10 hidden gems on Netflix

Netflix and chill has become a way of life. But every so often Netflixers get sucked into the vortex of the mainstream. Everyone has seen Breaking Bad, Making A Murderer and Stranger Things, but the binge-facilitating website actually holds a bunch of other great movies and TV shows that tend to get overlooked by the general public. Here are 10 hidden gems on Netflix right now.

Trollhunter

Trollhunter is a Norwegian fantasy shock-umentary following a bunch of students who discover not only a troll hunter, but also that giant trolls are cavorting around the forests of Norway. Shot similarly to The Blair Witch Project, this fake documentary does a pretty good job at invading your suspension of disbelief.

We Need To Talk About Kevin

Tilda Swinton reigns supreme in this film as she plays the mother of a mass murdering teen who goes after his high school classmates. While this film is psychologically disturbing and definitely not for everyone, Swinton delivers some of her best onscreen performances accompanied by the surprisingly perfectly cast John C. Reilly and the breakout role for The Perks Of Being A Wallflower’s Ezra Miller.

Ajin

The description for Ajin on Netflix should be, “If you love Death Note and Attack On Titan, just watch this.” Ajin is one of the best anime shows to come out in the last 10 years, telling the story of a rather unlikable lead who discovers he cannot die and can summon a ghost spirit to aid him in his questionable adventures.

Extraordinary Tales

Edgar Allan Poe fans rejoice! Extraordinary Tales is a collection of short animated films that all depict various Poe short stories in unique animated forms. Not only do they capture the essence of Poe, but everyone from Guillermo del Toro to Christopher Lee to even archived footage of Bela Lugosi was involved in the making of this collection.

Filth

For fans of Irvine Welsh’s page-to-screen cult film Trainspotting, Filth is another installment in the subcultures of urban Scottish life. There’s drugs, there’s alcohol, there’s James McAvoy in drag. The movie is shocking and unsettling in parts, but for a follow up to Trainspotting, it’s pretty damn fun.

R.L. Stine’s The Haunting Hour

Anyone who grew up watching Goosebumps (which also is on Netflix) as a kid is sure to get a kick out of this quaint continuation. In good old R.L. Stine fashion, this show depicts 30-minute tales of terror to help viewers relive some of R.L. Stine’s greatest stories. Think Goosebumps revamped with better special effects.

Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell

This is a show about British wizards who don’t need to battle Voldemort. In a sort of makeshift history throwback, this fantasy romps through Victorian England, following two of the only wizards left in the world as they attempt to figure out just exactly how to be those wizards. Based off a best-selling book series, it’s fun to watch and beautifully shot; it’s just a wonder that more people haven’t heard of it.

Hot Fuzz

Welcome to Shaun of the Dead 2.0, sans zombies. Instead, this time actors Simon Pegg and Nick Frost play two cops sent to a small town in England that is being affected by a slew of gruesome and seemingly random murders. While this is probably the most popular film on this list, it does tend to get overshadowed by its undead predecessor quite often.

Salem

In case you are bummed that Penny Dreadful ended so suddenly with season three, take a moment to check out Salem. This haunting show slightly follows the history of the Salem witch trials using many characters who were actually involved in the affair, but really piles on the evils of black magic. It’s a true dark fantasy drama without ever feeling remotely campy.

Moonrise Kingdom

Wes Anderson makes some interestingly weird films, but Moonrise Kingdom is one of the best. This coming of age story doubles as a love story between two kids in a small town who decide to (be a cliché and) run away. However, this lighthearted tale is a real heart-warmer and will assure that you use the line “What kind of bird are you?” for your next formal introduction to someone.