Vide Noir

While created by the band Lord Huron and director Ariel Vida in conjunction with the album of the same name, this film has appeal beyond their existing fanbase due to gorgeously-dreamlike neon-soaked visuals, an atmospheric soundtrack, masterful cinematography and compelling story full of mystery and suspense. They even manage to include some humor, with charismatic characters and witty dialogue.

Journeying along desert highways, into neon-lit streets and smoky nightclubs, Buck's search for his missing fiancée Lee leads him to a mysterious criminal underworld distributing a mind-bending drug. Told partly through flashbacks and surreal transitions that blur the edges of reality, it explores existential themes alongside questions pertaining to relationships, memory and perception, and how far someone will go for the one they love.

Even if you're unfamiliar with the band, Vide Noir is well worth it for fans of these themes, neo-noir and thrillers, hallucinatory visuals and immersive sound, and independent filmmaking in general. If you enjoy the film, it may lead you to even greater mysteries as you delve into the finely-crafted universe Lord Huron has created through their music.