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Tom's Guide
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
5 best movies you missed in theaters in 2025 (so far), that you can stream right now
Every year, at least a few quality movies don't get the attention they deserve. While I was delighted to see the likes of 'Sinners' break out and find a larger audience, plenty of other flicks weren't so fortunate and didn't get their equally deserved moment in the spotlight. We're now almost halfway through 2025, and this year is proving no exception. For all the great films that have earned critical plaudits and audience adulation, off to the side in the shadows, you'll find some must-watch movies that struggled to break into the mainstream. The good news is that, thanks to streaming, these movies have a second shot at gaining some deserved attention, so even if you missed them in theatres, you can still circle back to watch them in the comfort of your own home. I've been to the cinema more than 40 times in 2025 already, and of all the flicks I've seen on the big screen, these are the five that you (probably) missed but can stream right now. 'Restless' is an utterly rage-inducing watch as you witness protagonist Nicky (Lyndsey Marshal) spiral further and further as she attempts to deal with a nightmare neighbor. A salt-of-the-earth care worker, Nicky's quiet life is upended when a party animal, with a highly questionable circle of friends, moves in next door and disrupts her peace. With the authorities disinterested in helping resolve the matter, this typically mid-mannered woman is forced to take matters into her own hands as a lack of sleep sees her start to lose her grip on reality. Lyndsey Marshal is electric in the leading role, and Nicky's arc is seriously sympathetic, especially when the new neighbor, Deano (Aston McAuley), becomes increasingly aggressive after Nicky begs him to turn his music down so she can get some much-needed rest. Playing on Nicky's sense of powerlessness, 'Restless' will have you almost shaking with anger as much of its runtime is dedicated to watching the likeable lead beaten down and intimidated by the, unfortunately, realistic situation. The ending attempts to bring a sense of catharsis, but it goes a little too far into slapstick territory, but at least it closes things on a more hopeful note. Buy or rent on Prime Video now 'The Ballad of Wallis Island' earned my affection from its very first scene. This overlooked comedy-drama is consistently chuckle-worthy, largely thanks to the sharp comedic spirit of Tim Key, but underneath the gentle gags is an emotionally impactful tale with a melancholic edge. Charles Heath (Key) is a lottery winner living on the remote Wallis Island, who opts to spend his winnings on convincing his musician heroes, Herb McGwyer (Tom Basden) and Nell Mortimer (Carey Mulligan), to reunite and play a special one-off concert just for him. McGwyer Mortimer, a fictional folk duo with more than a little bit of Fleetwood Mac about them, were once surging up the charts, but a decade prior disbanded in acrimony, and haven't played together since. Once on the Welsh island, they begin to reminisce on the past, and before long, old romantic tensions have sparked up, with Charles very much trying to play peacemaker. Those craving high-stakes drama or fiery confrontations won't find them here, but instead 'The Ballad of Wallis Island' offers something much richer, a genuine soul. It's wonderfully warming, with just the right amount of wistfulness. Plus, the McGwyer Mortimer tunes performed by Basden and Mulligan are fantastic. Watch on Peacock now 'Drop' is probably as close to a modern-day Alfred Hitchcock movie as you could possibly get, and as any fan of the Master of Suspense will tell you, that is a massive compliment. Violet Gates (Meghann Fahy) is a widowed mother, reluctantly leaving her young son at home, to meet a singleton at a swanky restaurant at the insistence of her sister (Violett Beane). Her date is the handsome and extremely charming Henry (Brandon Sklenar), and just when Violet is considering letting her defenses down, she receives a mysterious text message. The unidentified messenger informs her that sinister figures have taken her son and sister hostage, and will murder them unless Violet does exactly what they instruct and kills Henry. Thrust into a nightmare date, Violet attempts to protect her family while unmasking those behind the murderous plot. Director Christopher Landon expertly builds tension throughout, and each new plot wrinkle is dished out at a well-considered clip. Sure, you might be able to guess the big reveal (the killer's identity is a little obvious), but even if you figure out the destination, the road to get there is a complete blast. Buy or rent on Prime Video now Nicolas Cage continues to pick interesting projects, and 'The Surfer' is another wild entry in his filmography that lets the veteran actor go completely off the rails. It's perhaps his most unhinged role since 2018's 'Mandy,' and presents an increasingly surreal descent into madness. Cage plays an unnamed man who brings his son to a stunning beach for a spot of surfing. The oceanside setting is where the man grew up, and where he plans to buy a plush home just a stone's throw away from the glittering sand. However, their attempts to catch some waves are ruined when the residents rebuff them and declare that surfing on the beach is for 'locals only.' Refusing to walk away from the conflict, the man sticks around and endures several days of sheer torment as his life falls apart around him, and even his own identity is called into question. Finding great success in the thick sense of mystery — you'll soon wonder as to why the locals are being so cruel to Cage's character — 'The Surfer' is a movie where you need to embrace the chaos. Sadly, its narrative ambitions prove to be overstretched, with an ending that fails to bring things to a truly satisfying conclusion. Nevertheless, at its peak, 'The Surfer' is mesmerizing. Buy or rent on Prime Video now Your enjoyment of 'Presence' will most likely come down to how much you can appreciate a movie for trying something new. On the surface, this supernatural horror-thriller appears fairly cookie-cutter, but its unique element comes in the way Steven Soderbergh opts to frame proceedings. See, 'Presence' is a haunted-house movie told from the perspective of the unseen entity that is watching the Payne family, who have just moved into a large new suburban house, unaware of its ghostly occupant. Rather than the spectre being a mystery to viewers, they are literally the POV character. I suspect some viewers will find 'Presence' unbearably slow, but I enjoyed the family drama and the increasing sense of unease that builds up to a sombre finale. Much of what works about "Presence" is also a credit to the cast, which is anchored by Callina Liang, Lucy Liu, Chris Sullivan and Eddy Maday. Even if the movie's narrative credentials come up a little short on occasion, at a trim 85 minutes, there's no time to get bored, and Soderbergh plays up the movie's original perspective in some creative ways. The general sense of dread in the air also adds to the stakes and keeps you invested throughout. Watch on Hulu now
Geek Vibes Nation
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Vibes Nation
'Restless' (2025) Review - Neighborly Feud Is Gripping And Introspective
The adage, fences make good neighbors, is certainly apt for Nicky (Lyndsey Marshal) in the film Restless. As a single empty nester, she battles more than loneliness and isolation, but the neighbors from hell. Rather than delving into the territory of a straightforward revenge thriller, Restless takes its time, toying with us and exasperating our patience. Nicky is a stand-in for the audience, the frustration at the powerlessness. The movie is a volatile exercise in self-control and manages to subvert our expectations with brash humanity. The story stretches like a rubber band, going far and then snapping with a warning, delivering something truly unexpected. We meet Nicky, a lonely middle-aged woman adjusting to being an empty nester. Her peaceful life falls apart when new neighbors move in next door. This aggressive core of hard partiers brings not only disruption but potential danger. The owner, Deano (Aston McAuley), is oblivious to his antics and foments a rivalry with Nicky. Sleep when you're dead is his response to her complaint of sleepless nights. Tensions reach a boiling point, and Nicky finds herself losing not only her patience but her sanity, too. Restless takes its time with its story. Despite a runtime of an hour and thirty minutes, the movie utilizes every beat to show the exasperation and powerlessness that can arise when dealing with a troublesome neighbor. The partying goes on all night. Music blares through the walls, and Nicky, to her credit, attempts to confront her new neighbor peacefully and courteously. As expected, Nicky finds herself talking to a brick wall, and the antics ratchet up. Her sleepless nights erode more than her patience; it begins to work on her sanity. Lyndsey Marshal exemplifies grace under pressure. She is the stand-in for anyone in the audience, whether familiar with a neighbor's feud or drowning in a sea of powerlessness. She leads the story with quiet courage when the neighbor's situation tests her repeatedly. On the flip side of the argument, Aston McAuley is a perfect composite of every neighbor from hell: rude, vacuous, and conceded. The story reflects real-world feuds and further exaggerates the drama into a compelling and unnerving tale of terror. The film brilliantly avoids much exposition on Deano but does give his side of the neighborly dispute. Peace offerings and apologies are exchanged, but the feud persists. Anyone who has been on Nicky's side will relate to the challenge. As she attempts to rally her other neighbors, she finds no one wants to join her protest, leaving her alone and bitter. The story ultimately becomes one of revenge as Nicky finds herself at the breaking point, but the film painfully takes her to a dark place. 'Painfully' is not a knock against the film but a demonstration of how people's patience wears thin in a powerless situation. As she attempts to reason with the neighbors, unheard, she breaks into Deano's house and destroys his speaker system – sending the feud to a dangerous height. Nicky's trigger is when her cat goes missing, escalating a neighborly feud into a full-scale war. Alone and without a damn left to give, the proverbial rubber band snaps, and the movie accelerates into the somewhat farcical territory. Again, this will either make it or break it for the audience. Ultimately, the ending feels satisfying because of its cathartic nature and the need for the primal scream. 'Warfare' Review - This Century's Most Realistic War Film Restless captures how sleep deprivation contributes to a shocking imbalance. The longer the sleeplessness goes on, the worse it becomes for Nicky. She is angrier, edgier, and perhaps amazingly, she is justified. The film showcases depravity mixed with unruliness. In the third act, the film will either wholly work or fall apart for audiences. Until this point, the movie moves like a symphony, building towards a shocking climax. Thanks to the restraint in the first half, it allows for a welcome boiling point. As the audience, we expect Nicky to lose it, and in some ways, she does; the film is clever at subverting our expectations and the familiar tropes for something richer and cathartic. The movie turns the themes of isolation into a battle cry for resilience and community. He story inverts the themes of loneliness into a reflexive introspection that allows Nicky to rise out of her situation while learning from it. Director Jed Hart is not afraid to mix humor with horror, and there are many points where audiences will respond with shocking guffaws at Nicky's actions. She becomes a one-woman army as she responds to tragedy and exasperation. The operatic needle drops propel the story to hilarious and dramatic beats. Restless is as shocking as it is cathartic and manages its kicks by layering the story with deft humor and idle terror. The film is not a straightforward horror tale but a meditative examination of the isolation permeating suburbia and the farce that can be Love Thy Neighbor. Restless is currently available on digital platforms courtesy of Quiver Distribution.
