28 Underappreciated Films on Netflix UK

A treasure trove of hidden gems awaits on Netflix UK, with 28 underappreciated films waiting to be discovered.

With an overwhelming number of streaming services and their seemingly endless libraries of films, it's easy to get lost in the sea of options. However, a closer look at Netflix UK reveals a wealth of underrated films that deserve attention.

Here are 28 underappreciated films on Netflix UK that are worth watching.

## Unforgettable Romances

Ben Hardy's single dad Luke falls for a drag queen Aysha (Jason Patel) in James Krishna Floyd and Sally El Hosaini's infectiously romantic drama. The chemistry between Patel and Hardy is palpable, making this a modern love story that feels necessary and important for our times.

## Horror Gems

Before many got hooked on the terrors of *The Haunting Of Hill House* on Netflix, Mike Flanagan adapted one of Stephen King's short stories into a film for the streaming service. Carla Gugino finds herself in a tricky situation when her partner suffers a heart attack during sexy time, and she's still handcuffed to the bed with no key available. *Gerald's Game* is disturbing in more ways than one, and you'll never look at handcuffs the same again.

| Film Title | Director | Year | | --- | --- | --- | | Gerald's Game | Mike Flanagan | 2017 |

## Cult Classics

*Apostle* made quite an impression when it premiered in 2018, thanks to its brutal violence, but has since been largely forgotten. Dan Stevens plays a missionary, suffering from a crisis of faith, who infiltrates a Welsh cult who have kidnapped his sister. Directed by *The Raid* and *Gangs Of London*'s Gareth Evans, the film contains immolation, cannibalism, and a lot of stabbing, but its slow-building sense of dread is what really sets this one apart from a lot of the other modern horror films.

## International Horror

*May The Devil Take You* is another horror gem hidden in the streamer's library. This one hails from Indonesia and is directed by Timo Tjahjanto, who has also helmed multiple entries in the* V/H/S* anthology movie series. A young woman visits her old home in search of answers after her father falls into a coma. Little does she know, a supernatural entity begins attacking her and her family. *May The Devil Take You* is genuinely terrifying with excellent scares and it wears its Sam Raimi influences on its sleeve without ever resorting to empty mimicry.

## Immigrant Experiences

Remi Weekes' *His House* is a horror film about a multitude of things. Not only do Rail and Bol, South Sudanese immigrants who have just arrived in England, encounter something supernatural within their house, they also encounter the horrors of racism. The scares hit hard and the film has an uncanny ability to burrow itself under your skin and remain in your brain for days after the credits stop rolling.

## Eco-Dramas

Before Bong Joon-Ho went on to win multiple Oscars for Parasite, he crafted this little eco-dramedy for Netflix. Mija, a young Korean girl, raises a “super pig” - it's exactly what it says on the tin - but is forced to fight against the US meat industry that would much rather see the pig on a plate. The film is much funnier than the description might sound and at its heart, it's a lovely story of a girl and her pet.

## Gothic Horror

You may associate Osgood Perkins' name with *Longlegs* or *The Monkey*, but back in 2016, he delved into the world of gothic horror with *I Am The Pretty Thing That Lives In The House*. Ruth Wilson stars as a live-in nurse Lily, who becomes convinced her employer's house is haunted. Personally, I would resign but Lily persists, with some pretty scary results. The film is an excellent example of Perkins' natural ability to craft a horror film and a very overlooked film in his filmography.

## Romantic Comedies

Before Glen Powell shot to fame in *Top Gun: Maverick*, he starred in a little Netflix rom-com alongside Zoey Deutch, Lucy Liu, and Taye Diggs. Powell and Deutsch play Charlie and Harper, assistants to ridiculously overbearing bosses (Liu and Diggs) and they start trying to push them together romantically to simply catch a break. Naturally, Harper and Charlie catch more than a break. *Set It Up* is light, funny, and sweet.

## Biographical Dramas

At the time of writing, Lady Gaga has just released her eight studio album, *MAYHEM* to critical acclaim. Her singing has won her an Oscar and the ‘Bad Romance’ singer has performed all around the world and become an award-nominated actress, too. *Gaga: Five Foot Two *gives us an intimate look into the life of Gaga, including her struggles with fibromyalgia. Gaga comes across as open, empathetic, and dedicated to her craft as we follow her during the making of her album *Joanne* and preparing to perform at the Super Bowl.

## Queer Romances

It's been called a queer *Cyrano de Bergerac*, but what *The Half Of It *really is, is a brilliantly original take on a familiar story. Leah Lewis' Ellie begins helping her neighbour in courting Aster while secretly also fancying her. *The Half Of It *is so much more than just another teen love story, though. Ultimately, this is a story of an immigrant girl coming to terms with and accepting herself. If you think you know how this story goes, think again. *The Half Of It* is full of surprises and all of them are the good kind.

## Animated Films

Disney, Pixar, and Dreamworks tend to dominate the conversations around animation, but the genre is stacked with excellent films. Many of these tend to get forgotten as time passes while the big hitters have ways (and budgets) to stay in the public consciousness. As an example, no one seems to talk about *The Mitchells Vs. The Machines* anymore, but we definitely should. The film follows a family who find themselves having to save the Earth after robots attempt to take over. The film is also refreshingly original in its depiction of the central heroine's sexuality; Katie Mitchell's queerness is not central to the film's conflict or her relationship with her parents but just a normal part of her. Not to mention, *The Mitchells Vs. The Machines* is also just bloody hilarious.

## Sci-Fi Thrillers

Alexandre Aja is a familiar name for the lovers of New French Extremity films. However, he's rarely been better than at the helm of *Oxygen*, a superbly taut sci-fi thriller in which Mélanie Laurent's young woman wakes up in a cryo pod without memory. As her oxygen quickly depletes, she has to find out who and where she is and how to save herself, but there are a couple of twists and turns to the story here. Laurent proves to be a charismatic performer as the only one on screen. *Oxygen* runs a tight 101 minutes, utilising every single one of those minutes to the maximum.

## True Crime Dramas

Anna Kendrick's directorial debut *Woman Of The Hour* is one of those films you can't quite believe is based on a true story. Daniel Zovatto plays real-life serial killer Rodney Alcala, who appeared on *The Dating Game *during his killing spree. Kendrick plays Sheryl, a struggling actress who encounters Alcala while taping an episode of the dating show. Through Ian McDonald's script and Kendrick's confident direction, *Woman Of The Hour *becomes a powerful examination of misogyny and our obsession with true crime entertainment.

## Musical Dramas

*Tick, Tick… Boom!*, Lin Manuel Miranda's directorial debut about Jonathan Larson gathered some attention as it premiered during the pandemic, but has mostly faded from the public consciousness. Andrew Garfield plays Larson, the creator of *RENT*, who struggles with finding success with his sci-fi musical *Superbia*. Tragically, the real Larson died before he ever saw success with his work.