cynical backdrop

Movies with cynical vibe

Fatman

1. Fatman

Drama Thriller Action Fantasy Crime
5.9
20201h 40min

Overview

A rowdy, unorthodox Santa Claus is fighting to save his declining business. Meanwhile, Billy, a neglected and precocious 12 year old, hires a hit man to kill Santa after receiving a lump of coal in his stocking.

Themes

"movie: fatman. genres: drama, Thriller, Action, Fantasy, Crime, Comedy, Science fiction, Drama, Thriller, Action, Fantasy, Crime, Comedy, Science fiction main themes: hitman, Holiday, Santa claus, Hitman, Holiday, Santa claus full keywords list: hitman, Holiday, Santa claus, Dark comedy, North pole, Evil child, Christmas. concept analysis: the film explores the consequences of neglect and the moral decay of youth in a consumer-driven society. it juxtaposes the spirit of christmas with the darker impulses of revenge and violence, Ultimately advocating for redemption and the importance of addressing negative behaviors."

Available on

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

Bloody Hell

2. Bloody Hell

Horror Comedy Action Mystery Thriller
6.6
20201h 34min

Overview

A man with a mysterious past flees the country to escape his own personal hell... only to arrive somewhere much worse. In an effort to survive this new horror, he turns to his personified conscience.

Themes

Deception and manipulation, Trauma and resilience, Survival under captivity, Outsider status and belonging, Media scrutiny and blame, Violence as problem-solving

Available on

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

12 Hour Shift

3. 12 Hour Shift

Comedy Crime Horror Dark Comedy Heist
5.5
20201h 28min

Overview

It's 1999 and over the course of one 12-hour shift at an Arkansas hospital, a junkie nurse, her scheming cousin and a group of black market organ-trading criminals start a heist that could lead to their collective demise.

Themes

"movie: 12 hour shift. genres: comedy, Crime, Horror, Comedy, Crime, Horror main themes:, Full keywords list: . concept analysis: the film explores the moral decay and desperation that can arise from addiction and the lengths individuals will go to for survival. it serves as a critique of the healthcare system and the commodification of human life, Highlighting the ethical dilemmas faced by those trapped in a cycle of addiction and crime."

Available on

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

The Boys in the Band

4. The Boys in the Band

Drama Relationship Drama
6.8
20202h 2min

Overview

At a birthday party in 1968 New York, a surprise guest and a drunken game leave seven gay friends reckoning with unspoken feelings and buried truths.

Themes

Concealed sexuality pressure, Monogamy vs desire, Performative party dynamics, Peer judgment and belonging, Closeted identity stress, Aging and self-worth

Available on

Netflix
Netflix Standard with Ads
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Another Round

5. Another Round

Comedy Drama Dark Comedy Coming-of-Age Drama
7.7
20201h 57min

Overview

Four stagnant high school teachers decide to test out a theory that maintaining a constant level of intoxication will improve their overall lives.

Themes

Work-life balance strain, Social pressure to perform, Group conformity dynamics, Alcohol as coping mechanism, Boundary testing consequences, Teacher-student dynamics

Available on

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

Night in Paradise

6. Night in Paradise

Crime Thriller Action Organized Crime Revenge Thriller
6.8
20202h 11min

Overview

An assassin named Tae-goo is offered a chance to switch sides with his rival Bukseong gang, headed by Chairman Doh. Tae-goo rejects the offer that results in the murder of his sister and niece. In revenge, Tae-goo brutally kills Chairman Doh and his men and flees to Jeju Island where he meets Jae-yeon, a terminally ill woman. Though, the henchman of the Bukseong gang, Executive Ma is mercilessly hunting Tae-goo to take revenge.

Themes

Betrayal within crime networks, Loyalty vs self-preservation, Violence as currency, Power struggles in gangs, Cycles of revenge, Family loss and vengeance

Available on

Netflix
Netflix Standard with Ads
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Unknown Origins

7. Unknown Origins

Drama Thriller Investigation Suspense
6.1
20201h 37min

Overview

In Madrid, Spain, a mysterious serial killer ruthlessly murders his victims by recreating the first appearance of several comic book superheroes. Cosme, a veteran police inspector who is about to retire, works on the case along with the tormented inspector David Valentín and his own son Jorge Elías, a nerdy young man who owns a comic book store.

Themes

Trauma shaping behavior, Intergenerational pressure, Origin story obsession, Fandom vs authority, Masks and cosplay, Collectible identity formation

Available on

Netflix
Netflix Standard with Ads
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Spree

8. Spree

Comedy Crime Horror Thriller Dark Comedy
5.9
20201h 33min

Overview

Desperate for an online following, a rideshare driver has figured out a deadly plan to go viral and he will stop at nothing to get his five minutes of fame.

Themes

"movie: spree. genres: comedy, Crime, Horror, Thriller, Comedy, Crime, Horror, Thriller main themes: killing spree, Found footage, Social media, Killing spree, Found footage, Social media full keywords list: killing spree, Found footage, Social media, Ride-share, Social media influencer, Screenlife, Livestream, Whimsical. concept analysis: the film explores the toxic relationship between social media fame and moral decay, Highlighting how the quest for virality can lead individuals to commit heinous acts. it serves as a critique of society's obsession with notoriety and the ethical boundaries that are blurred in the pursuit of online validation."

Available on

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

Bad Tales

9. Bad Tales

Drama Psychological Drama
6.4
20201h 38min

Overview

In a small suburb on the outskirts of Rome, the cheerful heat of summer camouflages a stifling atmosphere of alienation. From a distance, the families seem normal, but it’s an illusion: in the houses, courtyards and gardens, silence shrouds the subtle sadism of the fathers, the passivity of the mothers and the guilty indifference of adults. But it’s the desperation and repressed rage of the children that will explode and cut through this grotesque façade, with devastating consequences for the entire community.

Themes

Suburban alienation, Family issues, Intergenerational rage, Class envy, Hidden violence, Envy of scholastic success

Available on

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

Da 5 Bloods

10. Da 5 Bloods

War Drama Vietnam War Political Drama
6.5
20202h 35min

Overview

Four African-American Vietnam veterans return to Vietnam. They are in search of the remains of their fallen squad leader and the promise of buried treasure. These heroes battle forces of humanity and nature while confronted by the lasting ravages of the immorality of the Vietnam War.

Themes

War trauma, Ptsd effects, Gold pursuit, Land mine danger, Vietnam veteran memory, Vietnam war legacy

Available on

Netflix
Netflix Standard with Ads
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.