So, you’re cruising Netflix, you’ve already binged Stranger Things 2, your queue is empty and there just doesn’t seem to be anything new to watch. You’ve even gone through the best bad weather films with your family (or by yourself — no shame in that!).
Now what?
Well, you’d be surprised how many hidden gems are tucked away in the underbelly of Netflix. In fact, some of these flicks will never appear unless you manually search for them. If you’re in the mood for a good movie that never received its proper due, look no further than our list of underrated Netflix films. You might just find a new favourite!
Get Me Roger Stone
Donald Trump is President of the United States.
In 2015, that would’ve been the intro to an atrocious comedy or doomsday flick, and yet here we are! Against all the odds, a real estate mogul with a golden tuft of hair resides in the White House. How, exactly, did this happen?
In this Netflix original documentary, we learn how the former Apprentice judge rose to power with the help of Roger Stone, a slick and strategic political mastermind that not only helped Trump gain the presidency, but has somehow been involved in major political events since Watergate. Whether you’re curious to see the mechanics of American politics, or you just want a better understanding of how Trump actually did it, Get Me Roger Stone will shed light on America’s most unconventional president.
Nacho Libre
In the follow-up to his instant hit Napoleon Dynamite, director Jared Hess enlisted the comedic brilliance of Jack Black in Nacho Libre. Black plays Nacho, a half-Mexican, half-Scandinavian cook that works at a Mexican monastery. Faced with an unavoidable financial crisis, Nacho vows to save the monastery by entering a series of Lucha Libre wrestling matches. But is Nacho in it to save the orphans, impress God, or to simply woo a beautiful (if oblivious) young nun?
After watching Nacho earn some money, be sure to check out the colourful Nacho Libre wrestling based slot from iSoftbet. Featuring five spandex-clad wrestlers—Dynasty, Ramses, Esqueleto, Sage and Rosales—this game includes free spin rounds that let you decide how each round and jackpot is paid out.
Win it All
Speaking of gambling, Win it All is a charming drama about Eddie Garrett (Jake Johnson), a recovering gambler that’s trying to piece his life back together. After agreeing to hold onto an unremarkable duffel bag for a friend that’s in prison, Eddie’s curiosity gets the better him. Inside the bag is a load of cash that drives Eddie back into gambling—and into a hefty debt.
Eddie soon embarks on a journey to recover the lost money as quickly as possible. Remember in Luther when Idris Elba was forced to play Russian Roulette, and he won? Win it All is kind of like that—exciting, exhilarating, and incredibly rewarding.
Grabbers
Director Jon Wright (Robot Overlords) and writer Kevin Lehane found the perfect scenario to blend dark humour with alien conspiracy theories in 2012’s Grabbers. Richard Coyle plays a hard-drinking police officer on a small Irish island renowned for its laidback locals. The island is soon overcome by “grabbers,” giant monstrosities covered in tentacles and fangs that feed on humans. The catch? The grabbers don’t have a taste for alcohol.
With shades of Shaun of the Dead scattered throughout this brilliant comedy, the survivors seek shelter in a local pub. Laughs (and a fair amount of gore) ensue.
Under the Skin
Arguably one of the best sci-fi movies of all time also happens to be one of the most obscure as well. Even with the likes of Hollywood megastar Scarlet Johansson, Under the Skin found plenty of critical acclaim when it was released in 2014, but its high-concept premise and unsettling dread created a lacklustre box office performance.
Despite all that, Under the Skin is a haunting sci-fi flick that will remain with you long after the credits roll. Johansson plays an unknown entity that drives across Glasgow picking men up at random, only to seduce them until they’re paralysed in a pool of black liquid. Sound weird? It is. But the stark imagery, chilling soundtrack and surreal performance by Johansson make Under the Skin an instant classic.
The hidden gems of Netflix
With over 100 million worldwide subscribers, it’s hard to believe we sometimes run out of things to watch.
Sometimes it can seem like the problem with Netflix is that there’s too much to choose from. Too much variety, too many TV shows, and too many movies that sound the same. It’s hard to determine the jewels from the junk, but plenty is happening on Netflix that’s worthy of praise. It’s just a matter of finding the right movie at the right time.
