If there was ever a flick to skip the popcorn on, it’s this one. Coralie Fargeat’s latest film, The Substance (2024), is a stomach-churning concoction of body horror and comedy that makes for an insanely monstrous watch.  

I’m tempted to call this a modern Macbeth.

Memoir of a Snail is an absolute triumph, cementing Elliot as a visionary and one of the best in his field.

It’d be easy to label Abiding Nowhere as tranquil and meditative, as it certainly is, but I still see so much of Ming-liang’s earlier passion present in the form of this late-stage mellowness.

Director Jane Schoenbrun impresses with I Saw The TV Glow - a horror flick which is only half-scary but full heartbreaking.

Whilst applaudable in its attempt to meld lycanthropy with modern-day political concerns, Blackout is a poignant character study hampered by heavy-handed exposition which renders its bark worse than its bite.

Colleen Hoover’s controversial smash hit novel, It Ends With Us, has just hit theatres in all its soapy Hallmark glory.

The second feature from Mexican director Lily Avilles, Tótem, is an incredibly assured and mature film that depicts the emotional intimacy and fragility of an extended family dealing with loss. 

The events that took place in the Stuljema mines in 1907 are as inspiring as they are fascinating; they deserve a great film adaptation, The Riot is not this. 

The Tundra Within Me is an emotionally impactful, hopeful, and intriguing film, well worth seeing.

In the cold, winter region of Lapland on December 28, 1984, a Soviet missile, at the time thought to be possibly nuclear, strayed over the Finnish border during a target test, landing beneath the ice of the frozen Lake Inari.

Kinds of Kindness is a film that, while not without its immature and edgy side that seems cultivated purely to provoke, leaves you thinking long after the credits roll.

The Bikeriders is a great nostalgia trip to an age of motorcycle riding that many have never experienced. But by its end, you’ll consider spending your EOFY money on a new bike—or at least a leather jacket.

The Convert wasn’t perfect but its visuals and depiction of the way of life for people in Aotearoa at the time will continue to leave its mark on me.

The Promised Land sheds light on a dark but important part of Denmark’s history. It is a superbly made film that is boasted by powerful performances and the strength of Mikkelsen’s screen presence. 

Inside Out 2 is another easy home run for Pixar, especially when it has a strong message that everyone can relate to.

Foreign Language seems to be the ultimate story of the girlhood experience.

While the 87-minute-long film at times moves at a glacial pace, the stunning cinematography by Claire Mathon (Portrait of a Lady on Fire) and the eerie strings of Mahler's Symphony No. 5 fuel the rising tension and keep the audience engaged.

The Deep Dark just doesn’t quite dig deep enough, uncovering a hole that's barely big enough to bury itself in.

This is ultimately a film about power and rebellion, and it is within the interplay of the two subjects that it shines.