bleak backdrop

Movies with bleak vibe

I Killed My Mother

1401. I Killed My Mother

Drama Coming-of-Age Drama
7.4

20091h 36min

Canada

Director: Xavier Dolan

Hubert, a brash 17-year-old, is confused and torn by a love-hate relationship with his mother that consumes him more and more each day. After distressing ordeals and tragic episodes, Hubert will find his mother on the banks of Saint Lawrence river, where he grew up, and where a murder will be committed: the murder of childhood.

Themes

Parent child relationship strain, Absent father influence, Overbearing mother dynamics, Coming of age tension, Gay theme conflict, Lgbt teen pressure

Available on

Kanopy
Hoopla
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Mother

1402. Mother

Crime Drama Mystery Serial Killer Crime Psychological Drama
7.7

20092h 9min

South Korea

Director: Bong Joon Ho

A mother lives quietly with her son. One day, a girl is brutally killed, and the boy is charged with the murder. Now, it's his mother's mission to prove him innocent.

Themes

Maternal protection under social pressure, Rumor vs evidence in town, Memory manipulation as coping, Disability stigma and misperception, Debt and moral risk, Family loyalty vs public judgment, Small-town justice flaws

Available on

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

Thirst

1403. Thirst

Drama Horror Thriller Vampire Horror Mindfuck Thriller
7.1

20092h 14min

South Korea

Director: Park Chan-wook

A respected priest volunteers for an experimental procedure that may lead to a cure for a deadly virus. He gets infected and dies, but a blood transfusion of unknown origin brings him back to life. Now, he’s torn between faith and bloodlust, and has a newfound desire for the wife of a childhood friend.

Themes

Moral ambiguity under pressure, Religious guilt versus craving, Public faith versus private desire, Private betrayal and danger, Deception under scrutiny, Bodily transformation and ethics

Available on

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

The Soloist

1404. The Soloist

Drama Music Entertainment Industry Drama Narrative Musical
6.7

20091h 49min

France, United States

Director: Joe Wright

A Los Angeles journalist befriends a homeless Juilliard-trained musician, while looking for a new article for the paper.

Themes

Mental illness stigma, Identity through performance, Marginalized artistry, Art as shelter, Journalistic responsibility, Dependency in care, Community-based rehabilitation

Available on

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

City of Life and Death

1405. City of Life and Death

Drama History War Historical Drama Historical Event
7.7

20092h 12min

China, Hong Kong SAR China

Director: Lu Chuan

In 1937, during the height of the Second Sino-Japanese War, the Imperial Japanese Army has just captured Nanjing, then-capital of the Republic of China. What followed was known as the Nanking Massacre, or the Rape of Nanking, a six week period wherein tens of thousands of Chinese soldiers and civilians were killed.

Themes

Survival under occupation, Duty versus humanity, Safety zones under pressure, War crimes against civilians, Gendered vulnerability in war, Moral ambiguity in soldiers

Available on

Kanopy
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

State of Play

1406. State of Play

Thriller Crime Mystery Political Thriller Detective Mystery Crime
7.1

20092h 7min

France, United Kingdom

Director: Kevin Macdonald

When a congressional aide is killed, a Washington, D.C. journalist starts investigating the case involving the Representative, his old college friend.

Themes

Corruption and accountability, Corporate influence on policy, Media ethics and transparency, Investigative journalism under pressure, Political power and oversight, Loyalty and betrayal in politics

Available on

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

Sin Nombre

1407. Sin Nombre

Drama Action Thriller Crime Coming-of-Age Drama
7.5

20091h 36min

Mexico, United States

Director: Cary Joji Fukunaga

Sayra, a Honduran teen, hungers for a better life. Her chance for one comes when she is reunited with her long-estranged father, who intends to emigrate to Mexico and then enter the United States. Sayra's life collides with a pair of Mexican gangmembers who have boarded the same American-bound train.

Themes

Survival under coercion, Violence and control, Migration and border danger, Family separation and resilience, Gang loyalty and initiation, Pursuit and risk

Available on

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

Harry Caine, a blind writer, reaches this moment in time when he has to heal his wounds from 14 years back. He was then still known by his real name, Mateo Blanco, and directing his last movie.

Themes

Deception and betrayal, Jealousy and possession, Power dynamics in romance, Rebirth through reinvention, Obsession and longing, Artistic ambition under finance

Available on

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

Watchmen

1409. Watchmen

Mystery Action Science Fiction Superhero Action Investigation Mystery
7.6

20092h 43min

United States

Director: Zack Snyder

In a gritty and alternate 1985, the glory days of costumed vigilantes have been brought to a close by a government crackdown. But after one of the masked veterans is brutally murdered, an investigation into the killer is initiated. The reunited heroes set out to prevent their own destruction, but in doing so they uncover a sinister plot that puts all of humanity in grave danger.

Themes

Secret identity tension, Mistrust of authority, Conspiracy and manipulation, Doomsday clock anxiety, Military political brinkmanship, Cynical vigilante culture, Retirement and disillusionment

Available on

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

The Young Victoria

1410. The Young Victoria

Drama History Romance Historical Drama Passionate Romance
7.2

20091h 45min

United Kingdom, United States

Director: Jean-Marc Vallée

As the only legitimate heir of England's King William, teenage Victoria gets caught up in the political machinations of her own family. Victoria's mother wants her to sign a regency order, while her Belgian uncle schemes to arrange a marriage between the future monarch and Prince Albert, the man who will become the love of her life.

Themes

Family political bargaining, Marital alliance strategy, Succession under pressure, Autonomy vs influence, Public scrutiny and reform, Institutional independence

Available on

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