Month: April 2020

Here are the 16 best westerns on Netflix guaranteed to have you dreaming of the open road.

A small Colorado town might not feel like the most common setting for a classic Western, but Red Dawn turns Calumet, Colorado, into one of the best guerilla Westerns of the 80s. No, there aren’t any horses or cowboys, and the plot revolves around an imaginary Soviet/Cuban occupation of the United States. But if the best westerns always have raised stakes, beautiful countryside, standoffs, and long stares into the distance, then nothing beats Red Dawn. While most people unfavorably remember the failed 2012 Chris Hemsworth reboot, the original Red Dawn is a classic example of how the western mentality never really left.

OK, so hear me out… Most wouldn’t classify Back To The Future 3 as a quintessential western. But nothing beats Michael J. Fox in a cowboy hat and a scenario that doesn’t include accidentally trying to sleep with his mother. After Marty McFly learns that Doc. Brown is trapped in 1855, he and Doc Brown (from another time) go on an epic western adventure to save the day, the DeLorean, and every one of Marty’s past adventures into time. Besides the fact that this is the only film where the future is actually featured (at all), this tech spin on the western world makes Back To The Future 3 a must-watch or at least something to put on while you cook or do some other couch-based task.

It is a fundamental fact of mankind that westerns are serious, artistic films. It is also a fundamental fact that Will Ferrell can do anything he wants for the rest of time. In Casa De Mi Padre, Armando Alvarez (Will Ferrell) thinks his family’s ranch has been saved by the appearance of his business savvy younger brother Raul (Diego Luna). But a series of unfortunate and comical events find Armando in love with Raul’s fiance, and the entire family embroiled in a fierce battle with Mexico’s fiercest drug dealer. Come for the comedic genius of Will Ferrell in his prime and stay for pre-Star Wars Diego Luna’s face. Literally, just his face makes the entire movie worth it.

For a serious, honest to god western, Hostiles pretty much fits the bill. Anti-Native Captain Joseph Blocker (Christian Bale) is ordered to escort a dying chief back to his family lands in Montana. Along the way, they encounter Rosalie Quaid (Rosamund Pike) whose family has been killed by a war raid. Together, they make a long and dangerous trek to bury the chief in honor. One of the worst tropes in Western films is the blatant racism for Native Americans. There is something uncomfortable about watching western expansion stylized in front of a beautiful backdrop. While Hostiles acknowledges the struggles of that era through the lens of white saviors, the Native American characters are given the chance to stand on their own. For those looking to escape some of the seriousness, you can play spot Timothee Chalamet playing the perfect role for his body type: a private in desperate need of a sandwich.

While I was tempted to include every Indiana Jones movie on this list, Raiders of The Lost Ark made the list for its inclusion of the greatest shootout scene of all time. For those who have lived under a rock for 20 years, here’s the basic premise. The setting: American archaeologist Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) is tasked with stopping the Nazi Party from finding the Ark of the Covenant. The vibe: young Harrison Ford sweating in the Peru heat, dressed in a leather jacket that fueled enrollment in archaeology classes for years. The kicker: The Nazi’s are working with Jones’ fellow colleague and a good friend. The lesson: always bring a gun to a knife fight.

Yes, Breaking Bad is a television show. But El Camino, the epilogue Netflix film, takes Breaking Bad’s western vibes to a whole other level. Taking place after the final episode of El Camino, Jesse Pinkman flees the life he built with Walter White and tries his hardest to start a new one. To get home free to Alaska, Pinkman is forced to wrestle with his past choices and must decide what his new ones will be. While a lot of good westerns harness the power of time, El Camino leans even harder into the western vibes of the modern-day. Our antiheroes are drug dealers, the wild wild west replaced with a drug-infused landscape, and our trusty steed replaced by a gorgeous El Camino.

While this stylized Quentin Tarantino flick is trope enough to inspire a Netflix parody film, its long-lived popularity was well deserved. The Hateful Eight follows the paths of two bounty hunters on their way to collect their funds from Red Rock Wyoming. In the middle of their journey, a blizzard forces them to rest at a local haberdashery, setting into motion a chain of events so haphazard and twisting that to explain would be to spoil the entire film. A thriller of epic proportions, The Hateful Eight compiles a killer cast of bounty hunters, Lincoln lovers, and damsels in distress to engage in the shootout of the century.

How could I talk about westerns and not include this Eastwood classic? The original spaghetti western, The Good, The Bad, And the Ugly stars an in his prime Clint Eastwood, before his eight children but after god blessed him with the jawline of a king. In the middle of the “War Between The States”, a group of bounty hunters try to kill a Mexican bandit, a fugitive runs with a bundle of Confederate gold, and a mercenary figures out how to get his bounty and much, much, more. If you’re looking for a film that includes horse chases, stolen goods, fugitive rewards, and sheriffs who really shouldn’t have their jobs, you’ve come to the correct place.

1981 might not have been a great year for the Cold War, but it was a pretty good time for westerns. Once Upon A Time In The West portrays the struggles between a western town, a conniving railroad, and a quest for justice at all costs. Yes, Once Upon A Time In The West was made famous for its casting of Henry Fonda as the villain (since Clint Eastwood was unavailable), but the main focus of this film should be Claudia Cardinale’s epic portrayal of the sexy homesteader because nothing says attractive like a woman in the west who was recently widowed. While critics agree that the 145 minute cut of the film was a financial flop, the cultural reset it provided claimed Once Upon A Time In The West a spot in the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry.

As someone who would listen to Daniel Day-Lewis read the factory warnings on a vacuum cleaner, I would be remiss to not mention There Will Be Blood as one of the greatest westerns Netflix has to offer. Set in the 1898 oil boom, Daniel Day-Lewis stars as Daniel Plainview, a miner who quickly learns that oil is the key to the nation’s future. However, when Plainview gets a taste for oil, his business plans quickly turn sour and he is forced to make tough calls to claim what he thinks is rightfully his. His quest for wealth sets in motion an epic quest for power, blood, and the every disappearing treasure of oil. This film is 158 minutes of cinematic genius and will cause you to think long after the credits roll.

Sundance’s 2015 Jury Prize for Dramatic Winner, Slow West is a hidden gem that tells a love story set in the wild, wild, west. Looking for his one true love, Jay Cavendish (Kodi Smit-McPhee) is joined by gruff bounty hunter Silas Sellick (Michael Fassbender) on a quest to find Rose Ross (Caren Pistorious). Once found, Cavendish wants Rose to join him in happily wedded bliss. The twist? Bounty hunter Sellick isn’t helping out of the goodness of heart. Instead, he is trying to claim the $2,000 bounty lying on Rose’s head. While the action in this film slowly rises, the acting, plot, and cinematography work together to make a truly gorgeous film.

While this western is set in Prohibition foothills of Virginia, Lawless’ 2012 bootleg band of brothers provide a welcome addition to the modern western genres. Set in 1931, Forrest, Howard, and Jack Bondurant are three brothers running an illegal moonshine distillery from their Virginia gas station. Their funds and plans are threatened by US Marshall Rakes, who demands a cut of their funds. The brothers are forced to stave off this invasion, all while trying to find and keep the love of their lives. Starring Shia LaBeouf, Tom Hardy, and Jason Clarke, this violent classic uses the western aesthetic to its advantage, making it a truly memorable film.

While Mudbound takes place around World War 1, it’s setting of the Mississippi Delta helps it to harness the harsh and brutal aesthetics of the best westerns. A film by Dee Rees, Mudbound features the struggles of a black sharecropping family in 1939 and the challenges they face farming a threadbare patch of land in Mississippi. Taking an idealist time and centering on the reality of the American dream, Mudbound takes the western tropes and creates real people out of the heroes. Rather than a final victory, audiences are forced to watch a story of survival above all else.

Yes, Godless is technically a limited series. However, as Godless is so good it can only be watched in one sitting, it has earned its place near the top of the list. Starring a killer ensemble cast (Jack O’Connell, Merritt Weaver, Michelle Dockery), Godless follows vicious outlaw gangs, weary state marshalls, and the women of La Belle, a town run entirely by widowers trying to survive after almost all of their husbands are killed in a mining accident. When the outlaws are unwittingly led to La Belle, the women of La Belle must face down for the battle of their lives. Merrit Weaver plays Mary Agnes McNue, the sister of the sheriff and leader of the ragtag group. Her riveting performance in this female-led take on the classic Western makes this series a must-watch. Plus, what else are you doing to do right now?

To make a list of the best westerns and not include True Grit would be mighty bold talk. This 1969 Oscar winner has everything, a daughter in search of vengeance, an outlaw on the run, and a drunk, one-eyed fat man who’s just bored enough to go on the trip of a lifetime. After Mattie Ross’ father is killed by Tom Chaney, she enlists the help of old US Marshal Rooster Cogburn (John Wayne) to bring the fugitive to justice. After teaming up with Texas Ranger La Boeuf, the three scramble to exact their revenge, facing shoot outs, snakes, and deadly wit in the middle of the wilderness. As far as westerns go, the characters in this film prove what it means to have true grit. If you’ve only seen the 2012 remake, you haven’t really seen it.

Is it bold of me to include a vignette musical dramedy as the greatest western film on Netflix? Yes. Am I going to do it anyway? Absolutely. This Cohen Brothers joint stars a veritable who’s who in comedy (Tim Blake Nelson, Liam Neeson, James Franco, Brendan Gleeson, Zoe Kazan, Tyne Daly, Harry Melling, Bill Heck, and Tom Waits) as they navigate, life, love and everything in between on the American frontier. With a saloon full of musical numbers, a singing cowboy, a failed bank robbery, an elderly impresario, a literal gold digger, a widower on the Oregon Trail, and a stagecoach whodunnit, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs is a comedic experience like none other. Don’t believe me? See for yourself.

Thanks to the miracle of the internet, there are so many remote job opportunities in fields across the board that can earn you some serious bank from your living room (now known as your “home office,” of course). Whether you need to supplement your full-time income, or just have some extra time for a few side gigs, peruse the list below to discover quality work-from-home jobs suitable for various skill levels, professional backgrounds, and expertise. You probably didn’t even know some of these existed!

Why not start with the job you’re seeing in action right now: online writing! With digital publications, blogs, and websites catering to just about every niche subject you can think of, there’s bound to be a site for you to write about a topic you’re knowledgeable or passionate about, so click around and inquire.

Looking for a place to start?

• NerdWallet is looking for a full-time personal finance writer, and everything from tech to fishing blogs are currently hiring.
• Obsessed with motorcycles? There’s even a writing gig for that.

If you’re not quite the blogging type but take pride in your ability to put a good sentence together, you’re in luck! This is the ideal remote option for people with strong communication skills, a great grip on the English language, and an interest in business and marketing.

Start here:

• Tons of brands and companies are hiring copywriters for product descriptions, marketing communications, Facebook ads, and more.
• Digital marketing firm WebFX is looking for a full-time copywriter/editor to join their team right now.

You know how to bring in the likes on Instagram, engage with followers, and curate the perfect feed, so turn that passion for social media into a lucrative career. Since platforms like Instagram and Facebook have become essential tools for brands to grow their digital footprint, social media managers are in demand.

Start here:

• From wine companies to startups to dog influencers (seriously), there are social media roles in just about every industry you could think of. Ability to come up with witty captions probably required.

Another digital media role that’s blowing up? Video editors! Film, media, and production pros who can rock programs like Adobe Premiere, After Effects, and Photoshop are needed to produce and edit video content for YouTube and more.

For all you sports fans out there, psst:

• DraftKings is hiring a creative video and graphics editor to play an integral role in their live programming schedule. Responsibilities include editing multiple fantasy analysis and news videos per day and generating graphics to support content.

Already have a background in marketing? Flex those skills as a marketing strategist for a range of clients.

Start here:

• Companies like SmartBug Media are always hiring remote strategists to work with teams of consultants, copywriters, designers, and developers to deliver “strategy and vision” to clients seeking to outsource marketing professionals in order to grow their brands and web presence.
• There are also openings in the fields of real estate and social media. This role usually requires expertise in things like SEO and Google AdWords, so brush up!

Speaking of SEO (that’s Search Engine Optimization, for those who obviously know if they’re reading this), Brainjolt Media, a disruptive digital engagement agency and viral media network, is currently looking for a fully remote SEO Specialist. The core mission of this data-driven role is to identify and execute opportunities to drive direct traffic to Brainjolt’s sites and improve their brands’ search rankings. While you should be proficient in Google Analytics and G-Suite, according to their job listing, “formal education doesn’t matter as much as your results.”

Think you have what it takes?

• Apply Here.

This sounds like a dream job for anyone who is obsessed with developments in the world of cryptocurrency and blockchain.

Start here:

• Energi is a “self-funded cryptocurrency project with over 60 contributors across 17 time zones” and they’re in search of a knowledgeable content developer to produce communication material like blog posts, website content, and slide decks that cater to both technical and non-technical audiences alike. The role will have you working alongside Energi leaders, project contributors, and external stakeholders to help move the crypto economy forward.

If you’re fluent in HTML and JavaScript, and can build a website with your eyes closed, let’s just say all those late nights poking around with code are about to pay off – big time. Web developers are always in high demand, and with more people living online these days, they’re needed now more than ever.

Start here:

• Companies across industries, including creative talent agency Vitamin T, are seeking lead front end developers to manually code, test, and debug their sites.
• Check out FlexJobs for a bunch of similar listings.

Want to work for one of the biggest companies in the world…without leaving your couch? Now’s your chance.

Amazon is hiring a senior financial analyst for its Kindle service to contribute to strategies, create financial models, support reviews of global business, and optimize current programs. According to the job listing, this role requires “keen attention to detail, ability to work in a fast-paced environment, skills in business intelligence, and the ability to clearly communicate complex subjects to multiple teams.” If you’re proficient in Microsoft Excel and know your numbers, you could be the next Jeff Bezos. ​​​​​

Working as a customer service representative is the perfect way to pivot your experience in the service industry which has been disrupted at this time. If you’ve ever worked at a bar or restaurant, you already know how to make customers feel special and address their concerns, and now you can do all that by phone or live chat.

Start here:

• Various companies are now hiring representatives to easily work from home, including Sitel, NexRep, Sutherland, Wrrk, and The Chat Shop. Solve problems, improve customer experience, and help people out!

Well, this certainly isn’t your typical job opening. Valiant Labs, Nike’s new business incubator, is building a team of thought leaders to push boundaries, think innovatively, and “serve consumers in new and unimagined ways.” Sounds fun.

If you’re an adaptable and scrappy founder who can identify new problems and envision solutions in complex and volatile environments, have major vision, and fancy yourself the next Richard Branson or GaryVee, this seriously unique opportunity is for you. Who wouldn’t want to be Nike’s own Entrepreneur-in-Residence?

Apply HERE!

Turns out you don’t actually have to be in an office to perform necessary administrative and assistant duties while developing relationships with high-powered entrepreneurs and clients.

Start here:

• Companies like Belay and Time Etc. hire virtual assistants who can telecommute and often work flexible hours during the week.
• Profit Factory is another go-to resource that connects successful CEOs and entrepreneurs with the support they need. If you’re extremely organized, have some administrative experience, and want to get to work, becoming a virtual assistant is a great way to network on the job and make your resume stand out in the future. ​​​​​​

Calling all True Crime enthusiasts! Why settle for a podcast when you can listen to real deal police investigations and get paid while doing it? Sure, you also have to type it all out, but still, who knew this dream job even existed?!

Start here:

• Apply to work as a law enforcement transcriber through Net Transcripts. If you’re a fast typer and even better listener, you’ll be responsible for transcribing the audio content of criminal investigations, internal affairs, and various other law enforcement audio files. Thrilling stuff.

If you know your way around Quickbooks and are great with numbers, apply to become a remote bookkeeper for one of the many companies in search of one right now.

Start here:

• Staffing agency Accounting Principals places freelance accountants and bookkeepers for both temporary and permanent positions, while plenty of other businesses are independently searching for bookkeepers to bring on staff.
• Just graduated with a degree in accounting? There are even some entry-level positions available, like this associate bookkeeper job with CFO Services, a company based in D.C.

If you often find yourself in Wikipedia click-holes and love to do deep dives into obscure topics, put your curious mind to good (and profitable!) use. Internet data researchers are being sought to investigate a range of subjects to help explain market trends, fact check, determine competitive markets, and gather statistics.

Start here:

• Wonder is a great research service that works with everyone from individuals to Fortune 500 companies in need of fact-finding analysts and they’re always bringing on new team members.
• And for those interested in the booming cannabis industry, Cannabiz Media is also hiring!

Top-ranked branding agency Evolve Branding is currently looking for part-time, full-time, and contracted account managers who want to lead a sales team, help their clients achieve huge amounts of growth, work on proposals, and manage client relationships. Evolve has a 100% virtual office and values flexibility, plus the pay isn’t half bad: you could make up to $125,000 a year!

Remote account manager positions are also available right now at companies like Cogito Corporation and K2. This role allows you to hone your leadership skills and provide key support to high-powered clients.

Schools across the country have moved to virtual classrooms, so many positions have opened for online educators and tutors.

Start here:

• iTutor, for example, hires certified teachers for online classes, tutoring, and test prep, but there are instructor jobs available for anyone who has teachable expertise in, well, anything.
• TheONE is a platform that connects experts via video chat with people looking to learn. If you have a skill, from fixing a bike to training for a marathon, TheONE wants to bring you onboard to earn money by the minute.

Who would have guessed that your mom yelling at you in her native tongue growing up could one day earn you some dough? If you’re one of the 60 million Americans who are bi- or multilingual, use your language skills to work as a remote translator.

Start here:

• SDL, a company that provides language and content management solutions for businesses in all sectors, hires freelance translators who have experience in everything from tech and finance to travel and life sciences.
• Lionbridge works with some of the biggest companies in the world to provide content and website localization (i.e. translating content into international languages).

Since you are probably spending your days browsing the internet anyway, you might as well start charging someone for it.

Services like Respondent and User Testing pay you to test websites and give honest and direct feedback about your user experience. This valuable information is used by website developers to make sites easier to navigate, fix bugs, and improve overall usability.

If you’ve ever yelled, “Where the hell is the login button?!” while clicking around an unfamiliar webpage, this job is for you – no other experience necessary.

Named one of the top 100 companies with remote employment opportunities of 2019, Liveops connects you to customer service work as an at-home virtual call center agent in industries including telecommunications, healthcare, retail, insurance, and more. The company employs over 20,000 independent contractors, describing itself as one of the world’s largest cloud contact centers. Liveops also takes pride in providing flexible schedules that anyone could fit into their life, along with opportunities for major career growth.

Learn more HERE.

Do you consider yourself an outgoing person with amazing communication skills? You might want to look into a work-from-home career in telemarketing. I know, I know, but before you jump to judgment, this isn’t the type of telemarketing that calls individuals at dinnertime.

Start here:

• At iRC (Interactive Research Communications) and similar companies, telesales professionals deal solely in B2B, a.k.a. Business to Business, communications. iRC works with A-list firms in the IT industry and is looking for a candidate to cold-call IT Managers and other mid-level executives in order to generate surveys regarding their technology plans for the next 12 months.

Work your way through the best documentary available right now on Amazon Prime, some of it being original content you can only find streaming here. From murder mysteries to investigative reporting and observational narratives, filmmakers have documented myriad topics across genres to keep you flipping from one move to the next.

Now’s a great time to become reacquainted with some of the amazing, psychological thrillers streamable available at the push of a button on Netflix. Comedies and other light-hearted genres may be some viewers first choice in certain situations, but sometimes it feels good to be immersed in some dread and existential anxiety. Come learn about some of the best psychological thriller movies and TV series currently on Netflix.

From Donnie Darko to Nightcrawler, Jake Gyllenhal clearly loves a good psychological thriller. While he’s lent his talents to numerous dark projects, it’s Denis Villeneuve’s 2013 film Enemy that stands out as the creepiest and most thought-provoking of the bunch. Without diving too much into spoilers, because this movie definitely hits harder when going in blind, Gyllenhal does an outstanding job bringing two distinct, yet physically identical characters to life. It’s hard to know how someone would react after discovering and meeting their exact doppelganger, scars included, and this film methodically picks at the sense of paranoia and confusion that a self-shattering discovery like this could have on someone.

Most psychological thrillers are an examination of someone’s mental state and how they react to certain situations, but Inception takes that concept and ramps things up to 11. Rather than use metaphors to describe someone’s mind, director Christopher Nolan takes audiences directly inside someone’s heads- specifically their dreams- with Inception. 

A twist on the heist genre- Leonardo Dicaprio’s Dominick Cobb spends a solid chunk of time assembling the perfect crew for an invasive job- Inception sees its cast of characters invade a businessman’s mind in an attempt to influence his thinking at the behest of one of his corporate rivals. Underneath the film’s glossy, blockbuster exterior is a sharp, profound look at how far someone is willing to go to erase their personal pain. The detailed design and tricky fights elevate Inception, but the most memorable aspect of the movie is the sense of confusion and uncertainty that slowly distorts everything the viewer is seeing. 

The Safdie brother’s newest flick, Uncut Gems, turned the duo into some of the most talked-about directors of the 2019/2020 award cycle, but it’s their 2017 thriller Good Time that cemented them as two of the most exciting up-and-coming filmmakers currently working. Directed by brothers Josh and Benny, from a script by Josh and Ronald Bronstein, Good Time is a balls-to-the-wall thriller that delves into the paranoia and increasingly desperate decisions of Constantine Nikas (Robert Pattinson), a shady, narcissistic criminal, after a bank job with his autistic brother goes south.

Good Time has a lot of dramatic, action-y moments and crazy set-pieces- one of the film’s most intense sequences includes liquid LSD and a closed amusement park- but at its core, it is a thorough examination of a flawed individual whose self-destructive tendencies bring down everyone around him. 

Alex Garland’s 2015 sci-fi thriller Ex Machina asks its audience a lot of tough questions. If someone visually recognized something as a robot, could they still form a connection with it? Is it ethical to create and then contain something if it vocalizes that it doesn’t want to be trapped? Are the feelings of artificial beings just as valid as the feelings of organic lifeforms? 

After winning a contest, Caleb Smith (Domhnall Gleeson) is flown out to meet mysterious tech CEO Nathan Bateman (Oscar Issac). What seems like a pleasant time between two tech-minded individuals slowly transforms into a tense situation after Caleb is asked to help Nathan with a thought experiment regarding his newest robotic creation. Ava (Alicia Vikander) has a metallic, clearly robotic body, but it also has a human face, making it easier for Caleb to connect with and empathize with it. The real-life Turing Test slowly turns dark as Ava’s conversations with Caleb become more personal and make him uncertain about his own reality and the twisted motivations of his employer. 

The closest thing to a romantic comedy on the list, Yorgos Lanthimos’ The Lobster is a bizarre, dystopian look at how much self-contortion people are willing to do to find love. The film’s simple, silly premise- distressed individuals stay at a hotel and are told they will be turned into an animal of their choice if they fail to find a life partner in 45 days- obscures a dark truth: people are willing to physically harm and lie to themselves and others to obtain something that resembles a healthy relationship. With Colin Farrell and Rachel Weisz leading an extremely talented ensemble, The Lobster is a painful, constantly escalating examination of just how willing people are to sacrifice their own wellbeing and happiness in their pursuit of superficial love.

Few things in life are more challenging and upsetting than expecting parents to learn their child has a physical or mental ailment of some kind. Children are deserving of love regardless of their health status, but what should an expecting mother do when she suspects there’s something truly dark and off about her child? Without crossing into violent or gory territory, Rosemary’s Baby constantly keeps viewers uncomfortable and glued to the screen as Rosemary (Mia Farrow) tries to find some sense of comfort amidst her suspicious neighbors. 

The occult angle certainly gives the movie a sharper, more frightening edge, but the real fear driving Rosemary’s Baby forward is a completely relatable and realistic one for parents or caregivers of any age. No matter how trustworthy the people around you may seem, you never truly know what someone’s intentions are with you or your child.   

You didn’t think Jake Gyllenhal was only going to appear on this list once, right? He may not be the star of David Fincher’s ensemble film about the San Francisco-based investigations into one of the United State’s most infamous and anonymous serial killers, but he has a meaty, emotive role that solidifies him as one of this generation’s finest actors.

Zodiac takes a classic cold case, one that detectives still take off the shelves occasionally, and turns it into a chilling tale that feels like it could end in any way. Even though the killer’s identity is still unknown and there are numerous biographies and articles pointing to the wellbeing of the various investigators featured in the movie, Fincher effectively focuses on and drags out uncomfortable moments to ensure the audience is immersed in the same fear the investigators felt every step of the way.

Director Martin Scorcesse and Robert DeNiro hit the Oscar circuit together this year for the Netflix original The Irishman, but the iconic New Yorkers have been working side-by-side for decades. Another collaboration between the famous duo, Taxi Driver, is included on numerous “Best Psychological Thriller” lists, but sports biography Raging Bull is an equally effective look inside the mind of a mentally unstable, dangerous individual who has no problem harming himself and those around him in order to succeed.

Starring Robert DeNiro as real-life boxer Jake LaMotta, Raging Bull tracks the mafia-linked fighter’s career from his early days up to his late-life career as a club manager. An intimately shot film that helps the core characters’ vulnerabilities and fears shine through, Raging Bull explores just how alienating and explosive someone can become on the path towards accomplishing their dreams.    

he mystery around Laura Palmer’s (Sheryl Lee) death engrossed television audiences when it first came out and has continued to entertain and confuse subsequent generations of David Lynch fans ever since. A moody yet comical series, Twin Peaks tracks how the death of one high school girl impacts her small hometown and its inhabitants. FBI Special agent Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) is on the case, but once clues start popping up he uncovers dark secrets about the seemingly innocent girl and the serene town.  

A series that puts as much emphasis on creating an interesting atmosphere and stretching out the characters’ quirky traits as it does the overarching plot, Twin Peaks lingers on panicked moments to create a constant sense of dismay. Parts of the show feel incredibly soap opera-ish, but the cult classic has an anxious, hyperbolic energy that pushes the audience to question everyone and everything they see as the coffee-loving Agent Cooper barrels closer to the truth.  

At first glance, the psychological thriller label may seem odd for the rags-to-riches drug epic that is Breaking Bad, but examining the series as a whole makes it clear it is applicable. Walter White (Bryan Cranston) was a normal chemistry teacher coasting through a traditional suburban existence until a cancer diagnosis throws everything into whack. Using chemistry terms, this catalyst changes everything for Walter and sets him down a dark, desperate path that sees him happily use and discard anyone, even former student Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul) to further his own selfish goals. Even at the series’ biggest and most action-packed moments, Breaking Bad remains calculatingly cold as audiences discover alongside Walter just how low he’s willing to sink to “protect” his family and the empire he’s built for himself

Few shows have the ability to instill a sense of horror and personal angst quite like Black Mirror. A bleak anthology series that examines the impacts of technology and social media on the world, the stories are all grounded in personal pain and people’s desire to fill the emptiness in their lives with something. Each episode has a brand new ensemble, but every performer masterfully displays the fear and paranoia each story needs. A deliberate and careful look at human behavior that questions whether or not we know what’s best for us, the series is deeply reminiscent of The Twilight Zone, a clear influence on show creator Charlie Brooker.

Certain episodes hit harder than others, but the anthology series is consistent in its prodding of the corrosive effects of technology. No matter how loud the show screams at viewers about how detrimental their device dependency may be, our world keeps inching closer to the eery one presented on screen every day.

The sudden return of Danny Rayburn (Ben Mendelsohn) at a celebratory event sends distressing shockwaves throughout the entire Rayburn family. The uncomfortable reunion leads to numerous hostile confrontations and brings an old, dark secret to light that threatens the connective tissue of the entire Rayburn family and the professional lives of Danny’s three siblings. Set in the Florida Keys, the series’ beautiful and haunting cinematography adds to the sense of isolation and fear that every Rayburn family member feels as they confront their past. Unfortunately, the series kind of drags in subsequent seasons, but Bloodline’s first season is one of Netflix’s original gems and one of the best examinations of familial distrust and grief ever put on television.

Jack the Ripper. Ted Bundy. Hannibal Lecter. 

The deliciously evil, cannibalistic serial killer may be a fictional character, but his name is just as notorious as his murderous, real-life counterparts. Anthony Hopkins’ menacing performance in Silence of the Lambs and its subsequent sequels turned the hungry maniac into a household name, but Hannibal star Mads Mikkelsen brings his own chilling energy to the role in Hannibal that makes this version even more sly and menacing. A surprisingly dark show for home-network NBC, the series followed a still-in-the-serial-killer-closet Dr. Lecter as he slowly manipulates empathetic FBI profiler William Graham to determine if he can push this principled man into becoming a killer.

David Fincher doesn’t just excel at making tense movies based on real-life serial killers, he also shines at making excellent TV programs about serial killers. A Netflix original series, Mindhunter follows the FBI’s first investigations into and conversations with serial killers like Ed Kemper and Jerry Brudos.

Agents Holden Ford (Jonathan Groff) and Bill Tench’s (Holt McCallany) unconventional interview sequences with various killers and trips into the field lend the show a sense that anything can happen to our key characters at any time. Despite this, Mindhunter is at its best when teasing out the protagonist’s personal lives and how their dark, invasive work impacts how they communicate and relate with others. Interviewing serial killers isn’t exactly the material someone wants to bring home from the office, and the show is framed in such a concise, penetrating way that even some of the most low-stakes scenes feel incredibly explosive and dangerous as a result of the dangerous people our protagonists are now interacting with. 

A dystopian story about two individuals in a magical realist society with a touch of medical malpractice from Cary Fukunaga, the director of every episode of True Detective’s first season? Sign me up.

The Netflix original mini-series starring Emma Frost and Jonah Hill has a lot going for it, but the sense of confusion and hysteria truly never disappears even when things are at their most tranquil. Set around a group of drug trial participants who are trying to cure their mental and social disorders, the show has a magical realist sense that constantly incorporates zany and obscure images to explore uncomfortable feelings of loneliness and isolation. With a story that crisscrosses various timelines and brings viewers inside the key character’s self-consciousness, Maniac is a fast-paced, complex show that constantly makes viewers pause and reconsider what just happened on screen.