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Five Good Films You May Have Never Seen

As there were no new releases this week in which I was interested, I have decided to give a few recommendations on films that you may have never seen and in turn, I’m asking for your recommendations.

So, in no particular order, here are five films that I enjoy that you may have never seen.


Them – 2006 – Directed by David Moreau and Xavier Palud.
This is an example of a simple story that when directed by someone with a talent for creating an eerie atmosphere becomes an unnerving film. This French film was originally marketed as a completely true story, including a mock news reel available on the film’s web site. Clémentine and Lucas, ready for a weekend away from work, retire to their isolated home. Clémentine is awoken in the middle of the night to a strange noise and the film gains speed from there. If you are someone who has a fear of being alone in a large house or if you have a fear of home invasion, skip this one. Otherwise, it is a great example of an atmospheric piece from France. If you enjoy this and want something a little gorier, also check out Frontiers, another French horror film.


Blood In Blood Out: Bound By Honor – 1993 – Taylor Hackford, director of An Officer and a Gentlemen, Proof of Life and Ray.
Hackford’s film follows half-brothers Paco and Cruz and their cousin Miklo. Miklo is half-white and half-Hispanic. Unfortunately for Miklo, he appears to be white, having received his father’s white skin. From his mother he received a love of his Hispanic heritage. Miklo doesn’t fit in his father’s world and he is not readily accepted by the Hispanic group of his family. Miklo goes to great lengths to prove himself and thereby become a member of the “Vatos Locos” gang. The film follows the family for thirty years and shows how three different people’s personalities lead them to react to a single event in drastically different ways. It is a long film, but the story is beautiful. Also, this is the first place I ever remember seeing Billy Bob Thorton, Benjamin Bratt, Delroy Lindo, Ving Rhames, Danny Trejo and Lanny Flaherty.


Eurotrip – 2004 – Jeff Schafer, only because the director’s guild forced the trio of writers/directors to select an individual director.
Eurotrip follows Scotty and Cooper, two high school friends on their trip to Berlin to meet Scotty’s beautiful German pen-pal. Originally titled Ugly Americans, Scott Mechlowicz, Jacob Pitts, Travis Wester and Michelle Trachtenberg are joined by some outstanding cameos. Full of cultural misunderstandings and hilarious situations, watch for Vinnie Jones. This is the one you have most likely seen, but I have found that there are enough people who haven’t seen this one and need to be informed.


If Lucy Fell – 1996 – Eric Schaeffer
Sarah Jessica Parker, Eric Schaeffer, Elle McPherson and Ben Stiller star in a romantic comedy about a pair of friends that decide that if they are not in stable relationships by a certain date that they will jump off of The Brooklyn Bridge. If Lucy Fell is mostly about the characters and partially about the dialogue. This is one of the few romantic comedies I enjoy and while some parts of this one seem contrived, like most rom-coms, I think the dialogue makes up for it. Parker plays Lucy, a role that doesn’t annoy me like most of her roles do. Schaeffer is quite funny and I’m surprised he hasn’t been in more films. Ben Stiller plays Bwick Elias, an artist that is out of touch with everything. Also, keep your eyes open for a VERY young Scarlett Johansson.


Triangle – 2009 – Christopher Smith
Another horror film? Yes, horror is my genre of choice. I wouldn’t feel right without providing a horror heavy list. Triangle is about a group of passengers on a yacht. When the yacht is no longer safe because of weather conditions, the passengers jump onto a passing cruise ship, only to find that they are in much greater danger. Not much more can be said without spoiling this one. Triangle is not the best horror film ever made, but it has inspired more conversation than most horror films in recent memory, except for Martyrs (which I can not recommend, even though I liked the film). Love it or hate it, chances are, you will talk about it.

I’d like to hear from you. What film do you really enjoy? It doesn’t have to be the perfect film, just something that you love that many people haven’t seen.

Jay (J.C.) Fralick is the host of The Drivecast
The co-host of the Wanna Watch a Movie Podcast
Follow me on Twitter

Images: StudioCanal, Hollywood Pictures, DreamWorks, TriStar, Icon Film Distribution

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Comments

  1. Michael Kich says:

    I don’t know if these would be called unusual or mostly unknown, but here are a few of my favorite (things, damnit I promised myself I wouldn’t hop into a Sinatra track):

    Me and You and Everyone We Know
    Tous Les Matins du Monde (All the Mornings of the World)
    Die Blechtrommel (The Tin Drum) – this one’s definitely a must see at some point, but I doubt you’ll want to watch it again, it’s not exactly emotionally easy to watch.

  2. Brizon says:

    1. Bad lieutenant (the one with harvey keitel)
    2. Happiness (disturbing, but not horror)
    3. Straw Dogs
    4. Natural Born killers

  3. Sean says:

    Them and Frontiers are great, I would also check out the work of Ozon. ‘Sitcom” is nuts.

  4. Jake says:

    The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
    (See the Swedish version before Hollywood ruins it in 2011

  5. Cody says:

    I throw out these three a lot and not many people have seen these.

    1. Paper Moon
    2. Being There
    3. Five Easy Pieces

  6. Wes V says:

    Grindhouse : Planet Terror. Love the whole implied ‘retro vibe’ (the ‘previews’ were pretty awesome).

  7. adoyaradev1 says:

    1.battle royale (great japanese movie) part 2 is average
    2.infernal affairs series 1. 2 and 3 (the basis for the departed)
    3.ip man and 2 (donnie yen kungfu movies)
    4.donnie darko (very weird)
    5.once upon a time in china parts 1.2 and 3
    6.fear and loathing in las vegas
    7.young and dangerous series 1-6 (great gangster series)
    8.my girlfriend is an agent (funny korean movie)
    9.fist of legend (jet li movie fists of fury remake)
    10.brainscan
    11.crows zero 1 and 2 (japanese films based on the crows manga)
    12.ichi the killer (yakuza movie very violent)
    13.gangster no 1 . brittish gangster film starring malcolm mc
    14. spl (donnie yen cop movie very good)
    15.flashpoint (donnie yen cop movie)
    16.body guards and assassins (last 20 minutes are very good)
    17. gangster high (korean film)
    18. once upon a time at high school (korean film)
    19.the girl with the dragon tattoo (very good movie)
    20. ong bak series 1 2 and 3
    21. so close (shu qi from transporter ) good movie
    Im sorry i listed more than five.

  8. turner says:

    1. clockers-spike lee
    2. narc-joe carnahan
    3.anything buy luc besson
    4.anything buy quentin tarantino
    5.casino royale-martin cambell

  9. Jamie says:

    Rain by Christine Jeffs (and great score by Neil Finn)
    Angel Baby – brilliant love story about crazies.
    Leolo – RIP Lauzon
    Gas, Food, Lodging by Allison Anders
    The Fisher King – Gilliam’s masterpiece.

  10. Grace DeGuingois says:

    I’d recommend Jeux D’Enfants (given the awful English title Love Me If You Dare). It stars Marion Cotillard and Guillaume Canet, and it’s probably the most twisted romantic comedy I’ve ever seen.

  11. Marcus says:

    City of God (Cidade de Deus)
    The Secret in Their Eyes (El Secreto de Sus Ojos)
    The Rutles (A must for any Beatles fan)
    The Visitor
    Memento

  12. Kay-tee says:

    A Bronx Tale
    Let the Right One In
    Green Street Hooligans
    Sliding Doors
    The Rat Pack (HBO films)
    Defending Your Life (HBO films)
    Sunshine

  13. my_leisure says:

    The Big Blue – 1988

    This is a movie that had been stuck in the back of my mind since I first saw it.

    http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095250/plotsummary

  14. The Drummer from Def Leppard's Arm says:

    Loved Eurotrip. Good call. I’ll through a few in:

    Run Ronnie Run
    House of Sand and Fog
    Death to Smoochie
    It Might Get Loud

  15. tina says:

    ^by* a woman’s

  16. tina says:

    teeth <– in no way a good film BUT if you wanna see a weiner get bit off my a womans whoo-ha it's perfect! On another serious note: A Bucket of Blood(1956) an amazing little snarky horror film 🙂