Hello, movie lover! Imagine this: you’re diving headfirst into an alternate reality where things don’t add up as expected – that’s the magic of movies like “Vivarium.” So let’s embark on an incredible ride through some mind-boggling films with similar surreal vibes to “Vivarium.” From spine-tingling mysteries to mind-boggling plot twists, these films promise to offer an extraordinary cinematic experience – with every unpredictable turn providing another reality check of sorts.
Movie | Release date | Duration | Budget | Box office | Where to watch |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Enemy | March 15, 2014 | 108 minutes | $10 million | $32.8 million | Hulu, HBO Max, Kanopy, Vudu |
Coherence | September 5, 2013 | 89 minutes | $50,000 | $1.2 million | Amazon Prime Video, Google Play, Vudu |
Black Mirror: Bandersnatch | December 28, 2018 | 90 minutes | $19 million | $80.4 million | Netflix |
The One I Love | January 16, 2014 | 90 minutes | $1 million | $3.9 million | Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Google Play |
Ex Machina | April 24, 2015 | 108 minutes | $15 million | $371.7 million | Hulu, HBO Max, Kanopy, Vudu |
Mother! | September 15, 2017 | 121 minutes | $30 million | $80.6 million | Hulu, HBO Max, Kanopy |
Synecdoche, New York | December 25, 2008 | 132 minutes | $20 million | $20 million | HBO Max, Kanopy |
Donnie Darko | October 26, 2001 | 113 minutes | $6 million | $76.8 million | HBO Max, Kanopy |
The Truman Show | June 5, 1998 | 120 minutes | $60 million | $264.3 million | HBO Max, Kanopy |
Annihilation | February 23, 2018 | 115 minutes | $40 million | $140.8 million | Hulu, HBO Max, Kanopy |
Inception | July 8, 2010 | 148 minutes | $160 million | $828.4 million | HBO Max, Kanopy |
Under the Skin | April 11, 2014 | 108 minutes | $13 million | $44.1 million | Hulu, HBO Max, Kanopy |
Upstream Color | March 21, 2013 | 100 minutes | $500,000 | $1.2 million | Amazon Prime Video, Google Play |
A Ghost Story | July 14, 2017 | 87 minutes | $10 million | $47.3 million | Hulu, HBO Max, Kanopy |
Pulse | March 15, 2001 | 96 minutes | $10 million | $100.1 million | HBO Max, Kanopy |
Edward Scissorhands | December 7, 1990 | 105 minutes | $20 million | $86 million | HBO Max, Kanopy |
Being John Malkovich | December 29, 1999 | 106 minutes | $15 million | $139 million | HBO Max, Kanopy |
Dark City | March 12, 1998 | 116 minutes | $45 million | $46.1 million | HBO Max, Kanopy |
In the Mouth of Madness | October 28, 1994 | 107 minutes | $40 million | $44.1 million | HBO Max, Kanopy |
The Endless | March 31, 2018 | 119 minutes | $250,000 | $1.3 million | Amazon Prime Video |
I’m Thinking of Ending Things | September 4, 2020 | 133 minutes | $15 million | $33.3 million | Netflix |
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Welcome onboard!
To prepare you for an adventure where reality meets surreality, “Vivarium” sets the scene with two characters caught in an incredible house-hunting loop – now let’s dive into the depths of surreal cinema!
Hold up, what’s surreal cinema?
Surreal cinema can be defined as movies that take an unusual, surreal approach to reality – much like those paintings that leave viewers scratching their heads – leaving audiences questioning what’s real and what may seem crazy. These films take viewers on an extraordinary ride that leaves you thinking, “Is this real, or is this all an illusion?”
Unpacking the weirdness of “Vivarium”
Untangling “Vivarium” isn’t your average popcorn flick – instead, it explores isolation, the pressures of society, and losing yourself along the way. Our protagonists are trapped in an alternate reality suburbia that feels nothing like home.
Our Lineup: Movies like Vivarium
Welcome to “The Lobster”, a dark comedy about how single people have 45 days to find true love or get turned into animals! In “The Lobster”, society’s obsession with relationships becomes clear through an entertaining dark comedy format.
“Enemy” (2013)
Two for one! In “Enemy”, we follow a guy who comes face-to-face with his twin and soon finds himself embroiled in an unforgettable identity crisis that will leave viewers scratching their heads in consternation. Be prepared for some serious head scratching!
“Coherence” (2013)
Dinner parties can often turn strange, but “Coherence” takes things one step further. Reality collides with parallel universes, leaving viewers to question which version of their tale is real.
“Black Mirror: Bandersnatch” (2018)
Have you ever wanted to control a character’s choices? Now, “Bandersnatch” gives you just that ability! Dive into an immersive world where your decisions determine its narrative arc.
“The One I Love” (2014)
Romantic getaways take a strange and unpredictable turn when two lovers encounter alternate versions of themselves on their trip. Prepare yourself for relationship drama with an unexpected twist!
“Ex Machina” (2014)
An artificial intelligence with some ethical dilemmas: this film delves deep into the connections between humanity and machines. Get ready for an engaging philosophical ride.
“Mother!” (2017)
Home invasion takes a surreal turn in this psychological horror flick reminiscent of an artistic fever dream exploring creation and chaos.
“Synecdoche, New York” (2008)
An ambitious theater director embarks upon an audacious plan to recreate NYC as an exact copy – but as lines blur between reality and illusion in this brain-boggling drama.
“Donnie Darko” (2001)
Travel time travel, creepy rabbits and teenage angst combine in this psychological drama that also incorporates elements of sci-fi to keep audiences guessing until the very last frame.
“The Truman Show” (1998)
It is directed by Tom McCarthy, offers an ingeniously comedic take on our media-saturated society. Truman lives it himself!
“Annihilation” (2018)
Join Annihilation on an epic journey across a dystopian landscape where biology meets mind-boggling sci-fi!
“Inception” (2010)
Enter a world where reality turns on itself! Experience “Inception”, an action-adventure film set deep within our subconscious minds where everything can change at an instantaneous.
“Under the Skin” (2013)
An otherworldly woman preys upon men in an otherwise mundane scenario; yet things are far more complex. “Under the Skin” peels back layers to reveal what it means to be human.
“Upstream Color” (2013)
Parasites and connections intersect in this play about life, love, and mind-bending sci-fi that feels like one big cosmic dance party.
“A Ghost Story” (2017)
Join this poetic adventure through time and space as one ghost travels from one dimension to the next provoking existential questions as it travels.
“Pulse” (2001)
“Pulse” is a frightening Japanese horror flick that explores the darker sides of technology and loneliness. Imagine people disappearing without any trace; well, in “Pulse”, a group of friends discover a disquieting website which connects living people to afterlife – prepare yourself for heart-pounding scares that explore this uncanny portal between worlds – it serves as a stark reminder that our digital age may not always be carefree.
“Edward Scissorhands” (1990)
“Edward Scissorhands”, brought to us by Tim Burton’s creative brilliance, is an unforgettable film experience. Following Edward, an extraordinary individual born with scissor hands – yes, scissor hands! He finds an unlikely home among a suburban family and then navigates his world using them with gentle grace – eventually winning over everyone around him with their scissor hands and soft voice; an endearing story about fitting in, being true to yourself, finding beauty in differences; with captivating visuals and touching story “Edward Scissorhands” truly tugs on your heartstrings.
“Being John Malkovich” (1999)
“Being John Malkovich” (1999) is a totally out-there dark comedy that’s like nothing you’ve seen before. Get this: a puppeteer stumbles upon a crazy portal into actor John Malkovich’s brain. Yeah, it’s as wild as it sounds. And as you follow along, you’ll dive headfirst into questions about who we really are, what we want, and the downright weirdness of being human. With its offbeat story and hilarious moments, this movie is a trip you won’t forget.
“Dark City” (1998)
“Dark City”, directed by Ridley Scott will draw you into a captivating sci-fi mystery with no end in sight. Imagine being immersed in an alternate reality where memories don’t add up; things get seriously intriguing as our protagonist begins doubting his reality and discovering hidden mysteries both about himself and about the city in which he finds himself accused of murdering. Get ready for mind-boggling visuals that’ll have you questioning everything you think you know! With “Dark City”, journey along memory, who we are, and our perception of reality all in one wild ride that explores memory versus reality and how we see our world.
“In the Mouth of Madness” (1994)
“In the Mouth of Madness” is an intense horror flick sure to get your blood racing. An insurance investigator tracks down an author whose books create psychological havoc in readers – with reality quickly unraveling before him and nightmarish creatures appearing from out of nowhere! You’ll be on edge throughout this heart-racing thriller.
“The Endless” (2017)
“The Endless” is an intriguing sci-fi thriller that’ll keep you engaged from start to finish. Imagine two brothers trying to escape a cult only to be pulled back in. Things take an unnerving turn as they stumble across some seriously bizarre happenings and unraveled secrets – expect an incredible rollercoaster of twists that’ll keep you guessing throughout – this film has that “creepy-cool vibe that will have you questioning everything you thought was real”.
“I’m Thinking of Ending Things” (2020)
“I’m Thinking of Ending Things” is an engaging puzzle that will have your brain reeling. Imagine accompanying your boyfriend on a road trip to meet his parents – seems pretty typical? However, things soon take an unexpected turn as reality begins playing tricks with time and memories become fuzzy, leaving you questioning whether any memories exist at all and whether everything was real before. Get ready for an emotional rollercoaster of emotions and mind-bending moments that’ll keep you engaged right to the very end.
How surrealism rocks the film world
Surreal cinema isn’t your ordinary storytelling format – it’s more like an intriguing puzzle that leaves audiences thinking long after watching its credits have rolled off the screen.
Taking a walk through characters’ minds
At times, surreal movies give us an insider view into characters’ minds and reality-bending dilemmas. Through such films, we peek into their mindscape, where reality meets fantasy in the dance of reality and dreams.
Lights, Camera, Narrative Tricks!
Surreal films use visuals, camera angles, and symbols that keep us guessing while disorienting reality itself – we just tag along for the ride.
Why We Love Alternate Realities
Deep down, we all crave to know what lies beyond our everyday existence, and surreal films help satisfy that curiosity by offering glimpses into parallel realities without ever leaving our seats.
Wrapping it up – or are we?
“Vivarium” is more than a movie; it’s an experience. So grab some popcorn, embrace weirdness, and discover alternate realities together!
Can I watch these with my kids?
Some of these films have mature themes, so it’s best to save them for grown-up movie nights.
Where can I watch these movies?
You might find them on streaming platforms, but availability can change based on where you are.
Do I need to watch them in order?
Nah, feel free to jump around – it’s all about the journey, not the order.
Any more surreal movies out there?
Definitely! This list is just the tip of the surreal iceberg. There are tons more waiting to blow your mind.
Why are surreal movies so darn cool?
They challenge our brains, spark wild conversations, and leave us thinking long after the credits roll.