 – THE BEACH HOUSE – A romantic getaway for two troubled college sweethearts turns into a struggle for survival when unexpected guests – and the surrounding environment – exhibit signs of a mysterious infection. Haven’t watched it yet, but looks like the kind of top shelf crazy films that we love so much here at THiNC. Check it out and let me know if I should do a write up on this one. Excited about the idea anyway. You can check it out on Prime right here.
Spotlight recommendation #11 – THE WOLF HOUR – This movie was suggested by Matt on the movie recommendation widget (you see that red tab, at the bottom of your screen? Yeah, that.) Thanks Matt! It’s a Thriller Mystery. June (Naomi Watts), a once iconic figure of the counter-culture movement, finds herself a recluse in South Bronx. And she watches as the summer temperatures begin to climb, June watches below as the city descends into chaos during the 1977 blackout riots. Check it out on Starz.
Spotlight recommendation #12 – SAFE INSIDE – Chris brings us this crazy thriller mystery from Poland. Heck, he brought us this entire list, let’s not kid ourselves. And don’t worry subtitle haters, it’s in English. Geeze, you guys kill me sometimes. Ana and Tom, a young American couple, who are traveling across France get hired on at an estate to fund their traveling costs. This is a real dream come true… until it isn’t. Soon they begin to uncover some of the dark secrets of the estate and they begin to wonder what they’ve gotten themselves into. Watch it on Prime.
Spotlight recommendation #13 – KOKO-DI KOKO-DA – So apparently, a young couple goes on a trip to find their way back to each other. You know, one of those self-discovery, couples trips that are normally mushy and inane. But this time, a sideshow artist and his shady entourage emerge from the woods, terrorizing them, luring them deeper into a maelstrom of psychological terror and humiliating slapstick. Imagine The Babadook genetically spliced with Groundhog Day! Hahaha. Yes, I just typed those words. I love the internet. Available on Prime.
Spotlight recommendation #14 – CREEP 1 & 2 – Is there such a thing as the perfect horror movie? Probably not. BUT IF THERE WAS SUCH A THING, it might just be Creep 1, only to be followed up by Creep 2. A guy puts an ad in Craigslist to hire a videographer to follow him around during his day. And throughout the day we wonder if this guy is, or isn’t a serial killer. Could he just be a creep? Or maybe he could be so much worse? And the ending of Creep 1, as well as Creep 2 are both so brilliantly unhinged as to leave you a bit shocked. It’s fantastic. Just such great indie film brilliance. After watching, head over here, and here, to talk to us all about what you thought of it. Watch them on Netflix.
Spotlight recommendation #15 – Shirley – 2020 – This is a drama/psychological/thriller/mystery smorgasbord. Basically Shirley tells the story of a famous horror writer (yes, Shirley Jackson), who finds inspiration for her next book after she and her husband take in a young couple. It’s apparently a creepy, claustrophobic, slow-burn of a movie. It’s also apparently a love letter to the absolute craziness that is the writing process. Sort of reminds me Stephen King’s Misery maybe? Check it out and let us know what you think of it. Watch Shirley on Hulu.
Spotlight recommendation #16 –AWAIT FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS– 2018 – Suggested by Lisa (years back apparently and ignorantly denied by me personally – but there is a lot here to talk about after re-watching it). When the Milgram family awake to discover a mysterious black substance surrounding their house, their only clue as to what’s going on, is a single line of text on their television: ‘Stay Indoors and Await Further Instructions.’ At first, the family is unsure if they may be victims of a cruel psychological experiment, or if the country is undergoing a genuine emergency, simmering tensions escalate into a deadly power struggle… you can watch it right here.
Spotlight recommendation #17 – ONLY THE ANIMALS (Seules Les Bêtes) – 2019 – Hey Aaron! Thanks for this suggestion. He sent it in via the suggestion widget (red tab at the bottom of your screen). When he brought it to us, he said, that it’s a mystery thriller that is “more thriller than mindjob but kept me entertained.” The basic gist is that a woman goes missing after a snowstorm. And eventually her car is discovered on a road to a small remote village. While the police don’t know where to start, five people are linked to the disappearance. Each one with his or her own secret. Here’s the recipe for this film – Equal parts: The Devil All the Time + Fargo + The Invisible Guest + Irreversible. Watch it on Netflix.
Spotlight recommendation #18 – THE WALL (limited series) – 2019 – Canada’s far North is home to Fermont, a mining colony in the endless frozen hell. The Quebec City police send one of their most experienced detectives to investigate the death of a young exotic dancer. Céline, the detective, is always willing to take on a challenge. She will have to contend with a number of challenges that may just exceed her investigative abilities when she arrives at the structure that is the colony, called The Wall. Watch it on . And read my walk through here.
Spotlight recommendation #19 – BUSTER’S MAL HEART– 2019 – We had a blast talking about what is real, and what is not real in this movie that stars the Mr. Robot actor Rami Malek. One of the greatest movies I’ve ever brought to you guys. Trust me on this one – love love love this film. If you’ve never seen it, just go watch it right now. Thanks for that.
Spotlight recommendation #20 – 2046 – This recommendation comes from CY, our intrepid THiNC. editor. I watched this one this past weekend and really enjoyed it. There is a lot going on here. Double identities, narrators, repeated meetings with different people and assumed names. Basically, a train travels a future landscape and takes people to where they can recapture their memories. A place where only one person has ever returned from. We follow Chow as he has a series of affairs with women in Hong Kong. These encounters basically give him inspirations for his writing, causing the viewer to quickly lose track of the line between fiction and reality and the future. I know I lost track anyway. 2046 here.
Spotlight recommendation #21 – MAP OF TINY PERFECT THINGS – 2020 – Apparently this thrilling, funny, magical-realistic romance — which turns the Groundhog Day premise inside out and upside down – tells the story of a 17-year-old trapped in a time loop. Mark, finding himself stuck, is happy to stay stuck, reading his way through the entirety of the town’s library. But then….. he discovers someone else in the loop with him: the brilliant, haunted Margaret. Together Mark and Margaret set out to find every wonderful, amazing, perfect thing that happens in that one day. They end up on a journey that will take them to the dark secret that waits at the very heart of their endless day. Personally I’m in solely for Kathryn Newton – who I loved in Halt and Catch Fire and Lady Bird. Watch it here.
Spotlight recommendation #22 – THE MIDNIGHT SKY– 2021 – This one is from me… ME! HAH! I enjoyed Clooney in this, and it takes a lot for me to mention a Clooney movie. Basically The Midnight Sky tells the story of scientist Augustine Lofthouse (George Clooney) who is stationed at a remote observation outpost deep in the Arctic, and we join him as the station is being abandoned when an apocalyptic event begins ravaging the planet. Lofthouse is unwittingly joined by an accidentally abandoned young girl named Iris (Caoilinn Springall). And the two have to figure out how to make contact with Sully Rembshire (Felicity Jones), an astronaut, to prevent her and her team from returning to Earth and becoming trapped by the post-apocalyptic reality. Is it THiNC. worthy? I don’t know, I haven’t written it up yet have I? But it’s worth a watch regardless. Watch it here.
Spotlight recommendation #23 – BLISS– 2021 – I’ve been thinking about diving in on this one, but Lisa and Chris are the ones recommending Bliss to you today. So, if it sucks, get a patreon membership, and cuss them out in dramatic fashion. Hahaha. Bliss tells the story of an unfulfilled man and a mysterious woman who believe they are living in a simulated reality, but when their newfound “Bliss” world begins to bleed into the uglier world of reality, they must decide what’s real and where they truly belong. Huh. That’s a pretty intriguing sell job there… I may even check this one out. If only I had 40 hours a day to work with! Watch Bliss here.
Spotlight recommendation #24 – RESOLUTION – Justin Benson, Aaron Moorhead. Enough said. The story is simple, one friend takes his alcoholic buddy, and chains him to a wall in an abandoned house to help him detox. What goes down there in that house though is so far beyond the pale that it defies explanation. This movie will leave you questioning your sanity after its all over. Join in on the fantastic conversation right over here.
Spotlight recommendation #25 – THE VANISHED – 2020 – An idyllic family vacation turns into a living nightmare for parents Paul & Wendy, when their young daughter disappears without a trace. When the local sheriff fails to chase down any new leads, the frantic parents have no choice but to take matters into their own hands. As tensions mount and the list of suspects grows, the search for the truth leads to a shocking twisty revelation. Watch The Vanished right here on Netflix.
Spotlight recommendation #26 – RED DOT – 2020 – The next two flicks come from the lady of leisure, Lisa. Thanks Lisa! Red Dot stars Anastasios Soulis and Nanna Blondell as a couple trying to spice things up with a snowy camping trip in the hills of Sweden. But when they arrive, things go very awry with the arrival of — that’s right — a red dot. Specifically, the red dot of the laser aim of a rifle, trained abruptly at our couple, with seemingly no reason or purpose. As the bullets start flying, these two run further and further into the wilderness, trying their best to survive the next shot and solve the mystery behind this phantom red dot. Watch Red Dot right here on Netflix. Read my walkthrough here.
Spotlight recommendation #27 – FEAR OF RAIN – 2020 – The tagline: “Some voices you can’t outrun.” Fear of Rain is a mystery, drama, thriller, horror film — about a teenage girl (played by Madison Iseman) with schizophrenia, who struggles with vivid and terrifying hallucinations. She begins to suspect her neighbor has kidnapped a child. Of course, the only person who will believe her is Caleb…… a boy she isn’t quite sure exists… You can watch Fear of Rain here on Amazon.
Spotlight recommendation #28 – H0us3 – “ARM” brings us this Spanish film from the suggestion tab (the red thing at the bottom of the page). Heard this movie described as Coherence receives The Invitation for a weekend in the “Cabin in the Woods” with AI. This story wanders into a decrypted Wikileaks file that wasn’t supposed to be crack-able – which, inside, they find an augmented reality app that purports to be able to tell the future. This then leads the “friends” into a discussion of predestination vs. fate, and basically blows the minds of the various characters in the story. Sounds really interesting. But hey, you had me at Coherence. Find H0us3 right here on Prime. Read my walkthrough here. And my interview with the director here.
Spotlight recommendation #29 – THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER – I try to add a flashback movie to this movie list to remind you guys of some of the truly great films that you might have missed. Killing of a Sacred Deer will break your brain. Will ruin your mind. And will make you really struggle to figure out what is going on here. But as this film basically helps pay the server costs of this site, all by itself, if you haven’t seen it, you really need to check it out. Trust me on this one. Watch it here, and read my walkthrough here.
Spotlight recommendation #30 – THE SECRETS WE KEEP – Erika!! This one looks fantastic. She says that it is a “Mystery/crime/psychological thriller, with a one heck of a plot twist at the end.” Think Prisoners, but from a holocaust angle. Maja (Noomi Rapace) is peacefully living with her husband Lewis (Chris Messina) in post-World War II America, when one day she meets their next-door neighbor (Joel Kinnaman) and immediately believes that he was the person who brutalized her during the war. Obviously she is right… isn’t she? Because kidnapping him is definitely the next step logically if she is… right? (10×10 anyone?) Watch it over on Hulu now.
Spotlight recommendation #31 – I CARE A LOT. – Lisa! Another winner recommendation! We cannot recommend this one highly enough. Watch it! Basically the story tells of Marla Grayson (Rosamund Pike) who bilks old people out of their life’s savings by becoming their “legal” guardians. Until one day she inadvertently messes with the wrong mark. Watch I Care A Lot. right here on Netflix. (I should get a quarter for each of these links you guys click. I’d be fifty cents richer for it! hahaha.) Read my review here.
Spotlight recommendation #32 – THREE IDENTICAL STRANGERS – Not since Catfish has there been a better documentary / mystery / conundrum. (Has there even been another one? Anyway.) New York, 1980: three complete strangers accidentally discover that they are identical triplets, separated at birth. The 19-year-olds’ joyous reunion catapults them to international fame, but it also unlocks an extraordinary and disturbing secret that goes beyond their own lives. What starts off as a seemingly heartwarming documentary takes a dark turn halfway through, to a genuinely shocking twist. Thanks Chris, for bringing this one our way. Find it on Hulu.
Spotlight recommendation #33 – SAVE YOURSELF! – 2020 – thanks for TAB#3 for bringing this clever little suggestion our way. In the mood for a sci-fi, horror, comedy movie? Yeah, me too! Two characters carry this one, Jack (John Reynolds) and Su (Sunita Mani). Way too electronically connected, they head off for a no-internet retreat. Problem is? Aliens attack mid-retreat and the two of them have to figure out how to make it back to civilization alive. This one even comes with a clever little twist at the end that is worth the price of admission all by itself. Find it on Hulu.
Spotlight recommendation #34 – MIDNIGHTERS – Every week I tried to bring you a movie that was so Indie, and so awesome, that it just didn’t get the legs that it deserved. You know, those fantastic little films that just fly under the radar? Well, today’s flashback flick is Midnighters. A movie with a clever premise. A couple hit a man on the road, and to avoid prosecution, they take him back to the house to dispose of his body later. But absolutely nothing goes to plan in this fantastically twisty Indie flick. You can watch the movie here on Hulu. Dang Hulu! You are killing it this week!!! Keep it up guys. And yes. You are welcome.
Spotlight recommendation #35 – HUROK (aka LOOP) – If you enjoyed Time Crimes by Nacho Vigalondo, this may be your next favorite movie. Thanks, Daniel, for recommending it to us all via the red tab at the bottom of your screen. Adam, a drug dealer, and his girlfriend Anna, have decided they need to heist 200 vials of growth hormones and run for it. It’s their best chance at getting out of the scene, or so they think, because everything does not go to plan. Soon Adam finds himself in a crazy timeloop as he relives event after event, over and over again. Watch on Amazon Prime.
Spotlight recommendation #36 – FACELESS– Thanks for this one Lisa!! After a horrifying accident with a dog shredding his face at a dog fight, George gets a face transplant. But afterwards he has very vivid and un-explainable flashbacks. After being released from the hospital, he’s on his own to figure all this craziness out. Worse, he has no real recollection of his past life. George has to overcome these flashbacks and really wild daily experiences he can’t understand in order to figure this puzzle out before it’s too late. Watch it on Amazon.
Spotlight recommendation #37 – DEATH OF ME – 2020 – Thanks for this recommendation Chris! “A trippy little mind-bending mystery thriller. Vacationing on an island off the coast of Thailand, Christine (Maggie Q) and Neil Oliver (Luke Hemsworth) awake hungover, and with no memory of the previous night. They find footage on Neil’s camera, and watch, horrified, as he appears to murder Christine. With several hours until the next ferry, and a typhoon threatening the island, Christine and Neil attempt to reconstruct the night’s events…” OK. I’m in. Watch it on Netflix.
Spotlight recommendation #38 – THE SISTER – 2020 – Erika and Lisa are bringing us this one – thanks gals! From Lisa… Seconded by Erika. Mystery. Almost a decade into his new and devoted married life, Nathan is rocked to the core when Bob, an unwelcome face from the past, turns up on his doorstep with shocking news that triggers a series of catastrophic decisions which cleverly drive a tense and compelling narrative of psychological suspense, dread, love and possible redemption. Watch it on Hulu.
Spotlight recommendation #39 – 10×10 – 2018 – Every week I try to bring back one of the really great, but highly under appreciated films that I’ve highlighted here on THiNC. This week is a brilliant little closed box film, 10×10. A man abducts a woman from a parking lot, and then tortures her. Terribly. And yet, not everything that you see here is as it seems. Who is the aggressor? Who is in control? It definitely is up for debate in this fun little film. Watch it on Prime.
Spotlight recommendation #40 – TIGERS ARE NOT AFRAID– A recommendation brought to us by Chris which follows a young girl that is caught in the middle of a Mexican drug war. She soon finds that she’s been granted three wishes as the chaos around her continues to grow exponentially worse. But as she uses the wishes, she realizes they come with complicated catches to them. Fantastical figures, the dead, and other hallucinations begin to coalesce around her as she begins to wonder if this magic is real or something else entirely. Watch it right here on Shudder.
Spotlight recommendation #41 – THE ASSISTANT – A psychological thriller and mystery one two punch. A young woman named Jane (Julia Garner) spends her days working as the assistant to an authoritative business executive (Matthew Macfadyen). Amidst the routine of her daily tasks, she comes to recognize the sinister mistreatment underscoring her role in the office. Soon, she discovers that both her career and her welfare may be vulnerable to significant harm. Watch on Hulu.
Spotlight recommendation #42 – LITTLE FISH – A science friction drama that tells the story of a mysterious illness that causes everyone to lose their memories. Amongst this tableau, newlyweds Emma (Olivia Cooke) and Jude (Jack O’Connell) try their best to survive without forgetting anything. Horribly though, one day, Jude begins to forget little things, like where he put his keys, who put the dogs to sleep in the veterinarian’s office, and why he and his wife are fighting. Soon, it becomes clear that he is afflicted with the disease and that Emma needs to do something about it. Watch it over on Hulu.
Spotlight recommendation #43 – POSSUM – Man, this one looks trippy. It’s a mystery/thriller/psychological horror about a puppeteer of all things. Gah.. After returning to his childhood home, a disgraced children’s puppeteer is forced to confront his wicked stepfather and the secrets that have tortured his entire life. And no, I am not paying your therapist bill after you choose, on your own, to watch this one. Not doing it. So don’t even ask. Watch it over on Prime.
Spotlight recommendation #44 – THE FRAME – Every week on the Spotlight drop I try to bring you a lesser known, under appreciated, Independent film recommendations that probably slipped by you when they were first released. Today is a film called The Frame. And literally… that is all I’m telling you. If you haven’t watched it, make sure you check it out. Glorious movie from a couple of Denver film makers. Watch it for free here on Tubi, and read my walkthrough afterwards.
Spotlight recommendation #45 – RESIDUE – this one is brought to us by ARM. A private investigator, Luke, discovers a book that is a much sought-after supernatural artifact. Come to find out said private investigator ends up getting chased by henchmen who also want the supernatural artifact. Apparently, the criminal underworld is desperate to retrieve the book and harness its power for their own dark agendas. BUT! the evil apparently has taken root in Luke’s apartment. As it does. Which, apparently, puts his family and his very soul in mortal danger! Watch on Netflix.
Spotlight recommendation #46 – INTO THE LABYRINTH (L’UOMO DEL LABIRINTO) this one is from Jen Nichols! A film with an almost completely indecipherable pile of twists. A group of detectives are hunting a mysterious kidnapper. Samantha was kidnapped by a man in a giant rabbit costume, which occurred when she was just a child. Well, fifteen years later, Samantha mysteriously reappears, (Do keep up), …. just go watch it. Which you can do right here.
Spotlight recommendation #47 – BOTTOM OF THE WORLD – Robert! Thanks buddy! The film is trying to solve a puzzle with pieces that don’t seem to go together! A young couple, Scarlett & Alex, are on a road trip heading to Los Angeles via good ole Route 66. When Scarlett falls sick, they decide to stop at a motel in a small New Mexico town for the night. It is here, where a whole lot of weird things start happening… Strange masked men. Weird TV broadcasts. You get it. Check it out right here on Prime.
Spotlight recommendation #48 – ROJO – This one is brought to you by Shelby. It’s an Argentinian mystery/thriller, and Shelby says “it’s right up your alley if you enjoyed movies like Incendies and Los Secretos en Sus Ojos, and it raises questions!” Um. Taylor here… and Incendies is one of the best movies I’ve ever brought you guys. So yes. YES. I’m done. I’m not telling you anything more about this one. Incendies should be enough for you. WHY ISN’T IT ENOUGH FOR YOU?? I’ve even given you a link to click – Link – WHAT ELSE DO YOU WANT?
Spotlight recommendation #48 – THE MAUS – War torn Bosnian survivor, Selma, plans a trip back to her home country. Well, Alex and Selma quickly become lost there in Bosnia, and their hopes of learning more about each other while there are dashed by the billion land mines. Then, when a couple offer to help them find their way home, things rapidly devolve into chaos. This is a wild, crazy thriller, that borders on horror. You can watch it right here on Netflix. Read my walkthrough here.
Spotlight recommendation #49 – THE SERPENT – The Serpent is a crime/thriller melange that tells the astonishing true story of Charles Sobhraj, a serial killer (nicknamed The Serpent), who targeted Western travelers during the 70’s and became one of Interpol’s most wanted men. Sobhraj was a con man, thief, psychopath, master of disguise, and he was the number 1 suspect in the unsolved murders of 20 westerners traveling across India, Thailand, and Nepal. Watch it on Netflix.
Spotlight recommendation #50 – THE ONE – I AM THE ONE THAT SUGGESTED THIS ONE!!! (OK, so Lisa might have beaten me to this one. I don’t know. Grrrr.) The One is set five minutes in the future, in a world where a DNA test can find your perfect partner – the one person you’re genetically predisposed to fall passionately in love with. No matter how good your relationship, which one of us can honestly say we haven’t thought about whether there is someone better out there? What if a hair sample is all it takes to find them? It could shatter the fabric holding society together – what if I’m married to the wrong person??!? This one sort of reminds me of The Discovery. Watch it over on Netflix.
Spotlight recommendation #50 – NIGHTSHIFTER – Nightshifter is a ghost story about a forensic technician who… um… can talk to the dead? Well, one day, while – you know – chatting with the dead, he learns that his wife has been cheating on him. So what does he do? He has this man killed, but his wife is accidentally killed as well. And what happens next? His wife haunts her husband is what happens next… I mean, he talks to the dead after all. I think maybe it’s a bit of a Brazilian take on the VVitch, Hereditary, and maybe even a dash of Train to Busan. Watch it over on Amazon.
Spotlight recommendation #51 – THE HUMMINGBIRD PROJECT – 2018 – A thriller set in New York City. Two cousins and High-Frequency traders, Anton and Vincent aim to construct a straight fibre-optic cable line from Kansas to New Jersey. With Anton’s strategy and Vincent’s sales ability it should be in the bag, but throw their cunning and astute ex-boss Eva Torres into the mix and they certainly have a difficult path ahead. Watch on Netflix.
Spotlight recommendation #52 – THE 12th MAN – 2017 – Every week I try to bring you a movie that might not have gotten the coverage it deserved when I originally brought it to you guys. And the 12th Man is 100% deserving of a re-watch even if you’ve already seen it. A historical drama about a man who escapes from the Nazis who were then occupying Norway in 1943. The best part? The real life experiences may have even been more intense than the film. Now that is a rarity. Watch it on Netflix. Read my walkthrough here.
Spotlight recommendation #53 – ICE HARVEST – The winning starts with John Cusack and Billy Bob Thornton. A shady lawyer attempts a Christmas Eve crime, hoping to swindle the local mob out of some money. But his partner, a strip club owner, might have different plans for the cash. CY says that this one is a black as ice comedy. Literally one of the absolute best of all time. Oh, and by the way… she says, “THE GOLF CLUBS!!!” Watch it on Youtube.
Spotlight recommendation #54 – KISS KISS BANG BANG – American – Robert Downey, Jr., Val Kilmer, Michelle Monaghan, with Shane Black writing and directing “Po-perfect hell!” Two-bit crook Harry Lockhart (Robert Downey Jr.) stumbles into an audition for a mystery film while on the run from the cops. Winning the part, he lands in Hollywood, where he’s flung into a tangled, murderous conspiracy with his childhood sweetheart… you get the idea. Watch it on Prime.
Spotlight recommendation #55 – YOU KILL ME – CY says, Ben Kingsley – Best drunk hitman in the business until AA comes along. Great movie! An alcoholic mob hit man, Frank Falenczyk (Ben Kingsley), is forced into rehab by his boss (Philip Baker Hall). To clean up he gets a sponsor (Luke Wilson) who helps him enroll in a 12-step program. Frank eventually takes a job in a mortuary and begins a new life, falling in love with Laurel (Téa Leoni), a women he meets via a funeral . Frank’s idyllic new life is threatened when old associates with bad attitudes and worse intentions start looking for him. Watch it on iTunes.
Spotlight recommendation #56 – A WOMAN, A GUN & A CHINESE NOODLE FACTORY – Chinese – The owner of a Chinese noodle shop’s scheme to murder his adulterous wife and her lover goes awry. CY says, “Chinese remake of Blood Simple; director of House of Flying Daggers & Hero; great scenery.” Watch it on Prime.
Spotlight recommendation #57 – WASABI – In Japan for the funeral of his long-lost love, a tough French detective learns that he also has a teenage daughter and that her life is in danger from the Yakuza. “Jean Reno, Ryoko Hirosue, Gerard Krawczyk-d Love this film!” And, Taylor here again, anything with Reno in it will always be a favorite of mine, so I’m definitely in for Wasabi. Watch it on Prime.
Spotlight recommendation #58 – THE GUARD – I watched this just yesterday, and loved it. The film is racist in stretches, but I think Don Cheatle was good at calling it out and handling it well. But, hey, I’m a white guy, so I’m happy to be educated if I’m wrong on this one. But I thought Brendon Gleeson was a gem in this movie. Loved it. Watch it on Vudu. The read my walkthrough here.
Spotlight recommendation #59 – THE TOLL – Cami, (Jordan Hayes) gets an Uber at the airport. And her driver: Spencer (Max Topplin) is all kinds of awkward and a little unsettling. Her destination: Her dad’s place in the middle of nowhere. As the rather long drive progresses, Cami grows increasingly suspicious of Spencer’s odd behavior. This fear gives way to full-blown terror when their car breaks down on a secluded road…. and they both realize they’re not alone. Suddenly the car comes under attack. A rock smashes through the window. Attached to the rock is a message… a warning…. that visitors must “pay the toll.” Watch on Prime.
Spotlight recommendation #60 – THE KEEPING HOURS – 2017 – Psychological thriller/drama. After losing their son several years ago to an accident, Mark and Elizabeth separated. Elizabeth, still hurting, started a new family, but Mark can’t bear the sight of children. The once-happy couple is suddenly brought back together after being visited by the specter of their beloved child. Secrets are revealed. This is a totally different kind of haunted house film. Nothing like what you’d expect. Watch on Netflix.
Spotlight recommendation #61 – SILK ROAD – This one is a crime thriller recommended by Lisa. It’s sort of a cat and mouse type of film. The story follows the real life capture of the Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht. Twenty-something computer wizard Ross (Nick Robinson) combines his metaphysical way of thinking with his technical savvy to develop a new website on the darknet to peddle illicit narcotics. Yet, when DEA operative Rick Bowden (Jason Clarke) catches wind of Ross’s scheme, he goes deep undercover to infiltrate the operation and put an end to the trade. (I can thumb this one up as well… very intriguing watch.) On Prime.
Spotlight recommendation #62 – IMPETIGORE – This one comes with a full-tilt gore warning (I mean, it is in the title, you shouldn’t be too surprised.) Impetigore is a 2019 Indonesian mystery/horror film… about a young woman who returns to her village, to claim an inheritance. In the inner city, renegades Maya (Tara Basro) and Dini (Marissa Anita) struggle to survive without the grounding influence of family. When Maya receives a deed to inherit her wealthy family’s property, she hopes that she and Dini’s fortunes may change. However, a sinister force lies in wait for the girls in the rural village of Maya’s birth.
Spotlight recommendation #63 – THE CURED – Tells the story of a world that was overrun by zombies, and now some have been healed/cured, and are attempting to return to society. These are people/zombies that ate loved ones in the community. It’s a metaphor for sin, moral failings, and the repercussions in the community and our need for forgiveness. Yes, all that is in this movie. I know right? Brilliant. Go watch it right here on Hulu. Read my walkthrough here.
Spotlight recommendation #64 – BAD EDUCATION – Bad Education stars Hugh Jackman (who was glorious in Greatest Showman, just saying, and I loved in Logan), Allison Janney (who I originally had a crush on in West Wing, and who then won a much deserved Academy Award in I, Tonya, etc., etc., I could just keep going), and Ray Romano (Uh, Get Shorty? Hello?). Well, the charismatic superintendent and the business administrator of the high-flying ROSLYN SCHOOL DISTRICT in Long Island, attempt to salvage their legacy and reputation when a student journalist begins to uncover their scandalous $11-million embezzlement scheme. There aren’t enough good words for this one. Watch it right here. And read my walkthrough right here.
Spotlight recommendation #65 – THE FATHER – A powerful, true-to-life drama about what it’s really like to slowly lose your mind to Alzheimer’s. At 80-years-old, Anthony (Anthony Hopkins – come on, his real name? Interesting, that one detail alone makes this movie appealing to me) finds himself dependent on his daughter Anne (Olivia Colman) for everything. Anne needs to find someone to care for her father while she heads off to Paris. Anthony though, he is planning to sabotage those plans, until his mind starts playing tricks on him, that is. Watch now on Prime.
Spotlight recommendation #66 – THEM – 2021 – A horrifying, real life thriller. A ten-episode series that will light your hair on fire. Kind of a 1953 spin on Get Out, but with a much more realistic perspective on the entire affair. A family moves to Los Angeles and just isn’t welcomed like they should be. Heck, their idyllic dreams devolves into chaos of evil as the neighborhood cavorts and plans to swallow them alive. Scary stuff. Trust me, buckle up for this one. But I can’t recommend it enough. (I’ll probably do a post about it here soon enough.) Watch now on Prime.
Spotlight recommendation #67 – THE OAK ROOM – Steve left town three years ago to attend college. He promptly dropped out and became a drifter. Now, after the death of his father Gordon, he’s come to get his ashes from bartender Paul (Peter Outerbridge). However, Paul insists on being paid for funeral expenses first. Not having that kind of money, Steve offers a ‘story’ instead. A true story that happened at another bar, The Oak Room. Which bleeds into another story… and another story…. all of which we begin to see are related. Watch over on Youtube.
Spotlight recommendation #68 – THOROUGHBREDS – Before Anya Taylor-Joy made it big with the Queen’s Gambit… two childhood friends Lily and Amanda reconnect in suburban Connecticut after years of growing apart. Lily has turned into a polished upper-class teenager who has a fancy boarding school on her transcript and a coveted internship on her resume. Amanda has developed a sharp wit and her own particular attitude but all in the process of becoming a social outcast. Though they initially seem completely at odds, the pair eventually bond and hatch a plan to solve both of their problems. (No idea what that drivel means that I just pasted there. Just watch it, it’ll blow your mind.)
Spotlight recommendation #69 – GIRL– 2020 – Brought to you from Lisa. Revenge thriller. A young woman (Bella Thorne) returns to her hometown to exact vengeance on her abusive father. She discovers that he had been mysteriously murdered the previous day – and that the sheriff suspects she was involved. Dark familial secrets come to light as she hunts for answers. Watch it on Prime, or Hulu.
Spotlight recommendation #70 – FISHBOWL– 2018 – Another winner from Lisa. Within the isolated village of Bishop, live a father and his three daughters. The daughters are navigated a complicated world while their father becomes increasingly delusionally paranoid about… well, everything. He becomes sold on the idea that Armageddon is on its way, and that it is his job to prepare for this world-wide reckoning. You can watch it on Prime.
Spotlight recommendation #71 – ANOTHER ROUND – 2020 – This is a story about a group of teachers in Copenhagen who decide to test out a super obscure philosopher’s theory that living life with a constant blood alcohol level of 0.5 will give them a better life. More freedom. More happiness. Etc. etc. Yes, you can see where this is going. At first they each find a new-found zest, but when they decide to up the ante, and achieve a daily BAC of 1.0, the experiment quickly begins to nose over for all of them. Well, do they reckon with their choices or continue dimly on the same course? Watch it on Hulu.
Spotlight recommendation #72 – ELEPHANT SONG – 2014 – From Erika. Mystery thriller. Taking place over the course of an afternoon during the Christmas holidays during the 1960s, we start in the office of Dr. Lawrence, a psychiatrist at a juvenile mental institution, who has gone missing under mysterious circumstances. However, the key to his whereabouts might lie with Michael, a troublesome patient at the hospital with his own agenda, who uses this opportunity to try and bargain for his freedom in exchange for information. Watch right here.
Spotlight recommendation #73 – THE WILDING – 2018 – Anna spends her entire childhood under the care of a mysterious man she only knows as Daddy. He keeps her locked in an attic making her fear the Wildling, a child-eating monster that roams the outside. At age 16, Anna is freed by small-town sheriff Ellen Cooper who helps her start a new life as a normal teenager. But as Anna’s body begins to blossom, her childhood nightmares return with a vengeance, leading to the conclusion of a terrifying secret. Watch the Wildling on Netflix.
Spotlight recommendation #74 –PERSONA – 2021 – This troubling documentary focuses on the dangers of personality tests and how companies are using them to see where employees fit best. It goes into detail about the history of personality tests, and how companies are using the Myers-Briggs personality test in job applications to determine if they want certain people to work for them. And as I’ve been applying for a metric butt-ton of jobs each and every day, this film right here scares me to death. Watch it on HBO MAX.
Spotlight recommendation #75 – SON – 2021 – Is this a mystery? A Thriller? Horror? Having escaped from a cult as a child, a mother must face her past when its sinister members break into her home and attempt to steal her eight-year-old son, David. Now the two are on the run pursued by a detective determined to save them both. Since his attempted kidnapping, something has changed in David and the boy has succumbed to a mysterious illness. Following her maternal instincts to save him, his mother commits unspeakable acts to keep him alive but is losing the battle. Soon, she has to decide how far she is willing to go to save her son. Watch Son on Prime.
Spotlight recommendation #76 – BEARTOWN – 2020 – Swedish Crime drama limited series (aka Björnstad). Based on the Fredrik Backman’s bestselling novel of the same name, Beartown explores the role a junior ice-hockey team has in a small community; the hope, the secrets that could tear the town apart, the courage it takes to go against the group and the consequences of how we raise our children. Watch on Prime via HBOMAX.
Spotlight recommendation #77 – THE ROVER – 2014 – A decade after the collapse of the western world, Australia has become a lawless wasteland. As desperate outsiders pillage the country’s precious mineral resources. Eric, our hero, travels from town to town searching for signs of life. Then, one day, Eric falls prey to vicious thieves who steal his car. In the process of making their getaway, the thieves abandon Rey (Robert Pattinson), their wounded partner in crime. Meanwhile, Eric vows to reclaim his most-treasured possession by whatever means necessary, and forces Rey to help him track down the men who left him for dead. Rent it on Prime.
Spotlight recommendation #78 – CALIBRE – 2018 – Vaughn and Marcus, who have been friends since childhood, travel to a remote area of the Scottish Highlands for a hunting trip. The pair are tested to the limit when they face a thrilling situation which neither could have prepared for. Watch it on Netflix, and then join us to discuss it, because there is a metric butt-ton worth of discussion here. Wow – how I loved this movie. Watch it here.
Spotlight recommendation #79 – IN DARKNESS– 2016 – This one is hella-good. It’s a movie about a blind gal, well, and she… you know, can’t see stuff. Or something. Dude, just watch the movie. I can’t come up with some clever turn of phrase or, like, I don’t know, witticisms, and what not’s, ad infinitum. Just click the link, watch the movie. And then, when you are done, come back and comment telling me I was right, that you should have watched the movie. Great. Then check out my In Darkness walkthrough.
Spotlight recommendation #80 – SEIZURE (AKA BESATT) – A limited series Norwegian Crime-thriller wherein Oslovian (CY, let’s make this a thing… right? People from Oslo, are Oslovian. Come on, leave it in!) [OK! CY]) detectives Max Sorensen and Sander Holm are called in to investigate after four young immigrant boys are found dead in an empty swimming pool. Soon, both men are haunted by horrible nightmares. Watch it here.
Spotlight recommendation #81 – HELD – 2020 – A closed box mystery thriller wherein Emma and Henry’s marriage is losing its spark. In an effort to reconnect on their nine-year anniversary, they go on vacation to a remote luxury rental house — complete with state of the art automated smart-house features and integrated security. However, after suspecting a nighttime intruder, they decide to flee, only to discover they are being forcibly trapped inside —> by the all-encompassing technology. Sort of sounds like House With a View the Monster? No? Watch it on Prime.
Spotlight recommendation #82 – PLEDGE – 2019 – TAGLINE: “Few get in. None get out!” In a quest to become popular, college freshmen Ethan (Phillip Andre Botello), David (Zack Weiner) and Justin (Zachery Byrd) join an exclusive, but dodgy, fraternity that promises a world of parties and girls. But first, they must survive a 48-hour long depraved and torturous initiation rite, which will test their limits on how badly they want to be in with the cool kids. Oh gosh. I can’t believe I just typed those words out loud. Join me in watching right here on Hulu.
Spotlight recommendation #83 – SASQUATCH – 2021 – This is one from Lisa. It’s a 3-part mystery docuseries from the Duplass brothers….. record scratch. Watch on Hulu.
Spotlight recommendation #84 – MADE FOR LOVE – 2021 – I enjoy reading these movie recommendations out on the discord server as much as you guys enjoy reading them here in the weekly Spotlight. (Note: this is just a small fraction of the crazy number of recommendations that get kicked around over there.) But when I watched this trailer my brain locked. Like completely froze. It’s as if you took the humor of Get Shorty, melded it with a mind-bending twist straight out of Black Mirror, and sprinkled in a dose of Invisible Man thriller-ness for good measure… and voila, you have Made for Love. Oh, and toss in Ray Romano (Get Shorty), Billy Magnussen (Black Mirror’s USS Callister), and Cristin Milioti (Palm Springs). I can promise you I just started episode one myself. And look, I can’t stand the debt involved with watching multiple series – I am a very very busy man right now. (I’ll have updates on the job front here soon. Fingers crossed, say a prayer, knock on wood… and what not.) Just go watch it on HBO MAX.
Spotlight recommendation #85 – CAPTIVE – 2019 – Lily and Neil are on the run from Lily’s abusive father. They’re in the woods, setting up camp. But Neil goes missing and so Lily turns to a nearby house for protection. Only glitch? The really really friendly guy in the house? Yeah, he thinks that he is Lily’s father, and his daughter has this really annoying tendency to run away. And he really doesn’t want his “daughter” to run away again. Yeah, serious creepville happening right here. Feels sort of like if you took Compliance, maybe added in a dose of Maus, and then added some Get Out for good measure? Watch it right here on Youtube, Apple TV, or Vudu.
Spotlight recommendation #86 – BOSS LEVEL – 2020 – This one is Ground Hog’s Day for the sci-fi action set. Roy Pulver (Frank Grillo) is a former special forces agent, who is stuck in a time loop that keeps repeating. There is a deeper story here, but basically it’s Live, Die, Repeat, or Russian Doll, for the action movie set with a decidedly video game feel to it. Pulver has to track down Colonel Ventor (Mel Gibson), somn somn about his wife (Naomi Watts), yadda yadda yadda. All I know is that a lot of stuff blows up over and over again in this one. It’s a lot of fun. I enjoyed it anyway. Watch it on Hulu.
Spotlight recommendation #87 – SPELL– 2020 – Marquis (Omari Hardwick) crashes his plane on his way to his father’s funeral in rural Appalachia. He awakes injured, and trapped in the attic of Ms. Eloise’s home. She can totally nurse him back to health. (Uh, Misery anyone?) She is using the Boogity, a Hoodoo character she created from his blood and skin. Marquis is going to have to get super clever, super fast if he is ever planning to escape before the blood moon rises.
Spotlight recommendation #88 – UNSANE – 2018 – Each week, I try to bring you a little older film that you might of missed the first time I recommended it. (How?! You hang on my every post! This is crazy talk.) Sawyer Valentini moves to Boston to escape a man that was stalking her the past 2 years. But when she unwittingly signs herself into an asylum for 24 hours, things quickly go from bad to worse. This movie was crafted by Steven Soderbergh and shot with an iPhone I believe? Great little film. Check it out. Or don’t. I don’t care. I don’t. Whatever, man. Here’s a link to watch it on Prime, click it… or don’t.
Spotlight recommendation #89 – THE DRESSMAKER – Accused of murder when she was a child, a dressmaker (Kate Winslet) returns to her small Australian town to seek revenge on the locals who did her wrong. Watch it right here on Prime. Looks like a delight. Kate Winslet looks great in this – and the fact that it has a clever revenge twist to it? Even better.
Spotlight recommendation #90 – WELCOME TO THE PUNCH – Welcome to the Punch is a 2013 British action thriller film written and directed by Eran Creevy and starring James McAvoy, Mark Strong, and Andrea Riseborough. When a notorious criminal is forced to return to London, it gives a veteran detective one final chance to bring the man to justice. Watch it right here.
Spotlight recommendation #91 – THE FURNACE – this is the Australian Western revenge flick. Not the other one… which came out in 2019, I believe. The Furnace tells the story of stolen gold bars that need to get to a furnace in order to refashion them minus the identifiable crown stamped on them. This is another hard movie to find online. But don’t worry, I’m sure your local Blockbuster has this one. Oh, wait. There will be bounties in the comments for the first person to find a place to stream this one online.
Spotlight recommendation #92 – MARE OF EASTOWN – yes, I just did a write up of Mare. Yes, this is redundant. But you haven’t watched it yet, have you? See? I KNEW IT. So, go watch it, and then you can ridicule me for being duplicitous. This is a glorious police procedural steeped in the local Philadelphia suburbs. It’s just as much a character study of the wounded individuals riddling this drama as it is a search for the now missing young women of the Easttown community. It’s a great ride. And after you watch it, join me and discuss it with us here. And watch it here on HBO MAX.
Spotlight recommendation #93 – ARMY OF THE DEAD – Netflix – Are you hoping for an Ocean’s Eleven, Zombie, Heist Horror movie? Huh. Not gonna lie, you have weird tastes. But HECK, it’s your lucky day because that is literally Army of the Dead to a T. Basically Las Vegas is going to get nuked into oblivion… why? Because there was a zombie outbreak there, and its easier to wipe it off the planet and start over than to deal with the problem. But there’s a problem. There’s a huge pile of cash in a vault that is about to get nuked… So, of course, a team needs to blast its way in to get the cash. Uh, OK. hahahaha. Need to check your brain at the door? Want to just watch mayhem and carnage? Then this is the movie for you.
Spotlight recommendation #94 – ANIARA – Hulu – Aniara takes place in the near future when Earth has become uninhabitable. A nasty pandemic is spreading across the planet and our need to repopulate another planet is dire. The space ship Aniara is a massive luxury liner intent on moving humans far across space in hopes of our survival. Soon after departing the ship collides with something which sends the ship off course. And along the way, everything that could go wrong definitely does… including the creating of a cosmic insanity cult and other crazy devolution’s.
Spotlight recommendation #95 – BEATRIZ AT DINNER – Prime – Salma Hayek, John Lithgow, and Connie Britton, star in this philosophy 101 discussion about what really matters. Basically, Beatriz at Dinner is a thriller that collides different people from vastly different lifestyles and cares… different sociopolitical backgrounds all over the course of one evening of food. It’s one of the most poignantly insightful films I’ve ever watched, a film that really had me re-examine my myopic biases and made me think differently for once. And join us in discussing it here.
Spotlight recommendation #96 – PANIC – Amazon Prime – Based on the YA novel of the same name scribed by Lauren Oliver, this might be the mindless summer series you need right now. Maybe it’s Hunger Games meets the real world? Is that the best way to put it? Basically, graduating seniors are given a chance to play a game in order to escape the town. The players are put through a series of challenges by anonymous judges that will force them to confront their deepest fears. This year, 47 players will compete for the largest pot in the tournament’s history. All of them will be changed. But there can only be one winner. Because, duh. Basically, Battle Royale for the modern set. Lisa, this sort of looks like The Hunt? I watched the first episode, and thought it was a little too far blown for me, but maybe many of you will enjoy it.
Spotlight recommendation #97 – THE HOLLY KANE EXPERIMENT – Amazon Prime – Holly? She’s a brilliant psychologist who really enjoys experimenting on herself. Ms. Kane is perpetually hunting for the next mental and academic breakthrough. And, through a number of odd twists and turns, she is offered funding to facilitate her research by none other than the esteemed psychologist, Marvin Greenslade. Embarking on her next quests, she delves deeper into her own subliminal mind, which… might just… have larger implications for her own sanity and her life. This one looks really good Chris, thanks for the recommendation.
Spotlight recommendation #98 – LISEY’S STORY – Apple TV – Stephen King… heard of him? Horror novelist of: IT, Cujo, Pet Cemetery, The Dark Tower, The Stand… and also the author of Lisey’s Story? Is a thriller about Lisey Landon, and two years after the death of her husband, a famous novelist, Scott Landon. A series if repetitions and re-visitations to their past unveil unsettling events that forces Lisey to face the memories of her marriage to Scott she has gone out of her way to forget. Watch it on Apple TV.
Spotlight recommendation #99 – THE AUTOPSY OF JANE DOE – Amazon Prime – This is a crazy little film about a team of father and son coroners who are investigating the death of `Jane Doe.’ As they aim to ascertain who she is and how she died, they find an increasingly bizarre sequence of clues.
Spotlight recommendation #100 – AFTER LOVE – 2021 – tells the story of a woman who discovers a shocking secret after the unexpected death of her husband. And yeah, this looks amazing. Indelible acting. Closed box constraints. Simmering and escalating tensions. My research is telling me that it released early June? But maybe in Britain and Europe? Put a pin in this one, because it looks glorious. I’ll definitely be doing a write up on this one when I can get my hot little (?) hands on it.
Spotlight recommendation #101 – Rare Beasts – August 2021 – another pin for your reminder app of choice. (Look, come August 31, when your alarm goes off for this one, I also expect you to hustle back here and tell us thank you! Specifically CY, she is the one that tipped me to it. Thanks CY.) This thing looks like a tour de force. Just a feral beast of a movie. And it looks glorious. I mean, have you watched that trailer? Holy crap.
Spotlight recommendation #102 – FALSE POSITIVE – Lucy and Adrian are trying to have a baby. After becoming pregnant with a healthy baby girl, Lucy begins to notice something sinister through Hindle’s gleaming charm, and she sets out to uncover the unsettling truth about him, and her own “birth story.” Watch this one right now on Hulu. Thanks, Nancy, for the tip on this one.
Spotlight recommendation #103 – MOTHERLESS BROOKYLYN – 2019 – Edward Norton directs plays Lionel Essrog, a private detective living with Tourette syndrome in 1950’s New York City. He tries to solve the murder of his mentor and best friend, armed only with vague clues and the strength of his obsessive mind. His determination to solve the murder takes him through the Harlem jazz scene, the Brooklyn slums, and into the entrenched ranks of the city’s most powerful men. Plot keeps you guessing the whole time. Available on Amazon Prime and Apple. Chris, hat’s off to you bud for tipping me to this one. Looks really good.