My 20 Favourites of 2022

 

     So rather than separate lists or any alternate awards this year, here is one big list of my 20 favourite things of 2022.

     It will be split as 10 films, 5 TV series and 5 games. The only order is alphabetical and some honourable mentions are thrown in as well.

 

Here we go:

 

 

Barbarian

Directed by: Zach Cregger

Starring: Georgina Campbell, Bill Skarsgard, Justin Long

 

     Do yourself a favour and go into this one cold – don’t watch any trailers or read up on any plot summaries. What you will be treated to is a slow paced experience of creeping dread where you are constantly kept guessing as to what is going on, with each new reveal inching the story on and further layering on the intrigue.

      The marketing hype of this being ‘the most terrifying film ever’ are (of course) grossly exaggerated and although the final act does end up straying into distinctly irreverent B-movie territory, I would still recommend this one if you are a fan of the horror or thriller genres.

 

 

The Batman

Directed by: Matt Reeves

Starring: Robert Pattinson, Zoe Kravitz, Jeffrey Wright

 

      2022 has been yet another year featuring a glut of comic book content, but its nice to see DC attempting to do something different with at least some of its properties. In this instance ‘The Bat’ is given licence to explore a new interpretation that is altogether more grounded, moody and grungy. This is definitely a ‘street level’ and low-tech take on the caped crusader, where we seem him in his early days, struggling to figure out what he actually stands for.

      It’s a more brooding and brutal affair, with films such as The Zodiac, Seven and even Saw being closer touchstones than say Batman vs Superman or Justice League. At heart, it’s a mystery crime thriller (where Batman gets to do some actual detectiving!) and although perhaps a tad too indulgent with its lengthy runtime, it is still leaps and bounds better than the majority of DC’s recent output. It will be interesting to see where Matt Reeves can take his version of the Caped Crusader next.

 

 

The Black Phone

Directed by: Scott Derrickson

Starring: Mason Thames, Madeleine McGraw, Ethan Hawke

 

      Whilst the setup and unfolding of the story is deceptively simple, The Black Phone captures a grimy 70s slasher movie aesthetic whilst providing some tense moments that all come together in a satisfying climax. To say too much will spoil the experience, but Scott Derrickson has proven himself as one of the most versatile horror directors currently working today and here he manages to get decent performances from all his (predominantly young) cast in this tense thriller.

      It’s also great to see Ethan Hawke playing against type as ‘The Grabber’, a masked marauder with a penchant for rules.

 

 

Everything Everywhere All at Once

Directed by: Dan Kwan & Daniel Scheinert

Starring: Michelle Yeoh, Stephanie Hsu, Ke Huy Quan

 

      This film is just wild. Fans of cinema will love the heady blend of action, sci-fi and surrealist comedy, but this is ultimately a heartfelt family drama at its core. Many crazy ideas are seemingly thrown into a blender with abandon, but without this relatable central theme (of a struggle within familial relationships) holding it all together, it could ultimately have just have been a convoluted mess.

      Thankfully the performances are great from all involved and the whole film is shot and edited incredibly well. Some may balk at the extreme opposites of tone, for example: a lengthy meditation on lifelong regrets and yearning at what your life could have been on the back of a single choice… versus scenes of evil security guards leaping into the air to impale themselves on makeshift butt plugs. But I suggest you just go with it. Indeed the clue is in the title.

      Michelle Yeoh is at a career best and it’s also great to see Ke Huy Quan back on screens again.

 

 

Nope

Directed by: Jordan Peele

Starring: Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer, Steven Yeun

 

 

     Jordan Peele films are great in that you kind of know what to expect (weird mysteries, wry humour, disturbing horror, social commentary) but at the same time you are always in for some unexpected twists, turns and surprises with every outing.

      Whilst not quite hitting the highs of Get Out and Us, Nope still delivers Peele’s unique brand of intrigue, this time benefitting from the grand spectacle of the open sky and the threat of what may lurk beyond. Whilst some of these scenes may be diminished slightly if not viewed on the big screen, the story and characters are always engaging enough and you will no doubt be discussing the intricacies of all the details or the thematic meaning of certain events for a long while after watching.

 

 

Prey

Directed by: Dan Trachtenberg

Starring: Amber Midthunder, Dakota Beavers, Dane DiLiegro

 

 

      What would have once been a 90's teenage fan fiction pipe dream (“what if we had a Predator movie but it was set back in the 1700's with the Predator versus a Comanche Tribe!”) has now been made a reality. Whilst this sort of thing has been a mainstay of comics for decades now, it is genuinely impressive that somebody has now convinced a movie studio to sign off on such a project.

      What’s even more impressive is that Prey is actually pretty darn good to boot. It doesn’t skimp on the thrills, gore and action but also takes its time to portray the vast wilderness of its setting in stunning glory. Kudos to having actors of Native American descent playing all the main roles, with their portrayal being largely respectful and not overly westernised, other than the dialogue all being in English of course - evidently a compromise that had to be made in order to not turn off too much of the mainstream audience.

      The fact that this was released on streaming only and not in cinemas was utter madness.

 

 

Smile

Directed by: Parker Finn

Starring: Sosie Bacon, Jessie T. Usher, Kyle Gallner

 

 

      At first glance Smile looks like one of those cheap gimmicky Blumhouse horror deals, but upon viewing I was genuinely surprised and pleasantly(?) creeped out. It’s a sombre and effective slow-burn unfolding of events with a thick lingering dread in its atmosphere, utilising some unnerving camera trickery and good performances.

      Whilst there is perhaps a tad overreliance on some loud jump scares, the sound design and music is overall fantastic and is a remarkably effective component of this film. Once again, I would advise not to watch any trailers or plot summaries and go into this film cold to get the full effect and not have all the best bits spoiled for you.

 

 

Top Gun: Maverick

Directed by: Joseph Kosinski

Starring: Tom Cruise, Jennifer Connelly, Miles Teller

 

 

      Top Gun: Maverick is a film that has no right to be as good as it is. We have seen many a remake, re-imaging, prequel and re-quel to various 80's classics; and now occasionally many-years-later direct sequels too – of which category this film falls into.

      But rather than simply rehashing prior events and relying solely on nostalgia, this film strikes an effective balance of hitting these call-backs whilst also adding its own brand of modernised thrills and spills.

      Tom Cruise as a heavyweight producer is undeniably a name to make you sit up and take notice in films, and this is evident when you learn about the making of this film - which is utterly bonkers – as the majority of flying scenes were filmed for reals. Whilst in this day and age it would be so easy to just recreate everything in CG, the fact that they filmed in real jets is ridiculous but it also succeeds in adding that extra layer of authenticity and immersion to the action.

      But rather than just spectacle, Maverick also of course manages to hit you in the feels – with some direct links back to the previous films (Maverick’s relationship with Goose and Ice Man in particular) that are genuinely affecting.

      I had the unique experience of watching both the original Top Gun and this film back to back on the same day and anyone who claims the original is better clearly needs to have their rose tinted specs slapped off their face.

      In a day and age where ‘sequel’ more often than not evokes an expectation of inferiority, Top Gun: Maverick is a triumph against all odds.

 

 

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent

Directed by: Tom Gormican

Starring: Nicolas Cage, Pedro Pascal, Tiffany Haddish

 

 

      Fans of Nicholas Cage and his unique brand of quirkiness will love this madcap comedy where he essentially plays a heightened version of himself (or that’s maybe just indeed, actually himself?) in a reality where he is aware of and concerned with his fading legacy as a former blockbuster movie star.

      Honestly, there is so much reference to his back catalogue of movies here and he handles it all in a very self aware and self-depreciative style, which would be nigh on impossible for almost anyone else to pull off.

      Of course Cage is brilliant (playing himself – and even an uncanny younger self), but Pedro Pascal is also surprisingly effective and endearing as the sweet super fan in awe of meeting his hero. The best bromance of the year.

 

 

Werewolf by Night

Directed by: Michael Giacchino

Starring: Gael Garcia Bernal, Laura Donnelly, Harriet Sansom Harris

 

 

      My favourite Marvel outing of the year. It’s short, stylish as hell and a great throwback in presentation to the campy classic horror movies of yore. Michael Giacchino (mostly known for being a composer for many a blockbuster film) is surprisingly confident in the director’s chair.

      Here’s hoping Marvel produce more original content like this that stands out, rather than yet another sequel.

 

 

 

Honourable mentions

 

Dr Strange in the Multiverse of Madness – Sam Raimi’s take on the Marvel blockbuster, with plenty of trippy surprises.

 

Hellraiser – Compared to the dreck of the last handful of this franchise's installments, it’s refreshing that this movie is a half decent return to form.

 

The Lost City – Surprisingly engaging and humorous update of the Romancing the Stone type caper. Sandra Bullock is still effective.

 

X/Pearl – Two in one from Ti West – a decent pair of horror films shot back to back: a 70’s grindhouse entry and its period piece prequel. Mia Goth is excellent, especially in the latter.

 

 

 

The Cuphead Show! - Season 1& 2

 

 

      Harking back to the old school manic capers of the Fleischer Cartoons, it’s amazing something like this even got made – let alone 3 seasons of it. At the time of writing I have only watched almost up to the end of Season 2 but it has been consistently good throughout.

      The various side and boss characters from the Cuphead game all seem to make appearances in one episode or another which will please fans, but even if you haven’t played the game this one should appeal to you if you are a fan of classic animation.

 

 

Love Death & Robots - Season 3

 

 

      On the other end of the spectrum is the cutting edge of modern computer generated animation, with another selection of sci-fi fantasy shorts from various studios. Whilst these have always been technically sound, Season 2 had some hit or miss episodes. However Season 3 has knocked it out of the park once again with each episode being both an artistic marvel as well as making effective use of the short story format.

 

 

The Midnight Club

 

 

      I am a big Mike Flanagan fan and his following up with last year’s Midnight Mass was certainly a tall order. The main story is based on a Christopher Pike novel of the same name, but the clever conceit is that the stories the kids tell within this main story are each also all based on Christopher Pike books. Having read a lot of them in my former years and being a fan of them, this just adds that extra bit of spice.

      Having said that though, all the young actors are exceptional and all of them manage to pull off some heavy lifting with some emotional scenes. It’s a shame The Midnight Club hasn’t been renewed for a second season, as not only are several main plot threads left hanging, but also the fact that we aren’t going to see any more mini adaptations of Pike’s other works (such as Monster or Remember Me) is a tough pill to swallow.

 

 

Wednesday

 

 

      The central role played with aplomb by Jenna Ortega is the real selling point here. She attacks the character with such confidence and certainly makes it her own.

      Other than that, there are great supporting characters, a decent mystery at the heart of the series, great production values and a Hogwarts-lite boarding school setting that will certainy appeal to the younger audience. I’m honestly glad they went in this direction rather than just doing a reboot of the whole ‘Addams’ family as a show, although you do also get to see some new incarnations of the classic family.

      Also Thing is the true MVP!

 

 

Welcome to Wrexham

 

 

      Even if you have no interest in football or the solid bromance of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney whatsoever, I would still recommend this series simply for tits humanity. You get to see the lives of some of the fans of Wrexham football club (real people!) and what it means to them to be taken on this extraordinary journey. Unexpectedly heart-warming.

      Altogether now: “We got Mullin, Super Paul Mullin. I just don’t think you understand…!”

 

 

 

Honourable mentions

 

Moon Knight – Great performance from Oscar Isaac playing dual roles.

 

The Sandman – The once deemed ‘unfilmable’ Neil Gaiman epic gets a decent adaptation. Season 2 will have to significantly up the ante as it goes into much more ambitious territory if the comics are anything to go by.

 

Stranger Things - Season 4 – Season 3 had dropped off a bit in my opinion but the introduction of new villain Vecna injects a welcome dose of horror into this franchise.

 

 

 

Death’s Door (Switch)

 

 

      A cute old school isometric Zelda-like adventure that grips you from start to finish. You play as a little crow with a Kylo Ren lightsaber! The combat is fast paced and decently challenging with great locales and boss battles. Just the right length so it doesn’t outstay its welcome.

 

 

Elden Ring (PS5)

 

 

      Whilst it doesn’t feel as tightly designed as most of the games in the Souls series, the fact that they managed to create an open world version of the formula is still mind-blowing. The map is huge and there are so many secret areas hidden away you may not even see half of it without a guide. The giddy sense of exploration is real throughout.

      However the downside to that is that it lacks the replayability of previous Souls titles as you definitely wont have the same experience on subsequent playthroughs, as you will know which areas and bosses are essential to progress and which aren’t. Still, it’s my second most played game of the year for me (in terms of clocked hours) and I was completely enthralled from start to finish. Adventuring with your friends is also a special treat and teaming up together to take down bosses is the stuff of golden memories.

 

 

Ghostwire: Tokyo (PS5)

 

 

      I was uncertain about including this on the list but ultimately did so because of the world. Ghostwire lets you explore a present day Tokyo and if you have ever been there you can add another couple of bonus points. It’s the most faithful recreation of the city I have ever seen in any game.

      Simply walking through the darkened rainy streets with all its meticulous detail and recreations of real landmarks, brings a strong sense of nostalgia for me. Plus if you love Japanese yokai and all the accompanying lore the game is absolutely thick with it.

      Whilst the gameplay itself (first person magical combat) ultimately ends up being a tad shallow and repetitive towards the end (lets hope you like collectathons if you want to go for the platinum!) the world itself is what makes this a standout for me.

 

 

Resident Evil: Village (PS5)

 

 

      I admire how Capcom are willing to take new risks with this franchise (remakes of all the earlier games aside!) as this one takes the first person of Resident Evil 7, but mixes it up with more gothic horror action leanings of RE4, all wrapped up with a campy movie aesthetic.

Whilst admittedly the latter portion of the game drops off (why does it always have to end up in dull factories?) the earlier sections of the game especially shine, with Castle Demitrescu being an exceptional highlight.

      I also like that Village is not too long, as it encourages replayability. Again though, the first playthrough will be the best experience as all the surprises and thrills will be entirely fresh.

 

 

Rogue Legacy 2 (Switch)

 

 

      The first Rogue Legacy I have played through a few times over the years, each time getting utterly sucked in to that addictive feedback loop. You go in the dungeon, get as far as you can, picking up plenty of gold, buy some upgrades to get stronger. Rinse and repeat.

      There is all that here and more – to an almost overwhelming degree at first. Everything is amped up, from the character classes, upgrades, weapons, enemies, bosses – you name it. And nearly all for the better. I have finished the main game (after many hours) but am still currently battling through the new game plus modes in an effort to max out everything or at least see the ‘true ending’ – but I still seem to be a long way off! Certainly gives you bang for the buck for a relatively cheap indie game.

      If you are a fan of dungeon crawling looter rogue lites with tight controls, this will be near perfection.

 

 

 

Honourable mentions

 

Deathloop (PS5) – A clever timeloop shooter. Think an FPS take on Groundhog Day. You can only really enjoy it fully once though, as that unique sense of discovery can only happen the first time you figure out the inner workings of this game.

 

Fifa 22 (PS5) – To my shame this is the game I have spent the most time on this year, being utterly sucked in to creating an OP squad in Ultimate Team. (Sigh).

 

Kirby and The Forgotten Land (Switch) – A cute platformer bringing our loveable pink glutton successfully into the 3D realm. Plays surprisingly well with some great boss fights.

 

Metroid Dread (Switch) – Although I didn’t love this one (it was almost too mazelike in its structure and the EMI encounters annoyed rather than thrilled me) it is an undeniable return to the Metroid 2D glory of old, which I definitely prefer over the FPS iterations. It looks the business, has a great atmosphere throughout and there are some challenging boss encounters along the way.

 

A Plague Tale: Innocence (PS5) – Wonderfully crafted and atmospheric with some great set pieces. Quite linear but well focused for it. Play it in French for a better experience!

 

 

      So that’s a wrap for my 20 favourites of 2022!. Will I be back next year? Who knows? Guess you’ll just have to wait and see...

 

 

23^rd Dec 2022