Celluloid Diaries: Top movies to watch this autumn {part 2}

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Top movies to watch this autumn {part 2}

movie recommendations

This is the second part of all the new horror movies and thrillers to watch this autumn. The first part can be found here. In conjunction with the Siges Film Festival.

A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night
A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night

A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night


What is it about?

A female veiled vampire wanders around the Iranian streets in search for blood. She also falls in love. Based on the comic novel series by the same author.

Why should you see this?

Many called A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night a beautiful but empty box. The mystery Ana Lily Amirpour creates around her characters doesn't leave much room for detail and so we never really care what happens to them. But it hardly matters because the emotion stems from the beauty of its envelope, always reminding the viewer of films such as The Addiction, Down By Law, and Only Lovers Left Alive. I bet that some shots (such as the final ones) will stay with you for a long time.

Cold In July

Cold In July Michael C. Hall

Cold In July


What is it about?

When a man breaks into Richard's house, he has no choice but to shoot him. But the thief has a father, one that is hellbent on avenging his son's death. With Michael C. Hall, Sam Shepard, and Don Johnson.

Why should you see this?

Cold In July will be one of the best thrillers you'll see this year. Directed with style and feeling for suspense, the film also surprises with several unexpected twists. I've never been a fan of Jim Mickle's films before (We Are What We Are, Stakeland, Mulberry Street), but with Cold In July, he finally has my attention.

The Infinite Man
The Infinite Man

The Infinite Man


What is it about?

A couple breaks up during what was supposed to be a romantic weekend. The man then comes up with a rudimentary time machine to try and fix the mistake, as many times as needed. This will lead them to meet several versions of themselves, both from the past and the future, all of which will become each other's contestants.

Why should you see this?

The concept and execution of The Infinite Man are smart, but the film is monotonous as there's not enough variation in terms of locations (one), characters (three), and scenes (a handful).

Mr Leos Carax
Leos Carax

Mr. Leos Carax (Mr. X)


What is it about?

Documentary about the visionary director Leos Carax who made Holy Motors, Boy Meets Girl, Les Amants du Pont Neuf, Pola X, and Mauvais Sang.

Why should you see this?

If you aren't familiar with this director, Mr. X is a good introduction to his work. There's a lot of footage from his movies and explications as to why his work is considered mysterious and poetic. I liked how even the interview passages were put against a backdrop of movie scenes so that the whole exuded the same beauty as Carax' oeuvre.

Jijon Clan

Non-Fiction Diary

Non-fiction Diary


What is it about?

In the early nineties, the Jijon Clan killed rich people to rebel against class differences caused by capitalism. Non-fiction Diary is a documentary about this group.

Why should you see this?

There are several interesting statements to be found here, such as one of the murderers saying: “I regret I didn't kill my mother myself. I only wish I could have killed more people” or the implication that it all started because one of them was punished at school for not having the means to buy materials for his art class, and then rewarded the following day for stealing those materials from a rich kid. Overall, though, Non-Fiction Diary never finds its focus and lacks in terms of pacing, lighting, and editing.

Still Life

Still Life (Naturaleza Muerta)


What is it about?

A journalist investigates the disappearance of a woman who is supposedly attacked by an animal. She'll come face to face with a story about animals who cry out for vengeance for centuries of exploitation at the hands of man.

Why should you see this?

Because you're a carnivore. As a horror film, Still Life is too easy and by-the-numbers. It's actually more a pamphlet to promote vegetarianism, and on that level, it works rather well. I wouldn't be surprised that many viewers stop eating meat after watching this film. Funny that this was made in Argentina, the land of steaks.

Wetlands
Wetlands

Wetlands


What is it about?

Wetlands is about a girl who hurts people on purpose, picks her nose, never changes her underwear, obsesses over her anal polyps, fantasizes about pizza covered with the semen of several men, and who, because of all this, seems to be incredibly attractive to others. Based on the novel by Charlotte Roche.

Why should you see this?

Because you like all of the above portrayed with great visual detail and with the style and pacing of a music video. Prepare to be disgusted.

Annabelle movie

Annabelle horror movie

Annabelle


What is it about?

Do you remember Annabelle the doll from The Conjuring? Its story, one of the most famous supernatural phenomena of the twentieth century, is now embodied in a film produced by James Wan.

Why should you see this?

Because you like horror movies such as Insidious and The Conjuring and you think it's logical that demons can write (in English), procrastinate about their objectives, and look for a soul when they already have one.

The Double Jesse Eisenberg

The Double

The Double


What is it about?

Richard Ayoade from The IT Crowd tells the story of dull Simon who is ignored at work until James appears. James is a dead ringer for him physically but with a charismatic character. Based on the novel by Dostoyevsky.

Why should you see this?

Every single aspect of The Double is brilliant and fascinating – its visual style, Jesse Eisenberg's double performance, its soundtrack (Andrew Hewit, Kyu Tsakamoto, Danny and The Islanders),... The Double also reminded me of one of my favorite Polanski movies, The Tenant. A must-see.

El incidente
The Incident

The Incident (El Incidente)


What is it about?

Whenever someone causes an 'incident' (someone's death), they enter an alternate reality in which they are forced to remain in the same place. It's supposed to be an allegory on how we refuse to change and move forward as adults and how that makes us nostalgic.

Why should you see this?

Because you like discovering low-budget tales of the supernatural. The first half hour of The Incident is hard to sit through as it's terribly amateurish, but once the second storyline and set of characters are introduced the film becomes more interesting and professional.

new horror movies to watch

15 comments:

  1. I don't eat a lot of meat now, so I could probably handle Still Life.
    Interesting selection of unusual and independent films.

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  2. I'd love to see all of these, especially Annabelle and A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night.

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  3. Chilling but thrilling list! I'm adding it all!

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  4. Wetlands sounds nice and creepy.

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  5. wow! Those are all super creepy!!! I have seen the Annabelle one on previews.
    ღ husky hugz ღ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!

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  6. "Cold in July" has a fantastic cast. I'll definitely watch for it in the theatres. And "The Double" sounds good too. I love Dostoyevsky. Gonna pass on that cum pizza one though. Yuck!

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  7. Okay, I'm officially terrified just by reading these descriptions!! I looove horror books, but movies/films? Not so much. Not if I want to sleep again!! (As a kid I was terrified of ALL THE MOVIES. Like Jumanji and Jack in the Beanstalk. I actually had to not watch any movies AT ALL for ages because my imagination just preyed on them and boom...bye bye sleeping.) XD
    Thanks for stopping by @ Notebook Sisters!

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  8. these all look great!
    happy weekend!

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  9. I don't eat a lot of meat either, but I do still eat some. And also, I would not want to see that movie because it would probably devastate me, and yet I would still eat meat 'cause I'm a hypocrite!

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  10. There's something a little creepy about that girl in A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night. It's funny how something simple like a young girl walking around silently, acting all creepy, can be scarier than a monster!

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  11. I loved Annabelle, it almost reminded me of an Alfred Hitchcock movie.

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  12. I love the variety and I'm a huge fan of independent films. My partner will only watch them, actually.

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  13. I had to do a double take on Michael C. Hall with a mustache! Almost didn't recognize him.

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  14. Very nice list you shared. I am going to watch all movies you talked about. Thanks for giving the reason and details for watching these movies. Check more good movies to watch

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