"Better Late Than Never"

TOP TEN FILMS OF 2024.

What's up everybody, Prone here with my annual “better late than never” best of/wrap of the films of 2024. Once again it took my neurodivergent brain until February to come up with a list, but to be honest I’m still playing catch up in January. Anyway, I got there eventually, and I hope that you enjoy my musings.  

The post-covid dip in the global box office may have continued in 2024, however, it certainly wasn’t a reflection of the high quality of films released. While some IP’s and genre’s crashed and burned (Furiosa), others (Moana 2, Deadpool Vs Wolverine) absolutely owned. Genre movies as well, horror in particular, seemed to fare pretty well both at the box office and critically with studio’s like Neon and A24 thriving. So much so that I had a solid 7 or 8 horror/horror adjacent films in contention for this list. Speaking of contenders, here’s a few that, in a very good year for film, didn’t quite make the cut. 

Ti West’s MaXXXine. The third and final film in the MaXXXine/Pearl trilogy, Ti West’s homage to 80’s LA sleaze had so much hype, but unfortunately didn’t quite deliver? I think fans were expecting sleaze, excess sex and De Palma-esque kill sequences. Instead we got a different type of growth from Maxine as a character, more satanic panic and some fun performances from a loaded cast. Really enjoyed this one a lot more on re-watch.

Speak No Evil. A rare case where the western remake is just as good if not better than the original. Even though I like director James Watkins' other film Eden Lake, my expectations were low - especially given Blumhouses recent track record. After the first exchange between the couples, I knew I was going to dig it. A bit of a slow burner, but the tension builds nicely and It’s full of dark humour and great performances. Supremely realistic couple shit as well. I mean the Mackenzie Davis and Scoot McNairy couple, Haha. I know this couple for real!

The Substance: Initially at number six when I started the list, but boy did I see some bangers in December and early Jan. Any other year this film would’ve probably been in my top five! What else is there to say that hasn’t already been said. Coralie smashed it out the park with her second film. A great cinema experience. Aesthetically dope, both sonically and visually. Killer cast with Quaid at an 11 (all for it), Qualley as per advertised, and Demi with one of my favourite performances of the year. She deserves all her flowers. 

I would’ve liked to put The Holdovers on the list, as it did get a January release in Australia, but it came out in most countries in 2023 and has been spoken about to death. I also really wish I could have made room for the First Omen (the Jackal of all trades?); Longlegs (all hail queen Maika); Late Night With The Devil (best Oz horror film in years); Strange Darling had me quite choked up. In A Violent Nature was essentially hiking with a spot of murder (Yoga anyone?). And I was also quite disturbed, but ultimately hypnotized and impressed by Pascal Plante’s Red Rooms. Well, now that’s out of the way, it’s time to get right down to the nitty gritty.

10. Smile 2: Director Parker Finn must’ve paid attention and took notes as he amended most of the issues people (myself included) had with the first film. The BTS pop star angle works so much better, and it amplifies the paranoia and claustrophobic feelings of our lead “Skye Riley” by literally having her constantly under the microscope. He definitely had a better grasp of what type of film he was making this time around. The tie in was nice (rad to get Gallner back!), the tonne stable, and even at 128 mins the pacing was a lot better. 

Having Naomi Scott as the lead is also a level up. It’s a committed performance and she’s very believable as a pop star. In fact everything pop star related just looks fantastic. The choreography, costume design, production design. That apartment. Everything. Their use of colour - extremely effective. 

Speaking of gore, this is also one of the more brutal films I saw in ‘24. There was some really creative and terrifying imagery. So much so, that my jaded, hardened horror watching ass even flinched a couple of times. And although the blood was CGI, it wasn’t too distracting. 

The swing that Finn took with the ending really worked for me as well. He definitely stuck the landing this time. Biggest surprise of the year for me.

9. Oddity. I was pretty impressed with Damian McCarthy's first feature Caveat, so when it was announced at MIFF, I jumped on tickets. I can’t say too much about Oddity without delving into spoiler territory, so I’ll just say that it’s quite an original story that treads the line carefully between genuine terror and dark humour. Something I think the Irish have a good handle on. Caroline Menton (Yana) especially. She almost feels out of place in the film, but it works. Like a fourth wall commentator to the ludicrousy unfolding. 

The scares are extremely well thought out and effective. Great use of the camera. Lots of slow tracking through hallways and lingering on dark nooks. It really is a masterclass in how to build tension/anticipation. Add to the mix a life sized freaky looking wooden doll and you’ve got one of the most original, unsettling and darkly humorous horror films of the year.

8. Furiosa. Maybe it was the title (bad), or the time between drinks (Fury Road was nearly 10 years ago) or even poor promotion which led to the poor box office? Whatever it was, it’s certainly not a reflection of the film's quality. As soon as it was announced it seemed like a lot of “critic’s” were already writing it off. Literally on the strength of a poster. 

Furiosa does feel a lot more “Australian” than Fury Road and it’s definitely not pandering to an American audience. Maybe that’s why it didn’t resonate so well again with movie goers? It’s strange because that’s one of the aspects of the franchise that I love so much- just how idiosyncratic and unabashedly Australian they are. 

I’ll also never understand the hate for Anya Taylor Joy. She’s proven herself a terrific actress time and time again (more than a lot of hollywood “it” girls anyway). She looks and acts the part better than anyone other than Charlize probably would have. Hemsworth as well, who seems to be right in his wheelhouse. Not the first time he’s played a cult leader of types (Bad Times at the El Royale) and he excels at it. Helps that his dialogue in particular is so sharp and funny.

I just love the aesthetic of this world so much. Locations, the score, production, and costume design are all so good. The scope - almost on par with the likes of Dune. The only issue is, the CGI this time around isn’t quite on par with the likes of Dune which is a little disappointing considering the films budget. 

One thing that Furiosa may have done better than these other blockbusters  though is the action and stunt work. It’s one of the franchises strengths and there’s no taking your foot off the gas here (soz) so to speak. I think it’s rad that George Miller still cuts frames and ups the speed in parts, just like he did 45 years ago. The 80 something year old Miller certainly hasn’t lost any creativity as the epic action set pieces are ridiculously outlandish (even by his standards). Every set piece involving the war rig was well crafted and the stunt work spectacular. Definitely the best stunt work I saw on film in 24 (shout out Fall Guy though).

7. Dune Part 2. A pretty obvious choice I guess? I probably should have ranked it higher given just how epic the scope is, and of course the technical mastery on display. The world building, production, costume and sound design are all phenomenal. Anything related to the Harkonnen and their home planet (Gammu?) was ridiculous and meticulously thought out. 

The ensemble cast is great as well. Javier (god bless him) is out here just having the time of his life simping for his man Paul. Austin Butler is a solid edition. He certainly looks the part, and his fight with lil Timmy is pretty damn impressive. I mean everyone is doing their thing- and no one is bad, it just seems like they are all clambering for that little bit of screen time. 

BUT, I must say for as much that I love these movies and enjoy being immersed in this world- both watches have left me wanting more. A real Two Towers scenario. So for the silly reason of it being just another step in the story and not having an entirely satisfactory resolution (as yet?) - I’m putting it at number 7. 

6. Nosferatu. I’ll just start by saying that I’m an Eggers guy. I like his OCD levels of research and overall attention to detail that goes into his projects. And Nosferatu looks ridiculous. The overall thought that went into the look of this film cannot be understated. Colour palette, framing, lighting and camera movement make for some incredibly artistic and unforgettable visuals. Orlock’s castle is like a gothic horror fan's wet dream! 

I had my concerns when Lily Rose Depp was cast, but boy did she deliver. Who knew she was capable of a performance like this. Not me. Eggers regular muses Innes and Dafoe are also great and add some much needed humour. And Skarsgard- wow! He’s unrecognizable. So imposing and legitimately terrifying. It’s just so impressive the way he loses himself in these roles.

I heard some people say that “it’s boring” or “the pacing is too slow” (stick to tik tok). But I had no issue with the pacing, and was always engaged. In fact my only gripe (if any) is that it moved a little too quickly. Definitely felt like there was a scene or 3 missing. I hear there’s an extended version coming out which I’d love to see, as I was honestly a little bit overwhelmed by the look of the film, and may have missed a few things. Minor niggles aside, this is four from four for Eggers in my book, and cements him in the top tier of modern genre directors. 

5. Challengers. Luca Guadagnino hey? Talk about a chameleon, his versatility and ability to move within different types of genre is extremely impressive. I mean only a few years ago his film Bones And All was my number one of the year, and on the strength of that alone I should’ve been excited about Challengers right? Well initially I was, but I seem to have a real problem with the way Gen Z automatically declares movies either “worst film ever” or “ greatest film ever”. The latter being the case here. I mean things can just be “good” or “okay”. Anyway the overhype was overbearing so my silly ass waited until it was streaming, which was stupid because it was so obviously made to watch in a cinema. 

From the opening shot and that pulsating score by Reznor and Fitch kicks in, I knew I was going to vibe with it. And I also realised that I’d made a mistake by not seeing this on the big screen!

The pacing in Challengers is breakneck. The pulsating techno score and quick cut editing make the two hour runtime feel like 80 mins at best. I never would have picked Luca for being able to tackle essentially a sports movie, but everything tennis match/training related is executed to perfection. And, I know that some people were put off by that and especially the excess in the final match, but I sure as hell wasn’t. Absolutely loved that final shot!

I guess my only issue with the film is that it wasn’t quite as horny or edgy as the trailer and early letterboxd reviews promised (Gen Z needs to relax). The relationship dynamics between the three was interesting enough, more so when focussed on the two guys. Intentional I’m sure. 

Anyways, I look forward to revisiting Challengers. I feel like it would be very rewatchable. It has a great young cast, it’s well shot and edited. The score is ridiculously dope and it has a type of energy that radiates. 

4. Perfect Days. I know that a lot of people saw this during its ‘23 festival run, but it didn’t get a proper release in Aus until April. And I just had to include it, because honestly I think about this film a lot. I think I watched this film right at the perfect time. A sort of crossroads in my own life. A period of self reflection where I was/am still trying to figure out what’s really important, and how I’d like the rest of my life to play out.

I’ve only seen a couple of director Wim Wenders films, but the one’s I’ve seen have all had that same minimalist approach to storytelling. There’s a real flow to them like we are just having a sneak peak into someone's personal life. And Perfect Days more than any other film of his feels this way. It’s a real vibe film and easy to get lost in.

A good example is the opening scene which involves the meticulous almost OCD level cleaning of a public toilet. It’s the sort of dedication to workmanlike craft that Michael Mann loves to indulge in. And as I mentioned earlier, It’s hard not to get swept up in our main character Hirayama’s (played wonderfully by Koji Yakusho) daily routine. His ability to appreciate the small things in life like reading, photographing nature or listening to analogue music (great needle drops) etc - was surprisingly emotionally effective. I have always been in awe of people who can find peace, happiness or even solace in this world where we’ve been conditioned to never be satisfied. 

Those who are looking for your typical three act structure with some sort of conflict/resolution need not apply. This is a sweet and sincere film about gratitude and knowledge of self, and one that I look forward to revisiting. Especially in times when I feel a little bit overwhelmed by it all. 

3. Anora. I’m a Sean Baker fan, but god did I hate the trailer for this. I would’ve seen it almost half a dozen times in the theatre, and it really had me thinking Baker was going to finally drop the ball. Anora thank goodness was not the dumbed down or “Temu” version of a Baker film the trailer had me envisioning. In saying that though, it’s still his most accessible film, and also the funniest film he’s made to date.  

People have been mixed on the authenticity of the portrayal of sex work (once again), but from my experience of going to stripclubs when I was younger- it seemed pretty legit. It’s the confidence in the dialogue and its delivery that also helps it feel authentic, and I have no doubt in my mind that he’s doing the research. And on that note, I guess one of his other strongpoints- casting, deserves acknowledging as well. 

Speaking of. Mikey Madison hey. Who knew? Well, I liked her scenes in Once Upon A Time (miiiiaaaannn), and she was the best part of the abysmal Scream V, but this is a tour de force that I didn't see coming. The word “brave” get’s lazily tossed around a lot these days, but THIS performance is fucking brave. Mask on that whole time until… Awards are dumb, but I hope she wins them all (sorry Demi if you’re reading). 

She’s not alone either as the whole cast, even the minor players, are doing great work. Mark Eydelshteyn is spot on in his portrayal of a rich brat partyboy. It’s like they plucked him off the street. The two Armenian brothers are also fantastic and their comedic energy really helps implement the tone of the movie. And of course there’s the onscreen “man of the year” Igor played to perfection by Yura Borisov. After the first look he gave Anora, I knew I was going to love his character. He is such a well written/lived in male character. A modern prince charming if you will?

I was also really on board with how the acts were structured. The first act was like a two to three week party montage. Plenty of great hand held shots, heaps of quick cuts and tight editing making it truly feel like a whirlwind experience. It sure was a pleasant surprise when it changed into a caper/slapstick style comedy during the middle act, and Annie and the Armenian brothers took it up a level. Kinda gave me A Fish Called Wanda vibes. It’s proper risk taking that certainly pays off. Then the final act changes it up once again, and even though there are still moments of humour, realisation sets in, followed by frustration and pent up emotion. 

The term “took a swing” gets thrown around fairly loosely these days in relation to filmmaking, but the ending of this film is a proper swing. I loved it so much. No sugar coating, just real talk. This IS the best screenplay of the year in my opinion and weirdly enough he may actually get recognized for it. I’ll just some up by saying- “In a world full of Ivan’s be a fucking Igor!”.

2. Bird. I went into Bird fairly blind. I’d seen Andrea Arnold’s breakout Fish Tank when it came out and liked it a lot, and the stills of Barry Keoghan shirtless covered in tats hooning around on a scooter really piqued my interest. 

Director Andrea Arnold’s dark coming of age fairy tale was a pleasant surprise. I definitely didn’t anticipate the dark fantasy element or all the visual and sonic metaphors as I was expecting more of a coming of age kitchen sink drama. Again, a pleasant surprise. Parts of Bird felt almost like a live action Miyazaki film. Be it, one of the super melancholy ones, but still. 

To quote the legendary Joe Strummer “I’m so bored with the U.S.A.”, and while I do obviously enjoy some content from America, it’s refreshing to see a story rooted in the ghettos of Ireland. As an “Australian” I feel that culturally we probably align more with the Brits, especially with lad/esh culture. And in that regard I found the film quite relatable, more so than a lot of similar themed American ones. 

Barry Keoghan is exactly as advertised in the trailer. He oozes charisma and feels right at home in this sort of role. Here’s hoping for more of this and less of Saltburn. What’s not advertised in the trailer though is that his character is not the primary focus. That honour belongs to newcomer Nykiya Adams. It’s a performance akin to Dominic Sessa's breakout role in The Holdovers. The real scene stealer though is Franz Rogowski. This was my introduction to Franz and I found him to be quite captivating. He played the strange character simply named “Bird” with a sort of sincerity that immediately puts you at eaze. His eyes, a mix of childlike wonder and sadness. 

I know some of the handheld camera shots may put some people off, but it’s very effective and only used sparsely. Otherwise it's nicely shot with some very strong visual imagery. Kinda like your typical indie. From a technical standpoint, it’s the score that stood out most to me. There’s no way I thought there would be something that would top Reznor and Fitch’s Challengers score, yet here we are. Having legendary Burial on score duties is the perfect fit to the strange world in which we are placed. Great needle drops and music referencing as well (the Coldplay shade. Haha).

Bird will definitely not be everybody’s cup of tea. There’s no tying things up neatly or even any real closure. In fact it may be a case of more questions than answers, but ultimately I don’t think that’s the point. It’s an at times beautiful dark and strange coming of age tale that doesn’t shy away from tough and relevant issues facing underprivileged young people. 

1. Love Lies Bleeding. Ever since I watched the STILL slept on 2019 film Saint Maud, I’ve been eagerly anticipating director Rose Glass’ next project. It was a strong debut, expectations were high (can be a bad thing) and thankfully they were exceeded. This was a level up that I didn’t expect. Not just in terms of budget and scope of the narrative, it’s her confidence- not just with the seasoned cast, but also with her bold visual and narrative choices

It’s essentially your typical American small town hyper-violent neo-noir film from the late 80’s/early 90’s. The difference being of course is that our protagonists (or anti-heroes) are a pair of star crossed lesbian lovers, one of which is an amateur bodybuilder with a serious case of roid rage. There’s a strange and seedy underlying darkness that reminds me of Lynch, and I have seen comparisons to Wild At Heart which I co-sign. The intensity of their respective romances are similar for sure.

Like Saint Maud, there's some heightened reality that is hinted at during the first two acts that comes into fruition during the third. It’s nothing too bonkers, but I’m sure some people won’t vibe with it at all. I was all for it though. A proper swing that could’ve backfired, but ultimately what helped elevate it to my number 1. This particular style of randomly inserted heightened reality is nothing new, it also seems to be making a bit of a comeback. And while it’s a home run here, it won’t be long til it’s played out again. 

Having another movie based in the ‘80s will have many rolling their eyes, but all things period related are subtle. No unnecessary needle drops and even though it's a synth score, it's really well done and never on the nose like so many other recent films. The costume design is also dope. I really dig the trashy small midwest town aesthetic as well as all the amazing gym attire. It's also ridiculously well shot and edited, without having to SHOW/TELL you that it is (Strange Darling anyone). 

I've got to say though, what I loved most of all was the passion and romance. I've said it before that there's hardly any great sex in today's movies (western one’s anyway), but thankfully Love Lies Bleeding bucks the hell out of that trend. The sex scenes are handled really well and aren't exploitative in the slightest (contrary to some reviews). And in a world full of vanilla films pretending to be sexy or edgy it’s a breath of fresh air. 

Kristen Stewart and Katy O’Brian are dynamite. They have insane chemistry and I would honestly watch a dozen films with them as star crossed lovers on the run. I mean this isn't the sort of film that will get nominated for awards, but if there was any sort of justice, O'Brian should at the very least be nominated. She crushes here, and her physical and mental transformation is impressive. She even stands out amongst the other high level actors like Stewart, Ed Harris, Dave Franco and Jena Malone (always a pleasure) who are by no means in cruise control. 

Love Lies Bleeding is the definition of some ride or die shit. And if you’ve been lucky enough to ever experience that sort of love then you know what I'm saying. Even eleven months ago when I first saw Love Lies Bleeding I knew it would make the top of my list. My re-watch only cements it. I often look back on my best of lists and cringe at my number one. Like, was I being true to myself? Or was I just trying to be some edgelord movie bro? I guess what I’m trying to say is that in ten years time, when I look back at this list I certainly won’t be ashamed of having this banger at number one. 

Thank you so much for reading. Much love. 

Hayden Knight.