The list below is just all of them, ranked from my favorite to my least-favorite based entirely on my own internal, arcane criteria including things like rewatchability, originality, novelty, overall quality, creative voice and the possibility of bonus points for including things I personally enjoy. It is entirely subjective.
I encourage you to make your own list and drop me a link in the comments. I'll happily read it!
THE INVISIBLE MOTHER
Gorgeous, inventive, technicolor spook-house trip to Avant-gard Hell.
HAPPY FACE
Brave, confrontational, empowering and with my favorite needle-drop of the year.
ANIARA
There's just no winning the human race.
TIGERS ARE NOT AFRAID
Sad and beautiful like all good ghost stories should be.
CRAWL
Did an amazing job at raising stakes while still keeping things contained.
ANTRUM: THE DEADLIEST FILM EVER MADE
The best metatextual scares since the original Blair Witch Project.
THE INTRUDER
Melodramatic popcorn trash - in the best way - with a great unhinged performance from Quaid.
THE MAN WHO KILLED HITLER AND THEN THE BIGFOOT
The salt shaker to The Intruder's pepper: a surprisingly thoughtful rumination on aging with a thoughtful performance from Elliott.
MA
The greatest slasher would-be franchise-starter of 2019!
SHADOW
Modern wuxia masterpiece.
JOHN WICK CHAPTER 3: PARABELLUM
A fitting continuation of the franchise, though it *feels* the most like a middle installment.
VELVET BUZZSAW
Really captures the feel of a Tales from the Crypt (for instance) entry.
FAST COLOR
Superhero origin story as a way to talk about family.
MIDSOMMAR
Visually stunning daylight horror but the narrative left me unsatisfied.
US
Another visual stunner, but bogged down by logic it didn't need.
AVENGERS: ENDGAME
Had some great moments but I'm just so very tired.
UNDER THE SILVER LAKE
I enjoyed how inscrutable this was, which is not something I usually say.
SHAZAM!
Pure comic book joy, docked a few points for the faux Philly setting.
SATANIC PANIC
You haven't heard of The Code of the Sams?
LAKE MICHIGAN MONSTER
Like if Adult Swim had a baby with the silent film era.
THE FURIES
Intriguing world building and character design keeps this brutal slasher moving along.
MISSING LINK
I'm willing to put up with a pedestrian Laika film when it looks this good.
ABDUCTED IN PLAIN SIGHT
So far-fetched that if this weren't a documentary, you'd never believe it.
PENGUINS
Exactly what it says on the tin.
TRIPLE THREAT
Solidly-paced action flick from some of the best in the biz.
TERMINATOR: DARK FATE
This could have been so much more than just T2.5
SWEETHEART
A great performance anchors an incredibly lean horror thriller.
BLISS
An interesting addition to the cannon of vampire horror.
IN THE TALL GRASS
SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME
ANNA AND THE APOCALYPSE
A few to many spices in this pleasant holiday cookie.
THE BODY AT BRIGHTON ROCK
A solid little horror production with Goosebumps vibes.
THE BANANA SPLITS MOVIE
Way more enjoyable than it has any right to be.
BOAR
An okay Aussie offering that's mostly by-the-numbers.
THE HEAD HUNTER
Find (what killed) what you love and let it kill you.
GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS
Wanted to be The Avengers but it's Justice League.
ECHOES OF FEAR
Surprises in the 2nd half mostly make the 1st half worth sitting through.
INTO THE DARK: I'M JUST F*CKING WITH YOU
A different, more frustrating kind of nightmare than most Into the Dark entries.
THE LEGO MOVIE 2: THE SECOND PART
Solid but doesn't compare to the original.
CAPTAIN MARVEL
Too beholden to MCU internal logic to be much fun.
HAPPY DEATH DAY 2 U
Jessica Rothe carries this action-heavy horror sequel.
STARFISH
Haunting and distant, a bit like a Don DeLillo novel if that means anything to you.
INTO THE DARK: PURE
The Craft dressed up like Midsommar.
STRAIGHT-EDGE KEGGER
Self-assured, loud, fast & a little sloppy; just like punk.
INTO THE DARK: DOWN
More fun than its "trapped in an elevator" set-up lets on.
INTO THE DARK: SCHOOL SPIRIT
The characters are what really stand out in this slasher riff on The Breakfast Club.
LATE NIGHT
THE NIGHTINGALE
THE AMAZING JOHNATHAN DOCUMENTARY
Another almost unbelievable true story, but this one unfolds before your eyes.
A SCORE TO SETTLE
My first Cage film as a reviewer! Truly a milestone!
GLASS
Trying to be "the thinking man's super hero movie" so hard it forgot to be fun.
INTO THE DARK: UNCANNY ANNIE
Inconsistent internal logic! Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200.
INTO THE DARK: ALL THAT WE DESTROY
Solid world building underserved by the story.
STAR WARS - EPISODE IX: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER
Not enough Babu Frik, not by half.
READY OR NOT
Two words: Goat pit.
INTO THE DARK: TREEHOUSE
Worth watching for the witches' masks alone.
INTO THE DARK: THEY COME KNOCKING
Kinda like The Babadook but not as good.
THE SOUND OF SILENCE
Never really finds its voice for me.
IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOON
Watch it for Michael C. Hall's Philadelphia accent.
RUNNING WITH THE DEVIL
Everything you've always wanted to know about Cocaine but were afraid to ask.
LITTLE MONSTERS
Lupita Nyong'o is always good. Josh Gad is always not.
K-12
At least this *looks* interesting.
INTO THE DARK: CULTURE SHOCK
Far too many twists for its own good.
DONNYBROOK
The punches may not fail to connect, but the film does.
CONVERSATIONS WITH A KILLER: THE TED BUNDY TAPES
Bundy should not be idolized and this comes too close for me.
IT: CHAPTER 2
"Just call me angel of the morning, (angel)..."
THE FANATIC
In the end I asked aloud: "What even was that?" and the movie answered: A Fred Durst Film.
BIGFOOT GIRL
This was not pornographic.
ZOO-HEAD
Half-baked concepts with tedious execution.
SEE YOU YESTERDAY
ANIARA
TIGERS ARE NOT AFRAID
CRAWL
ANTRUM: THE DEADLIEST FILM EVER MADE
THE INTRUDER
THE MAN WHO KILLED HITLER AND THEN THE BIGFOOT
MA
SHADOW
JOHN WICK CHAPTER 3: PARABELLUM
VELVET BUZZSAW
FAST COLOR
MIDSOMMAR
US
AVENGERS: ENDGAME
UNDER THE SILVER LAKE
SHAZAM!
SATANIC PANIC
LAKE MICHIGAN MONSTER
THE FURIES
MISSING LINK
ABDUCTED IN PLAIN SIGHT
PENGUINS
TRIPLE THREAT
TERMINATOR: DARK FATE
SWEETHEART
BLISS
IN THE TALL GRASS
All the best, creepiest stuff is just beyond our understanding in this King / Hill adaptation.
SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME
A fun road-trip movie & absolutely worth seeing for the Mysterio stuff.
ANNA AND THE APOCALYPSE
THE BODY AT BRIGHTON ROCK
THE BANANA SPLITS MOVIE
BOAR
THE HEAD HUNTER
GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS
ECHOES OF FEAR
INTO THE DARK: I'M JUST F*CKING WITH YOU
THE LEGO MOVIE 2: THE SECOND PART
CAPTAIN MARVEL
HAPPY DEATH DAY 2 U
STARFISH
INTO THE DARK: PURE
STRAIGHT-EDGE KEGGER
INTO THE DARK: DOWN
INTO THE DARK: SCHOOL SPIRIT
LATE NIGHT
Fully enjoyable but the focus gets a bit muddled in the middle.
THE NIGHTINGALE
As beautiful as it is brutal; I don't think I could rewatch it.
THE AMAZING JOHNATHAN DOCUMENTARY
A SCORE TO SETTLE
GLASS
INTO THE DARK: UNCANNY ANNIE
INTO THE DARK: ALL THAT WE DESTROY
STAR WARS - EPISODE IX: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER
READY OR NOT
INTO THE DARK: TREEHOUSE
INTO THE DARK: THEY COME KNOCKING
THE SOUND OF SILENCE
IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOON
RUNNING WITH THE DEVIL
LITTLE MONSTERS
K-12
INTO THE DARK: CULTURE SHOCK
DONNYBROOK
CONVERSATIONS WITH A KILLER: THE TED BUNDY TAPES
IT: CHAPTER 2
THE FANATIC
BIGFOOT GIRL
ZOO-HEAD
SEE YOU YESTERDAY
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And there we go. Dang... 70 movies. I'm truly surprised. In 2020 I'm going to try to top it - of course - but I really don't know if I'll be able to. Still, it's fun to try! There's also a strong possibility that I will squeeze in another 2019 movie or two after writing this, but I'm quite happy with the above.
What about you? Did you see any from my list? What would your list look like?
I hope 2019 wasn't too rough for you and I hope that 2020 will be better for us all. Best wishes & stay safe! And as always - Long Live the Movies!
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