This week's pick is a 2020 thriller that scared me way more than I expected. Plus the comedy my wife and I still quote, Nathaniel's Member Rewind, and four Club picks from you.
Let’s get into it!
🍿 My pick
The Invisible Man (2020)
Directed by Leigh Whannell
Horror · Thriller ·
Runtime: 2h 4m
Starring Elisabeth Moss and Aldis Hodge
This movie was surprisingly scary to me! I remember hearing about this on a podcast and thought it sounded interesting enough to check it out. And boy am I glad I did!
If you’re not familiar with this one, here’s the gist:
Cecilia escapes a controlling relationship with a wealthy tech genius. When he turns up dead, she starts to believe he’s still around. She just can’t see him.
Once I understood the plot mechanics, the suspense and tension in me increased significantly. I wasn’t sure what was coming next, and I really felt the stress and anxiety coming through the main character.
It has a terrific, original screenplay and firmly goes on my list of favorite films of 2020. I’d put it in the same class as Ex Machina, another great thriller.
And there’s a kitchen fight scene that dropped my jaw to the floor! I kept thinking to myself: “how the heck did they DO that?!”
⏪ The rewind
Easy A (2010)
Directed by: Will Gluck
Comedy · Coming-of-age
Runtime: 1h 32m
Starring Emma Stone and Penn Badgley
If The Invisible Man leaves you checking every empty corner, this one’s your palate cleanser.
Easy A is arguably the movie where Emma Stone perfected her acting chops and launched herself into stardom. Her character, Olive, is unapologetically sure of herself and doesn’t give a lick what anyone else thinks. Stanley Tucci has a terrific supporting role.
It’s a fun, coming-of-age teen comedy. My wife and I will often quote parts of this movie back and forth. I’m gonna keep it PG-rated but the quote has the word “tally-wacker” in it LOL.
📼 Member Rewind: Nathaniel O.
Writing from: USA · Nathaniel on Substack
Where I watch
Usually in my room or the living room late at night to completely unwind. I’ll flip-flop between diving into a movie solo or turning it into a watch party with my siblings.
My comfort movie
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) • Where to watch
It has everything I can ask for in a movie. Action, comedy, romance, a hot woman lol. In all seriousness though, this is the movie that made me fall in love with cinema. Whenever I return to it, I’m automatically happy.
A scene I’d rewind forever
The Tiny Dancer bus sequence in Almost Famous. In this scene, Stillwater’s lead singer, Russell Hammond, is completely wasted after a long night of partying away from the band. Tension on the tour bus is already sky-high because of a new band T-shirt where Russell is the only one clearly visible while everyone else is left blurry in the background. But the moment Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer” starts blasting on the radio, everything changes.
It’s an iconic scene, but my main reason for loving it is because it proves music can heal things regular words just can’t. Watching the frustration melt away as the whole bus starts singing along, laughing, and just cherishing the moment together gets me every single time.
My hidden gems
I have three movies I wanna recommend that don’t get talked about enough.
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007) • Where to watch
Brad Pitt has publicly said it’s his favorite movie he’s ever done, but when I hear people mention his best movies it doesn’t get talked about. This one is in my top 20 all-time favorite movies.
Road to Perdition (2002) • Where to watch
When you hear Tom Hanks, this movie doesn’t get mentioned as much as Forrest Gump or some of the others, but I think this is one of the strongest performances of his career. The main theme of the story is a father who will go to any lengths to make sure his son doesn’t go down the same road he does. It’s absolutely brilliant!
The Place Beyond the Pines (2012) • Where to watch
The theme of this movie is sons trying to escape the sins of their fathers. It’s a beautiful tale of how our choices can not only affect our lives, but also the lives of the generations that follow us. I cannot recommend this movie enough!
My top 5 of all time
Almost Famous (2000)
There Will Be Blood (2007)
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
The Green Mile (1999)
The Last Samurai (2003)
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🎟️ Club picks
Thanks to everyone who sent in what they’ve been watching this week. Paul actually answered last week’s question, so he goes first.
Evil Dead Burn (2026) · 1h 50m · Where to watch
Submitted by: Paul D. on Substack: I’m a fan of the franchise and was curious to see where they were taking it. The craziness and brutality really stuck out. Mostly practical effects on top of that. For a movie that’s close to 2 hours it didn’t feel like it. EDB never lets you relax. Just grabs on and doesn’t let go. Stay for the post credit scene.
Pumpkinhead (1988) · 1h 26m · Where to watch
Submitted by: Blair N. on Substack: The film was on my to-watch list for a long time, and I finally committed to watching it. The creature design and atmospheric ambiance of the film, by first-time director Stan Winston, from his own special effects group, shine. You can also see why the acting performance of veteran Lance Henriksen stands out; he is backed by a pretty good group of other acting performers. Where the film suffers is in pacing and some of its continuity. That’s because the original studio for the film went bankrupt before the movie was released. I can see why this folk horror film became a cult hit.
The Judge (2014) · 2h 21m · Where to watch
Submitted by: Rachel B. on Substack): I love Robert Downey Jr. and wanted to watch more of his filmography, and the plot intrigued me. This was simultaneously the most dramatic film I’ve ever seen, and the least drag-you-through-the-mud emotionally damaging. The fact that those two things could actually go together, on top of a stacked cast of breathtakingly amazing actors made for one of the best movies I’ve ever watched, period.
The Uprising (2026) · 2h 8m · Where to watch
Submitted by: Overpriced Popcorn on Substack): Andrew Garfield. Sometimes an actor’s name is all the persuasion I need. An unusual and refreshing take on Robin Hood’s origin story, offering something a little different from the familiar legend.
Easy A got me thinking about the lines that we use all the time in our house.
🎬 Your turn: What movie do you quote back and forth with someone at home?
Drop a comment below with the title and one sentence on why, or send it through here. You can also drop it in the Club chat, where I’ve started a thread. The best picks land in next week’s issue.
Until next Thursday, be kind, rewind.
— Gannon