Another 20 Underrated Movies You Have To See

Found footage films are tough to get right. Since The Blair Witch Project, this medium has been used to varying degrees of success in many horror films. End of Watch is not a horror (at least, not in the conventional sense), but an action-packed and extremely bleak crime-drama directed by David Ayer.

Following LAPD officers Brian Taylor (Jake Gyllenhaal) and Mike Zavala (Michael Pena), End of Watch paints a vivid portrait of police officers who like to bend the rules but remain unwavering in their devotion to their job and their city. After they run into trouble with the Mexican cartel, both Taylor (who is recording their escapades for a college course) and Zavala find themselves face to face with their biggest challenge yet.

The action sequences involved are startling and realistic, the characters intensely and masterfully performed, and the sheer grit and darkness of many aspects of the picture make End of Watch one of the best police movies ever made.

Behind the scenes, both Gyllenhaal and Pena went through an intense five-month training regime to get ready for their roles and talked to numerous officers to get into character. Their commitment pays off and shows up in every scene they have, and not once does the film feel forced, cliched or over the top.

Instead, End of Watch is a masterpiece which demands to be watched, and won't let you down.