3 overlooked films on Netflix to check out this weekend (August 21-23)

      Netflix's collection extends well beyond the popular titles driven by algorithms. That's why I sifted through some lesser-known films to curate this week's selection. It features a gripping historical mystery, a horror film based on real trauma, and a dark comedy. Be sure to add these three Netflix films to your watchlist this weekend.

      We also offer guides for the best new movies to stream, top films on Netflix, standout movies on Hulu, great free movies, and the finest titles on Amazon Prime Video.

      The Wonder (2022)

      Genre: Mystery, Drama | IMDb: 6.6/10 | Rotten Tomatoes: 84%

      Lib Wright (Florence Pugh), an English nurse in 1862 Ireland, travels to a secluded village to observe an 11-year-old girl who reportedly has gone without food for four months. As religious zealots assemble to witness a possible miracle, Lib strives to reveal the perilous truth behind the fasting.

      Florence Pugh delivers a captivating performance that anchors the entire mystery. The cinematography, featuring candlelit shadows, effectively creates an atmosphere laden with quiet unease. Director Sebastián Lelio made a daring choice by having a narrator speak directly to the audience and starting and ending with a film set, reminding viewers that they are engaged with a crafted story about the essence of storytelling.

      Watch The Wonder on Netflix.

      His House (2020)

      Genre: Horror, Thriller | IMDb: 6.4/10 | Rotten Tomatoes: 100%

      Bol and Rial (Sope Dirisu and Wunmi Mosaku), a couple of refugees who narrowly escaped war-torn South Sudan, are placed in a dilapidated house on the outskirts of London as part of the UK asylum process. As they attempt to settle into their new environment, a malignant presence in the house begins to torment them, compelling them to confront the dreadful guilt of their traumatic journey.

      I appreciated how this film treats supernatural fears alongside real-world horrors like racism and isolation, presenting them as equally alarming rather than choosing one as the “real” threat. Wunmi Mosaku and Sope Dirisu deliver performances that lend grounding to the story. Despite holding a perfect 100% score from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, the 72% audience score indicates that some viewers found its themes heavier than they expected for a horror film.

      Watch His House on Netflix.

      I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore (2017)

      Genre: Crime, Comedy, Thriller | IMDb: 6.9/10 | Rotten Tomatoes: 89%

      Ruth (Melanie Lynskey), a despondent nursing assistant already burdened by the world's incessant small cruelties, returns home to discover her house has been burglarized and her grandmother's silver has been stolen. When the police show little interest in assisting, Ruth recruits her quirky neighbor Tony (Elijah Wood), who wields nunchakus, to help her track down the thieves. What begins as a simple act of self-assertion quickly escalates into a more violent and perilous situation than either of them expected.

      Melanie Lynskey convincingly portrays Ruth's gradual shift from passive frustration to active anger, making her rage understandable. Her chemistry with Elijah Wood adds a layer of absurd joy to their vigilante endeavor. I enjoyed how seamlessly the film transitions between quirky comedy and violence while maintaining coherence in the plot.

      Watch I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore on Netflix.