‘Oh Belinda’
Looking for a movie with a unique twist? Check out “Oh Belinda,” available for streaming on Netflix. The film follows the story of Dilara (Neslihan Atagul Dogulu), an actress who gets hired to work on a shampoo commercial. While washing her hair repeatedly in the shower, she wakes up in an alternate reality where she is living as Handan, a married woman with two young children. The film starts off lighthearted, but gradually becomes more unsettling. Meanwhile, Dilara has to balance her life as Handan while also trying to maintain her acting career.
‘Time of Roses’
Rent or buy “Time of Roses” on Vimeo, via Deaf Crocodile. Directed by Risto Jarva, the film was released in Finland in 1969 and the United States a year later, and takes place in 2012. It presents an early 21st century full of futuristic visions, including sex on transparent inflatable beds, voice-activated computers and video phones. The Finland of 2012 is depicted as a seemingly idyllic country, but as the story progresses, viewers begin to realize that conflict might be simmering in the background. Jarva’s lead character, Raimo (Arto Tuominen), who’s fixating on a woman who died 36 years earlier, makes a film about her, blurring the lines between truth and reality even further.
‘Executive Order’
Rent or buy “Executive Order” on Amazon. The film is set in near-future Brazil, where the government is forcibly sending black citizens on a one-way trip to Africa in an effort to correct past abuses. Antônio (Alfred Enoch), a lawyer, and André (Seu Jorge), a blogger, oppose the new policy and are soon joined by a resistance movement. Directed by Lázaro Ramos, the film is a biting satire that exposes the ugliness of oppressive government policies, while also highlighting the contributions of black citizens to Brazil.
‘The Outwaters’
Looking for a cosmic horror flick that will give you nightmares? Rent or buy “The Outwaters” on most major platforms for a budget-friendly price. The film follows four friends (Robbie Banfitch, Angela Basolis, Michelle May, and Scott Schamell) as they journey out to the Mojave Desert to create a music video. But things quickly go awry, leaving viewers to wonder what’s real and what’s not.
‘We Are Living Things’
Rent or buy “We Are Living Things” on Amazon. Directed by Antonio Tibaldi, the film portrays the story of two immigrant friends, Chuyao (Xingchen Lyu) and Solomon (Jorge Antonio Guerrero). Chuyao works at a nail salon by day and is implanted with a tracking chip by the menacing Tiger (Zao Wang). By night, she engages in fetishistic encounters with various clients. Solomon, meanwhile, does odd jobs and develops an obsession with Chuyao. Together, they encounter the unknown as they travel across the country looking for something they cannot define.
This list includes some of the best science fiction movies to watch right now. Check out any or all of these films for a thrilling viewing experience.
