I watch an insane amount of movies every year, but I think 2013 is the year where I’ve slowed down my viewing. I just don’t have as much time any more and I’m spending more time doing other things - for example reading, talking, taking walks, being worried, neurotic and sometimes depressed - the last three things aren’t always bad, it’s a way for me to be creative. A period of feeling down often makes me hyperactive, funny and happy. I guess you can read in some kind of syndrome in my behaviour, bipolare or maybe aspie light. It’s not important for me though, I can’t care less about what I am, because I’ve manage to survive for 36 years now and it’s going well.
So, what does the best movies of 2013 actually mean? Here’s the answer:
1. It’s my personal favorites.
2. They might not be masterpieces.
3. Some of them probably had some kind of release in 2012, but got a wider distribution this year.
4. They all - in some way - genre cinema.
The hunt for perfection is not for me. I wanna hunt down movies that make me feel good (but not necessary be “feel good movies”), entertains me to the point I wanna rewatch them and has that atmosphere that makes them stand out from the rest of the shit being produced.
I’m not gonna put them in any specific order. I don’t believe in competitions and every movie should be judged on their own merits, and not in comparison with others. It seems I’ve watched less new indie movies, which is a damn pity. I need to watch more of them in 2014. So here you go, Ex-Ninja’s big, kinda-mainstream best movies of 2013!
Europa Report
Let’s start this fucker with a fake footage movie, THE best one in years. I’m a sucker for space mission movies - from Prometheus, Last Days on Mars, Event Horizon, Alien and hell, even this years Stranded - with Christian Slater slumming around in cheap sets. This film both becomes an exciting adventure and a thrilling mystery. It looks stunningly good, it really feels you’re out there in space - or on the moon Europa, digging after that ultimate proof of extraterrestrial life.
Texas Chainsaw 3D (my review)
If there’s one single film that has been mistreated both by fans and critics, this is it. I would say it’s the best TCM movie since Tobe Hoopers part 2 in the eighties, a delightful, graphic and colorful horror-drama which quickly deals with the stereotypical horny teens and takes a different path. I’m pretty sure most people just watched the first half hour and then turned it off - but it’s after that it begins. This is what Texas Chainsaw is about. It’s about family, no matter what kind of family.
Lords of Salem (my review)
I’ve seen this one several times over the year. I first downloaded it because I couldn’t wait, then I bought it on blu-ray and that’s been a very dear disc ever since. I think this is the first time Rob Zombie actually made a movie that works - and it works so good I’m willing to put it on my top twenty horror movies of all time. It’s slow, it’s wild, it’s abstract, it’s far from perfect - but that just makes it even better. A visually stunning film with a veteran female cast that’s unique.
Big Bad Wolves (my review)
Hands down, the best movie of 2013. I never seen the directors earlier film, Rabies, but I need to change that now. This one perfectly (yes, perfectly) mixes a very, very, very black comedy, serial killer thriller, political satire and drama like never before - and it feels 100 % solid. The genius cast, the wonderful dialogues, the twists - there’s nothing I can complain about here. I’m sure a lot of people expect something else, but hopefully they understand they got something much better.
The Conjuring
I need to go super-mainstream here, because The Conjuring is a fine example of a modern ghost movie. James Wan, who’s just gets better and better for each other, gives us something that could have been made in the 70’s, but never even comes close to a pastiche. I also love the uncomplicated way the movie is shot, often with wide shots and very few typical jump scares in combination with fast editing.This is a serious ghost movie, slightly silly Christian propaganda (like all good good vs evil movies from the good old days) and with a brilliant cast.
The Conspiracy (my review)
The second fake footage film on the list and one of this years biggest surprises. Made as a fake documentary about - and does it so good. A similar movie is Lunopolis, but The Conspiracy feels more thought through and realistic. It might not take the most original turns in the history of this genre, but it’s so damn exciting and well-made that you can’t help but get sucked right into the story. I’ve heard it’s becoming a TV-series now… and damn, I can’t wait to see that one!
Gallowwalkers (my review)
“Wut?!”, a word (or more a spelling) some of the trendier kids would scream if they knew I had this film on the list of the best genre films of 2013. I admit it have problems. A lot of them, but it takes courage to make a friggin’ psychedelic action-western with demon-zombies shot in Namibia - starring Wesley Snipes. It’s quite slow, sometimes very gory and the desert-set story makes it’s a beautiful, mesmerizing piece of DTV art. I liked it a lot.
Kiss of the Damned
Xan Cassavetes vampire movie is one of the freshest pieces of cinema this year. Very european, more of a dark little drama than a horror film. Excellent acting, especially from supporting actor Michael Rapaport as the unlucky agent for the films struggling screenwriter. Hardly a film for those who wants action and fast paced editing, but for the rest of us this is like if Jean Rollin came alive and directed one last, bigger-budgeted, drama.
Curse of Chucky (my review)
Like last years Universal Soldier: The Day of Reckoning, this is the umpteenth sequel to a long-running franchise AND manages to be a brilliant piece of genre cinema. Writer Don Mancini has resurrected Charles Lee Ray, in the doll-body of Chucky, yet another time and as usual done it so well it both stands alone as an original piece of killer doll movie and a successful continuation of all the earlier movies. Watch out for fun cameos, references, graphic gore and a killer set-up in an old, dark house...
Maniac
Yeah, this one is on everyone and their mother’s list, and it’s because it’s a great movie in every way possible. While I love and adore WIlliam Lustig’s original classic and fucking want to marry Joe Spinell because he’s so sleazy and disturbing, I think director Franck Khalfoun and actor Elijah Wood comes closer to the original vision. It might not be as violent as the first film, but the story simply works better. And the subjective camera-concept works a lot better than just a gimmick, it makes us all the killer. Disturbing or not.
Bonus 1!
Allena
I’m still very proud of mine and Markus Widegren’s short movie Allena. I wrote it and plays one of the leads (and I look terrible, thank heavens I’ve lost some weight since then!) together with the masterful Mats Huddén (famous from several Mats Helge movies). Markus did a splendid work with directing the movie and I hope you who haven’t seen it can take your time to watch it now :) Watch it with English subs here and without 'em here!
Bonus 2!
The Human Centipod
I'm spamming you all the time about Jason M's and my podcast. I'm so happy we got around to start recording them, because it's so much fun and the feedback we've got is very encouraging! You'll find it on iTunes and Soundcloud!
Bonus 3!
I’ve been watching several TV-shows this year, which is quite rare. But those who stood out the most is Hannibal, which I think is a perfect crime show with awesome actors and great scripts. The other one is more cheesy, but so much fun: Metal Hurlant Chronicles - yes, the French-Belgian live version of Mœbius comic with the same name. Fun, fun and more fun!
Bonus 4!
Dracula 3D
I was one of them who trashed it earlier this year. Hated it. But hey, after analyzing it a bit and watching it again - it's actually a lot of fun. Nice gore also, some cool shots here and there. But the music sucks and the actors sucks. But still... it's a trashy exploitation movie. A real one. Not an ironic piece of retro-shit. This is the real deal. I forgive you, Dario.
Here’s a bunch of other titles I really liked, but something made them not come up on the top ten. Why? I don’t know, but I still would say they’re among the best and most entertaining of this year.
Only God Forgives, Man of Tai Chi, Big Ass Spider, The Tower, Evil Dead, Passion, World War Z, V/H/S 2, No One Lives, Aftershock, The Frankenstein Theory, Frankenstein's Army, Last Days of Mars, Thanatomorphose, This is the End and Stoker.
"I guess you can read in some kind of syndrome in my behaviour, bipolare or maybe aspie light. It’s not important for me though, I can’t care less about what I am, because I’ve manage to survive for 36 years now and it’s going well."
Well...as long as you feel you can control it.
"It seems I’ve watched less new indie movies, which is a damn pity."
I saw some......but they were all from 2012....for the most part.
"Europa Report Let’s start this fucker with a fake footage movie, THE best one in years."
Never saw it, but it looked good......oh well....maybe next year.
"Texas Chainsaw 3D If there’s one single film that has been mistreated both by fans and critics, this is it."
People get very aggressive about TCM and it´s sequels.....I haven´t seen this one yet but one day.....
"Big Bad Wolves Hands down, the best movie of 2013."
DAMN YOU FRED!
I still haven´t seen this one.....
"The Conjuring I need to go super-mainstream here, because The Conjuring is a fine example of a modern ghost movie. James Wan, who’s just gets better and better for each other, gives us something that could have been made in the 70’s, but never even comes close to a pastiche."
Not too fond of Wans work....I only liked Death Sentence(2007), Dead Silence(2007) so far, Insidious (2010) bored me and Saw(2004).....it´s entertaining but hardly a favorite.
The Conjuring(2013) I haven´t seen yet....one day maybe.
"The Conspiracy The second fake footage film on the list and one of this years biggest surprises. Made as a fake documentary about - and does it so good."
DAMN YOU.....for the 2nd time, I haven´t seen this one yet.
"Gallowwalkers “Wut?!”, a word (or more a spelling) some of the trendier kids would scream if they knew I had this film on the list of the best genre films of 2013."
Yeah hipsters and their slang.....hahhahahhahah.....
I have not seen it but horror westerns......they are awesome!
"Kiss of the Damned Xan Cassavetes vampire movie is one of the freshest pieces of cinema this year."
I haven´t seen this one.
"Curse of Chucky Like last years Universal Soldier: The Day of Reckoning, this is the umpteenth sequel to a long-running franchise AND manages to be a brilliant piece of genre cinema."
Not this one either.
"Maniac Yeah, this one is on everyone and their mother’s list, and it’s because it’s a great movie in every way possible."
I seen the original but not the remake.....I suspect this one will show up on cable soon.
"Allena I’m still very proud of mine and Markus Widegren’s short movie Allena. I wrote it and plays one of the leads (and I look terrible, thank heavens I’ve lost some weight since then!) together with the masterful Mats Huddén (famous from several Mats Helge movies)."
Huddén scared me......a lot.
Make more shorts, m´kay?
"The Human Centipod I'm spamming you all the time about Jason M's and my podcast. I'm so happy we got around to start recording them, because it's so much fun and the feedback we've got is very encouraging!"
Yeah, well....you have at least ONE regular listener....ME!
"I’ve been watching several TV-shows this year, which is quite rare."
Not me.....hardly saw any TV-series this year....
"Dracula 3D I was one of them who trashed it earlier this year. Hated it. But hey, after analyzing it a bit and watching it again - it's actually a lot of fun."
I haven´t seen it yet.
"Here’s a bunch of other titles I really liked, but something made them not come up on the top ten. Why? I don’t know, but I still would say they’re among the best and most entertaining of this year."
Okayyyyyyyyy....
Only God Forgives(2013) really liked this one for some reason......surreal, gangster drama...add some Eugene O´Neill, Kristin Scott Thomas and you will find delight in it.
Extras on the DVD was however....CRAP!
Do better studios/production companies!!!!
Passion(2012)......yeah, I prefer the original but De Palma did something different...and it works.....for the most part.
World War Z(2013).....no, no and no.....supposedly there is a uncut R-rated version released now.....I guess I have to see someday, but I won´t doing that soon.
Cred to Robert Richardson for removing his name, his work is not noticed anywhere in this film.
Stoker(2013) peculiar little film......written by Wentworth Miller of all people.
I liked it....and I´m no fanboy of Chan-wook Park.
Great work, thanks Fred.
Posted by: Megatron | December 25, 2013 at 21:24
Awesome list. I loved TCM 3D. The Conjuring and Curse of Chucky were good fun. Gallowwalkers and Lords of Salem were both strange and surreal and Maniac was really disturbing. Not seen any of the other movies on the list so got some catching up to do. Thanks Fred.
Posted by: gk | December 26, 2013 at 05:35
I've only seen a few of the movies on your list, "Texas Chainsaw 3D", "Lords of Salem", "Maniac", "Kiss of the Damned" and, of course, "Allena". Really liked all of them!
Will see the latest "Chucky" installment and "Gallowwalkers" as soon as I can find the time. Really interested in "Big Bad Wolves", really liked "Rabies" when I saw it earlier this year.
And I am also a devoted listener to The Human Centipod, eagerly awaiting the new theme song (Gerd och Jarmo har en pod ihop) ;)
Posted by: Fredrik | December 28, 2013 at 13:34