In the vast ocean of Netflix offerings, there are gems, there are duds, and then there’s November Criminals, which has currently risen through the ranks to be in the top ten.
Defying the odds, this low-budget production starring Chloë Grace Moretz, Ansel Elgort, Catherine Keener, and David Strathairn has clawed its way into the top ten lists of multiple countries, including Netherlands, Ireland, and the UK, where it is currently nestled in the tenth spot.
Directed by Sacha Gervasi and adapted from Sam Munson’s novel, this crime drama follows Addison Schacht (played by Ansel Elgort), a high school senior delving into the underworld of Washington, DC, after the murder of his classmate.
Chloë Grace Moretz, known for her roles in Kick-Ass and Carrie, plays Phoebe, Addison’s friend and romantic interest. When a mutual friend dies in a random shootout, they take it upon themselves to investigate what happened as multiple rumours float around.
Critics haven’t been kind to November Criminals. However, this hasn’t deterred Netflix viewers from diving in. Owen Gleiberman of Variety had a whole diss track as a review as they wrote, “Ansel Elgort and Chloë Grace Moretz star in a high-school homicide thriller that looks like an actual movie. But appearances can be deceiving.” Wrapping it with, “November Criminals is almost a fragment — less a B-movie than a B-anecdote.”
Perhaps it’s the draw of witnessing a cinematic trainwreck or the curiosity to uncover hidden gems starring their acting favs that propels audiences to hit play. But instead of trying to figure out the psyche of the audiences or why this film is trending on the Netflix top ten charts in as many as nine countries, maybe you can check out what the fuss is all about yourself (or not, no pressure).
You can watch November Criminals on Netflix and catch the trailer here:
