volatile backdrop

Movies with volatile vibe

The Piano Teacher

1. The Piano Teacher

Drama Romance Psychological Drama Dark Romance
7.5
20012h 11min

Overview

Erika Kohut, a sexually repressed piano teacher living with her domineering mother, meets a young man who starts romantically pursuing her.

Themes

Power dynamics, Age gap desire, Sexual repression, Maternal control, Consent boundaries, Artistic isolation

Available on

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

The Believer

2. The Believer

Drama Psychological Drama
7.1
20011h 38min

Overview

A hardcore US racist skinhead who, because of his intelligence, leads a gang dedicated to fighting the enemy: the supposed American-Jewish conspiracy for domination. However, he's hiding a secret: he's Jewish-born, a brilliant scholar whose questioning of the tenets of his faith has left him angry and confused, turning against those who he thinks have a tragic history of their own making.

Themes

Group dynamics and coercion, Appeal of extremism, Manipulation through rhetoric, Violence as identity performance, Identity and allegiance, Scapegoating under pressure

Available on

Amazon Video
fuboTV
The Roku Channel
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Hedwig and the Angry Inch

3. Hedwig and the Angry Inch

Comedy Music Drama Narrative Musical Dark Comedy
7.7
20011h 35min

Overview

Raised a boy in East Berlin, Hedwig undergoes a personal transformation in order to emigrate to the U.S., where she reinvents herself as an 'internationally ignored' but divinely talented rock diva, inhabiting a 'beautiful gender of one'.

Themes

Gender identity negotiation, Exploitation within performance economy, Outsider status and belonging, Fame and personal cost, Ownership of creative work, Artistic integrity under pressure

Available on

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

Baby Boy

4. Baby Boy

Crime Drama Romance Thriller Coming-of-Age Drama
6.5
20012h 10min

Overview

The story of Jody, a misguided, 20-year-old African-American who is really just a baby boy finally forced-kicking and screaming to face the commitments of real life. Streetwise and jobless, he has not only fathered two children by two different women-Yvette and Peanut but still lives with his own mother. He can't seem to strike a balance or find direction in his chaotic life.

Themes

Deception and betrayal, Loyalty under threat, Family protection, Crime and consequence, Fatherhood pressure, Resilience and responsibility

Available on

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

The Way of the Gun

5. The Way of the Gun

Action Crime Drama Thriller Organized Crime
6.6
20001h 59min

Overview

Two criminal drifters without sympathy get more than they bargained for after kidnapping and holding for ransom the surrogate mother of a powerful and shady man.

Themes

Deception and betrayal, Loyalty under pressure, Economic desperation, Greed versus risk, Surrogate ethics, Violence and commodification

Available on

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

Snatch

6. Snatch

Crime Comedy Heist Dark Comedy
8.2
20001h 43min

Overview

A stolen 86-carat diamond traps crooked promoters, ruthless bookies, a Russian gangster and clueless thieves in the same brutal underworld maze. As a forced boxing scam spirals out of control, every double-cross tightens the walls around them, and each man scrambles for a way out before the whole city comes crashing in.

Themes

Crime networks and corruption, Loyalty vs self-interest, Deception and disguise, Trust under pressure, Violence and coercion, Risk of quick profits

Available on

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

Together

7. Together

Drama Comedy Romance Family Drama Feel-Good Romance
7.4
20001h 46min

Overview

Elisabeth leaves her abusive and drunken husband Rolf, and goes to live with her brother, Göran. The year is 1975 and Göran lives in a commune called Together. Living in this leftist commune Elisabeth learns that the world can be viewed from different perspectives.

Themes

Power dynamics in relationships, Leftist communal living, Ideological debates vs daily life, Gender and sexuality boundaries, Loneliness within collectives, Abuse and resilience

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
AMC+ Amazon Channel
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Live Flesh

8. Live Flesh

Drama Romance Thriller Relationship Drama Dark Romance
7.3
19971h 43min

Overview

When Victor attempts to seduce Elena, all he gets for his trouble is a one-way, six-year ticket to prison, where he concentrates on strengthening his mind, his body... and his desire for vengeance on the man who put him there. After his release and still madly in love with her, Victor will stop at nothing to win her over even if means revenge, for Elena has married David, the cop who sent him to prison!

Themes

Trauma and resilience, Infidelity and deception, Sexual obsession, Power dynamics in relationships, Revenge motive, Drug addiction and recovery

Available on

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