A Glean movie guide
Beyond Parasite
Tense, dark, and masterfully crafted.
Sharp social satires and high-stakes thrillers that explore class, greed, and obsession.
Handpicked for this guide
The movie list
- 01
Snowpiercer
Directed by Bong Joon-ho, this film offers an intense, visceral look at class warfare on a post-apocalyptic train.
In a future where a failed global-warming experiment kills off most life on the planet, a class system evolves aboard the Snowpiercer; a train that travels around the globe via a perpetual-motion engine.
- 02
The Handmaiden
A visually stunning South Korean masterpiece filled with intricate plot twists and elaborate deception.
1930s Korea, in the period of Japanese occupation, a new girl, Sook-hee, is hired as a handmaiden to a Japanese heiress, Hideko, who lives a secluded life on a large countryside estate with her domineering Uncle Kouzuki. But the maid has a secret. She is a pickpocket recruited by a swindler posing as a Japanese Count to help him seduce the Lady to steal her fortune.
- 03
The Menu
A sharp, darkly comedic satire that skewers the elite through a high-stakes dining experience.
A young couple travels to a remote island to eat at an exclusive restaurant where the chef has prepared a lavish menu, with some shocking surprises.
- 04
Burning
A slow-burn psychological thriller that masterfully explores class disparity and obsession.
Deliveryman Jong-su is out on a job when he runs into Hae-mi, a girl who once lived in his neighborhood. She asks if he'd mind looking after her cat while she's away on a trip to Africa. On her return, she introduces to Jong-su an enigmatic young man named Ben, who she met during her trip. One day Ben tells Jong-su about his most unusual hobby.
- 05
Knives Out
A witty, modern whodunit that uses a dysfunctional wealthy family to deliver biting social commentary.
When renowned crime novelist Harlan Thrombey is found dead at his estate just after his 85th birthday, the inquisitive and debonair Detective Benoit Blanc is mysteriously enlisted to investigate. From Harlan's dysfunctional family to his devoted staff, Blanc sifts through a web of red herrings and self-serving lies to uncover the truth behind Harlan's untimely death.
- 06
Triangle of Sadness
This biting satire turns power dynamics upside down when a luxury cruise for the super-rich ends in disaster.
A celebrity model couple are invited on a luxury cruise for the uber-rich, helmed by an unhinged, alcoholic captain. What first appears Instagrammable ends catastrophically, leaving the survivors stranded on a desert island in a struggle of hierarchy.
- 07
Shoplifters
A poignant look at a marginalized family living on the fringes of society, challenging traditional definitions of home.
In the outskirts of Tokyo, a poor but close-knit group living on the fringes of society survives through shoplifting and odd jobs. When Osamu and his son take in a neglected young girl, their already fragile existence begins to unravel. As the family grows attached to her, buried secrets surface, forcing them to confront the true meaning of love, belonging, and what makes a family.
- 08
Sorry to Bother You
A surreal and bold critique of corporate culture that spirals into an unexpected, wild conspiracy.
In an alternate present-day version of Oakland, black telemarketer Cassius Green discovers a magical key to professional success – which propels him into a macabre universe.