A Glean movie guide
Hidden Gems of 90s Crime
Beyond the blockbusters.
Ten gritty, suspenseful thrillers that deserve a spot on your watchlist.
Handpicked for this guide
The movie list
- 01
One False Move
A masterclass in slow-burn tension that builds toward an unforgettable confrontation in a small Arkansas town.
Following a series of drug deals and murders, three criminals -- Fantasia, Ray Malcolm and Pluto -- travel from Los Angeles to Houston, finally arriving in a small Arkansas town to go into hiding. Two detectives from the LAPD, who are already on the case, contact the town's sheriff, Dale Dixon, to alert him of the fugitives' presence in the area. Underestimating Dixon, the criminals have no idea what they are about to face.
- 02
Red Rock West
This quintessential neo-noir thrives on mistaken identity and sharp, unpredictable twists.
When a promised job for Texan Michael fails to materialize in Wyoming, Mike is mistaken by Wayne to be the hitman he hired to kill his unfaithful wife, Suzanne. Mike takes full advantage of the situation, collects the money, and runs. During his getaway, things go wrong, and soon get worse when he runs into the real hitman, Lyle.
- 03
A Simple Plan
A chilling psychological study of how greed and paranoia can dismantle ordinary lives.
Captivated by the lure of sudden wealth, the quiet rural lives of two brothers erupt into conflicts of greed, paranoia and distrust when over $4 million in cash is discovered at the remote site of a downed small airplane. Their simple plan to retain the money while avoiding detection opens a Pandora's box when the fear of getting caught triggers panicked behavior and leads to virulent consequences.
- 04
The Last Seduction
Features one of the decade's most iconic and ruthless femme fatale performances.
A devious femme fatale steals her husband’s drug money and hides out in a small town where she meets the perfect dupe for her next scheme.
- 05
Deep Cover
A stylish, gritty undercover cop story that explores the moral decay of the drug trade.
Black police officer Russell Stevens applies for a special anti-drug squad which targets the highest boss of cocaine delivery to LA—the Colombian foreign minister's nephew. Russell works his way up from the bottom undercover, until he reaches the boss.
- 06
Cop Land
A grounded, powerful look at police corruption anchored by a deeply vulnerable lead performance.
Freddy Heflin is the sheriff of a place everyone calls “Cop Land” — a small and seemingly peaceful town populated by the big city police officers he’s long admired. Yet something ugly is taking place behind the town’s peaceful facade. And when Freddy uncovers a massive, deadly conspiracy among these local residents, he is forced to take action and make a dangerous choice between protecting his idols and upholding the law.
- 07
The Spanish Prisoner
An intellectual puzzle of a thriller that relies on sharp dialogue rather than physical action.
An inventor of a secret process suddenly finds himself alone as both his friends and the corporation he works for turn against him.
- 08
Zero Effect
A unique, modern reimagining of the Sherlock Holmes archetype that balances mystery with character study.
Daryl Zero is a private investigator and—along with his assistant, Steve Arlo—he solves impossible crimes and puzzles. Although Daryl's a master investigator, he doesn't know what to do with himself when he's not working; he has no social skills, writes bad music and drives Steve crazy.
- 09
After Dark, My Sweet
A dark, atmospheric adaptation of a Jim Thompson novel that captures the essence of noir despair.
Three desperados try to kidnap a wealthy child in hope of turning their lives around.
- 10
Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead
A stylized, ensemble-driven crime film with a distinct voice and a tragic edge.
Five different criminals face imminent death after botching a job quite badly.