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here are good movies and there are bad movies, but there are also movies that hardly ever get the credit they so rightfully deserve in terms of widespread acclaim, even more so in ticket sales. Yet, year after year, cineplex and home audiences are inundated with hundreds of title releases, and almost always, only the formulaic and commercially-driven ones make it to the top heap. If you're quite ready to break rank from the superhero and animated features bandwagon, we recommend that you check out these three film gems.



COLD PURSUIT is a 2019 action thriller film written by Frank Baldwin and directed by Hans Petter Moland. Starring Liam Neeson, Tom Bateman, Tom JacksonEmmy Rossum, Domenick Lombardozzi, Julia Jones, John Doman, and Laura Dern, the film is an official remake of the 2014 Norwegian film IN ORDER OF DISAPPEARANCE (KRAFTIDIOTEN), also directed by Moland, and follows a vengeful snowplow driver (Neeson) who starts eliminating the members of a drug ring following the murder of his son.

Why we love it — Irreverent yet fun, intense without being too serious, and funny in parts without even trying — Cold Pursuit is one of the best action/dark comedy movies we've seen, and easily our favorite Liam Leeson film of all time.



UPGRADE is a 2018 cyberpunk action body horror film written and directed by Leigh Whannell. Starring Logan Marshall-Green, Betty Gabriel, and Harrison Gilbertson, the film follows a man (Marshall-Green) who is implanted with a chip that allows him to control his body after a mugging leaves him paralyzed.

Why we love it — A fast-paced film based on a tight script, the action sequences here are spectacular, the production design sparse yet solid, and Logan Marshall-Green is believably breathtaking as the "upgraded" human. If there's an underground movement to push for a sequel, please put us on the list!



THOROUGHBREDS is a 2017 American dark comedy psychological thriller film written and directed by Cory Finley. Starring Olivia Cooke, Anya Taylor-Joy, Anton Yelchin, Paul Sparks, and Francie Swift, the film is the last U.S. theatrical release to star Yelchin, who died in June 2016, and follows high-school student Lily (Taylor-Joy) and her emotionless friend Amanda (Cooke) as they scheme to kill Lily's stepfather (Sparks) via contract with a small-time drug dealer (Yelchin).

Why we love it — The mood set by what we see (outstanding cinematography by Lyle Vincent) and hear (exquisite musical score by Erik Friedlander) only heighten the solid acting from all main and supporting characters. We love the crisp dialogue, impeccable production design, rich characters, even more so Cooke and Taylor-Joy. — ANPJ/³

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