These gripping crime films bring the mystery and action
L-R: Blood Diamond, Crossing Over, Prison 77, Nothing Can't Be Undone by a Hotpot. Credit: SBS On Demand There is a fascination and natural curiosity in hearing stories about crime, as evidenced by the abundance of true crime podcasts that have popped up in recent years. Perhaps part of the reason is the instinctive human need to find a sense of justice and reason, the desire to see a resolution. This need is what makes the whodunnits, crime fiction and true crime even more appealing to audiences. This historical crime thriller is heavily inspired by the true events of the Spanish transition to democracy in the 1970s, focusing on the unfair treatment of inmates in Barcelona's Modelo Prison. We're immediately introduced to Manuel (Miguel Herrán), a young accountant who has been accused and imprisoned over his potential involvement in embezzlement. We watch as he comes to terms with his sentence, as he continuously endures a corrupt prison system fighting against him. And, in an effort to work with other inmates to gain amnesty against the authoritative figures in positions of power, he forms an unlikely friendship with an older inmate named José Pino (Javier Gutiérrez). Prison 77 gives audiences a perspective of the brutal horrors and unjust treatment of prisoners during the Francoist dictatorship. But more so, it sheds light on what it means to carry hope and fight for what is right and fair. Prison 77 is streaming at SBS On Demand.
The need to belong and feel a part of a community is an incredibly relevant sentiment in this 2009 film. Exploring the different stories of immigrants across the United States post 9/11, we see their struggles in maintaining a legal status against a strict governing system. With a strong cast including Harrison Ford, Ray Liotta, Ashley Judd and New Zealand's Cliff Curtis (watch more of his great work, including The Piano , Whale Rider and Swift Street , here ), Crossing Over captures the desperate measures people are willing to undertake, and looks beyond the 'immigrant' status of these characters, honing in on their depth, drive, and humanity. Crossing Over is streaming at SBS On Demand until 31 July.
The story of the notorious serial killer Ted Bundy is one that has been heard around the world for decades, sometimes with unfortunate media glamorising. But cinematic references to his confidante Bill Hagmaier, which strengthened during his imprisonment between 1984 and 1989, are far and few between. Based on the very real camaraderie between the pair, this film gives space to tell the story of FBI newcomer Hagmaier (Elijah Wood), and his work in using Bundy (Luke Kirby) as a case study in understanding the mind of killers. The film unexpectedly puts us directly in the shoes of Hagmaier, where viewers are made to sit with the same uncomfortable feelings and emotions he battles with, as the lines between sympathy, disgust, guilt and fascination are constantly blurred over this unexpected friendship with a killer. No Man of God is streaming at SBS On Demand.
Loosely based on the horrific November 2015 Paris attacks, November is a suspenseful film that delves into the investigations and interventions following the initial attack, in a desperate attempt to capture the perpetrators. With this tragedy being only a decade ago, many people will still clearly remember hearing about it on the news and the urgency felt across the globe to find the people that committed the crime. With a cast led by Oscar-winner Jean Dujardin ,November brings us back into this state of mind and puts the audience right behind the wheel of the anti-terrorist police unit, slowly uncovering the gruesome plans and ugly truths in this tense thriller. November is streaming at SBS On Demand.
Limehouse Golem is a classic whodunnit set in gothic Victorian London, where a series of mysterious murders have taken place in the small district of Limehouse. Based on the 1994 novel, Dan Leno and the Limehouse Golem , the film sees Scotland Yard investigator John Kildare (Bill Nighy) chasing the murderer that the press has dubbed 'the Golem'. Then Elizabeth Cree (Olivia Cooke), a famous theatre star, is accused of poisoning her playwright husband John (Sam Reid), coincidentally on the same night as the latest Golem murder strikes the community. But did she do it? The beautifully crafted set design, Victorian-era costumes and phenomenal acting bring immediate intrigue. And if you are a fan of a Jack the Ripper and Penny Dreadful- esque murder mystery, you'll love the twist and turns this film takes. Limehouse Golem is streaming at SBS On Demand.
Kidnapping, theft, potential murder: this offbeat Chinese film throws a wild mix of crime together, and it all starts with a game of mahjong. The film teeters on a line between a hilarious comedy, a heartfelt drama and an insane whodunit, where four strangers playing mahjong in a local opera theatre happen to find an unfathomable amount of cash and a dead body. Nothing Can't Be Undone by a Hotpot keeps you on your toes, with unexpected plot points that will have you guessing till the very end. Nothing Can't Be Undone by a Hotpot is streaming at SBS On Demand.
Nothing Can't Be Undone by a HotPot Inspired by the events that transpired during the Sierra Leone Civil War in 1991 to 2002, Blood Diamond tells the story of a war-torn country, as the political unrest between government loyalists and rebel forces wreaks havoc among civilians. The film follows Solomon Vandy (Djimon Hounsou), a fisherman separated from his family and forced to work in the diamond mines under a merciless totalitarian. But when he discovers a pink diamond, a Rhodesian mercenary named Danny Archer (Leonardo DiCaprio) is quick to make a deal to help him find his family in exchange for the priceless diamond. Blood Diamond is streaming at SBS On Demand.
Dive into the world of crime, with all the bad guys and all the action, in the CRIME MOVIES COLLECTION at SBS On Demand.
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