Films like Drowning by Numbers.

Drowning by Numbers (1988) reads as Sombre, measured, measured drama / art, surreal in texture. Nihilistic, intimate, cold. Every film below is ranked by distance across the same twelve hand-scored axes — with what it keeps, and where it walks away. Not a genre dump.

Barton Fink (1991) poster
1. Barton Fink1991

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the patient, unhurried pace — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

A Zed & Two Noughts (1985) poster
2. A Zed & Two Noughts1985

Keeps the unmistakable directorial hand and the strange, dreamlike logic — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Casanova (1976) (1976) poster
3. Casanova1976

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the patient, unhurried pace — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

8½ Women (1999) poster
4. 8½ Women1999

Keeps the patient, unhurried pace and the unmistakable directorial hand; trades toward a cold, bleak undertow.

That Obscure Object of Desire (1977) poster
5. That Obscure Object of Desire1977

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the unmistakable directorial hand — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

The Fourth Man (1983) (1983) poster
6. The Fourth Man1983

Keeps the unmistakable directorial hand and the strange, dreamlike logic — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

First Name: Carmen (1983) poster
7. First Name: Carmen1983

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the patient, unhurried pace; trades toward a bone-dry seriousness.

The Lord's Lantern in Budapest (1999) poster
8. The Lord's Lantern in Budapest1999

Keeps the unmistakable directorial hand and the strange, dreamlike logic; trades toward a cold, bleak undertow.

The Adjuster (1991) poster
9. The Adjuster1991

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the patient, unhurried pace; trades toward a bone-dry seriousness.

God's Comedy (1995) poster
10. God's Comedy1995

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the unmistakable directorial hand; trades toward a patient, unhurried pace.

Hands Up! (1981) poster
11. Hands Up!1981

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the unmistakable directorial hand; trades toward a bone-dry seriousness.

The Blind Director (1985) poster
12. The Blind Director1985

Keeps the unmistakable directorial hand and the strange, dreamlike logic; trades toward a patient, unhurried pace.

These are Drowning by Numbers’s neighbours — where are yours?

Rate five posters and the same twelve axes read you — then tonight’s pick comes from your own centre of taste.

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