I think I speak for a majority of the Netflix-watching population when there comes a point where there is seemingly nothing left to watch. You think to yourself about how you’ve seen "Django Unchained" too many times to count and "Forrest Gump" has started to lose some of its classic charm. You’ve seen every episode of "Friends" and "House of Cards." Now what? Whether you’ve seen some of them or none of them, the list below features some of the hidden gems on Netflix you might not find otherwise (if you haven’t seen "Django Unchained" or "Forrest Gump," start there).Enjoy.
10. "The Den."
A girl is doing research on Internet chat rooms ,when she meets someone who won’t go away. When the individual actually shows up in person, things get weird. Fast-paced, at 81 minutes, the action keeps coming in this one and never stops.
9. "Blue Ruin."
This is a fairly simplistic movie that tells the tale of one man's quest for vengeance. I don’t want to give too much away, here, but the characterization in this movie is phenomenal. You care about the main character and sympathize with him along his whole journey, as devious as it is.
8. "Kill List."
A weird movie from start to finish. You never quite feel like you have all the pieces put together, especially as the movie gets to its midpoint. In short, two old military friends are given a contract of people to eliminate. The ending will leave your jaw on the floor.
7. "The Babadook."
It’s a shame that "The Babadook" didn’t get a more widespread theatrical release as it absolutely deserved it. In short, a mother reads a quixotic short story to her son, only to have the babadook, whatever it is, invade the house. A very lean cast lends to building the tension in this horror movie to the point where it is almost unbearable. The ending here isn’t jaw-dropping, but is exponentially creepy nonetheless.
6. "The Imposter."
There were several points in this movie when I simply couldn’t believe what I was watching and hearing. "The Imposter" tells the true story of a boy who goes missing, only to be found three-and-a-half years later in a town in Spain. The family is overwhelmed with relief and joy, but is the lost boy really who he says he is?
5. "The Conspiracy."
"The Conspiracy" is a unique film. The first half of the movie is fairly slow, with two filmmakers researching conspiracy theories. They find one man and begin exclusively working with him. When he goes missing, the duo sets out to uncover the truth. What they find is equal parts thought-provoking and terrifying.
4. "Short Term 12."
Going into this one, I was told I would need tissues. Truthfully, I didn’t need them, but chances are a lot of people will. An absolutely touching film, "Short Term 12" centers on youth who are classified as at-risk for exhibiting concerning behaviors. Heartbreaking at times, "Short Term 12" is a true achievement of a movie that leaves you with a provision of hope for society.
3. "Nightcrawler."
Recently in theaters, "Nightcrawler" is now on Netflix. I went to see this one in theaters twice, which is incredibly rare for me. Lou Bloom, played by Jake Gyllenhaal, enters the world of being a nightcrawler, tracking police codes and getting to accidents before emergency vehicles to get up-close and in-person footage of the scene. Gyllenhaal’s character is maniacal to no end, the true epitome of someone you probably wouldn’t want to know. Again, the characterization here is undeniably great.
2. "Snowpiercer."
Visually shocking, "Snowpiercer" blew me away. I had no expectations coming in, and even if I did, I’m sure the result would have been the same. The story is an imagination of civilization on a train, with each car representing something wholly different from the others. The poor are in the back in cramped quarters, getting just enough of what they need to survive. The rich live lavishly in the front, but when the poor revolt, everything changes. Political metaphors aside, "Snowpiercer" is a truly great movie. Led by Chris Evans, don’t miss this one.
1. "Mr. Nobody."
What if you hadn’t moved as a child? What if you had a different fifth grade teacher? What if your parents hadn’t gotten divorced? What if? "Mr.Nobody" does its best to answer some of these questions. I don’t want to give away the lesson here, but a cast featuring Jared Leto combines with great cinematography to create a masterpiece of a film. Far and away my favorite on this list, "Mr. Nobody" is an absolute must-watch.