Beyond Fest — A–Z of films

A genuinely intriguing experiment.

For all the charm on show, there’s still too much cheese.

There’s a considerable sensitivity and intelligence to this film, underlying its glorious stupidity.

There is plenty of mystery for those who enjoy such things, and it’s well put together, but it’s only one aspect of a film which is really interested in what people choose not to consider and in how people allow themselves to be misdirected.

It’s somewhat odd that Mendez has opted for several different styles for this, but every one is enjoyable.

It’s a frenetic ride, but one that builds to a sombre climax.

A film of extraordinary complexity and fascination.

The elements involved in creating this movie were well thought out and planned perfectly (just like the driver’s getaways).

Friday The 13th is a well made but fairly unremarkable film. What about it could so incense the white male American critic?

Less psychological and more formulaic than his previous feature, this is still relentlessly entertaining.

Hallowarrior stands out for its well drawn central characters and the capable performances of its leads.

Funny, scary and races along at a fierce pace.

A not insignificant proportion of viewers will find House completely unwatchable. Others will adore it.

Made in close consultation with the people whose ancient lore it borrows, this is a film rich in detail, so solidly grounded and astute in its observation of real world horrors that viewers will find it easy to accept its more fantastical aspects.

While it's familiar enough to ring a bell, it struggles to straddle a line of uncertainty.

The trouble with all this mood, is that it eventually gets laid on too thick.

Miami Vice is definitely style over substance.

Zvyagintsev handles this material with his familiar control: psychological realism, cold visual restraint and an aversion to overt flourish.

In endeavouring to provide real insights about the man, Gibney has to dig through a weight of illusion and affectation

Lynch creates unease with every camera angle and glitch in the storyline.

You genuinely feel how much his characters have faith in their gods and their folk tales as an extension of their everyday lives

Remake is perhaps less apt than revisitation, if not outright revision.

The issue is that if you strip out the elevated craft and A-list performances, what is left is the sort of bread-and-butter plot arc Cagney & Lacey used to rely on back in the day.

Joseph Field Eccles and Nick Smyth’s sound design...is magnificent from start to finish, and full of playful touches.

It's not just sexist, ableist and desperately badly researched, it's also, purely and simply, not very good.

Shyamalan continues to cut a swathe through mainstream Hollywood, while retaining an integrity and refusing to compromise his vision.

Silent Running's beautiful cinematography will appeal to anyone.

The pace is slow, not that that matters, because Osment is such a compelling actor.

Up until the end laced with cheap pseudo-biblical references, this horror-drama serves as a fun and thrilling ride.

Anderson and Einbinder are a terrific pairing.

Serves as a reminder of a talent who despite some failures hasn't forgotten how to direct thrillers.

The sleeping and waking worlds begin to tumble together, with cinematographer Kit Fraser using his camera to add to the unsettling atmosphere, spinning the image at key moments or rocking it to ratchet tension.

Matching the subtlety of the story and the assurance of the camerawork, the acting shines.

A contender for the best V/H/S film yet.

Wigon’s film is arch as a proscenium from the start

Eggers draws fully on the iconography of the period, the muted greys and greens of the landscape captured by cinematographer Jarin Blaschkee broken only by repeated flashes of cardinal red, bringing with it the suggestion of cardinal sin.

Underscoring everything here is the can-do spirit to be found in the film’s heroes and in its creators.

The meandering pace can get tedious at times, but cinematically it's a masterpiece.