As September draws to a close, Hulu is showcasing a selection of underrated films in its collection that might pique your interest.
Watch With Us has put together a succinct list of films that warrant your attention this weekend. Featured prominently are two films starring Nicolas Cage—the Oscar-winning actor leads the bizarre extraterrestrial thriller Color Out of Space and the gritty crime drama The Surfer.
If Cage’s style isn’t to your liking, fret not! I Am Number Four, a young adult science fiction flick from the genre’s heyday, may be just the ticket for a laid-back afternoon catch-up session.
‘The Surfer’ (2024)
In The Surfer, Cage portrays a character without a name or traditional role; he is merely a dad, a surfer, and a man on the brink of fulfilling his dream of reclaiming his father’s beach house. As he nears this goal, he finds himself entangled with a raucous gang of surf punks, spearheaded by the late Julian McMahon, who deem him unworthy of their territory. While the Surfer remains unfazed by their taunts, an onslaught of disasters leaves him questioning his very existence. Is Scally covertly sabotaging him, or is there more to the Surfer than meets the eye?
This compelling mix of crime drama and paranoid thriller, The Surfer, adds yet another unique installment to Cage’s eclectic film repertoire. The film dances on the knife-edge of reality, inviting viewers to ponder whether the Surfer’s journey is genuine or merely a figment of his imagination. I won’t spoil the resolution, but rest assured, the ending is a peculiar blend of clarity and enigma. While The Surfer may not achieve perfection, its inherent intrigue guarantees that it keeps you guessing what twists it will deliver next.
The Surfer is currently available on Hulu.
‘Color Out of Space’ (2019)
On a remote farm, Nathan Gardner (Cage) witnesses a meteorite crashing near his well. Initially dismissive of the event, his focus shifts dramatically as his family begins displaying bizarre behaviors—his wife Theresa (Joely Richardson) inexplicably severs her own fingers, while his son Benny (Brendan Meyer) appears to lose touch with time itself. As Nathan delves deeper, he discovers that a strange alien force, dubbed “Color,” has contaminated their water supply, gradually transforming them into grotesque versions of themselves. Will Nathan manage to rescue his family and thwart the bizarre alien incursion before it spirals out of control?
Color Out of Space is a visually striking and psychedelic exploration of the sci-fi genre, reminiscent of a Lovecraftian nightmare. This film embodies Cage’s experimental phase in 2019, where his willingness to embrace the odd and the surreal culminates in a climactic finale that pays homage to its literary origins.
Color Out of Space is available for streaming on Hulu.
‘I Am Number Four’ (2011)
John Smith (Alex Pettyfer) seems like your average high schooler; however, beneath that charming facade lies a secret—he’s an alien refugee from a planet that faced annihilation. Marked for death by his former captors, he finds refuge in a small Ohio town, where he develops an unexpected romance with Sarah (Dianna Agron). But John cannot evade his pursuers forever, and if he desires peace in his newfound home, he will have to unleash his extraordinary abilities in a confrontation against his enemies.
I Am Number Four tantalizingly straddles the line between superhero action and the syrupy sweetness of teen romance, delivering a cocktail of visually appealing chaos and appealingly handsome protagonists. Although its execution is hit-or-miss, there are moments of genuine exhilaration amid the explosions. The film’s conclusion hints at a sequel that never materialized due to its underwhelming box office performance.
