In other words: What’s a hidden gem I probably haven’t seen but totally should? And why is it a must-watch?

  • Donjuanme@lemmy.world
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    1 month ago

    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)

    • MajorHavoc@programming.dev
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      1 month ago

      Yeah. Tucker and Dale vs Evil still gets way too little love.

      It’s a must watch because:

      • The twist is perfect.
      • Even after the reveal, it’s just so dang fun and hilarious.
      • Horror movies with a deep respect for life are often the best horror movies. Tucker and Dale has that, even if in a stupid goofy way.
      • bizarroland@fedia.io
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        1 month ago

        Officer, we have had a doozy of a day!

        Highly recommend that you go in to watching Tucker and Dale versus evil without looking up any information on the movie. Watching it blind is the best way because the less you know about it the more it will entertain you.

        • MajorHavoc@programming.dev
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          1 month ago

          Watching it blind is the best way because the less you know about it the more it will entertain you.

          Yes! I just tell friends that it’s a horror flick, and a rollicking good time.

      • Donjuanme@lemmy.world
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        1 month ago

        Which is generally defined as a lesser known movie that people consider worth watching?

          • Donjuanme@lemmy.world
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            1 month ago

            I will preface this with it’s not going to be for either of us to decide, there are plenty people with plenty more intelligence who have debated this topic, according to Wikipedia: “The difficulty in defining the term and subjectivity of what qualifies as a cult film mirror classificatory disputes about art.”

            However the general definition according to Google has nothing to do with it’s box office success,

            “A cult classic is a movie or other work that has a devoted following, but is often not well-known or popular with the mainstream.”

            Further on,

            "The definition of a cult classic can be difficult to define, and there are different interpretations. Some definitions include major studio productions, while others focus on more obscure films. Some definitions also exclude films that have been released by major studios, or that have tried to become cult films. "

            So it’s open to interpretation, and I’m going to stand by my list, and reinforce the notion that even if they are cult classics there’s a good chance someone looking for movies might not have seen some on this list.

            • smokin_shinobi@lemmy.world
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              1 month ago

              They are good movies. I’m not reading all that over such a slight disagreement, hope you have a good rest of your day if I bothered you with my comment.

    • Donjuanme@lemmy.world
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      1 month ago

      (don’t want to edit my post so adding another in the reply)

      Another somewhat mainstream movie that was very easily missed, “forward unto dawn”, if you know much about the Halo universe you’ll know this story pretty well, but if you’ve only heard of Halo in passing this is a great place to start (and probably stop unless you’re going to play the games or read the books) the series.

  • HexagonSun@sh.itjust.works
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    1 month ago

    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.

    • Ezergill@lemm.ee
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      1 month ago

      It weirdly felt like a Venom movie, and what made it even more weird - it came out around the same time as the actual Venom movie, and even the main hero looked somewhat like a discount version of Tom Hardy😅

  • MajorHavoc@programming.dev
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    1 month ago

    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.

    • Asafum@feddit.nl
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      1 month ago

      Rocknrolla but not Snatch or Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels!? It’s been a very long time but I distinctly remember being disappointed in rocknrolla when compared to the other two I mentioned.

      Love Guy Ritchie!

      • wallybeavis@lemmy.world
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        1 month ago

        Same! I think the only one I didn’t really care for was Covenant, I felt it wasn’t paced the same as his other movies, but I’d still watch it again if it was streaming.

        In regards to Snatch and Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, also two of my favorite movies, thanks for pointing them out, defintely a fun time!

    • dlhextall@sh.itjust.works
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      1 month ago

      +1 for In Bruges. Love Martin McDonagh’s films and this one might be my favorite. At first glance, it looks like a kinda generic action movie, but that’s not the case at all.

      Snowpiercer looked like such a dumb action movie, but I read so many good reviews of it that I decided to try it. Was not disappointed at all!

  • 58008@lemmy.world
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    1 month ago

    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!

  • thesohoriots@lemmy.world
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    1 month ago

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

    • darklamer@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      1 month ago

      The question was about “lesser-known movies”, but Wong Kar-Wai and his movies are (for obvious reasons) very well-known.

        • darklamer@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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          1 month ago

          Fantastic! If that’s the level for lesser known then you’re perfectly right, most of the world’s most celebrated, successful and influential filmmakers then certainly count as lesser known.

  • Professorozone@lemmy.world
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    1 month ago

    My favorite: Stranger than Fiction

    Also, Fandango, Passengers, Life or Something Like it, Birdy, Home Office

    Some can be hard to find.

  • maniacalmanicmania@aussie.zone
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    1 month ago

    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.