Movies like The Onion Field
If you like "The Onion Field" you are looking for neo noir, atmospheric and psychological movies about / with courtroom drama, closeted homosexual, murder, true crime, police investigation, legal and death sentence themes of Crime and Drama genre shot in USA.
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1. Identify all themes of interest from this film (block below).
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The Onion Field (1979)
6K
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 126 min.
Story:
Greg Powell, a disturbed ex-con, recruits Jimmy Youngblood (Smith) a petty thief, as partner in crime. Powell panics when they two of are pulled over by two cops for tail lights. Powell decides to kidnap the cops and Smith goes along with his crazy scheme. They drive out to a deserted onion field in Bakersfield, where one cop is killed and the other escapes. The film explores the consequences.
Style:
neo noir, atmospheric, psychological, realistic, rough, serious, disturbing, bleak, emotional, independent film ...
Plot:
courtroom drama, closeted homosexual, murder, true crime, police investigation, legal, death sentence, trial, moral ambiguity, brutality, morality, manipulation, courtroom, law enforcement, confined, haunted by the past, law enforcer killer, police, guilt, violent, kidnapping, death row, father son relationship, jail, police detective ...
Time:
20th century, 70s, year 1979, 60s, year 1963, 1960s
Place:
los angeles, california, usa, las vegas
Movie in categories
Most similar movies to The Onion Field
The list contains related movies ordered by similarity. Recommendation engine sorted out serious, realistic, suspenseful and tense films with plots about murder, deadly, serial killer, lawyer, true crime, law enforcement and police investigation mostly in Crime, Drama and Thriller genres. Some movies like The Onion Field: Too Young to Die? (1990), The Killer Inside Me (1976), The Deathmaker (1995), Vengeance is Mine (1979), Hardcore (1979). The matching attributes are highlighted in bold.
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 92 min.
Story:
An abused 15 year old is charged with a murder that carries the death penalty in this fact-based story.
Style:
emotional, sad, neo noir, teen, cult classic ...
Audience:
teens
Plot:
death row, death penalty, teenage prostitute, murder, revenge, attorney, teenage prostitution, lawyer, teenager, teenage girl, prison, death sentence ...
Time:
80s
Place:
oklahoma
Similarity:
100%
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 99 min.
Story:
A sheriff struggles to hide his violent murderous acts.
Style:
neo noir, tense, psychological, realistic, serious ...
Plot:
serial killer, killer, psychopath, small town, violent content, danger, dishonesty, unlikely criminals, law enforcement, social relations, small town life, profanity ...
Time:
year 1976, 70s, 20th century
Place:
montana, usa
Similarity:
100%
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: Germany
Duration: 110 min.
Story:
Fritz Haarmann, who has killed at least 27 boys, is questioned by a psychology professor in order to find out whether he is sane and can be held responsible for his crimes. During this interrogation Haarmann reveals his motives and his killing ...
Style:
psychological, disturbing, serious, realistic, suspenseful ...
Plot:
murder, psychopath, investigation, society, courtroom drama, confined, killer, cannibalism, gay, transsexual, dismemberment, serial killer ...
Time:
1920s, 20th century
Place:
germany
Similarity:
100%
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: Japan
Duration: 139 min.
Story:
A thief, a murderer, and a charming lady-killer, Iwao Enokizu (Ken Ogata) is on the run from the police. Director Shohei Imamura turns this fact-based story—about the seventy-eight-day killing spree of a remorseless man from a devoutly Catholic ...
Style:
freeze frame, realistic, tense, serious, suspenseful ...
Plot:
serial killer, prostitute, father son relationship, violence, psychopath, sex scene, brutality, murder, lover lover relationship, father in law daughter in law relationship, womanizer, strangulation ...
Time:
20th century, 1950s, year 1979, 70s, 1930s ...
Place:
japan, asia
Similarity:
100%
Movie in collections
17K
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 108 min.
Story:
A conservative Midwest businessman ventures into the sordid underworld of pornography in California to look for his runaway teenage daughter who is making porno films in the porno pits of Los Angeles.
Style:
neo noir, erotic, disturbing, harsh, psychological ...
Audience:
adult
Plot:
private detective, sex, porn industry, hairy pussy, making love, father, female nudity, sex worker, group sex, strip club, perversion, violent ...
Time:
year 1979, 70s, 20th century
Place:
los angeles, california, southern california, usa, san francisco ...
Similarity:
100%
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: France, USA
Duration: 109 min.
Story:
J.J. is a rookie in the Sheriff's Department and the first black officer at that station. Racial tensions run high in the department as some of J.J.'s fellow officers resent his presence. His only real friend is the other new trooper, the ...
Style:
harsh, serious, realistic, rough, disturbing ...
Plot:
racism, police corruption, murder, police investigation, racial issues, gangster, hip hop, brutality, justice, fbi, crime gone awry, false accusation ...
Time:
year 1994, 90s, 70s
Place:
los angeles, california, usa
Similarity:
30%
Genre: Biography, Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 135 min.
Story:
In this fact-based film, Gary Gilmore, an Indiana man who just finished serving a lengthy stay in prison, tries to start anew by moving to Utah. Before long, Gary begins an ill-advised romance with the troubled Nicole Baker, a teenage single mother. ...
Style:
serious, realistic, bleak, rough, thought provoking ...
Plot:
death row, murder, death sentence, prison, courtroom drama, price of justice, confined, going straight, journalism, legal, true crime, biopic ...
Time:
year 1976
Place:
utah, usa
Similarity:
30%
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 120 min.
Story:
The true chilling story of the "two of a kind", killing cousins Angelo Buono and Kenneth Bianchi, better known as the Hillside Stranglers, is told in this TV drama.
Style:
tense, serious, realistic, rough, suspenseful
Plot:
murder, two killers, serial killer, true crime, psychopath, cousin, strangler, homicide, killing spree, killer, criminal, violent ...
Time:
20th century, 80s
Place:
los angeles, california
Similarity:
29%
Movie in collections
Genre: Biography, Crime, Drama, History
Country: USA
Duration: 134 min.
Story:
A 1967 film based on Truman Capote's book of the same name. After a botched robbery results in the brutal murder of a rural family, two drifters elude police, in the end coming to terms with their own mortality and the repercussions of their ...
Style:
neo noir, black and white, disturbing, suspense, bleak ...
Plot:
murder, true crime, execution, serial killer, home invasion, trial, killer, death sentence, death row, u.s. mexico border, cell mate, murder of family ...
Time:
50s, year 1967, year 1965, 1950s, 20th century ...
Place:
kansas, kansas city, america, usa, las vegas ...
Similarity:
28%
Genre: Biography, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 91 min.
Story:
A series of interviews are conducted with convicted serial killer Ted Bundy in hopes of gaining insight into the Green River Killer who is terrorizing Seattle.
Style:
psychological, serious, rough, suspenseful, disturbing ...
Plot:
serial killer, psychopath, investigation, profiler, true crime, mind game, police detective, woman in danger, killer, murder, violence, brutality ...
Time:
21st century
Place:
seattle, florida, washington d.c.
Similarity:
27%
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 92 min.
Story:
Barbara Hoffman is a University of Wisconsin science student. She is a part-time employee at a local massage parlor. She is also a killer. Now all Detective Lulling has to do is prove it.
Style:
psychological, tense, serious, realistic, christmas horror ...
Plot:
murder, investigation, dishonesty, law enforcement, gory, winter, christmas, prostitute, deception, snow, sex, small town ...
Time:
80s, 70s, 21st century
Place:
usa, wisconsin
Similarity:
27%
26K
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 108 min.
Story:
Follows veteran police officer Dave Brown, the last of the renegade cops, as he struggles to take care of his family, and fights for his own survival.
Style:
bleak, rough, psychological, neo noir, suspense ...
Plot:
police corruption, police, police brutality, dysfunctional family, bigotry, cop, scandal, tough law enforcer, dishonesty, sexualized violence, dirty cop, crooked cop ...
Time:
2010s, 90s, 20th century, year 1999
Place:
california, los angeles, usa
Similarity:
26%
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 116 min.
Story:
Based upon the true story of Bruce Johnston Sr., his son, and his brothers; together, they constituted one of suburban Philadelphia's most notorious crime families during the 1970's. Their criminal activities ranged from burglary, theft... ...
Style:
neo noir, disturbing, harsh, tense, realistic ...
Plot:
rape, organized crime, small town, father son relationship, sociopath, violence, psychopath, revenge, violent, sexualized violence, gang, murder ...
Time:
70s, 20th century, year 1978, 80s
Place:
pennsylvania, usa, california
Similarity:
26%
2K
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 93 min.
Story:
In a film based on actual events, teenagers Nathan Leopold Jr. (Craig Chester) and Richard Loeb (Daniel Schlachet) share a dangerous sexual bond and an amoral outlook on life. They spend afternoons breaking into storefronts and engaging in petty ...
Style:
black and white, neo noir, independent film, contemplative, realistic ...
Plot:
gay, male male relationship, lgbtq, true crime, lgbt, murder, serial killer, courtroom drama, male homosexuality, desire, child murder investigation, homoeroticism ...
Time:
1920s, year 1992, 20th century
Place:
chicago
Similarity:
26%
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 113 min.
Story:
Having survived the hatred and bigotry that was his Klansman grandfather's only legacy, young attorney Adam Hall seeks at the last minute to appeal the old man's death sentence for the murder of two small Jewish boys 30 years before. Only ...
Style:
emotional, thought provoking, suspense, realistic, serious ...
Audience:
girls' night
Plot:
courtroom drama, racism, legal, death sentence, courtroom, ku klux klan, murder, prison, anti semitism, haunted by the past, politics, lawyer ...
Time:
90s, 20th century, 60s, year 1967, year 1996
Place:
mississippi, usa
Similarity:
26%
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 122 min.
Story:
A justice drama based on a true story about a man on death row who in his last days forms a strong relationship with a nun who teaches him forgiveness and gives him spirituality as she accompanies him to his execution.
Style:
thought provoking, touching, emotional, sad, depressing ...
Plot:
death row, prison, rape, death sentence, nun, death penalty, violence, prison life, court, murder, redemption, catholic ...
Time:
20th century, year 1995, 90s
Place:
louisiana, new orleans, united kingdom, southern usa
Similarity:
25%
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 97 min.
TV show
Story:
The investigation of two horrific mass murders leads to the capture and trial of the psychotic pseudo-hippie Charles Manson and his "family".
Style:
disturbing, slasher horror, spooky, tense, talky ...
Plot:
serial killer, courtroom drama, hippie, charles manson, true crime, commune, killing spree, psychopath, killer, hollywood, lawyer, murder ...
Time:
60s, 20th century, 70s
Place:
california, usa
Similarity:
25%
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 89 min.
Story:
Prominent defense attorney Tony Lord returns to his hometown to defend an old friend, a teacher accused of murdering one of his students. The case re-opens the heartache from Tony's own high school days, when he was a student falsely accused of ...
Style:
realistic, captivating, tense, psychological, suspenseful ...
Plot:
murder, courtroom, courtroom drama, homecoming, friendship, legal, lawyer, family relations, danger, rivalry, law, 16 year old ...
Time:
21st century
Place:
usa, ohio
Similarity:
25%
Movie in collections
Genre: Crime, Drama, History
Country: USA
Duration: 148 min.
Story:
Fact-based story of the kidnapping of Charles Lindbergh Jr., son and namesake of the famed pilot, and ensuing trial of accused and convicted killer, Bruno Hauptmann.
Style:
realistic, bleak, thought provoking, rough, disturbing ...
Audience:
toddlers
Plot:
true crime, serial killer, killing spree, violent, kidnapping, murder, child kidnapping, dealing with death, journalism, dishonesty, folk hero, courtroom drama ...
Time:
1930s
Place:
new jersey, usa, new york
Similarity:
25%
Genre: Crime, Drama, Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 92 min.
Story:
An elusive serial killer known as the Zodiac terrorizes the San Francisco Bay in the late 1960s, while detectives aim to stop him before he claims more victims. Based on a true story.
Style:
rough, psychological, bleak, scary, serious ...
Plot:
serial killer, murder, psychopath, killing spree, investigation, police detective, mind game, gory, family conflict, law enforcement, danger, journalism ...
Time:
20th century, year 2005, 60s
Place:
san francisco, california, bay area, usa
Similarity:
24%
Genre: Crime, Drama, History
Country: UK, France
Duration: 115 min.
Story:
In 1950s England, slow-witted Derek Bentley falls in with a group of petty criminals led by Chris Craig, a teenager with a fondness for American gangster films. Chris and Derek's friendship leads to their involvement in the true case which ...
Style:
depressing, thought provoking, tense, realistic, serious ...
Plot:
courtroom drama, teenage boy, legal, police, true crime, death sentence, juvenile delinquency, vandalism, injustice, friendship, murder, jury ...
Time:
1940s, year 1991, post world war two, 1950s, 20th century ...
Place:
england, london, europe
Similarity:
24%
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 167 min.
Story:
New York City detective Daniel Ciello agrees to help the United States Department of Justice help eliminate corruption in the police department, as long as he will not have to turn in any close friends. In doing so, Ciello uncovers a conspiracy ...
Style:
tense, neo noir, realistic, bleak, political ...
Audience:
manly
Plot:
police, corruption, drug addiction, drug, lawyer, addiction, police corruption, whistleblower, police investigation, betrayal, redemption, fighting the system ...
Time:
70s, 80s, 20th century, year 1981
Place:
new york, america, usa, washington d.c., virginia ...
Similarity:
24%
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 85 min.
Story:
For years he terrorized California motorists as he rode the endless highways searching for his next victim. The discarded bodies turned up beaten, sexually assaulted and horribly mutilated. Deceptively charming and intelligent, the scheming murderer ...
Style:
rough, serious, suspenseful, scary, realistic ...
Plot:
serial killer, psychopath, murder, strong violent content, rape and murder, who done it, life is a bitch, physical appearance, mentally unstable, stalking, law enforcement, police detective ...
Time:
21st century
Place:
california, usa
Similarity:
24%
Movie in collections
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: Italy
Duration: 108 min.
Story:
Tommaso Scalia is a man who commits three murders: he killed his superior who sacked him, he kills the man who replaced him, and he kills his own wife. He wants a quick trial and an early execution, but an earnest, principled assistant judge looks ...
Style:
suspenseful, serious, disturbing, suspense, political ...
Plot:
courtroom drama, hotshot lawyer, legal, murder, injustice, life is a bitch, courtroom, judge, lawyer, italian fascism, sicilian, court case ...
Time:
year 1990, 80s, 20th century, 1930s, year 1937
Place:
italy, palermo italy
Similarity:
24%
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 173 min.
Story:
A corporate lawyer's interest in a decade-old murder case is piqued by a new confession that could clear the convicted killer, who sits on death row.
Style:
bleak, serious, tense, psychological, suspenseful ...
Plot:
legal, frame up, false accusation, investigation, lovers reunited, testimony, uncover truth, police investigation, rebellion, power relations, state affairs, murder ...
Similarity:
24%
Genre: Biography, Crime, Drama, Romance, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 91 min.
Story:
Carl Panzram is sent to Leavenworth Prison for burglary. While there, he is brutally beaten by a guard. Neophyte guard Henry Lesser feels sympathy for Panzram, befriends him, and gets him to write his life story. Lesser learns that Panzram's ...
Style:
disturbing, serious, realistic, rough, bleak ...
Plot:
serial killer, death row, prison rape, killer, murder, true crime, prison, drinking, prisoner, chase, rape, violence ...
Time:
1930s, 1920s, 20th century
Place:
rhode island, minnesota, new jersey, israel, africa ...
Similarity:
24%
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 108 min.
Story:
A cop clashes with his priest brother while investigating the brutal murder of a young prostitute
Style:
neo noir, detective, intelligent, crime drama, talky ...
Plot:
murder, catholic priest, cop, priest, politics, serial killer, clergy, redemption, police corruption, political corruption, desert, catholic ...
Time:
1940s, year 1981, 20th century, 1950s, 50s
Place:
los angeles, california, usa
Similarity:
23%
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller, Mystery
Country: USA
Duration: 98 min.
Story:
AND YOU'RE TO BLAME! Honey, you give love a bad name. (The story of a man coming to terms with the sins and secrets of his notorious brother and, in the process, exploring the legacy of violence in his own family.)
Style:
disturbing, tense, realistic, suspenseful, talky ...
Plot:
murder, mormon, death row, prison, prison life, dysfunctional family, courtroom drama, tragic hero, parents and children, haunted by the past, false accusation, price of justice ...
Time:
70s
Place:
utah, usa
Similarity:
23%
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 87 min.
Story:
Based on the events surrounding the murder of British student Meredith Kercher.Hayden Panettiere (Heroes) and Marcia Gay Harden (Academy Award winner for Pollock) star in the Lifetime Original Movie Amanda Knox: Murder on Trial in Italy based on the ...
Style:
tense, contemplative, realistic, serious, captivating ...
Plot:
legal investigation, unlikely criminals, college, courtroom drama, murder, partner, law enforcement, police investigation, legal action, murderous pair, prison, serial killer ...
Time:
21st century
Place:
europe, italy
Similarity:
23%
25K
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: UK, Germany, USA
Duration: 118 min.
Story:
Set during the Rodney King riots, a robbery homicide investigation triggers a series of events that will cause a corrupt LAPD officer to question his tactics.
Style:
tense, neo noir, detective, intense, harsh ...
Audience:
boys' night
Plot:
police corruption, police officer, police investigation, police brutality, cop, corruption, investigation, profanity, rookie, robbery, partner, fighting the system ...
Time:
20th century, year 1992, y2k, 90s
Place:
los angeles, california, usa, southern california, new jersey
Similarity:
23%
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