When the Storm Rages: 14 Intense Films for a Thunderous Night
As Typhoon “Feng Huang” lashes Shanghai, Zhejiang, and Fujian with torrential rain and lightning, it’s the perfect time to immerse yourself in a thought-provoking film. Explore the depths of human nature, confront mortality, and grapple with complex emotions, all from the comfort of your home. These films create an atmosphere as intense as the storm outside.
1. Phone Booth (2002)
- Director: Joel Schumacher
- Writer: Larry Cohen
- Stars: Colin Farrell, Kiefer Sutherland, Forest Whitaker, Radha Mitchell, Katie Holmes
- Country: USA
- Runtime: 81 minutes
Publicist Stu Shepard answers a ringing phone in a New York City phone booth and finds himself trapped by a sniper who threatens to kill him if he hangs up. The film unfolds within the confines of this single phone booth, as Stu’s moral failings are exposed and he’s forced to confront his life choices. “Phone Booth” is a tense thriller that raises profound questions about guilt, redemption, and the consequences of our actions.
2. The Butterfly Effect (2004)
- Directors: Eric Bress, J. Mackye Gruber
- Writers: J. Mackye Gruber, Eric Bress
- Stars: Ashton Kutcher, Amy Smart, Elden Henson, Logan Lerman
- Country: USA, Canada
- Runtime: 113 minutes
Evan Treborn discovers he has the ability to travel back in time and alter key moments in his past. However, each attempt to fix things creates unintended and disastrous consequences in the present. “The Butterfly Effect” explores the complexities of cause and effect, and the idea that even small changes can have a profound impact on our lives and the lives of those around us.
3. Black Swan (2010)
- Director: Darren Aronofsky
- Writers: Andres Heinz, Mark Heyman, John J. McLaughlin
- Stars: Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel, Winona Ryder
- Country: USA
- Runtime: 108 minutes
Nina Sayers, a talented but fragile ballerina, wins the coveted role of the Swan Queen in “Swan Lake.” As the pressure mounts, she becomes increasingly consumed by the duality of the role, struggling to embody both the innocent White Swan and the seductive Black Swan. “Black Swan” is a visually stunning and psychologically disturbing film about perfectionism, obsession, and the dark side of artistic ambition.
4. A Brighter Summer Day (1991)
- Director: Edward Yang
- Writers: Edward Yang, Lai Ming-tang, Yang Shun-ching, Hung Hung
- Stars: Chang Chen, Lisa Yang, Chang Kuo-chu, Elaine Jin
- Country: Taiwan
- Runtime: 237 minutes
Set in 1960s Taiwan, this epic film tells the story of Xiao Si’r, a young teenager who becomes entangled in gang violence and forbidden love. “A Brighter Summer Day” is a sprawling and atmospheric portrait of a turbulent era, exploring themes of identity, alienation, and the loss of innocence.
5. Prisoners (2013)
- Director: Denis Villeneuve
- Writer: Aaron Guzikowski
- Stars: Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Paul Dano, Maria Bello
- Country: USA
- Runtime: 153 minutes
When two young girls go missing, a desperate father takes matters into his own hands, while a determined detective races against time to find them. “Prisoners” is a dark and suspenseful thriller that explores the limits of morality, the complexities of grief, and the lengths to which people will go to protect their loved ones.
6. Oldboy (2003)
- Director: Park Chan-wook
- Writer: Park Chan-wook
- Stars: Choi Min-sik, Yoo Ji-tae, Kang Hye-jeong
- Country: South Korea
- Runtime: 120 minutes
Kidnapped and imprisoned for 15 years without explanation, Oh Dae-su is suddenly released and given five days to find his captor and uncover the reason for his torment. “Oldboy” is a visually stunning and brutally violent revenge thriller that explores themes of vengeance, identity, and the cyclical nature of violence.
7. The Sunset Limited (2011)
- Director: Tommy Lee Jones
- Writer: Cormac McCarthy
- Stars: Tommy Lee Jones, Samuel L. Jackson
- Country: USA
- Runtime: 90 minutes
In a stark, minimalist setting, a black ex-con and a white professor engage in a philosophical debate about faith, despair, and the meaning of life. “The Sunset Limited” is a thought-provoking and emotionally charged film that explores the fundamental questions of human existence.
8. Mulholland Drive (2001)
- Director: David Lynch
- Writer: David Lynch
- Stars: Naomi Watts, Laura Harring, Justin Theroux
- Country: USA, France
- Runtime: 147 minutes
An aspiring actress and an amnesiac woman become entangled in a surreal and dreamlike mystery in the heart of Hollywood. “Mulholland Drive” is a mind-bending and visually stunning film that defies easy interpretation, exploring themes of identity, desire, and the dark underbelly of the entertainment industry.
9. Death and the Maiden (1994)
- Director: Roman Polanski
- Writers: Ariel Dorfman, Rafael Yglesias
- Stars: Sigourney Weaver, Ben Kingsley, Stuart Wilson
- Country: USA, UK, France
- Runtime: 103 minutes
Years after being tortured and raped, a woman believes she recognizes her attacker in a chance encounter. She takes him prisoner and puts him on trial in her own home. “Death and the Maiden” is a tense and morally complex thriller that explores themes of trauma, justice, and the blurred lines between victim and perpetrator.
10. Cracks (2009)
- Director: Jordan Scott
- Writers: Jordan Scott, Ben Court, Caroline Ip
- Stars: Eva Green, Juno Temple, Maria Valverde
- Country: UK, Ireland, Spain, France, Switzerland
- Runtime: 104 minutes
In a secluded all-girls boarding school in the 1930s, a charismatic diving instructor captivates her students. But when a new student arrives, the delicate balance of their world is shattered, leading to jealousy, betrayal, and tragic consequences. “Cracks” is a visually stunning and emotionally charged film about the complexities of female relationships and the dark side of adolescence.
11. The Ice Storm (1997)
- Director: Ang Lee
- Writer: James Schamus
- Stars: Kevin Kline, Joan Allen, Sigourney Weaver
- Country: USA
- Runtime: 112 minutes
Set in 1970s suburban Connecticut, “The Ice Storm” follows two families as they navigate the changing social and sexual landscape. As a literal ice storm descends upon the town, secrets are revealed, relationships are tested, and the cracks in their seemingly perfect lives begin to widen.
12. Carnage (2011)
- Director: Roman Polanski
- Writers: Yasmina Reza, Roman Polanski
- Stars: Jodie Foster, Kate Winslet, Christoph Waltz, John C. Reilly
- Country: France, Germany, Poland, Spain
- Runtime: 80 minutes
Two sets of parents meet to discuss a playground fight between their sons, but their polite conversation quickly devolves into a bitter and hilarious battle of wills. “Carnage” is a sharp and darkly comedic film that exposes the hypocrisy and underlying tensions of modern bourgeois society.
13. Requiem for a Dream (2000)
- Director: Darren Aronofsky
- Writers: Hubert Selby Jr., Darren Aronofsky
- Stars: Ellen Burstyn, Jared Leto, Jennifer Connelly, Marlon Wayans
- Country: USA
- Runtime: 102 minutes
Four interconnected characters pursue their dreams, but their lives spiral out of control as they become consumed by addiction. “Requiem for a Dream” is a visually stunning and emotionally devastating film that explores the destructive power of addiction and the fragility of the human spirit.
14. 12 Angry Men (1957)
- Director: Sidney Lumet
- Writer: Reginald Rose
- Stars: Henry Fonda, Lee J. Cobb, E.G. Marshall
- Country: USA
- Runtime: 96 minutes
In a sweltering jury room, twelve men must decide the fate of a young man accused of murder. As they debate the evidence, their own prejudices and biases are revealed, forcing them to confront their own sense of justice. “12 Angry Men” is a timeless and powerful film about the importance of critical thinking, the presumption of innocence, and the pursuit of truth.