TOP 5 MOVIES THAT MIGHT NOT MAKE 2020 SEEM SO BAD.

If you are like most of the world right now, you are at home telling yourself you're going to wake up early and workout in the living room and clean the house. But if you're like me, you're going to get comfy on the couch and scroll through your streaming services looking for something new and interesting to watch. I've watched my favorite shows several times since March and I was eager to find something new and intriguing to watch. The other night I decided to watch Inception again and it was just as great as the first time I watched it years ago. But it got me in the mood for a new sci-fi, thriller movie. I did some scrolling around and found the first movie on my list, The Mandela Effect.

1. The Mandela Effect (2019)

If you don't already know, the "Mandela effect" is an unusual phenomenon where a large group of people remembers something differently than how it occurred. One of the more common Mandela Effects talked about is the Monopoly Man's Monocle or lack there of. I myself remember the Monopoly man having a monocle, but according to the web he has never had one. This is just one of many Mandela effects. Intrigued yet?

You might also have heard of the theory that we are living in a simulated universe. That we are basically Sims in someone’s video game and nothing we know to be true is actually real at all. If these two things interest you then I urge you to watch the Mandela Effect. The movie jumps RIGHT in on a sad note where a young couple is grieving the loss of their daughter. This last for a few minutes and then that's when the husband starts noticing Mandela Effects and dives head first in a grief fueled search for answers. The movie takes many twists and turns and will definitely have your heart racing at the end.

Available to watch free when subscribed to: Pluto, Vudu, Hulu, Amazon Video Rent on Youtube TV and Google Play: $2.99

2. The Lobster (2015)

If you like what I recommended for the first movie, chances are you'll enjoy this one... or you are going to think that me being in the house this long has made me lose my mind completely (I'm okay with either of these, because it's not false).

The Lobster is described as a "absurdist dystopian black comedy". The film starts off slow, and it takes a moment to really realize what is happening in this dystopian world they created. In this world, when your spouse passes, divorces you or if you are single for any reason... you go to a camp which almost has an old -timey orphanage vibe to it. Upon arriving to this place you have 45 days to find a partner or they turn you in to an animal of your choosing. No pressure, right? And we thought dating in 2020 was hard.

Now, I'm not going to lie. It gets weird and it gets dark. But we've been through a lot this year and I believe you can get through this movie just fine and appreciate it for being what is it. The ending will have you asking "WHY?!", while also thinking "please DO NOT DO IT!". So if dark, gory, avant-garde romance films are you're thing... (which is everyone, right?), then definitely give this one a watch.

Available to watch free when subscribed to: Netflix

3. LOVE (2015)

If you haven't noticed yet, my taste in movies lately is a little twisted. This movie falls in line with the last two, but for different reasons. Love is definitely not a family friendly movie. There is drug use, violence and honestly a lot of sex. Not your typical Hollywood sex scenes either, we are talking full unobstructed views. The opening scene is going to have you asking yourself if I just recommended you a porno. A very sweet, gentle, loving porno, but none the less. But it is a foreign film based in Paris and the French just do sex and romance different and I am all in favor.

The story is of a young couple that appears to be very in love. Murphy is an American and the beautiful Electra is native to Paris. Their romance builds in the beginning of the movie with tender moments and long wild nights out in Paris. As the movie, drugs, and sexual exploration progresses things take a turn. The somewhat solid relationship they appeared to have turns bad when Electra's trust is broken and another plot twist is introduced. This pivot moment changes the entire tone of the movie. Drug addition, depression and severe guilt carries through to the end of the movie showing you the side of love that we all are scared to experience. This is a romance story that captures what happens when you find love and it goes wrong. Love isn't always the happy ending we all hope for and this movie captures that beautifully.

Netflix used to have this movie available until they recently took it down. I am having a hard time finding it as it appears to be "blocked in my location" (U.S.A). So you might have to do some digging, but it is worth it.

You can also buy it here on DVD if you still have one of those things.

4. The Game (1997)

This is actually a well know movie, but it came out 23 years ago so it might not be on your radar (but it should be). This movie starring Michael Douglas is exactly as the title says, a game. The movie starts you out with a little back story of the main character as a young boy who witnesses something tragic.

Flash forward to current day and he runs his late fathers business. This man is all work and ZERO play. He is wound tight and his younger, carefree, vagabond brother gives him a birthday gift that will change his life forever. It's a simple card with a number and the only information that his brother gave him about this gift is that using this service changed his life.

He calls not knowing what to expect. He books an appointment and when he arrives at the location the movie starts to get weird. The office of this business is located in the same building as his company. He goes in and does a series of tests that seems to last forever. Once you have reached this part in the movie, it starts to get real interesting.

The game has begun.

You will question what is happening and which characters you can trust. You will think you know what is going on, but you will have no idea. This movie keeps you on your toes until the very last minute.

5. The Butterfly Effect (2004)

The Game and the Butterfly Effect are probably the most well known movies on this list. But I know some people have not seen this movie starring Ashton Kutcher and I am going to make a bold statement by saying that it is his best. (If i'm right, that means Ashton peaked in 2004, just like all the bullies I went to high school with).

I. Love. This. Movie. If you have ever wondered how you're life would be if you would have done things differently, then this movie will be your wet dream. Ashton's character seems to have a normal life living alone with his single mother. His father is in a psych ward for a condition that appears to have been passed down to his son. What's the condition? The ability to read old journals and travel back in time to alter pivot moments in his life.

This movie gets dark which is as to be expected based off my movie list. But it shows you just how drastic life can change if you could go back and alter parts of it. When you have the chance to change your story, are you selfish with the outcome or do you do what's best for others?

This movie shows one ending, but also has an alternate ending as well. I will link it below, but don't watch it until you have finished the movie.

**Spoiler Alert**: Alternate ending, don't watch unless you have finished the movie.

Available to watch free when subscribed to: Hulu, HBO, Starz, Amazon Video

I hope you enjoy these movies as much as I do. Happy streaming!