Best Movies Reviewed 2023 - Editorial

This is the end—dum dum dummmmm—the end my imaginary readershiiiiiip…

It’s New Years Eve here at the House of Filthy Horrors and I’ve been binging movies to review in the New Year with my normal viewing partner and adopted sister, Leslie. We’ve watched 2 stellar movies.

No, I’m not going to tell you which ones. You can find out with everyone else when I post the reviews.

Sheesh!

But, watching these movies made me think about all the good films we watched this year.

Okay, let’s be honest, I watched more bad than good. Let’s be real, after Blood Glacier, I almost gave up watching movies entirely.

Breath. Breath. You don’t need to ever watch it again.

You’re safe….

(Deep Breath)

(Sigh)

But I did have at least 10 movies to shout out as well as a few honorable recommendations.

Now, let’s remember—I don’t do this professionally. I don’t get paid or get free review copies of movies. In fact, between paying to rent new films and paying my domain fees on this website.

I lose money on this endeavor, hand over fist. I’m a nobody who just enjoys talking about movies.

For that reason, unlike the big horror review sites, I don’t just review new releases. I watch movies from the past that I somehow missed during my years of working at Blockbuster.

This list is the BEST MOVIES I WATCHED THIS YEAR.

Not the BEST MOVIES RELEASED THIS YEAR.

Capeesh?

Alright, standard blathering out of the way—let’s dive into the deep end. We’re going 10 to 1, best to bestest.

I don’t think any words I could come up with would prepare you for the emotional impact this film will have on you as a viewer.

This is a spiritual gut punch of a film that has no true protagonist. Everyone is awful, but in typical A24 fashion—you can’t look away.

The mystery keeps you engaged as you watch not to root for anyone, but to solve the mystery.

Full Review: www.filthyhorrors.com/blog-3/saint-maud-movie-review

Why do the Spanish do Lovecraft best? Whatever the reason, this is peak cosmic horror.

I don’t think any other movie embodies that odd fun hopelessness of cosmic terror better than this hidden gem on Shudder. It ranks up there with the Yuzna holy trinity of Reanimator, From Beyond, and Dagon.

Full Review: https://www.filthyhorrors.com/blog-3/terrified-aterrados-movie-review

Do you need a good punch to your heart? Were you looking for a film to pair with the incredible The Eyes of My Mother?

First—get a good therapist.

Second—This is your next favorite film.

This guttural, heart wrenching take on George Romero’s Martin is a masterclass on how to make a great film on a tight budget.

Oh, and if you forgot how good an actor Patrick Fugit is—this is a good re-education.

Full Review: https://www.filthyhorrors.com/blog-3/my-heart-cant-beat-unless-you-tell-it-to-movie-review

Antoine Fuqua is one of the most underrated filmmakers in history. I know he didn’t direct this, but he orchestrated it and it shows.

This is a non-stop, adrenaline fueled, thrill ride with peak Brad Pitt.

One of the best live-action Anime ever made based on the award winning Manga.

You just need to watch it.

Full Review: https://www.filthyhorrors.com/blog-3/bullet-train-2022-movie-review

Have you ever gone in completely blind and ended up seeing one of the best movies of the year?

That was Barbarian for me.

I went in expecting a torture porn letdown and walked away praising the restraint and creature feature aesthetic of this gem.

This is a tight, intense trip to Detroit with a superstar performance by Georgina Campbell, who is one of the most likable final girls in cinema history. This is what Castle Freak wishes it was.

Full Review: https://www.filthyhorrors.com/blog-3/barbarian-2022-movie-review

Full disclosure—my sexual awakening began with dipping my toe into S&M culture at a young age. I learned a lot about how to behave in sexual circumstances from a professional dominatrix.

So, this love story had me choked up—pardon the pun.

This is a beautiful film about survival and the grief that comes with being the one who lived and finding how to love yourself enough to keep going.

It’s a wonderful film wrapped in leather and eye-liner with characters who bare their souls to us as the viewer. The performances by Kosonen and Strang are powerful and nuanced, but more than anything—Fearless.

This is one of the few films where I had 0 complaints. The only reason it’s not #1 is that there were four other incredible films watched this year.

Full Review: https://www.filthyhorrors.com/blog-3/dogs-dont-wear-pants-movie-review

If you didn’t know that Mary Elizabeth Winstead was a powerhouse—you obviously haven’t watched this movie.

Jesus Christ—this is a head trip.

Having spent time in Seminary in my teens and having the luxury of learning how to combat cult conditioning tactics—I can speak from experience. This film shows both sides of indoctrination and how there’s a thin line between belief and slavery.

It’s terrifying and powerful with incredible performances by all involved.

This is one of the best one room movies every made.

Period.

Fight me.

Full Review: https://www.filthyhorrors.com/blog-3/faults-2014-movie-review

Ethan Hawke is my favorite actor of all time. I grew up wanting to be just like him. In the 90’s he was the ultimate romantic lead in films like Reality Bites, Before Sunrise, and Great Expectations. He’s a good guy actor. Even in the horror space he plays the conflicted protagonist.

See—The Purge, Sinister, and Daybreakers.

Yeah, he’s in a ton of great films. Deal with it.

In 2021, he finally stepped into the villain’s shoes.

First with Moon Knight and then with his brilliant turn in this film, inspired by the atrocities committed by John Wayne Gacy as interpreted by Joe Hill.

A brilliant villain needs brilliant heroes to make a good film and this film has that in spades. The child actors involved in this production all give standout performances in the vein of Almost Famous.

Mason Thames and Madeleine McGraw are the perfect foil to the incredible monster at the heart of this piece.

Full Review: https://www.filthyhorrors.com/blog-3/the-black-phone-2021-movie-review

This is one of the few movies on this list that I’ve watched multiple times throughout the year. It’s strangely calming.

It’s also one of the few POV shot films ANNNNND one of the few underwater films that I’ve ever enjoyed.

It’s a fantastic take on the more arcane parts of the Lovecraft mythos. There’s no giant monsters, no tentacles, but all the paranoia and fear inspired by both. It’s a claustrophobic haunted house film, underwater.

This is also the spiritual sequel to one of my favorite So-Bad-It’s-Good Lovecraft films, Beneath Still Waters.

James Jagger and Camille Rowe have great chemistry and both give standout performances, but the real stars of this film are the Cinematography and the Soundtrack.

Hands down the best soundtrack and score on this list. You can close your eyes and just listen to the film and you’ll still have a great experience.

For an indie movie, this feels AAA in every single respect.

Full Review: https://www.filthyhorrors.com/blog-3/the-deep-house-2021-movie-review

The last great movie I watched this year was easily the best movie I’ve seen in years.

This movie is Jordan Peele’s masterpiece.

No really, it’s ten times better than Get Out.

I know, I know—I Absolutely loved the dark comedy of Get Out too, but NOPE is one of the best films every made, period.

I don’t care what genre you’re considering, or what era—NOPE can match any movie made.

There are few films that inspire the same level of awe that JAWS did for me as a child. All other movies have been laid against the feeling of seeing JAWS for the first time.

As a grown ass man—NOPE made me feel like that all over again.

From the Oscar level performances of Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer, and Steven Yeun to the best creature effects since John Carpenter’s The Thing—this is perfection.

This is a love letter to cinema and a love letter to all the African American hands behind the scenes throughout the history of cinema.

If anyone doubted Jordan Peele’s greatness, I hope you’re eating a nice big serving of crow this New Year, because this guy is just coming into his prime.

Full Review: https://www.filthyhorrors.com/blog-3/nope-2022-movie-review

Well, there they are—the best movies I watched this year.

Argue with me in the comments.

Or don’t.

I’ll just argue with myself in private.

Be good to each other in 2023, support small businesses, and above all—keep reading these reviews.

Seriously, my reader base is minuscule—I love the handful of you that keep coming back.

Thank you for making my rebound from my literal Nervous Breakdown in 2020 so easy and fulfilling.