If everything were normal all the time, with nothing out of the ordinary happening, no wacky people on the train, no odd relative in your family, no middle-of-the-day happening to shake things up a little … life would be pretty damn boring. We have to admit that weirdness is essential (in doses) to our enjoyment and happiness. Lucky for us, Netflix is full of shows and movies that tip the meter. Not necessarily horror movies (although many of those could fit the category), but just plain weird. Things that make you go hmmmm…

My personal favorite, which unfortunately is not on Netflix, but should be – and I am only mentioning it so you understand what my definition of weird is – is a movie called Small Apartments. Do yourself a favor and find a way to stream this gem of a wacked-out film..

Now, of course, there are different levels of weird. The weird factor can also be movies that have a really odd story line or insane characters that drag you into their world. It can also be a film that blurs the line between what is real and what is not.

The Fringe series is an excellent example of weird. Not only does it bring in parallel universe theories, but also people and creatures that cause complete havoc in the natural world. The acting in this series is wonderful and convincing, and you won’t be able to watch only one season.

Similar to this idea with a sci-fi alien spin, The X-Files is a household name. All seasons can be found on Netflix right now, so if you haven’t gotten on board the cult-classic train, jump on. Not to mention other shows and movies often reference this series.

Stonehearst Asylum brings the notable acting skills of Ben Kingsley, Kate Beckinsale and Michael Caine to the forefront when a man falls in love with a woman living at a mental asylum and soon finds out things are not as they seem. It is hard to tell if the patients or the staff are more insane.

Every day we are faced with choices. What if we refused to make any? This is the premise behind Mr. Nobody, where a boy refuses to make choices and, as a result, lives more than one life simultaneously. Jared Leto really nailed his character portrayal here.

Christian Bale, who has played many odd characters in his career, has two I think are worthy of this list. In American Psycho, he is a man with a split personality – a well-to-do investment banker and a murderer. The Machinist (the one where he caught a lot of flack for losing way too much weight) is about a man who is slowly dying from insomnia and hasn’t slept for a year, so he starts questioning his own sanity.

Black Mirror is a series which provides us with social commentary in a weird way. It takes our plunge into a super-technological society and turns it into a dark story. This series will get you thinking, and the plot twists will have you reeling. This is exceptionally well done.

Lastly, there needs to be some time spent on Stranger Things, a series which just came out that I watched in its entirety (eight episodes) over two weeknights. It’s addictive and definitely lives up to its title. If you grew up in the ’80s, you will appreciate the nod it gives to that time period and filming style. Instead of just setting it in the era, the entire series feels like something you’d have watched back then. The suspenseful synth music, the grainy quality of the screen, the lighting and colors used throughout – if you didn’t know this had just been made, you’d never guess. You have classic nerds, Eggo waffles, Dungeons & Dragons, bad fashion statements, wood paneling, horrible wallpaper, mix tapes, posters of Tom Cruise and references to Star Wars, The Hobbit, Stephen King and He-Man. It’s got it all, including a telekinetic 12-year-old who grew up in a lab, a faceless alien that can walk through walls and Winona Ryder. Seriously, see this Netflix original.

By Jennifer Russo