Perfume: Story of a Murderer

The Nice Guys

Cashback I feel is pretty unknown. Maybe not but still very good. Also Gentleman Broncos is fantastic if you’re into the napoleon dynamite style of comedy, same creators.

Jacob’s Ladder.

A largely forgotten psychological horror film from 1990 with Tim Robbins and Macaulay Culkin.

Saw it on TV once by chance and loved it ever since.

I’d say it’s must-watch for being influential despite its moderate success and being incredibly gripping as you try to get your head around what’s actually going on.

The three tensest films I've seen -

Flight of the Phoenix (original B&W one)

Duel (Spielberg's first film)

And one with David Wotsisname that plays Poirot but he's a terrorist on a plane

Rubber.

Detective Heart of America: The Final Freedom is a comedy film that will either be the funniest thing ever or an absolute cringefest, depending on your opinion of Jason Steele's brand of humor. There is no in-between. It's available to watch for free on YouTube, or whatever alternative frontend you use.

Jason Steele, AKA FilmCow, you may recognize from YouTube series such as Charlie the Unicorn or Llamas with Hats. Yeah. That guy. Imagine 70 minutes of that.

The film is a sequel to a pair of 4 minute long shorts (here and here). The film contains characters from these shorts and references events from them. So watching the film without watching the shorts first leads to some characters showing up out of nowhere with unexplained details. But that's how every other character in the movie is, so... whatever, lmao.

I still recommend watching the shorts first. If nothing else they can serve as an appetizer for you, to decide whether or not it's your cup of tea. The film is the same vibe as the shorts, just longer. If you hate the shorts you will despise the film.

It's unironically my favorite film, so, I hope you get some amusement out of it. But if you bounce right off, I won't be surprised. If you like it, enjoy quoting every line of it for the next month. If you hate it, sorry for wasting your time.

Didn't see Big Man Japan (2007) listed here.

Repo: A Genetic Opera

Rampage, it's such a good popcorn flick. It's so over the top that I wouldn't blame you for writing it off without watching it, but give it a chance, it's ultimate action silliness.

Cabin in the woods, its a top 2 horror satire, but you may have heard of that one

Tucker and Dale vs evil, maybe watch this one before cabin in the woods, it's the best horror satire.

Galaxy quest, easily the best star trek movie ever made, one of the top 5 movies ever made.

I'm not sure how many of these are hidden gems, it depends on your viewing habits (not many people would consider horror to contain much good cinema)

Snatch mighhhhht be well known? It is hilarious and just fun to watch!

It's a Guy Ritchie movie that follows a few groups of people and how they all come to be involved in either chasing or having been in the presence of a diamond that was stolen. It's a lot of fun to see the interaction between the different groups they follow and some of the lines are absolutely hilarious.

Known to horror aficionados, but not to general movie watchers: Lake Mungo (2008)

I highly recommend you don't read up on it. Besides the fact that the film just works so much better when you come to it fresh, most reviews - both in print and YouTube videos - spoil pivotal scenes, including in the artwork they choose to use as a thumbnail/heading. Just watch it. Even if the horror doesn't work for you (many people report being bored by the film), it's still a great film with surprising depth and heart. It's worth checking off your list for sure.

The basics: It's a mockumentary set in Australia, made by a director/writer who hasn't done anything before or since, featuring actors who probably aren't known to you, even if you're an Aussie. Much of the dialogue is improvised, so it feels very real and natural.

Try to watch it alone, in the dark, with no distractions (turn off your phone). This will help maximise your chances of being one of the lucky people the film has managed to scare in a profound way. I'm one of those lucky people, I'm happy to say!

Upgrade (Cyberpunk movie from Australia)

Pecker 1998

A talented young photographer, who enjoys snapping photos of his satirical, perverted Baltimore neighborhood and his wacky family, gets dragged into a world of pretentious artists from New York City and finds newfound fame.

Written and directed by John Waters.

Starring Edward Furlong, Christina Ricci and Bess Armstrong.

In no particular order (and yes some are more well known in film circles, maybe I should've ommited them, but you never know what the reader hasn't seen):

Jojo Rabbit, 2019 - a comedic coming of age in Nazi Germany. Jojo and his imaginary friend, Hitler, face a complicated and rapidly changing world.

The Mitchells versus the Machines, 2021 - animated family adventure for fun with the whole family.

Rise of Leslie Vernon, 2006 - mocumentary following slasher killer Leslie Vernon.

Bunny and the Bull, 2009 - an, in my opinion, gorgeously set film about two friends on a road trip in Spain.

Parallel Mothers (Madras Paralelas), 2021 - not a hidden gem if you know anything about Spanish cinema, but maybe you don't. Penolpe Cruz is a new mother whose life becomes intertwined with another women's when they give birth in the same hospital.

Hero (英雄), 2002 - again, if you know Wuxia film then this isn't a hidden gem. A pinnacle of the genre, a Chinese Rashomon with wire fights.

Blow Up, 1966 - British New Wave classic. A photographer used to a free and casual 60s life becomes certain he has accidentally photographed evidence of a murder.

Berberian Sound Studio, 2012 - exploration of sound and feeling. A mild mannered amateurish British sound technician gets a big job working on the sound effects for a giallo film in Italy.

Martyrs, 2008 - the pinnacle of French New Extreme movement. It made a big name for itself at the time for being the sort of torture porn film that really gave it a point beyond vouyerism. Not for the faint of heart.

Rye Lane, 2023 - a romcom love letter to London.

The Day Shall Come, 2019 - an eccentric black preacher gets caught up in a web of madness that runs deep.

Smoke 'Em If You Got 'Em

Smoke 'Em If You Got 'Em is a 1988 Australian short feature about an underground party held in post-apocalyptic Melbourne. The film is a product of nuclear anxiety at the height of the Cold War.

Director: Ray Boseley. Cast: Rob Howard, Nique Needles, Polly Croke, Daniel Lillford, Fred Dugina, Maddog Bott, George Huxley, Chris Windmill, Ian 'Quinsy' Maclean, Lindsay Brundson, Clayton Jacobson, Adam Learner, Myrtle Woods, Bill Johnston, Smiley Rowe, John F. Howard, Claire Bordas, John Flaus, Wayne ullman, Dennis Tupicoff, Peter Lane, Wain Fimo, Bruce Barnes, Angus Algie, Loretta Bell, Grant Barling, Claire Boseley, Julian Faull, Zlatko Kasumovic, Anthony Kay, Ollie Martin, Penny McKimm, Dennis Prosser, Adrian Scully, Aleksi Vellis.

Wong Kar-Wai’s films, particularly his 90s Hong Kong vibes of Chungking Express and its spiritual counterpart Fallen Angels.

A decent number of folks have still never seen "Primer", since it was kind of an indie classic before it got a cult following.

It's a a must watch because:

A. It's just really well made. B. It's delightfully mind bending.

A Man for All Seasons. Excellent legal drama and look into the birth of the Anglican church.

Wake in Fright.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067541/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

An Aussie movie from the 70's that was thought lost until a print was discovered and a restored version was released.

I'm not going to spoil it, it's well worth a look but there are scenes of a real-life kangaroo hunt which might put some people off.

These are some of my favourite, in no particular order:
The Phantasm series
Dale and Tucker Fight Evil
Cabin in the woods
Snowpiercer
Equilibrium
A bitter sweet life
The man from nowhere
I saw the Devil (you may not want to watch this one)
Train to Busan (1 and 2)
Lady Vengence/Sympathy for Lady vengence
Sympathy for Mr Vengence
OldBoy (the Korean version - you may also not want to watch this)
Wrath of man
The Family (DeNiro and Pheiffer)
Keeping up with the Joneses
Gran Torino
Boondock Saints
Layer Cake
RocknRolla
Operation Fortune
Lucky Number Slevin
A man called Otto
Stand up guys
King of New York
The Dead Zone
7 Psychopaths
Biloxi Blues
In Bruges
The Matador
From Paris with love

Sir! No, Sir! (2005, 1080p)

Sir! No Sir! is a documentary film about the anti-war movement within the ranks of the United States Military during the Vietnam War. It consists in part of interviews with Vietnam veterans explaining the reasons they protested the war or even defected. The film tells the story of how, from the very start of the war, there was resentment within the ranks over the difference between the conflict in Vietnam and the "good wars" that their fathers had fought. Over time, it became apparent that so many were opposed to the war that they could speak of a movement.

Tomorrowland

Pontypool, a Canadian indie film with a unique take on zombies

Here are a few movies from my Jellyfin server that I loved and that seem less popular:

• Blow the Man Down
• The Holdovers
• Jojo Rabbit
  • This movie made me shriek at points. Like, not because I was scared, but just from... I dunno, delighted outrage?
• Me and You and Everyone We Know
  • ))<>((
  • If you haven't seen the movie, don't look this up.

The Kings Of Summer

Coming-of-age comedy about three teenage friends -- Joe (Nick Robinson), Patrick (Gabriel Basso) and the eccentric and unpredictable Biaggio (Moises Arias) - who, in the ultimate act of independence, decide to spend their summer building a house in the woods and living off the land. Free from their parents' rules, their idyllic summer quickly becomes a test of friendship as each boy learns to appreciate the fact that family - whether it is the one you're born into or the one you create -- is something you can't run away from.

The Slammin Salmon. Same group that did super troopers and beerfest. Great comedy, I don't see people ever talk about it. Enjoy!

Gummo https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119237/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk