by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
Welcome to Buried Treasure of the Streaming World! This series will take a month’s worth of content at a time and sift out the buried treasure that exists on all forms of streaming. These films most likely fly under the radar, but now it is time to shine that spotlight on them and give them the attention they truly deserve. Time to dive in!
The Boy Behind the Door (VOD)
Many horror movies are complicated and rely on elaborate set pieces and creative entities to deliver scary moments. But if you head over to Shudder and check out The Boy Behind the Door,you will find a good exception. All you need is a focused set up, detailed narrative, and quality filmmaking. Writers/directors David Charbonier and Justin Powell deliver an effective and thrilling kidnap story about two young boys and the cruel people to take them. Confined to inside and around a secluded residence, this thriller flaunts great camera work, effective twists, and shocking moments. Anchored by a strong and committed performance from This Is Us alum, Lonnie Chavis, this film packs surprising emotion as Chavis navigates this twisted tale. The screenplay might fall into a few too many tropes and extend the runtime a tad too long but in general, this is a fresh and simple thriller that delivers the goods.
The Truffle Hunters (VOD)
Now that we have gotten our fill of Nicolas Cage and his truffle hunting, it’s time for the real deal. The Truffle Hunters documentary has been on my watchlist all year and it has finally arrived on VOD so that we all can enjoy its charm on our televisions at home. This documentary is a beautifully rendered and intimate look at the life of truffle hunters. Who wouldn’t enjoy watching funny old Italian men and their cute dogs for a good 84 minutes? The camera work in this film is refined and the interviews are filled with charm and emotion. This documentary is certainly no game changer, nor is it bold and ambitious, but I learned a lot about the world of truffles. I will also not say no to watching cute dogs do anything. This is a charming ride worth taking.
Two Lottery Tickets (VOD)
Watching a group of fools trying their best to complete a mission is such a great set up for a movie. There is plenty of comedic potential for a storyteller to sink their teeth into. Writer/director Paul Negoescu delivers a dry and clever comedy in the form of Two Lottery Tickets. When three friends (all equally out of their depth) get their winning lottery ticket stolen, they go on the hunt for the perpetrators. Negoescu’s approach is so dry that he can find all the comedic potential in this set up. The three leads are committed to their unique, yet equally idiotic characters who are plenty of fun to watch. The audience is treated to plenty of awkward interactions, absurd theories, and surprising poignancy. This Romanian flick is certainly worth digging around for.
Pray Away (Netflix)
Netflix and Ryan Murphy know how to deliver plenty of variety in their collaborative content. Their new documentary, Pray Away, takes audiences into a world that many of us do not see. Struggles with sexuality are prevalent in our society as many people find issues with other people’s sexuality and their relationships. Pray Away shines a light on a group of people who were once “cured” of their homosexuality, who now finally found peace in themselves. These harrowing firsthand accounts of people who went through trauma as part of the “pray the gay away” movement are hard to watch and highlight the struggles of gay people in our society. Raw and poignant, this film hits like a sledgehammer and makes you look at what horrible things still occur today. This is a wake-up call that many need, and still a poignant experience for the rest of us.
Blood Red Sky (Netflix)
What if Air Force One had vampires? Just imagine…Harrison Ford turns out to be a vampire and takes out all the hijackers in an action-packed mission. Sounds really cool, right? Netflix thought so too and brought Blood Red Sky to streaming. This flick is jammed packed with vampiric action and plenty of terrorists to sink their teeth into. But don’t get me wrong… this isn’t just some big dumb action/horror flick. There is plenty of heart and emotions packed into the narrative as well. Through flashbacks, we get a haunting and impactful look into our protagonist’s vampiric origins. Lead actress Peri Baumeister gives a great performance packed full of pain and presence. Throw in some social commentary, and you have a high-quality genre flick that will keep you guessing and on the edge of your seat.