While the movie starts off on a pretty straightforward note, one of the things that took me by surprise was just how often I was left guessing how the story was going to play out.

The writing, direction, and acting are spectacular. The score by Robert Ouyang Rusli is stirring and never ceases to amaze. Among 2023's film entries, Bruiser stands among the year's best so far.

Without relying on cheap jump scares, Soderbergh’s psychological horror thriller is a shattering mystery about instinct that will chill you.

Gladiator II really soars when it does the unexpected and, for the most part, that only happens when Washington, Quinn, and Hechinger are onscreen. It doesn't make for a well-rounded film, but it does make for an entertaining one. For all its faults (of which there are only a few), Scott is still fully in control of this massive undertaking, letting his contemporary sensibilities bleed into the gravity of the past.

Your Monster is a magical movie experience you do not want to miss. A nice blend of levity and drama, Lindy’s debut assertively makes its mark on the genre.

Thanks to its matured presentation mixed with comedic elements and important lessons, Magnetosphere crafts a perfect coming-of-age tale about the difficulties of entering one's teenage years.

It's a thrilling ride, and the fun the production is having with itself is contagious. There are moments of humor and necessary breaks in the tension that let us laugh and allow us to get braver alongside the characters.

As a testament to its strong script, Basir’s latest tackles various themes related to addiction, religion, and even manhood. And in its methodical approach towards addressing mental health, To Live and Die and Live defies and exceeds emotional expectations.

What's even more impressive about Osiris are its visual effects, which rival even those of some of the big-budget studio movies.

Thank You For Coming comes close to being a definitive sex comedy for women, with Bhumi Pednekar's star turn offering laughs and life lessons to spare.

It’s a movie that will have a lasting impression on the audience as its themes, execution, and sharp, lustrous visuals fully take hold, leaving viewers with a lot to think about.

Wrapped together by an entertaining story and a compelling lead, the movie is smart, interesting, and honest about its core subjects.

Kurzel's film can be watched at face value, and anyone inclined to like this type of movie will enjoy it. But as it chugs along, it also shows us what hate can look like and what it can do. Like Husk's story, it is a warning, and it leaves us with the chilling sense that the events depicted haven't, or maybe can't, come to an end.

Though the movie goes by way of Shaun of the Dead and refuses to ever use the z-word, there's no denying that We Bury the Dead is a zombie movie, even if a more scaled-down one than some might come to expect.

It might be a Formula One promotional movie at its core, but at least it’s a damn good film.

The Convert is by far one of Tamahori's best films in years.

Rebuilding chooses a gentle, deliberate approach to its story, making it all the more powerful in its observations on what it means to find a home and community in places and ways you'd least expect.

There is a lot of love put into the making of this film and it shows in every single scene. It’s one of the best romantic comedies in a while, and not one to miss.

The Things You Kill may seem like a simple revenge drama, but it allows itself to be so much more through form and story.

It’s a harrowing, visceral, poignant biopic that will surely make you shed a tear or two regardless of whether you knew the Von Erich story.

While Eternals has most of the benchmarks of a Marvel movie, Zhao's sprawling superhero epic is unlike anything the MCU has produced before.

Somewhat disorienting and riddled with deep-rooted anxiety, fear, and uncertainty that is expertly portrayed, All My Friends Hate Me is a standout.

Neville lingers long enough, painting a picture of a lost soul who brought so much of himself to the world while also wondering about his place in it.

The whole Armand cast is stellar, perfectly conveying the characters' shifting allegiances and uncertain moral stances.

The film is chilling, balancing its actually scary horror with a lot of heart, advancing the Warrens’ story and providing audiences with a change of pace from their usual cases.

Jazzy relies on the look and feel of its world to communicate what Jazzy is feeling and succeeds in painting a universal portrait of growing up.

Jump Shot is an important basketball history lesson, shining a light on one of the game's unsung heroes who deserves more recognition.

It isn’t an exaggeration to say that Plan B is one of the funniest, most thoughtful films of the year and deserves all the love and attention it gets.