I search the Netflix Top 10 every weekend, so I can say with more confidence than most that a lot of horror movies make the ranking. When looking for something to watch, sometimes the most popular movies are the ones that disappoint the most.
Some of the best movies hiding in the streamer’s library are the ones that fly under the radar, and I’ve got three thrillers worth your time that deserve a lot more attention than they’re getting right now. Whether you’re in the mood for a cool game of cat and mouse with a serial killer a la “Red Dragon,” Jake Gyllenhaal works his ass off and spirals out of control “Nightcrawler,” or an unhinged creature feature that’s better than it has any right to be (more on that hear-me-out below), these movies deliver.
These three very different types of thrillers are worth your time, and none of them need a spot in Netflix’s top 10 to earn a spot on your watch list tonight.
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“Red Dragon” (2002)
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Anytime I get a chance to plug the Hannibal series for work, you can bet your ass I’ll take it. Sure, it’s no “The Silence of the Lambs,” but “Red Dragon” doesn’t get enough credit for Anthony Hopkins and Edward Norton’s killer chemistry and performances. Based on Harris’ novel of the same name, this prequel returns to the infamous cannibal’s first years in prison after FBI profiler Will Graham (Edward Norton) brings him to justice.
Putting Hannibal behind bars almost cost him his life, and his peaceful retirement is shattered when a new serial killer named the Tooth Fairy goes on a rampage. When the trail goes cold, Will turns to the good doctor for help, which of course comes at a price. Quid pro quo and what not. If you like this, please know that the phenomenal “Hannibal” TV show with Mads Mikkelsen is also on Netflix, and it treads a lot of the same territory with some gorgeous gorey shots that I’m still talking about a decade after it ended.
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‘Nightcrawler’ (2014)
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One of Jake Gyllenhaal’s most criminally underrated films, “Nightcrawler” is a neo-noir thriller that is surprisingly thought provoking and positively oozes style. Gyllenhaal stars as Lou, a down-on-his-luck amateur cameraman who rises to the top to film violent accidents before anyone else can. The scarier the footage, the more news stations will pay for it.
Lou quickly finds his footing, hitting the streets of Los Angeles after dark to uncover increasingly violent and disturbing stories. Simply put, this is Gyllenhaal’s finest performance, and the fact that the Academy overlooked him for an Oscar nomination remains a crime in itself. At least writer-director Dan Gilroy earned a nod for his messy screenplay. Lou is a deeply flawed character, and his spiral out of control stays with you long after the credits roll. Netflix says the last day to watch it is Halloween, so press play before “Nightcrawler” jumps to another streamer!
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‘Cocaine Bear’ (2023)
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What is Cocaine Bear about? Dude, it’s exactly what it says on the tin. A bear dripping tears from his gourd through everything and anything after walking into the woods of a drug dealer. It’s inspired by a stranger-than-fiction news story from the 80s, and honestly, it’s better than it has any right to be.
An entertaining hodgepodge of over-the-top violence and dark humor, it never takes itself too seriously, and I think that’s why it works. In our review, we said, “The best compliment I can give Cocaine Bear is that it feels imbued with some of the Wet Hot American Summer energy, which makes sense if Elizabeth Banks is directing it.” For a solid B-movie that’s good for laughs, you can’t do much better than Cocaine Bear.
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