The logic of movie marketing dictates that we need to know everything there is to know about a movie before spending money on a ticket, but that doesn't mean that's the right way to watch every movie. There's a lot of competition for our attention these days, which means many of us do a lot of reviewing something before we actually sit down to watch it. But trailers tend to convey a movie's entire plot, and social media discussions chronicle the movie's smartest moments even before you have a chance to buy a ticket (or turn on Netflix).
Sure, spoiler arguments can be annoying, but some movies seem designed just to be watched with as little foreknowledge as possible. Some of them feature twist endings, but sometimes even knowing the premise is a spoiler. (In the spirit of this article, you'll forgive me if I don't say much about the plots of these movies, and the trailers are for illustrative purposes only. Yes, it's a little weird; please use your best judgment.)
Savage (2022)
In the opening minutes of this twisty thriller, Tess (Georgina Campbell) arrives at her Airbnb-style rental in a rough neighborhood, only to discover that it's been double-booked by Bill Skarsgård. When she feels bad and lets him in, you're pretty sure you know what kind of horror movie you're getting into. No!
Where to stream: Amazon
Sorry to Bother You (2018)
Boots Riley's directorial debut, about a black telemarketer who pretends to be white, starts out like a strict social satire before veering into more vitriolic, fucked-up territory.
Where to stream: Amazon
The Cabin in the Woods (2012)
There have been countless "Cabin in the Woods" style horror movies, in which every possible variation on many related tropes is about...death; as far back as the 1980s, Sam Raimi Parodied and subverted the genre with his The Evil Dead films. We know these movies and we know how they work. While The Cabin in the Woods initially seems like a Scream -style deconstruction of the subgenre, it quickly reveals itself to be much more ambitious. While the trailers make it clear that something strange is going on, the biggest twist is far less predictable.
Where to stream: Peacock, Amazon
Parasite (2019)
Starring Bong Joon-ho, this unlikely Best Picture Oscar winner starts off like a darkly humorous satire, the kind of scathing comedies of manners and social class that Korean filmmakers often excel at. Then it nimbly shifts gears and dashes off into darker territory for the rest of the time.
Live broadcast location: Max, Amazon
Django Unchained (2012)
The number one question people ask about Django Unchained on Google is "Is Django Unchained historically accurate?" This suggests that more people have seen the Quentin Tarantino film than Less so than one might imagine. Every Tarantino film of the past decade+ has taken place in some sort of real-life historical setting and then thrown history out the window in a rather satisfying way, as happens here. After reading it, do further research online.
Where to watch: Starz, Amazon
10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)
The first and third Cloverfield films were sci-fi action spectacles, and the only thing I can say about Cloverfield Lane is that it's not. A woman (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) is involved in a car accident and is rescued by an older man (John Goodman), but "rescued" may not be the right word. I've said enough.
Where to stream: Amazon
Oldboy (2003)
Even the main character Oh Dae-soo (Choi Min-sik) had no idea what was going on when he entered "Oldboy." Bad and confusing things happen to him, he doesn't know why, and his subsequent quest for revenge (and answers...but mostly revenge) goes to truly wild places.
Where to stream: Netflix, Amazon
Memento (2000)
The film that made Christopher Nolan famous back in 2000 was a truly shockingly original film that still retains its surprising (and confusing) power two decades later. If you can watch it without knowing the premise, watch it now.
Where to stream: Peacock, Freevee, Amazon Prime
Prestige (2006)
The Prestige is another mind-bending offering from the Nolan brothers, with a story inspired by real-life warring magicians and a deft blend of genres that departed from its original simplicity as a period piece.
Where to stream: Amazon
Lighthouse (2019)
Come see Robert Pattinson sporting an old-school mustache, stay for gallery-wall-worthy cinematography, subversion of old-school filmmaking techniques, Willem Dafoe's eccentric performance And a smooth plot.
Live broadcast location: Max, Amazon
Triangle of Sadness (2022)
One of the darkest comedies in recent memory, Ruben Åstlund's surprising Oscar front-runner feels like at least three movies in one, with a narrative that takes a nosedive at unexpected moments and takes on greed and capitalism. A violent attack. Best viewed in ignorance and on an empty stomach.
Where to stream: Hulu, Amazon
Boy Scared (2023)
The angst-inducing fever dream of "Beautiful" isn't for everyone, but there's really no point if you don't dive right in and try to figure out if it's for you -- certainly if you've seen director Ari Ace A special movie. Look at earlier movies like Hereditary and Midsommar, and you can understand why you'd want to know as little as possible. (This is my favorite movie of 2023, but at least as many people hate it as love it.)
Where to stream: Paramount+, Amazon
Shutter Island (2010)
Martin Scorsese's adaptation of Dennis Lehane's novel is full of noir elements, including Leonardo DiCaprio's rumpled suits and period Boston accents. The tone then quickly shifts, leaving us guessing exactly what type of movie we are in.
Where to stream: Amazon
Red Shoes (1948)
Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger's stunning take on the legend of Hans Christian Andersen looks like a romantic fairy tale fantasy.
Where to stream: Max, Tubi, Freevee, Amazon Prime
Holy Trinity (2019)
Director Molly Hewitt's colorful directorial debut didn't exactly make a huge splash, but it was destined for cult status. I'll leave it at that for this upbeat sex-and-king positive movie involving a sadist who can communicate with the dead.
Where to stream: VHX TV
Dark City (1998)
It doesn't take long for Dark City to establish itself as a departure from the highly stylized neo-noir it's set in, but its plot twists and nimble blending of genres keep it surprising throughout. The Premium Director's Cut (available to rent via Prime Video) fleshes out the world while reducing the manual effort, so it's even better if you're looking for surprises.
Where to play: Tubi, Amazon
Continuity (2013)
What could possibly be surprising in a low-budget romantic drama set at a dinner party? What happened to that comet?
Where to stream: Peacock, Tubi, Amazon Prime
Triangle (2009)
Is this science fiction? Is it scary? I won't tell. For fans of the psychedelic and mind-bending stuff, it works on almost every level.
Where to stream: Peacock, Tubi, Freevee, Crackle, Amazon Prime
us (2019)
The continuation of Jordan Peele's "Get Out " doesn't become clear until the final act, but the film never feels like it's waiting for a big reveal or twist (although there are some). Surprises are everywhere.
Where to stream: Amazon
No (2022)
Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer star as siblings who are caretakers at a rural California horse farm who find themselves haunted by... something? Fiercely original and often disturbing, its tagline, "a new Western sci-fi horror film," tells you everything you need to know.
Where to watch: Starz, Amazon
Deeks: The Musical (2023)
Larry Charles directs this jaw-droppingly raunchy and silly musical from a screenplay that stars Aaron Jackson and Josh Sharp, who play twin siblings separated at birth, but you'll know it's definitely not "The Parent Trap" . Long before Sewer Boy appeared on our screens. If you need more convincing, the supporting cast includes Nathan Lane, Megan Mulally, and Megan Thee Stallion.
Live broadcast location: Max, Amazon
Split (2016)
M. Nightshalaman, one of our funniest and most inconsistent filmmakers, delivers his closest slam dunk in years with Split , a horror thriller that ends with It's anchored by a wonderful (if questionable) performance from James McAvoy. Although there are surprises until the end, the director abandons the traditional reliance on a twist ending in favor of a more twist-like beginning.
Where to stream: Netflix, Amazon
Suddenly, last summer (1959)
This film, starring Elizabeth Taylor alongside Katharine Hepburn and Montgomery Clift, may have a little more fuss than many of the others here, but it's impressively weird (based on the play by Tennessee Williams) Continuously accumulates throughout the run. By the end, you'll almost certainly be wondering how this movie was made in 1959 with a cast like this.
Where to watch: The Criterion Channel, Amazon
Big Trouble in Little China (1986)
Genre-wise, IMDb considers Big Trouble in Little China to be a fantasy martial arts action comedy (originally a Western), which might be enough to tell you whether it's for you. In many ways, this was the strangest of the great John Carpenter and Kurt Russell collaborations of the 1980s.
Where to stream: Amazon
Slack Bay (2016)
As ridiculous as the movie gets, led by Juliette Binoche's wonderful performance, I'm not sure I could spoil Slack Bay if I wanted to. Like any film here, it fails even the most rigorous attempt at summary.
Where to stream: Amazon
The Invisible Man (2020)
Finally: The Universal Monsters reboot gets it right. Based on the HG Wells novel (and James Whale's excellent 1933 film version), this novel creates something new and interesting by shifting focus.
Where to stream: Freevee, Amazon
Vicious (2021)
I'm not making any guarantees as this seems to be a love/hate thing...but I'm personally on Team Malignant . Its really shitty plot twists are just this side of stupidity, and when mixed with some over-the-top horror, it all adds up to a good time in the movie.
Live broadcast location: Max, Amazon
Starship Troopers (1997)
Although less common in 1997, when digital effects were expensive and streaming services weren't desperate for genre content, this type of space marines-fighting aliens movie is still one we've seen a million times . Or so we think. Professional provocateur Paul Verhoeven, apparently uninterested in something so direct, chose a film that satirized rather than adapted the novel he based it on.
Where to stream: Netflix, Amazon
The Werewolf (2021)
As werewolf-themed horror movies go, it's on the lighter side, and that's to its credit. It's a rather fascinating (but often terrifying) mystery, filled with impressive twists, turns, and misdirections.
Where to stream: Hulu, Shudder, Amazon
Kaboom (2010)
Kaboom may not be new queer cinema titan Gregg Araki's best work, but it's certainly his funniest, most colorful, and fastest-paced. A group of college students face a potential apocalypse while having sex.
Where to stream: AMC+, Amazon
Sisu (2022)
Do you like seeing Nais get what they want? The film gives the Nazis everything they faced in the most satisfying way possible.
Where to watch: Starz, Amazon
Carnival of Souls (1962)
This ultra-low-budget indie film preceded and inspired Night of the Living Dead , and its unique style and tone still impress today. Mary Henry (Candace Hilligoss) emerges from a car accident and stumbles into an abandoned carnival that's creepy and completely mysterious, but you can probably tell that from the title. Anything more is a spoiler.
Where to stream: Max, AMC+, The Criterion Channel, Tubi, Crackle, Shudder, Freevee, Amazon Prime
Swiss Army Man (2016)
Dan Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, who directed 2016 's Everything Everywhere All at Once , return with "Swiss Arm Man" to solidify their role as emotional icons A reputation as masters of the catchy weird... luckily, it didn't ruin their careers. If it wasn't already clear, this is also the film where Daniel Radcliffe proves that he's truly ready to step out of Harry Potter's long shadow.
Live broadcast location: Max, Amazon
Birdman (2014)
Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s remarkably dark comedy is one of those mostly forgotten Best Picture Oscar winners, but unfairly so in this case , its directing style (the closest thing to a gimmick here) and the way the jokes keep piling up are both surprisingly uplifting. Iñárritu is known for more overtly dramatic films ( The Revenant , 21 Grams , etc.), but here he puts all his energy into making Michael Keaton's life a living hell . Keaton gives a great performance in this film as his former and future Batman character.
Where to stream: Amazon
Don't Look Now (1973)
Many supernatural thrillers aspire to resonate on a deeper level, and many of them involve grief. Few films are as smart as Nicolas Roeg's classic, set in beautiful but gloomy Venice and starring Julie Christie and Donald Sutherland, the best of his career s work.
Where to watch: The Criterion Channel, Amazon
Palm Springs (2020)
Cristin Milioti, Andy Samberg and J.K. Simmons star in this romantic comedy that quickly veers into science fiction territory - a film where the plot twist comes at the beginning rather than A great example of a movie that ends well and is surprising throughout.
Where to play: Hulu
Annette (2021)
I like to imagine the faces of the non-arthouse crowd after the unfortunate encounter with Annette while browsing Amazon Prime. "Oh, Adam Driver! I love him!" they thought as they clicked play, completely unprepared for the work of French director Léos Carax and alien musician Sparks.
Where to stream: Amazon Prime
Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar (2021)
An example of a movie with a trailer that effectively makes it look less than intelligent, Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar looks like just a Kristen Wiig SNL sketch stretched to the point where it's absolutely limit. This is actually even fucking weirder.
Where to stream: Amazon
Serenity (2019)
Don't let anyone ruin your tranquility through stupidity.
Where to play: Tubi, Freevee
Extraordinary (2019)
Extra Ordinary pays homage to those crappy horror movies you used to rent from the video store based solely on weird box art. But it's actually very, very good. It starts off like a parody and then gets weirder and weirder. Will Forte's presence is both a red herring and its secret weapon.
Where to stream: Tubi, AMC+, Amazon
Menu (2022)
A pair of foodies (Anya Taylor-Joy and Nicholas Hoult) land a coveted reservation at a fancy restaurant on a secluded island. They had a delicious meal, posted rave reviews on social media, and went home happy. JK.
Where to stream: Amazon
Pearl (2022)
A prequel to Dee West's "X ," co-written by star Mia Goss. If you watched the first part, you might think you know what to expect, which naturally reveals how it all plays out. Not so much.
Where to stream: Amazon Prime
Psycho (1960)
"Psycho" does its job very, very well, and as a result, there are very few fans left who are surprised by its central twist. But if all you know about Psycho is that it's a famous game, it's got more surprises (and perspective shifts) than showers of surprises. Much copied, but never the most shocking to audiences: that’s just how it’s done, quite simply. But since you've probably already seen this one, check out the surprisingly effective Now You See Me , which is almost as good at keeping its audience guessing.
Where to stream: Amazon Prime
