2022 was an interesting year for film! I got to go to my first film festival this year, that being TIFF 2022 and I got to see 15 films collectively just at the festival alone. I ended the year with 179 new release films under my belt. The fact is, it's a hard task to make a film, so I never really hate a film. Even though I have a section called "the worst", I believe that every film has at least one element that deserves positive merit. I saw a wide range of films this year and this is my ranking of what I was able to see!
THE WORST
179. Amityville Karen
Amityville Karen is one of the many films from Shaun C Phillips (known as Coolduder on youtube). He (at this moment) has around 12 films in various stages of production. They have stated that this film took 3 or 4 days to shoot. The film is around an hour and 45 minutes in length but feels much longer. My biggest issue is that the idea of the film wasn't a terrible one, but the quality of the production and the fact that it takes around an hour or so to actually get into the general idea of the film ruins what could have been a good thing. From a script that feels super unrealistic, to performances that de-escalate the writing, scenes that go on for way to long and scenes that have no barin to the film as a whole, it feels like the rushed and gong ho nature of the production ruined what could have been a passable low budget horror film.
178. Hot Take: The Depp/Heard Trial
177. Ice Age: Adventures of Buck Wild
176. Marmaduke
175. Evil At The Door
174. Bad Bones
173. The Last Possession
172. I Dream of a Psychopomp
171. Infrared
170. Last The Night
169. The Andy Baker Tapes
168. The Lair
The only film that I walked out of this year and I never do that. Saw it at TORONTO AFTER DARK this year and it might have been a dictator of whether or not I will go to the festival again. The film feels like it could have been a porn parody without the sex. Awful CGI and cinematography is was also a very prominent negative. Such a sad downfall that Neil Marshall has had recently because The Descent was actually a great and kinda scary horror film.
167. Redeeming Love
166. Lifemark
Just stating that this film is a Kendrick brothers and Kirk Cameron collaboration should be enough reason to why this is so low on the list. A christian film that sacrifices the quality of the story and characters to preach a message that many don't want or need in their media. With some truly baffling performances and some very problematic politics, this one is definitely not a necessary viewing from 2022.
165. Expoited
164. Daddy's Perfect Little Girl
163. The King's Daughter
162. 365 Days: This Day
161. Blonde
It’s Fire Walk With Me if David Lynch absolutely despised Laura Palmer. Not a bad film technically, but a bad film morally. I don’t feel comfortable about recommending this film to anyone. It’s not worth it. If there was an annual award for most misogynistic film, this would be the front runner!
160. Moonfall
159. Tall Girl 2
158. They/Them
A slasher film that forgets that it’s a slasher for about 90% of its runtime. The film is shot pretty competently but that’s about it. This film feels like it’s trying to pander to us in the LGBTQ community while also being homophobic and transphobic. I don’t know how it’s done, but this film did it. I literally saw the same exact twist in “American Horror Story: 1984” a few years ago. I can see why this is a peacock original. Also, that scene with the dog is so cringe.
157. Diary Of A Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules
156. Night At The Museum: Kahmunrah Rises Again
155. Against The Ice
154. A Madea Homecoming
153. Blacklight
152. Hotel Transylvania: Transformania
151. Bigbug
BAD
150. Offseason
149. The Bubble
148. All The Old Knives
147. Amsterdam
The best part of this film is how he got his Trans Niece a cameo in the film! Go ahead! Go google “David O Russell Trans Niece”! You won’t regret it! (If anyone didn’t catch the sarcasm, David O Russell is a piece of shit!) I don't know how he was able to wrangle this case, he must have a lot of blackmail. Everything from the script to the performances are super weak or feel phoned in. The only one to blame is Russell, because if a different director had this concept and this cast, it would have probably turned out much better. This film feels like it was trying to be a Wes Anderson film, so maybe he should have written and directed this instead. If this was a Wes Anderson production, it would have been top of the year and seeing the film wouldn’t have supported an abuser. Amsterdam is just a mess that would have had some promise in someone else’s hands.
146. Morbius
I would rather watch vampires sparkle over this somehow boring vampire flick with CGI from the early 2000s surprisingly. "Have sex! Shit your pants!"
145. Moonshot
144. Kimi
143. No Exit
142. A Journal for Jordan
141. Choose or Die
140. Firestarter
139. Cheaper by The Dozen
138. The Cursed
137. The Lost City
136. Father Stu
135. The 355
134. Gold
133. Windfall
132. Deep Water
131. Senior Year
130. Jackass 4.5
The best way to describe this is the deleted scenes from Jackass Forever. There was probably one segment that had me laughing but the rest were on a level where it made sense why they were cut from the film in the first place.
129. Dashcam
I remember when this film dropped at SXSW and everyone was singing its praises. I was excited to check it out until it was being pulled from theatres. That led to me figuring out the true nature of the film. A wildly irresponsible right wing horror film from Blumhouse that has some truly unlikable characters, and not in a good way. What makes it even worse is that the actors based the characters on their own perceptions or more fittingly their misconceptions of the pandemic. I use to love Blumhouse, but I haven’t really vibed with one of their films for a bit. It’s simply just a wildly irresponsible horror film that adds another tally to the rough track record that Blumhouse has fallen into recently. Spree did this "livestream horror" idea much better!
128. Marry Me
127. The Princess
126. Three Thousand Years of Longing
MID
125. The Tender Bar
124. Jurassic World: Dominion
123. Italian Studies
122. Spirit Halloween
121. Thor: Love and Thunder
120. Death on The Nile
119. The Last Thing Mary Saw
118. Don't Worry Darling
DON’T WORRY DARLING to put it simply, isn’t very good! There are some decent elements like the acting from Pugh and Pine and the needle drops while the other elements of the film are either bad or unoriginal. It’s really a Jordan Peele film or a Twilight Zone episode with a half baked message!
117. The Munsters
While it's not Rob Zombie's worst film to date, you can tell that it's his first try at a family comedy. Some of it works while other elements don't. If you are looking for a reboot of a classic show that elevates the source material, that is not what you are going to get. If you are looking for a comedy to watch with your kids under the age of 7 that is goofy in a straight to dvd kids movie way and passes the time, than this film fits the criteria. The film feels like something that you would find on tubi or a low budget youtube channel. Maybe after a few more tries, Zombie can master the arts of lighthearted horror comedies.
116. Falling for Christmas
115. The Alex Leyba Movie
114. The Black Phone
113. Pleasure
112. Cyrano
111. You Won't Be Alone
110. A Hero
109. The Lost Daughter
108. Quickening
107. Memoria
106. Constantine: The House of Mystery
105. I Want You Back
104. My Policeman
103. A Small Fortune
102. The Swimmers
101. Chip & Dale: Rescue Rangers
OKAY
100. Black Adam
99. Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore
98. Crush
97. Glorious
96. Flee
95. The Gray Man
94. DC League of Super Pets
93. A Christmas Story Christmas
92. Christmas Bloody Christmas
91. Catwoman: Hunted
90. Matilda: The Musical
89. Uncharted
88. Something In The Dirt
87. Parallel Mothers
86. Violent Night
85. HUNT
84. Venus
83. Sick
82. Sonic The Hedgehog 2
Probably one of the best video game adaptations that I have seen! The subgenre hasn't always churned out hits, but when they do the final product truly works!
81. My Name Is Alex
80. Emily The Criminal
79. Peace By Chocolate
78. Trying It At Home
77. Vengeance
76. I Love My Dad
GOOD
75. Resurrection
74. The Sadness
73. Funny Pages
If Lady Bird was a dark coming of age comedy about a kid who likes to draw edgy comics. That’s all I can say without giving the full story away. Also wasn’t expecting to see Andy Milonakis in this film. That was a welcomed surprise. Major Ghost World vibes from this film. If you like that film, you’ll like this one.
72. My Best Friend's Exorcism
71. Armageddon Time
70. Lady Chatterley's Lover
69. Scream
68. Hocus Pocus 2
67. Spirited
66. Ambulance
65. The Killer
64. Hellraiser
Not the greatest thing in the world, but props to it for bringing the story back to the version that Clive Barker originally intended. The Trans representation in Jamie Clayton is a huge plus!
63. Bullet Train
62. Hellbender
61. Orphan: First Kill
60. V/H/S 99
59. Texas Chainsaw Massacre
57. Halloween Ends
HALLOWEEN ENDS is gonna get the reception that Season Of The Witch did! The film makes some bold moves that are not going to impress everyone. Lucky for them, I’ve been defending Halloween III since I saw it when I was 13. This one will be great to the real ones!
56. Happening
55. Petite Maman
54. Scarborough
53. On The Count Of Three
52. BARDO: False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths
The film is visually stunning and it has a few interesting things to say, but the film’s downfalls are that it’s too long and too pretentious. I may have liked it more if I was super high during the viewing.
51. Cha Cha Real Smooth
GREAT
50. The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
The third act of this film is what keeps it from being more than "great". I do like the film and some elements work, but if they went bonkers and against the grain, it would have fit the message and subtext of the film more and I would have gotten more out of it. The film isn’t bad in any terms but the third act plays it way too safe. Nicholas Cage and Pedro Pascal are fantastic in this though! Paddington 2 hive rise up!
49. Dual
48. The Fallout
47. Fresh
46. Clerks III
CLERKS III is the best Kevin Smith film in a while! It balances the comedy of his earlier work and the drama of his later work very well. This film feels like a third act in many ways. The script and performances are pretty solid. Kevin Smith fans will enjoy it!
45. Compartment No. 6
44. Terrifier 2
43. The Runner
Boy Harsher's concept film centered around their latest album is truly one that every genre fan should check out! A nice blend of 80s visuals and synths makes this one not just a great one for horror hounds, but those interested in the macabre in general!
42. Sisu
SISU is exactly what you expect it to be, an ultra violent action packed ride that is equal parts Rambo and Mad Max: Fury Road. This film is definitely one that fits into the world of Midnight Madness and the audience response proves it. This is one that i’ll be showing my dad because this seems like something that he would love!
41. Barbarian
40. Project Wolf Hunting
39. Turning Red
38. After Yang
37. RRR
36. Adult Swim Yule Log
35. Marcel the Shell with Shoes On
34. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Story
GLASS ONION is another excellent whodunnit from Rian Johnson and co. With a sharp script and excellent performances, audiences are bound to find this film intriguing throughout. Anyone who thought Knives Out would be a one hit wonder concept will be pleasantly surprised!
33. The Fabelmans
THE FABELMANS was exactly what I wanted from a Spielberg film! He captured what made his classic films so special while showing off the talent he has build over his expansive career. With a very sharp and witty script and excellent performances, this one is on the road towards awards season success!
32. Belle
31. Men
Alex Garland's folklore tale about the dangers of generational misogyny and sexism is one of the most unique films to come out of the year! Killer performances from both Jessie Buckley and Rory Kinnear have you interested throughout along with some stellar cinematography and a awe inspiring score.
30. Jackass Forever
29. Moonage Daydream
MOONAGE DAYDREAM is much more than a documentary, it’s a damn experience! The film is presented as if Bowie is telling his story from the afterlife and it’s done respectfully. It’s loud, flashy and non linear. It’s the best “music film” i’ve seen in a while!
28. Crimes Of The Future
27. Catherine Called Birdy
CATHERINE CALLED BIRDY is a delightful feminist coming of age story about a girl during the 13th century in Europe finding herself. With some top notch performances (shoutout to Bella Ramsay) and a witty script, this one will be enjoyed by the entire family!
26. Pearl
Ti West hit it out of the park with two amazing films this year and Pearl is one of them. With a career best performance from Mia Goth, this is one that needs to be checked out! A24 keeps winning with original genre content!
THE BEST
25. Bros
The first gay studio romantic comedy was definitely worth it. Billy Eichner brings the realism of existing in the LGBTQ+ Community to life both in front and behind the camera. This film possibly got the most laughs out of every film I saw at TIFF this year! An honest and sincere Comedy/Drama that shows how we all go through the same struggles with life and acceptance in our lives.
24. White Noise
White Noise is an excellent black comedy with hints of nihilism akin to the films of John Waters and other similar filmmakers. A colourful 80s styled film filled with dread and existentialism that just works. A sharp and bold film about humanity’s struggle with depression! Fantastic performance and stunning cinematography make this a must watch!
23. Leonor Will Never Die
This film needs to be explained as simple as it can be because the film's full scope needs to remain a surprise! A fun love letter to writers and genre filmmaking which follows a screenwriter trying to find her next story! Saw this one at TIFF without knowing anything on the last night of Midnight Madness and it was a god damn treat!
22. The Banshees of Inisherin
Martin McDonagh's dark comedy about a diagreement that turns brutal is the best breakup film you'll see this whole year! Banshees is McDonagh's best as it features a sharp script and brilliant performances all around. The film’s dry Irish humour also works. Fans of dark comedies will enjoy this one!
21. Avatar: The Way Of Water
Thirteen years after changing the movie industry and bringing AVATAR into the world, Cameron has returned with the well rounded sequel "Avatar: The Way of Water". This entry elevates what Cameron created with the original and continued to showcase how he's one of the greatest visual directors. The story and performances were also strong (specifically some surprisingly complex performances from. Worthington and Saldaña). See this in the biggest theatre possible! Seeing this in IMAX with the HFR (48 frames a second in certain scenes) was the best choice for viewing.
20. The Worst Person In The World
The simple story of one woman's infidelity and journey for self acceptance filled with stunning cinematography and some amazing performances. Worst Person is my favourite from Joachim Trier's filmography and I can't wait to see what he and lead actress Renate Reinsve does next!
19. Bones & All
BONES & ALL is another beautifully shocking tale from Luca Guadagnino. With some fantastic performances (specifically Russell and Chalamet), visually striking cinematography and a score resembling a dark and melodic Nine Inch Nails album, this is a film that showcases Guadagnino’s darkly beautiful talent. Bones & All is THAT film this year that uses body horror to subtextually discuss being Gay and Trans and I heavily respect it for that element. It’s this year’s TITANE, and I hope for more queer body horror in the future!
18. Elvis
Baz Luhrmann's colourful odyssey about the life of Elvis is one of the most chaotic films of the year! Austin Butler's performance as Elvis is one that will be remembered for a while and the frantic pacing and editing will keep it fresh for manu rewatches.
17. Women Talking
Women Talking is this generation’s 12 Angry Men! A film where the focus is placed on the script and the multiple perspectives present in the narrative. With great performances and a very deep and realistic script, the film is one of the better dramas that I got to see!
16. The Menu
A sharp dark comedy with some deep subtext pertaining to rich elitist culture. A strong film that disects art and the concept of loosing your passion once you aren't truly making that art for yourself. Duel lead performances from Anya Taylor Joy and Ralph Fiennes should be in consideration during Awards Season.
15. Triangle of Sadness
Triangle of Sadness is probably the best middle finger to capitalism that would could have gotten this year! With on par performances and a sharp script that accentuates the message, Triangle is one of the strongest and most important films released this year!
14. The Batman
The strongest Batman film we're ever gotten is this one! A grounded Crime Thriller that showcases the more realistic parts of the Batman mythology. Robert Pattinson gives a strong and complex performance as Batman in his second year of being a vigilante as he takes on a few from his rogues gallery. Zoë Kravitz as Catwoman, Colin Farrell as Penguin and most notably Paul Dano as Riddler feel like they are living in the roles of these villains. The Batman succeeds in every technical area of filmmaking and presents a dark and gritty look at the beloved hero. The Batman is the best portrayal of the character on screen and I can't wait to see what Matt Reeves does next with this universe!
13. Top Gun Maverick
Top Gun: Maverick is a sequel that just came out of nowhere! No one truly expected the film to do as well as it did! With some truly remarkable attention to detail in all facets of the filmmaking including performances, writing, editing and even sound, this is one that took both critics and fans on an exhilarating ride!
12. We're All Going To The World's Fair
Jane Schoenbrun's super low budget horror film about identity and losing grasp of oneself is one of the best genre films of the year. The unsussual first feature pulls you in right away, specifically with the stellar performance from Anna Cobb!
11. X
The premise is quite simple with this one, a group of young people go up to a cabin to shoot a porno unaware of the sinister nature of the old couple who own the farm. This is Ti West's other strong film this year and the first in the X trilogy (along with Pearl and MaXXXine, which should release in 2023). This 70s styled slasher brings it back to basics and gives us a simple yet intriguing story. Equal parts Tobe Hooper and Russ Meyer with a strong sex positive message that disects the concepts of the social perception of sex and ageism. X is a strong 70s infused slasher (similar to Halloween or The Texas Chainsaw Massacre) that will fill the void that has been missing in modern horror!
10. The Northman
Robert Egger's nordic epic "The Northman" proves that he is one of the best directors in this day and age! While it's not my favourite of his filmography, this is his most mature and well executed of his three film run. A beautiful journey filled with awesome acting and a breathtaking score that utilizes its time and keeps you invested throughout!
9. TÁR
TÁR to put it simply is a Kubrick-esque film about “Cancel Culture” done extremely well by Todd Field. With phenomenal directing, a stellar screenplay, beautiful cinematography and a career best performance from Cate Blanchett, this one is bound to win awards!
8. Decision To Leave
DECISION TO LEAVE is another strong mind bending sensual thriller from Park Chan-Wook! With a story that keeps you guessing and performances that help elevate the writing and directing, this one could be considered one of Park Chan Wook’s Best!
7. NOPE
Jordan Peele's Sci Fi Horror film about a space invader attacking a ranch on the outskirts is one that needs to be seen in the best way possible. A simple premise that contains much more deeper and thought proving concepts. NOPE is a sharp social commentary on the abuse that people face in Hollywood, how the system treats its stars and how sets have to go a long way before they are completely safe. On a more simpler level, the film is about how far these infamous directors will go for the "perfect shot" and how we as humans process or decide to not process our trauma and grief.
6. Bodies Bodies Bodies
Bodies Bodies Bodies is one of those movies that if you're not in the 18-30 age demographic, you might not be able to fully understand the intricacies of this film. A darkly comedic look at Gen Z with a murder mystery lens about how they are quick to judge without logic. With a strong cast (the standouts being Rachel Sennott, Lee Pace and Maria Bakalova) and a strong script by Reijn accompanied by her excellent directing, this is one of the best films to come from the horror and comedy genres this year!
5. WEIRD: The Al Yankovic Story
WEIRD: THE AL YANKOVIC STORY is more than just a gimmicky comedy. The film features great performances and a fantastic script that keeps you laughing throughout. The film is probably one of the funniest film i’ve seen this year and would recommend it to anyone!
4. The People's Joker
THE PEOPLE’S JOKER was the best film at TIFF this year and you’ll never see it! A parodic journey into the world of DC with a trans lens. This is gonna be my favourite screening of the festival. The film will live on in the hearts of those who were in the audience! This film helped me fully realize that I was a trans woman, so I hold it pretty close to my heart and high on my list!
3. Aftersun
AFTERSUN is a beautiful and heartbreaking debut from Charlotte Wells! Fantastic performances from Paul Mescal and Frankie Corio, stellar cinematography and a rich script makes this one a must see! The most depressing film i’ve seen this year and one of the best!
2. BABYLON
BABYLON is a wild ride that i’m so happy exists! Sex, Drugs and the Love of Cinema coming together in a cacophony of sound and visuals that you need to see to believe. Fantastic Performances (specifically Robbie and Calva) and sharp writing and directing make this a must see. Nellie LaRoy is about to become my personality!
Everything Everywhere All At Once
EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE is the type of film that if I told you anything about it, you would think that i’m crazy. You just have to see it! The Daniels have done it again. The pair have made a batshit bonkers piece of cinema with the right amount of heart! Go check it out if you haven't yet!
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