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I really liked the idea, and there are some quite gnarly horrific images throughout.

For the most part though, it's hugely uneven. Everything good or interesting about it is frequently undone by really flat writing and acting that sucks the life out of things between the better moments.

Gives off similar vibes to Ash (2025), which is much better in every way.

I've been reading alot of Latin American horror lately and I've been blown away. That helped pique my interest in this, and though the beats were familiar, it set up well enough to seem worthwhile.

Like so many others, perhaps even moreso, the story and writing both run out of steam, stumble and try to twist their way out of things, somehow making things worse. Forgettable.

Who doesn't love an eerie British gangster monologue delivered in the dark?

Sets a great tone early despite limited means. Loses its way a bit as the ending approaches but with such a brief runtime it's hard to complain.

Feels kind of like if Wes Anderson made Beau Is Afraid after reading Metamorphosis or The Trial.

It's very stylish and likeable when at its disorienting best, and I really enjoyed the ending.

The journey there, though, is all over the place and a bit uneven. There were threads I hoped would be chased which weren't, and too long spent in less captivating areas.

Fun enough to entertain, sure, but not wholly satisfying.

I don't really know what I was expecting, but I know it went beyond. In one way it's a documentary about an apartment established by a group of friends in a hidden enclave at their new local mall as a statement against gentrification, capitalism and the loss of their home, in another it's a character study about an interesting and well-meaning individual and the small community of artists that surrounded him.

Loved the rebuild and the final moments. I thought it would be more about the apartment, but I like the somewhat frank ission near the end. Very honest. I'm not a big fan of modern art but it was an interesting experience nonetheless.

A good one to watch with my wife. Had a lot of fun with the first two-thirds, trying to figure things out and being at odds, changing our minds and debating. It was pretty heavy-handed in its attempted misdirections but if anything that made it more enjoyable.

Alas, the moment the mystery is solved, things kind of turn to slop. Everything that made this feel remotely intelligent goes out the window, time becomes irrelevant and the cliches come charging in.

Even my wife, who spent most of the film fawning over Henry and usually likes that kind of stuff, agreed the final act sucked.

My kids are more into Mario and Super Smash Bros, so my knowledge of the brand and its mechanisms is pretty limited outside some cursory exploration and that South Park episode.

That probably helped, having no attachment of any real pre-conceived ideas, because this was more fun that I expected overall. Jack Black is great as... Jack Black, and the story is incredibly formulaic, but the visuals are great and there are enough jokes to make the journey bearable.

Jennifer Coolidge steals the show, even though she was on screen for all of 5-10 minutes.

Black Stacked: Ranking Every Jack Black Performance

A BLAST! So much fun. I laughed, I empathised, I winced, I yelled, I felt increasingly nauseous, and so much more. And as someone who infrequently gets IBS-related audible stomach gurgles, that audio mix made me feel seen.

It's brutal, it's stylish, it's funny and engaging. It looks great. It's far more than I had hoped for, in a good way. I haven't had that much fun and that visceral a reaction to a film since The Substance.

I honestly thought this was going to be closer to the other public-domain fairytale efforts that are being churned out en masse, but this shows just how good ideas like this can be when given some serious focus instead of novelty factor.

The Cinderella elements, while necessary, feel like an aside to the main journey, which is how it should be. Moves at a cracking pace for the most part and the climax is, well, even if you see it coming, you won't see it coming quite so much.

There seemed to be a pretty solid halfway line between the good and bad this season. That's not to say that we didn't enjoy this, it's sentimental and technologically interesting, but it's also pretty dang predictable from the outset, which removes the edge that can make these chapters truly stand out. I know the sentimental ones can be great too, but this is no San Junipero.

Not the worst the season has to offer, but it's still, somewhat ironically, forgettable.

Black Mirror: Season 7 Ranked

What better way to mark 150 for the year than with my first film festival outing?

Trekked all the way to the Ritz in Randwick to catch this as part of Fantastic Film Fest. So many films to choose from but I found the 'never to be released digitally' angle too compelling to ignore.

Found footage certainly isn't my favourite genre but this was really enjoyable on multiple fronts. The tone was refreshing, no doubt aided by the natural chemistry, but there was a lot of fun and comedy among the tension as well. Some of the set pieces worked very well and the overall atmosphere was entertaining.

On the other side there were certainly bits that dragged or didn't really engage - bar one long hypnotic sequence I really enjoyed. But on the whole it works well within its constraints and was a fun way to spend 84 minutes.

Intensely focused and enjoyably lean. The set up is great and the tension is crafted nicely, and even though you know it's coming, the sense of urgency and chaos once things kick off is exhilarating. The sound design is great.

But that's it, really. Things peter out into a lot of screaming, blood and dust. I've no doubt it's an authentic recreation but I still prefer Black Hawk Down.

After watching the original my son insisted on following up with this. Other than the obvious it's surprisingly faithful in a lot of ways, and just like the original it's a little more coherent and fun than I .

What I did forget is that this one goes significantly... harder than the original. Some of the kills are quite brutal but mercifully short. If we hadn't already watched Psycho Goreman together it would have been far beyond anything he's been exposed to violence and gore-wise.

But I checked in regularly and he assured me it was all good. Hell, he was cackling maniacally at most of it, so I guess I'll find out if I've done any damage in about 5 or 10 years.

Really enjoyed this one, the story and performances are great, as is the disorientation and paranoia it evokes. Could probably have done with a run-time like some of the others to flesh out the final act a bit more, but a lot of fun nonetheless.

Black Mirror: Season 7 Ranked

Enjoyable, for want of a better word, in both premise and execution. Utterly miserable.

I like when these things look at the evolution of already-existing economy driven inconveniences, and this is a great, if incredibly bleak one.

Black Mirror: Season 7 Ranked

Wow. It's kind of like 'What We Do In The Shadows' meets 'Monsters Inc.' but with laugh-out-loud comedy, some great horror effects and way more heart than you'd expect. I had something in my eye, I swear.

It's a good premise, done with the perfect style and energy and some good performances. There are a few moments where it strays and it perhaps gets a little too sentimental in the end, but overall the lulls are few and far between. Very entertaining.

I don't know why I thought this would be a comedy going in. It is not.

Really enjoyed the first act. Though you could tell where it was going, the lead performances were great and made for some unique romantic tension. Certainly held its focus.

The rest of it, though, becomes pretty bland and predictable. Muniz plays an interesting psycho but the way things unfolded was quite unsatisfying, right up to the end.

My 9-year-old son's growing interest in horror somehow led him to this. While it's been years, I it being pretty damn tame, so it didn't take long to say yes.

It was just as silly as I but also a little more coherent than I gave it credit for. My son saw everything coming but still loved it, and it's hard to deny Warwick Davis is having a blast.

Unfortunately the kid's now running around the house telling everyone to give him "me gold" and laughing like a banshee. My wife and daughter are unimpressed but it's pretty funny if you ask me.

Extra half star because it's better than I . Extra half star because of family. Aww.

More fun that I expected, engaging throughout its ups and downs, though there are certainly more of the former.

Ortega and Poulter both excel, and the kills are wonderfully - and almost disarmingly - brutal.

I love a good cryptid tale and this touches on the genre well. Really enjoyed the use of the mythology of ancient creatures and the whole concept behind the idea. It's not perfect in execution, and sometimes it's even a bit heavy-handed, but it felt wonderfully fresh for the most part. Like a nice Unicorn steak.

Disappointed I'd waited so long to see it. Great thriller with a story that unfolds well, an unnerving atmosphere and a number of very strong performances. Patrick Stewart is excellent but so are many others. Moves very confidently from one plot point to the next. I don't think I'll be forgetting what happens to that wrist anytime soon either.

When we were teenagers my band was lined up to play the 18th birthday party of a friend whose father happened to be the leader of a notorious motorcycle gang, at their clubhouse. The show never eventuated but I can only imagine it would have been similar. Fun!

We've been watching the old show as a family - the nostalgia is pretty good and that Salem is hilarious, but the kids love it too, so naturally they were curious about the movie.

I couldn't if I'd seen it, but I clearly haven't because I don't Ryan Reynolds being in it and being a douchebag.

It's odd. It's the same, but different. The tone is there but it's not, the jokes are there but they're not. The messaging is pretty terrible overall as well (poor Harvey) and the humourless talking cat is another negative.

I'm glad they were somehow able to turn this into a funny family sitcom, even if it does start to suck after she leaves high school.

A great idea and Peter Capaldi gives a lot, but it ultimately spends a lot of time meandering between predictable beats.

The ending is great conceptually, and with a relatively short running time, you should get there comfortably. But still feels very uneven.

Black Mirror: Season 7 Ranked

A tale of two halves. Builds beautifully but then really drops the ball at the key moment, losing all but the blandest elements of what was a compelling story.

Rick and Morty did a comparable job in far less time. They had so much more they could have done with this whole idea in that final half hour but it took such an easy and comfortable way out.

Black Mirror: Season 7 Ranked

Lots to love here, with a great lead performance from Claire Monnelly, great style and audio production, and a story that hits some great folk horror notes. Plus some solid twists with plenty of nods but also enough to stand on its own.

The pacing is a bit of an issue, but if you ask me it's worth pushing through.

Credit where it's due, I love a mislead played so well that you actually think it's your idea until you're proven wrong.

Plenty of funny moments and some inventive kills. Doesn't overhaul the slasher genre by any means but you can feel the love that went into it.

Black as black comedy with plenty of interesting themes explored - some better than others.

Gets off to a slow start but begins to generate some genuine laughs around the second act, the more Britt Lower comes into the picture with some truly hilarious moments and lines. I was worried that I would have trouble seeing her as anything other than Helly (which is on me anyway) but it was a non-factor, she's the engine driving this thing.

Thought the ending also sucked but still, it's a fun ride overall. Don't ask my wife about it though, she fell asleep 15 minutes in.

"I love pissing..."

Was expecting tripped out and slow, but wasn't expecting it to be so tedious.

There is a truly glorious 2-minute dream sequence at about the half hour mark and the ending was pretty crazy but the rest was astoundingly forgettable.

Picked by my daughter - I had no idea it even existed.

I've always ired that Sandler's child-like essence has evolved into good workable chemistry with children. He's an affable if not outstanding lead, but even though he's essentially doing the same schtick we loved from the comedies - silly voices and physical humour - it hits different in a family film.

Not bad overall, if not particularly memorable.

Hell yeah! This is my kind of movie.

Space horror, isolation, dark psychological freakouts, some truly haunting imagery, a compelling structure, excellent sound design (headphones recommended), some interesting style choices, lots of brutality and more. There is plenty on offer.

The story sags at times but perhaps because the good bits are very much so. The final act almost felt like its own film.

It's somewhat predictable overall but still moves well. The performances don't really stand out but plenty did.

Entirely predictable, sure, but as far as these movies go I've seen much worse. It's no Spy Kids but it still moves capably and has some amusing moments.

Credit where it's due for the casting, some of these kids display some impressive comedic sensibilities and timing- particularly Maxwell Simkins and Cree Cicchino. Certainly makes the journey between familiar beats a little more enjoyable.

It's fun, sure, but it's slow and tame - more effort was put into the sex than the kills.

The dinner table scene was a notable highlight as it finally provided some gore, but that elevator scene was way too long and slow, just like a few other parts.

It must have found a cult following to spawn so many more in the franchise, but I'm sure as hell not watching them.

Bit of a mixed bag but nonetheless an irable effort that goes hard at its target and has some great tension, scares and editing.

The story itself was pretty formulaic and predictable - that's what happens when you don't listen to mum - but the production values, decent creature design and audio editing all help keep things tense enough to remain enjoyable.

Had an old-school feel at times, and occasional crime noir undertones as well. Solid if not outstanding.

Rating is no doubt influenced by nostalgia. Sure, it's not Brooks' best or most renowned but it was a popular rental choice when I was on school holidays as a kid and though it's been a long time it's still great.

Some parts haven't aged well and that Godfather scene feels weirdly out of place, but the funny bits are very funny, the story moves well and Cary Elwes plays the titular role to a hilarious tee.

Intense, uncomfortable and haunting thanks in large part to an excellent lead performance from Ramesha Nawal.

The story has ebbs and flows but I thought the way they brought the inter-generational elements together at the start of the third act was very well done. The ending feels somewhat predictable as it approaches but it was still well-rounded.

Credit where it's also due for the cinematography and editing. A very solid debut from director Zarrar Kahn.

Just as fun as I and the kids loved it. Didn't realise how long it had been but I'd clearly forgotten how good the casting was. Reeks of the era but in the best way possible.

Sadly, while the Gorgons may have won this battle, I'm now old and cynical enough to know the military won the war a long time ago.

Wasn't really a fan of the character design and some of the voice acting but this was still a surprisingly solid bit of entry level horror for the next generation.

The lighting and atmosphere was probably the best part of the animation and captured the vibe really well. The story moved smoothly too. Quite trope-heavy and that's to be expected but I also enjoyed having a character literally explaining the three act structure and various archetypes as we went along.

Good fun.

Tis the season! And other than the South Park ep I've always thought Easter was under-served in modern pop culture.

It's not served very well here, either, with some of the least inspired creature design and kill scenes you've ever seen and some pretty terrible acting. The monster on the poster looks WAY better than the thing in the movie. And how big is it? Sometimes as tall as a building or over the tree line, other times the height of a fence.

BUT this is also thankfully self-aware and leans into the ridiculousness heavily. You might even laugh or enjoy some nice breasts - as a reflex.

Pretty terrible, but also way more enjoyable than similar efforts that take themselves seriously.

Feels like it could have been an excellent short film, but instead we got a so-so long one.

I can appreciate the lofty ambitions - it certainly shoots a fair bit higher than you expect conceptually. But that means you also have to be paying attention and despite a strong start, that became increasingly challenging as things started to drag.

That torch was clearly spinning in a vacuum as well.

It's worth noting that I coincidentally watched 'The Parent Trap' the night before this. I managed to go in pretty blind and it added a really weird subtext to the viewing experience.

I'm a fan of Pattinson and he is excellent here. His comedic touch fits the story well, but he has great range too. The stuttering printer also deserves a mention as a great recurring gag.

I'm less of a fan of Ruffalo and once again he got on my nerves. It's clear what's going on but I think there could have been more menace to the character. Threatens to steal the show and not in a good way.

Not as memorable as some of Bong's others, but still a fun 2 hours.

Was expecting a good time but still surprised by just how much fun I had with this one. The energy is great, the story is pretty well-handled and the kills make innovative use of the environment, even if some of them get a bit repetitive.

The gore and kills vary somewhat in their intensity and If I could point to anything, my only real disappointment is that it could have gone even harder in those respects.

Also enjoyed the soundtrack, especially the abundance of generic 80s funk with huge drums and slap bass. That said, there's one bit at almost exactly 30 minutes that uses a piano playing a lot of the same notes and intervals as the Severance theme - although I'm sure it's entirely coincidental.

My wife and daughter picked this for movie night and my memories of it are relatively indifferent so I was happy to give it a re-watch for the first time in adulthood.

It's classic 90s family movie gear but, while it may have worked a bit better with the original in the 60s and sort of works here, I found the basic premise hard to look past - that and Natasha Richardson's hair... It's terrible parenting all around and lots of manipulating so I'm not sure why this is so beloved.

My wife was less impressed with this opinion when I started to voice it. So here we are...

This should be screened in RSLs across the country every Anzac Day *sheds patriotic tear*.

Stupid, juvenile, funny, gross. And I loved it. The editing is great, regardless of what you might think about the story, jokes and practical effects.

I have no idea what you'd get from this if you're not Australian - that Burke and Wills stuff is pretty niche - but I'd still recommend watching.

My only experience with this film was watching it in cinemas with friends 20 years ago, no doubt high and full of pizza, and being incredibly underwhelmed.

Two decades later and with more 'refined' taste (HA!), it's not as terrible a movie as I'd made myself believe. But it is a huge waste of the IP with changes to the lore that ignore the whole essence of the brand. It's a more coherent story than I recall, but it isn't Doom.

Though the Rock gets top billing, Karl Urban does most of the heavy lifting irably. The first-person shooter bit was just as cheesy and lame as I it being back then.

They should do a 20-year remaster with the OST changed to songs from the last two games.

Gets an extra half-star on rewatch.

It's hard to believe, regardless of intention, that at no point did someone stop, look around at all the kids in blackface, the filming of sexual acts without consent and other questionable elements, and ask "what the hell are we doing?"

I can understand the essence of what they were going for - and the few moments that work are when they manage to parallel traditional anthropological study with the modern lifestyle, but it becomes such a small component of a wildly erroneous project.

How they managed to take a story about a grieving family and take it so far away from that is... so weird. By the end, the dead mum is a complete non-factor.

Additionally problematic is the fact that all of the Papuans were clearly NOT Papuan - but within the context of all the other racism going on here it could be deemed a minor issue.

Amazing that this film is still so easy to find, or that it ever received a major studio release in the first place. This was brought to my attention by an Instagram reel about unbelievably racist films and I couldn't believe it was so... modern. This isn't even 30-years old and it's difficult to understand the rationale that got this made, let alone green-lit in the first place.

Good soundtrack though, even if most of the 'score' side appears to be off-cuts from other more successful films.

Excellently done, and very funny. It's honestly hard to find a weak link in the cast - even the dogs are great.

To read after the fact that the outline was just 16 pages and that the majority of this was improvised further emphasises just how well each actor delivers individually, but there is some really enjoyable chemistry in the couplings and interactions as well. Lynch and Coolidge are probably the stand-outs.

Can appreciate the effort but felt very flat throughout. I don't mind a bit of daytime spookiness but the tension felt more awkward than palpable at times.

I think it says more about how bad the majority of these novelty films have been and how low the bar is currently set, but this was surprisingly coherent!

Has plenty of the usual problems but does a much better job of utilising the source material and lore to give the twisted titular character some depth in a modern(ish) setting.

Sure, it's cheesy, but it has some decent moments and the pacing is solid. Ultimately it's just nice to watch one of these and not spend the duration wondering why I put it on in the first place.

Really enjoyed this - the story, the performances, the superb audio editing that almost makes this a must-watch with headphones. There is a lot to like, and that far overshadows a small number of issues.

Enjoyed the first half more than the second. Although while the story certainly drags and loses its way a bit in the middle, it's book-ended by a strong start and finish. The performance quality varies to some extent but is still good overall, and the editing is great throughout. Actually incorporates some of the ideas I thought Opus was going to cover but never did.

This was one of the first movies I ever added to my watchlist when I came here. I'd imagine there's probably a German (or Swedish) word for the feeling you get when you're able to finally check off one that's been sitting there for years. Worth the wait.

Treads a lot of very familiar beats story-wise but the setting and idea were more than enough to pique my interest.

It does a good job of cultivating a sense of mystery and tension for the first half, led by some interesting performances. But despite my love of John Malkovich, he was not the right actor to play that role.

I didn't, for a moment, believe he was ever a famous musician or popstar. The auto-tuned vocals sucked as much as the cheesy over-sexualised dance moves in another scene. The puppet show tried to invoke memories of 'Being John Malkovich' (a top 10 for me) but fell well short. Tony Hale offered a more interesting character as the assistant despite far less screen time and should probably have been the lead antagonist.

It's not until things really kick off that this shits the bed and becomes a watered-down version of the many better movies you'll see used as comparisons in other reviews (Don't Blink, The Menu, Midsommar, etc). It ends up entirely predictable and uninteresting, not as clever as it's clearly trying to be in the final minutes.

Well made but ultimately forgettable.

Comfortably my favourite release of the year so far.

Ever since eight-year-old me saw 'Cliffhanger' I've loved John Lithgow as the villain - but it's a role he hasn't played as much recently as in his early career. This is a true return to evil form, and the other lead performances from Geoffrey Rush and George Henare are just as superb.

You could argue that the duty of care exercised by the employees isn't great - but if you've ever had a family member in a relatively remote aged care facility you know it's not entirely untrue. I'm kind of glad my grandparents aren't around anymore because I'd be feeling pretty guilty.

The direction and editing are great, but the sound design was also exemplary and really added to the unsettling tone (headphones help). Ends feeling like there's more to the story - but I think this is the kind of thing where re-watches will yield more clues and a better understanding.

A truly captivating and entertaining ride. Yes, seniors and these settings are easy targets for unsettling auras, but this is done very well, thanks in large part to the casting.

Loses half a star for Lithgow's accent. I'd say the Kiwi voice is a bit trickier than the Australian, but he seems more headed towards South Africa at times. It's a bit of a mess but really won't detract, especially if you're not antipodean and can't tell the difference.

"I don't have what regular people have. All I have are you f*ckbags, and it f*ckin sucks but it'll have to do.."

Even better when watched immediately after requiem, it's a great end in so many ways. The subtle step up in animation is gorgeous and really gives it a cinematic air.

As I said last time, it could have done with more songs given how good Dethalbum IV is.

Pretty self explanatory.

• Paddington in Peru
• Snatch
• It Doesn’t Get Any Better Than This
• You're Cordially Invited
• Kinda Pregnant
• Krippendorf's Tribe
• The Parent Trap
• Rich Flu
• Carry-On
• The Vanishing

...plus 143 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

Ranking every Jack Black film I've seen as I slowly make my way through his filmography.

Film star ratings are somewhat irrelevant, this list instead based on the strength and impression of his personal performance.

1. School of Rock
2. Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny
3. Tropic Thunder
4. Kung Fu Panda
5. Nacho Libre
6. Orange County
7. Goosebumps
8. The Super Mario Bros. Movie
9. Envy
10. Shallow Hal

...plus 20 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

There's more than deadly animals to be afraid of Down Under...

Collecting a list of Australian-made horror films, both globally renowned and little-known, past and present. There's something unique to our national psyche and it's rarely better expressed than on-screen.

Includes those films that are clearly Australian productions despite the ridiculous need to put on accents.

• Talk to Me
• The Babadook
• The Reef
• Relic
• Wolf Creek
• Wolf Creek 2
• The Tunnel
• You'll Never Find Me
• 100 Bloody Acres
• Picnic at Hanging Rock

...plus 72 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

Was it the best season? Probably not. But it's the first time we've sat down and watched one from front to back in a while.

• Black Mirror: USS Callister – Into Infinity
• Black Mirror: Bête Noire
• Black Mirror: Common People
• Black Mirror: Eulogy
• Black Mirror: Plaything
• Black Mirror: Hotel Reverie

There's something so ridiculously enigmatic about Nic Cage, and his back-catalogue is as crazy as you'd expect. Ranking each one as I see it.

1. Con Air
2. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
3. The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
4. Mandy
5. Leaving Las Vegas
6. The Rock
7. Pig
8. Dream Scenario
9. Longlegs
10. 8MM

...plus 12 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

Ranking the multitude of unique and quality work from Wes Anderson as I experience them.

1. The Grand Budapest Hotel
2. The Royal Tenenbaums
3. Fantastic Mr. Fox
4. Moonrise Kingdom
5. The French Dispatch
6. The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar
7. Asteroid City
8. The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
9. The Darjeeling Limited

There's something about lighthouses that sets an ominous tone. Those protectors from destruction are often in isolated locations that can affect the mental stability of any who stay too close for too long.

• The Lighthouse
• The Vanishing
• Cold Skin
• The Sand Castle
• The Fog
• Dark Beacon
• The Shadows
• Haunted Lighthouse 4-D
• The Light at the Edge of the World
• Tower of Evil

...plus 8 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

A hell of a good time - 11 films in six months and each of them memorable or forgettable in their own right. A few final thoughts:

1. Yes, I have #2 before the first. Given how much of the story relies on you having seen the first, this might seem a bit weird. But other than the singular issue of continuity, the second one does everything the first does but bigger and better, and then adds more of its own. They're both great films but the second is better looking and better written.

2. The reboot is better than the majority - I can't believe we had to wait 11 films for a comprehensive explanation of how the box works and the rules that surround it, because they were exceptionally vague and variable in many of the shit-shows that came before.

3. Favourite scene, as I mentioned in my review, was Pinhead going off in the nightclub in #3. Plenty of memorable kills and gore throughout, but often not enough to overshadow some terrible films.

4. That said, I could probably stumble across any of these and watch them to completion. Genuinely excited for the projects (sequel to reboot and a possible TV franchise).

Waited nearly 40 years to watch a Hellraiser film. Worth the wait.

1. Hellbound: Hellraiser II
2. Hellraiser
3. Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth
4. Hellraiser
5. Hellraiser: Hellseeker
6. Hellraiser: Bloodline
7. Hellraiser: Hellworld
8. Hellraiser: Inferno
9. Hellraiser: Judgment
10. Hellraiser: Revelations

...plus 1 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

It's weird, the duality in these two combined trilogies; the second one is by far the worst before Sam Neill comes back to save the day with a lukewarm third chapter.

Still, it's all worth it for that Goldblum laugh video.

1. Jurassic Park
2. Jurassic World
3. Jurassic World Dominion
4. Jurassic Park III
5. The Lost World: Jurassic Park
6. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

The best films of 2024 so far, based on Australian cinematic release date.

1. The Substance
2. Hundreds of Beavers
3. Kneecap
4. Anora
5. The Wild Robot
6. Conclave
7. Oddity
8. Exhuma
9. How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies
10. Late Night with the Devil

...plus 6 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

All the films that I've watched for the first time in 2024 in no particular order - and what an assortment it is. Re-watches not included.

• Oldboy
• Bramayugam
• Hunter Hunter
• Celia
• Boxing Helena
• Collateral
• Sliver
• Society
• Maestro
• Apt Pupil

...plus 402 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

What did 2024 look like to former filmmakers?

Attempting to make my way through as many films I can find set in 2024. From the Dystopian visions of the 70s through to Sci-Fi fantasy and pointed social commentary, how right (or wrong) did they get it?

• The Thirteenth Floor
• Narcopolis
• A Boy and His Dog

  SPACE BEFORE 2024: 49 years

  WHAT IT GETS RIGHT: Little, other than the growing audience and demand for porn.
  WHAT IT GETS WRONG: It's dystopian, following wars that never happened. Society has collapsed, populations are sparse and resources are limited and fought over. Though it feels like we're headed that way sometimes, it still hasn't happened.

• Highlander II: The Quickening
• Beyond the Time Barrier
• Songbird
• Weathering with You

Ranking the 10 Best Picture nominees for the 2023/24 Oscars as I watch them.

1. Anatomy of a Fall
2. Oppenheimer
3. The Holdovers
4. The Zone of Interest
5. Poor Things
6. Past Lives
7. Barbie
8. Killers of the Flower Moon
9. American Fiction
10. Maestro

One of the benefits of having young kids is no longer needing an excuse to watch awesome animated movies.

• Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
• Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
• Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
• Monsters University
• Shrek
• Shrek 2
• Shrek the Third
• The Incredibles
• Incredibles 2
• The Angry Birds Movie

...plus 82 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

Dave's Top 10 films in the year of Barbenheimer.

1. Anatomy of a Fall

   Hard to believe in the year of Barbie and the Bomb that a court procedural in two languages would be top but wow. Incredible performances and pacing.

2. Oppenheimer

   Three hours has never gone so quickly. Arguably Nolan's best, at the very least his best in a while.

3. The Holdovers

   Heart, humour and excellent performances.

4. No One Will Save You

   No words required if you watch this in a dark room with headphones on. It's not just a unique approach, it's excellently executed suspense and audio design.

5. Saltburn

   Keyser Soze of the modern age. I had a feeling about halfway through but I could never have expected.

   That's if you can get past the already infamous scenes.

6. Theater Camp

   The funniest comedy of the year for flat out laughs. It probably helps if you love musicals as well but this isn't one.

7. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem

   Was expecting a pretty formulaic take, got a great story with some stunning visuals. Beats Spiderman on the animated front for me, largely due to sentimental reasons.

8. Barbie

   From the opening spoof of 2001 I was hooked. Has a lot to say and says it with style and hilarity.

9. Birth/Rebirth

   An incredible take on some older horror tropes, led by two excellent lead performances.

10. They Cloned Tyrone

    Twists and turns, lots of laughs and great performances. This one deserved a lot more attention.

A look back at some of the best horror films of 2023 - even if two of them 'technically' came out in 2022.

1. No One Will Save You

   Maybe it's because I watched it alone, in a dark room with headphones, but there were few more unique approaches that actually executed it well. This film seems to divide opinion but in the right conditions it was spectacular. Masterful tension building and sound design.

2. Birth/Rebirth

   Two incredible lead performances make up for moments of suspended disbelief. An awesome take on the resurrection/zombie angle that brings the horror from asking how far you'd go to bring back a loved one.

3. Huesera: The Bone Woman

   Got a mainstream release in 2023 so I'm counting it. Great, dramatic character piece that fosters a growing sense of unease through some great moments.

4. When Evil Lurks

   While the story is arguably a little weaker than 'Terrified', this is another very strong effort from Rugna. IMO he has one of the best eyes for a truly horrific scene in the modern era. From the axe to the dog and everything else, jaw dropping.

5. Suitable Flesh

   A great Lovecraftian adaptation, even if the saxophone refrain during the plentiful sex scenes gets almost comical.

6. Infinity Pool

   Wonderfully unique in concept and poignant in its commentary, much of your perception of this film will depend on how long you can stand Mia Goth yelling 'JAMES'. But it's worth pushing through. She annoys you, but she's supposed to.

7. Talk to Me

   Tight and captivating, with some great performances from young Aussie talent.

8. Beau Is Afraid

   So wide-ranging and long that many don't consider it horror. It's certainly not to the point of Aster's previous efforts but there are so many horrific moments in this disorienting trek through the roots of male insecurity. From the anxiety-inducing first act to... what's in the attic... it's far less conventional from the director but no less engaging.

9. Run Rabbit Run

   Honestly surprised at how much flak this movie has received. Can't help wondering if Succession had a role to play in that.

   IMO, a well-paced and well-acted dramatic horror that's well-scored and paced. Is it largely predictable? Sure. But I've seen plenty of predictable movies that sucked. This isn't one of them.

10. Malum

    I haven't seen Last Shift, and that's probably a good thing as this is apparently an inferior copy. Worked for me though, with some well-built tension and a good lead performance.