FilmsShanghaiLike this

Films like Shanghai.

Shanghai (2012) reads as Sombre, kinetic, measured thriller / political, grounded in texture. Nihilistic, mid-stakes, measured. 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.

Talvar (2015) poster
1. Talvar2015

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the heightened unreality — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Spectre (2015) (2015) poster
2. Spectre2015

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the heightened unreality — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Aadukalam (2011) poster
3. Aadukalam2011

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the heightened unreality — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

The Cove (2009) poster
4. The Cove2009

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the heightened unreality — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Public Enemies (2009) (2009) poster
5. Public Enemies2009

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the heightened unreality; trades toward a patient, unhurried pace.

Trivisa (2016) poster
6. Trivisa2016

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the heightened unreality; trades toward a patient, unhurried pace.

Black Book (2006) (2006) poster
7. Black Book2006

Keeps the heightened unreality and the bone-dry seriousness — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Julia (2008) poster
8. Julia2008

Keeps the heightened unreality and the bone-dry seriousness; trades toward a patient, unhurried pace.

Chekka Chivantha Vaanam (2018) poster
9. Chekka Chivantha Vaanam2018

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the heightened unreality — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

The Traitor (2019) poster
10. The Traitor2019

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the heightened unreality — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Iraivi (2016) poster
11. Iraivi2016

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the heightened unreality — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

The Age of Shadows (2016) poster
12. The Age of Shadows2016

Keeps the heightened unreality and the bone-dry seriousness; trades toward a patient, unhurried pace.

These are Shanghai’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.

Find my film for tonight — 60 sec →