TOP 2021/2022 + 2020 edit

[gina_lollobrigida]

TOP 9 FILMS 2022

1. Everything Everywhere All At Once
2. Pearl
3. X
4. Soft & Quiet
5. Terrifier 2
6. Barbarian
7. Sisu
8. RRR (Rise Roar Revolt)
9. Candy Land



Everything Everywhere All At Once It’s packed with all sorts of emotions, including a wide range of cultural references, and at times it’s extremely surreal and absurd; it’s hard to beat in my personal top list, and it’s the only non-horror film in it.

if not for it, then Pearl would undoubtedly be in first place; it’s also less of a horror film in the modern sense, and more psychological, much like those from the 1960s. Mia Goth gives an Oscar-worthy performance here, although I’m not particularly keen on such comparisons.

X A well-deserved third place for its lovingly crafted details. The best slasher film of recent years; I honestly can’t recall a slasher of such high quality in a very long time, even though the slasher genre is, by its very nature, at odds with quality in a cinematic sense—it’s usually just exploitation fare with a bit of atmosphere at best. In terms of production quality, this film rises above the genre itself. Mia Goth’s performance in two roles is unrivalled. The interconnectedness of the Pearl-X universe is fascinating to explore.

The top three are generally very solid, but the rest of the list isn’t quite as firmly established, so the films could be swapped around.

Perhaps the scariest film on the list, which left me feeling extremely uneasy whilst watching it, is Soft & Quiet. In terms of cinematography, it’s probably in last place, as there’s nothing outstanding about it, and even the single-shot filming isn’t impressive; however, in terms of atmosphere of horror, it might well be in first place; nothing on this top list scared me as much as this film. The fact that this film is in 4th place means that fear/fright is not at all the main thing for me in a horror film.

Terrifier 2 I know many criticise it for its lack of seriousness and its running time, but I, on the contrary, liked its trashiness and didn’t pay any attention to the running time at all; the film flew by very quickly. The quality of the practical effects is the best, and I can put it in first place for its effects and their ingenuity.

Barbarian A small-scale but high-quality horror film; the whole story is told in an engaging way and there’s a nice twist at the end. I can’t really add much else, but the film was a pleasant surprise.

Hatching I’d give it an honourable mention, as it’s a more than worthy film, but for some reason it’s flown under the radar and very few people know about it.

TOP 7 TV 2022

1. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
2. Black Bird
3. Only Murders in the Building
4. Slow Horses (1-2 сезоны)
5. Night Sky
6. Inside No. 9
7. Severance



There are very few TV series that I still include in my top lists long after they’ve already in later seasons, but The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel hasn’t lost any of its spark; the story is brilliant and deeply moving. For me, the fourth season is the undisputed number one.

Black Bird In terms of quality and storytelling, it’s a very strong second place.

The second season of Only Murders in the Building was quite a surprise for me; its cosy, warm-hearted and high-quality humour has really made me look back on the first series in a much more positive light. And anyway, there aren’t many series around these days in the old Agatha Christie-style detective genre that have such good humour.

Night Sky I was pleasantly surprised by the combination of a mature storyline with excellent acting and the soundtrack; Sissy Spacek gave an incredible performance. The only slight drawback of the series is its ending; it wasn’t renewed for a second season.

Inside No.9 Even in its seventh season, it continues to delight with exceptionally high-quality stories in 30-minute episodes, crafted in an entertaining and masterful style.

Severance For me, it’s more of an honourable mention, even though it’s near the top of the list, because the series is undoubtedly excellent and some people might well put it in first place, but personally I didn’t find it all that gripping to watch, although I must say the ending was brilliant – by the end I was 100% hooked.

TOP 5 TV 2021

1. Station Eleven
2. Midnight Mass
3. Brand New Cherry Flavor
4. WandaVision
5. Mr. Corman




Station Eleven For me, it’s the undisputed number one in many aspects. The most important thing is the unique tone of the narrative, its atmosphere. I haven’t come across a series that can be compared to it; at least, nothing springs to mind. This tone encompasses the non-linearity of the narrative and the subject matter itself, which right now (since 2020 – COVID-19) is shocking in its unpleasant psychological details, which are all too relatable. The very idea of an acting troupe in these circumstances is very fresh and unexpected. The poetic perspective on the reality of the series’ universe is stunning, complemented by an emotional storyline and the interconnection of different time periods. The original’s quality is high; quotes from the comic book in the series strike a chord deep within the soul, and their meaning deepens as the plot unfolds.

As a Flanagan fan, I have to mention Midnight Mass, and it’s even more pleasing that it turned out to be so brilliant. Yes, it’s full of rather long monologues and dialogues which, if you’re not into the subject or don’t pay attention, can get a bit tedious, but for me they were full of genuine meaning and touched me deep in my soul.

I really love this sub-sub-genre (I don’t even know if it exists) of all manner of modern mysticism/horror set in the reality of Los Angeles. I actually got more seriously into cinema after watching Lynch’s Mullholland Drive (2004), so the series Brand New Cherry Flavor was right up my street; it has both the mystical elements and the gross-looking horror, plus a brilliant performance in the lead role (Rosa Salazar). In this ‘subgenre’, I’d also mention Under The Silver Lake (2018) as a mystery and Starry Eyes (2014) as more of a horror film.

I love sitcoms; I appreciate the classics and the old-school style. It’s brilliant when these references are done well, which is why WandaVision was so thoroughly entertaining—if only the ending, which went a bit off the rails, hadn’t spoiled the overall impression.

Without a fifth spot for 2021, I’ve deliberately gone through various lists again, but nothing really stands out.

I could mention Squid Game, but although it’s excellent, it surfed a huge wave of hype that ultimately was its demise, because now I associate the series solely with that hype and have absolutely no desire to rewatch it. Much like Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness (2020).

For All Mankind Even with its excellent ending, the second season doesn’t quite make it into my top picks.

Yellowjackets (2021) It looks vibrant, and Christina Ricci is lovely, but the subject matter as a whole doesn’t really grab me.

I enjoyed quite a few TV series in 2021 (Pose Season 3, What We Do in the Shadows Season 3, Ted Lasso Season 2), but for some reason I don’t feel like putting them in my personal top list; there’s just something missing.

TOP 5 FILMS 2021

1. The Innocents/De uskyldige
2. The Sadness
3. The Card Counter
4. Malignant
5. Nobody



The Innocents/De uskyldige made such a strong impression with its tone, it’s the undisputed winner. It walks a fine line between the mystical, the horror and another genre.

The Sadness This Taiwanese horror film is unrestrained and uncompromising in its brutality, pushing the boundaries in so many ways – it’s simply a joy to watch. The practical effects are absolutely mind-blowing.

The Card Counter I love the film noir genre and all its modern variations; this is a really powerful film with a soundtrack that fits it perfectly.

Malignant An interesting take on the standard horror film genre, effectively incorporating a meta-level (self-parody). The scene at the police station is outstanding. It’s worth watching the whole film just for that.

Nobody A solid entry in the genre, where a former cop/soldier/secret agent gives everyone what they deserve. The scene on the bus is outstanding.

Mad God First honourable mention. I can’t say I love this film, but it's pretty insane. it has wild and superbly crafted universe.

Titane Second honourable mention. It’s a strange, unsettling film, and I wouldn’t say I liked it, but its originality deserves a mention. The dance scene on the fire engine is brilliant and genuinely unsettling.

TOP FILMS 2020

~not complete.

1. The Hunt
2. Freaky
3. Kajillionaire
4. Possessor



+ honourable mentions and possible list spots

The Invisible Man I reckon it deserves a spot in the top rankings, but obviously I’ll need to watch it again first. That tense atmosphere in the film is just brilliant. I’ve underestimated this film twice; reading what I wrote about it the first time around makes me laugh.

The Call It’s a really cool mix of genres – there’s horror and a sort of time travel (that’s what I call anything to do with time; you could even throw parallel timelines into the mix), and the ending’s brilliant. Definitely worth a rewatch.

Hunter Hunter I’ve only seen it once; I remember the great atmosphere and the shocking ending. I wonder if it would stand up to a rewatch. That said, it’s definitely a hidden gem that comes highly recommended – though the title is a bit silly.

Promising Young Woman forgotten the plot; need to watch it again.

His House I remember it as an interesting horror film with a unique backstory: *Survivor’s Guilt*. I really need to watch it again.

Bloody Hell great blend of comedy and horror.

also possible The Devil All the Time, but i also don't quite remember it enough