Great Movies That You May Not Have Seen

The Dead Lands (2014)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3399916

If you've seen and liked Mel Gibson's Apocalypto, and were wondering if there was ever going to be anything like it ever again, then here you go.
Of course, we're not talking about Mayans this time around, but the Maori people, natives of New Zealand. It is also in its native language. Where Apocalypto was more of an action chase film without cars, Dead Lands is more of a revenge/redemption film, but this movie still has plenty of action though it's not the focus. I don't know if I'd go as far as to say the two films are on the same level of quality and direction, but it's pretty close which is impressive because this movie didn't have a massive budget.

He Never Died (2015)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2386404

It's bizarrely good. It's really low-key and occasionally stumbles, but for whatever reason, I wanted to see more and know more about Henry Rollins' character because he was great. This is such a different movie. It's a mostly unknown film that will probably see little or no fanfare, and while it feels a little like high-end TV quality, it is really honestly good an unique. If there was one film I could liken it to, I would say something like Unbreakable - meaning it's just a really small scale film but the concept is really neat.

I honestly don't want to say any more, but watch the trailer and you'll get a feel for what to expect. It's mostly a slow burn, character-driven film...but give it a shot on VOD. It's on iTunes, AmazonPrime, Google Play, Comcast, DIRECTV, TimeWarner Cable, DISH, XBL, YouTube, PlayStation, etc. There are plenty of viable avenues to send this little film a few bucks. It's worth it.

Beyond the Black Rainbow (2010)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1534085

Probably my only venture into the artsy and completely bizarre on this list since I know these kinds of films can be polarizing. If you've got no tolerance for something a little abstract, then maybe this isn't the film for you but if you don't mind a little mind fuck, give it a whirl.

This film was made by the son of the guy who brought us Tombstone, Rambo: First Blood Part II, and Cobra who is sadly passed on. While the son never directed before or after this, he definitely made something crazy and special. It is saturated in 70's style surrealism and just drips with an unexplainable authentic aura of the period. Imagine seeing a VHS tape with the cover image above and wondering what it would be like to see THAT film... that's the best way to describe it. I want to say there's a slight hint of Portal (yes the game) influence. It's a mind fuck for sure.

The Fall (2006)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0460791

If I were to list these in order, this would be squarely at the top of the list. If you ever wanted to imagine The Princess Bride being more adult-centered, here's The Fall. I make that comparison mostly because it's a story being told to a kid, but also because it's an adventure...but it's so much more than just that.
It's surreal, beautiful and bizarre as well as occasionally funny and heartbreaking. It's artistic, but easy to follow. This isn't one of those films that tries to overdo it just for the sake of being artsy. The little girl in this is charming and adorable as all hell, and it really helps make the movie have more charm...not that it wasn't already dripping with it otherwise, because it's fantastic in every aspect. This is what movies are for. This is IMO a cinematic masterpiece and the only negative thing I can say is that I'm sad I never got the chance to see it in a theater.

The Man from Nowhere (2010)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1527788

Wow....just....fucking wow. Go watch this instantly on Netflix right fucking now. I am speechless.

The most fucked up, beautiful, action-packed, gut-wrenchingly tragic, wonderful and just amazing movie I have seen in years. This movie had me on the edge, cheering, clenching my teeth, giddy, and I am not afraid to admit, crying. Jerked the tears right out of me... in both sadness and happiness. Now, maybe the crying thing is because I have a super soft spot for protecting little girls from harm, but I'll be damned if you don't at least have some emotional feeling that makes tears at least start to well in your eyes during this film.

It's a little bit Oldboy, a twinge of Symphany for Lady Vengeance, a dash of Man on Fire, Taken and maybe even a little hint of Leon: the Professional. Good stuff.

Cast a Deadly Spell (1991)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101550

For an HBO original movie made in 1991, it's actually a really good movie with a shitload of charm. It's a very well done noir but with magic spells and shit. I've read comparisons to Roger Rabbit, but I don't know if I'd say that's accurate. There's a hint of it, but nothing notable you can put your finger on. It felt more Dick Tracy to me than Roger Rabbit. But anyways, it's a noir film set on a backbone of HP Lovecraft and it's really good.

Trash (2014)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1921149

A surprisingly good movie from Brazil. I would have to say this is a kids movie handled in an adult manner and bodes well for both kids and adults in the vein of the old 80's mature kids movies like Goonies, E.T., or even Gremlins. It's absolutely a kids adventure movie though - maybe not so much "adventure" as we know it in the US but it's definitely the same feel. It's about kid in Brazil who work/live in a massive Rio trash dump and stumble upon a wallet that's part of a massive conspiracy. Basically, the kids get in over their heads and are chased by the bad guys, much like Goonies - just with a different plot. I can't do it justice without spoiling anything, but if you're up for a maturely-handled kids romp and you can deal with subtitles (it's in Portugese with limited English), I absolutely recommend it!

Prisoners (2013)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1392214

This one might not be quite as unknown as most of the films in this list, but apparently it wasn't a widely known smashing success either...and that's really sad because this is an amazing film. Never have I come out of a film feeling like I personally was the bad guy for rooting for certain characters. This is another one of those films where you're best off going in with little knowledge other than the basic plot of 2 kids getting kidnapped and the parents trying to find them. It's a very grounded and occasionally bleak film, but it's unforgettable.

Freaked (1993)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109838

This one is actually a classic to me. I saw this back when it first came out and fell in love. It's a stupid film with a ridiculous plot, but it's supposed to be. Starring Alex Winter from Bill & Ted, and with a stealth cameo by Keanu himself as Ortiz the Dogboy, it's a comedy horror (?) about a freakshow run by Randy Quaid who actually turns people into freaks so he can put them on display. Also starring Mr.T as the bearded lady and a myriad of other cameos.

The Machine (2013)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2317225

This is one of those films that just kind of never got a shot at success because of lack of advertising. It's a surprising little gem though. If you've seen Ex Machina (2015), I would personally say this was better. Maybe not as artful and high budget, but if we're talking robot A.I. films in recent years, I found The Machine slightly more enjoyable.
I've seen some comparisons to it being Blade Runner meets Beyond the Black Rainbow, but personally I saw juuuust a hint of Planet of the Apes maybe too. But then again, it wasn't like a mashup of any of those films, more like just hints of tone and style. I would say most notably, it has a very similar musical score as Beyond the Black Rainbow, but all other comparisons are subtle. This movie just got better and better as time passed. At first, I was thinking maybe a 5/10, then through the middle, it went to 7/10 but by the end, it was a solid 8/10 for me.

The Last Days on Mars (2013)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1709143

I found this movie to be a really solid space horror. Probably the closest thing we're gonna find to something like the Dead Space games in a movie so far. Also, a little 28 Days Later feel to it. I've read comparisons to Alien as well, but I wasn't getting that vibe. In either case, if you were looking to explore in space horror and expand your library, give this a shot. It's pretty good!

Ninja (2009)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1182921

Do you like 80's ninja movies? What would you say if I told you an 80's ninja movie was made in 2009? That's essentially what Ninja is. Scott Adkins is one of my favorite actors and he plays in this very wonderfully cliche movie about the one white guy accepted into a Japanese ninja clan who has to prove his worth among them as an outsider. The only girl in the clan falls in love with him of course, and this causes the lead Japanese pupil to turn bad and get kicked out. I think you can guess what happens from here...

Ninja: Shadow of a Tear (2013)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2458106

The oddly satisfying sequel to the movie above. This one isn't even really a ninja movie. It's a strange piece of pseudo-80s ninja/action cinema. It's almost like a mashup of Rambo 4, Taken, and Ninja (above). It follows the same basic plot backbone and progression of the first Ninja, but it has severe elements of Rambo 4 mixed in, with just a hint of Taken in it. While Ninja was very much a massive homage to 80s ninja movies in that it felt very much like one, Ninja 2 is almost like an homage to the modern action movies but with a background of the 80s feel. It's a weird mix to pin down in any specific way, but that's the best way I can describe it.
It's mostly not a ninja movie, but it's also not you typical revenge movie, nor is it a bullets-flying jungle romp - yet it's still sort of all those things. I suppose the best way to put it is that it's kind of like if you took Rambo 4 but removed Rambo and inserted a ninja. In becoming those things, it lost some of what made Ninja special, but it also took on a neat new form. Whatever this film is exactly, I know I liked it.

Hunter Prey (2010)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1270291

I would recommend not watching the trailer for this one, if you can avoid it and still find interest in watching it. Sadly, being this is like a no-namer film, watching the trailer is about the only thing that might get you to watch it but the trailer does kind of ruin a couple of the surprises you don't find out until about halfway through the film.

While this movie feels wholly made for TV all around, one could easily make comparisons to Enemy Mine and other films, but I felt maybe it was only very lightly like Enemy Mine and maybe a little more like Riddick 3 but slower paced. For a micro budget film it is definitely watchable and felt relatively fresh and new. Sadly this one seems to have just kind of whimpered into obscurity, but it's a pretty solid film for what it is. I feel like maybe if this was made in the 80's it would feel less out of place and there would be the nostalgia factor to it as well. If you're ok with TV grade sci-fi with a bit of a Star Trek feel about it, give it a go.

Mirrormask (2005)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0366780

Somewhere between Labyrinth and Alice in Wonderland or even Wizard of Oz, this is a story of fantasy and adventure for a 15 year old girl who ends up on a strange journey into another world on a quest to find the fabled MirrorMask in order to save a kingdom and get back home.
While the fully CGI world isn't the cutting edge of graphics, it wasn't meant to be - it's very much an abstract piece of art but not so abstract that you're left feeling like you're not smart enough to watch it. According to Neil Gaiman, this film was made as a straight-to-DVD film but was good enough of a story to get a limited theater run. If you missed it, give it a shot.

The Art of the Steal (2013)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2172985

Surprisingly good heist movie. The whole cast was stellar, with maybe the exception of Jay Baruchel who I personally find too whiny for my tastes but he didn't bother me much. I did like knowing that he adlibbed a lot of his lines though (in the post credits outtakes). Kurt Russell, Matt Dillon, Terence Stamp - all on their top game. Jason Jones was great too. He should be in more things. I'm surprised this film didn't get much publicity; it's really good.

The Admiral: Roaring Currents (2014)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3541262

I don't know the history behind it so obviously I can't gauge how much if this is real or bullshit, but it was really good, even if a little embellished.

I was really impressed with the ship battles. I don't know how much of it was CGI, but not until the very very end did I catch anything that even remotely like it was computerized. They did an excellent job for the bulk of it with what looked like practical effects, and only some bits were obvious CGI. Considering the scale of the battle, they did an awesome job. It got a little hokey near the end with some almost cartoonish over-the-top stuff...but nothing that ruined the film as a whole. If you like Korean stuff, and you like naval war stuff, it's a solid film.

Big Bad Wolves (2013)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2309224

Color me stupid, but I was completely unaware that Israel made movies, let alone Hollywood caliber movies like this. Is it the greatest movie in the world? Nope, but if you go into this one with the mindset that it's a "movie" movie, it's actually really good as far as thrillers go. I'm trying to be as spoiler free on this one so everyone can go in fresh on it, but if you can think along the lines of a slightly less dark version of Prisoners, then you get sort of an idea of what kind of movie this is.

The Rover (2014)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2345737

You won't know it until you see it, but the title is meaningful in a few ways... There's not a whole lot to spoil here but the spoilable things are small and kind of special. The basic premise here is a gritty and mostly grounded post-apocalypse scene with Guy Pearce just trying to get where he's going and survive. Also starring Robert Pattinson of Twilight fame in a brilliantly unexpected role that he plays fantastically. Don't let this one slip by just because of him; he's actually good for the film. That and the film is pretty damn good as well.

The Last Witch Hunter (2015)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1618442

This is a newer one that I think got overlooked because the trailer makes it look awful. Hell, even I skipped it in theaters. For what it is, it's a pretty good and fun movie. You can tell Vin Diesel is having a good ol time hamming it up in the closest thing he has to a D&D fantasy since he's into that stuff. The film is hokey as hell, but definitely enjoyable. It occasionally fumbles its way to the next plot point, though nothing for me that ruined the film in any way. It had a pretty strong opening and I thought it was going to take the Highlander route or something that expended more effort detailing Vin's travels through the years, yet it took a more modern day route that felt a lot to me like The Wolf Among Us but with witches instead of fairy tales (another review I read compared it to Blade but with witches/magic, which I can also see).
All said, you do have to go into this one not expecting to take it too seriously, and if you do see it I think you'll enjoy it with the right mindset. I'd say if you enjoy fantasy shit like swords and sorcery with a bit of a Highlander twist to it, you might like it too.

Death Trance (2005)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0443737

As much as I love Japan, I find that the majority of Japanese films just don't make a lick of fucking sense. They usually have great ideas but tend to get muddled in a bunch of theoretical and psychological BS and just start to wander....and then occasionally a film comes along line Versus or Death Trance where none of that shit matters.
The film takes place in unknown time and place. The main character hungers for the ultimate challenge and a worthy adversary. In the process, he steals an ancient coffin said to contain the mythical Goddess of Destruction. He searches for a way to pry it open and unleash the power contained inside. Lots of awesome fighting ensues.

Tucker and Dale vs Evil (2010)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1465522

DO NOT WATCH THE TRAILER!!

There, I got that out. Just don't. The trailer spoils every single punchline of this movie. I was ROFL through the whole trailer and then I watched the film and it basically ruins all of the hilarity because you know every single punchline in advance.

I don't want to say much about this one except that it takes everything you know about cabin in the woods / slasher / redneck horror and turns it on it's head in the most hilarious way imaginable. DO NOT WATCH THE TRAILER!

Sukiyaki Western Django (2007)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0906665

I want to say up front that this one is debatable. I can see people not liking it but I personally love it. If you know of Django as a series, most notably the original, then you have an idea of what's going on here. This is actually more of a mashup up A Fistful of Dollars and Django except with samurai instead of cowboys, but so much more strange than that.

The basic premise here is a western but mixed with Japanese samurai lore as well. It's a strange mashup made even more crazy by having an all Japanese cast trying horribly to speak the entire film in Engrish. It's amazing. You might need subtitles for this one even though it's spoken in English. It's not really a joke and it's played pretty straight. If you like samurai and cowboys and aren't afraid to try something a little off-the-cuff, check it out.

Get the Gringo (2012)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1567609

I don't care what anyone says, this is the sequel to Payback.

No matter what anyone tells you, when you watch it, this is the sequel. It's every bit as awesome as the original, and amazingly badass on it's own as well. Who gives a fuck what Mel Gibson does in his personal life. I love his movies, and his movie persona. This man is brilliant, and he funded this movie into production when no studios were willing to touch anything Gibson with a 10-foot pole. Their loss, I say... Do yourself a favor and see this movie.

RocknRolla (2008)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1032755

Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.
Snatch.

If you've seen those and haven't seen this, please do so now. Snatch seems to get all the credit in this [trilogy] and it seems like nobody ever talks about the 3rd film...well, this is it. And IMO, it's just as good as the other two. Sure, good old Snatch may be the Empire Strikes Back of the bunch but that doesn't mean this one isn't good. If you haven't heard of it, you just got told.

47 Ronin (2013)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1335975

47 Ronin is one of those films that got unfairly treated in just about every way and never got a chance to be seen with untainted expectations. The posters and trailer falsely advertised something that this film simply isn't. Reviewers clearly went in wanting something else and panned it pretty universally. If you've seen the posters for this, you saw Skeleton Man - who is in the film for 2 seconds. The trailers sell it as a Chinese fantasy film with dragons and shit and almost make it look like a mystical Bloodsport area fighter. It's none of that.

What is 47 Ronin? Well, it's a very well made period piece about the actual story of the ronin in Japan. There are a very small handful of short scenes with magical stuff that were apparently shoehorned into the film by the studio without the director's approval and after he turned in the finished product. They don't ruin the otherwise fantastic film, but they are a small smear on it that seemed unnecessary. This is less dragons and magic and more The Last Samurai. Trust me, it's pretty damn good.

Black Death (2010)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1181791

Sean Bean is in it. You know how it ends for him. Now that we've got that out of the way...

Really an excellent movie...You know you're watching a great film when 45 minutes pass and you thought it was like 10 minutes into the film. I don't want to get too much into it so I don't spoil anything for anyone, but it was definitely worth seeing at least once if you like knights in armor era kind of stuff. One of the highlights for me was the realism seen in the fighting between knights. Not a lot of pretty things, or sword twirling and shit, just lots of grungy shitty medieval life.

Goodnight Mommy (2014)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3086442

I wouldn't categorize it as horror even though the trailers play it as such; maybe more drama/thriller...maybe a little suspense. Some reviews pawn it off as being ruined by the 3rd act but I think it was well executed. You definitely have to hang on through the whole film, even if it can get a little hard to swallow on occasion. It's purposely coy about things but for a good reason. This is unfortunately one of those movies you can't discuss without spoiling everything, so let's just leave it at that.

The Front Line (2011)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2007387

Another great Korean film. This was an excellent Korean War movie... I'm talking Saving Private Ryan and We Were Soldiers level of war drama here. Brutal an unforgiving, this film explores everything from the chaos of fighting to the bullshit politics and beyond. Moreover, they spent equal time on characters, and the human drama of it all. It really is a fantastic and heartbreaking film. I can't recommend this enough to anyone who liked the previously mentioned war films.

Faster (2010)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1433108

Great 70's revenge flick. Yeah, this came out in 2010, but I'll be damned if this isn't meant to be essentially a product of the 70's. It's also Dwayne Johnson's first R-rated role, and man he shines. I don't really want to give too much away because the plot it relatively thin, so just know he was wronged, he's out for blood, and it was freaking badass.

From Paris with Love (2010)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1179034

I'm not a John Travola fan but I really liked him in this film. I was gonna type up a description but I forgot what I was gonna say, lol. It's sort of a good cop bad cop thing, but it's action packed and great.

The Frighteners (1996)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116365

I imagine if you were old enough in 1996, you probably know about this one, but it seems to be one of those films that's just unbelievably great that just doesn't get talked about much, so this one is more for the younger generations. It's Michael J Fox at his best - oh and Peter Jackson! It's a little bit Sixth Sense, a little bit Ghostbusters, and maybe even Beetlejuice. It's not straight comedy but it's funny and occasionally dark, and all around fantastic and fun. A must see if you ask me.

Odd Thomas (2013)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1767354

An unexpectedly good movie for me. Sure, it was a bit corny and unbelievable. Some of it was a little predictable, but the whole thing was a pretty fun ride. The closest thing I can liken this movie to is The Frighteners, which I assume had some influence on the general plot because it did have a similar feel with just a twinge of John Dies At The End mixed in. While not nearly as great as The Frighteners, this film was really good in its own right. You would have to have seen The Frighteners first to get that reference, but hey you might have...in which case maybe try this as well.

Role Models (2008)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0430922

I don't know if it's just something I missed personally, but I never even heard of this and I love Sean William Scott and Paul Rudd. This has both of them doing what they both do best and it's hilarious.

Crying Freeman (1995)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112750

I know the 90's didn't really fare too well for live action conversions of cartoons, games, or anime/manga so color me surprised when this one turned out good.

This movie was so perfectly cast with actors who look like they were ripped right out of an anime, even thought the acting was a little bit poo all around, and the film felt distinctly early 90's. Honestly, though I didn't care. It had kind of a cornball charm about it all. I got a good few chuckled over how charmingly stupid some stuff was. Plus, this movie had some of the most masterful dick-covering camera angles I've seen in a single shot when Mark Dacascos was with that lady in the bedroom.

I confess, I have absolutely zero knowledge of the source material (manga or anime) so I can't judge it against how completely far off it is from that, although I'm sure it's way out there. For what it is, I thought it was pretty fantastic.

Kids in the Hall: Brain Candy (1996)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116768

I'll admit openly, I never watched Kids in the Hall on TV, but this movie is some special kind of unique comedy brilliance. It basically pokes fun at big pharma and just corporate bullshit in general as well as the idea of just taking a pill for everything to solve your problems. From top to bottom, it's full of the funny.

Cabin Boy (1994)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109361

Did you like Eagleheart? Did you like Get a Life? Do you even know who Chris Elliott is? If you answered "no" to any/all of those then maybe you should skip this one. If you said "yes", and you haven't seen this, get your shit together!

This is a dumb comedy based heavily on the Chris Elliott and Conan O'Brien brand of humor. It even has Andy Richter and Dave Letterman in it. It also has the wonderful Brian Doyle-Murray and a slew of other faces you might recognize but don't know the names to, lol. If any of this sounds good to you, then hunt down this film stat.

Flight of the Navigator (1986)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091059

I know. I know. I'm sure a lot of you are probably going to ask why the hell this is on the list; it's a classic. Well, I recently had a conversation in a room full of co-workers and only one other guy knew of this film, so that tells me there's something wrong and I mean to help rectify it for anyone who hasn't heard of this wonderful gem.

Just see it.

Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0172684

The only Bollywood film on this list. While I've only seen maybe 10 Bollywood films, most of them are actually pretty good but this is the stand-out of them all. I don't care what you think you know about Indian movies, but this is a fantastic film.

Yes, it has the tropes you know about Indian films; People braking into song and dance frequently, etc. - but it's more than that. It clocks in at 3 hours, but it spans time periods and shows how life's little things can come back to you later. It's a story of school friendships, falling in love, having a family, losing a loved one and reconnecting with the past. It's fun, funny, heartwarming, and family friendly. It's really a great package....and the songs are memorable and catchy as hell: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Me5XblgOXtY

Gor (1987)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095241

Let me tell you a story of high adventure... ok maybe not that level of awesome, but this is a pretty fun little B-movie about an everyday guy who gets sucked into another world via a magical ring that sends him to a planet where an entire people have been enslaved under a cruel king and he is destined to grow some balls, become a man and save them.

Man in the Wilderness (1971)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067388

I'll keep this short: You know The Revenant? Yeah well this one did it first and did it better. It also stuck closer to the real story.

Leviathan (1989)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097737

You recall a little film called Alien? Well, take that, set it in an underwater sea lab, and make the alien a mutated giant killer shrimp. Look, I know I'm not exactly selling this one well, but it's honestly pretty damn good. And hey, it has old Colonel Trautman himself (Richard Crenna) ...and RoboCop (Peter Weller), plus it was directed by the same guy who did Tombstone and Rambo 2 - yeah, that guy.

Caligula (1979)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080491

Caligula is one you probably heard about, and gets a bad rap because it's a Hustler production and yes there's actual sex in the film... but to judge it solely on that is wholly unfair. This is the story of Caligula after all, and his story was a reign full of sex and debauchery and all other kinds of excess. The film's quality stands up there just as well and many other Roman epics. Maybe not absolute top tier, but it's a good film even if you want to fast-forward through the orgy sex scene and just watch the rest.

Hell Comes to Frogtown (1988)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093171

And last, and probably least; a little personal love of my own. Starring the man himself, Rowdy Roddy Piper, and the chick who played Valeria in Conan the Barbarian. This post-apocalyptic cheese-fest is about a world overrun by fucking frog men, and how Piper is gonna kick their asses. Yeah. Make your own call on this one.