Danger Syndicate

Hey, reader, do you have approximately 10 hours free right now? Because if you do, I would highly encourage you use them to watch these five movies. Movies which, while not necessarily my five favorite movies of all time, had a really awesome impact on me, an impact that I want to share with all of you (in no particular order). So, rustle up a few dozen bags of popcorn and sit back in what is hopefully a comfortable chair as I show you some of the most powerful, scariest, and most ridiculous films I’ve ever seen.

1. Inglourious Basterds (2009)

Without a doubt Quentin Tarantino’s masterpiece, Basterds is a cut above Deathproof, Kill Bill, Reservoir Dogs, even Pulp Fiction. To call it satire wouldn’t be entirely correct - there is a certain amount of relish with which Tarantino murders Germans in this film, and the Basterds, played by stereotyped New York Jews, seem to take a true pleasure in laying waste to Nazi scum. In addition to being immaculately conceived and written, this movie features what is by far my favorite Brad Pitt role, ever. Brad Pitt is unique among Hollywood stars in that he often acts in very pulpy movies, a risky move that pays off hugely here. This movie’s script, actors, and gore level take completely advantage of the American subconscious; playing off our inherent loathing of Nazis, it takes violence to beyond extreme and yet paradoxically has us all hooting in joy when a poor German soldier’s head gets blown off. Perhaps that’s the social commentary Tarantino wants us to see. Or maybe he just likes blowing up SS officers as much as we do.

2. The Fall (2006)

The most beautiful movie I have ever seen, hands down. Not hugely known in the mainstream, this movie, directed by well-known Indian music-video/commercial director Tarsem Singh, is a complete trip, and the kind of movie that you will probably only ever see once in your lifetime. Set in early 20th century Los Angeles, the plot follows an injured (and suicidal) stuntman in the hospital and his interactions with a young immigrant orange-picker who has fallen and broken her arm. Plotting to gain the child’s trust in an effort to further his own agenda, the stuntman weaves an immense, fantastic tale for the girl, which grows to almost completely dominate and parallel the real-world plot of the movie. The movie quickly evolves from a silly child-adult bonding story into a sprawling narrative that studies the impulses of hope, revenge, and despondency, all of which are cleverly presented alternately from an adult’s and a child’s point of view. In addition to stunning cinematography and gorgeous settings (the film was shot in a number of countries), the character development is superb, and the drama is honestly tear-jerking. A must, must, must see.

3. Seven (1995)

One of my favorite movies of all time, and what I think is the best ever crime movie. A close second to Basterds in roles that Brad Pitt has played, and one of Morgan Freeman’s most pessimistic, yet poignant, portrayals. The story centers around an unknown serial killer who is killing one victim for each of the seven deadly sins (gluttony, wrath, pride, sloth, greed, lust, and envy for anyone who wasn’t an altar boy), and the dynamic duo of old, seen-it-all cop (Freeman) and young, brazen cop (Pitt). And if the premise wasn’t interesting enough, the movie is extremely well executed, with equal parts action, suspense, and psycho-babble, as well as probably the most mind-blowing ending to any movie ever. Ever. You will crap your pants.

4. Rec (2007)

If you’ve seen Quarantine, then you’ve seen how scary a concept it is to be trapped in a locked off apartment complex with a bunch of zombies, but to see the idea executed at the highest possible quality, you seriously need to pick up Rec. The movie that inspired Quarantine, this Spanish film ranks up there on the scariest movies of all time. Even with the English subtitles on, the tension is palpable, and the ingenious first-person documentary-style cinematography inspires intense creepy crawlies and enables some great compositional setups throughout the movie. The plot is simple, almost minimalist, but to be honest, a simple evil is so much scarier than a complex one. A complex evil had to get that way, had to go through a process, and the process may not always be complete, whereas a simple evil just is. Is not Azathoth, the idiot god, feared above all others in the host of the heavens for his blind power and thirst for chaos?*

5. Kingdom of Heaven (2005)

Remember the middle ages, when badasses were badasses, no matter what religion they belonged to? Kingdom of Heaven takes a new look at a very old issue that is especially relevant in a post-9/11 world, namely; how different are ‘we’ from ‘them’? During the time of the crusades, Jerusalem was considered a city of holy peace, a place were Jews, Christians, and Muslims could co-exist peacefully. However, white western Christians, unsurprisingly hell-bent(haha) on securing complete dominion over inferior races and belief-systems (God, what is it with those white western Christians?), decide to make trouble in the neighborhood. Over the course of a beautifully made and acted film (especially Edward Norton’s role as a leprous king) we discover what barriers truly lie between two ‘opposing’ idealogies.

*If you aren’t familiar with the works of H. P. Lovecraft, master of horror fiction, then you might be a bit confused. Learn some more here.