A History of Violence
2005USA★ 7.24 pt match
What ties these together is figuring out who you are. The world both films live in revolves around class and money. The feel is the same: bleak, cold and detached, slow burn, and escalating.
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer
2006GermanyLanguage: EnglishDirected by Tom Tykwer★ 7.4
Available in English: subtitled
Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, born in the stench of 18th century Paris, develops a superior olfactory sense, which he uses to create the world's finest perfumes. However, his work takes a dark turn as he tries to preserve scents in the search for the ultimate perfume.
Themes and style
Tone
bleakdark comedyhauntingsurrealmelancholiccold and detached
Pacing
slow burnmethodicalescalating
Story
pursuitunravelingjourney
Emotion
figuring out who you areloss of innocencelongingfeeling powerless
Themes
class and moneypovertyfamily wounds passed downold ways vs. new world
Feel
cerebralquietly hauntingdiscussion starterrewatchablegut punch
Violence
graphicWhere to watch
Hollywood films like Perfume: The Story of a Murderer
If Perfume: The Story of a Murderer hit you the right way, here are Hollywood films that share its DNA. Same emotional weight, same kind of stories, same kind of payoff.