Custom favorites (119 films)

"A celebration of the weird, the absurd and the surreal, constantly adding new layers of wonder, forcing its audience to sit back in submission and let the film wash over them."

"Fandoms in Japan can be hardcore, and I love it. The curation and appreciation for cinema by arthouse theaters, fueled by passionate cinephiles, is tremendously inspiring."

"At its core, it's a very basic genre film, but the exquisite styling, haunting soundtrack and involved performances make it an enthralling ride that lets the film transcend its genre roots"

"Govaerts crafted a near-perfect piece of entertainment that gets progressively better as time passes, without ever losing sight of the cinematic craft and creativity that blesses the best of genre films."

"An overwhelming sensory experience, sporting insane visuals, and a splendid score, bringing to life an elaborate and complex story that warrants multiple watches."

"It's a bold, inventive, and provoking film, sporting superb performances and a lush presentation, adding to rather than stealing from the work of geniuses that came before her."

"Memoirs of a Snail may not be a sequel, but it's a direct spiritual successor to Mary and Max, offering the exact same appeal in a different narrative with different characters."

"The film's overwhelming visuals and its bright and bustling fantasy universe were quick to pull me in, the experimental touches and the onslaught of visual detail kept me glued to the screen."

"The stylish cinematography and superb sound design create a unique and tangible atmosphere, the performances and strong characterization add extra flair to the whole."

"If you want to hear about the true inspiration behind the film, how hard it is to make a feature film as a young director, and what you can expect from Park Sye-young next, do read on."

"The cinematography is crazy, the performances are all-in and the score is fitting. Add to that a wildly entertaining and unique premise, and you have a film that lingers."

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"This is truly next-gen stuff, a peek into the future of animated cinema that will reshape what we consider acceptable, not just on a technical but also on a creative level."

"It's raw, primordial and unfiltered emotion, an audiovisual experience that gripped me from the very first frame and didn't let go until long after the final credit had faded from the screen."

"Thanks to the wonderful art style, the atmospheric soundtrack and the proper amount of mystery and intrigue, this film is poised to become a future fantasy classic."

"Giddens Ko finally banks on his talent and serves a wildly creative and unique film, with the necessary visual flair, a notable soundtrack and strong performances to back it up."

"An accomplished film that stands out in just about every area that matters, from styling to performances to pacing, everything is polished to perfection."

"The concept is cool and the pacing is mad, but it's the bonkers cinematography, the constant onslaught of new ideas, and the smart details sprinkled throughout that make this my kind of film."

"The hellish setting, Tippet's fantastical creations, the intricate and lush stop-motion animation and the inspired camera work add up to a trip that knows no equal."

"Great performances, a stylishly gritty presentation, pleasant befuddlement, and plenty to chew on once the credits start rolling. The Box Man has it all."

"The Umbrella Fairy is the latest in a line of technically impressive, visually vibrant and culturally rich films that are working hard to put their own industry on the map."

"The mesmerizing cinematography, the superb score, and pitch-perfect performances create a dreamy reality that transforms a traumatic story into a darkly magical experience."

"The splendid animation and detailed art style, the wondrous score and quality dubbing and the imaginative fantasy elements support a wealth of well-grounded themes, giving life to this epic undertaking."

"Narita shows he has a knack for drama with a minor genre twist, serving intriguing characters and a playful plot while offering a stylistic finish that puts more expensive films to shame."

"The excellent cinematography combined with a lush score, a dedicated crew, and impeccable technical skills make this film a fantastical adventure like no other."

"A stunning road movie, a mysterious trip through the heart of China that doesn't lose itself in the usual contradictions, but sculpts a delicate portrait of its lead character."

"Annular Eclipse is a dashing genre effort, blending different genres, a conceptual story, and polished cinematography to create something that dazzles from start to finish."

"She was smart to adapt xxxHolic, a franchise allowing her to go full out with sets and costumes. The astounding visuals are a given, the soundtrack is a welcome surprise, the rest is just pure bonus."

"Thanks to the direction of Igashi, the fine audiovisual presentation, and some strong performances by the two leads, Leave in Summer is a film that stands as one of the better Japanese dramas I've seen."

"It's a string of impressive performances and an unwavering commitment to handling its delicate themes that sets this film apart, just come prepared if you're easily triggered."

"If you're an action fan and you love a good roller-coaster ride that commits to the genre from start to finish, Carter is one of the most exhilarating films I could recommend."

"A mash-up of genres and creative ideas that bring life to an otherwise stale genre. Shipei Wen's direction is confident, the presentation is lavish and the central performances are strong."

"Gretel & Hansel is an extremely atmospheric film, with a strong cast, amazing cinematography and an exemplary use of its score. A film that has everything to put Perkins on the map"

"An extremely well-balanced album film, where the entrancing music and stylish visuals feed off each other, combining into an invigorating and encompassing experience."

"It's grand and epic, technically extremely proficient, it delivers fresh and exciting fantasy realms to explore and the pacing is excellent. A landmark for fantasy cinema"

"An exuberant mood piece that dares to be bewildering, that isn't afraid to challenge its audience and that marries operational excellence with vision and creativity."

"Daughters breathes new life into a genre that's become pretty stale of late, by updating its stylistic vocabulary while making sure all its dramatic beats hit the mark."

"The mix of drama, romance, and genre feels fresh and unique, and each part is executed with the proper flair, skill, and gravity to make a mark of its own."

"Ulloa and his team crafted a beautiful, dark and haunting modern fairy tale that plows its way through the narrative without a single word spoken."

"The maximalist presentation, the vast array of quirky ideas and moments and the flashy action scenes all add up to make a vastly entertaining film."

"Superb performances, beautiful cinematography and complex characters turn a ballsy thriller into a gripping character drama, sporting one of the neatest endings I've seen in a while."

"The thrill of the adventure is tangible, the grim settings are exceptional and the imaginative and excessively gross creature designs are spot on, this film delivers everything and more."

"A superb urban fantasy, sporting stylish cinematography, nice lore, and some solid performances, but it's more toned down compared to Kiriya's previous efforts."

"One of the most visually impressive animations I've ever watched, a joyful and creative fantastical adventure that should be able to capture the imagination of all."

"Liking Jachterwachter comes down to appreciating the type of crude, exaggerated and absurd comedy that forms the backbone of the entire film, the neat presentation is just a fancy bonus."

"The impressive animation is the film's clearest selling point, but the intriguing fantasy premise and the smart reveal of the plot help ground the experience."

"A stylish and polished blend of drama and sci-fi that has some interesting things to say, looks absolutely stunning, has a lovely score, and has a great cast to boot."

"Titane is a powerhouse feature, made with a bold signature, confidently blending genre and drama elements while tackling contemporary issues in the best of cinematic ways."

"If you're looking for something weird, original, and funny, fully dedicated to its genre and aiming to surprise from start to finish, look no further than Mad Cats."

"Satoshi Miki made a great pastiche of the genre's weakest elements, resulting in a comedy that might be smarter and slyer than it is laugh-out-loud funny."

"A fun, brave, and creative film that manages to surprise on every level, mixing a unique universe with spectacular performances and stylistic prowess."

"The sheer enthusiasm, the brutally graphic nature of the horror and the solid pacing make this by far the best infected flick I've seen in years, if not decades."

"The lush cinematography and outstanding soundtrack set the stage for a bristling, touching relationship drama, the superb performances seal the deal."

"The imaginative designs, the cinematic presentation and the dedication to deliver original lore make this a fantastical adventure that kept me gasping for air until the very end."

"The loveable characters, the stylish score and cinematography, and the slightly fantastical moments all add up to a very likeable and capable drama without any real weak points."

"At its heart it's basic genre fare, but Cayas' clever writing and pointed, confident direction add the needed flair and polish to turn it into a memorable film."

"The Wandering Moon may sound reprehensible and wrong on paper, but the delicate styling, Lee's nuanced direction, and some stellar performances make all the difference."

"Mr. Schilling was nice enough to answer some questions about his involvement in the production of the film, so if you want to take a peek behind the curtains of Miki's latest, do read on."

"Krazy House is a delightful descent into madness, starting out as a goofy spoof of the 90s US sitcom while continuously adding more juicy genre fun and a wicked sense of humor to create a mad genre experiment."

"Strong and fitting performances, superb editing, stylish cinematography, and a moody score all add to an intriguing film that was pretty meaty to begin with."

"Patrick Ridremont serves a delightful mix of horror and dark fantasy, with stylish visuals, a fitting soundtrack, a solid cast and a great ending to boot. Perfect for the holidays."

"Kowloon finally gets the film it deserves, sporting a great cast, a distinctive score, and some dazzling action scenes, layered on top of a sprawling crime epic."

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"Sakaguchi's performance is stellar, the action is almost meditative and Shimomura's direction does everything in its power to draw the attention towards the implausible feat they pulled off."

"When the cinematography is splendid, the score is tailored to perfection and the performances are exceptional, you know you're getting a lovely film from Iwai."

"Herdal delivers a very moody and stylistically impeccable mix of mystery and horror, an audiovisual experience that washed over me and stayed with me until the very end."

"The story may be familiar territory for most, but the exquisite designs, the stylish cinematography, great score and excellent performances make this a film like no other."

"Even without the little narrative twist, this would've been a worthwhile film. The performances are strong, the cinematography is stylish and the pacing is perfect."

"The cinematography and score are polished and stylish, the performances are top-notch and the themes are dark and challenging, resulting in a very fine drama that underlines Okuhara's talent."

"The art style is wonderful, the animation is lovely, the characters are pleasantly different, and Watanabe's bold dramatic choices pay off nicely in the end."

"Both the writing and the direction stand out, combined with the superb performances, the perfectly paced build-up and the fitting finale, it makes for an excellent black comedy."

"Under the Light is pure visual bliss, a film that bathes in color and light and leaves no frame untouched to explore the limits of how far you can push the cinematography."

"A film you need to watch if you appreciate the weird, the goofy and the incredulous. It's a film that fully commits to its silly premise and is willing to take it to its extreme."

"The animation is sublime, the art style alluring, the fantasy elements are elaborate and well-executed and even though there's a lot of plot to cover, the pacing is slick."

"The lovely cinematography, some very fine performances, and a series of fun little twists make certain that Thorns of Love will go down relatively easily for most people."

"The slick cinematography, spirited performances, and the mix of darker themes with witty and self-aware styling choices make this one of the better films to come out of Hong Kong in recent years."

"The mix of sci-fi and horror is interesting, and the narrative is challenging, but ultimately it's the oppressive and enveloping audiovisual experience that grounds Infinity Pool."

"The animation is wondrous and detailed, the dub is powerful, the fantasy world feels exciting and adventurous and the finale is appropriately overwhelming."

"Welcome to the Game is straight-up genre fare, a puzzling power struggle between two camps, dressed up nicely and executed with the proper amount of flair."

"The plot is kept pretty basic, but the performances are superb, the cinematography is polished and the score is on point, resulting in prime edge-of-your-seat cinema."

"There is something wildly intriguing about young people carving out their own way through life, for that reason alone a film like Poser is worth championing."

"A superb cast, intriguing characters and electrifying conversations paint a picture of likeable, 3-dimensional people who find themselves in somewhat awkward situations."

"Doing a zombie outbreak as a one-shot endeavor was a smart choice and thanks to the excellent execution MadS turned into a film that does its premise proud."

"The Tokusatsu angle is cool, the anthology structure is something new to Dupieux's work, other than that you can expect the dry delivery of wackiness that makes his films such a joy to watch."

"There's a dark comedy streak that keeps the film on the right track, the polished presentation and the captivating central performance do the rest."

"Thanks to the raw cinematography, the polished sound design, and some stellar performances it hits all its emotional notes, without failing its cinematic roots."

"The lovely cinematography, the superb production design, the solid integration of the score and the pleasant performances all add up to a very charming and disarming film."

"A beautiful fever dream that transports you to the seedy underbelly of a different place and time, built on dazzling cinematography, a well-tailored score and excellent performances."

"Shadow of Fire has the marks of an aging director, but Tsukamoto is aging in style. What the film lacks in vigor and energy, it makes up for with piercing emotion and a stylish finish."

"Bad Lands is a ride, a film that takes a personal story and turns it into a sprawling crime film. The styling is pristine, Ando is exemplary and there isn't a boring moment in sight."

"Subject 101 made me realize how much I miss these types of films. A good old mindfuck that sets out to confuse rather than explain, and doing so in the most maximalist way possible."

"The film feels delightfully maximalist, with sprawling sets and costumes, bigger-than-life performances, an epic storyline, and some eye-popping visuals."

"A loveable, stylish take on Pan-Asian romance cinema, sporting a great cast, a pleasant score, and cozy cinematography, all in support of some heartwarming moments."

"Dupieux's absurdist comedy is on full display here, the performances are on point and while I didn't fully vibe with the styling I can't but admit that the film has its own, unique style."

"The styling is lush, the action scenes are dynamic and well over-the-top, the CG doesn't distract and there's enough intrigue for those who want something besides the action."

"The lush cinematography, the moody setting, and the hyper-focus on what makes a good action thriller tick make this a condensed bundle of genre fun."

"A vibrant blockbuster that conforms to genre standards, while leaving Miike enough room to insert his signature elements. The definition of pure and unfiltered entertainment."

"The execution is slick, the performances are strong, the score is a bit more refined and the themes are handled with the proper respect and gravitas."

"The cinematography is on point, the performances are way above average and the action scenes are vibrant, everything is there to become a niche favorite."

"Daaaaaali! is a fitting and refreshing ode to one of the biggest painters of the 20th century, and it's every bit as madcap as the man's paintings."

"The stand-out performances, the downplayed craziness, the chill atmosphere and more than a handful of memorable moments make this another lesson in dry and absurd comedy."

"The premise is original, the visuals are bold and colorful and the performances are on point. Office Royale serves action and comedy in equal measures and does so with plenty of flair."

"Flux Gourmet looks great, sports an awesome soundtrack and insane sound design, the cast is great and the mix of self-deprecating comedy feels like a breath of fresh air."

"Don't watch this film for the presentation or the strong narrative, instead, have a good chuckle, marvel at its wittiness, and take a minute to consider the points it raises."

"The superb performances, the stylish presentation, and the perfect balance of plot and character focus make this one of the better contemporary Japanese dramas."

"The beautiful cinematography, the stylish score and the raw performances make for a powerful and entrancing experience, establishing Umemura as a potential future stronghold of Japanese arthouse."

"The polished cinematography, the moody score, and a superb lead performance bring validity and depth to a central theme that isn't featured all that often in Japanese cinema."

"The film is Wes Anderson at his finest and most precise, the only reason why it fails to stand out is that he has been making variations of the same film for a decade already."

"The stylish cinematography, the tailored score, and the strong performances lend the plot the necessary credibility, the little genre touches are the icing on the cake."

"The intricate styling, the mix of classic folklore with contemporary culture, and the slick thriller elements make this a pretty accessible film while keeping that Japanese feel intact."

"This is straight-up genre fare, but it's elevated by a polished presentation, confident and self-aware performances, and a mean and malicious sense of humor."

"An arsenal of quirky characters, terrific cinematography, a meticulously detailed universe and an incredible ease that defies belief, considering the extreme density. This is vintage Anderson."

"Sakura may look like a harmless little timewaster from the outside, but it harnesses a darker core that rears its head after making sure everyone in the audience has lowered his guard."

"An incredibly capable film that oozes quality. From the stylish cinematography and the accomplished score to the strong performances and intriguing plot, Chung delivers quality across the board."

"Bad-ass action scenes, striking cinematography, and a bunch of colorful characters elevate a rather basic filler flick into a clear and confident genre highlight."

"The stylish locations and ditto cinematography, a slightly more distinct and contemporary score, and solid performances elevate a simple crime/action film to something more distinct and valuable."

"The fantasy-fueled drama offers a warm and endearing premise, but the lovely cinematography combined with some strong performances lift the film."

"The styling is on point, the actors know what they're doing, and the film gets progressively crazier and dafter. This is everything I want from a good black comedy."