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It's not surprising that a lot of foreign language films and documentaries make this list, and my number eight pick is the second of three non-English language films to make an appearance. But if audiences knew just how thrilling, captivating, and sexy The Housemaid was, my guess is they'd have been able to live with some subtitles. The Housemaid is a remake of a 1960s Korean classic, and the way it is updated to a modern setting is incredibly effective. Plus, it features four of the best performances of the year. I had never heard of any of the actors in the film, but Do-Yeon Jeon's frail sensitivity, Jung-Jae Lee's mesmerizing charisma, and especially Woo Seo's terrifying cruelty, do these fascinating and multi-dimensional characters justice. Sadly, sexy Korean thrillers don't get a lot of air time, as The Housemaid only took in $157,961 in the US.

I'm surprised that my number six film, Terri, is the highest grossing film on the list, making $655,802. The film is a slow, melancholy, oddly sweet look at an obese, miserable teenager trying to survive high school. It is likely that the film got what attention it did because of co-star John C. Reilly, who plays the charmingly awkward principal who befriends Terri as well as you'd expect. But what makes this film so powerful is the trio of younger actors who take up the bulk of the film's screen time. Joseph Wysocki is extraordinary, bringing so much sadness and a faint optimism to a very quiet role. His Terri is one of the most compelling, sympathetic protagonists of the year. Olivia Crocicchia does a superb job playing a popular girl recovering from a scandal, and Bridger Zadina multiple dimensions to his outrageous character as a shrimpy outcast who befriends Terri. Performances this good from such young actors are rare, and considerably elevate this beautiful film.

It is difficult to make a compelling documentary entirely comprised of found footage, but that is what Goran Olsson accomplishes with The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975, number six on my list. During the '60s and '70s there was an influx of Swedish filmmakers wandering around America recording footage. Almost accidentally they were able to record the racial conflict that embroiled New York after Martin Luther King Jr's assassination. Olsson found tons of footage of interviews and events led by figures such as Stokely Carmichael and Angela Davis, and was able to compile into a straightforward and simple story that even those who don't know much about the civil rights movement will be able to understand. The result is a fascinating and educational documentary that desperately needs to be seen by more people, as the film only grossed $273,749.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo advertised itself as “the feel bad movie of Christmas,” but I don't think any movie of the last year made me feel as bad as the fifth best overlooked film at the year, We Need to Talk about Kevin. This deeply disturbing, supremely uncomfortable movie is like watching the most amazing car crash of all time. It is captivating and strangely beautiful, but so incredibly upsetting in its portrayal of a woman dealing with the aftermath of a tragedy involving her son. Tilda Swinton gives by far the best performance of her career, and the way that she interacts with her son is painful to watch but totally gripping. I can understand why this movie only made $597,700, as it is not the kind that would appeal to mass audiences, but if you want to feel horrible about life, this is the film to watch.

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