3 Must-Watch Hidden Gems Currently On Hulu (July 2020)

Many of us find ourselves within the four-walled structure we call home a lot more often nowadays. Whether you're out of work, working from home, or just back at the parents' place for the summer, you're probably getting some more quality time with the old couch than you're used to. Perhaps you've already fully embraced the unmedicated couch-lock and have taken steps to becoming the well-versed screen junkie that you were always destined to be. If this describes you, I extend my sincerest congratulations. 

Actually, scratch that. Go take a walk, shoot some hoops, call your mom. Do something, anything. Come right back after you're done. 

You're back? Okay, good. Now that you have returned to your fortress and the delicate flicker of your television screen is dancing upon your face just so, let's talk about a few motion pictures that you should be streaming right now. And today, we're going to be scouring the recesses of Hulu. Yes, it's the ad-ridden little brother of streaming services, but it's not without its gems, especially if you know where to look.

We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011)

There are some films that are difficult to recommend, not because they lack the requisite filmic quality, but because they explore thorny themes with such unflinching honesty that they can be rather unpleasant, though thoroughly impactful viewing experiences. Darren Aronofsky's Requiem for a Dream (2000) comes to mind. And We Need to Talk About Kevin is another one that fits into this category. It's a searing psychological drama from one of the most ferocious storytellers working today, Lynne Ramsay. Ramsay explores the terrors that can accompany parenting, and how marred emotional connections can be difficult to reconcile, even between a mother and her son. It's not an easy watch, or even a fun one, but it's a movie that you will not soon forget, and one that boasts really terrific central performances from Tilda Swinton and Ezra Miller. 

Ingrid Goes West (2017) 

A more pertinent film for the current temperature of social media and society's obsession with it you'd be hard pressed to find. Ingrid Goes West is a whip-smart, pitch black dramedy anchored by a dynamic lead performance from the charming Aubrey Plaza and an entertainingly incisive screenplay penned by David Branson Smith and director Matt Spicer. The film follows Plaza's titular Ingrid, a young woman completely and utterly consumed by her parasocial relationship with the vapid Instagram influencer Taylor Sloane (Elizabeth Olsen). This one-sided connection leads Ingrid to travel westward as our apt title suggests, all the way to the bright lights and traffic jams of Hollywood, USA. Ingrid desperately attempts to befriend Sloane, who doesn't even know her not-so-secret admirer exists. It's fast. It's funny. And when you consider just how relevant it is to our world today, it's pretty darn scary. 

Colossal (2016) 

Through sheer force of pure imagination, Colossal makes the cut in our final spot. The one-of-a-kind sci-fi comedy from Spanish filmmaker Nacho Vigalondo - known previously for his horror outings - is truly one of the most original films to see the light of day in recent memory. It centers around Gloria (Anne Hathaway), a woman who stumbles upon a monstrous coincidence after a hulking, Godzilla-esque giant wreaks havoc on South Korea: the reptilian creature mysteriously and inexplicably mimics her movements. Vigalondo uses this science fiction-infused premise to explore thematic ideas about unhealthy relationships, and the film is very akin to a work of magical realism in that way. It's not without its flaws, but when it's on its game, it's a thoroughly enjoyable movie.

And that, my beloved readers, is that. Check these three out when you get the chance. Who am I kidding? You'll be on your couch tonight. Consider flipping on one of these quality pieces of cinema if you find my opinion to be of any value. 

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