11 Good Movies to Watch on Hulu in March 2016

That’s right. Hulu.

I’m here to tell you that there’s a cinematic streaming goldmine available on Hulu that includes recent hits, older classics, domestic releases, and foreign imports. It’s even home to hundreds of Criterion titles. Sure there’s plenty of filler and seemingly thousands of titles I’ve never heard of before, but I’m not here to talk about possible gems like The Christmas Clause… I’m here to recommend some good movies to watch this month on Hulu.

Pick of the Month: Memories of Murder (2003)

A serial killer is stalking women in rural South Korea, and the police seem powerless to stop him. A lack of resources, political upheaval, and conflicts between the local cops and a big-city detective strain the investigation, but as more weeks pass more women fall victim. Bong Joon-ho (The Host, Mother) hasn’t made a bad movie yet, and this dark, gorgeous, and incredibly suspenseful gem remains his best. Nightmarish sequences butt up against blackly comic beats, and sudden bursts of violence exist alongside moment of real bonding. It’s a loose exploration of a real unsolved case from South Korea, but even without the weight of truth behind it the film earns comparisons to David Fincher‘s Zodiac.

Bullitt (1968)

Frank Bullitt (Steve McQueen) is more than a cop with the perfect name — he’s a cop with standards. When some mob thugs murder a witness in his custody they put targets on their own back as Bullitt is a man who doesn’t know how or when to quit. Peter Yates‘ (Breaking Away, The Friends of Eddie Coyle) late ’60s action flick is best remembered for its epic and truly thrilling car chase through the streets of San Francisco, but it’s also a solid corruption thriller and a rare opportunity to see McQueen in matching pajamas.

Shivers (1975)

Slug-like parasites slither into a fancy high-rise apartment building and infect the residents with a desire for nasty sex. Why yes, this is a David Cronenberg joint, why do you ask? Like a hybrid of body horror and undead shamblings, the film finds terror in the idea of a mindless mob acting in unison towards the goal of your orgiastic demise. Cronenberg makes sure to lace the sexual and biological carnage with social commentary, but even taken as a pure horror movie it works beautifully some truly frightening and unnerving scenes.

Blow Out (1981)

A sound technician (John Travolta) out gathering ambient noises accidentally records a murder, and soon he’s caught up in a conspiracy intent on silencing any witnesses. I was recently brought to task for excluding this title in my three favorite Brian De Palma films (Obsession, The Untouchables, Casualties of War), but had I listed five favorites then this would have made the cut. It’s a sharp little thriller that sees the director at his most technical, and both Travolta and Nancy Allen give solid performances.

Explorers (1985)

Three boys (Ethan Hawke, River Phoenix, Jason Presson) collaborate on building a spaceship and then set it aside to go play video games. I’m kidding. Of course they climb inside and launch themselves into space. This mid ’80s Joe Dante adventure doesn’t get the love of many of his other titles (Gremlins, Innerspace), but it’s a fun and odd little movie well-deserving of a watch. Friendship, young love, bullies, inept cops, and aliens who might be just as curious as the rest of us all collide in a fun, pro-science tale.