Four Hidden Gems Streaming on Netflix That You Need to See Now!

Although there is a surge in the number of movie and tv show streaming sites online, Netflix, the trailblazing original streaming service is still the king of the industry and that looks like that will not change for the foreseeable future. This can be shown with Netflix having over 103 million subscribers worldwide as of earlier this year. The main cause for the site’s popularity is its vast library of movies and TV shows that just keeps on growing every month. In this collection, there are movies that are duds that just seem to take up space on the site and then there are hidden gems. These hidden gems that Netflix has streaming are not the best of the best but need to be given a chance by the audience. Of these such movies, I have compiled a small list of movies that are pretty fun which people usually gloss over when they are on Netflix.

Monsters 2010

This a perfect example of a low budget independent film that jumpstarted the careers of those associated with the film. The movie is about a future where aliens have invaded, creating what they call an “infection zone” where the border between Mexico and the United States was, which the two main characters have to cross in order to go home. The acting is not excellent nor are the special effects (what do you expect for a movie that was made for reportedly five hundred thousand British Pounds) but the story is fun and is very easy to follow, telling a very human narrative of two characters who just want to go home. The movie clocks in at 88 minutes with credits which may seem short but the story is simplistic, which is a good thing as compared to other films, and when the credits roll you feel like the story has been fully told.

If it helps my case, the director, Gareth Edwards, went on to direct the new Godzilla film in 2014, which was a major improvement over the generally hated 1998 version along with the Star Wars spinoff Rogue One which came out in 2016.

Trollhunter- 2010

This found-footage Norwegian film is a classic symbol of foreign thrills sprinkled in with elements of comedy. The movie follows a group of college students who themselves are documenting troll hunters for a project. Obviously, there are complications along the way along with a few good scares amongst the references to trolls in fairytale stories. Although the film is not Academy Award caliber by any standard of the imagination, the movie is pure enjoyment with the over the top elements being reigned in to create a fun atmosphere for the audience. The movie is absurd but in its absurdness, there is the entertainment, giving the found-footage genre a fun spin as compared to the predominant horror films of the category.

Centurion-2010

This small budget swords and sandals film is probably the most well-known movie on this list, which is not saying much and is, in my opinion, the most enjoyable of the movies on this list. The film stars a relatively unknown, at the time, Michael Fassbender, a Roman soldier who leads a group of men out of present-day Scotland and back to Roman territory. The movie is VERY bloody with gore and is directed by Neil Marshall, who began his career in the horror genre and has since walked the thin line between horror and action films, as seen in Dog Soldiers and The Descent. Again, I have to preface that you, the audience, can tell that Centurion was made on a small budget, evident in several scenes, but this should not deter you from seeing this movie. The movie is very enjoyable, the acting superb, and the visuals are amazing, the movie was primarily shot in the Highlands of Scotland.

Tucker and Dale vs. Evil

This is another example of a small budget film that has not received the recognition that it deserves. This film follows Tucker and Dale, two hillbillies who, in a series of confusing acts, are mistaken as serial killers by a bunch of college students at their cabin in the woods. The film is hilarious and really shows off the range of Alan Tudyk and Tyler Labine, but it is Tudyk who steals the show as the affable Tucker. The screenplay is not short on plot like you would assume in a film like this, providing a few scares, twists and of course laughs along the way. The film is also a perfect parody of the cabin in the woods horror genre and I would argue that it is better than the aptly named 2012 film The Cabin in the Woods, which also tries to rip apart the same genre.