# Nominate a Direct to DVD/Video movie that was actually pretty good **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 26, 2015, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nominate-a-direct-to-dvd-video-movie-that-was-actually-pretty-good/735811 "2015-10-26T18:54:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2015, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nominate-a-direct-to-dvd-video-movie-that-was-actually-pretty-good/735811/1 "2015-10-26T18:54:13Z")
I kind of like these low budget or niche movies that come along. Here are some of my favorites: Down and Derby Employee of the Month Here is a [site](http://www.ign.com/articles/2011/04/14/the-25-best-movies-you-didnt-see-in-theaters) listing the top 25. The only ones I know: Frozen ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2015, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nominate-a-direct-to-dvd-video-movie-that-was-actually-pretty-good/735811/2 "2015-10-26T19:01:59Z")
I didn’t realize **Free Enterprise** was direct to DVD (It actually did have a theatrical release, I see, though it was extremely limited). In any case, it’s a pretty good movie, especially for the climactic scene, which _had_ to work or the movie would fail completely. But William Shatner [rapping Shakespeare](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbR68B0extA) is just plain wonderful ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2015, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nominate-a-direct-to-dvd-video-movie-that-was-actually-pretty-good/735811/3 "2015-10-26T20:18:36Z")
I think the only movie on that list that I saw was “Boondock Saints.” I didn’t love it, but it had its moments. I hadn’t realized that it was DTV. ---
**Author:** ![Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maggie_the_Ocelot)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2015, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nominate-a-direct-to-dvd-video-movie-that-was-actually-pretty-good/735811/4 "2015-10-26T20:34:51Z")
Sherlock Holmes (Asylum version). It’s freaking hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2015, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nominate-a-direct-to-dvd-video-movie-that-was-actually-pretty-good/735811/5 "2015-10-26T20:37:41Z")
Detention of the Dead was good if you’re looking for a fun zombie movie that doesn’t take itself too seriously. It’s not as good as Shaun of the Dead, but it’s well worth a watch. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2015, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nominate-a-direct-to-dvd-video-movie-that-was-actually-pretty-good/735811/6 "2015-10-26T20:40:25Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > I think the only movie on that list that I saw was “Boondock Saints.” I didn’t love it, but it had its moments. I hadn’t realized that it was DTV. It wasn’t exactly DTV. The linked article even says it had a brief theatrical run. ---
**Author:** ![Cumberdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@Cumberdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cumberdale)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2015, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nominate-a-direct-to-dvd-video-movie-that-was-actually-pretty-good/735811/7 "2015-10-26T20:45:33Z")
> [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](#): > > Sherlock Holmes (Asylum version). > > It’s freaking hilarious. I agree. It felt like a truer Holmes movie to me than the Robert Downey Jr. version. ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2015, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nominate-a-direct-to-dvd-video-movie-that-was-actually-pretty-good/735811/8 "2015-10-26T21:08:41Z")
Not sure if _The Pirates of Penzance_ counts - it was simultaneously released to theaters and to SelecTV (an early, over-the-air subscription TV service - think HBO without the cable). Theater owners boycotted it so it got only a very short, very limited release. Certainly wasn’t shown anywhere near where I was living at the time - I would have seen it since I loved the Broadway revival the movie was taken from. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2015, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nominate-a-direct-to-dvd-video-movie-that-was-actually-pretty-good/735811/9 "2015-10-26T21:22:47Z")
I recently reviewed _Cop Car_ [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=18705200&postcount=308). One of many such movies I’ve seen in recent years. Direct-to-video is kind of hard to define. Many films get a token showing in a couple theaters to satisfy contracts/unions. But I don’t think those should count as being theatrical releases. Some get a modest theatrical showing while also simultaneously going to video. (Theater owners hate that. The studio has to four-wall the theaters, own the chain or some such.) That’s more borderline. ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2015, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nominate-a-direct-to-dvd-video-movie-that-was-actually-pretty-good/735811/10 "2015-10-26T21:43:18Z")
[Hachi: A Dog’s Tale](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1028532/) was not released to theaters in the US, only UK and Japan, but is a major tear inducing film for any pet lover. ---
**Author:** ![Battle\_Pope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@Battle\_Pope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Battle_Pope)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2015, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nominate-a-direct-to-dvd-video-movie-that-was-actually-pretty-good/735811/11 "2015-10-26T22:18:03Z")
Good to see\* Dog Soldiers \*on the list. Fun movie with some great lines (“Sausages!”). \*Tremors 2: Aftershocks \* would be my nomination. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2015, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nominate-a-direct-to-dvd-video-movie-that-was-actually-pretty-good/735811/12 "2015-10-26T22:21:26Z")
> [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](#): > > Not sure if _The Pirates of Penzance_ counts - it was simultaneously released to theaters and to SelecTV (an early, over-the-air subscription TV service - think HBO without the cable). Theater owners boycotted it so it got only a very short, very limited release. Certainly wasn’t shown anywhere near where I was living at the time - I would have seen it since I loved the Broadway revival the movie was taken from. Yeah, my wife and I saw it in the theater. We had been waiting for it, and it got no ads in the paper at all, just a single line with showtimes for one place - the _Watt’s Mill_, a wretched little cracker-box of a theater. We loved it and waited for years for it to finally be released on DVD. We had the VHS, but it was one of the worst examples of pan’n’scan. I wish some big Gilbert & Sullivan fan would pay for a restoration of the movie, and (if they still exist) go back to the original soundtrack elements and record an orchestral version. _Pirates of Penzance_ and _The Princess Bride_ both suffer from cheesy synth soundtracks. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2015, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nominate-a-direct-to-dvd-video-movie-that-was-actually-pretty-good/735811/13 "2015-10-26T22:23:22Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > I kind of like these low budget or niche movies that come along. Here are some of my favorites: > > Down and Derby > Employee of the Month > > Here is a [site](http://www.ign.com/articles/2011/04/14/the-25-best-movies-you-didnt-see-in-theaters) listing the top 25. The only ones I know: > Frozen Lemme tackle that list first; I own quite a few of them: [Special](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0479162/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) is freaking awesome. Hilarious. I’ve watched it at least half a dozen times and find that it makes a great double feature with [Spaceman](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0177244/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2) (another DTV gem). [Splinter](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1031280/?ref_=nv_sr_2) is excellent; well worth the $4.99 I invested. This one was in a lot of pre-feature trailers on other DVD/BRs I bought and I finally bought a copy. [Dog Soldiers](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0280609/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) was pretty good, but I’ve only watched it once. [Hobo With A Shotgun](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1640459/?ref_=nv_sr_1) is fantastic; tons of fun. [Bronson](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1172570/?ref_=nv_sr_1) is amazing. Watch this one back-to-back with [Chopper](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0221073/) if you can. [Timecrimes](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0480669/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) is better than it looks at first glance and is worth watching several times. Okay, that’s the ones from that list that I own. * * * [Boiler Room](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0181984/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) is great. If this movie had been made in 1976 it would have been a huge hit. Excellent depiction of complex people with complex relationships. Giovanni Ribisi is great, but it’s the terrific performance from Vin Diesel that will make most people say “holy shit; he can act”. ---
**Author:** ![DinoR](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dinor/32/2821_2.png) [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2015, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nominate-a-direct-to-dvd-video-movie-that-was-actually-pretty-good/735811/14 "2015-10-26T23:07:39Z")
[Abraham Lincoln vs Zombies](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2246549/) - it’s an extremely low budget zombie movie with just a touch of camp. It’s actually pretty crappy It was a fun, good kind of crappy though. You’ll either enjoy it or question my sanity at being able to call it good. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2015, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nominate-a-direct-to-dvd-video-movie-that-was-actually-pretty-good/735811/15 "2015-10-26T23:25:47Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > [Boiler Room](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0181984/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) is great. If this movie had been made in 1976 it would have been a huge hit. Excellent depiction of complex people with complex relationships. Giovanni Ribisi is great, but it’s the terrific performance from Vin Diesel that will make most people say “holy shit; he can act”. I saw that one in the theater too, mostly because I knew Vin Diesel could act. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2015, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nominate-a-direct-to-dvd-video-movie-that-was-actually-pretty-good/735811/16 "2015-10-26T23:39:52Z")
Not on the list, but _The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit_, with everyone from Joe Mantegna to Edward James Olmos to Sid Caesar to Esai Morales, was pretty good. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nominate-a-direct-to-dvd-video-movie-that-was-actually-pretty-good/735811/17 "2015-10-27T00:10:20Z")
Hobo with a Shotgun was a fun movie. Boondocks Saints was a very good movie, the sequel not so much. I don’t know if it was direct to video but I really liked Troll Hunter. After a slow start it gets going, it’ a well done parody that stands up in it’s own right. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nominate-a-direct-to-dvd-video-movie-that-was-actually-pretty-good/735811/18 "2015-10-27T00:27:24Z")
From that list, I’ve seen Hobo With A Shotgun (in the theatre), Defendor and Black Dynamite. I liked them all. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nominate-a-direct-to-dvd-video-movie-that-was-actually-pretty-good/735811/19 "2015-10-27T00:40:54Z")
I have seen Frozen (actually because someone on this board mentioned it recently). It was definitely entertaining. Free Enterprise is indeed awesome and I would agree with the list maker that many of the the DC Animated movies are really good. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nominate-a-direct-to-dvd-video-movie-that-was-actually-pretty-good/735811/20 "2015-10-27T00:51:20Z")
Just from the list: Frozen was one of the stupidest “horror” films I have seen. The individual moments weren’t so bad, but it was a mix of idiotic characters and implausible scenarios. Interstate 60 was a wonderfully quirky film that most people haven’t seen. Black Dynamite is terrific, and now has a TV show based on it. Boondock Saints was not direct to video, but whatever. Definitely a film that gained its cult status due to DVD and word of mouth, but then so did Fight Club and that was in theaters. Troll 2 is uhh… Troll 2. Must-see, but no, it’s not good. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nominate-a-direct-to-dvd-video-movie-that-was-actually-pretty-good/735811.md?page=2)