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by Frank Showalter

Reviews

Underrated Surprises

Four and five star movies with a below-average IMDb rating.

90 Results
Release Year
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  1. 2022
    1. Crimes of the Future  2022B-: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
      Drama | Horror | Sci-Fi
  2. 2021
    1. Mortal Kombat  2021B-: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
      Action | Adventure | Fantasy | Sci-Fi | Thriller
  3. 2020
    1. Psycho Goreman  2020B: 4 stars (out of 5)
      Comedy | Horror | Sci-Fi
  4. 2019
    1. Color Out of Space  2019B-: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
      Horror | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller
  5. 2018
    1. The Perfection  2018B-: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
      Drama | Horror | Thriller
    2. In Fabric  2018B: 4 stars (out of 5)
      Comedy | Drama | Fantasy | Horror | Mystery | Thriller
    3. Piercing  2018B: 4 stars (out of 5)
      Horror | Mystery | Thriller
  6. 2016
  7. 2015
    1. Krampus  2015B-: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
      Comedy | Fantasy | Horror
  8. 2014
    1. Wolfcop  2014B: 4 stars (out of 5)
      Comedy | Horror
  9. 2013
    1. Under the Skin  2013B-: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
      Drama | Horror | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller
  10. 2012
    1. Resolution  2012B+: 4 stars (out of 5)
      Drama | Horror | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller
  11. 2011
    1. Haywire  2011B+: 4 stars (out of 5)
      Action | Drama | Thriller
    2. Kill List  2011B+: 4 stars (out of 5)
      Crime | Drama | Horror | Mystery | Thriller
  12. 2009
    1. Down Terrace  2009B-: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
      Comedy | Crime | Drama
    2. The Collector  2009B-: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
      Horror | Thriller
    3. Duplicity  2009B: 4 stars (out of 5)
      Comedy | Crime | Romance | Thriller
    4. Dead Snow  2009B+: 4 stars (out of 5)
      Comedy | Fantasy | Horror
    5. My Bloody Valentine  2009B-: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
      Horror | Mystery | Thriller
  13. 2008
    1. Leatherheads  2008B-: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
      Comedy | Drama | Romance | Sport
    2. Semi-Pro  2008B-: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
      Comedy | Sport
  14. 2007
    1. Beowulf  2007B+: 4 stars (out of 5)
      Animation | Action | Adventure | Fantasy
    2. Vacancy  2007B-: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
      Horror | Thriller
  15. 2006
  16. 2004
    1. Jersey Girl  2004B-: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
      Comedy | Drama | Romance
  17. 2003
  18. 2002
    1. Austin Powers in Goldmember  2002B: 4 stars (out of 5)
      Action | Adventure | Comedy | Crime
    2. Miranda  2002B: 4 stars (out of 5)
      Comedy | Mystery | Romance | Thriller
    3. Pumpkin  2002B: 4 stars (out of 5)
      Comedy | Drama | Romance | Sport
  19. 2001
    1. Dagon  2001B: 4 stars (out of 5)
      Fantasy | Horror | Mystery
    2. Novocaine  2001B-: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
      Comedy | Crime | Drama | Thriller
    3. Jason X  2001B: 4 stars (out of 5)
      Action | Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller
  20. 2000
    1. Versus  2000B-: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
      Action | Drama | Fantasy | Horror | Thriller
  21. 1996
  22. 1995
    1. Habit  1995B: 4 stars (out of 5)
      Drama | Horror | Romance
  23. 1994
    1. Phantasm III: Lord of the Dead  1994B-: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
      Action | Fantasy | Horror | Sci-Fi
  24. 1993
    1. Mutant Action  1993B-: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
      Comedy | Fantasy | Sci-Fi | Thriller
  25. 1990
    1. Frankenhooker  1990B-: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
      Comedy | Horror | Sci-Fi
  26. 1989
  27. 1988
  28. 1987
  29. 1986
  30. 1985
    1. The Peanut Butter Solution  1985B-: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
      Adventure | Comedy | Family | Fantasy | Horror
    2. American Ninja  1985B-: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
      Action | Adventure | Romance
  31. 1984
    1. Tank  1984B-: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
      Action | Comedy | Drama
  32. 1982
    1. The New York Ripper  1982B-: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
      Horror | Mystery | Thriller
  33. 1981
    1. My Bloody Valentine  1981B-: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
      Horror | Mystery | Thriller
  34. 1980
  35. 1979
    1. The Driller Killer  1979B-: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
      Drama | Horror | Thriller
  36. 1977
  37. 1976
  38. 1975
  39. 1973
    1. Thriller: A Cruel Picture  1973B-: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
      Action | Crime | Drama | Horror | Thriller
  40. 1972
  41. 1971
    1. Hannie Caulder  1971B: 4 stars (out of 5)
      Crime | Drama | Western
    2. The Anderson Tapes  1971B-: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
      Action | Crime | Thriller
  42. 1970
    1. Count Yorga, Vampire  1970B: 4 stars (out of 5)
      Drama | Fantasy | Horror | Mystery | Romance | Thriller
    2. Scream and Scream Again  1970B-: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
      Crime | Drama | Horror | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller
  43. 1968
    1. Murder à la Mod  1968B-: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
      Comedy | Crime | Mystery | Thriller
  44. 1966
    1. Our Man Flint  1966B-: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
      Action | Adventure | Comedy | Fantasy | Sci-Fi
  45. 1965
  46. 1964
    1. Robin and the 7 Hoods  1964B-: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
      Comedy | Crime | Musical
  47. 1962
    1. The Phantom of the Opera  1962B: 4 stars (out of 5)
      Drama | Horror | Music | Mystery | Romance | Thriller
  48. 1959
    1. The Stranglers of Bombay  1959B: 4 stars (out of 5)
      Action | Adventure | History | Horror
  49. 1956
    1. Bandido!  1956B-: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
      Action | Adventure | Drama | War | Western
  50. 1955
    1. Blood Alley  1955B-: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
      Action | Adventure
  51. 1946
    1. Crisis  1946B-: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
      Drama | Romance
  52. 1940
    1. Santa Fe Trail  1940B+: 4 stars (out of 5)
      Drama | War | Western
  53. 1937
    1. West of Shanghai  1937B: 4 stars (out of 5)
      Adventure | Drama | War
  54. 1932
  55. 1931
  56. 1930
    1. Up the River  1930B-: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
      Comedy | Crime | Drama
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by Frank Showalter

Hi there, I'm Frank, a husband and father old enough to have sat wide-eyed during E.T's first theatrical run, I've been watching, absorbing, and dissecting films ever since.

This site began in 2003 when I realized two things: I had become the designated “movie guy” among my friends (you know, the one everyone asks about every new release), and I was frequently experiencing the peculiar déjà vu of realizing, halfway through a film, that I'd already seen it. Clearly, I needed a system.

What began as personal record-keeping evolved into this little corner of the internet where I share my thoughts on everything from blockbusters to obscure indies that deserved better.

New visitors might want to start by reading about how I grade films. After that, feel free to browse my reviews. If you're looking for something that flew under the radar but deserves your attention, I recommend my underseen gems section. Or, for those moments when you want to feel righteously contrarian, I maintain an list of overrated disappointments.

I also keep a viewing log that tracks everything I watch, whether it gets a full review or not, complete with stats. In an age of endless content, sometimes the act of remembering what we've seen becomes as important as the seeing itself.

And finally, if you're curious about what's on my critical horizon, my watchlist details the films I plan to review and why they've caught my interest.

In an era of algorithmic recommendations and corporate marketing machines, consider this site a human alternative—one person's attempt to catalog the vast ocean of cinema and maybe help a few fellow travelers along the way.

All reviews by Frank Showalter. All images used in accordance with the Fair Use Law.