5. Christopher Robin
Though Christopher Robin came out not even two years ago, it deserves a revisit because it was immediately misunderstood. Audiences have come to expect a certain whimsical, gleeful environment when it comes to the characters of the Hundred Acre Wood. However, Christopher Robin goes for a more somber tone. Audiences walked away feeling more depressed than happy after bringing their children. But bringing their children was the biggest mistake they could make for this movie.
Upon a revisit, audiences will see that Christopher Robin is not a children’s movie. It’s a movie aimed at the adults who grew up on Pooh and have forgotten about the magic and joy that these simple characters gave them. That very concept is inherently depressing because it holds a mirror up to these adults who have lost what Pooh embodies.
The innocence, whimsy, joy, and love that Pooh encourages seems to have been forgotten by audiences who are now older. In this way, Christopher Robin isn’t a traditional Winnie-the-Pooh movie, it’s an introspection for people who have forgotten the simple power of that bear. The incredible voice acting, cinematography and color palette just add another reason to revisit this movie.
4. Suspiria (2018)
The Suspiria remake was one of the most buzzed about movies at the Venice Film Festival in 2018. Some viewers found the movie’s stylistic extremities bordering on schlock, going so far as to walk out before it’s over 2.5 hour run time was through. Director Luca Guadagnino’s take on the 1977 film was largely dismissed by fans of the original who thought the movie was self-indulgent, pretentious, and over-the-top.
Suspiria deserves another viewing, separate from its source. It’s impossible to compare this remake with the original because Guadagnino was not interested in making a traditional remake. He had his own artistic vision and put that to the screen and that’s how this movie should be viewed. If audiences watch the movie with the mindset that it is it’s own, independent work, they will find themselves enjoying it a lot more than they, perhaps, originally did. It will probably remain an acquired taste, but for audiences willing to view it as its own individual work of art, they may find themselves rewarded.
3. Sinister
Sinister received positive reception upon release but not the acclaim that we’ve seen other independent horror movies like Hereditary or The Witch receive. Critics said that Sinister succumbed to too many horror clichés with audiences finding themselves in agreement. However, they were too quick on the trigger with their criticisms as Sinister proves to take these genre clichés and make them chilling and effective, much in the way that the popular The Conjuring did.
This is why Sinister needs to be revisited. It effectively uses old school horror tricks to make them refreshing and frightening. Sinister also doesn’t rely entirely on jump scares. While there are some laced throughout, the movie relies more heavily on its dread and dark atmosphere. As a result, when the mystery starts to be revealed with the gall to have an uncompromising, nihilistic ending, the movie becomes one of the scarier movie experiences of the 2010s. It should be at the top of any horror buff’s list.
2. The Blackcoat’s Daughter
Another horror movie that was misunderstood upon release was The Blackcoat’s Daughter. Audiences thought they were in for a conventional supernatural horror movie but found themselves scratching their head when it came to this one. The slow-burn nature of the movie tested the patience of viewers that were expecting a more traditional horror romp. The non-linear storytelling also demanded some thought and audiences weren’t expecting that level of intelligence in the movie.
It is just that intelligence that makes this movie deserve a revisit. The non-linear storytelling flips the traditional horror narrative on its head and keeps you guessing the whole way through. The atmosphere created by stark color contrast and the winter setting add a masterful level of dread and suspense. The Blackcoat’s Daughter is a brilliant movie that people need to return to and discover that it is one of the best horror movies of the 21st century.
1. Maps to the Stars
David Cronenberg is recognized as one of the most influential horror directors ever, starting out his career with shocking body horror movies. However, the 2000s marked a shift for the director into more dramatic territory, making the gangster movies A History of Violence and Eastern Promises. He continued this shift leading up to this underrated masterpiece Maps to the Stars, a scathing satire of Hollywood and its elites. Upon release, audiences were split. Some thought the plot was too lurid to be accepted as anything greater than a simplistic movie looking to shock.
A revisit is an absolute must for this movie. It undoubtedly deals with taboo themes but looking beyond surface-level, audiences will find extremely sharp commentary on Hollywood and the industry. There is just as much subtle humor as there is in-your-face humor. Cronenberg hilariously portrays Hollywood as a seedy, self-fulfilling, and corrupt industry where everyone harbors some unflattering secret. Interesting characters, strong performances, and one of the most memorable death sequences in recent movie memory.