What's Streaming: 'Snowpiercer' Starring Chris Evans and Tilda Swinton (Review)

Tired of all those feel-good movies with happy endings like "Schindler's List" and "Requiem for a Dream?" Then do we have the movie for you.

"Snowpiercer" is this year's underground hit; few people have heard of it, but almost everyone who has agrees that it's one of the best movies of 2014. It's also available to stream online (just $7.99 on Amazon Instant).

There's just one catch: It's really, incredibly sad and dark and horrifying. But, you know, in a good way.

Here's the premise: It's roughly 50 years in the future, and the Earth is in a serious ice age due to human tampering with the planet's climate. All life is extinct except for the few survivors that managed to get on a perpetually running train with a self-contained ecosystem, the Snowpiercer.

Humanity's new home isn't without its flaws, mainly that it's divided into socioeconomic classes, with the poorest inhabitants living in the rear of the train in cramped conditions with little to no food. Curtis, a young leader among that downtrodden group (played by Chris Evans), aims to start a rebellion and take over the rest of the train.

What follows is a morality tale about human nature and what happens to people when resources are slim and classes are divided. South Korean director Joon-Ho Bong ("The Host") creates a believable but stylized world here, and reveals harsh truths about our characters' history and current reality in small bites that will make your stomach churn.

Joon-Ho Bong also manages to put together some impressive action set-pieces in the cramped space of the train. One in particular, about halfway through the film, is so tense that you might find yourself feeling more concerned for our heroes' safety than you've ever felt in a movie before.

There are moments of levity, despite all this: Tilda Swinton shines in a role that makes her throughly despicable yet still the butt of a few jokes, and Allison Pill has a delightfully weird cameo. But for the most part, prepare yourself for a soul-crushing experience. A movie this heavy will rarely come more recommended.