Credit image ( Freepik )

Many of the elements that fans of American filmmaking like are frequently similar. These days, it seems like a movie won’t earn money if the lead character isn’t wearing all spandex, has a chip on their shoulder, or can’t strike a wisecrack. Comic book movie lovers can finally celebrate their genre’s recognition, but what about lesser films? What about the movies that are amazing yet receive little attention here?

This brings up the topic of international movies. We felt this would be a great opportunity to introduce you all to some really powerful foreign films that you may have missed, as most of them went unnoticed over here. These films are frequently undervalued by the general public, often for the simple reason of lack of exposure.

10. Timecrimes (in Spanish)

Yes, that could be the greatest/dumbest title ever for a time-traveling film. Being unsure about something is acceptable, but don’t let it deter you. Timecrimes begins off in a way that will captivate you right away, and if you make it to the conclusion without a bloody nose and some cognitive comprehension of how they got there, it is nothing short of genius. However, you will need to take notes during this movie (like a more thrilling version of Primer). No, really, do make notes. More than Mike Tyson in his heyday, the film skillfully dodges and weaves.

9. The mother, a South Korean

Mother of Korean Cinema

You should be aware going in that a mother is many things. It won’t hold your hand, just like most foreign movies. You won’t be overwhelmed with explanations. The characters themselves, not just speeches about them, will reflect the character arcs. Like most South Korean films, Mother deals with some very heavy subjects, making it a difficult viewing. We could essentially tell you that this is a revenge movie, but that would be a disservice. It’s a true story, spanning many years, that demonstrates the psychological damage that repeated violence and abuse can do to a person. a somber look at how demanding motherhood can actually be.

8. (Japanese) Redline

Be aware that we will begin with two points. First of all, it is an anime film. But hold on, before you visit our offices and hurl stones bearing the term “weeaboos” through our windows, allow us to make the following audacious claim: Among the greatest motor racing films ever produced is Redline. In addition, it is among the “coolest” films ever made, albeit Blade Runner (the two films) still manages to edge it out somewhat. The movie is what you would imagine it would be like to ride a bull bareback into a fire storm and pour liquid LSD into your eyes. With its amazing score and visually striking film, it is an intense film that never lets up.

7. Norwegian Headhunters

In Headhunters, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau is shown pointing a gun.

This Norwegian thriller has been the subject of various remake speculations, but alas, most Americanized remakes lack substance; this one is flawless in terms of performance and execution and doesn’t need one. The clever thriller Headhunters is packed of unexpected twists and turns that the audience won’t see coming.

The movie is about a part-time art thief who is called in for his “one big job” and finds himself entangled in a labyrinth of corruption and dishonesty for which he was not prepared. Moreover, Game of Thrones star Nikolaj Coster-Waldau appears in it.

6. (South Korean) Save The Green Planet

Be careful—this is an odd movie. But what makes Save The Green Planet so, well, unforgettable is the way that humor, horror, and drama are intricately woven together. The plot centers on a conspiracy theorist who believes that aliens have visited Earth and are now living among us. In an effort to prove his theory, he kidnaps someone, which leads to a series of unfortunate events. Well, to put it plainly, hi-jinx. Bats**t madness comes to pass.

There will be scenes of violent content that is difficult to watch at times, and you will laugh aloud at the next scene. A very difficult balance for filmmakers to strike, yet in this case, the balance is masterfully struck. The journey is definitely worthwhile because of the movie’s climactic reveal.

5. The Danish Hunt

Would you please give the celluloid gods a moment of thanks for Mads Mikkelsen? The man exudes dominating presence in all aspects, from his part as the title character on the excellent television series Hannibal to his portrayal of Valhalla Rising. Additionally, The Hunt portrays him as a teacher whose life is destroyed by a false accusation of child molestation, even though we usually think of him as a nasty person and a Viking.

It’s an uncommon viewpoint in movies. Generally speaking, the good guys are good and the bad guys are bad, but The Hunt demonstrates how occasionally the roles can be switched and how it can completely upend a person’s life. Observe The Hunt. Just don’t anticipate feeling your best after it.

4. French for “Fat Girl”

Slender Woman

As the title should have warned you, this is an intensely painful film to watch. Foreign films frequently deal with extremely taboo issues, and the way they do it (particularly in French films) is, to put it mildly, shocking. This film is no different.

The film Fat Girl is about sisters. About the nature of familial ties and how difficult and problematic they may be. To give you too much away will ruin the surprise and lessen the effect of the movie, so get comfortable and watch it. It portrays the sadness of adolescent anxiety and boredom in a way that is uncannily real and uncommon.

3. Japanese-language Perfect Blue

Ideal Blue

Black Swan was heavily influenced by Perfect Blue, to the extent that director Darren Aronofsky actually owns the film’s rights. Therefore, even though Perfect Blue and Black Swan are ultimately distinct films, everyone who has seen Black Swan will be able to understand it. The film centers on a young actress who quits her job as an actress to pursue a career in acting. She then takes on a number of sinister parts and meets a fan who is determined to kill her in order to “protect her.” The thing that will leave your mouth open, though, is the multitude of detours that lead to the last act. And that last reveal is among the greatest twist endings in cinema history, whether they are animated or not.

2. Taken Prisoner (Spanish)

I am alerting you all to the fact that this Spanish “home invasion” movie is, at most, nihilistic. You would think the house invasion film couldn’t get much worse, yet Kidnapped surpasses even Funny Games in terms of suspense. Much worse.

The movie, which is based on a true story—all home invasions, by the way, usually end horribly for everyone involved—shows a family having some very evil men take over their house. But what makes Kidnapped so special is that you will find yourself becoming more enraged with the family and some of their decisions than you will with the invaders. But when you put yourself and your own family in the same shoes, you realize that many of us would undoubtedly make some terrible decisions out of stress and worry as well. This gives you some idea of how that actually works in real life.

1. The Norwegian Troll Hunter

Even though it’s the most well-known title on the list, we couldn’t leave it off because watching foreign films may be one of the more “fun” experiences. Thankfully, there is currently nothing to show for the American remake of another film they have been discussing trashing. The subject of Troll Hunter is, well, a troll hunter. Although it may seem absurd to us, there are some crazy rock formations in Norway that resemble trolls. According to local mythology, these formations are actually trolls that become stone when exposed to sunshine.

That’s what Troll Hunter is all about. A camera crew follows a man who uses a massive UV light to hunt trolls at night. They don’t believe him at first, but they soon come to believe that the stories are true. One of the best applications of the “found footage” genre, in our opinion as well. This is a great place to present it like a documentary.

And to be honest, this movie will leave you significantly less emotionally broken at the end than a list full of depressing, nihilist foreign flicks like these.