It’s hard to surprise today’s audience. Movie lovers who spend long evenings in front of the screen can easily predict plot twists and often grow bored waiting for the ending. However, these diverse films will captivate and challenge even the most seasoned cinephiles.
Reminiscence (2021)
A neon-noir reminiscent of Blade Runner. Future Miami is partially submerged due to global warming. In this unsettling post-apocalyptic setting, the protagonist has an unusual profession — he allows people to relive their most important memories by diving into the past. His life changes when he meets her, the enchanting Mae.
This tangled two-hour story will keep viewers guessing. As a bonus, there’s the incredible on-screen chemistry of Hugh Jackman and Rebecca Ferguson, whose characters connect from the very first frame.
The Wall (2017)
Doug Liman’s war thriller features no action scenes or large-scale battles. An American soldier hides behind a flimsy wall, caught in the crosshairs of an Iraqi sniper. Only one will leave the battlefield alive.
The film’s highlight is the conversation between the enemies over the radio, during which the snipers come to understand each other on a deeper level. It’s not just a movie about sharpshooting but a philosophical parable about the horrors of war.
The French Dispatch (2020)
With a title as complex as its structure, this film is characterized by fast-paced storytelling, vibrant visuals, and an overwhelming amount of detail that can obscure the overarching narrative. Wes Anderson’s elegant anthology tells the story of the editorial staff of a fictional American weekly magazine, The French Dispatch of the Liberty, Kansas Evening Sun, whose office is based in France.
This film is a tribute to the written word and Anderson’s love for eccentric, quirky people. A discerning viewer will rewatch this movie several times to catch all the visual techniques and piece together its array of interconnected stories.
Blind Chance (1987)
A complex political drama from Poland. A young man named Witek is at a crossroads, trying to decide whether to collaborate with state security, join the student opposition movement, or turn to religion.
The film presents three possible fates for the protagonist, all hinging on whether Witek catches the Lodz-Warsaw train. His political struggles intertwine with a complicated love story.
Filmed in 1981, the movie was censored and only released six years later. One scene was entirely lost.
The Woman in the Window (2021)
A child psychologist is struggling to recover from a divorce while battling agoraphobia. Every trip outside is agonizing, so she finds solace in observing her neighbors. One day, she witnesses a murder, but no one believes her.
The film is set almost entirely in a single location, creating a stifling sense of claustrophobia. Throughout the story, there are references to Alfred Hitchcock’s masterpiece Rear Window.
