CATFISH

Year: 2010
Genre: Documentary/Handycam/Mystery
Language: English
Runtime: 1 hour 27 minutes

A docu-style filmed, twisted tale of two people who meet on Facebook & eventually what happens when the two worlds finally collide. Mildly disturbing, original, suspenseful, and thought provoking

Rating: 3.5/5

Links:

imdb
metacritic
flixster


Trailer:

HARISHCHANDRACHI FACTORY

Year: 2009
Genre: Comedy/Biopic/Drama
Language: Marathi
Runtime: 1 hour 37 minutes

A slice of life story of the early days of Dadasaheb Phalke, the pioneer of Indian Cinema & his foray into the art of film making. A very light hearted, economical, and a refreshing film tossed with witty dialogues & delightful humor sans any account of the turbulent reality of those days.

Rating: 4/5

Links:
imdb
mid-day
wogma
official website

Trailer:

REPRISE

Year: 2006
Genre: Drama/Romance
Language: Norwegian
Runtime: 1 hour 45 minutes

A captivating film with a thrilling screenplay, exuberant cinematography, and brilliant editing & direction. The overtone of gloominess blends seamlessly with the aggressiveness, angst, & the passion shown in the film.

Rating: 4/5

Links:
imdb
flixster
metacritic

Trailer:

FUNNY GAMES

Year: 1997
Genre: Horror/Crime/Thriller
Language: German
Runtime: 1 hour 43 minutes

A very seemingly simple yet compelling torture drama that is bizarre, eerily funny, emotional, unconventional, and really entertaining.

Rating: 4/5

Links:
imdb
flixster
rotten tomatoes

Trailer:

BULLET BALLET

Year: 1998
Genre: Action/Thriller/Crime
Language: Japanese
Runtime: 1 hour 26 minutes

An avantgarde, obscure, gritty, hallucinatory, and a cerebral hammering neo-noir thriller.

Rating: 3.5/5
for cinematography, direction, and art.

Links:

imdb
dvd verdict
snowblood apple

Trailer:

MAREBITO a.k.a THE STRANGER FROM AFAR

Year: 2004
Genre: Horror/Mystery/Handycam
Language: Japanese
Runtime: 1 hour 31 minutes

Throws the viewer into a labyrinth of psychological madness & claustrophobia. Quite a creepy and a somber film that will leave one with a lot of questions at the end.

Rating: 3.5/5

Links:

imdb
rotten tomatoes
snowblood apple

Trailer:

TRASH HUMPERS

Year: 2010
Genre: Documentary/Horror
Language: English
Runtime: 1 hour 14 minutes

A vandalistic & an uneven mockumentary that is funny, disturbing, boring, irritating, and exhausting to watch. A transgressive piece of trash that deserves to be watched atleast once.

Rating: 2.5/5

Links:

imdb
flixster
official website

Trailer:

AJAMI

Year: 2009
Genre: Drama/Crime/Thriller
Language: Arabic/Hebrew
Runtime: 2 hours

A very thought provoking modern day drama about violence, love, brotherhood, and despair centered around Israeli-Arabs, Israeli-Jews, Israeli-Christians, and Palestinians. Magnificently shot, directed, written, and edited. A sensational & an important film.

Rating: 3.5/5

Links:
imdb
flixster
rotten tomatoes
official website

Trailer:

JACK KETCHUM'S THE GIRL NEXT DOOR

Year: 2007
Genre: Horror/Thriller
Language: English
Runtime: 1 hour 31 minutes

A psychotic & a disquieting film based on a true story with a wafer-thin plot that mainly focuses on extreme physical torture without being too graphic.

Rating: 3/5

Links:
imdb
flixster
official website

Trailer:

2LDK

Year: 2003
Genre: Drama/Thriller
Language: Japanese
Runtime: 1 hour 9 minutes

2 Women in an apartment - Expect fireworks! Bitchy, violent, neurotic, intense, and outrageously entertaining.

Rating: 3.5/5

Links:

imdb
mandiapple
flixster
rotten tomatoes


Trailer:

RELIGULOUS

Year: 2008

Genre: Documentary/Comedy
Language: English
Runtime: 1 hour 41 minutes

Entertaining, hilarious, and an outrageous documentary that sarcastically dissects religious beliefs and gives rise to new thoughts and questions for debate. An atheist's treat.

Rating: 3.5/5

Links:
imdb
flixster
metacritic

Trailer:

GO

Year: 1999

Genre: Crime/Thriller/Comedy
Language: English
Runtime: 1 hour 42 minutes

3 intertwining stories embellished with drugs, sex, rave, thrills, and crime. Pretty Tarantino-ish.

Rating: 3/5

Links:
imdb
metacritic
rotten tomatoes

Trailer:

PEEPLI LIVE

Year: 2010

Genre: Drama/Comedy
Language: Hindi
Runtime: 1 hour 40 minutes

Anusha Rizvi makes a good satirical social commentary on the farmers' suicides in India with her debut film that never goes overboard. A little gem of a movie spiced with sarcastic dialogues & an appropriate background score.

Rating: 3.5/5

Links:

imdb
wogma
metacritic
official website

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THE RULES OF ATTRACTION

Year: 2002
Genre: Romance/Drama/College
Language: English
Runtime: 1 hour 35 minutes

A dark college drama that mainly centers around 3 individuals seeking "true" love. Few scenes are incredibly shot especially Victor's intro scene, the suicide scene, and the rewound scenes & that's that.

Rating: 3/5

Links:

imdb
flixster
metacritic

Trailer:

FALLEN ANGELS

Year: 1995

Genre: Romance/Crime
Language: Cantonese
Runtime: 1 hour 35 minutes

A psychedelic collage of intoxicating & hallucinating visuals full of violence, zaniness, sensuality, and passion.

Rating: 4/5

Links:
imdb
flixster
rotten tomatoes

Trailer:

VANILLA SKY

Year: 2001
Genre: Thriller/Crime/Romance/Mystery
Language: English
Runtime: 2 hours 14 minutes

Gripping, mysterious, and expository to some extent. The Lynchian vibes could be felt throughout the second half of the film except for the fact that Lynch's films are ought to rape your senses more. Good film nonetheless.

Rating: 3/5

Links:

imdb
metacritic
flixster

Trailer:

INCEPTION

Year: 2010
Genre: Thriller/Crime/Action
Language: English
Runtime: 2 hours 28 minutes

A brain scrambling, visually engrossing, and a horrifyingly absorbing lucid dream that you can't easily escape.

The film leaves a deep impression on you and your heart still racing even when you have left the theatre.

Impeccable screenplay, cast, cinematography, music and direction.

Rating: 4.5/5

Links:

imdb
flixster
metacritic
official website

Trailer:

DANCER IN THE DARK

Year: 2000
Genre: Musical/Drama/Crime
Language: English
Runtime: 2 hours 17 minutes

A beautifully shot, choreographed, and a heart wrenching surreal musical/drama. Every characters are believable in their parts, especially Björk who is just phenomenal. A very moving & depressing piece of cinema.

Rating: 4.5/5

Links:
imdb
flixster
metacritic

Trailer:

THE GIRL ON THE BRIDGE a.k.a LA FILLE SUR LE PONT

Year: 1999
Genre: Romance/Drama
Language: French
Runtime: 1 hour 28 minutes

An absorbing tale of two strangers who are bound by luck and direct each other amidst all the knife-throwing stunts, gambles, and moments of passion. Vanessa Paradis as a hopeless romantic and Daniel Auteuil as a self controlled hopeless lover are simply amazing in their parts. It's like a dark fantasy packaged with engrossing visual treats, music, and witty dialogues.

Rating: 4/5


Links:

imdb
flixster
rotten tomatoes

Trailer:

BLUE SPRING a.k.a AOI HARU

Year: 2001
Genre: Action/Drama
Language: Japanese
Runtime: 1 hour 26 minutes

An unsettling film about the students, their desires, and their race to conquer their dreams against the backdrop of violence & friendship.

Rating: 3.5/5
for the beautiful cinematography, the rocking soundtrack by the TMGE, and the befittingly shocking climax.

Links:

imdb
midnight eye
snowblood apple


Trailer:

AIR DOLL

Year: 2009
Genre: Drama/Fantasy/Romance
Language: Japanese
Runtime: 1 hour 56 minutes

A story about loneliness, isolation, and love dealt in a really subtle way. The poignant visuals and the mesmerizing score by the World's End Girlfriend make this film a treat to watch.

Rating: 3.5/5

Links:

imdb
flixster
tiff
fortissimo

Trailer:

SHUTTER ISLAND

Year: 2010

Genre: Suspense/Mystery/Thriller
Language: English
Runtime: 2 hours 18 minutes

A psychotically atmospheric thriller laced with suspense, surrealism, chills, and some really good performances. It tends to get a little boring because of its drawn-out climax, but most of the portions are ought to keep you on the edge of your seats.

Rating: 3.5/5

Links:

imdb
flixster
metacritic
official website

Trailer:

AUGUST UNDERGROUND'S MORDUM

Year: 2003
Genre: Horror/Torture Porn
Language: English
Runtime: 1 hour 21 minutes

A compilation of "disturbing, boner-inducing, boner-killing, grotesque, maniacal, and nauseating" vignettes of mindless torture & rampage that will disgust you to the core.

Rating: 3/5
for some good mindless sick fun!

Links:

imdb
flixster
toetag pictures

A scene from the film:

PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL PUSH BY SAPPHIRE

Year: 2009
Genre: Drama/Fantasy
Language: English
Runtime: 1 hour 49 minutes

A harsh & an inspirational journey of a teenage girl having her fantasies, aspirations, and the brutal reality of life to deal with. A very sincere attempt by the entire team who have worked on this film and it shows on the screen.

Rating: 4/5
for the mindblowingly touching performance by Mo'Nique as Precious' mother and of course Gabourey Sidibe in the role of Precious.


Links:

imdb
flixster
metacritic
official website

Trailer:

RACHEL GETTING MARRIED

Year: 2008
Genre: Drama/Romance
Language: English
Runtime: 1 hour 56 minutes

This film gives a slice of human emotions: gray, sentimental, cheery, and heartbreaking amidst all the joy and festivities in a wedding. The docu-style cinematography creates a very realistic, gripping, and quite a fun filled wedding atmosphere.

Rating: 4/5
for the terrific cast and acting.


Links:

imdb
flixster
metacritic

Trailer:

LOVE, SEX aur DHOKHA a.k.a LSD

Year: 2010
Genre: Romance/Handycam
Language: Hindi
Runtime: 1 hour 38 minutes

3 voyeuristic tales of romance laced with love, sex, and dhokha(betrayal). The hand-held cameras and the hidden cameras used in the film give it a stylishly realistic touch that'll leave you shocked, entertained, and high.

Superhit Pyaar
A sweet cliché love story that'll make you laugh, smile, and will leave you deeply disturbed. This story will be etched in your mind even after you leave the theatre.

Paap Ki Dukaan
Hypocritical, Amoral, Emotional, Distressful. You just can't ignore the powerful performances by the male and the female protagonists in this vignette.

Badnaam Shohrat
A little less satisfying among the other tales, but still the sharp dialogues & gradually how the entire acid trip comes to an end is to watch out for.

Rating: 4/5
for the tight cinematography, direction, witty dialogues, screenplay, cast, and acting.


Links:

imdb
wogma
official website

Trailer:

[REC] 2

Year: 2009

Genre: Horror/Handycam
Language: Spanish
Runtime: 1 hour 25 minutes

Not as powerful as its predecessor, but it doesn't fail to guarantee you the chills, some flinching moments, and the necessary heart palpitating action.

Rating: 3.5/5
for cinematography, acting, and some brilliantly executed scenes.


Links:

imdb
flixster
official website

Trailer:

THE VIRGIN SUICIDES

Year: 1999

Genre: Drama/Fantasy/Romance
Language: English
Runtime: 1 hour 37 minutes

The film unfolds like a mysterious poetry that is engrossing, suspenseful, and surrealistic, filled with desire, passion and desolation. A very haunting and atmospheric film.

Rating: 3.5/5
for director Sofia Coppola & the lovely cast.

Links:
imdb
metacritic
flixster


Trailer:

KIDS

Year: 1995
Genre: Drama
Language: English
Runtime: 1 hour 35 minutes

It deals with drug abuse, carelessness, violence, and hormonal rage all involving teens. The story takes place within 24 hours and the proceedings in the film get disturbing one scene after the another until you come face to face with the unsettling climax. A very well-written screenplay by Harmony Korine.

Rating: 3.5/5

Links:

imdb
flixster
Reel Review

Trailer:

BULLY

Year: 2001
Genre: Crime/Drama
Language: English
Runtime: 1 hour 40 minutes

A sexually charged teen crime drama based on a true story that is realistic, shocking, absorbing, and eye opening. Terrific performances by all the actors in their roles of wild, blunt, and feckless teens. Definitely one of the best Larry Clark films.

Rating: 3.5/5

Links:
imdb
metacritic
flixster

Trailer:

KARTHIK CALLING KARTHIK

Year: 2010
Genre: Romance/Mystery/Thriller
Language: Hindi
Runtime: 2 hours 15 minutes

A nice little romantic thriller spiked with a good amount of mystery & suspense. Watch it for Farhan Akhtar's acting & the awesomely appropriate background score.

Rating: 3.5/5
for Farhan Akhtar & the debutant director Vijay Lalwani

Links:
imdb
ndtv
official website

Trailer:

DU LEVANDE a.k.a YOU, THE LIVING

Year: 2007
Genre: Drama/Dark Comedy
Language: Swedish
Runtime: 1 hour 29 minutes

A bleak portrayal of different lives dealing with their helplessness, despair, loneliness, anger, fear, and dreams seasoned with some stark humor & march music. The camera is mostly static in every vignette presented in the film making it a somewhat tiresome watch. An unconventional & original film.

Rating: 3/5
for Anna's dream sequence and some of the other sketches.

Links:

imdb
flixster
metacritic
variety

Trailer:

[REC]

Year: 2007
Genre: Horror/Mystery/Handycam
Language: Spanish
Runtime: 1 hour 15 minutes

Intense, gripping, tense, chilling, adrenaline pumping and a spine tingling experience. What makes this film even more effective are the believable acting & the shaky camera work. The last 15 minutes of the film are ought to make your heart pop out

Rating: 4/5

Links:

imdb
flixster
twitch

Trailer:

MARIA FULL OF GRACE

Year: 2004
Genre: Drama/Crime
Language: Spanish
Runtime: 1 hour 41 minutes

Rebellious, realistic, shocking, original, and absorbing. A very natural and deeply moving performance by Catalina Sandino Moreno as Maria. A very sincere & mature effort by director Joshua Marston who made a debut with this film. A must watch film.

Rating: 4/5

Links:

imdb
metacritic
flixster
newline

Trailer:

MOON

Year: 2009
Genre: Sci-Fi/Horror/Mystery
Language: English
Runtime: 1 hour 37 minutes

A cool little indie sci-fi/thriller that'll keep you on the edge of your seats. Very impressive acting by Sam Rockwell who is the only prime character in the film. Director "Duncan Jones" presents an old school sci-fi inspired plot in a really efficacious way. The beautifully haunting score by Clint Mansell just elevates the mysterious atmosphere of the film.

Rating: 3.5/5

Links:

imdb
metacritic
flixster
official website

Trailer: