by While Tom Hiddleston is best known for playing the iconic villain Loki in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he is also a tremendously talented actor who has starred in many acclaimed films outside of the superhero genre. However, some of his best work remains under the radar for many viewers. This article will take a deeper look at five of Hiddleston’s most underrated films that more people should discover.
High-Rise (2015)
One of Hiddleston’s most intriguing roles was in the 2015 dystopian thriller High-Rise, directed by Ben Wheatley. Based on the novel of the same name by J.G. Ballard, High-Rise depicts a luxurious high-rise apartment building that slowly descends into chaos and violence as the class divisions between its residents break down.
Hiddleston stars as Dr. Robert Laing, a newcomer to the high-rise who finds himself trapped between the warring factions that form. On the surface, the high-rise appears to be a utopian vision of modern living. But beneath lies a simmering tension as the residents grow increasingly isolated in their individual floors and wings. Basic functions and services start to fail, and the residents devolve into tribal gangs battling for control.
Hiddleston brings an unsettling calm and rationality to Dr. Laing as the world around him spirals into madness. Laing remains an observer, trying to understand what is happening even as he gets pulled deeper into the growing anarchy. The film is a thought-provoking parable and one of Hiddleston’s darkest, most complex roles to date. High-Rise shows the depths of his acting abilities to portray a character undergoing a psychological unraveling amid societal collapse.
Only Lovers Left Alive (2013)
In 2013, Hiddleston starred in Only Lovers Left Alive, an artful vampire film written and directed by Jim Jarmusch. The film is less about blood-sucking action and more of a moody, atmospheric character study. Hiddleston plays Adam, a depressed musician who has been a vampire for centuries. He reunites with his artist lover Eve (Tilda Swinton), but their romance is tested by Eve’s uncontrollable younger sister Ava (Mia Wasikowska).
Only Lovers Left Alive offers a fresh take on the vampire mythos by depicting Adam and Eve as intellectuals bored with immortality and disillusioned by the direction of human civilization. Hiddleston brings pathos and weariness to Adam, a vampire longing for meaning amid the tedium of endless years. His scenes with Swinton, as two soulmates who have shared lives together for ages, are beautifully intimate.
Jarmusch’s dreamlike direction and the film’s moody soundtrack allow Hiddleston to shine in quiet, internalized moments that reveal the depths of his character. Only Lovers Left Alive is one of Hiddleston’s most understated yet mesmerizing performances in a film that understands the melancholy spirit of its vampiric protagonists.
Crimson Peak (2015)
In 2015, Guillermo del Toro tapped Hiddleston for the leading role in his gothic horror film Crimson Peak. The lavishly designed film tells the story of Edith Cushing (Mia Wasikowska), a young aspiring author who marries the mysterious Sir Thomas Sharpe (Hiddleston). She moves with him to his dilapidated mansion Allerdale Hall in the remote mountains of Cumbria.
Soon Edith starts to unravel the dark secrets of her new home and comes to suspect her husband may be hiding ominous past deeds. Hiddleston brings an alluring yet ominous air to Sir Thomas, who courts Edith with his charm but harbors darkness beneath his gentility. The actor embraces the sumptuous costumes and settings of Victorian-era gothic horror.
Scenes where Hiddleston’s unsettling politeness cracks to reveal simmering malice are a highlight of his performance. He makes Sir Thomas both sympathetic yet clearly troubled, leaving the audience uncertain if he can be redeemed. Crimson Peak is a banquet for the senses, and Hiddleston is the perfect lead to guide viewers into the film’s opulent but macabre world. He brings the right blend of allure and menace that the role demands.
Archipelago (2010)
In 2010’s Archipelago, Hiddleston took on a subtler dramatic role in this British independent film directed by Joanna Hogg. Set entirely on a remote island in the Scottish Hebrides, the film explores the tensions within a upper-middle class family on vacation. Hiddleston plays Edward, the youngest son who is drifting aimlessly as his siblings have their lives more put together.
Much of the film’s runtime is spent soaking in the island’s natural beauty and observing the family’s dynamics subtly shift during long conversations. Hiddleston brings a melancholy soulfulness to Edward, who feels disconnected from his career-driven siblings. In sparse dialogue scenes, Hiddleston conveys Edward’s restlessness through nuanced facial expressions and body language.
Archipelago is a deliberately paced character piece, but Hiddleston elevates the material with his emotionally intelligent performance. He imbues Edward with vulnerability and loneliness that lingers with viewers. It’s a stripped-back role showing Hiddleston can communicate deep interior life with subtlety rather than bombast. Archipelago remains one of his most underappreciated indie films.
Unrelated (2007)
One of Hiddleston’s earliest films was the 2007 drama Unrelated, one of his first starring roles after graduating from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. In the film, Anna (Joanna Scanlan) takes her teenage daughter (Talulah Riley) on a vacation to Tuscany in an attempt to reconnect after the recent death of Anna’s husband.
While there, Anna begins to bond with a charming local man named Robert (Hiddleston), but her daughter is suspicious of his intentions. Hiddleston brings a disarming charisma and charm to Robert, who seduces Anna with his apparent carefreeness. But cracks begin to show in Robert’s story, and Hiddleston effectively shifts from lighthearted to unsettling as secrets emerge.
Though a small independent film, Unrelated showed Hiddleston had leading man presence from the start. Even in an early role, he displayed a command of nuance to make a character simultaneously likeable yet hinting at darkness beneath. Unrelated is worth seeing for one of Hiddleston’s breakout performances long before he took on bigger blockbuster roles.
In Conclusion
While the Marvel films rightly brought Hiddleston global fame, they also risk overshadowing the depth of his acting talents on display outside of big-budget franchises. In films like High-Rise, Only Lovers Left Alive, Crimson Peak, Archipelago and Unrelated, Hiddleston took on complex leading roles that allowed him to stretch creatively and sink his teeth into complicated characters.
He imbued them with layers of nuance, whether conveying psychological unraveling, vampire melancholy, Gothic menace, quiet desperation or charming deception. Hiddleston continues to choose diverse projects that let him flex his dramatic muscle rather than relying on fame. While Loki will likely remain his most iconic role, these underrated films prove Hiddleston is one of the most compelling actors of his generation worthy of more widespread acclaim and attention for his non-blockbuster work. Even in smaller films, he brings an intensity and intelligence to every performance.
