Check out our worst of the year list here!
Lou’s 2023 Favourites
Enys Men
I truly have been thinking about Enys Men all year. This strange little slice of Cornish horror is a profoundly unique and hypnotic blend of eerie sound design, the distinct Cornish landscape, and a compelling central performance from Mary Woodvine. Director Mark Jenkin created something deeply special with Enys Men, and I already know I’m going to be coming back to it over the next few years to see what I take from it on the next viewing.
Saw X
The tenth part of a horror franchise simply has no business being on any Best Of list, but somehow, Saw X has shattered that rule completely. If you’re a fan of the franchise, as I am, Saw X felt like a blissfully brilliant return to form for the iconic horror series, a fresh take that still captured so much of what made the films fun in the first place. Tobin Bell and Shawnee Smith were a joy to see return to these roles, and the shift of perspective from the victims to John Kramer made it one of the richer character pieces of the year, too.
Talk to Me
This was the little indie horror film that could this year, and honestly, it doesn’t disappoint. Danny and Michael Phillipou’s feature-length debut lives up to the well-earned hype – a brutal, deeply unsettling movie that doesn’t flinch from the dark places this premise takes it to. Throw in what should be a star-making performance from Sophie Wilde, and it’s an instant horror classic. Just not one to watch if you’re home alone. Or happen to have any haunted hands on the mantelpiece.
Kevin’s 2023 Favourites
Evil Dead Rise
As someone who bemoans the sheer magnitude of the Hollywood IP machine, I’m a little embarrassed that all of my absolute favourite movies from 2023 are sequels. Bad Kevin! I’m sure David Lynch is very disappointed. It helps that Evil Dead Rise, and the two other entries, were some of the best examples of their genre that dropped in 2023. You can read my retrospectives for more on Evil Dead Rise but, suffice to say, it was the movie I was most excited about and it’s ended up my favourite.
I wish this is the first time that something like this has happened, but it isn’t. And that’s why I’m crying.
In the way that Evil Dead Rise successfully revived and old property (okay, Shrek isn’t that old, but it has been a while) while also creating new highs, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish isn’t just the best Shrek movie ever, it’s one of the best animated movies I’ve ever seen. Dealing with legacy, mental health, and mortality, he is Puss in Boots, relate to him if you dare. I know I did. And not just because I’m the most deranged cat dad you’ve ever met.
John Wick: Chapter 4
The John Wick franchise has been flipping, stabbing, running over, shooting, and in one memorable case, booking, all rivals while successfully reviving action cinema in the age of superhero CGI clusterfucks. John Wick Chapter Four was an explosive swansong with the best action, the best villains, the best anti-heroes (Donnie Yen is the master), and crucially, the worst Keanu Reeves acting. Farewell, Mr Wick, you kicked ass (and I can’t wait to see where the franchise goes without you).
What were your favourite movies of this year? Let us know in the comments below!
(header image via IMDB)
No But Listen 