Best films of 2024 so far –

(10) Evil does not exist

Ryusuke Hamaguchi gave us one of the most gripping stories of the year so far in Evil Does Not Exist, with a story that delves deeply into both the philosophical and emotional realms and asks uncomfortable questions about humanity and morality. The drama explores both existential themes and ethical dilemmas in a stylish and interesting way, with visually impressive scenes that enhance, engage and frame the film in a deeply thought-provoking way. Ryusuke Hamaguchi already proved his ability last year with Drive My Car, and now proves with Evil Does Not Exist that he is definitely one of the most interesting and memorable directors of our time.

(09) Love Lies Bleeding

Smoky, sweaty, weird, original, gory, nightmarish, unhinged…. We could throw all sorts of adjectives at this much-hyped darling, but this is a film you have to take the pulse of yourself to really feel what a wild beast this is at its core. For nothing can prepare you for how delightfully uninhibited this thriller can be, with the madness held together by the magnetic relationship between Kristen Stewart and Katy M. O’Brian – the real star of the film. Love Lies Bleeding is an unusually fresh revenge thriller on steroids that is one of the hottest and most brutal surprises of the year.

(08) Late night with the devil

There is no doubt that Late Night With the Devil is one of the best horror films of the year so far, offering a delightfully twisted journey back in time thanks to its innovative concept and intense atmosphere. Set during a live broadcast in the 1970s, the film effectively combines psychological horror and supernatural elements where the absurd meets the impossible, and thanks to flawless acting, the story lifts to unexpected heights. Late Night With the Devil is a madcap journey into the unknown seasoned with as much absurdity as seriousness, making it an absolute must-see for genre fans and one of the most interesting, best films of the year.

(07) The Fall Guy

John Wick/Atomic Blonde man David Leitch’s colorful, witty, funny love letter to all the stuntmen/women of the movie world is undoubtedly one of the most successful action comedies released in the last five years and one of the most entertaining films of the year so far. Here Leitch paid just the right amount of homage to the old trash series from the 1980s starring a Lee Majors with clenched jaws, and threw in just the right amount of genre clichés, ultimately creating a fun, conversational, explosive and wonderful whole.

(06) Civil War

Alex Garland (28 Days Later, Ex Machina) quit directing this taut action thriller about a political conflict in the United States that plunged the country into armed conflict, and we still remember the gunfire and nerves of civil war even though several months have passed since we saw it in theaters. Garland had the very good taste not to make his war film political, choosing instead to focus on a small, close-knit group of people and their understanding of a conflict that, like all wars, causes innocent casualties and breeds an inhuman cruelty and madness that is difficult to summarize. Stylishly written, expertly directed and very exciting.

(05) Robot Dreams

This year’s sweetest movie is about a dog’s friendship with his robot through thick and thin, but especially through thick when the dog’s robot best friend is unfortunately stranded on a closed beach…. And Robot Dreams doesn’t have to be any more complicated than that. There is no tense conflict here, no need for a dramaturgically correct tension curve, just themes of uncertainty and loss. A reluctant innocent soul is the common thread as we see the friends long for each other’s company in segments that are as creative as they are dreamy, leading to an instantly heartbreakingly beautiful ending. Robot Dreams is currently one of the most joyous happiness pills of the year that no one should miss….

(04) The Promised Land

With themes of ambition, morality and survival, The Promised Land contained one of the strongest acting performances of the year so far in Mads Mikkelsen. One of the best actors of our time, he once again demonstrated his incredible abilities as the dreamy and hardworking Ludvig, whose hardships stayed with us long after the credits rolled. The Promised Land challenged not only through its complex and deep story, but also thanks to the incredibly visually striking environments presented by director Nikolaj Arcel, which are as atmospheric as they are dreamy.

(03) Zone of interest

With its bold and unique narrative perspective, Jonathan Glazer’s controversial account of everyday life was by far one of the most moving and poignant experiences of the year. Using the Holocaust camp as its neighbor, the film emphasizes the absurdity of normality that Commander Rudolf Höss and his family strive for, despite all the suffering and death that takes place a stone’s throw away. Something the film effectively and subtly conveys through both its visual language and brilliant sound technology. The monstrous is always lurking beneath the surface, creating a particularly strong emotional impact that both challenges and forces us as viewers to reflect on moral indifference and the banality of evil.

(02) Inside Out 2

Just when you thought Pixar had run out of steam, they come out with their best film in many, many years. Inside Out 2 is something so unusual as a sequel that is at least as intelligent as its predecessor, and at least as emotional – which is saying something considering the emotional bomb that was its predecessor. The recognition factor was high with the adolescent issues that arose for Riley’s emotions, which with humor and accuracy in a warm and touching way outlined a deeply therapeutic film experience for all ages. Pixar, it’s time to leave the Toy Story plans in the toy box and go all-in on filming Riley’s entire life if it stays this sharp.

BEST MOVIE OF THE YEAR SO FAR 2024:

(01) Dune: part two

Given how stunningly beautiful it was, the first film based on Frankie Herbert’s incredible classic sci-fi masterpiece, we naturally all had sky-high expectations for the sequel. The always brilliant Denis Villeneuve not only did justice to the second part of the first book, but managed to enhance the already brilliant story of religious, blind, persuasion with few resources, resulting in a film we have seen multiple times.