LexTalk

What’s the most underrated movie you’ve ever watched?

View all responses

  Some movies entertain you. Others make you uncomfortable. And then there are the movies that stay with you long after the credits roll.

Today’s WordPress daily writing prompt asks:
What’s the most underrated movie you’ve ever watched?

For someone who has watched a ridiculous number of movies over the years, that’s actually a pretty difficult question!

But two movies immediately came to mind: Party Monster (2003) and Hard Candy (2005).

They’re completely different films, but they have something in common. Both made me think. Both made me uncomfortable in their own ways. And both left an impression that has lasted for years.

A Dreamer’s Mind and a Love for Movies

Growing up, I absolutely loved theater.

There was something magical about stepping into another world, whether it was through a book, a movie, or a performance.

I’ve always had a dreamer’s imagination. I loved stories that could transport me somewhere else, introduce me to people I would never meet, or show me a world completely different from my own.

And I watched EVERYTHING.

Good movies. Bad movies. Weird movies. Movies that made absolutely no sense. 

I didn’t care.

I loved the experience of watching a story unfold.

I also appreciated the artistry behind filmmaking. The actors, costumes, music, atmosphere, and the way a director could make an audience feel something without saying a single word.

Which brings me to my first underrated pick.

Party Monster (2003): Strange, Artistic, and Unapologetically Raw

When I first watched Party Monster, I remember being fascinated by the cast.

Macaulay Culkin. Seth Green. Marilyn Manson.

These were recognizable celebrities, and seeing them take on such bizarre, outrageous, and unconventional roles was almost shocking to me at the time.

But that’s what made it so interesting.

The movie tells the story of Michael Alig and the infamous New York City Club Kids scene, a world filled with extravagant parties, outrageous fashion, drugs, fame, and eventually murder.

It was colorful, chaotic, disturbing, and strangely beautiful in its own artistic way.

There was something about the rawness of the film that I appreciated.

It wasn’t polished to make everyone look glamorous or likable. It embraced the ugliness, eccentricity, and darkness of the story.

And I loved that the actors were willing to step outside what audiences might have expected from them.

Was it weird? Absolutely.

Was it disturbing? Definitely.

But was it memorable?

Without a doubt.

To me, Party Monster was an example of filmmaking that wasn’t afraid to be different.

And sometimes, those are the movies worth remembering.

Hard Candy (2005): A Movie That Hit Much Closer to Home

Now, Hard Candy was an entirely different experience.

Starring Elliot Page and Patrick Wilson, this psychological thriller explores disturbing subject matter involving predatory behavior, manipulation, and the dangers that can exist behind seemingly ordinary appearances.

It’s not an easy movie to watch.

And for me, it was especially unsettling.

There were things I experienced during my childhood that made certain aspects of this film feel incredibly personal.

I’m not going to go into those experiences here, but I will say that watching this movie brought up emotions and memories that stayed with me.

It reminded me just how frightening the world can be.

There are people who walk through life pretending certain things don’t happen. They put on blinders because acknowledging the ugliness in the world makes them uncomfortable.

But ignoring something doesn’t mean it isn’t happening.

And sometimes, the people we should be cautious of don’t look frightening at all.

That’s part of what made this movie so disturbing to me.

It heightened my awareness. It made me think about vulnerability, trust, and how easily appearances can deceive us.

And perhaps most frightening of all, it reminded me that dangerous people aren’t just characters invented for Hollywood.

They exist in the real world.

That’s what made Hard Candy so unforgettable for me.

Not because it was entertaining in the traditional sense, but because it made me feel something deeply personal.

Why I Think Both Movies Deserve More Recognition

When people talk about great movies, they often mention the big blockbusters, award winners, or films that everyone seems to love.

And there’s nothing wrong with that!

But I think some of the most powerful movies are the ones that never quite become household names.

The strange ones.

The uncomfortable ones.

The ones that take risks.

The ones that challenge the way we think.

Party Monster fascinated me with its artistic chaos, unusual performances, and dark true-crime story.

Hard Candy frightened me because its subject matter felt painfully connected to the real world.

Neither was simply a movie I watched and forgot.

They stayed with me.

And isn’t that one of the most incredible things about storytelling?

A movie doesn’t necessarily have to make you laugh, cry, or cheer to be meaningful.

Sometimes it just has to make you think.

The Magic of Getting Lost in a Story

I think a part of me will always be that imaginative kid who loved theater, books, and movies.

The girl who could disappear into another world for a couple of hours and come back seeing things a little differently.

Some stories gave me an escape.

Some gave me hope.

Others reminded me that the world isn’t always as beautiful or innocent as we’d like to believe.

But they all contributed to my love of storytelling.

And maybe that’s why I still remember these two movies after all these years.

They weren’t necessarily the most popular.

They weren’t the easiest to watch.

But they made an impression.

And to me, that’s what makes a movie truly underrated.

So now I’m curious…

What’s a movie you’ve watched that nobody seems to talk about, but you’ve never forgotten?

I’m always looking for another good movie to get lost in—even if it’s a little weird. 

Until next time, keep your imagination alive, stay curious, and never underestimate the power of a good story.

— LexTalk