Some truly awesome kills (damn near perfect scenes on their own), but also so meandering and drawn out. An interesting concept but does absolutely nothing with it

There is only so long I can watch a guy walking through a forest from behind, with only small moments of excitement to keep me going…

Pretty enjoyable low-budget horror story, albeit a clunky one.

Loved the intriguing setup and premise, as well as the central performance by Carolyn Bracken.
While consistently eerie, Oddity suffers from a fairly predictable and unsatisfying 3rd act (with the exception of its final minute).

Many key moments ended up feeling a bit underwhelming. This is likely the result of budget constraints, but I would still have appreciated more creativity from the execution nonetheless. 

Nice movie 👌🏼 that final shot is really cool

There’s barely a story. However, the score and cinematography are magical, the vibes are dreamy, and the antics range from humorously sincere to mildly entertaining and gross.

Really strange film that I sort of loved in its own way. I can see most people getting absolutely nothing from it, which is understandable as there really isn’t anything substantial that occurs for a large duration. Managed to feel rather poignant by the end though

A Sasquatch can be considered the midpoint between human and ape, it’s interesting to see where each side shines through.

Probably best paired with magic mushies

Doesn’t hold up as well as I remembered due to the dated CGI. Movie would’ve been way cooler with more practical effects.

Brendan Fraser is cute as heck and really sells the ‘Geologist Indiana Jones’ role. The chemistry between the three leads is sweet to see progress as the film goes on.

But yeah, unfortunately there’s a large portion of this movie which looks like dogshit. Weird pacing too from the 2nd act onwards

Society was robbed from getting the potential Atlantis sequel. 
Instead, we got The Rock…

Kathryn Newton steals the show (honourable mention to Carla Gugino)!
Movie was bizarre yet charmingly so. Things seemed to get a bit tonally muddled as it went on which created a few pacing issues for me. Felt the more satirical 1st half was stronger overall, but it does go in some interesting directions! 

Would definitely watch again! If only to appreciate its passion for horror comedies of the 80s

An electrifying central performance, the Tarantino-esque editing style, and some really pretty, neon soaked camerawork are definitely the film’s strongest points.
It did feel a little overindulgent at times. A bit rough around the edges. Fumbles it’s ending somewhat.

A fun and creative little thriller nonetheless! Worth checking out

Mr. Crocket is an amazing character and a completely horrifying horror icon in his own right. I really hope he gets the Terrifier treatment!

A terrific villain caught in the confines of a lazy, depressing, boring, modern horror movie. Again, I REALLY REALLY hope he gets the Terrifier treatment. 

There is massive potential to be had! It’s just squandered here

Ouch…

Actually insane. Completely schizophrenic and cooked in all the best ways! Definitely a milestone in practical effects and splatter horror 
Fuck yeah! Dr Satan!

I haven’t watched one of these hallmark Christmas movies before so I’m not sure what I was expecting…but wow.
I challenge someone, anyone, to find one thing here that is well executed and not completely patronising.

Actual disaster, almost makes me resent the fact we invented film.

These days I’m somewhat skeptical with the Alien franchise, but this was a fairly pleasant surprise.
After a somewhat rocky start, the film kicks into gear and doesn’t stop until its final harrowing minutes; an absolutely insane final act. Fede Alvarez has constructed what I think to be a relatively faithful but overly referential continuation of the mythos; combining the original premise with aspects of the series’ Prometheus era.

While it doesn’t capture the magic of the masterpieces Alien and Aliens, it does have an effective emotional core found in the relationship between its two leads. Combining that with the relatively high stakes was enough to keep me invested throughout.

I’m eager to see what direction they take the universe’s lore following this addition

Cailee Spaeny has had a hell of a year!

Almost want to take a star away for the recreation of the late, great Ian Holm. Let the man rest, let’s not go down this path…

Had a semi religious experience with this one. 
My new favourite Miyazaki!

Loved everything about this and felt the beat of its heart so loudly. What a soundtrack! What beautifully empathetic and human characters! WHAT A SOUNDTRACK! 

you bite nature and it will do more than bite back. Miyazaki saw this in 1984, why are we still hesitant to grasp it??

Not very much to this and nothing that stands out as exceptional outside of a few pretty tense sequences. An entertaining enough time-killer, but the emotional core it insists upon isn’t developed in any meaningful way. 

Very empty, campy experience

One of the blandest and most cliched films I’ve ever watched. I’ve seen almost every plot point and every line of dialogue done a million times by this point, but never this lazily.

It’s not the worst thing ever, and there are a few chuckle-worthy moments here and there. Liam Neeson is always a joy to watch. The actor who plays his son couldn’t act his way out of a paper bag though, adding a lot of unintentional comedy to the dramatic scenes in particular. 

Watch if you LOVE Liam Neeson. There is genuinely nothing else here otherwise

Keep Miyazaki in the kitchen! The man needs to keep cooking.

Saulnier surprises us all with an ‘anti-Rambo’ version of First Blood. Engaging and satisfying, like his other films, but with more patience

Loved the commentary on police escalation

Pretty grim.

Another exceptional drama from Adam McKay, though his frequent splicing-in of stock footage gets a bit old this time around.
Great work from pretty much everyone, loved the style and was very compelled by the substance. Kinda wish it looked more into Cheney’s own motivations beyond not wanting his wife to divorce him. I guess the mild ambiguity of it all was part of the point but still; did he do it all purely for the appraisal of others and the perceived “success”?

The Dook do be looking kinda cute at Christmas time ngl

Under the Skin is an incredibly transfixing sci-fi by the great Johnathan Glazer, one that examines the human condition through lenses of the unexplainable and horrific.

Glazer’s sunken place is infinitely more terrifying than Peele’s, sorry to say. 

A vision was had, and its execution was flawless. Truly unique and emotionally stirring. Incredible 3rd act

Really cooked in a funny kind of way. Enjoyed Christian Slater’s performance as Jack Nicholson

Hilariously quotable

Impressive debut from Anna Kendrick!
Takes a terrifying yet simple piece of television history and successfully transforms it into a wholly satisfying narrative.
Loved how the thematic dots connected between Alcala and the entertainment industry. So many subtle nods here and there to build it’s point

Great addition to the genre, best paired with Late Night With The Devil

2024’s funniest comedy and one of the best I’ve seen this year. 

Mikey Madison turns in a star-making performance alongside an ensemble of quirky characters and the Russian Timothee Chalamet.

Sean Baker steps out of his comfort zone of guerilla filmmaking and does so with flying colours. An absolute farce best enjoyed with a crowd

Damn near perfect in all honesty

Oozes with confidence, creativity and style. A genuine mindfuck for sure.
Give the editor a raise and more work for the actors involved. Really impressive material being delivered in imaginative ways. Everything came together pretty impressively!

Biggest surprise gem of 2024

“Fuck the Mayans” - Mel Gibson, probably.

A pretty impressive production, moved along by its barebones story and paper-thin characters. Hate to be that guy, but the historical accuracy just ain’t there at all. I guess I should come to expect that from Mel’s movies. 
Gibson directs the hell out of that second half, but does that redeem its cliched and uninteresting plot? I’m not sure, but the sacrifice sequence was amazing to watch!

Big props to Australia’s own Dean Semler for shooting the jungle so beautifully

Appreciated the theme of everyone being too wrapped up in their small scale conflicts compared to the bigger picture. That bigger picture would’ve been more impactful if it were introduced earlier

VERY well shot. Sydney Sweeney is a genuinely great actress. Nothing spectacular on a narrative level, but was consistently intriguing and eerie enough to keep me hooked. Fairly predictable however. 

Edit: less than a week later and I’ve already forgotten most of this movie. Hmmmm

What an incredible vision, 30 years in the making!
Phil Tippett put his money where his mouth is and delivered a damning, grotesque, surreal, gruesome, and above all, inspiring portrayal of hell on (or under) Earth

Really enjoyable! Geoffrey Rush earned that Oscar for sure, but equal praise should be given to the great Noah Taylor for his efforts as well.

Feels like there’s around 30 minutes missing from this film somewhere in the 2nd half, as a few important pieces of information regarding David’s inner world felt very glossed over

Nic Cage defines what it means to be Nic Cage ❤️ 
Perfect companion piece to American Psycho and a really hilarious, strange film

Well made but also extremely subdued and bleak. This didn’t really hit for me in terms of conveying tension. Still an admirable film with strong performances and a patient unravelling of events. 

Finally got me hooked after its halfway point. Stellar 3rd act.

A really sweet and sincere story of survival, faith and companionship. Really enjoyed this! Great film, as skin-deep as it may be at times.

Robert Mitchum movies are somehow improving my mental state

I want to fucking vomit.

Jack O’Connell deserves better than this.

Amy deserves everything but this.

At the start I was team Goldman but by the end I was team Silverman. Nobody benefits from being mean to others

Soundtrack vinyl release when??

I think I KINDa loved this. Just when I thought Yorgos would cease to surprise me he pulls this strange thing out of his caboose.

I’m not sure where to even begin with articulating my thoughts on this one…

One of the best films ever made

I enjoyed the first Dry movie well enough when I saw it but didn’t fall in love. And while that film definitely has a tighter structure and script, I found myself actually more engaged with this new entry, The (not so) Dry 2: Force of Nature. 

The titular ‘Nature’ is captured stunningly and gives off a really dank atmosphere, hanging over the entire film. I liked how it used some of the similar storytelling devices from the original but in new ways.

Solid thriller with a few fun twisty moments

I felt like watching more Robert Mitchum.
In Thunder Road, Mitchum is cool as ice playing the experienced moonshine runner with the walls closing in. 
A fine little slice of life from a very particular time and place in Southern US history.
While relatively low on thrills, the moments which shine in Thunder Road are when it shows the inner workings of bootlegging, the gorgeous cars (and their explosions), and Mitchum being a badass. SLOW movie otherwise with a very loose, not very engaging plot.

Phone booth monologue was sick. Ending was bittersweet

Superior to the original in terms of its overall presentation. The new music was more hit than miss, with the absolute standouts featured during the Halloween section of the film.

While it is enjoyable on a technical level, the iconic Mean Girls story and themes take a back seat to the action, often feeling inconsequential to what’s actually on-screen. Quite simply, the film is a case of literary uncanny valley; it has a wholly new interpretation in some areas, but clings for dear life to the source material in others. 

Renee Rapp, Angourie Rice, Avantika, Bebe Wood, and Auli’i Cravahlo all deserve high praise for the interpretations of their characters. Avantika in particular had great comedic timing! Liked her even more than Amanda Seyfried.

Its sort of like that one Batman comic where the joker cuts off his face and then proceeds to wear said face as a mask. Sure, it’s a whole new look, he could’ve just kept his original face on though. 

Overall, I think this film would be best enjoyed if you haven’t seen the original. Also hated the TikTokification of various moments

I can see myself liking this even more or even less once I’ve revisited 2004

Heavy but important subject. 
Adding insult to injury, Indigenous children today who may live in genuinely abusive situations are not quickly removed thanks to the deplorable actions of their historical colonisers

Should continue to be shown in Australian schools

Simply a fun and enjoyable time

Jon Watts does what he does best; take small swings which definitely hit but fail to really impress.
An under-utilised Richard Kind also makes me quite upset

Final scene was utter gold though!

Australia’s Tiger King. Wolf Creek x Kath and Kim

Truly fascinating and bizarre

Would’ve liked a little more exploration into how the town even managed to function at all. I was really yearning for just a little more background before the central story kicked in. I suppose I could always just drive there myself on a weekend and ask them if I wanted

I will write a more comprehensive summary on my 2nd watch. Just know that this is a perfect film, starring the beyond perfect Hideko Takamine, who completely embodies a victim of the system.

So so beautiful

Extremely affective storytelling comprised of two shots and 5 minutes

That was…definitely something

Not sure where I sit on this one. Great concept and, at times, great execution. A very mixed bag in terms of dialogue and editing however. Overindulges itself at times. Camera distortion was unrealistically over the top.

Quite an eerie, visceral, and somewhat respectable entry to the found footage genre. I did really love the existential dread hanging over many of the ‘expert’ characters. The ultimate goal of the killer was an interesting idea as well

Coming in early for Halloween is this Vincent Price horror classic!
William Castle is considered one of the kings of low-budget horror during the 1950s, and I highly recommend reading about him. dude was truly ahead of his time

Timeless scares, tight filmmaking. Lays the groundwork for so many horror films since. Some evil dead inspo here too

A true one-shot spectacle, capturing the chaos and calamity of hospitality work with stakes and tension turned all the way up!

A few moments felt like they turned the kettle off for a bit instead of leaving it to steadily boil.

Stephen Graham knocks it out of the park once again

WHAT DAT MOUTH DO, DEV?? 🔪

Thematically dense and seductively stylised

Dev Patel is the most exciting action director of 2024
Nicholas Winding Refn is trembling in his boots

The messy first act is made up for by an absolutely terrific, well-realised second half.
Alisha Weir was spectacular as the titular character. One of my new favourite child performances

The first 45 minutes take so much away from an admittedly enjoyable time

We found arguably the best film portrayal of Elvis and without a doubt, the superior Elvis movie. Great stuff Sofia! 

The whole film really came into focus for me as it concluded, striking a bittersweet chord and leaving us with a bit to contemplate

A visually lush film that successfully dresses up it’s small-scale, somewhat repetitive narrative with striking imagery and gorgeous camerawork. Consistently engaging even if it was difficult to discern the passage of time in it’s formulaic structure

Very fucking impressive addition to the found footage genre and YouTuber-movies respectively. What a gem!
And on a budget of only $800??

Shaping up to be a pretty good year!

1. Anora
2. The Substance
3. Love Lies Bleeding
4. Challengers
5. Monkey Man
6. Kinds of Kindness
7. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
8. Civil War
9. It's What's Inside
10. Look Back

...plus 30 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

The official ranking

1. The Godfather
2. The Deer Hunter
3. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
4. Parasite
5. Schindler's List
6. The Bridge on the River Kwai
7. The Apartment
8. Moonlight
9. Midnight Cowboy
10. No Country for Old Men

...plus 74 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

Probs accurate…the first 10 is at least

Always semi outdated

1. The Handmaiden
2. Apocalypse Now
3. The Empire Strikes Back
4. Trainspotting
5. American Psycho
6. Gallipoli
7. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
8. Pulp Fiction
9. Raiders of the Lost Ark
10. Inglourious Basterds

...plus 41 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

An intriguing subgenre conceptualised by two filmmakers I highly respect. These are the only ones I am interested in seeing and will disappear from the list as I see them

• The Celebration
• The Idiots
• Julien Donkey-Boy
• Italian for Beginners
• Open Hearts

• The Tragedy of Macbeth
• Paris Je T'aime
• The Ladykillers
• Intolerable Cruelty
• The Hudsucker Proxy
• Barton Fink
• Miller's Crossing
• Blood Simple

Films will disappear as I see them

• Citizen Kane
• Singin' in the Rain
• The Wizard of Oz
• The Searchers
• Sunset Boulevard
• The Graduate
• Some Like It Hot
• The Grapes of Wrath
• Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
• Double Indemnity

...plus 34 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

Films will disappear as I see them

• Dances with Wolves
• The Last Emperor
• Gandhi
• The Godfather Part II
• Patton
• Oliver!
• The Sound of Music
• Lawrence of Arabia
• Ben-Hur
• Gigi

...plus 2 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.