Here are my top 10 favourite films from 2015. Some films are from 2014, but had a UK release date of early 2015. I still haven’t seen American Ultra, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Mad Max: Fury Road, Straight Outta Compton, The Martian, Everest, and Carol, which are on my watchlist.
10. The Sisterhood of Night (2014)
About: When a teenage girl says she’s the victim of a secret network called The Sisterhood of Night, a quiet suburban town becomes the backdrop for a modern-day Salem witch trial. (IMDb)
What’s so good about it? The Sisterhood of Night is like an all modern version of The Craft. Surely it’s not as good? Well no, it’s not. But it’s got something about it. One of the main focal points of the film is the absence of technology in the teens’ life to become more connected to each other through being in a cult.
9. Ex Machina (2015)
About: A young programmer is selected to participate in a groundbreaking experiment in artificial intelligence by evaluating the human qualities of a breathtaking female A.I. (IMDb)
What’s so good about it? Really fucking weird, but in a good way. This film has a unique idea that is portrayed excellentally through some brilliant visual effects. The dialogue is vastly interesting and the film is full of surprises.
8. The Duke of Burgundy (2014)
About: A woman who studies butterflies and moths tests the limits of her relationship with her lesbian lover. (IMDb)
What’s so good about it? The Duke of Burgundy is a visually beautiful British film about a woman who studies and lectures on butterflies and moths, so it’s already incredible. But it also explores her lesbian relationship as they test their limits through BDSM. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen before and is accompanied by an original soundtrack by British/Canadian duo Cat’s Eyes.
7. Man Up (2015)
About: A single woman takes the place of a stranger’s blind date, which leads to her finding the perfect boyfriend. (IMDb)
What’s so good about it? This film completely surprised me as I thought I was in for a typical mediocre rom-com, but it’s so much more than that. It’s a really-cute actually-funny film that came completely out of nowhere for me. It’s an easy going film to watch and cheer you up when you’re feeling down.
6. It Follows (2014)
About: A young woman is followed by an unknown supernatural force after getting involved in a sexual encounter. (IMDb)
What’s so good about it? It Follows seemed to have divided people but for me it’s one of those really interesting yet simple films that I’m sure is going to become a cult classic. It works really well with its beautiful cinematography, horrific surprises and slow paced ambiguous entity of who is following these teenagers.
5. Wild (2014)
About: A chronicle of one woman’s 1,100-mile solo hike undertaken as a way to recover from a recent personal tragedy. (IMDb)
What’s so good about it? Reese Witherspoon gives an outstanding raw and fun performance of a portion of Cheryl Strayed’s real life. Wild is beautifully shot and truly explores Strayed’s experience of being on a hike on her own for 1,100 miles as a journey of reflection and self discovery.
4. Portal to Hell!!! (2015)
About: A crusty and recluse superintendent is thrown into the ultimate fight against evil when a couple of cultists open a portal to the ancient and mysical city of R’lyeh, awakening slumbering god. (IMDb)
What’s so good about it? Portal to Hell!!! is a Canadian film short that was funded from Indiegogo.com and stars the amazing and late Roddy Piper. It’s horror, it’s comedy, it’s silly and amazing and it aims to be made into a feature length film. It’s a must see!
3. Deathgasm (2015)
About: Two teenage boys unwittingly summon an ancient evil entity known as The Blind One by delving into black magic while trying to escape their mundane lives. (IMDb)
What’s so good about it? Deathgasm is a film made of horror, metal and comedy which are my three favourite things! It’s weird, gory, funny and comes straight outta New Zealand. It’s made up of a great cast, brilliant jokes and there’s even use of dildos as weapons. Not to mention, Deathgasm 2 has been written – let’s hope it gets made!
2. Whiplash (2014)
About: A promising young drummer enrolls at a cut-throat music conservatory where his dreams of greatness are mentored by an instructor who will stop at nothing to realize a student’s potential. (IMDb)
What’s so good about it? As soon as Whiplash was released, it immediately earned some sort of God status amongst the newly released which was rightly deserved. The film’s story is beautifully simple and it’s two lead actors – Miles Teller and J.K. Simmons – deliver what are probably the most remarkable performances of 2015. The film has it’s fun moments but mostly puts you on edge throughout as the tension between Teller and Simmons rises with the lead up to a performance of a lifetime.
1. Spring (2014)
About: A young man in a personal tailspin flees the US to Italy, where he sparks up a romance with a woman harbouring a dark, primordial secret. (IMDb)
What’s so good about it? Spring is extraordinary and for me it was completely full of surprises. It encompasses horror, sci-fi and romance and the story is enigmatic from the beginning. Nadia Hilker gives an outstanding performance as Louise who, as the synopsis states, is a harbouring a dark secret in terms of what she is and how she came to be. The film shows parts of what she is in an unsettling way which becomes clearer as the film goes on. Overall, the film is beautiful, unnerving and different.
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