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Some filmmakers, you watch for pure fun. And then there is Quentin Tarantino, the kind of director that you study, quote and spend hours arguing about with fellow cinephiles. With him, there is a watch, a rewatch, and then comes the stage where the dialogues live in your head rent-free. He is one of those auteurs whose name is recognised everywhere, crossing linguistic and cultural barriers. His films do not just exist but occupy an entire cinematic universe filled with twists, true views and perfectly written conversations.

Tarantino is not just the master of filmmaking, but the characters he wrote are so powerful and vivid that they make them almost impossible to forget. They are familiar yet unforgettable, thanks to the super-specific detailing he does in every line of the film.

When it comes to his filmography, which spans timelines, genres, and innumerable stages of chaos, here we are with two cult picks. These two classics are none other than Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction. Listed amongst the director’s early work, these two classics show the rawness of 1990s retro cinema, and yet are so smart that you keep on revisiting them more times than your grandma. Sadly, both films have vanished from Netflix, and honestly, it is a huge loss.

For starters, Reservoir Dogs is not an easy watch. The film has been categorised as hypermasculine by a lot of viewers over the years. But in all honesty, the movie is more about tension than action. The structure and the dialogue delivery are tight and sharp, and the violence is gruesome. Although it was the director’s debut feature, it punched the audience right in the face just to observe the reaction. With this film, Tarantino made a clear announcement: he is not here to impress everyone but rather to make a statement.

On the other hand, Pulp Fiction, his next act, is the one after which he became a pop culture phenomenon. Whatever the filmmaker hinted at in Reservoir Dogs was delivered with a flair in Pulp Fiction. Conversations in the film feel like they are more important than the plot, and timelines fold in on themselves. The film is slick, violent, and funny at the same time. It is a masterpiece where nothing seems to resolve, and yet it feels iconic from start to end.

The main question arises: What makes these two films a perfect double bill? The answer is not just the tone and style, but blood. In his words, “There’s the realer than real universe, alright, and all the characters inhabit that one.” He indicates through that the connection between the characters in both films. Vic Vega from Reservoir Dogs is the brother of Vincent Vega from Pulp Fiction. Needless to say, both are chaotic criminals who bring tension in any room just by existing.

Watching these films back-to-back helps you understand the loyalty and honour codes better. These films also show you the rawness of Tarantino before he wrote his iconic stylised genre mashups like Kill Bill.

So Netflix, if you are reading this, please bring these masterpieces back. The streaming world needs more Vics and Vincents. Let’s give the director’s fans yet another chance to plan a Tarantino night, now that they have the perfect reason to watch these two masterpieces.