20 Underrated Recent Movies You Might Have Missed

Sometimes a Taken-esque Dad Movie just hits the spot, especially when the Liam Neeson role is played by Emma Thompson of all folk.

Despite this alluring setup, Dead of Winter sadly came and went with barely a peep, no matter that it's a solidly entertaining, Fargo-flavoured rendition of an undeniably familiar plot.

Thompson is an absolute firecracker in the role of a grieving woman who accidentally interrupts the kidnapping of a teenage girl, forcing her to transform from downtrodden sad sack to ferocious Mama Bear.

Thompson is the obvious reason to watch Dead of Winter, but the film also affords a too-rare opportunity for the great Judy Greer to flex her villainous chops as one of the kidnappers.

There's nothing hugely original about this film, but there's something to be said for a modest project that executes exactly what it promises with firm skill and panache.

And so, it deserves far better than to be lumped in with all the low-rent "geezer teasers" it's surely rubbing algorithmic shoulders with on streaming services.