Not everyone has the patience for slow movies, but some films truly take their time to build up the atmospheric worlds surrounding their main characters. The best A24 films are masterful examples of this, as are the best cosmic horror films, which really dive into the creeping genre of horror in slow strokes to make sure the viewer feels immersed. However, while these films are incredible for a variety of different reasons, many of them are not suitable for a chill night alone.

Movies like Only Lovers Left Alive and Arrival retain this sort of atmosphere-building while not being too intense for an average night home alone. They craft interesting narratives with worlds that envelop anyone watching, making them possible contenders for some of the best movies of all time. With such engaging writing, it is these sorts of atmospheric films that, while beginning at a lackadaisical pace, pay off in the end with their world-building and plot.

10

Only Lovers Left Alive (2013)

It Is One Of The More Unique Vampire Romance Films

Only Lovers Left Alive follows the story of a vampire named Adam and his lover, another vampire named Eve. The film begins slowly, showing the difficulties the two of them have with adjusting to the modern day and continuing to exist throughout eternity. Despite living a fulfilling life, influencing musicians, and becoming a famed musician himself, Adam still struggles with depression.

A gothic romance at its core, Only Lovers Left Alive is an exploration of themes that too often do not have the opportunity to flourish in vampire media. Instead of reveling in blood and power-hungry fantasies, the film instead chooses to find meaning in everlasting life and love across decades. It is deeply romantic, if not a little sad, with the perfect pace to string viewers along for the ride.

9

The Hunt (2012)

This Danish Film Is One Of Mads Mikkelsen’s Best

Focusing on a kindergarten teacher who is wrongfully accused of abusing one of his students, The Hunt is a painful story about a community as it begins to break down. No matter what this teacher, a man named Lucas, says to those around him, there is nothing that he can do to convince others of his innocence. Even friends and family begin to fall away as one lie truly spirals out of control.

The Hunt does not dive into its painful narrative right away. Instead, it really takes its time to ingratiate the viewer with this small town, introducing everyone and allowing the characters to come to the forefront. This only makes the story that eventually unfolds that much more painful, breaking down bonds that were built up before.

8

Melancholia (2011)

The World Begins To Fall Apart In A Thoughtful Film

The end of the world is a common scenario in film and TV, but Melancholia takes a unique perspective on this beloved trope. The story unfolds as Earth finds itself in the collision path of another celestial body, spelling certain death for any and all life on the planet. This is juxtaposed against the wedding of a young woman named Justine, before the narrative takes a turn to focus on a woman named Claire.

The film does not start with the panic-inducing threat of certain planetary annihilation, instead allowing the narrative around its main characters to build on a realistic foundation. This allows the atmosphere of the film’s story to feel incredibly believable from the start. Though sad and deeply dramatic, Melancholia makes the end of the world feel deeply relatable in a way many similarly-premised films fail to live up to.

7

Arrival (2016)

Aliens Come To Life In This Slow-Paced But Engaging Drama

When aliens arrive on Earth in the science fiction movie Arrival, everything is up to a linguist named Louise Banks to decipher what the visitors are saying. She does so by interpreting a series of symbols, but when so many different linguists from different places are attempting to decipher meaning, wrong translations are all but guaranteed. What follows is a breakdown of communication and how it relates to time.

Watching the main characters walk through each explanation of what these symbols could mean is a delight to witness, making the viewer feel as though they are learning along with them. It is a satisfying learning experience that encourages anyone watching to open up and communicate as well. This, paired with world-building that makes these aliens feel fully realized, makes for a uniquely presented film.

6

The Witch (2016)

All Eggers’ Films Are Atmospheric Masterpieces

Taking place in Puritan New England back in the 1600s, The Witch is a creeping horror film that takes its time in setting up its scares. It makes it clear that there is some powerful evil lingering in the dark forests, and the film revels in revealing that force in full. When the characters begin to turn on each other, it feels like the film has finally reached its natural breaking point.

Instead of relying on jumpscares and cheap tricks to frighten the viewer, The Witch builds up the dangerous forest and the supposed witch that resides within it. There is something more terrifying in the darkness than could ever be achieved with short-lived scares, allowing the movie to stick with the viewer for longer. Like many of Eggers’ films, The Witch is a thoughtful watch that takes full advantage of the period it takes place in.

5

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

A Classic Sci-Fi Film Heavy On Dynamic Imagery

Considered to be one of Stanley Kubrick’s masterpieces, and a benchmark for its genre, 2001: A Space Odyssey is a dynamic science fiction adventure that follows an expedition of a group of astronauts meant to investigate an alien monolith. They do so with the help of a supercomputer named HAL 9000. However, this supercomputer begins to cause trouble for the astronauts on this expedition, slowly adding tension to the film.

The visuals included in the film are jaw-dropping, especially for its time of release in the ’60s. 2001: A Space Odyssey is quite abstract compared to many science fiction films, allowing the viewer to come away with what they want from the story. This powerful self-directed storytelling is only amplified by the atmospheric visuals and stunning scene work, making these environments feel real.

4

The Shape of Water (2017)

Guillermo del Toro Is A Master Of Crafting Beautiful Worlds

While working in a top-secret facility in a fictionalized 1960s Maryland, a mute woman named Elisa comes into contact with a fascinating test subject who is a human-amphibian hybrid. The two quickly build a strong bond, and when she realizes that he is being abused by the scientists who are studying him, she stages his escape. The love story that develops between these two in The Shape of Water completely strays away from the traditional romance film.

Fueled by director Guillermo del Toro’s impeccable and instantly recognizable cinematic style, The Shape of Water lulls the viewer into a world painted in bright, aquatic colors. The romance is immediately explosive, built on a foundation of real affection between two characters from seemingly different worlds. It isn’t too fast-paced, but the stakes are visceral, shown by the villain in bloody detail.

3

The Lobster (2015)

This Alternate Universe Is Equal Parts Satire & Unsettling Comedy

The satirical comedy film The Lobster imagines a world in which romantic relationships are seen as not only vital but necessary. After his wife leaves him, David is enrolled in a program at a H๏τel that is meant to help him find a romantic partner. If he fails to connect with someone, he will be turned into an animal, with David hoping that they will turn him into a lobster if all else goes wrong.

Visually stunning with writing that rivals some of the best, The Lobster stands in as an allegory for modern dating and the whirlwind of options a person is presented with. There are always societal pressures to be with someone, and this is taken to the extreme in The Lobster. It is easy to get swept up in the world the film portrays, especially when new parts are always being revealed.

2

Blade Runner (1982)

The Perfect Movie To Watch On A Rainy Night In

Hunting down a replicant, a robot that is so human-like that it is near impossible to distinguish them, should be impossible. However, Rick Deckard finds himself with the difficult task of doing just that, falling into a quest that challenges him on what it truly means to be human. As the movie progresses, he makes his way through the rain-soaked streets in a cyberpunk adventure filled with mystery and ethereal neon lights.

The atmosphere that is built up in Blade Runner is immediately eye-catching, imagining a future that doesn’t look too dissimilar to the reality humanity currently lives in. The city is still just as dynamic, in a setting that is soaked with rain and imagined in dark colors. It is the perfect film for a rainy night inside, inviting the viewer to question their own notions of humanity and a life lived well.

1

The Green Knight (2021)

The Unique Cinematography Brings The Film To Life

Based on the Arthurian text “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight,” The Green Knight details the life of a knight named Gawain, nephew of King Arthur himself. When a mysterious earthen figure known as the Green Knight comes to the kingdom on Christmas Day, Gawain takes up the challenge of accepting his offer of a game. However, when Gawain lops his head off, the Green Knight gets back up and says the same will come to Gawain in a year’s time.

The cinematography of The Green Knight is beautifully done, told in rich colors that make the world feel like something out of a storybook. Though it takes a moment for the plot to get going, this is done to fully build up the interesting locales that Gawain must traverse to find the Green Knight once again. The film is gorgeous to watch, creating something that is truly an artistic piece.