All (except one, sadly) of these are Hugo Eligible in 2016. Just sayin’. And you literally have no excuse to not watch them. They are available online, streaming, for less than the price of a movie ticket. Links are to the trailers on youtube.
**I cannot speak for availability outside the US. Input from readers in other countries welcome.
- Ex Machina – available from Google Play, iTunes, PS Store, and others for $4.99. I’m sticking my flag in this one and calling it the best science fiction movie of 2015. You have no excuse if you consider yourself a fan of the genre. (My review at Strange Horizons.)
- It Follows – available for $4.99 basically everywhere. Look, this movie is excellent and scary as hell, and I’m recommending it despite the fact that I really don’t like horror movies. (Totally Pretentious podcast episode for this movie.) [Sorry to report that this film technically is not Hugo eligible for 2016 because it released in festivals in 2014.]
- What We Do in the Shadows – available for $9.99 on a multitude of online streaming services. This is a mockumentary about vampires living in New Zealand, and absolutely hilarious. Swearwolves!
- Infini – available for $3.99 from Google Play, Vudu, Youtube, and Amazon. Currently on Netflix for free with subscription. Fucked up space zombie alien thriller that I needed a hug after.
- Turbo Kid – available on Vudu and Google Play for $6.99. I reviewed it in the first issue of Mothership Zeta. Sparkle unicorn BMX apocalypse, DO NOT SAY NO.
5 replies on “5 Indie speculative films you should watch, no excuses”
i can’t recommend it follows if you’re a horror fan. it was plodding, boring, predictable, and not at all scary. and, this is coming from someone that screamed their head off at crimson peak. it was an interesting premise, but as with almost all horror films, the execution was poor. most horror films really ought only be 20-40 minutes in length, at the most. this dragged on till the point i just wanted everyone to die.
We’re going to have to agree to disagree on that one. Though it’s interesting you found Crimson Peak scary in that way. There was only one jump in that one that got me at all…
OK, I’ve added them to my Netflix queue even though your dubious taste wrt Starship Troopers has given me pause. 8-)
I’m going to watch Infini tonight. It’s your fault if I can’t get to sleep afterwards.
Thanks for the recommends. I’ll skip It Follows (not a horror fan). Loved loved loved What We Do in the Shadows, though.
Also, Predestination had its eligibility extended at the Sasquan business meeting.