distant backdrop

Movies with distant vibe

The Poughkeepsie Tapes

91. The Poughkeepsie Tapes

Horror Mystery Crime Thriller Found Footage Horror
5.9

20071h 21min

United States

Director: John Erick Dowdle

When hundreds of videotapes showing torture, murder and dismemberment are found in an abandoned house, they reveal a serial killer's decade-long reign of terror and become the most disturbing collection of evidence homicide detectives have ever seen.

Themes

Deception and manipulation, Abuse of power, Found footage realism, Stockholm syndrome, Captivity and control, Trauma and survivor impact

Available on

fuboTV
MGM+ Amazon Channel
MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Sunshine

92. Sunshine

Science Fiction Thriller Space Sci-Fi Survival Thriller
7.2

20071h 48min

United Kingdom

Director: Danny Boyle

In the distant future, humanity faces global cold as the Sun gradually dims. A space mission called Icarus II sets out for the Sun with a nuclear bomb onboard to reignite the fading star.

Themes

Leadership under crisis, Existential risk and collective action, Faith vs science, Resource scarcity under isolation, Sabotage and resilience, Sacrifice and mortality

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Babel

93. Babel

Drama Tragic Drama
7.5

20062h 23min

France, Mexico

Director: Alejandro González Iñárritu

Tragedy strikes a married couple vacationing in the Moroccan desert, which jumpstarts an interlocking story involving four different families.

Themes

Caregiver responsibility under strain, Border crossing ethics, Gun violence consequences, Displacement and deportation, Interlocking family dramas, Trauma from loss

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
fuboTV
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, born in the stench of 18th century Paris, develops a superior olfactory sense, which he uses to create the world's finest perfumes. However, his work takes a dark turn as he tries to preserve scents in the search for the ultimate perfume.

Themes

Outsider genius, Obsession with scent, Absence of personal odor, Pursuit of perfect perfume, Craft as control, Power of fragrance over others

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Renaissance

95. Renaissance

Action Animation Science Fiction Bio-Genetic Sci-Fi Spy Action
6.6

20061h 45min

France, United Kingdom

Director: Christian Volckman

To find Ilona and unlock the secrets of her disappearance, Karas must plunge deep into the parallel worlds of corporate espionage, organized crime and genetic research - where the truth imprisons whoever finds it first and miracles can be bought but at a great price.

Themes

Megacorporate control over life, Secrecy and exploitation in science, Deception within corporate ties, Illicit immortality quests, Immortality as corporate leverage, Ethical hazards of breakthrough

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

The Island

96. The Island

Action Thriller Science Fiction Adventure Dystopian Sci-Fi
6.8

20052h 16min

United States

Director: Michael Bay

In 2019, Lincoln Six-Echo is a resident of a seemingly "Utopian" but contained facility. Like all of the inhabitants of this carefully-controlled environment, Lincoln hopes to be chosen to go to The Island — reportedly the last uncontaminated location on the planet. But Lincoln soon discovers that everything about his existence is a lie.

Themes

Memory manipulation, Control and containment, Deception within systems, Genetic commodification, Autonomy versus exploitation, Survival under surveillance

Available on

Netflix
Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Video
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Next Door

97. Next Door

Mystery Thriller Horror Psychological Horror Unreliable Perspective Mystery
6.4

20051h 15min

Denmark, Norway

Director: Pål Sletaune

After Ingrid leaves John, he allows himself to be pulled into a mystical and scary world where it is impossible to separate truth from lies.

Themes

Neighbor influence and risk, Seduction as manipulation, Cult pressure and control, Ambition vs consequence, Mystical lure and risk, Surrealism as distraction

Available on

Apple TV
Filmin
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

The Jacket

98. The Jacket

Drama Mystery Science Fiction Thriller Fantasy
7.1

20051h 43min

Germany, United States

Director: John Maybury

A war-hardened veteran is trapped in a mental hospital where his mind is forced into the future, revealing his own death. As reality blurs, can he unravel the mystery that holds his life in the balance?

Themes

Time travel consequences, Memory erosion under amnesia, Ethics of experimental treatment, Coercion and care in institutions, Hope amid altered timelines

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Closer

99. Closer

Drama Romance Relationship Drama Passionate Romance
7.1

20041h 44min

United Kingdom, United States

Director: Mike Nichols

Writer Dan meets Alice, and the two quickly form a connection. Soon, another woman enters his life — Anna, a photographer who is already in a relationship with Larry, a doctor. The lives of all four become entangled in a complicated web of love, as they try to sort out their feelings and figure out who they truly want to be with.

Themes

Trust and betrayal, Infidelity and desire, Deception and appearances, Love square, Memory and fiction, Publicity vs privacy

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Saw

100. Saw

Horror Mystery Crime Gore Horror Locked-Room Mystery
7.6

20041h 43min

United States

Director: James Wan

Two men wake up to find themselves shackled in a grimy, abandoned bathroom. As they struggle to comprehend their predicament, they discover a disturbing tape left behind by the sadistic mastermind known as Jigsaw. With a chilling voice and cryptic instructions, Jigsaw informs them that they must partake in a gruesome game in order to secure their freedom.

Themes

Deception and masks, Survival under pressure, Hidden surveillance, Authority and doubt, Coercive manipulation, Control through fear

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Peacock Premium
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.