Here are some of my personal standouts. What were yours?
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The Absolute Best Horror Films of 2022
It was an exceptionally good year for Horror. A few of these titles actually elevated the genre. See if you agree.
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‘Women Talking’ | Be Quiet and Eat Your Vegetables
When a film cannot find a way to exist as an entertainment, it’s doomed. You can’t receive a message if you’re asleep.
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‘White Noise’ | Adam Driver & Greta Gerwig’s Suburban Snark
Almost too clever by half. But this swing at satire lands a few pops, even as it swerves all over the road.
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‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’ | Fun Heeling of the Sole
I’ve probably gotten more chuckles from this film than any other this season. Its sly, irreverent humor carries it throughout.
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‘Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery’ is Kind of Perfect
An Award-worthy film that just happens to be a mainstream mystery romp.
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‘Emancipation’ | There’s a Will, But…No Way
Fuqua has taken a somber story and turned it into a Hollywood action flick, to include Will wrasslin’ a gator.
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‘Nanny’ | A Mother’s Worst Nightmare
One of my favorite performances by an actress this year, is the quietly mesmerizing turn by Anna Diop in Nanny
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‘Bad Axe’ Review | All-American Families Look Like This
What is an “all-American” family? Do you think of an immigrant family struggling to keep their small business afloat during the pandemic.? You will now.
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‘Master of Light’ | How to Save a Life and Lose Another
A man released from prison uses his skills as an artist to gain some renown, but his mother is always in trouble. Can he straighten her out?
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‘Wendell & Wild’ | Amazing Animation, Not for Young Kids
The Stop Motion animation is artful and eye-popping, but the storyline is too dark for younger kids and almost too plot heavy.
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Complete List of Critics Choice Documentary Awards Winners
As a voting member, I am proud of our nominees and our winners, which were announced last night. Winners and trailers here
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‘The English’ | Emily Blunt Leads New Western Series
In the end, you’ll keep watching for the promise it continually holds, even as it doesn’t fully live up to that potential.
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‘The Pay Day’ Review | Pretty Faces, British Accents Rule
You can’t take it seriously; virtually every plot point defies the laws of probability. But I’m a sucker for a pretty face and a British accent.
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‘Say Hey, Willie Mays’ | There Was No One More Famous
It’s a great nostalgia trip for those of a certain age, and a cultural history lesson for the rest.
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‘Causeway’| Jennifer Lawrence Shines in Quiet Art Film
Go in expecting a subtle character study that doesn’t have major highs or lows, and you’ll appreciate the performances and the story.
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‘The Invaders’ Review | Civil Rights Group Lost to History
It’s been a great year for Civil Rights era films. Add this to “Louis Armstrong’s Black and Blues” on your watchlist.
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‘Girl at the Window’ | “Ozploitation” Thriller Review
Imagine a Nancy Drew mystery with a bit of blood, violence, and nudity. This hybrid of genres is, however unlikely, quite watchable.
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‘Good Night Oppy’ | Joy and Heartbreak from the Rover
We already know from WALL-E that one can fall in love with a machine. The stakes are even higher for this one.
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Louis Armstrong’s Black & Blues | Things We Never Knew
If you are old enough to have an instant mental image of Louis Armstrong, I’ll bet you ten bucks that it was never this.
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‘Let There Be Drums’ | Cheery Doc is Unbeatable!
Passionate and powerful testimonials from people who are the best at what they do is always going to be infectious and delightful.
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‘Moonage Daydream’ Doc Turns David Bowie Story Into a Bore
The biggest fans may be the most disappointed. It plays like what we used to call a Midnight Movie, the viewers in altered states
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‘The Good Nurse’ | World Class Actors, Mediocre Script
I found the Wikipedia entry about the main character far more intense and absorbing than what is presented here.
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‘The Guest Room’ | Intense Thriller | 3 ½ out of 4 Stars
It had me in the first ten minutes and kept me leaning forward until the very end.
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‘Silent River’ | Hypnotic Neo-Noir is Sexy, Stylish
Some truth in advertising from your humble critic: it isn’t going to be for everyone. You kinda have to know yourself as a viewer going into it.
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The Real Bling Ring: Hollywood Heist | Finally Comes Clean
It’s already been a semi-fictionalized movie. Now the real people have come forth.
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“Descendant’ | Voices from the Grave Come to Life in Alabama
Heartbreaking, anger-inducing, but ultimately cathartic, Margaret Brown’s documentary, Descendant, works on so many levels, you’ll lose count.
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‘Sinphony: A Clubhouse Horror Anthology’
I was not familiar with the audio-based social media app Clubhouse until yesterday, but they must be a big deal because the new horror anthology, Sinphony, was conceived of and curated entirely on that platform. It’s not the worst horror anthology out this week (V/H/S/99 we’re looking at you), but it’s a bit…
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‘Werewolf by Night’ | Delightfully Streamlined Storytelling
I’d rather be lucky than smart – I stumbled onto this delightful little yarn with zero knowledge that it was a 55 minute, and first ever, installment of Marvel Studios Special Presentations .
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‘The Fastest Woman on Earth’: Broken Records, Broken Hearts
Her calling card since childhood was doing what the guys could do, only better. But at what cost?
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‘Kratt’ | Wonderfully Weird, Fitfully Funny
I have no idea where to put this; it’s part fantasy, part comedy, part horror and it features some hilarious turns by Estonian actors.
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‘She Will’ | Atmospheric Revenge Thriller| 3 ½ – 4 Stars
More atmospheric than scary and more high-class than horror, but a compelling journey to a place we’ve never been to with characters rarely seen.
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‘Conception’ | Labored Storytelling for Fertile Storyline
The best thing one can say is that parts of it would be good to play in a doctor’s office, on a TV, for couples considering IVF treatment.
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‘Dark Glasses’ Horror Review | Deserves All the Shade
Director Dario Argento has his fans, but I can’t imagine many of them digging this latest by the 81 year old.
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‘Luckiest Girl Alive’ Somewhat Saved by Mila Kunis
The book is surely better, but having Mila Kunis as a constant presence makes it irresistibly watchable.
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Darryl Jones: In The Blood | Rolling Stones Bassist’s Story
You drink a shot of whiskey every time someone describes Darryl Jones as “In the pocket,” you’ll be flat on your face in the first 20 minutes. Stones LOVE him
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‘Saloum’ | Ripping Good Flick Is A Horror Hybrid
It’s actually a little bit of a lot of different genres. A great cast and storyline.
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Long Road Home: The Cash Family’s Untold Story
It’s been called the Cash Curse; Johnny Cash’s family have struggled with alcoholism, drug abuse, and it seems to come with being a Cash.
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‘If These Walls Could Sing’ | Deep History of Abbey Road
Not just a Beatles doc – a fascinating deep dive into the place where history was made for a century, by many artists whose albums you have
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‘The Wild Man’ : You’ve Been Warned
I’ll make this quick, because I’m not a bully, I’m a straight up movie nerd. It’s bad, dude. It’s really, really bad.
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‘Sissy’ Review | Delightful Camp, Cheerfully Bloody
Talk about Mean Girls? This one proves me wrong that horror and comedy can’t co-exist. It’s a blast!
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‘Hostages’ | Never-Before-Seen Footage Tells Helluva Story
The hostages and captors are all in their 60s or older. Their look back is clear-eyed, sober and fascinating. This story is about much more than 444 days
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‘Dahmer’ Series | Humanizes but Doesn’t Glorify
A split-decision on the flawed Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story. Full of excesses, but gives the victims their due amid tough racial questions.
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‘The Innocents’ and the Other Best Horror Films of 2022
The Innocents is the highest rated Horror film this year, and it’s very good. Here’s a list of all the others.
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Murder at The Cottage: The Search For Justice For Sophie
True Crime fans can see a story they know from a different perspective: Irish Director Jim Sheridan
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‘Escape from Kabul’| Harrowing Doc Shows What You Missed
This is not a political post – it’s a review. A doc about people literally chasing enormous planes down the runway and the Marines who’ll never forget.
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‘Blonde’ | Artful, Controversial Take on Marilyn Monroe
You don’t have to like the film, but it absolutely cannot be dismissed. Expect Oscar noms
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‘The 101 Scariest Horror Movie Moments of All Time’
This is a Master Class with experts who really know the genre, nerding out in the most articulate way.
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‘Clerks III’ | Final Curtain Call for Franchise?
It still has juvenile dialogue and amateur acting, but you can’t be mad at it. The nostalgia is real and feels right.
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‘Sins of Our Mother’ | Bat-Mess Crazy or Just Plain Evil?
If you already know the story, there is still a lot of new content and people coming forward for the first time.
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Halfway Thru Season 1, ‘She-Hulk: Attorney at Law’ is Fire
She is very funny. Her rhythm and timing are precise, yet breezy. Not belly laugh humor, it’s an unexpected chuckle you hear coming from yourself.
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‘Pinocchio’ | Whiz Bang Technology But Wooden Storytelling
Some good visuals, but this part live action, part digital animation hybrid is a swing and a miss from a celebrated and sometimes great director.
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‘Hockeyland’ Doc Review | “Rocky” On Ice is Surprisingly Moving
You don’t have to like hockey – it’s the story of the most fraught time of life: senior year of high school. Just try not to get a lump in your throat at the end.
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“Samaritan’ Review | Sylvester Stallone Can Still Kick It
I don’t care if he’s had a dozen facelifts and got new knees, it will always be fun to watch him kick people’s asses.
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‘Surrogate’ Horror Review | Single Mom in Ghostly Peril
Spoiler-Free take on the latest horror flick to put children in the spotlight
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Bruce Willis: The Sad Decline of a Great Career
I like Bruce Willis very much, going all the way back to Moonlighting, but he has put his name on 21 direct-to-video films that he’s barely in.
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Why I Regret Waiting So Long to Watch ‘Better Call Saul’
Well, I’m not shocked that I got something wrong, but I am totally blown away by the giant achievement that the spin-off turned out to be.
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‘Burial’ Film Review | What’s in the Box?
Cool female lead. Lots of shots fired and quite a bit of blood. Has its moments.
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‘Who Invited Them’ Review | Smart, Fun Thriller
You know what’s scarier than a slasher and more chilling than a ghost? Having uninvited guests in your house who just.won’t.leave.
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‘Glorious’ Horror Review | “Stalls” Out in a Bathroom
Lovecraft fans might really dig it, but it felt like a long wait for just a cool, but underwhelming twist in the final act
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‘She-Hulk: Attorney at Law’ |Naysayers Making Me Turn Green
I’m just asking the Marvel fans to judge this as a slightly bawdy half-hour sitcom, not as a 100million dollar film.
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“Echoes” | Series is Silly, Soapy Fun
There’s so much campy fun to be had, and Echoes pushes every one of those buttons.
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‘The Runner’ Movie Review | Familiar Storyline Told in a New Way
At first you think there’s no way you’re going to be able to empathize with the plight of the protagonist in The Runner. After all, California teen Aiden is rich, good-looking and has never worked.
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‘Prey’ Movie Review | ‘Predator’ Prequel Stands Alone
Some folks are experts on the Predator franchise. As for me, ignorance was bliss. The film stood alone as a movie any action fan will enjoy
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‘Bullet Proof’ | Exhilarating Action & Bad Guy Vinnie Jones!
Hits the ground running and doesn’t screw around, keeping the action going for a tight 90 minutes.
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‘I Dream of a Psychopomp’ | Weird Title, Good Movie
I was reminded of good ol Scrooge being visited by three different ghosts in the night, and the scary, but ultimately cathartic experience it was for him
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‘The Princess’ | Doc Brings Back the Joy and the Sorrow
If you’re over 45 or 50, you’ll get some interesting sensory pops, and memory jogs. If you’re younger, The Crown as a primer to make you appreciate it more.
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‘This is GWAR’ | Behind the Stupidest, Smartest, Grossest Band
What got to me was seeing guys who really were in it for art’s sake looking back from middle age, having never gotten rich, and having lost good friends.
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‘The Roundup’ | Korea’s Box Office Smash Cop Film Comes Abroad
Unbelievably fun watching a portly middle-age man kicking the crap out of knife-wielding villains. A great watch!
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“Bliss” | Love Blooms in a Berlin Brothel
Here is a movie that involves sex workers, same sex love, and lots of nudity without making a big deal about any of those things.
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‘Dawn’ Horror Review | Don’t Make Mama Mad, Y’all
You think you’ve been stuck in an Uber ride from Hell? This film’s couple would gladly trade places with you.
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‘Bring Him Back Dead’|Chases & Fights for “B Movie” Lovers
Just want an easy watch with some action sequences? This crime/actioner might be worth a casual click on your On-Demand menu
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‘The Most Hated Man on the Internet’ | Dirt Bag Gets His Due
It makes your blood boil, but knowing that this dirt bag is going down makes it a satisfying cat and mouse story
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‘D.B. Cooper: Where Are You?!’ | New Angles on Old Crime
I thought I’d seen and read everything about this true crime over the years – this film introduces some compelling new elements
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Why Aren’t You Watching These Great UK Crime Series?
The latest to have captured my fancy (is that how they say it?) is Anatomy of a Scandal
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‘Turning Red’ Tackles Teen Issues With Delightful Animation
But the animation is as good as you’d expect from Pixar-does a good job of mixing real life conundrums with…well, with a girl who can change into a red Panda.
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‘The Gray Man’ | Better Than You’ve Heard | Ryan Gosling
Ryan Gosling proves to be the perfect antidote to the self-serious spy thrillers, even as it steals from the same template.
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New True Crime Docs|Horrific Murders, Inspirational Parents
Two true documentary films of sheer terror that are also tempered with admirable parents.
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Hate Ricky Gervais? You Still Gotta Love ‘After Life’
He’s known for his self-satisfied smugness and his annoyingly loud cackle, but underneath it all, Gervais has a heart – and it’s a welcome sight.
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‘Mind over Murder’ | True Crime from the Heartland Shocks, Surprises
If this were a fictional story, you’d never buy it. It’s too improbable, too fantastical. There are too many times where you’d say to yourself, “no way!”
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‘The Black Phone’ a 70s Horror Throwback Minus the Scares
It goes from a reality-based narrative to one with supernatural elements. I wish it had stayed with one or the other.
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Tired of Long Series? Here’s a Compact, Self-Contained Sci-Fi Thriller
Want to spend less than two hours on an entertaining stand-alone film? Spiderhead is a break from the 8-hour series.
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Why ‘The Lincoln Lawyer’ Feels Like a Good TV Throwback
Remember when we used to watch network TV shows, one episode a week, with commercials? This is that vibe but no commercials and you can binge it!
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Why We Owe Adam Sandler an Apology
Recognized for having made some of the worst films in recent history, but his new movie shows him at his best, and we must not forget his ability to pull back.
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‘Rondo and Bob’ Horror Doc | Fascinating Subject, Meandering Mess
The art director of Texas Chainsaw Massacre is obsessed with a1940s cult Horror icon.
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‘The Janes’ Looks Back to When Choice Meant Prison or Death
The warnings you hear about the returning to pre-Roe vs Wade times sound hyperbolic…until you hear retired Grandmas telling their stories.
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‘We Are the Thousand’ | How They Got Foo Fighters to Play Their Town
Remember that video of hundreds of musicians in an open field, playing in sync to get the attention of Foo Fighters? Here’s the story.
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‘This Is Going to Hurt’| Medical Drama Perfect Summer Series
Snappy, snarky, gleefully profane and quite funny at times. One of the best medical dramas to come along in years
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Question: Why Y’all So Mad at the ‘Ozark’ Series Finale?
I thought the series finale of Ozark was just about perfect. Others have set their hair on fire out of angst and torment by the way it ended.
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‘Conversations with a Killer: The John Wayne Gacy Tapes’ | Never Before Heard Archives
Reveals a lot fo facts I didn’t know previously. Rightly focuses a lot on the good guys who took him down, and remembers the victims.
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‘Machination’ Movie Review | Pandemic or Paranoia?
if this were a half-hour episode of an anthology series, say Twilight Zone – it would have been a worthwhile view.
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‘Hold Your Fire’ | Arresting Doc More Relevant Than Ever
tension mounts, the path seemingly uncertain, and the kinds of colorful characters that could only come from the streets of Brooklyn:
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‘Night Sky’ | Amazing Actors in Unsatisfying Story
Is this all meant to be one hell of a set-up for a second season? Or is it 8 episodes of LOST from 2007?
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‘Foxhole’ Review | Tight, Intense, and Provocative
It’s all about subtle facial expressions, not so subtle conversations and scared young men, wrestling with their mortality.
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‘Castro’s Spies’ | Intriguing Doc Reveals Things You Didn’t Know
“We are all villains in someone else’s story,” These guys were ours, but they were elite heroes in their country.
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‘George Carlin’s American Dream’ | Worthy 2-Part Docuseries
by the end of it all, I was quite moved. And I couldn’t think of a single point of disagreement between that old man and, well, this old man.
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‘A.K. Tolstoy’s A Taste of Blood’ | Red Scare?
Come to think of it – there’s also some zombie stuff going on in the sense that you can’t be exactly sure who “has it” and who doesn’t. Not until it’s too late
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‘Suzi Q’ Review | Why Didn’t Suzi Quatro Make it Big in the US?
If you were a young teen during the Happy Days phenomenon, you only knew her as Leather Tuscadero. But the rest of the world was paying attention.
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‘The Twin’ Review | Doubly Creepy Twists
Some of the twists you’ll see coming from a mile away, but all credit is due to the film for final act reveals that you didn’t .
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‘Pompo the Cinephile’ Review | Anime Goes Hollywood
If it weren’t for Speed Racer and Sailor Moon Re-runs, I wouldn’t know squat about Anime – but this one is accessible and interesting.
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‘Children of Sin’ Review | ‘Misery’ Gets Company
The film is meant to be scary fun, and it is, but there’s also some relevant messaging going on here . Evil perpetrated in the name of righteousness
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‘Stu’s Show’ | Lucky Fan’s Friendship with Lucille Ball
He was something of a Fan Boy who started by giving out tickets to TV show tapings to becoming friends with idol Lucille Ball, and other legends
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‘My Little One’ Review | Cool Little Story in the Hot Desert
You know if this is your kind of movie or not. It’s a flick that peels away its layers one by one – keeping you interested without a glut of exposition.
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‘Dear Mr. Brody’ Review | Twisty Doc Has Many Reveals
They called him the “hippie millionaire” because it was surely the most apt description of a 21-year-old in1970 who had long hair…and millions to give away.
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‘Charlotte’ Review | Tragic True Story with Keira Knightly
The slow bits and heavily stylized animation are countered by a moving true story that stays with you.
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‘The Institute’ | Sexy Horror Thriller 2 ½ out of 4 Stars
The more low budget films I review, the more I look for what they were able to do without much money.
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‘One Perfect Shot’ Review | A Film Nerd’s Paradise
These short, binge-able episodes are cool one-on-ones with top directors , who pull back the curtain.
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‘Torch’ a Revealing Look at Blues Legend Buddy Guy
He’s been described as the last man standing among the Blues legends of the past century. He is living music history.
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‘Bad Vegan: Fame. Fraud. Fugitives’ | True Crime Series Review
It seems like this is the year of ‘I Can’t Believe She Fell For That’ docs, but this is a really good one.
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‘A Peloton of One’ Review | Pedaling for a Powerful Message
You may think you’ve seen all you can take of this topic – it isn’t easy. But you will learn shocking information that you can personally do something about.
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‘Piece of My Heart’ Series Review | Captivating Crime Drama
It’s cool to see two female leads in a drama set in far away Finland.
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‘Heckle’ Review | Steve Guttenberg Should Call the Police (Academy)
Hold on – Steve Guttenberg in a low-low budget Horror flick? Hell, yes. I’m in! Why not, right? But, it’s a Bruce Willis-like casting fake out.
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‘The Dropout’ Series Review | Intense Story Reveals More Secrets
I didn’t think there was anything new to know about the Silicon Valley phenom turned convicted fraudster. I was so wrong.
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Watch the 1947 Version of ‘Nightmare Alley’ Here for Free
Here you can watch the 1947 film for free with great audio and video quality. Which version is better?
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‘Gasoline Alley’ Review | Neo-Noir gets 2 out of 4 Stars
yet another flick in which Bruce Willis spent more time at the photo shoot for the movie poster than for his actual part in the film.
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