My Films of the Decade (2010-2019)

There's no doubt that film has played a major part in my life this decade.Not only did I watch more films than I probably ever will in a decade again, but I also went and studied it at Uni and have since been developing some kind of career in the medium.
The decade also saw my approach and perception of films change and shift.
At the start of the decade, I was heavily into the critics, always checking Rotten Tomato scores, reading Roger Ebert reviews and looking at everything with a very critical eye.
But as the years went by and the end of the decade comes along, my critical approach has lessened, I cared less and less about what the critics said and adopted more of a empathetic approach to the way I view things, though still maintaining somewhat of a critical view as it never really goes away.


Now, according to my letterboxd, I've watched over 800 films released in this decade, alot of which were thankfully in the cinema. There are a lot of great films in amongst it all, but I really tried to narrow it down to the films that have really stuck with me the most with a few being picked due to other factors outside of their actual content.
Now I've pretty much done away with ranked lists, since I never fully agree with the order of things which makes ranking them feel pointless, so for this,  I'm just gonna list the films in a chronological order, from the start of the decade to the end. Let's go.

Inception (2010)

 To kick off this list is a film that certainly represents how my tastes and interests have developed over this decade. As at the time, this film was probably in my top 10 favorite films of all time. Since then, it's dropped down a lot in the ranks and I haven't rewatched it in a good number of years, but I know I'd still find it great, and there's no denying how much I loved this film at the time. 

Christopher Nolan was one of the first directors I acknowledged as someone I was a fan of. He's very good at taking interesting ideas and turning them into very accessible movies.

Inception is a prime of example of this, as it's essentially a mind-bending movie for the mainstream. I remember when it first came out and people had  trouble fully wrapping their head around it, even though the movie lays out everything for you and is easier to follow than a lot of  people may have realized. It is a highly enjoyable thriller though and was an undeniable influence on me at the start of the decade.

Submarine (2010)

 This quirky, cute debut film by Richard Ayoade shot in Wales holds a special place for me as it's the first film I watched in the cinema by myself. That same day I also went to my first concert by myself. So a pretty monumental day for me doing things solo. But i really loved this film when i first saw it and even named it my favorite film of 2011 (since that's the year I watched it). It's a well acted coming-of-age-comedy drama that's funny, sad and an overall lovely experience that really stuck with me.

13 Assassins (2010)

 I got into Takashi Miike at the very start of the decade and he quickly became a favorite director of mine. Then in 2011, I got to see my first Miike film in the cinema in the form of this great samurai epic. This decade saw Miike continue on as a big mainstream director, which I know  a lot of people lament over, but he's always been more of a workhorse director than a visionary auteur, and I've still enjoyed his output regardless. Now I've not seen every film he directed this decade, but from what I have seen, I'd argue that "13 Assassins" is his best film from this decade, although "Over Your Dead Body" certainly comes close. It's well shot, well acted, and has a huge climactic battle that is highly enjoyable.

Himizu (2011)

 Sion Sono is another director I fell in love with at the beginning of the decade, but more than that, if a director was to be my spirit animal, it would probably be him as I seem to connect with his work more than any other..

His output was pretty crazy this decade, with him even directing six films in 2015 alone.

And whilst I have not seen all of it, what I did see was really good to great.

Himizu is my joint favorite with another film that I'll get to later on. 

Based on a manga, the film is set against the backdrop of the 2011 Tohouku earthquake and tsunami, and follows a teenage boy who struggles to live a normal life due to the hostile environment around him. It's a film filled with a lot of anger and sadness, but also hope, leading to a strong ending that always makes me tear up. The performances are fantastic, and the whole thing is just really engrossing.

The Raid/The Raid 2 (2011/2014)

 I knew I had to include both the Raid films, since they are two of the best action films of the decade, and whilst I prefer the second, there's no denying the big influence the first one had on mainstream action and changing the way it was handled for the better, after the Bourne films had caused a shaky-cam hellfest to infect mainstream action films for many years.

The films form one big story but are very different in their structure and content. The first one is an awesome self-contained action film set in one location, whilst the second is a gorgeously shot gangster epic with superb action sequences. Both are highly enjoyable and must-see movies for fans of martials art action.

Holy Motors (2012)

 Onto something much more strange, unique and brilliant. Holy Motors is a film that follows the day of an actor who is driven around in a limousine to various places to play different characters for a range of events and situations; some of them dramatic, some of them funny and some of them a little disturbing, but all are very compelling. And as the film goes on, small details of the world that this film inhabits are revealed, before ending on a rather bizarre note that will leave many baffled. Really great movie and a performance masterclass from Denis Lavant.

Rurouni Kenshin Trilogy (2012/2014)

 This decade saw an explosion in manga adaptations in Japan, with them dominating their mainstream landscape. Obviously, the results of these varied in quality, but this trilogy stands tall in amongst them. Every time I think of these movies, I get this urge to rewatch them and that's rare for modern mainstream action movies. These films have it all, great action, acting, music, cinematography and even some emotional and moral depth. I was honestly surprised by how much I would love these films, but I would happily pick them over all the superhero movies I've seen this decade. They are far from perfect and still have their flaws, particularly the last two, but they are three of the best modern day samurai films around.

Why Don't You Play in Hell? (2013)

 Whilst Himizu may of been a film full of anger, here is a much more joyous film from Sion Sono, that always has me smiling from end to end. It follows a group of struggling filmmakers who get caught up in a Yakuza feud. The film is a homage and celebration of gonzo cinema as well as guerrilla filmmaking. It's outrageous, funny and even has a bit of an emotional core. I just adore it.

The Tale of Princess Kaguya (2013)

 Isao Takahata's final film before his death, and it's a masterwork. Based on the Japanese folklore tale of the same name, the film is done in a simple watercolor style that matches the film's period setting and makes for a very a beautiful looking movie. Takahata's masterful craftsmanship really brings out the story's depth and emotion, and then you have Joe Hisaishi, who once again produces a great a musical score that adds that extra finishing touch. Takahata is a talent that will sorely be missed, one of the greatest animation directors who ever lived.

Gravity (2013)

 Now here's a film I have picked more for the memorable experience I had with it than anything else.

I watched this film once in IMAX when it first came out and have not rewatched it at all since then, because I don't think I'll enjoy it as much in any other format. But that first time viewing in IMAX was very special and blew me away. It was an enthralling immersive experience with great visuals and a superb performance from Sandra Bullock. It may not stack up as well with all my other favorites, but that experience will always stay with me.

Under the Skin (2013)

 If I told you this film is about Scarlett Johansson as an alien, picking up men and devouring them, what you're imagining right now is the complete opposite what this film is. Minimal on dialogue and narrative, but constantly compelling, this is a really fascinating and unique film with a fantastic soundscape and some very haunting moments scattered within.
It also keeps a feeling of isolation throughout, which I remember having a real effect on me, on my way home from the cinema. A truly remarkable and stand out film.

Birdman (2014)

 Just like a lot of other films in this list, this is one of those the ones where I had a feeling beforehand that I was gonna instantly connect to it and I certainly did. Not only is this film a grand technical achievement with its one take illusion, but it's also got great performances which includes a revitalized Michael Keaton and a very engaging narrative that just kept get better and better as it went along.
 

The Witch (2015)

 The trend of jump scare heavy horror was more prevalent than ever this decade. So having a brilliant slow burn horror like this in amongst them was always a breath of fresh air. 

There's no reliance on jump scares here, just good tension and a constant unsettling atmosphere. And all its other aspects like the cinematography, soundtrack and acting are all great as well, creating a very effective horror that is a superb debut for director Robert Eggers.

The Lobster (2015)

 I remember this film coming out of nowhere for me, just a random movie I saw was at the cinema that  I went and watched and ended up loving it. This is a strange asburdist black comedy that is thoroughly entertaining with moments of unusual brilliance and a real good cast of actors. I had seen his film 'Dogtooth' a few years prior, but it is this movie and that ones that followed which really made Yorgos Lanthimos became a favorite director of mine. Just a really weird and wonderful film.

Your Name (2016)

 An enthralling romantic fantasy anime that is thematically rich and highly emotional with super likable characters, stunning visuals, a constantly intriguing narrative, and some great drama and humour. May not have watched a whole lot of anime this decade but I'm very happy that I managed to catch this at the cinema when I did, 'cause it really blew me away.

Neon Demon (2016)

 Nicolas Winding Refn's sinister look into the modeling industry that is both horrifying and fascinating. It;s a brilliant piece of work with a great central performance from Elle Fanning. It's incredible to look at, surreal at times and overall totally engrossing. I love it.

The Handmaiden (2016)

 Park Chan Wook is another one of my favorite directors, and this is another film of his that fits comfortably among his best. A masterfully crafted tale of desire and sexuality that is totally enthralling. It has strong characters, a great subversive narrative and a good sprinkling of dark humor.

The Florida Project (2017)

 As you can probably tell by now, the films I enjoy the most tend to be the ones that are a bit more out there, but I do still enjoy the more stripped back indie dramas, they just don't connect with me as much. But if I was to choose one that I felt was the best from the decade, it would be this one.

It follows a young girl and her mother who live in a motel a few miles from Disney World. It's told mostly from the child's perspective and draws you in with its fantastic genuine performances before hitting you hard emotionally and ending in a rather peculiar but effective way. A superb indie gem that really stood out for me.

Mother! (2017)

 Darren Aronofsky is another filmmaker whose work always seems to easily connect with me and I even really enjoyed his Noah adaptation from 2014.

Mother! was one of those films that was an instant love for me, it's a very gripping experience that follows a couple living in an isolated house, whose quiet life is disrupted and slowly descends into a crescendo of chaos. The focus stays mostly on the wife played by Jennifer Lawrence who gives a fantastic performance as a woman on edge that goes through a whirlwind of emotions. It is at times tense, distrubing, emotional and even blackly comical. 

Just an incredible film that stands among Aronofsky's best.

Annihilation (2018)

Man, am I glad that I was able to see this on the big screen, 'cause what an experience this was. This is a deeply fascinating sci-fi horror with great cinematography, acting and sound, as well as a tremendous climax that had my mouth agape in awe and wonderment, which had a lasting effect on me even after the movie was over. The kind of abosrbing cinematic experience that will always stay with me.

Midsommar (2019)

 I loved Ari Aster's debut film "Hereditary" the year before, but he really upped the ante and topped himself with this one. I do enjoy my films about weird cults and this one is particularl excellent. The cinematography is brilliant, the performances are superb, and much like Herditary it takes a slow burn approach that creates a constant sense of intrigue that just absorbs you into it more and more. Very excited to what else Ari Aster will present in the next decade.

Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood (2019)

I've enjoyed Tarantino's output this decade, but his latest is the one that really hit it for me. I found it to be oddly cathartic in a way, and it actually managed to hit me emotionally, moreso than any Tarantino film ever has. I got so immersed in the setting and the characters and then the ending just really resonated with me. "inglorious Bastards" is still my favorite Tarantino film, but this certainly came very very close to topping it.

 

 

So those are the main ones that really stuck with me this decade, though there are probably quite a few more I could've added and wrote about too, but here's a list of other films I really liked from this decade:

Four Lions (2010)

Cold Fish (2010)

Scabbard Samurai (2010)

Villain (2010)

Guilty of Romance (2010)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 (2011)

Drive (2011)

Shame (2011)

Planet of the Apes Reboot Trilogy (2011 - 2017)

Spring Breakers (2012)

The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)

 Evangelion 3.0 (2012)

Snowpiercer (2013)

Filth (2013)

 The Double (2013)

Nymphomaniac (2013)

12 Years a Slave (2013)

Trance (2013)

Stoker (2013)

R100 (2013)

X-Men Day of Future Past (2014)

John Wick Trilogy (2014 - 2019)

 Godzilla (2014)

The World of Kanako (2014)

Tokyo Tribe (2014)

What We Do in  the Shadows (2014)

A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Relfecting on Existence (2014)

Calvary (2014)

Interstellar (2014)

Nightcrawler (2014)

Gone Girl (2014)

Frank (2014)

New Star Wars Trilogy (2015 - 2019)

Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation (2015)

 Anomalisa (2015)

The Big Short (2015) 

The Revenant (2015)

Inside Out (2015)

Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

Antiporno (2016)

Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016)

La La Land (2016)

Arrival (2016)

Swiss Army Man (2016)

 Kubo and the Two Strings (2016)

Sausage Party (2016)

Three Billboards Outside Ebving, Missouri (2017)

A Taxi Driver (2017)

The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017)

Blade Runner 2049 (2017)

 Eighth Grade (2018)

The Favourite (2018)

 The Night Comes for Us (2018)

BlacKKKlansman (2018)

Hereditary (2018)

 Mission Impossible - Fallout (2018)

Ready or Not (2019)

Us (2019)

 

 

Loving (2016) Review

Loving is an historical drama about the lives of the interracial couple who were the cause of the 'Loving V. Virginia' supreme court case that invalidated state laws prohibiting Interracial Marriage. It stars Joel Edgerton and Ruth Negga who is nominated for the Academy award for best actress.
The film I'd say is pretty solid but far from great. Its intentions and message are clear and well executed and the performances are good (didn't scream oscar-worthy to me though). the problem is the film just seems to be going through the motions, we jump forward from scene to scene in a brisk manner that just tells the story, but lacks a good amount of drama and emotional weight. Don't get me wrong there are a couple of strong scenes here and the fill certainly isn't devoid of emotion. But the understated approach just didn't connect with me that much. Of course they wanted to be as true to their lives as possible, so it is understandable and like I said the film is definitely solid and well made and is sure to connect with many people in different ways. Its also a story I didn't know anything about, so at the very least I learned something, so it certainly serves its purpose well. ***

Hacksaw Ridge (2016)

Bursting in with as much subtlety as an Independence Day parade, comes Mel Gibson's Hacksaw ridge. A war movie that is Brutal, Excessive but definitely powerful.
Based on a true story the film follows a really interesting  real life character played by Andrew Garfield who does a really great performance in a somewhat similar role to what he plays in Silence. The drama is also strong and the films emotional moments hit quite hard, one of the things that really makes the film standout though are it's incredible sequences on the battlefield. The way it thrusts us into the heat of war creates a harsh, chaotic and intense experience. It's chock full of gory moments and action in excess that are shocking but also somewhat perversely satisfies those of us that enjoy a bit of bloody action even with its real life context. These sequences are ripe with tension and backed up by some great camerawork, editing and sound.
The rest of the movie is also very good and there are strong performances from all the rest of the cast. It is all very on the nose and there is a strong sense of patriotism running through it, but it never detracts from the viewing experience and overall this is just a really great war movie. ****

Split (2016)

Split is the latest from director M. Night Shyamalan who I am happy to say is back on top form delivering a terrific thriller that is alot of fun.
The main thing that makes this movie is James Mcavoy's tremendous performance as the antagonist, he is just so utterly compelling and the film probably wouldn't have worked as well without him. He just manages to give life to Kevin's different personalities so incredibly well and he just shine through especially during the films great climax. The rest of the cast are pretty decent too and do a fine enough job.
I also really liked alor of the cinematography, it has lots of intricate camerawork that was quite intriguing and really fit in well with the film.
It's a little more predictable than you'd expect from M. Night Shyamalan but there is a nice surprise right at the end that kinda blew my mind but it may go over alot of audience members heads. Still the films constantly engaging, it's got humour, it's got tension and it thrills us like a good thriller should. Is it  a little O.T.T? sure but I love that and overall I thought this was great and one of the best things Shyamalan has done. Good Stuff. ****

Lion (2016)

So here's another one of this years Oscar contenders, It is a rather safe and conventional film but one that executes it's touching true story exceedingly well, making it a very solid drama.
For starters the acting is strong, the emotional moments hit well and both Dev Patel and Nicole Kidman definitely deserve their acting award nominations, though the rest of the cast are also very good and I'd particularly like to mention Sunny Pawar who plays a young Saroo and who is probably on screen more than anyone else and also deserves praise for his performance.
The film is also really nicely shot with the cinematography being very beautiful at times making it clear to see why its also got award nominations with lots of wonderful wide shots which is what I like to see.
I do think the first half is a little stronger and more consistent than the second half which I think unfolded a tad slower than it should have but overall this is a really good drama that runs exactly how you'd expect but it gets its message across clearly and is really well made and enjoyable. There's nothing there that would personally make me want to re-watch it, but I still have a strong appreciation for its execution. ***1/2

La La Land (2016)

What a an absolute wonderful film this is, a jazz musical full of charm and heart that is thoroughly engaging throughout. It takes inspiration from classic Hollywood musicals and blends that influence  into a more modern, real life setting. Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone play the lead roles and their performances are great, with Emma Stone being a particular stand out especially during her one solo song towards the end.
Speaking of music the score is fantastic and works perfectly with the film and considering this is a musical it actually has quite a minimal amount of sung songs and the ones that there are have great purpose and never less than good.
The film also also beautifully shot with some great cinematography and set design that brings the films world to life incredibly well.
This was a project that Damien Chazelle had been wanting to make for a good few years and thanks to the success of his previous film Whiplash, he was able to and you can really see the passion and love that has been poured into making this, translating into a film that is truly wonderful film. A magnificent musical that is worthy of its awards buzz. ****

Manchester By The Sea (2016)

So here's one of the films currently riding the awards trail leading up to the Oscars. It's a little drama starring Casey Affleck, Lucas Hedges, Michelle Williams and a few others, and its pretty darn great. The drama itself is very strong a mixture of Sadness and hope laying at its foundation, though it is the melancholy that is most prevalent and it is quite the emotional experience but it's certainly no heavy-handed tearjerker, its approach is a little more subtle and genuine and handled exceedingly well.
What really makes this film though is it's characters and performances, the characters are well fleshed out and interesting and are backed up by great performances by its entire cast. I give particular praise to Casey Affleck who is outstanding in the lead role and deserves all the nominations and awards he's been getting. He plays the most interesting character in film who on the surface it may not seem like he is but there's alot of depth going on beneath which we get because of the way Affleck embodies the role.
the film is also well shot with alot of nice static camera work being used particularly in the films first 10/15 minutes which I thought was done in an intriguing way. I also like the classical music that was used throughout which fit in very nicely with the films atmosphere and tone.
The film does run at 137 minutes so it's a little long, but it's certainly not boring and stays engaging thanks to the characters, performances and certain story elements. Overall this is a great piece of drama that is full of strong acting and characters and I'd definitely recommend it. ****

Underworld: Blood Wars (2016)

So here it is, the latest film in the Underworld series and straight off the bat I have to say this is the shoddiest film in the series and I mean this mainly in terms of execution as it has a lot of messy editing and bad pacing with everything feeling rushed. It once again stars Kate Beckinsale and features Charles Dance and Theo James reprising their roles from the previous film, as well as some new faces including Tobias Menzies and Lara Pulver and her various provocative outfits.
Now the story's a bit of a mess and very generic but I preferred it to the previous film as theres lots of deceit going on that keeps it a little fun and its more reminiscent of the first film. This is also the films problem as its all too samey and just it feels a little stale with the most interesting scenes happen when they are at Vador, its a nice little change from the rest of the film and feature some fun action moments as well as introducing a couple of ideas that I wished they had explored more.
In terms of action overall the film as a good amount of it as well as some gore, although most of it is not the best, mainly because of the execution, but there are some enjoyable bits scattered abour.
The acting also varies in quality ranging between fine and kind of bad, but nothing flat-out terrible or good.
Overall the film is only partly successful at being  fun piece of mindless escapism and is really let down by its execution. Had things been handled better I definitely would have preferred it to the previous film, but as it stand this film is the weakest of the series and I think its time to put a stake into the franchises heart, but much like Selene, it's hard to kill for good. **

Silence (2016) review

Decided to do a short video review for the film Silence, though I was invisible at the time...

Office Christmas Party (2016)

Office Christmas Party is exactly what it says on the tin, but that Tin is cheap, tacky and pretty darn useless. The films primary function is to make us laugh, but not once during its 105 minute runtime did I even laugh besides a slight smirk every now and again. I knew what to expect but I just struggled to connect to it, so all the humour just fell flat despite the cast having a good go at it. The film is honestly one of the worst I've seen this year, I went in looking for a fun time and I just got nothing, I'm sure it'll work better for alot of other people but for me this was a failure of a comedy.
*

Your Name (2016)

This latest offering from Makoto Shinkai is a piece of brilliance and perhaps the best film I have seen this year. It is a beautiful Sci-fi/Fantasy drama that is full of great drama, humour and emotion. The characters are super likable and you can't help but care for them. The film is also visually stunning with both natural and city landscapes looking absolutely gorgeous. Sure it may be a little sappy but I had no problems with that all.
It's also a very thematically rich and current movie dealing with our connections and relationships with people, an outlook of traditional and modern japanese culture and in some ways the breaking down of gender barriers.
From the get go it's just an engrossing experience with it's story constantly feeding our intrigue. It's just fantastic and I highly recommend it.
*****

Moana (2016)

Here's the latest animated offering from Disney, a beautiful musical adventure with a Polynesian setting. Visually the film is stunning, the vibrant CGI really makes the locations come alive with everything looking top notch. The voice acting is also solid, with a great debut for Auli'i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson bringing his usual likeable charisma, as well as a good support cast including the much welcomed talents of Jemaine Clement.
The musical score is also really good and consistent and fits in super well with the film overall, with none of the character songs ever feeling like a chore to get through.
Now the films plot is formulaic and doesn't cover much new ground, but it's so well executed with all it's other elements that the films stays super enjoyable from start to finish, also I'm sure it's message of female empowerment is sure to resonate well with audiences. Overall another solid effort from Disney.

The Edge of Seventeen (2016)

Her we have a nice little teen comedy-drama from Kelly Fremon Craig in her directorial debut. It's a solidly made film that's well written with a strong leading performance from Hailee Steinfeld and a good supporting cast. It's not without it's cliches or predictability but what makes it work well is the how genuine the characters feel making us care about them and their situation more. There's a good balance of drama and humour both of which are executed well, though I do feel the films more emotional moments aren't as hard hitting as they should have been. But overall this is a really good teen comedy drama, that I'd recommend especially to fans of this particular genre. ***1/2

Kubo and the Two Strings (2016)

One of the most beautiful films of the year and Laika's best film they've made so far, Kubo is a wondrous and totally compelling experience, featuring some incredible stop motion animation, that is utterly stunning and  awe-inspiring. Laika are clear masters of this craft and its something I'll always adore. The animation combined with some top notch voice acting and a story ripe with emotion, excitement and a heartfelt message, makes this a really great film and probably one of my favourites of the year. I was just hooked from the get go and it never let up, great stuff. ****1/2

Don't Breathe (2016)

Here's a tense home invasion thriller that is super good.  The film is directed by Fede Alvarez whose previous film was the Evil Dead remake and he actually made Don't Breathe in response to the criticism he received from Evil DEad and fair play to the man he has done a great job of proving himself. He's managed to create a very gripping experience, one that is filled with twists and tension and very solid acting across the bored with Stephen Lang playing the role of a blind war veteran perfectly.
The visual Aesthetic was is also very good including the cinematography which includes a great use of steadicam and lighting, with particular praise to one scene thats played out in total 'darkness'.
All in all this was a great horror thriller that utilises many of the genre tropes in its own interesting way and I highly recommend it.

Morgan (2016)

Ridley Scott's son makes his directorial debut and it's a pretty solid one at that. A sci-fi film that bears similarities with Ex-Machina (thought not as good) and has clear influences from his fathers work. The film is an engaging piece with some solid acting that lightly touches on the complex morals and questions regarding artificial intelligence. I say lightly because after fantastic scene involving Paul Giamatti the film loses some steam and turns into a more superficial thriller/action affair that is still rather enjoyable but lacks the same strength and intrigue as its first half, though it does end on a good note. Overall I think this is a well executed movie that is pretty solid and has a couple of great moments scattered throughout it. A good first effort from Luke Scott. ***1/2

Sausage Party (2016)

This balls out and vulgar adult animated comedy might well be my favourite comedy of the year so far (not that there's much competition). It was very funny and highly enjoyable from start to finish and I think what makes it so good, is how the food worlds reflects the real word in an obvious but funny way, rather than just be a random display of nonsense and vulgarity. It just seems like that kind of wacky film I would make except maybe not as crude and obscene as this was, which is sure to put off alot of people. All in all though I thought this was a lot of fun and really liked it alot. A very funny and entertaining comedy. ****

The Purge: Election Year (2016)

The lukewarm film series continues with it's new third entry that is another slight improvement over the previous two films but still nothing great. The story is pretty run of the mill but enjoyable enough and the acting is pretty decent, what brings the film is up though is the little details inhabiting the film's reality, like seeing how different people act on Purge night. Those details always seem to be the most interesting aspect of these films and they are especially intriguing here, its just a shame that the main story and characters don't have the same level of engagement or interest. It does have a nice amount of action though with lots of people getting shot up which is kind of fun. The series is definitely improving bit by bit with every film, so if it continues we may actually get a masterpiece by the 10th film. So all in all this is a pretty decent thriller that deals with timely themes (albeit in a superficial way) and has enough there to keep you entertained for it's run time, nothing outstanding but its fine for what it is. ***

The Shallows (2016)

Shark movies aside from Jaws can be regarded has one of the trashiest sub genres in films, but every now and then, someone has a go at making one that is genuinely good, which is exactly what the Shallows is. It's a one person survival movie like 127 hours that also  involves a shark and its very very good indeed. These kind films can be hard to get right as it all comes down to the central performance and how you keep it interesting and this film manages to keep things engaging throughout and has a very solid central performance from Blake Lively. The shark is mainly CG but there's also a small use of practical effects which is pretty cool. It also has a very satisfying climax and a nice little layer of character depth and overall it's just really entertaining and well crafted, definitely one of the best Shark movies since Jaws and worth a watch. ****

Nerve (2016)

Nerve is a techno thriller that focuses on the dangers of societies heavy use of technology and social media. It highlights these issues through the films online dare game which is at the centre of the films plot. In the game you either play and do dares for money, or you watch and decide the dares. It's a rather intriguing film with some pretty decent performances but it opts for a pretty safe ending that greatly decreases the films impact. But still is quite a fun 96 minutes with its vibrant neon colours, energy and quick pace which I'm sure will be good enough for it's target teenage audience. ***