Nicolas Cage’s 10 Best Straight-to-Video Movies

Although it may seem like straight-to-video movies signaled a low point in the career of Nicolas CageOn closer inspection, they included some of the actor’s best roles in recent years. While Cage began his career in the 1980s and in the 1990s became an Oscar-winning actor and one of the biggest action stars in the world, in the years since, he has also Took many lower budget, lesser known, equal to. -Video movies. However, the shift to more low-key productions did not come at the expense of good performances, as Cage continued to give his all to every role he took on. Played.

Every Nicolas Cage movie has something unique to offer because he is a performer who never phones it in and always tries to find a unique way to portray his characters. Although some of his direct-to-video action movies are full of genre tropes and clichés, they are usually still fun-filled spectacles that keep viewers enthralled throughout. Some of Cage’s VOD movies even constituted his best rolesHow he pushed her persona even further and shocked audiences with the intensity of his parts in satirical black comedies and disturbing psychedelic horrors.

10

Arsenal (2017)

Nicolas Cage as Eddie King

The direct-to-video action thriller Arsenal Featuring Nicolas Cage as the moustache-clad, wig-wearing sleazeball mobster Eddie King, who demands $350,000 to free the kidnapped brother of the movie’s hero, JP Lindel (Adrian Grenier.) Arsenal Was panned by critics who called it one of Cage’s worst cases of overacting, those looking for an enjoyable, albeit generic, action movie with an over-the-top performance should look no further. Although it is that Arsenalwhich was also published under the title South Puriwas packed with tropes and clichés, it was also a lot of fun.

Cage brought his typical manic energy to ArsenalAnd even though he only had a supporting role, he really stole every scene he was in. With John Cusack also appearing in the supporting role as Detective Sal, Arsenal featured just enough star power to pique the interest of viewers who might not otherwise check out Cage’s lesser-known VOD work. Arsenal Won’t break down any cinematic boundaries, but as a mindless action movie spectacle, it more than delivers.

9

USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage (2016)

Nicolas Cage as Captain Charles B. McVeigh III

Nicolas Cage brought his unique energy to the true story of a shipwreck during the closing stages of World War II in USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage. As one of the best naval war movies, this story depicts the greatest loss of life from a single US ship. it. Naval history, with more than 800 fatalities and just over 300 survivors (via CBS.) Although the special effects leave a lot to be desired, USS Indianapolis was a highly ambitious project considering the limited budgets of direct-to-video movies.

The true story of USS Indianapolis was a harrowing moment in World War II, and Cage did an excellent job of imbuing Captain Charles McVeigh with a real sense of humanity. While the film may have leaned too heavily into disaster movie tropes, it was still a compelling look at a lesser-known moment in US cinema. it. Naval history. If the fictional elements and unnecessary romantic subplots were removed and USS Indianapolis was more streamlined, then it could have been a truly great film.

8

Army of One (2016)

Nicolas Cage as Gary Brooks Faulkner

If Army of one If it wasn’t based on a true story, viewers would probably have criticized it as totally unbelievable. Starring Nicolas Cage as Gary Brooks Faulker, Army of one Tells the story of a man who believed he was on a God-sent mission to capture Osama bin Laden in Pakistan. With Russell Brand as God and Cage as a troubled unemployed handyman, the outrageous story became a compelling catalog of belief, faith and finding one’s life’s purpose.

Although Nicolas Cage primarily made a name for himself in action movies and unusual psychological films, Army of one Highlight his skill as a comic performer. With a willingness to fully commit to his roles, Cage helped humanize Faulkner and allowed audiences to get into the mind of a man determined to single-handedly take on the al-Qaeda founder.. Faulkner was a really hard role for an actor to pull off, though Army of one Had his issues, Cage was fascinating and funny throughout.

7

Running with the Devil (2019)

Nicolas Cage as The Cook

With the dynamic duo of Nicolas Cage and Laurence Fishbourne at the helm, Running with the Devil was a crime thriller that never got enough love. With Cage as the look and Fishburne as the man, the story of two men on a mission to trace the supply train of cocaine shipments and identify at which point they are hijacked and overtaken. As a behind-the-scenes look at the illicit world of drug trafficking, Running with the Devil Recaptured the energy of earlier Cage classics like Lord of War.

With strong characters and an interesting story, Running with the Devil Highlights the unethical ways in which cocaine was sourced and the criminal behavior that takes place before it eventually finds its way to the West. Watching Cage traverse worlds of greed, betrayal and extreme danger in environments where loyalty is rare and life is cheap has always been a treat. Running with the Devil Doesn’t reach the heights of Cage’s best theatrical crime movies, but for a VOD release, it was an enjoyable viewing.

6

A Score to Settle (2019)

Nicolas Cage as Frank Carver

Nicolas Cage is no stranger to revenge movies these days, like his role in A score to settle Sure proved. The thriller saw Cage play an ex-criminal convicted of a crime he didn’t commit. In return for $450,000 and the promise that his son Joey will be looked after. However, what was supposed to be six years in prison turned into a life sentence, and after 19 years incarcerated, he is determined to make up for lost time and settle old scores.

With Cage at the helm, the bland and pulpy material of A score to settle was elevated to truly impressive levels, as his strong characterization of Frank Carver made for riveting viewing. With over-the-top violence and a sentimental father-son relationship at its heart, A score to settle Knowing that for an action movie to work on an emotional level, there has to be some vulnerability at its heart. While there were some pacing issues throughout, when A score to settle was at its best, it was a truly compelling movie.

5

The Trust (2016)

Nicolas Cage as Lieutenant Jim Stone

Although The Trust Won’t go down in history as an all-time heist movie classic, it was a surprisingly entertaining video-on-demand release that featured strong performances from Nicolas Cage and Elijah Wood. As two police officers working in the Evidence Management Unit of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, workplace and money troubles lead them to investigate a mysterious bank vault that could solve their financial woes. With a surprisingly funny performance from Cage, the chemistry between him and Wood made this one of his better late-career action movies.

The Trust stood out among Cage’s VOD filmography As it has a compelling story, good pacing and a stellar soundtrack that all complimented each other perfectly. Although the ending may be his weakest point, The Trust Was an enjoyable film packed with twists and turns. While The Trust It began as a violent subversion of neo-noir tropes, as it progressed, it steadily darkened and even echoed aspects of Cage’s best roles, such as in Werner Herzog’s Bad Lieutenant: Port of call New Orleans from 2009.

4

The Frozen Ground (2013)

Nicolas Cage as Jack Halcombe

The frozen ground was a thriller based on the crimes of real-life Alaskan serial killer Robert Hansen that featured Nicolas Cage as state trooper Jack Halcombe. With a star-studded cast that also included John Cusack, Vanessa Hudgens and 50 Cent, contemporary reviews criticized its predictable procedural nature while praising Cage’s extraordinary performance. While The frozen ground It gradually set itself apart from other serial killer-based thrillers, it was so well executed and featured such strong performances that it was hard not to be swept up by its story.

Although Cage’s performance was a high point of The frozen groundCusack also earned praise for his chilling portrayal of Hansen and the believable way he depicted the upstanding community member turned terrifying serial killer. With slow-building tension and a somber atmosphere, The frozen ground was an impressively assured video-on-demand film that could surprise viewers with its effectiveness. Although Cage was known for often going overboard in his characterizations, his subtle performance here showed a different side of his skills.

3

Willy’s Wonderland (2021)

Nicolas Cage as the janitor

Willy’s Wonderland was not originally intended as a direct-to-video movie, but the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted its worldwide theatrical release (via Forbes). instead, Willy’s Wonderlandwhich told the story of a carnival janitor surviving against deadly waves of demonic animatronics, received a simultaneous limited theatrical and VOD release. The haphazard schedule meant that the film unfortunately flew under the radar as it is truly one of Cage’s most interesting and over the top of all his VOD movies.

With a firm commitment to his plot around the carnival animatronics come to life, Willy’s Wonderland Featuring a non-stop onslaught of mechanical enemies As Cage fought his way through the constant onslaught. Although the concept lends itself to some tongue-in-cheek campy humor, Willy’s Wonderland Everything played perfectly, giving the film an intense and terrifying atmosphere. With Cage himself as a producer on the film, it is clear that he has a ball fighting against the murderous creatures that are possessed by the souls of cannibalistic killers.

2

Mom and Dad (2017)

Nicolas Cage as Brent Ryan

Mom and Dad was a thrilling black comedy that showcased Nicolas Cage’s talent for embodying the darkest secrets buried beneath the surface of everyday life. As a picture of a town overtaken by mass hysteria that led to parents trying to kill their own children, Cage played the tired father, Brent Ryan, while Selma Blair was the murderous mother. The dark history gave Cage a chance to really let loose And showcase that he’s earned such a strong reputation for playing unhinged and deranged characters.

Mom and Dad Harkening back to past exploitation horror movies, its strong concept and over-the-top nature keep viewers on the edge of their seats. As a knowing and tongue-in-cheek exploration of the woes of responsibility and the desire to break free from child-rearing constraints, Mom and Dad Hilarious unpacked parenting by effective gore. Mom and Dad They were clever and shocking, and although it had a limited theatrical run, it bombed at the box office and received most of its viewers as a VOD release.

1

Mandy (2018)

Nicolas Cage as Red Miller

Nicolas Cage delivered one of the best performances of his career in this psychedelic horror MandyA movie that received several brief advanced theatrical screenings before being released on VOD (via Cut film.) With Cage was the lumberjack Red Miller, a man whose secluded life in the woods is destroyed after a hippie cult murders his girlfriend, all hell breaks loose as he embarks on a surreal mission of ​​revenge and vengeance. Mandy Pushed the boundaries of even Cage’s outrageous style and was some of the most unhinged acting in his varied career.

Mandy was a movie packed with deep emotion as Cage delivered a truly wrenching performance as a broken man with nothing left to lose. with terrifying and surreal elements, Mandy Was not for the faint of heart and represented a true high point in Cage’s VOD career and proved that even after several decades in Hollywood he still has the power to shock and surprise viewers. Mandy was both terrible and beautiful and signaled a high point in the latter part of Nicolas Cage Wildly varied and acclaimed career.

Source: CBS, Forbes, Cut film