2019 made it hard for me to narrow my top films down to 13 because of so many quality mainstream releases as well as so many amazing smaller releases being readily available. I didn’t get to see all the movies I planned to, but these ones stayed with me well after their end credits.
13. The Perfection
The Perfection has so many twists that entirely change the events leading up to them. It’s beautiful, bizarre, and ultimately cathartic. The two leads ground the film even at its most outlandish and the ending is strangely sweet.
12. Child’s Play
I completely expected to hate this remake that only has the barest resemblance to the original film, but the dark humor won me over. So many scenes had me laughing out loud and Mark Hamill shines in Chucky’s journey from broken, innocent doll to murderous menace.
11. Happy Death Day 2U
I loved Happy Death Day and I was afraid the second would rehash the same story. It’s a bold move to switch genres in order to tell a different story, changing what we know about the first story) and keeping the emotional center of the first. Tree This sequel is also just fun and delves into side characters only seen briefly in the first film.
10. One Cut of the Dead
One Cut of the Dead is like 3 mini-movies in one. Many are offput by the initial zombie film (that is one continuous cut of course), but delving into the story behind the scenes is a delight. Seeing the process and mishaps of struggling to make a movie in one cut with erratic actors, equipment malfunctions, and at its heart, the reconnection of a father and daughter.
9. The Furies
I randomly saw The Furies on Shudder for a movie night and I was completely delighted. It’s a slasher film with a twist that has several slashers with iconic looks doling out brutal, practical FX violence. The final girls aren’t what you would expect and kept me guessing throughout the film.
8. Us
Us has some of the most amazing performances, unique concepts, and chilling imagery. Lupita Nyong’o completely transforms for her role as Red and makes both characters sympathetic. The soundtrack enhances every mood and keeps the suspenseful air as everything goes off the rails.
7. Doctor Sleep
I went into this movie expecting to hate it, but Mike Flanagan does wonders with this story. Danny’s journey from rock bottom alcoholism to protecting a special little girl from an unstoppable group of magic nomads is such an emotional journey all tied up with his traumatic childhood. The runtime is a bit long, but doesn’t feel like it at all. The pace is quick and keeps moving. The violence is pretty brutal, a surprising but welcome choice in a mainstream horror film. The bold choice to recreate footage from The Shining pays off and fills in the audience if they aren’t familiar with the previous film while moving the plot forward.
6. Velvet Buzzsaw
Velvet Buzzsaw perfectly skewers the art industry, from the people to what is deemed to be worthy of notice. The critics, creators, and curators are mostly shallow, bored people looking for something or someone else to exploit and then are summarily punished for it. This delightful satire made me laugh out loud and had such a satisfying ending.
5. Midsommar
Midsommar blew me away. Right from the beginning of the movie, we are with Dani, Florence Pugh in an impressive performance, and her emotional journey as she experiences a huge tragedy and receives very little support from her boyfriend. The Harga people and their culture are impressively detailed and perfectly designed to keep visitors off balance. Horror in broad daylight feels like nowhere is safe.
4. The Nightingale
The Nightingale is the most harrowing experience I had in the theater last year. A woman goes on a quest for revenge after having her entire life destroyed by a privileged military officer. The violence is realistic and heartwrenching. It serves a purpose in portraying the nuances between how the Irish and indigenous people are treated by the English and how they are pitted against each other.
3. Ready or Not
Ready or Not is the most fun I had in the theater last year. It has over the top gore, dark humor, and an “eat the rich” sensibility. Samara Weaving plays a realistic woman put in an extreme situation who works through each obstacle as best she can while dealing with the emotional fallout. It also has one of the most satisfying endings, right up there with Knives Out.
2. Tigers Are Not Afraid
I’ve been waiting to add this to my list because it took a while to get distribution after being on the festival circuit. Tigers Are Not Afraid is another horror film based in reality, specifically the dangers of cartels in Mexico. The children at the center of the story are left alone, forced to care for themselves and navigate this dangerous situation. Magical realism threads through the film sometimes bringing levity to the children and other times confronting them with harsh realities.
1. Parasite
Parasite perfectly captures the horror and devastation of capitalist systems that allow for completely different experiences between rich and poor. The system forces the poor to go to extremes in order to survive, including devaluing others in their own situation. Although many would not call it strictly horror, I found it to be the most resonating and visceral horror based in reality.