As the holiday season comes, you’re probably putting up Christmas decorations and planning your holiday menu right now. The same goes for the movies: your watchlist most likely includes the comfort movies you repeat every year, and this doesn’t only apply for the holidays. Throughout the entire year, you probably watch some of the same movies, and yes, that’s OK. The problem is you’re missing out on hidden gems that are left to the mercy of algorithms.
The following is a list of those gems. The best thing about this selection is that you can watch them today on a reliable streamer where everything is available for free. That is, if a few ads every now and then don’t bother you. These are the best-hidden gems on Tubi.
10 ‘The Gate’ (1987)
Release Date April 21, 1987
Cast Christa Denton , Stephen Dorff , Louis Tripp , Kelly Rowan , Jennifer Irwin , Deborah Grover , Ingrid Veninger , Linda Goranson , Scot Denton , Sean Fagan , Carl Kraines , Andrew Gunn , Andrew Gunn
Runtime 86 minutes
The Gate is the story of Glen, a 12-year-old who, alongside his best friend and neighbor, Terry, discovers there’s something brewing in his backyard. When an ancient tree is cut down, they discover there’s a hole in the ground. Spooky stuff happens, but things go really bad when they use a heavy metal album to chant some lyrics. Glen and Terry unearth what is basically a portal to another dimension. And something wants out.
An Unrecognized Piece of 1980s Horror
Starring Stephen Dorff in his debut as an actor (he plays Glen), The Gate is a solid approach to 1980s horror with everything the decade represents in the genre: satanic panic, spooky dream sequences, and the absolute best practical special effects involving stop motion and forced perspective. Trust us when we say that you will be impressed. When it comes to gateway horror set for young viewers, The Gate does overstep its boundaries but it’s a fine pick.
9 ‘Tyrannosaur’ (2011)
Release Date October 7, 2011
Runtime 91
Joseph is a very violent and unstable man. An uncontrollable monster. However, when he meets Hannah, a victim of an abusive relationship, Joseph decides a change of heart is enough to show her some compassion that leads towards a revenge reaction against the woman’s husband. There’s a whole other level of wrath beneath what we see.
The Bleakest Film You Have Never Seen
Written and directed by House of the Dragon’s Paddy Considine, Tyrannosaur is a horrific and bleak depiction of primal human elements. Wonderfully led by Peter Mullan and Olivia Colman in her best performance, the film is excessive in its display of violence, but Hannah’s husband, James, gets what he deserves.
Related 10 Forgotten TV Gems to Stream on Tubi
Not only does Tubi offer great film options. In terms of TV, its catalog is great for hiding forgotten gems you should check out.
8 ‘Amores Perros’ (2000)
Release Date June 16, 2000
Cast Emilio Echevarría , Gael García Bernal , Vanessa Bauche , Goya Toledo , Álvaro Guerrero , Jorge Salinas , Marco Pérez , Rodrigo Murray , Humberto Busto , Gerardo Campbell , Rosa María Bianchi , Dunia Saldívar , Adriana Barraza , José Sefami , Lourdes Echevarría , Laura Almela , Gustavo Sánchez Parra , Dagoberto Gama , Rodrigo Ostap , Patricio Castillo , Roberto Medina
Runtime 154 minutes
Expand
Amores Perros (translated to Love’s a B**ch for English-speaking audiences) is a Mexican film that tells the stories of several characters from different society levels as their lives randomly connect. Made by Alejandro González Iñárritu before his introduction to Hollywood, the anthology-like film is one of the best foreign dramas of its time.
Iñárritu’s Best Film
And the best film by the director. Very gritty in nature, Amores Perros is a powerful drama under a different narrative that audiences are used to. It’s not “Tarantinoey,” but very akin to Iñárritu’s signature use of fate as the driving element of the story. Look out for Gael García Bernal in his big-screen feature film debut.
7 ‘Border’ (2018)
Border
Release Date September 27, 2018
Cast Eero Milonoff , Eva Melander , Jörgen Thorsson , Ann Petrén , Sten Ljunggren , Kjell Wilhelmsen , Rakel Wärmländer , Andreas Kundler , Matti Boustedt , Tomas Åhnstrand , Josefin Neldén , Henrik Johansson , Ibrahim Faal , Åsa Janson , Donald Högberg , Krister Kern , Viktor Åkerblom , Robert Enckell , Elisabeth Göransson , Åsa Johansson , Kardo Razzazi , Natalie Minnevik , Joakim Olsson
Runtime 110 minutes
Expand
Border is the story of Tina, a customs agent with a very particular talent: she can smell everything and detect the impossible. Tina looks… different. One day a man with the same facial features as hers goes through customs, and Tina sees they may have something in common. The film is based on the short story Border by John Ajvide Lindqvist (Let the Right One In).
A Wonderful Fantasy Film
While many heard its name at the 2019 Oscars (it was nominated for Best Makeup and Hairstyling), few people took the time to see this winner of the Un Certain Regard award at Cannes. Border is a strangely compelling fantasy film that plays with folk horror elements while contemplating an honest story about romantic connection outside the human realm.
6 ‘The Hunt’ (2012)
Lucas is a kindergarten teacher in a very small town in Denmark. The community is tight-knit, and the teacher is a valuable part of it. The problem is that the daughter of one of Lucas’ best friends, Klara, tries to kiss him and Lucas completely rejects the child’s actions. In revenge, Klara accuses him of sexual molestation, everyone believes her, and a hunt ensues.
What Makes It Scarier is That It Could Happen
Before Thomas Vinterberg and Mads Mikkelsen impressed the entire world with Another Round, there was The Hunt, which is undoubtedly the actor’s best performance. Although it was nominated at the Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film, most people have forgotten about it, but it’s a near-perfect psychological thriller that will leave you shaking with its very believable premise.
5 ‘The Wolf of Snow Hollow’ (2020)
Release Date October 23, 2020
Runtime 85
The Wolf of Snow Hollow follows the adventures of a deputy sheriff named John Marshall who starts drinking again when his town begins experiencing a series of strange and grisly murders. Marshall digs around and sees the resemblance with the legends of werewolves in the area, and, of course, is forced to believe in the impossible.
Comedy and Horror in Perfect Balance
Written and directed by Jim Cummings, who also stars as Deputy Marshall, The Wolf of Snow Hollow is a murder mystery movie that blends well with the tone of comedy horror that its director has proved he can adapt very well. Cummings manages to mix the different genres in a well-executed film with a not-so-easy premise to pull off. The score by Daniel Hart is a delight not to be missed.
4 ‘Horror in the High Desert’ (2021)
Release Date March 27, 2021
Runtime 82 Minutes
Main Genre Horror
Director Dutch Marich
Rating
Cast Suziey Block , Eric Mencis , David Morales , Tony Williams Ogden , Errol Porter
Expand
Horror in the High Desert is a mockumentary that follows the aftermath of the disappearance of hiker Gary Hinge. Hinge went to investigate local legends in the Nevada desert but he vanished. As a key piece of evidence is found, viewers are treated to the truth of what happened to the very unlucky hiker. Hint: it’s a nasty piece of nightmare fuel.
The Best Mockumentary in Years
The film is a mockumentary/found footage film that checks every item on the list for the tropes of the horror subgenre, but it still is one of the best films of its genre. It’s insanely scary and its final ten minutes will leave you trembling as you run to turn on the lights. You’ll probably fall in love with it if you have a thing for found footage movies, and that’s a good thing because it has spawned an entire franchise.
3 ‘Threads’ (1984)
In Threads, the world is facing extinction as the most powerful countries in the world bomb each other with nuclear devices. A small town in England, Sheffield, becomes the subject of the story as its residents are subjected to the horrors of fallout and the inevitable fall of man. The film is told from the perspective of one of the survivors, but it’s mostly centered around the survival of the human species.
The Best in Nuclear Horror
It’s not strictly a horror movie, but it’s horrific enough to cause sleepless nights for some time as you think about the sirens announcing a nuclear launch. It’s widely considered one of the best films about its subject. And even though you would think it belongs to a time of “worldwide nuclear panic,” it presents a rough idea of what would happen if the madmen who rule the world decide to press the button at some point.
Related 9 Mystery Thrillers and Crime Movies With Holiday Themes
Here’s a list of mystery and crime thrillers perfectly suited for viewing during the holidays.
2 ‘Macbeth’ (2015)
Release Date December 4, 2015
Runtime 113 Minutes
In Macbeth, a medieval officer in Scotland triumphs at war and receives a prophecy by a covenant of witches: they predict Macbeth will one day rule as king. His ambition and his wife’s conviction are enough to push him towards greed as he decides to follow the prophecy, whatever the cost. It’s one of the most underrated adaptations of Shakespeare’s classic.
A Great Adaptation Not Many People Saw
Justin Kurzel’s massively underseen film stars Michael Fassbender as Macbeth, as well as Sean Harris, Paddy Considine, Marion Cotillard, and Elizabeth Debicki, among others. Even though it was critically acclaimed, it was poorly marketed and the box office performance wasn’t very good. Still, it’s a visually striking version of the story with one of the best ensemble casts of the Shakespeare film universe.
1 ‘Jesus Camp’ (2006)
Jesus Camp is a spine-chilling documentary with a firsthand depiction of religious camps in America. The subject is Kids on Fire School of Ministry, a camp where small children are taught the orthodox side of the evangelical Christian religion: they become warriors of the church, and forcefully indoctrinate everything in their path.
A Chilling Depiction of Reality
While this list has some horror bangers, none are as scary as Jesus Camp. The very disturbing documentary doesn’t depict a true crime setting per se, but it’s inevitable to think these children are the victims of something sinister. It was nominated for an Academy Award, but through time it has suffered from some detractors who view the film as biased.
You can view the original article HERE.
