Standouts:
The Father (2021) - Watching this so soon after my grandpa died was, uhhhh......a bad idea, I think. This film is deeply depressing, yet also really moving to anyone who understands just how horrible dementia is. The in media res storytelling and editing is so perfectly disorienting and the whole story is told with no much empathy. That final scene really hurt like a bitch. Someone's probably made this comparison before, but it's like the cinematic equivilant of Everywhere at the End of Time. 10/10
I Saw the TV Glow (2024) - Goddamn, this movie hit me personally. I'm not transgender and I know a lot of this film is meant to reflect the experiences of being trans, but it still managed to resonate. I'm an autistic person who feels like I constantly have to hide my true self and while also feeling defined by the media I love, so I saw myself a lot in Owen. This film as a whole ticked so many boxes for my personal taste and I'm quite confident in saying it's my favorite film of the year so far. A beautifully surreal movie about growing up, hiding the person you are, and finding yourself through art. 10/10
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024) - I got to see this one in theaters for my birthday! While not as good as Fury Road, this movie was still excellent. I noticed that it had a less chaotic pace and somberness compared to the first one, but that can likely be attributed Furiosa being the protagonist rather than Max. Still, it's as relentlessly fun as you'd expect. I'm really pissed that another Mad Max might not happen due to how little this one grossed though. 9/10
Monkey Man (2024) - Like Furiosa, this is an excellently made action film and is REALLY impressive for a debut feature. Nearly every scene is aboslutely pumping with adrenaline and the frantic editing really elevates it. Most of all, I loved the elements of cultural tragedy to it. Honestly, out of all the post-John Wick revenge thrillers we've gotten, I think this one might be the best. 9/10
Noroi: The Cure (2005) - I wouldn't consider myself to be a huge fan of found footage horror, but this is probably the best one I've ever seen. To me, it's the only thing that's come close to the quiet dread that Blair Witch established and in a lot of ways, even surpasses it. It's genuinely convincing as a fake documentary and I love how all the stories end up tying together in the end. The roughness of the camera quality especially does wonders for its creep factor. 9/10
Others:
Late Night with the Devil (2024): 8/10
The Empty Man (2020): 8/10
Dream Scenario (2023): 8/10
Cabaret (1972)): 8/10
Apostle (2018): 7/10
The Medium 2021): 7/10
Abigail (2024): 7/10
Scream 4 (2011): 7/10
Civil War (2024): 7/10
Saw 2 (2005): 6/10