By Quin
I realize that last year I proclaimed just how much I love lists, but I must echo something that was always said by Roger Ebert, especially in the last few years of his life. When making his end of the year favorites lists he insisted that the best are the best – ordering them is silly. This makes a lot of sense. I would also add that that lists are fluid and always changing. Even my favorite films of all time go up and down on the list depending on my mood. Keep in mind that Penny Marshall’s Big is in my top ten and it always will be no matter what. So without further ado, here are my top ten for 2014 – a list of 10 films that are all great and all made me feel something. I hope they make you feel something too.
10. The Town that Dreaded Sundown – A remake of a film that desperately needed to be remade and it was done with charm and the most beautiful swirling cinematography I’ve seen in a while.
9. Life After Beth – The best zombie film of the year, and let’s face it, there’s going to be a lot of these for years to come. Aubrey Plaza is a comedic genius.
8. The Sacrament – I have no problem admitting that I’m a huge Ti West fan. I’ve liked everything he’s ever done and House of the Devil and The Innkeepers have both made my top ten lists in their respective years. The Sacrament takes a narrative that so many of us know about and makes it real. The whole Jim Jones thing is pretty terrifying. The documentaries are great, but this film really makes you feel like you’re there.
7. Willow Creek – I’ve been a huge fan of Bobcat Goldthwait’s comedy for over 20 years. When he started making movies, I was right there with him. Shakes the Clown, Sleeping Dogs Lie, World’s Greatest Dad and God Bless America are all amazing. But Bobcat has managed to take the Patterson-Gimlin film from 1967 and add this story surrounding the investigation and make it scary as hell.
6. Summer of Blood – Onur Tukel has made a hipster vampire film and for that I say thank the Lord. It’s smart and funny and my Brutal As Hell review will appear soon.
5. Soulmate – Being in the US, hulu.com has made this film available in its entirety. There has been a huge fuss over the opening scene and the meaning behind it. My opinion is that this film does not suffer without the opening scene. There are still many clues that fill the viewer in on what’s going on. The rest of the story is beautiful. The best ghost story of the year.
4. Only Lovers Left Alive – Jim Jarmusch is a genius and add vampirism and you have nothing short of brilliance.
3. Housebound – A funny, creepy and original film. The best acting, direction and twist.
2. Under the Skin – A beautifully disturbing film that manages to combine Eraserhead, Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, Koyaanisquatsi and 2001: A Space Odyssey.
1. The Babadook – Like going through the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland on acid. Yes, it’s as great as that sounds.
A few of my least favorites of the year are The Pact 2, Alien Abduction, Afflicted and Tusk. Kevin Smith makes me want to die (Comes the Krampus better be amazing, but I won’t hold my breath.) Two movies that were just okay are Found and See No Evil 2. Found had major problems, but was entertaining and brutal. See No Evil 2 was pretty bad, but entertaining and the Soska twins have proven that they know what they’re doing.
I missed The Green Inferno due to the release of that film and I fully expect A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night to be one of my favorites of the new year.