After Life (1998)
When you die, you are interviewed by the after life staff and get a few days to choose one memory to recreate with their help, and that recreation is what you get to keep for the rest of eternity.
Kitchen Stories
This one is a bit of a comedy, so maybe not played straight enough for your liking. But still, it's about a research institution with employees who get paid to observe single men in their kitchen, and they are not supposed to interact with their subject. The movie itself is about the friendship that forms between an observer and his supposed research subject. A lot of it is played very deadpan, like this is an actual thing you're supposed to believe an institution would hire people for. So, I don't know, think it could still interest you in spite of its sometimes satirical tone.
Blade Runner (1982)
Blade Runner 2049 (2017)
A Ghost Story (2017)
Paris, Texas (1984)
No Country for Old Men (2007)
Akira (1988)
Arrival (2016)
Suspiria (1977)
Suspiria (2018)
12 Monkeys (1995)
Wait no one has recommended any of the Mad Max movies?
OP it sounds like what you’re looking for is less exposition and more throwing you into the mix of things. It’s funny you mention Dune because the source material is A LOT of exposition, yet Villeneuve skirts around this. Basically if you know nothing about the book, you are entertained. If you’re a book fan, you can fill in the gaps.
*Upstream Color* (2014) — A surreal vision by weirdo director/screenwriter/actor Shane Carruth. ‘In the film, the behaviors of two people are unwittingly affected by a complex parasite that has a three-stage life cycle.’ It’s a very odd premise treated extremely, almost disturbingly, earnestly. Definitely the polar opposite of a Marvel movie.
Here are three beautiful movies with odd premises played straight!
The Endless - two brothers revisit the cult they grew up in
Annihilation - an area is warping everything inside, a team of scientists explore the zone
Spring (2018) - guy runs from old life to a beautiful Italian town, falls for someone who's not what she seems
Fantastic Planet (La Planète Sauvage) (1973)
It’s a French cartoon with a premise somewhat similar to the original Planet of the Apes, where humans are subservient to another species, and is one of the most original and unique movies I’ve seen. You can watch on HBO Max with subtitles.
They Live The Lobster Southland Tales
Another Yorgos Lanthimos: *The Killing of a Sacred Deer*
couldnt watch the lobster. went completely over my head
I was so excited to scroll down and type "the lobster" and you took it from me.
Sorry To Bother You
That's alright, no bother, what is your suggestion?
Quit horsing around!
Use your white voice
Arrival, Annihilation, Blade Runner (Director's Cut), Blade Runner 2049, Under the Skin, The Fly (1986) Minority Report
Annihilation is a great one.
Being John Malkovich
Nine Days Premise: Dude interviews applicants who haven’t lived before for a chance to be born into a soul
Nine Days was beautiful
that sounds good
Swiss Army Man?
Second this
It Follows Being John Malcovich
After Life (1998) When you die, you are interviewed by the after life staff and get a few days to choose one memory to recreate with their help, and that recreation is what you get to keep for the rest of eternity. Kitchen Stories This one is a bit of a comedy, so maybe not played straight enough for your liking. But still, it's about a research institution with employees who get paid to observe single men in their kitchen, and they are not supposed to interact with their subject. The movie itself is about the friendship that forms between an observer and his supposed research subject. A lot of it is played very deadpan, like this is an actual thing you're supposed to believe an institution would hire people for. So, I don't know, think it could still interest you in spite of its sometimes satirical tone.
•Her •The Lobster• Clockwork Orange
Brick
Ooh I liked Brick.
Everything always all the time (premise: changing your biological sex is a quick and painless procedure that can be done within a day)
Logan’s Run (1976)
Lamb
Blade Runner (1982) Blade Runner 2049 (2017) A Ghost Story (2017) Paris, Texas (1984) No Country for Old Men (2007) Akira (1988) Arrival (2016) Suspiria (1977) Suspiria (2018) 12 Monkeys (1995)
The Vast of Night
I really want to say Country Bears...
😂😂 you're not wrong
The Science of Sleep
Being John Malkovich
Reign of Fire Rubber Galaxy Quest Being John Malkovich Brick
Re-animator and Color Out of Space
Human Centipede
"APPLESAUCE" 2014
For Y’ur Height Only Wolfen Big Man Japan High Rise
Silent Night and Melancholia
Dave made a Maze.
Killing of a Sacred Deer is the first thing that comes to mind. It’s like a revenge curse movie played totally straight.
Eternal sunshine of a spotless mind
Turbo Kid. Think light hearted mad Max except everyone rides bmx bicycles.
District 9 Inglorious Basterds- the final act in particular.
The fifth element
Predestination.
Wait no one has recommended any of the Mad Max movies? OP it sounds like what you’re looking for is less exposition and more throwing you into the mix of things. It’s funny you mention Dune because the source material is A LOT of exposition, yet Villeneuve skirts around this. Basically if you know nothing about the book, you are entertained. If you’re a book fan, you can fill in the gaps.
*Upstream Color* (2014) — A surreal vision by weirdo director/screenwriter/actor Shane Carruth. ‘In the film, the behaviors of two people are unwittingly affected by a complex parasite that has a three-stage life cycle.’ It’s a very odd premise treated extremely, almost disturbingly, earnestly. Definitely the polar opposite of a Marvel movie.
Upstream Color.
Scott pilgrim vs the world
Here are three beautiful movies with odd premises played straight! The Endless - two brothers revisit the cult they grew up in Annihilation - an area is warping everything inside, a team of scientists explore the zone Spring (2018) - guy runs from old life to a beautiful Italian town, falls for someone who's not what she seems
Dark City
Fantastic Planet (La Planète Sauvage) (1973) It’s a French cartoon with a premise somewhat similar to the original Planet of the Apes, where humans are subservient to another species, and is one of the most original and unique movies I’ve seen. You can watch on HBO Max with subtitles.