Still have power so here are my "left field" recommendations for
2016...
Cameraperson - I think I've sung my praises for this documentary here before, but here it is anyway. Probably on my Top 3 documentaries. A chronicle of a career juxtaposed with multiple chronicles of survival. Love it.
Antes que Cante el Gallo - Puerto Rican film that follows a teenage girl with coming of age, as well as the strict upbringing of her grandmother and the return of her estranged father from jail. One of the best local films I've seen.
The Void - A treat for any horror/scifi fans. A crazy mish-mash of cult films, creature feature, and existential scifi full of great practical effects.
Terrifier - One of the best horror films I've seen recently. Gory as hell as it follows a sadistic clown that torments two lost women in an abandoned building. It seems that people are, uhh, split on this one though
Anthropoid - Based on the planning of the attempt on Reinhard Heydrich during World War II, I found this to be quite thrilling and well acted. Stars Cillian Murphy and Jamie Dornan.
Under the Shadow - Slow burn supernatural thriller from Iran about a mother tormented by a mysterious presence. More of a character study about the main character and the gender politics in the country, it manages to build a strong atmosphere, and has some neat jumpscares as well.
The Siege of Jadotville - Based on real events, this intense war film follows an Irish platoon standing against mercenaries in the Congo during the 1960s. Also stars Jamie Dornan.
Risen - Pretty solid Biblical drama about a Roman tribune (Joseph Fiennes) tasked with investigating the disappearance of Jesus' body. I know most people are quick to dismiss Biblical films, but I thought this was pretty good anchored in Fiennes' performance. Directed by Kevin Reynolds (
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and
The Count of Monte Cristo)