Under the radar can mean different things to different people. I certainly don’t want to presume that I know about more movies than you. I don’t know you! But I’m around enough to see which movies are being advertised more than others, so this is my list of movies that I think you are less likely to know are coming this month than let’s say Mickey 17 or Snow White. Hopefully at least one of these makes your list of movies that you might end up seeing that you hadn’t known about before. This is listed in chronological order.
On Becoming a Guinea Fowl
What: A woman stumbles across the body of her uncle on an empty road in the middle of the night. As funeral proceedings begin, secrets of her middle-class Zambian family soon come to light.
Why: When I started this series, my main goal was to really bring attention to films that you really hadn’t heard of. That may seem obvious, but it’s not always easy. The other 4 films in this list have lots of elements that will feel familiar, whether it’s the actors or director attached to them. But I really want to try to make the effort to at least highlight something really out there. This is that entry for March.
On Becoming a Guinea Fowl debuted at Cannes last year, winning best director in its category, then did the festival circuit, garnering a perfect 100% tomatometer score from 46 reviews. It promises to be a great emotional journey of family and connection while also exposing you to a culture and environment that is likely very foreign to you. If you can immerse yourself in a great journey where you can learn at the same time, that’s the best case scenario in film. The more we learn about others and empathize, the closer we become to those we share the world with and to me, that’s an important value.
Who: All first time actors, which in itself is a cool aspect.
When: March 7, 2025
Where: Theaters
Black Bag
What: A spy-thriller from Steven Soderbergh where Michael Fassbender has to choose between his country and his partner when she is accused of treason.
Why: I love spy films so that alone gets me interested. And then you add in the great cast. Finally, the main draw for me is that Steven Soderbergh is directing this. I love him as a filmmaker and my favourite film so far this year is actually directed by him – you can see my thoughts on Presence here. He makes a lot of films, but they always have something about them that’s a little different and he just makes it work, whether it’s a horror, a heist film or a straight spy film.
Who: The film stars Cate Blanchett, Michael Fassbender, Marisa Abela, Tom Burke, Naomie Harris, Regé-Jean Page, and Pierce Brosnan.
When: March 14, 2025
Where: Theaters
A Working Man
What: An action movie made by David Ayer (The Beekeeper), co-written by Sylvester Stallone and starring Jason Statham.
Why: It’s a Jason Statham movie. That’s literally it. You’re either in when you hear that or you’re out. I don’t have anything else to really tell you. Sometimes it’s just as simple as that.
Who: Jason. Statham.
When: March 28, 2025
Where: Theaters
The Woman in the Yard
What: It’s a psychological horror about a woman in black that appears on a family’s front lawn and delivers a chilling warning. No one knows where she came from, what she wants, or when she will leave.
Why: Honestly, the trailer alone piqued my interest. I think if you like psychological horrors with unsettling imagery, this will be for you. Although I’m not a traditional horror fan, this genre of “prestige horror” has really been my jam of late. Jaume Collet-Serra has been a little hit or miss in his movies, but he first broke out with a couple of horror films that I thought were pretty good. After a brief venture into bigger films to middling results, this could be a return to form by getting back to what worked for him.
Who: It doesn’t star any big names, but the current cast is headlined by Danielle Deadwyler, Okwui Okpokwasili, and Russell Hornsby.
When: March 28, 2025
Where: Theaters
Death of a Unicorn
What: This film is a comedy horror by A24 about a man and his teenage daughter that accidentally crash into a unicorn. When that unicorn is then exploited for its curative properties, they discover the deadly consequences of their actions. If you’ve seen the trailers, a lot more is given away, but that’s probably the best way to give you the plot while still letting it remain somewhat vague before you go in.
Why: Although A24 has become less consistent with the quality of their films, they still for the most part have more hits than misses. On top of that, the great cast for a comedy like this seem to be a perfect marriage. This is the type of movie that could hit hard just as likely as it could fall flat, but sometimes those are the most interesting movies to go into.
Who: The film stars Paul Rudd, Jenna Ortega, Will Poulter, Téa Leoni, and Richard E. Grant.
When: March 28, 2025
Where: Theaters
