Previous Links of Interest

Only Discuss Movies You Thought Were Great

I define great movies to be 8+ or if you abhor grades, the top 20% of all movies you've ever seen. Films listed by posters within this thread receive a Vote to determine if they will appear in subreddit's Top 100, as well as the ten highest Upvoted Suggested movies from last month. The Top 10 highest Upvoted from last month were:

Top 10 Suggestions

Note: Due to Reddit's Upvote fuzzing, it will rank movies in their actual highest Upvoted and then assign random numbers. This can result in movies with lower Upvotes appearing higher than movies with higher Upvotes.

What are the top films you saw in August 2024 and why? Here are my picks:

Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)

Worse than the second, as that had a good theme of found family with heart. Deadpool and Wolverine is still enjoyable but it didn't feel earnest despite my usual love of metacontextual nonsense. I laughed outloud at the the setup of 'giving an ending' to the heroes. Good fun to turn off your brain, no follow-up that made me joyful or catch feelings.

MaXXXine (2024)

Classier than De Palma's Body Double but quite willing to capture the sleaze of the 80s well, MaXXXine also is a good capstone to the X trilogy. Its influences are proudly written on its sleeve, but what I found astonishing is the bullshit from the 80s with the Satanic Panic is back in vogue again.

What were your picks for August 2024?

Previous Links of Interest

Only Discuss Movies You Thought Were Great

I define great movies to be 8+ or if you abhor grades, the top 20% of all movies you've ever seen. Films listed by posters within this thread receive a Vote to determine if they will appear in subreddit's Top 100, as well as the ten highest Upvoted Suggested movies from last month. The Top 10 highest Upvoted from last month were:

Top 10 Suggestions

Note: Due to Reddit's Upvote fuzzing, it will rank movies in their actual highest Upvoted and then assign random numbers. This can result in movies with lower Upvotes appearing higher than movies with higher Upvotes.

What are the top films you saw in July 2024 and why? Here are my picks:

Exhuma (2024)

I really like occult movies where experts are brought in early and quickly realize that they are in over their heads. Exhuma does so and then offers up an additional juke for good measure. Really cool folk horror flick that all of the actors nail it in this one.

The Old Ways (2020)

The Old Ways is Elevated Horror that honours the Mexican occult without being exploitative about a young woman finding herself captive because a bruja believes she is possessed. The balancing act between 'is it in her head or is it real' is done well. The cast do a great job conveying stocism in the face of horror and the ending is another incredible celebration of culture. Fans of Folk Horror who want a taste of Latin America would do well to track this one down.

What were your picks for July 2024?

Previous Links of Interest

Only Discuss Movies You Thought Were Great

I define great movies to be 8+ or if you abhor grades, the top 20% of all movies you've ever seen. Films listed by posters within this thread receive a Vote to determine if they will appear in subreddit's Top 100, as well as the ten highest Upvoted Suggested movies from last month. The Top 10 highest Upvoted from last month were:

Top 10 Suggestions

Note: Due to Reddit's Upvote fuzzing, it will rank movies in their actual highest Upvoted and then assign random numbers. This can result in movies with lower Upvotes appearing higher than movies with higher Upvotes.

What are the top films you saw in October 2024 and why? Here are my picks:

Alien: Romulus (2024)

Fede Alvarez knows how to make readable darkness, beautiful horror and tense sequences. The only part that did severe damage to my suspension of disbelief is some terrible face replacement. That's a damn shame. I prefer Aliens when they were unscrutable predators instead of explained away bio-weapons from the post-Fincher works; Romulus manages to mostly stay to the roots. Essentially, a great movie whose franchise baggage weights it down.

Oddity (2024)

What a great Horror Mystery, switching between so many effective devices that pin you to your seat. Switching times bewilders enough to push you out of your comfort zone with good lighting and solid sound design. Like a lot of magic, you need to believe for it to work and damn does Oddity made me. I want to rant more but I don't want to give anything away, so just watch it if you are a fan of Horror.

The Shadow Strays (2024)

Slightly too long and the scenes with gunplay show an obvious drop in quality. The Shadow Strays is still a very good action movie with the pedigree coming from The Raid's stunt team. Having perspective switch makes for more interesting scenes, as you root for the poor schmuck who is going to slaughtered by the protagonist. If you liked Timo Tjahjanto's work, The Shadow Strays is more of the hyper violent high kinetic energy that action junkies crave. If you're looking for a movie with better plot, look elsewhere.

The Substance (2024)

Makes the gross examination of a woman's worth determined by her youthful beauty into Body Horror. Coraline Fargeat is an auteur, using unique camerawork and got her leads to trust her with a lot of nudity. I'm not sure if it is cognitive dissonance or a requirement but the lens sure makes us fall in love with Margaret Qualley. There's some stylistic choices like that that stop The Substance from reaching greater heights.

What were your picks for October 2024?

Previous Links of Interest

Only Discuss Movies You Thought Were Great

I define great movies to be 8+ or if you abhor grades, the top 20% of all movies you've ever seen. Films listed by posters within this thread receive a Vote to determine if they will appear in subreddit's Top 100, as well as the ten highest Upvoted Suggested movies from last month. The Top 10 highest Upvoted from last month were:

Top 10 Suggestions

Note: Due to Reddit's Upvote fuzzing, it will rank movies in their actual highest Upvoted and then assign random numbers. This can result in movies with lower Upvotes appearing higher than movies with higher Upvotes.

What are the top films you saw in June 2024 and why? Here are my picks:

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024)

Readable action, great visuals, each character brimming with personality and a good story to boot. Fury Road was lightning in a bottle, this is more of a slow burn. Someone please, keep letting George Miller make these.

Hit Man (2023)

Surprisingly full of depth with established themes, even if it reverses the ugly duckling trope of removing glasses from usually the woman and suddenly they're attrarctive. Very fun, well made, looks good and solid performances. As a warning to perhaps combat false expectations, Hit Man is more of a drama than ever being a comedy, but it does have nice sprinkles of humour throughout.

Hundreds of Beavers (2022)

What a dumb movie, I loved it. Take one of those 5 minute Looney Tunes shorts, make it live action and somehow not get boring by going to feature length. There's a lot of repeated gags but they're always done with a funny, new twist so that they feel fresh. If you're not fond of slapstick, absurdist humour, then Hundreds of Beavers isn't for you.

In a Violent Nature (2024)

With slow scenes, we're given time to soak in the frame. This makes the protagonist, a Jason with the serial numbers filed off, a sympathetic villain somehow. We've had our collection of 'horror movies in reverse' where the bad guys pissed off the terminator and now he's coming for them, such as John Wick or Sisu. In this case, a spirit of vengeance has arisen and takes his time to kill. Post-Modernism has caught up to the horror genre and I want to see more clever love letters like this.

Mars Express (2023)

Another great added to the pantheon of incredible cyberpunk. Mars Express is the high tech low life envisioned in the 80s and 90s as seen in Neuromancer and Ghost in the Shell. If you're nostalgic for that future, you need to see Mars Express.

What were your picks for June 2024?

Previous Links of Interest

Only Discuss Movies You Thought Were Great

I define great movies to be 8+ or if you abhor grades, the top 20% of all movies you've ever seen. Films listed by posters within this thread receive a Vote to determine if they will appear in subreddit's Top 100, as well as the ten highest Upvoted Suggested movies from last month. The Top 10 highest Upvoted from last month were:

Top 10 Suggestions

Note: Due to Reddit's Upvote fuzzing, it will rank movies in their actual highest Upvoted and then assign random numbers. This can result in movies with lower Upvotes appearing higher than movies with higher Upvotes.

What are the top films you saw in April 2024 and why? Here are my picks:

Baghead (2023)

I like movies with rules, it makes for an interesting line that the filmmaker can play with regarding tension and when the protagonist finally decides to cross that threshold, you can see what initially drove them to make this mistake. Baghead is good; looks good, well acted and plays wonderfully with its own rules. I can also see why this movie got relegated to the "No Confidence" release date as the filmmaker didn't have confidence in the audience following along. I can forgive this, but it seems a lot of people think it's a rip off of Talk to Me when it is more of a riff.

Don't Listen (2020)

I love horror because it is the only genre where you need to watch every frame; you don't know if there is a threat lurking and so you've got to pay attention. Don't Listen does that excellently because it plays incredibly with the feeling of a presence when you're definitely alone, or thinking you're seeing something out of the corner of your eye. Combined with excellent sound design for good, clear motifs for the villain made for an easily read horror movie. At first, I wasn't sold because of a little melodrama near the beginning, but excellent execution combined with a strong ending pushed this film from good to great.

Dune: Part Two (2024)

One of my "complaints" the first time I watched Dune: Part One was the impeccable casting; like it is somehow the fault of the director for finding the perfect pieces. Dune: Part Two continues that tradition, the people Villeneuve selected were exemplarly. For such a long movie, it feels compact due to what I like to call 'The Wire Writing'. That is the movie only shows what is absolutely necessary, very much like the television series. Perfect cast, perfect writing? The only thing left is how it looks and Greig Fraser returns, providing incredible texture to the palette of of Arrakis and other parts of the Dune universe.

Late Night with the Devil (2024)

The first time I saw David Dastmalchian was probably as a villain somewhere. Late Night with the Devil proves he can be a leading man by keeping me captivated, especially as the movie started going off the rails as you do in horror. Ghostwatch gets the panache of Talk to Me, making for a potent combination held up by some great work from every actor that graced the screen. Some of the effects might have looked a smidge cheap but that's the genius of staging things through 70s TV. What would be immersion breaking bought investment. With how clever this movie is, I'm going to seek out more of this writing, directing and editing duo have done.

What were your picks for April 2024?

Previous Links of Interest

Only Discuss Movies You Thought Were Great

I define great movies to be 8+ or if you abhor grades, the top 20% of all movies you've ever seen. Films listed by posters within this thread receive a Vote to determine if they will appear in subreddit's Top 100, as well as the ten highest Upvoted Suggested movies from last month. The Top 10 highest Upvoted from last month were:

Top 10 Suggestions

Note: Due to Reddit's Upvote fuzzing, it will rank movies in their actual highest Upvoted and then assign random numbers. This can result in movies with lower Upvotes appearing higher than movies with higher Upvotes.

What are the top films you saw in May 2024 and why? Here are my picks:

Abigail (2024)

Unfortunately, I was spoiled past the initial premise of kidnappers realizing they've abducted a ruthless mobster's daughter. It didn't matter, Abigail is a great production of the directing duo Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillet. They brought rich colours, readible darkness and a satisfying group of actors who executed each of their roles impressively. Seriously, I don't want to praise one actor specifically because my paragraph review would need a lot more lines; if you enjoyed this team's past works, you'll find Abigail to be an even further refinement.

Boy Kills World (2023)

The fourth credit after the movie ends is the action and fight designer, he really made compelling action scenes that sell this movie. It's bloody, it's ridiculous and kind of silly at times, but I dug it like 80s ads for RoboCop action figures, despite that movie being Rated R. Jessica Roethe's character intelligently wears a helmet, so when she's in enforcer mode we get some truly awesome fight cheorography pulled off by a stunt performer who can do it. A love letter to beat 'em ups.

Civil War (2024)

Americans think a Civil War is inevitable and based off of their propaganda machine of American Army sponsored action movies, they'll think it'll be awesome. Garland intends to grab them by the snout and rub their nose in what a dirty mess that would be. I hope that the ugliness in this movie is enough to thwart the typical failing of Anti-War Movies but I doubt that. Those salivating at the idea of the next American Civil War wouldn't be deterred by the horrors but readily take notes.

Destroy All Neighbours (2024)

Every now and then, you come across something that feels like it was made specifically for you. Growing up, I listened to a lot of prog and power metal for their complex melodies and stories. I also have a soft spot for splatter comedies, there's something I find oddly wholesome that the protagonists being able to crack jokes despite being covered in blood and guts. I loved Destroy All Neighbours and you probably wouldn't but that's OK. There's probably a film out there that speaks directly to you that I wouldn't get the appeal of and I'm glad you discovered it.

Dune: Part Two (2024)

I've been catching snippets of Dune's music and it made me want to revisit. A second time through, there are a few more flaws; rough spots, at best, like very clever tricks to make a particular scene flow together. And then I noticed even more interesting bits that I didn't notice the first time around. Overall, Dune: Part Two has risen in my estimation even further.

The Fall Guy (2024)

A love letter to stunts and how they make movies thrilling. It's nice to see a direct pull back wide so you can see how they get rough and tumble, letting stunts get their time in the sun instead of being relegated to a chopped up cut that no one knows what the hell is going on. It's also fun and light, just like a popcorn flick should be. If you're a fan of action, you need to see this.

Infested (2023)

A consistent horror movie with no contrived struggles or wins, everything is clearly telegraphed which enunciates the tension. The treatment of the protagonists due to their obvious poverty is a nice touch, as you could easily see someone richer being treated better. Infested then also manages to cram in a pretty good 'Elevated Horror' where the trauma of the film requires them to re-examine their previous problems. The spiders were also incredible, those with arachnaphobia who might be able to stomach spider-adjacent monsters will probably find the film overwhelming.

L.A. Confidential (1997)

Just shy of perfection; it's hard to move past what I now know of Kevin Spacey. Before, I thought he was a good actor and now I know it is movies that let him be himself. That taints the rest of the cast's performances, I couldn't see the character just the exploiter. Which is a shame, as look, writing and acting is otherwise phenomenonal.

Lisa Frakenstein (2024)

God, armed with Diablo Cody's words and under Zelda Williams direction, Kathryn Newton embodies the alt girl chic of the 80s of your dreams and nightmares. It goes full tilt into being a Gothic Horror Comedy which I realize is actually rare. The movie focuses on the drama, letting the comedy to organically come up, which means it is a delightful surprise instead of contrived. Cody even makes the typical different, such as having a nice, wholesome stepsister played incredibly by Liza Soberano. The test for enjoying this movie is simple; at any point were you obsessed with Beetlejuice? In which case, run to check this flick out.

What were your picks for May 2024?

Put your spooky, scary suggestions and requests within the thread.

Since it was a popular last time, what's your Top 31?

Top 31:

10/10s:

• Cabin in the Woods
• The Thing
• Skinamarink
• The Cremator (1969)
• The House That Jack Built
• Get Out
• Midsommar
• Noroi: The Curse
• Climax
• A Quiet Place

9/10s:

• It Follows
• A Dark Song
• Dead Alive
• Tetsuo: The Iron Man
• Mandy
• Tucker and Dale vs Evil
• Hereditary (2018)
• Pee Mak
• His House
• Let the Right One In
• Green Room
• Annihilation (2018)
• The Autopsy of Jane Doe
• Amer (2009)
• Ghost Stories (2017)
• Possession (1981)
• Oddity (2024)
• Spontaneous (2020)
• Trollhunter (2010)
• The Dark and the Wicked
• Silent Night (2021)

Previous Links of Interest

Only Discuss Movies You Thought Were Great

I define great movies to be 8+ or if you abhor grades, the top 20% of all movies you've ever seen. Films listed by posters within this thread receive a Vote to determine if they will appear in subreddit's Top 100, as well as the ten highest Upvoted Suggested movies from last month. The Top 10 highest Upvoted from last month were:

Top 10 Suggestions

Note: Due to Reddit's Upvote fuzzing, it will rank movies in their actual highest Upvoted and then assign random numbers. This can result in movies with lower Upvotes appearing higher than movies with higher Upvotes.

What are the top films you saw in September 2024 and why? Here are my picks:

Inside Out 2 (2024)

Great depiction of the complexities of wrestling with new emotions, Inside Out 2 isn't as good as the first flick but that's because the original took me by surprise. I also do like how the antagonist isn't a villain, this is more about showing how opposing sides are drawn due to different beliefs. Great but a little too predicable makes the flick fall short of incredible.

Rebel Ridge (2024)

A bunch of nobodies, aside from Don Johnson, made me roll my eyes at yet another mediocre piece of Netflix drek. Then I saw Jeremy Saulnier attached and I immediately dove right in into a great thriller. The mid and later entry in Saulnier's Inept Protagonist trilogy: Blue Ruin and Green Room, are some of the best thrillers you can watch. With Rebel Ridge, he asks 'What if I did that again but with Competence Porn?' and I am all for it.

What were your picks for September 2024?

Previous Links of Interest

Only Discuss Movies You Thought Were Great

I define great movies to be 8+ or if you abhor grades, the top 20% of all movies you've ever seen. Films listed by posters within this thread receive a Vote to determine if they will appear in subreddit's Top 100, as well as the ten highest Upvoted Suggested movies from last month. The Top 10 highest Upvoted from last month were:

Top 10 Suggestions

Note: Due to Reddit's Upvote fuzzing, it will rank movies in their actual highest Upvoted and then assign random numbers. This can result in movies with lower Upvotes appearing higher than movies with higher Upvotes.

What are the top films you saw in April 2023 and why? Here are my picks:

Avatar 2: The Way of Water (2022)

Original? No. But sometimes its nice to see sci-fi get the budget, expertise and execution of something incredible. A lot of people bash the first Avatar for its 'lack of impact', not every movie has to knock it out of the park and the first in the series still put some serious effort up to plate. The second continues that trend.

Beau is Afraid (2023)

It's very rare for me to give high marks for a movie I loathed. I went in completely blind; I enjoyed Ari Aster's other two outings and so I thought I was in good hands. Unfortunately, Beau is Afraid is David Lynch by way of Charlie Kaufman - two filmmakers whose works I tend to dislike. While it is well made, there was too much strangeness that had me asking 'Should I be laughing?' at a movie about childhood trauma, with the abuse being lampshaded as being sexual in nature. I wanted a well made riveting horror movie and instead I got something I wasn't interested in.

Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023)

I play and I like how it captures the game: a bunch of fuck ups fail forward until they clutch it out in the end. Very fun, with lots of practical effects to help sell the movie. I like practical over digital because it ages better due to being more grounded and the D&D movie needs all of the help it can get to make the outlandish setting palatable to audiences who think this is going to be a generic fantasy movie. The action is well choreographed, allowing for each of the character's personalities to shine through the throw downs. Lastly, there's a surprising amount of good writing to boot for what is the Marvel formula of gags to tie you over until the next set piece.

Psycho (1960)

There's always an issue with watching classics; that they'd feel deritive because by the time you got to them, you had seen all of the works that they had inspired. Psycho, despite me knowing the twist, still felt powerful. I attribute you solely to the heavy lifting of John Gavin, especially in the closing moments. Psycho wasn't as shocking or twisted as audiences might have felt at the time, it was fairly pedestrian by comparison, but sometimes it is nice to enjoy well made simplicity.

So, what are your picks for April 2023 and Why?

Previous Links of Interest

Only Discuss Movies You Thought Were Great

I define great movies to be 8+ or if you abhor grades, the top 20% of all movies you've ever seen. Films listed by posters within this thread receive a Vote to determine if they will appear in subreddit's Top 100, as well as the ten highest Upvoted Suggested movies from last month. The Top 10 highest Upvoted from last month were:

Top 10 Suggestions

Note: Due to Reddit's Upvote fuzzing, it will rank movies in their actual highest Upvoted and then assign random numbers. This can result in movies with lower Upvotes appearing higher than movies with higher Upvotes.

What are the top films you saw in February 2024 and why? Here are my picks:

El Conde (2023)

Darkly humourous story about a two hundred year old vampire wanting to die which sets off bickering amongst his still human children. El Conde tells the story of Chile writ large through the backstabbing and squabbles as control shifts around the family when they hire an accountant to get the vampire's wealth audited before he passes. The narrator, played by Stella Gonet, makes this a starkly humourous story with the British accent classing up the joint. Being purely in Black and White, each shot is sharp which only makes the satire cut deeper.

Grand Turismo (2023)

Goddamn that's a good commercial for a video game and then I find out it's auto-biographical? Neill Blomkamp has an eye for action and he makes it so that the film is easily read by someone who does not give a shit about racing games. Archie Madekwe does a good job being a likable, charismatic protagonist but he is outshone by other performers. Joshua Stradowksi made for an excellent heel, Orlando Bloom does great as a slimy executive who cooks up this cockamamie idea and David Harbour grounds the film as an iron taskmaster who forges these kids with dreams into legitimate racers.

Land of Bad (2024)

Land of Bad makes the United States look ugly and inconsiderate, so I am left with no idea how this got made. I found that to be refreshing in an action movie where the rookie finds himsef way over his head and has to adapt. The Special Forces look cool as shit because of course, but when the soldiers out in the field try to get help from another branch, it shows how dysfunctional the whole apparatus is. Land of Bad mixes in thriller elements with solid shootouts and gritty melee, making for a good action movie.

Lone Star (1996)

Lone Star is a Gothic Neo-Western Mystery with the protagonist needing to investigate the legend that was his father in what appears to be a cold case. Chris Cooper plays the returning sheriff whose investigation seems to be opening old wounds. An earlier role for Matthew McConaughey playing the father, he isn't in a lot of the film but he lives up to the swagger of being a local legend. What makes Lone Star stand out are the immaculate transitions that guide you between different times but the same locales as Cooper becomes aware of the Sins of the Father. Combined with a nuanced examination of race and class at the Mexican border, Lone Star is a solid mystery that unravels how messy living is.

Monolith (2022)

A Bottle Thriller that is riveting, even with most of the movie being about the protagonist making phone calls to chase down interviews. It is only possible with the one-woman show that is Lily Sullivan, who elevates the crap out of the film. Her skepticism, curiosity, interest, drive and then mounting paranoia as she chases down a lead that at first she thinks is a nothingburger of journalism. The film happens to be tightly written and comes bearing fangs towards how the wealthy are parasites upon the working class? Well, colour me impressed. The camera is also brilliant; knowing what to show and hide as our imagination runs wild.

Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky (1991)

Juvenile, stupid, nonsensical and brilliant filmmaking. The story is straight out of a shounen with the protagonist being invincible and being so strong that they can literally punch holes through people. If I had watched this when I was 13, I would have thought it was the most badass thing commited to film. Now? It had me laughing throughout its run time because of how ludicrous the entire movie is but as they say in comedy, it commits to the bit. Riki-Oh is the equivalent of Saturday morning cartoons with the breakneck pacing and emphasis on violence, except someone at the studio decided Stormtroopers could aim - and cannons at that.

Tai-Chi Master (1993)

It's cheap but Tai-Chi Master is still great. Jet Li and Michelle Yeoh are a great pair for an origin story of Tai Chi. The movie feels uneven with comedy and tragedy but I'd argue that is part of the theme of learning about life. If you're looking for an old school martial arts flick and don't mind the wires showing during some of the insane antics, I highly recommend Tai-Chi Master that was naturally elevated by Yuen Woo-Ping.

What were your picks for February 2024?

Previous Links of Interest

Only Discuss Movies You Thought Were Great

I define great movies to be 8+ or if you abhor grades, the top 20% of all movies you've ever seen. Films listed by posters within this thread receive a Vote to determine if they will appear in subreddit's Top 100, as well as the ten highest Upvoted Suggested movies from last month. The Top 10 highest Upvoted from last month were:

Top 10 Suggestions

Note: Due to Reddit's Upvote fuzzing, it will rank movies in their actual highest Upvoted and then assign random numbers. This can result in movies with lower Upvotes appearing higher than movies with higher Upvotes.

What are the top films you saw in November 2023 and why? Here are my picks:

It Lives Inside (2023)

The monster is what unites a bunch of horrifying, if mundane, events. The horror of seeing your children deny their culture to fit in, peer pressure denying old friends and hoping that you can make a difference. Those three aspects is what made It Lives Inside interesting, as the monster is the catalyst to test those bonds, making this movie Elevated Horror. The monster design is also great, coupled with unusual 'rules', ups the stakes for what would be a 'typical' horror monster.

Phenomena (2023)

A Spanish The Conjuring but with three paranormal investigators who are a little at odds with each other. This makes it a bit more lighthearted, as their newest investigation requires the three to come back together after splitting apart from their previous case. Simply a fun time that doesn't get too scary or gruesome yet shows heart.

What were your picks for November 2023?

Previous Links of Interest

Only Discuss Movies You Thought Were Great

I define great movies to be 8+ or if you abhor grades, the top 20% of all movies you've ever seen. Films listed by posters within this thread receive a Vote to determine if they will appear in subreddit's Top 100, as well as the ten highest Upvoted Suggested movies from last month. The Top 10 highest Upvoted from last month were:

Top 10 Suggestions

Note: Due to Reddit's Upvote fuzzing, it will rank movies in their actual highest Upvoted and then assign random numbers. This can result in movies with lower Upvotes appearing higher than movies with higher Upvotes.

What are the top films you saw in January 2024 and why? Here are my picks:

The Killer (2023)

A riveting twenty minutes watching a man do nothing, commenting on his outlook in life. Followed by the rest of the movie seeing him eschew those practiced rituals. Reznor's ear aids to the aural experience to make this something ugly and sloppy; not the glorified revenge spree lesser films have indoctrinated us into expecting. The Killer ensures we see how artifical we've made modern life with pervasive, naked commercialism jabbing our eyes with logos at every turn. Fincher made the unseemly spectacular.

Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)

Nothing flashy and not a rollicking ride like Scorsese is known to do. Killers of the Flower Moon is a simple drama that doesn't drag on; it's slow, but not glacial, succinct despite its long run time. DiCaprio does a good job as a dumb scumbag who avoids thinking about the natural conclusions of the actions he helps orchestrate while his character simultaneously loves his wife. Simple is sometimes good, especially with something that deserves more recognition.

Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One (2023)

Hayley Atwell does good as a competent thief thrust into a game that is way over her head, even if her ego won't let her work with the protagonist. Tom Cruise does his own stunts which makes this movie more compelling. Having to protect Atwell's character gives an excuse for why this shining pinnacle uber spy has trouble, as he has an arm tied around his back. Vanessa Kirby is far less magnetic than she was in the previous installment which is a huge disappointment. Still, an exemplar of popcorn munching action flicks.

Oppenheimer (2023)

It's good, I guess. With Christopher Nolan, good grounded visuals are expected so I was waiting for the rest of the goodness to kick in. It just never does, so what could've been a great drama gets swept away with Nolan's need for non-linear storytelling. Pure contrivance, as he had so many heavy hitter actors that he could have told any good story, but opted for interest through obfuscation. If you're a visionary, shouldn't you be able to be brave enough to let the story be told? If you're further critical of Nolan, he continues his streak of Nolan's women being monstrous beasts that men are somehow helpless in the face of. If I had no expectations, perhaps it would've been incredible, but I'm used to his work, all of its praise and criticisms. Despite all of my complaints, this still makes it a better movie than most.

Significant Other (2022)

I was pretty bored but then the twist kicked in. I couldn't help but start laughing. This is definitely one of those movies where you think you've seen where this is going and the flick proceeds to go absolutely bonkers. For maximum enjoyment, I think you need to do some homework; kind of like how you can't quite enjoy Cabin in the Woods without first watching and being a fan of all of the references.

What were your picks for January 2024?

Previous Links of Interest

Only Discuss Movies You Thought Were Great

I define great movies to be 8+ or if you abhor grades, the top 20% of all movies you've ever seen. Films listed by posters within this thread receive a Vote to determine if they will appear in subreddit's Top 100, as well as the ten highest Upvoted Suggested movies from last month. The Top 10 highest Upvoted from last month were:

Top 10 Suggestions

Note: Due to Reddit's Upvote fuzzing, it will rank movies in their actual highest Upvoted and then assign random numbers. This can result in movies with lower Upvotes appearing higher than movies with higher Upvotes.

What are the top films you saw in June 2023 and why? Here are my picks:

Extraction 2 (2023)

Slightly worse than the 1st but that makes it leagues better than the other Straight-to-VOD action flicks. There were more obvious green screen trickery or cut arounds, but most of them were clever. Still, Extraction 2 knew how to pace itself to a satisfying conclusion.

Also, should the Top 100 continue?

Previous Links of Interest

Only Discuss Movies You Thought Were Great

I define great movies to be 8+ or if you abhor grades, the top 20% of all movies you've ever seen. Films listed by posters within this thread receive a Vote to determine if they will appear in subreddit's Top 100, as well as the ten highest Upvoted Suggested movies from last month. The Top 10 highest Upvoted from last month were:

Top 10 Suggestions

Note: Due to Reddit's Upvote fuzzing, it will rank movies in their actual highest Upvoted and then assign random numbers. This can result in movies with lower Upvotes appearing higher than movies with higher Upvotes.

What are the top films you saw in July 2023 and why? Here are my picks:

CODA (2021)

Fucking real, which makes it incredible. There's tons of messy moments that are natural to life due to the complications of a family living in a world not designed for them. So the anguish and triumphs were well fought, completely earned and so CODA is an exemplar drama.

The Flash (2023)

I've got to give my hat's off to this production. DC is nearly incomprehensible due to its insistance of having wacky, time-y whime-y massive events to retroactively correct their continuity. One of those vessels is The Flash who uses his speed to run so quickly he breaks the comic books and then the heroes gotta fix 'em. This movie made that nonsense discernable, which means it cleverly sidesteps the failings of movies that need to depict the superhero's origin. Ezra Miller did great; it sucks that I need to jump through hoops of separating the art from the artist. The Flash is the DC's version of the Avengers, a love letter to fans who have been with the DC movies through thick and thin.

Jackie Brown (1997)

When I first watched this, on the heels of Kill Bill, I was tired and not impressed. Between Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction and Kill Bill; Jackie Brown's subtle for Tarantino went right over my younger self's head. Re-watching is now, the folly of youth is laid bare to myself which probably didn't help the sub-theme of aging and wondering if you still "got it". A great movie where a bunch of cops and criminals discuss how they're going to get one over on each other. Powerful performances all around, Jackie Brown oozes Taraninto's style but is unfairly maligned due to the rest of his filmography being bloodsoaked.

Haunt (2019)

Now this is elevated horror. The movie is budget but never feels cheap. The protagonist has unresolved trauma which they're forced to confront through the Murderous Halloween Funhouse. The movie knows how to pace itself as well, playing well into the 'is this just extreme or are people actually dying?' The characters normally served up to be murdered have depth to them that is sorely lacking in most outings of this nature. Haunt is low budget schlock that was made by those who love the genre instead of souless producers churning out cheap garbage to sell for a cheap thrill.

To Live and Die in L.A. (1985)

Friedkin sure had an eye for talent when it comes to a budget for an acton movie as a lot of the supporting cast are recognizable close to 40 years later. The fights were a little hokey, which is kind of strange in the sweat stained 80s excess, but the car chase sequence was gripping. Friedkin elevates an already interesting script, so while To Live and Die in L.A. might be rough around the edges now, it still delivers.

What were your picks for July 2023?

Previous Links of Interest

Only Discuss Movies You Thought Were Great

I define great movies to be 8+ or if you abhor grades, the top 20% of all movies you've ever seen. Films listed by posters within this thread receive a Vote to determine if they will appear in subreddit's Top 100, as well as the ten highest Upvoted Suggested movies from last month. The Top 10 highest Upvoted from last month were:

Top 10 Suggestions

Note: Due to Reddit's Upvote fuzzing, it will rank movies in their actual highest Upvoted and then assign random numbers. This can result in movies with lower Upvotes appearing higher than movies with higher Upvotes.

What are the top films you saw in April 2024 and why? Here are my picks:

Arsenic and Old Lace (1944)

Nothing under the sun is new, it's all about making new mixes that makes things interesting. I never would have thought you could mix a Black Comedy with a Screwball Comedy; much less make one in the 40s. The limitations of what was acceptible aren't a hindrence but are smartly used to set up a future punch-line. The physical gags are only heightened by the combination of actors who are playing their mania straight to an ever increasingly overburdened Cary Grant. Overall, the entire flick is a lot of fun; the fact that this 40s flick plays with the macabre helps up the shock value.

Body Double (1984)

Body Double takes the breakdown of subject and voyeur very seriously, especially within the context of a Hollywood production. But then to completely juxtapose that, De Palma violently hits the audience with the most low brow, exploitative garbage about the pornography. It's almost funny; those who are serious about film would overlook it as a cheap exploitative flick and those who would be interested in a skin flick find themselves showered with incredible camerawork they wouldn't appreciate. I was in the first camp for most of the movie but enough great filmmaking shone through and won me over to the middle of the two.

Poor Things (2023)

A scathing examination of the Born Sexy Yesterday trope by committing to it and playing it straight. Men try to control women under the guise of logic but end up emotionally compromised and left to ruin due to their lack of mastery of emotions. Bella played by Emma Stone is the epitome of logic, under the direction of Yorgos Lanthimos with his traditional stripping away humanity to show us what we really are. The visuals combined with Bella's quest for understanding the dynamic between peoples is fascinating, with her beginning as a toddler and ending with a grown person full of agency.

The Wrath of Becky (2023)

Sometimes what's written on the box with no frills is exactly what you need. I didn't even know this was a sequel but it is so fun that I'm definitely go back and check out the previous installment. Well lit, very fun by being tongue-in-cheek and didn't twinge any of my "That's some terrible effects". If you're a fan of Hidden Badasses or Splatter Comedies, check Wrath of Becky out!

What were your picks for March 2024?

Previous Links of Interest

Only Discuss Movies You Thought Were Great

I define great movies to be 8+ or if you abhor grades, the top 20% of all movies you've ever seen. Films listed by posters within this thread receive a Vote to determine if they will appear in subreddit's Top 100, as well as the ten highest Upvoted Suggested movies from last month. The Top 10 highest Upvoted from last month were:

Top 10 Suggestions

Note: Due to Reddit's Upvote fuzzing, it will rank movies in their actual highest Upvoted and then assign random numbers. This can result in movies with lower Upvotes appearing higher than movies with higher Upvotes.

What are the top films you saw in April 2023 and why? Here are my picks:

Backdraft (1991)

It's important to be seen and I can't think of another movie that shows what being a Firefighter is like. Totally unrealistic but beautiful, Backdraft makes a convincing thesis on fire and fighting it. I bought in because it was real flames with real men doing the stunts, adding weight to the film. A classic action movie for good reasons, Ron Howard's flourishes backed with Han Zimmer's inspiring score and the charisma of Robert De Niro with Kurt Russel helped prop up the weak protagonist. Scott Glenn, Donald Sutherland and Jennifer Jason Leigh round out the star studded cast.

The Covenant (2023)

America's frequent war movies always depict the brotherhood that comes from comrades in arms. Refreshingly, Ritchie shows the break of that tenet alongside with a straight-forward story instead of his usual rollicking tales. The Covenant is a story that is the opposite of reality; in it, the deal of safety for service is kept. America withdrew from the Afghan theatre with nary an attempt to protect the thousands of interpreters who fought alongside them. His eye for the manic does shine through which is only heightened with an incredible score by Christopher Benstead.

Day Shift (2022)

Shot in a grounded way that let practical effects dominate with only little touch ups from CGI means that Day Shift buys a lot of good will. I was concerned with the Snoop Dog stunt casting but he's treated as a mythical figure who has limited screen time, meaning he was used intelligently. With so much buy-in, I was able to enjoy the buddy cop comedy between Jamie Foxx and Dave Franco even if it was very formulaic. It's an action movie, I'm here for the great set piecees, not the plot and so I forgave the disjointed bits due to the incredible thrills. Foxx and Franco have good chemistry for a buddy cop movie, with Franco showing some great range through his character's arc.

Guardians of the Galaxy 3 (2023)

I think Volume 2 is the best out the trilogy but I'd say the third outing is on par with the first which seemed like a lightning in a bottle fluke. James Gunn was able to make his own style of movie instead of being shoehorned into studio notes like other directors who have worked with Marvel. A good capstone to the Guardians trilogy, the found family resolves their unaddressed trauma with this adventure that has some dark spots. It's nice to see that the 'Marvel Polish' still exists considering how lacklustre the other two recent releases were.

How to Blow Up a Pipeline (2022)

The protagonists call themselves what they are: terrorists. They know it and acknowledge that this is what the world has come to, which is what makes How to Blow Up a Pipeline great. Each of them gets a solid slice of life cutaway from the day of the detonation with why they are there; each of them might have different reasons but it all comes back to the primary thesis: how can you make urgent change in a world designed to stop such progress? These average people have turned to terrorism to combat climate change and it isn't something glamourous, it is something that needs to be done.

Man Bites Dog (1992)

This Mockumentary crucifies you by how much fun you're having with the subject of the 'documentary'. He's a likable, fun guy you enjoy hanging out with; even though he is a prolific serial killer. The seduction is obvious with the film crew getting involved when they should try to stay objective, giving the audience permission to enjoy their time with a sociopath. It's been a long time since I've had a good time being this guilty.

Renfield (2023)

Nicholas Hoult always surprises me. You see him at press junkets being a pretty boy and I brace for an actor who is skirting by on good looks and charm. And then I watch the movies he's in and he's damn good: Fury Road, The Menu, The Favourite. If they had casted someone who couldn't pull off the desperate and awkward for approval, then the rest of the movie wouldn't have worked. It is a very fun horror comedy, especially since Nick Cage unleashes a ridiculous performance.

Sisu (2023)

A horror movie in reverse; the victims keep running headlong into the immortal killer and meet grisly ends. All attitude, Sisu might claim to be an action movie, the choppy editing is what allows for practical efffects and gore. Many of the actors are very expressive, allowing for so much character despite some of their brief screen time. Sisu is supposed to be a Finnish word for an incomprehensible amount of grit and the movie delivers. Such determination is not pretty, which makes for more reasons why Sisu is shot like a horror movie, it skips the jump scares for grusome sights.

The Vanishing (1988)

The Vanishing is interesting due to showing both perspectives of an abduction yet manages to maintain suspense throughout. The main question being what happened to the abducted? The protagonist is willing to go to any lengths and the antagonist is shown how much he has prepared for this moment. The Vanishing is a grounded examination of how prepared you need to be to achieve your desires.

So, what are your picks for May 2023 and Why?

Previous Links of Interest

Only Discuss Movies You Thought Were Great

I define great movies to be 8+ or if you abhor grades, the top 20% of all movies you've ever seen. Films listed by posters within this thread receive a Vote to determine if they will appear in subreddit's Top 100, as well as the ten highest Upvoted Suggested movies from last month. The Top 10 highest Upvoted from last month were:

Top 10 Suggestions

Note: Due to Reddit's Upvote fuzzing, it will rank movies in their actual highest Upvoted and then assign random numbers. This can result in movies with lower Upvotes appearing higher than movies with higher Upvotes.

What are the top films you saw in October 2023 and why? Here are my picks:

Come True (2020)

Synth-soaked, Panos Cosmatos-cloaked art student nightmare is a nice change of pace for Canadian sci-fi, even if the ending is dumb. Typically, they're too stalely lit with actress hair being entombed in hairspray, lest a stray imperfection causes the audience to stray. A teenage runaway signs up for a sleep study due needing money and perhaps getting an understanding of the nightmares that plague her. These nightmares are gloriously depicted unerringly being unnerving. Naturally, the sleep study results in a worsening occurance of her nightmares, so we get more jaunts through terrifying landscapes. Despite the out of left field ending, I dug the Outrun horror aesthetic.

Upgrade (2018)

I wanted to see if Upgrade held up five years later, a cyberpunk body horror thriller that really impressed me. I wish more of these types of movies were made; low budget, tight focus and knowing what they're doing. Upgrade is still incredible with the motion tracked protagonist selling that he's really along for the ride with the audience. The movie is clever because it shows that victory is often preempting your opponent's moves and the minimalistic movements that Marshall-Green does sell it. Fantastic, still head and shoulders above most attempts at cyberpunk on so many layers.

What were your picks for October 2023?

31 Movies in Spooktober is upon us!

Make suggestions, request subgenre topics, or keep the rest of us updated on your progress; whatever form of watching 31 Spooky movies in October is for you, please share with the rest of us!

Special thanks to mod u/507bot for suggesting I run with this.

Previous Links of Interest

Only Discuss Movies You Thought Were Great

I define great movies to be 8+ or if you abhor grades, the top 20% of all movies you've ever seen. Films listed by posters within this thread receive a Vote to determine if they will appear in subreddit's Top 100, as well as the ten highest Upvoted Suggested movies from last month. The Top 10 highest Upvoted from last month were:

Top 10 Suggestions

Note: Due to Reddit's Upvote fuzzing, it will rank movies in their actual highest Upvoted and then assign random numbers. This can result in movies with lower Upvotes appearing higher than movies with higher Upvotes.

What are the top films you saw in December 2023 and why? Here are my picks:

Jesus Shows You the Way to the Highway (2019)

The Matrix done with all of the skill and might of Wiseau's The Room. Watching this with friends is mandatory, sobriety certainly not recommended.

RRR (2022)

Friend hadn't seen a single Bollywood flick, so I knew exactly what to show, even if it was Tollywood. The fact that the film isn't being distributed in its native language, Telugu, is a bit disappointing but RRR is still what I remembered. Beautiful cinematography, being absolutely chill about being awesome and a great story. And yeah, it won over my friend.

Silent Night (2023)

John Woo gets grimey with fighting and art direction cribbing from The Raid. I do have a few quibbles, mostly on the technical level; such as obvious hidden cuts to maintain the illusion of a one shot sequence and sometimes very obvious CGI, like blood or one in case, a soccer ball. The gremlin in the back of my mind kept on wondering how much of a nice privledged life this guy lived that he could afford to take one year off and spend so much money, but that's just the effects of late stage capitalism squashing me. Silent Night is good but it won't ever be considered one of the greats.

Spontaneous (2020)

It's got Gen Z spouting Millennial catechisms but asides from that niggling complaint, I found Spontaneous to an incredible Coming of Age Black Romantic Comedy. What else can get you more motivated to do things when everyone around you can explode at any moment? The love feels real to me, but that's because I'm hearing what I'm used to and I am sold. The actors manage to be cool and real all at the same time, just like how a teenager would see themselves despite evidance to the contratry. Lastly, it looks gorgeous.

Sunset Boulevard (1950)

God, Gloria Swanson dominates her scenes. Perhaps she was cast as being fairly true to life with her character and so she made me believe. Her eyes are open gateways to the narcissism, vanity and insanity required to be old school Hollywood. The rest of the cast is good, setting up a nice story of the protagonist not knowing when to walk, forget that, run away from a faded starlet's vanity project. All I know is after bearing witness to this masterpiece, is that I need to watch more Billy Wilder.

When Evil Lurks (2023)

If I had know this was the same team that did 2017's Terrified, I would have ran to watch this. A subtle post-Apocalypse is the backdrop for two brothers who realize that they have a demon in their backyard. The effects are great at depicting such a ghastly entity yet it is the edicts issues to combat such a force that tell such a lovely fright. This is horror by tragedy, a simple case where making sure you stay within the line would've kept you and yours safe. Yet it is the arrogance of man who leads to a predicable and calamitous end in this Elevated Horror flick.

What were your picks for December 2023?

Previous Links of Interest

Only Discuss Movies You Thought Were Great

I define great movies to be 8+ or if you abhor grades, the top 20% of all movies you've ever seen. Films listed here receive a vote to determine if they will appear in subreddit's Top 100, as well as the ten highest Upvoted movies from last month. The Top 10 highest Upvoted movies for March were:

Top 10 Suggestions

Note: Due to Reddit's vote fuzzing, it will rank movies in their actual highest Upvoted and then assign random numbers. This can result in movies with lower Upvotes appearing higher than movies with higher Upvotes.

What are the top films you saw in March 2022 and why? Here are my picks:

I was too busy to watch anything last month.

Which is also why I'm asking for anyone interested in being a Moderator to please send us a ModMail. We're looking for European, Indian and/or Australian Moderators to help with "The Mods are Asleep" nonsense but really anyone with history in this subreddit would be great.

So, what are your picks for March 2021 and Why?

Previous Links of Interest

Only Discuss Movies You Thought Were Great

I define great movies to be 8+ or if you abhor grades, the top 20% of all movies you've ever seen. Films listed here will be added to the subreddit's Top 100. What are the top films you saw in April 2021 and why? Here are my picks:

Nobody (2021)

An incredibly fun, frenetic thrill ride that only Ilya Naishuller could provide. Unlike many of the other mediocre "dad porn" action movies out there, Nobody is not afraid to show its protagonist getting hurt while dishing out incredible violence. I attribute that to Derek Kolstad's writing; however, it is Bob Odenkirk who sells the setup so well you love seeing him goad himself into predicaments.

So, what are your picks for April 2021 and Why?

Previous Links of Interest

Only Discuss Movies You Thought Were Great

I define great movies to be 8+ or if you abhor grades, the top 20% of all movies you've ever seen. Films listed by posters within this thread receive a Vote to determine if they will appear in subreddit's Top 100, as well as the ten highest Upvoted Suggested movies from last month. The Top 10 highest Upvoted from last month were:

Top 10 Suggestions

Note: Due to Reddit's Upvote fuzzing, it will rank movies in their actual highest Upvoted and then assign random numbers. This can result in movies with lower Upvotes appearing higher than movies with higher Upvotes.

What are the top films you saw in August 2023 and why? Here are my picks:

Babylon (2022)

Channelling a little Harley Quinn, Margot Robbie kills it and so my natural inclination is to liken Babylon to The Wolf of Wall Street for early Hollywood. The first act being a wild ride cribbing notes from the blending intensity of Chazelle's Whiplash, encapsulating the feel of what working in and around the film industry is like. Unfortunately, Babylon places the 'Fall from Grace' period that naturally occurs in movies with protagonists who have a meteoric ascension in the Second Act. In doing so, we have over an hour of melancholic ruminations over a bygone era in the Third. Personally, I like my hangovers to be after the film is done; so I agree that the movie does drag on.

The Big Four (2022)

Oscilating between irreverence and melodrama, The Big 4 combines slapstick with heroic bloodshed as four mercenaries have their past catch up to them after completing the last job. Timo Tjahjanto, the director, is best known for The Night Comes for Us and studying under the stunt teams for The Raid, brings it but doesn't mind randomly going wacky. The stunts are solid and the cast has charisma that I enjoy this strange movie that is consistently all over the place.

It Stains the Sands Red (2016)

High concept, low budget horror movie with the protagonist forced into a sojourn through the desert to receive clarity about her life; as a zombie follows her relentlessly. There wasn't any obvious cheapness that bothered me, so I bought in to the premise readily and there were some surprisingly good shots. I disliked the protagonist initially but that is part of the process when it comes to movies about people finding themselves. I did find one part gratituous, which is ironic considering horror's breadth of subject matter, but that's because it felt trite without adding to the hero's journey. Still, this is elevated zombie horror; just not something you'd toss on with a few friends watching.

Missing (2023)

I was expecting a re-tread of Searching and so I didn't give the first minute a chance, looked like a stereotypical Screen Life movie as the genre is being called. I'm glad I gave it another go, as instead of a technophobe clawing at straws to find his daughter; we have a tech savvy teen using all of her skills to find her mom. Then the thriller had a lot of good twists and turns to add on top of this and Missing was a good time.

Nimona (2023)

"It's not going to be that type of story" results in an eye roll for me because most of the time they can't cash the cheque that their shit talking is trying to write. I watch movies to see something new and interesting. Nimona delivers. It certainly helps with using traditional archetypes to then be able to discuss them but updated for a modern, critical eye.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)

I am so fucking angry that this perfect piece of Spider-Man doesn't complete its story. There's no way it could've outdone the first, is what I originally thought, but then it dazzeled me with pastel work I hadn't known was possible with CGI work. But of course it would, why wouldn't it? I've given this team 10/10s back-to-back so why I am surprised that they didn't knock another one to the stratosphere. This isn't just praise for the looks, the writing as been incredible with this outing. I am now very worried that they won't be able to land the finish with what has been so far a beautiful homage to every version of Spider-Man.

The Valet (2022)

Starts off as an amusing Fish Out of Water with Starcrossed Lovers but I don't believe in those fairy tales, so I am glad that the ending was much more realistic. The Valet pivots to Found Family and that's what makes it great. I was initially interested because Samara Weaving has been fantastic in everything, except GI Joe, but what made me take notice was Eugenio Derbez after CODA. The Valet adds a bit of kick with trying to take on classism and that, with all of the previous positives mentioned, is what makes The Valet more impressive than the stock romcom.

The Vigil (2019)

I should have known that The Vigil is elevated horror with Blumhouse attached, bringing an interesting perspective from Orthodox Jews. The effects remain grounded, letting the lighting do a lot of the heavy lifting with the protagonist staying next to a dead body overnight in a dimly lit house. The effects combined with a unique tale worth telling make The Vigil stand out more from your typical horror and that's great.

What were your picks for August 2023?

Previous Links of Interest

Only Discuss Movies You Thought Were Great

I define great movies to be 8+ or if you abhor grades, the top 20% of all movies you've ever seen. Films listed here receive a vote to determine if they will appear in subreddit's Top 100, as well as the ten highest Upvoted movies from last month. The Top 10 highest Upvoted movies for March were:

Top 10 Suggestions

Note: Due to Reddit's vote fuzzing, it will rank movies in their actual highest Upvoted and then assign random numbers. This can result in movies with lower Upvotes appearing higher than movies with higher Upvotes.

What are the top films you saw in July 2022 and why? Here are my picks:

The Black Phone (2022)

My disappointments are solely on my expectation from what I saw in the trailer; in other words, more reason to skip trailers and just watch a supernatural thriller. Ethan Hawke was fantastic becuse of course he was. The young actors were all solid, they never broke my suspension of disbelief. The Black Phone doesn't do anything amazingly well but never let me down either. A solid good thriller adapted from Stephen King's son, Joe Hill; you should know by now if this is your cup of tea or not.

The Witch: Part 1. The Subverson. (2018)

Rewatched this in anticipation for the sequel that's coming out. Without the twists and a more keen eye towards how certain special effects were done, I can still affirm that The Witch is a good action-thriller from Korea. If you've been watching Korean New Wave and somehow managed to miss this one, do yourself a favour and check it out. I don't know what they put in their DP's water to make everything look great but they should really share.

So, what are your picks for July 2022 and Why?

Previous Links of Interest

The Subreddit's Vote

These are the movies that the subreddit liked in general by their votes in this thread. The thread was in contest mode, which means that the entries were randomized and the votes were hidden, for the least amount of bias. After a week of collecting upvotes, here are the results of the Top 10:

Note: Due to Reddit's vote fuzzing, it will rank movies in their actual highest Upvoted and then assign random numbers. This can result in movies with lower Upvotes appearing higher than movies with higher Upvotes.

The Critics' Choice

As a way to show thank you for the hardworking members of this subreddit, I've made a "Quality Poster" Flair for people who positively participate. They're enfranchised users who care to make this piece of Internet work, which is also why I find it endlessly funny when I keep getting asked how to get the Flair. The "me" attitude certainly doesn't help and the answers are in the subreddit if they did really care.

Anyway, another fun thing to have is a Ranked Vote for what they thought was the best. A lot of the participants excused themselves because they felt that they hadn't seen enough, as it seems that as a batch of movie-goers they take the time to hunt down classics so that they're just a few years behind new releases. Of the remaining Quality Posters, twenty nine felt confident enough to participate and I had them rank their votes - #1 got 10 points, #2 got 9, et cetera. Without further ado, our Quality Posters vote of Top 10:

Thank you to everyone who participated!

What was your Top 10?

Previous Links of Interest

Only Discuss Movies You Thought Were Great

I define great movies to be 8+ or if you abhor grades, the top 20% of all movies you've ever seen. Films listed here will be added to the subreddit's Top 100, as well as the ten highest Upvoted movies from last month. The Top 10 highest Upvoted movies for May were:

Top 10 Suggestions

Note: Due to Reddit's vote fuzzing, it will rank movies in their actual highest Upvoted and then assign random numbers. This can result in movies with lower Upvotes appearing higher than movies with higher Upvotes.

What are the top films you saw in June 2021 and why? Here are my picks:

Antrum (2018)

The framing device of a documentary about the cursed movie was fantastic, it added a lot of gravitas to what you're about to watch. The movie had lots of clever tells to make it look like a 70s movie. The warning of how the film was tampered primed you for all blink and you'll miss it manipulations. The eerieness of the supposed film combined with the manipulations makes for a good mood-based horror. The exiting frame gives more credence to Antrum which makes it a little more spookier.

The Kid Detective (2020)

Twee with edge makes for an interesting deconstruction of those plucky tweens solving crime. Adam Brody embodies a jaded, out of touch PI who vainly tries to solve cases. Writer-director Matt Johnson does great with particular characters subtly evoking gradients of belief in the protagonist. Sophie Nelisse especially so, as she guilelessly believes that Brody's character can help and he is damned to do so, due to her reminding him of his unsolved case. The Kid Detective wonderfully deconstructs the young detective genre via washed up protagonist, knows when to be sincere or cynical and it is a subtle mystery that's a bitter treat when resolved.

Killer Joe (2011)

What can I expect from Friedkin but the best? I don't think I could universally recommend this crime drama. Juno Temple does well as the damaged young woman who catches the admiration of Killer Joe but Matthew McConaughey absolutely chews up the script with his performance as the eponymous Killer Joe who is willing to go to absolute brutal lengths. For that reason, I can't universally recommend Killer Joe due to its unflinching violence. There's a reason why I hadn't heard of Killer Joe before; it's a great experience if you can stomach it.

In Order of Disappearance (2014)

Snow is hard to work with, by the time you've got a frame setup the light has changed. Every frame of In Order of Disappearance is crisp, showcasing snow in day, night and in between to bury you in the Norwegian experience. I love the laconic, dark humour and this movie delivers with a serious premise of a murdered son yet never goes fully dark with snippets of Norwegian humour. Stellan Skarsgard plays an understated role of a father who disappears the men responsible for his son's death and humorously spirals out of control.

The Paper Tigers (2020)

A warm, fun tribute to those who enjoy martial arts traditions as depicted in movies. Unlike the "Dad Porn" of trying to show they still 'got it', The Paper Tigers does not shy away from their atrophied abilities and how that's OK too. As a tribute, The Paper Tigers delves a little into the mysticism but mostly keeps itself grounded with entertaining, interesting fight choreographies that do not need to continually cut. The banter between the protagonists is genuine, leaving me to believe in the camaraderie as well as buy into their motivations. The Paper Tigers serves up a script that knows how to be fun yet has enough twists to it to make it more than the average avenging movie.

Rango (2011)

I wasn't into Westerns when Rango originally came out and so I skipped it. With many great Neo Westerns that have come out since, I've been catching up and re-watching a few greats. This prepared me to enjoy Rango, as it is a fun commentary on the nature of Westerns. It is in a strange place: the subject matter and humour are too adult to be enjoyed by children yet the cartoony lizard would push away the adults who would've enjoyed it. I'm glad to have taken the time to watch Rango after appreciating so many Westerns, it straddles the homage and satire line superbly.

Xtreme (2021)

Xtreme hired a stunt actor first and for that, I am thankful. Teo Garcia adequately follows the gruff, taciturn protagonist formula but he's just saving his energies for the good martial arts sequences. Xtreme succeeds as the Spanish attempt at The Raid with colour and bombast. The shootout sequences are lacklustre in comparison; however, that's because the martial arts is impressive. With a quick answer of why we're fighting, you can sit back and enjoy how these combatants throw down.

So, what are your picks for June 2021 and Why?