Knock on Wood

Thousands of movies are made every year – just ask one of our contributors, Shane Conto, who has taken it upon himself to watch each and every new release he can find. While some garner awards attention and box office popularity, spreading rapidly across the zeitgeist through word-of-mouth, the majority find it difficult to break through and surmount the myriad of films available to the public. Today, our writers will take you on a journey through some of their favorite underrated movies from this past year – some deserving of a theatrical release they never got, some that flew in and out of cinemas under the radar, and some that are just plain underseen.

Your Monster

Genre blending has been a popular avenue for filmmakers to express unique concepts and themes for decades. These are usually hit-or-miss ventures. It’s a miss when a film can’t juggle all of its different narrative elements and tonal shifts. It’s a smash hit when it seamlessly flows between musical, horror, romantic comedy, drama, and feminine rage anthem, like Your Monster. I’m not going to lie, this is simply one of my favorite films of the year. Wildly entertaining, wholly unique, sporting entertaining performances, particularly from Melissa Barrera, as well as being quite rewatchable due to narrative perspective shifts, this is a hoot all around. Plus, I cannot express in words how much I love the song “My Stranger” which caps off a brilliant finale to this flick. Such an earworm. Please, seek out this movie. Don’t pull a Spyglass and put Melissa Barrera in movie jail. Her exemplary work, in this absolutely entertaining whirlwind of a film, deserves more appreciation. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed. (Heath Lynch)

Dahomey

A new spin on the documentary format will always interest me, and when I caught some buzz about French-Senegalese filmmaker Mati Diop’s new film Dahomey, I was instantly captivated by its format. Dahomey tells the story of a number of artifacts, thousands of which were stolen by French colonists from the titular African kingdom in the 19th century. Now, only 26 have returned to modern-day Benin, and we’re left to wonder why. Why only 26? What is the extent of the obligation to return these artworks to where they belong? Does such an obligation even exist? These questions are posed to art historians and debated by university students in an electrifying sequence where people of all ages in Benin engage in an intense conversation about their nation, heritage, and the legitimacy of claims over the aforementioned artworks. But the most engaging part of Dahomey wraps around the entire film: a narration (in the original, rapidly disappearing Fon language) from one of the artworks, a statue which, through a haunting voiceover, details the journey from France to Benin and its experience from captivity to its return to a land that now feels foreign. That’s by far the most stylized part of the film, but Diop’s deliberate, creative direction and careful subject choice elevate Dahomey to the upper echelons of modern documentary filmmaking. (Rowan Wood)

Available to stream on Mubi.

Infested

Spiders. Lots of them. That’s the movie. Infested begins with a gleefully simple premise: Kaleb brings home a lethal spider that begins to reproduce, and it does so fast. Over the course of the next several days, Kaleb’s entire apartment complex becomes so overrun with spiders that its residents remain trapped inside lest they suffer a horrifying, creepy-crawly death. As a pure horror adrenaline rush, Infested delivers pitch-perfect tension and scares. You legitimately could not ask for more from a horror movie about a spider-infested apartment complex, but sprinkle in a helping of unexpectedly effective social commentary, and you’ve got one of the most under-appreciated films of the year and a must-watch for any horror fan. (Foster Harlfinger)

Available to stream on Shudder and AMC+.

National Anthem

So many people from marginalized groups desperately try to find a place where they feel safe and cared for and eventually have the space to grow and thrive. Luke Gilford’s National Anthem is a beautiful and powerful drama about a young man (Charlie Plummer) who finds his path through his time working on a ranch inhabited by a variety of queer individuals. Plummer’s Dylan loves his brother, but feels shackled and anchored down by her messy and problematic mother. One fateful opportunity brings Dylan to this ranch and into the life of Eve Lindley’s Sky. This is a tale of identity, personal growth, and love that is not going to finish with a perfectly tied bow but will leave its protagonist and audience in a place where they find the space to grow and thrive in the face of the realization that love is complex and can challenge you. Lindley is a vibrant and alluring figure and is matched perfectly by the maternal and caring Carrie, Mason Alexander Park in an incredible and star-making performance. This ranch and the film about it craft a place where you can explore so much about yourself and the audience is lucky to experience this gorgeous, rich, and vibrant drama in the beauty of the west. (Shane Conto)

How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies

An incredibly heartfelt story from Thailand, How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies (which competes only with Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person for my favorite title of the year) follows M, a university dropout low on cash who volunteers to care for his terminally ill grandmother in hopes of an inheritance. It’s a premise that lends itself to a very clear character arc, but the performances at its core (from Putthipong Assaratanakul and Usha Seamkhum) are so remarkably empathetic that you buy every stage of their relationship with incredible ease. This is an incredibly sweet and endearing story about hope and kindness, and one that sadly appears to be understated in this awards race. (Rowan Wood)

Snack Shack

Snack Shack taps into an absolutely perfect coming-of-age sweet spot, following best friends AJ and Moose who run their local swimming pool’s snack shack for the summer, trying to make a buck. Conor Sherry and Gabriel LaBelle make for endlessly stupid and hilarious leads, and Adam Rehmeier’s direction is fast-paced, energetic, and filled with a perfectly cringeworthy and vulgar high-school boy sense of humor. The final act of the film takes a turn for the emotional in a sequence that does not quite fit within the tone set up by the first two-thirds, but that should not deter anyone from checking out one of the most unabashedly fun films of the year. (Foster Harlfinger)

Available to stream on Prime Video.

The Coffee Table

There are very few movies this year that will make you as uncomfortable, sick, and downright disturbed as The Coffee Table. It’s a horror film with only one horror scene in the traditional sense, and the reverberations of that scene last throughout the film in a way that is truly unique. It follows Jesus, a new father with a far more no-worries/go-with-the-flow vibe than his more domineering wife Maria. She’s used to calling all the shots and making most of the big decisions, but one day in a furniture store Jesus finds a coffee table he really likes and wants to buy it. Maria hates it, but obliges him and buys the titular table. This decision, however innocuous it may seem at first, ends up being the catalyst for severe tragedy that will hang over the film, and you, like a pitch-black cloud. I dare not say any more about the plot itself because it goes places you will not expect, but it’s safe to say this is not at all for the squeamish. It goes out of its way to endear you to the main character, which makes the eventual tragedy all the more heartbreaking. After that, the main progression of the movie is dug into the slow and complete unraveling of his psyche and ability to function as a human being. As it progresses, something odd comes up, which may be the most truly unexpected thing about this movie: it’s kind of a black comedy…except the jokes are all on us. Endearing us to the main character so vividly makes every inconvenience, every wild circumstance, and every unlikely plot movement come down on us as an audience. It’s painful and utterly devastating, but at the same time, I found myself laughing at (with?) the sick nature of the whole thing. It’s easily one of the most uniquely contradicting tonal magic tricks I’ve ever seen in a film before. I positively cannot stop thinking about it and it actually makes it seem worth it to me to watch it again, which is insane given just how messed up the whole thing is. It’s a distinct and powerful ride that is not worth missing. (May Honey)

Available to stream on Tubi.

Made in England: The Films of Powell and Pressburger

Would you be interested in watching a documentary that explores your favorite directors’ favorite directors? Director David Hinton takes a simple approach to explore the filmography, influence, and scope of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, who created some of the most beautiful and influential films of all time. Made in England is a film analysis piece that explores each of their films in rich and engrossing detail. What seems like it could come off as a glorified YouTube film analysis video, Hinton was able to put one of the greatest directors in film behind the wheel of this journey…Martin Scorsese. A true student of the game and advocate for the preservation of the cinematic art form, Scorsese was the perfect person to guide us through immaculate achievements such as Black Narcissus and The Red Shoes. Scorsese is so insightful and knowledgeable, and his perspective is enough to make this documentary feel so impactful. Hinton pulls together strong editing, pacing, and structure to make this a must-see for any cinephile out there. Many iconic films found roots in Powell & Pressburgers’ efforts, and this is an engaging exploration of their cinematic achievements as well as the personal, creative, societal, and cultural roadblocks that molded their journey. (Shane Conto)

The Remarkable Life of Ibelin

Documentaries are often overlooked works of cinema. There aren’t big explosions, no one’s cracking jokes, there aren’t physically attractive movie stars to stare at, none of that. So it’s par for the course that a documentary would be an underseen gem. If there ever was a documentary that needs to get more eyes on it, it’s The Remarkable Life of Ibelin. This heartbreaking story of a young man, Mats Steen, his struggles with a lifelong terminal illness, and how he felt ostracized by the real world, is tragic on the surface. Yet, in an amazing turn of fate, we actually learn how Mats was actually a charismatic, hilarious, and kind soul; he just expressed it all through a video game. The unique way this film was put together, by compositing journal entries from Mats’s real life and syncing them up with corresponding in-game footage from the video game he spent his life playing and bringing his physical avatar to life, is so original and unique that it makes for magnetic imagery on top of engaging emotional storytelling. This film brought me to tears not once, not twice, but multiple times. It’s beautiful how this film, at the end of all things, shows how every single light in this world can shine brightly and be a positive influence on the world around them. Be sure to catch this and cry along with me. (Heath Lynch)

Available to stream on Netflix.

The Last Stop in Yuma County

What do you get when you pack bank robbers, diner employees, customers, and an unsuspecting knife salesman into a rest stop on a fateful day? You have director Francis Galluppi’s thrilling, suspenseful, shocking, and entertaining crime-thriller The Last Stop in Yuma County. Packed with shocking, awkward violence and a whole crew of memorable characters, this little neo-western thriller would put a smile on the face of filmmakers like the Coens. This darkly funny and lean flick leverages the talents of filmmaker and actor Jim Cummings, who has built quite the following with his own collection of strange directorial efforts. With The Last Stop, he makes for an unassuming and charismatic presence who is bounced around by forces out of his control. Supporting players like Richard Brake, Gene Jones, Robin Bartlett, Barbara Crampton, and Faizon Love fill out this fun and engaging cast of characters who make this film work so well. This is a sharply written, perfectly shot, and suspenseful neo-western thriller that is an unexpected package. The needle drops are some of the best you will find all year, and Galluppi is able to find the perfect feel and tone at every turn. (Shane Conto)

The Count of Monte Cristo

Over 180 years ago one of the greatest literary classics of all time was written by legendary author Alexander Dumas: The Count of Monte Cristo. A beloved historical adventure epic, this tale has been adapted into films and television shows for decades, the most recent of which is a nearly three-hour-long adaptation in the novel’s native French language. But don’t let that deter you, because this is genuinely one of the greatest films of the year that has been almost universally overlooked by (particularly American) audiences. It will get your adrenaline pumping as it dazzles you with stunning visuals and epic stories of revenge. You will be drawn in by compelling performances and dastardly plots that put con artist movies like Ocean’s Eleven to shame. It evokes the classic adventure films from Hollywood’s golden age but modernizes the storytelling and filmmaking techniques to make this magnetic for today’s audiences. In every single way this film could be exceptional, it is. Although it’s hard to find this flick, it’s in French, and it’s a long runtime, I promise that this is well worth your time. (Heath Lynch)

Dream Productions

I’m cheating a bit here, but for whatever reason, this animated series on Disney+ (set in the world of the blockbuster Inside Out series) fell completely by the wayside as soon as it dropped, with very little fanfare. It’s a four-part mockumentary workplace-style sitcom set in Riley’s head, following Paula Persimmon (voiced by Paula Pell, both here and in Inside Out 2), the most accomplished director of Riley’s dreams. Dream Productions is wildly inventive and genuinely entertaining, and while I’m glad to see that Disney and Pixar are pursuing other more creative avenues to emphasize the universe’s central themes, it’s disappointing that nobody is talking about it, especially after the sequel became one of the highest-grossing films of all time this past summer. The voice acting here is natural and energetic, the season (which is all too short!) is absolutely hilarious, and it plays with the form while embracing the tried-and-true sitcom structure it’s paying homage to. If you like the Inside Out films (or even if you’re looking for a new, quick burst of animated flavor), do yourself a favor and check this one out. (Rowan Wood)

Available to stream on Disney+.