It is January 2026, and the Netflix Top 10 list is proving once again that some films just need the right platform to find their cult following. While 2025 was a massive year for big-budget horror and high-concept sci-fi, one of the year’s most grounded and intense projects—a crime thriller starring genre favorites Krysten Ritter and Kiernan Shipka—quietly slipped through the cracks during its limited initial run. However, according to a recent report from Slash Film, that “hidden gem” status is officially a thing of the past as the film begins to dominate the streaming charts.
The Ritter and Shipka Powerhouse Duo
For fans of dark, character-driven storytelling, the pairing of Krysten Ritter and Kiernan Shipka was always a match made in heaven. Ritter, who solidified her status as the queen of modern noir with her legendary turn in Jessica Jones and the cult-classic Don’t Trust the B---- in Apartment 23, brings a weathered, cynical edge to the screen that few can match. Meanwhile, Kiernan Shipka has spent the last few years transitioning from the teen-horror heights of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina to more complex, adult roles in projects like Longlegs and Totally Killer.
In this 2025 thriller, the chemistry between the two is palpable. Ritter plays a disillusioned investigator (a role she wears like a second skin) who is forced to team up with Shipka’s character, a tech-savvy drifter with a mysterious connection to a series of cold cases. The dynamic avoids the typical "mentor-protege" tropes, instead opting for a prickly, high-stakes partnership that keeps the audience guessing about their true loyalties until the final frame.
A Love Letter to 90s Crime Noir
What makes this film stand out in the current landscape of hyper-stylized thrillers is its commitment to the "throwback" aesthetic. Rather than relying on heavy CGI or convoluted multiverse plots, the film leans into the gritty, rain-slicked atmosphere of 1990s crime cinema. Think Se7en meets The Silence of the Lambs, but with a distinctly modern female perspective that examines trauma and systemic failure.
The cinematography is drenched in shadows and neon, creating a claustrophobic sense of dread that fans of the horror-adjacent thriller subgenre will absolutely devour. It’s the kind of movie that feels heavy, where every decision has a consequence, and the violence—while sparse—is visceral and impactful. For a film that was largely overlooked by major award circuits last year, its resurgence on Netflix proves that there is still a massive appetite for mid-budget, high-quality genre filmmaking.
The 'Netflix Effect' and the Future of the Genre
We’ve seen this happen before—the so-called "Netflix Effect" where a movie that struggled at the box office or on VOD suddenly becomes a cultural touchstone once it hits the algorithm. For this Ritter and Shipka vehicle, the timing couldn't be better. With audiences currently craving more grounded stories after a wave of experimental horror, this film provides the perfect palette cleanser.
Industry analysts suggest that the success of this "hidden gem" could signal a shift in what streamers look for in 2026 and beyond. We are seeing a move away from the "content soup" and a return to star-driven, atmospheric thrillers that prioritize mood over spectacle. If you haven't checked out this Ritter and Shipka collaboration yet, do yourself a favor and add it to your queue before the spoilers start flooding your social media feed. It’s a haunting, beautifully acted reminder of why we love the dark side of cinema.