Antichrist

Right now you can watch Antichrist in Australia on HBO Max, and in the US on MUBI and Kanopy — and it earns its twists rather than manufacturing them. The runtime earns every minute, with nothing here that feels like padding. A 7/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Willem Dafoe's performance alone is worth the time investment. Start it on HBO Max whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

There is a reason Antichrist keeps coming up in conversation. At its heart, Antichrist understands what makes crime drama work — character first, plot second. A grieving couple retreats to their cabin 'Eden' in the woods, hoping to repair their broken hearts and troubled marriage. But nature takes its course and things go from bad to worse. The writing gets a boost from Willem Dafoe and Charlotte Gainsbourg, who sell every scene they're in. Antichrist came out in 2009. What distinguishes the best crime dramas from the rest is whether the character work can carry scenes where the mystery takes a breath — Antichrist passes that test consistently. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

Viewers who think they have seen every crime drama tend to find Antichrist proves them wrong. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. A contained runtime means every scene is doing real work. Watch Willem Dafoe work — it is a masterclass in the genre. Few crime dramas earn their twists this consistently.