More than a typical horror, this Guillermo del Toro-produced film explores human and supernatural connections with depth and dread You may be just about recovering from your Halloween hangover but we at OTTplay believe in letting the chills flow throughout the year. So in today’s episode of Lost & Found, we’re delving into a rare horror film that had all the ingredients of a spine-tingler but didn’t get the attention it so rightfully deserved. We’re talking about Guillermo del Toro’s...

Those who love a good creature movie have very particular expectations. Having watched prehistoric reptiles wrestle like heavyweight champions and occasionally, even take on their fictional Japanese cousins who breathe fire, let’s just say, our sensibilities have been trained to expect the unexpected and some more. It’s like being wowed beyond imagination and blown to bits is the very least one would hope to take away from this experience. But in today’s episode of Lost and Found, we’re...

Why The Matador is Pierce Brosnan’s best-kept secret and why you need to watch it! Chance encounters sometimes lead to unimaginably delightful adventures. Particularly in films. From those strategically timed meet cutes in romcoms to diametrically opposite personalities being saddled together in complex circumstances. If this vague intro hasn’t triggered your imagination to guess which film we’re alluding to… let’s make your life easier and just tell you. In today’s episode of Lost and...

Kurt Russell-Matt Dillon’s underrated gem will make you fall in love with heist movies Russell plays a suave, larger-than-life criminal in this underrated heist movie When one thinks of heists movies, critically-acclaimed films such as Reservoir Dogs and Dog Day Afternoon or popular blockbusters such as Ocean’s Eleven or Now You See Me spring to mind. But there are forgotten heist movies that didn’t get their due and deserve to be revisited. In today’s episode of Lost and Found, we’re...

Churni Ganguly plays an author in exile as her work threatens the political establishment in Nirbashito . It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that we live in extremely divisive times. The level of intolerance and rejection of ideas and ideologies that don’t concur with our own has to be unprecedented. This prompts us to revisit this lesser-known and perhaps, underrated Bengali film Nirbashito. It’s one of those rare films that strikes a delicate balance between artistic storytelling...

This 2011 biopic on FBI’s first director didn’t get the attention and admiration it deserved When asked to recall Leonardo DiCaprio’s most celebrated works, the list of movies that pop into our mind largely include his iconic blockbusters. But Scorcese’s poster boy has also featured in some films that didn’t get the attention, adulation and respect that they truly deserved. So, in today’s episode of Lost and Found, we’re revisiting one such film that may have slipped through the cracks...

Hands of Stone depicts the gritty, multifaceted life of Panamanian boxer Roberto Durán Sports films often follow a familiar playbook, sticking to tropes and clichés: the underdog triumphs, the fall from grace, and the dramatic comeback in the climax. From Rocky to Remember the Titans, these films tend to focus on predictable narratives of resilience and redemption. While these formulaic elements can be inspiring, they sometimes strip away the complexity of real-life sports stories.

Goth horror is a unique genre. A delicious blend that has the ability to transport audiences to a fantasy world where everything is possible and the laws of the world as we know it don’t always apply. In today’s episode of Lost and Found, we’re delving into one such film that’s equal parts spine-chilling and visually stunning – Crimson Peak. Yes, the 2015 gothic horror romance from the ever-imaginative mind of Guillermo del Toro. Now, if you haven’t seen it yet, you’re in for a treat. So...

Revisit Breaking Away, a 1979 classic that slipped off the radar and is now streaming on Disney+Hotstar The most iconic sports movies follow a certain framework. They’re packed with winning moments and crushing losses. They tuck in nuggets of wisdom about the relentless spirit that drives some to go beyond the limits of human potential to achieve incredible glory. But there are also some that stray away from convention and try to weave a more emotional and sensitive narrative that touches...

Two for the Money: Revisit this gripping drama of ambition and deceit starring Al Pacino and Matthew McConaughey. Very often we come across films that seem to be familiar for indefinite reasons. There’s just something relatable if not reminiscent about their construct or telling that pulls us in and keeps us glued even though the end seems only too predictable. But to be honest, sometimes, predictable can also be comforting and perhaps, is just what it takes to hit the spot. The 2005 drama,...

The archetypes of legendary pairs such as Sherlock Holmes and his reliable friend and colleague Dr Watson is a trope that police procedurals have often adopted to great effect – an eccentric genius detective with heightened observational skills and his more level-headed friend and ally who sometimes can’t spot the obvious. The USA network TV series Psych, created by Steve Frank, ran for eight successful seasons between 2006 and 2014 and borrowed elements from the iconic detective duo created...

The 2004 noir mystery series Veronica Mars is not a conventional production that is often associated with its genre. Helmed by Rob Thomas, the series is a satire of class disparity which is explored within the confines of a high school. The titular character Veronica Mars is a popular girl at high school who becomes a detective after the death of her best friend. Kristen Bell slips into the complex role of Veronica, an intelligent young woman who has to navigate through the various...

This sci-fi comedy starring The X Files star David Duchovny parodies prehistoric creature films. Evolution is a 2001 comedy that slipped through the cracks but deserves to be rediscovered

The 1993 film Groundhog Day, starring Bill Murray is a comedy-drama that inspired countless films over the years. From Tom Cruise’s sci-fi action film Edge of Tomorrow, the slasher horror Happy Death Day, and the romantic comedy Palm Springs, Groundhog Day’s time loop trope has been reimagined across multiple genres.

Justice League is widely regarded as one of the greatest American animated shows of all time, a sharp contrast to the ill-fated 2017 film adaptation which was dismissed by fans and critics alike at the time of release. The animated series, although originally intended for children, features mature socio-political themes focusing on freewill, imperialism, authoritarianism, and class disparity. It also explored various scientific theories such as ‘wormholes’ in some of the episodes that focused...

Hollywood appears to have moved on from the conventional war action genre in recent years. There are exceptions of course, like Tom Cruise’s 2022 blockbuster Top Gun: Maverick, where a film offers pure unbridled entertainment loaded with slick action sequences and stunning visuals. For today’s Lost and Found podcast, we take a look at the 2001 film Behind Enemy Lines, a cult classic action film set against the backdrop of an Eastern European conflict. The film stars Owen Wilson and Gene...

Hollywood in the ‘90s frequently offered captivating gems that held our attention and interest from start to finish. Some may knock them for being a tad exaggerated and for leaning on set pieces and plot devices. But films such as Tremors, Army of Darkness, and the iconic Romy and Michele's High School Reunion are classics that have earned a cult following over the years. The ‘90s investigative thriller The Bone Collector surely fits the bill as a 90s classic and it’s our Lost and Found for...

Denis Villeneuve has firmly established himself as one of the best filmmakers of this era. His artistry in editing and framing shots and reliance on stellar sound design to enhance storytelling place him on a pedestal reserved for the best auteurs in cinema history. While his recent films have been big-budget productions such as Blade Runner 2049, Arrival, and Dune, Villeneuve has also helmed indie projects that are just as compelling as those that garnered him mainstream recognition. One...

Serial killer movies follow a typical approach. Furnishing gruesome murders executed in cold blood, they try to depict sociopaths as those who just can’t help themselves when presented with an opportunity. To make matters even more horrific, these slayings are often committed without any remorse. Luckily, these crazed killers usually have an eye for a particular kind of victim which eventually helps narrow down their profile. But there are films where these serial killers don’t stick to a...

Filmmaker Ridley Scott has produced timeless classics over the years. Films such as Alien, Blade Runner, Kingdom of Heaven, Gladiator, and Black Hawk Down remain widely regarded as some of his best films. However, his relatively lesser-known 1991 adventure road dramedy Thelma & Louise, deserves to be placed on the same pedestal as the aforementioned titles. It is therefore our pick for this episode of Lost and Found.

The hype surrounding The Flash leading up to its release was nothing short of monumental. There were even reports of early special screenings drawing significant praise from fans, filmmakers, and critics. However, the film underperformed at the box office, riddled with jarringly poor VFX and a disappointing third act. The film’s production itself was marred by controversies, from writers and directors leaving to lead star Ezra Miller’s altercations with the law on more than a few occasions.

Films that revolve around the lives of movie stars are typical. Giving us a peek into their personal lives, they hope to allow audiences a chance to get to know them beyond the veil of celebrity and through a candid lens. But there are films that also delve into their fragile existence and their inability to accept their forced obscurity when they fade from the limelight following decades of stardom. Aparna Sen’s Iti Mrinalini is one such poignant film and it’s our Lost and Found for today.

The 2000s can be described as the most unremarkable decade in Malayalam cinema. A slew of over-the-top films with problematic themes passed for flag bearers of the industry. But then there were a few films that bucked this trend such as Kazcha, Thanmatra, and the 2003 Sathyan Anthikad film Manassinakkare.

Bhramaram: Even before Drishyam, here’s a Mohanlal mystery about a deceptive man with a shady past Malayalam cinema’s most prolific actor and undisputed superstar, Mohanlal has featured in a fair share of tragedies over the years. Most notably, in films such as Thalavattam, Ennishtam Ninnishtam, Kireedam, Unnikale Oru Kadha Parayam, Moonam Pakkam, and Thanmathra. Filmmaker Blessy’s Thanmathra, which released in 2005, won several awards for the filmmaker and the film’s lead star Mohanlal.