It is the end of 2023, with that I want to shout out some of the best films I saw this year that were new to me. To see the full list you can check out my letterboxd list.
31. Door (dir. Banmei Takahashi, 1988)
I am glad this movie is becoming more available and made it to a couple of festivals in the last few months because it is a wild ride that is disturbingly timely. It centers around a housewife who is unnerved by the amount of people that have access to her personal information and the door to door salespeople that constantly show up. I can only imagine how she would feel now (makes me feel like it is ripe for a remake). It is the perfect amount of pervy thriller vibes with a bonkers bloodbath of a finale.
30. Fantastic Fungi (dir. Louie Schwartzberg, 2019)
I am terrible at watching documentaries but I can get sucked into a good nature documentary when I am in the right mood (or on the right drugs). This was shockingly moving and made me want to dedicate my life to the power of mushrooms. It is incredible how much power fungi have and the sheer amount of medicinal uses they have, it was hard not to come out of this thinking that mushrooms could change the world. Even the teachings around them and the focus on community was incredibly impactful at a time where it feels like we are watching the collapse of civilization.
29. Maniac Cop (dir. William Lustig, 1988)
I feel very lucky that I could see this on the big screen following a Q&A with director William Lustig. I did not really know what to expect from this cult classic. In the end it was a blast to see with a crowd and it had a very interesting ACAB theme running throughout. I knew it would feature the incredible Bruce Campbell but was completely surprised to see my favorite grumpy ladies man, Tom Atkins. There are some great practical effects and hilarious 80s b movie moments to enjoy.
28. Dream Lover (dir. Nicholas Kazan, 1993)
I love a good erotic thriller, and if you throw James Spader in, there is a good chance I will love it. He and Mädchen Amick are one of the hottest couples on screen. The fact that it all revolves around a man that marries a woman because she’s hot and then realizes he knows nothing about her is hilarious. I love a good schmuck. This had a lot of fun twists and turns and was a delight to watch.
27. Texas Chainsaw 3D (dir. John Luessenhop, 2013)
In our modern world sometimes you only know a movie from a meme or gif, which is exactly what happened for me here. I had heard about the “do your thing, cuz!” line but it was something I really needed to experience, and I was not disappointed. I was always surprised that this later entry into the Texas Chainsaw franchise had a fan base but now I totally get it. It plays around with the lore of Leatherface and the history of the family and small town the events take place in. They do it in a way that is very interesting and well done. I also have a long standing crush on Alexandra Daddario and this only made me love her more.
26. Saw VI (dir. Kevin Greutert, 2009)
This was the year I binged the entire Saw franchise. A series I had little interest in but found to be a strange comfort franchise. 6 was a surprisingly fun entry into the series that highlights the best aspects of the series. I think Saw movies are at their best when they have great commentary on the US healthcare system, highlight gentrification and decay in urban settings, have some unique kill traps, and of course have a strong twist. This one checked those boxes for me while maintaining the charming sickly 2000s color palette and editing this franchise holds onto so dearly. This is also the last entry that really tries to stick to the strict continuity of the franchise and I think it is so impressive they kept it going for this many entries. (Thank you again Ari for inspiring me to give this franchise a chance)
25. The Stranger: Prey at Night (dir. Johannes Roberts, 2018)
If you are sensing a theme here then yes, oddly this was the year of horror sequels. There are so many bad ones but there are also some incredible ones. I was never a huge fan of the original film, it is a little too mean and bleak for my taste. While this one still holds onto some of that tone it has a lot of fun with its characters and the strange abandoned setting in which it takes place. It is shocking how it still seems that directors have trouble with nighttime photography, so I was impressed with how good the movie looked, especially with the depth of darkness they could convey. It also sprinkles in some of the Wingard synth and neon aesthetics that usually enhance a horror movie for me. This also has one of the BEST Christine references.
24. The Boy Next Door (dir. Rob Cohen, 2015)
This movie is so perfectly insanely sleazy in the best possible way. This was an absolute blast to watch and I immediately purchased a physical copy because I knew this would be a favorite to show to friends. The amount of hoops they go through to make you empathize with Lopez’s character (despite the fact that she repeatedly makes terrible decisions) is hilarious. I will also never get over the fact that a first edition of The Odyssey is a plot point. Ryan Guzman clearly had a blast in this role and it shows in every single one of his scenes.
23. Santa Sangre (dir. Alejandro Jodorowsky, 1989)
I still have a lot of big gaps in my Jodorowsky watches but the combination of carnival performers, cults, and serial killers made this one stand out. This movie has a dreamlike feel that makes it hard to recall everything that happens but that is how many of Jodorowsky’s films feel to me. But I can always recall how the experience made me feel. I loved the world building and character design and its callbacks to horror classics like The Invisible Man and Psycho.
22. Evil Dead Trap 2: Hideki (dir. Izo Hashimoto, 1992)
I watched Evil Dead Trap for the first time last year. I remember having a lot of fun with its nonsensical story and gore. But the sequel is an entirely different animal. This movie really taps into the monstrous feminine and I would love to hear it talked about more in this regard. It is getting a new physical release which includes an essay from my friend Amber T. So that is the perfect excuse to check it out, I cannot wait to see what Amber has to say about this because I am sure it is much more in depth than anything I can put down right now.
21. Through the Looking Glass (dir. Jonas Middleton, 1976)
That’s right folks, an adult film has made it onto my favorites list this year! I got the chance to see this with a group of likeminded weirdos a few weeks ago at Philamoca. With ongoing preservation of these adult films by distribution companies like Vinegar Syndrome I have found that these can tap into some fascinating taboo areas and have some important commentary. You also see someone shove a banana up their ass but hey that’s even more of a reason to see it right? Incredible directors got their start in porn and it also offered the opportunity for a lot of women to showcase their talents so if you’re at all interested in seeing what some of these titles have to offer it’s not a bad journey to go down.
20. The Heroic Trio (dir. Johnnie To, 1993)
Another amazing Philamoca event I got to attend this year was a Hong Kong double feature that showed some action and martial arts films showcasing actresses like Moon Lee and Michelle Yeoh. Afterwards some friends told me about The Heroic Trio which they have since announced will be getting a new Criterion release. I am not a fan of Marvel/DC movies but I think I would be if they were as over the top and cheesy as this. Plus these ladies kick ass.
19. Pet Sematary 2 (dir. Mary Lambert, 1992)
I will argue day and night that this is superior to the original. It has a lot more fun with the premise and is not quite as bleak. Plus Darlanne Fluegel is incredible. She gives a monstrous feminine energy to this movie that is so perfect. Clancy Brown is also a great addition to the story and clearly has fun with his terrible character. Doubles down on the animal death though so content warning!
18. Possum (dir. Matthew Holness, 2018)
I literally could not tell you details about the plot other than that it has creepy puppets and a bizarre sense of humor that worked for me. I want to recommend this to people just to get their “what the fuck” reactions after the fact.
17. Angel Dust (dir. Gakuryu Ishii, 1994)
This was recommended as an erotic thriller to check out, and it did not disappoint. A female psychologist has to investigate some unexplainable murders of women and her ex is the main suspect. This has some great twists and turns and haunting lead performances. I enjoy the cross section of procedural, murder mystery, with psychology so this was perfect.
16. Enemy (dir. Denis Villeneuve, 2013)
I have to say I prefer a lot of Villeneuve’s work pre-Dune and this is a perfect example. I am drawn to stories about doubles because I like exploring identity in film and I think this does a great job of showcasing some of these ideas. Gyllenhal gives two great performances and there is some spider imagery that I have not been able to shake since.
15. A Snake in June (dir. Shinya Tsukamoto, 2002)
I have been working through Tsukamoto’s filmography since watching Tetsuo and while his other work has been very different, I have not been disappointed by a single film. For such a dark premise this is oddly sweet and allows for a woman to explore parts of herself and her sexuality that she would not have otherwise. I love movies that explore the secret lives of weirdos.
14. Anguish (dir. Bigas Luna, 1987)
More horror fans need to see this movie. I had no idea where it was going but I love films set in a movie theater and when movies blend with reality it always makes for an interesting treat. Pairs well with The Last Matinee and Demons.
13. A History of Violence (dir. David Cronenberg, 2005)
I always think about this movie when the “is sex necessary in film” debate comes up. 1. Who fucking cares, grow up. 2. Sex is natural and why shouldn’t we see it in film? I think this film does have two perfect examples of necessary sex scenes both between Viggo Mortensen & Maria Bello. You are able to see the evolution of a couple’s relationship through the ways they engage with each other sexually. It is brilliant storytelling and also hot.
12. Faults (dir. Riley Stearns, 2014)
I love The Art of Self Defense but not so much Dual. However Faults, luckily, also worked for me. Leland Orser and Mary Elizabeth Winstead give incredible performances. I never really saw where this was going and was shocked and delighted up to the end.
11. Belle De Jour (dir. Luis Buñuel, 1967)
Pent up housewife explores her sexuality by becoming a sex worker during the day? This is my kind of movie. Catherine Deneuve is gorgeous and incredible as always. I thought about this a lot during certain parts of Poor Things. Dark and horny works for me so if you like that as well check this out.
10. Tales from the Hood (dir. Rusty Cundieff, 1995)
I am glad I crossed this off my shame list. I knew I would be into it because I love Rusty Cundieff and I know how many horror fans have talked it up. But I was shocked by how incredible the social commentary was, and unfortunately, it is still too real. Everything from police brutality, to gang violence, to child abuse is explored and done in a way that is entertaining without detracting from the harsher realities.
9. Brain Sex (dir. Hisayasu Satô, 1988)
I am a huge fan of Nightcrawler and my friend suggested this which tackles some similar subject material. Since then I have become obsessed with Hisayasu Satô’s work and hope to track down as much of his filmography as possible. He has such a unique voice and while pinku films might not be for everyone I was amazed by how much interesting social commentary was spread throughout the film.
8. But I’m a Cheerleader (dir. Jamie Babbit, 1999)
I am trying to make my way through more queer films and knew I needed to see this. Of course I love the John Waters feel and aesthetic. Coupled with great performances from Natasha Lyonne and Clea DuVall this was a total hit for me. Cute, sweet, and weird the perfect combo.
7. The Nice Guys (dir. Shane Black, 2016)
It can be hard for me to find comedies that actually make me laugh out loud multiple times but this one had me in tears almost from the beginning. Ryan Gosling has such a good comedic presence and I think his physical comedy specifically shines in this one. Truly one of the best and I have already rewatched this year when I needed a pick me up.
6. Strangers by the Lake (dir. Alain Guiraudie, 2013)
I attended a queer erotic thrillers online course this year and Strangers by the Lake was one of the big recommendations. This is tense, sexy, and also has an interesting sense of humor peppered throughout. It was a fascinating look into queer hookup culture and the way we can be attracted to things we know are bad for us. It also has a melancholy tone related to the loneliness that comes from hooking up an I was impressed with just how many emotions came through while watching this.
5. M. Butterfly (dir. David Cronenberg, 1993)
Truly one of Cronenberg’s unsung masterpieces. This is a gorgeous movie that taps into identity, culture, and gender dynamics. It is a shame it did not get more recognition and that John Lone did not have more of a career because of this. His performance as Song is gorgeous and heartbreaking and he is impossible to look away from whenever on screen. It also makes a fascinating comparison to Irons’s performance in Dead Ringers.
4. Def by Temptation (dir. James Bond III, 1990)
This movie has everything. A badass monstrous feminine, great neon aesthetic, a silly x-files subplot, a bromance, a Cronenberg Videodrome tv, and effective commentary on the effects of Reagen-omics on the city and masculinity within the black community. Yes it is a ton of fun and sort of silly at times but overall this is a legitimately great movie that people should watch.
3. Carol (dir. Todd Haynes, 2015)
My top 30 became a top 31 after watching Carol on Christmas. Rooney Mara and Cate Blanchett are just so good and have such great chemistry on screen. After seeing May/December this year I knew I needed to explore more of Haynes’s filmography and so far have not been disappointed. He has a way of getting into some of the gray areas of human behavior that are hard for people to grapple with. While very different from his newest feature I was impressed with how I could see this come through while also being tender and sweet.
2. The Doom Generation (dir. Gregg Araki, 1995)
The only other Araki I have seen is Mysterious Skin and that is a beautiful, but difficult watch. The Doom Generation has a much more fun chaotic 90s nihilism that really works for me. This is sexy, gross, weird, and just an incredible journey to go on. The core cast is perfect and I am so glad it has gotten a restoration because this is one I hope to watch over and over. I need to explore more Araki.
1. To Live and Die in LA (dir. William Friedkin, 1985)
I love Michael Mann and his cool, sexy, vibey tones. So many people have recommended this but after Friedkin passed this year I knew I needed to prioritize it and holy shit, what a movie. It has much of what I love about Mann’s movies but is almost the inverse in its tone and messaging. Cops are not poor tortured souls, they are fucking psychopaths. Friedkin wrote the ACAB Mann movie I needed and I look forward to writing more on it.
That is it but as a bonus here are some other honorable mentions! Happy New Year and I look forward to more movie watching in 2024!
Favorite Director Discoveries: Hisayasu Satô, Věra Chytilová
Favorite Actor Discoveries: Brooke Butler (All Cheerleaders Die), Ryan Guzman (The Boy Next Door), Johnathon Schaech (The Doom Generation), Cynthia Bond (Def by Temptation)
Favorite Shame List Discoveries: Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Howl’s Moving Castle, Ghost in the Shell, Coma, Messiah of Evil, Habit
Favorite Recent Discoveries: Top Gun Maverick, Grand Jete, Star Trek Beyond
Favorite Underrated Discoveries: The Bad Batch, Viva
Favorite Undiscovered Gems: Impulse, 2LDK, Lisa, Lisa, Anatomia Extinction, End Zone 2
Favorite Sleazy Discoveries: The Roommate, I know Who Killed Me, Freeway 2: Confessions of a Trick Baby, Toys are not for Children, Singapore Sling, School of the Holy Beast
The Neon Banshee 