Filmrecensies van Niels Matthijs

This is a lush and beautiful-looking film, with powerhouse performances, strong drama and some very poignant scenes. Recensie

The horror bits are still up to par, the contraptions are as iconic as they are repulsive and the end twist is pretty cool, it just would've been better if the others elements of the film would've been on the same level. Recensie

The film is stylistically slightly more subdued compared to Ninagawa's other work, but all her core qualities are still very much present and No Longer Human is all the more interesting for it. Recensie

It looks stylish, boasts a fun soundtrack and delivers a quirky range of gangsters, ticking all the boxes that makes this niche great. A fine blend of crime and comedy, nothing more, nothing less. Recensie

Diner is tons of fun, grotesquely over the top and consistently surprising. Recensie

It kick-started an entire range of similar films that would go on to conquer the world. Ong-bak still stands as one of the better ones, with a superb central performance of Jaa, amazing fight and chase scenes and some of the most bone-crunching martial arts moves recorded on film. Recensie

Human, Space, Time and Human is a strong, visceral and aptly executed allegory. A rough ride that combines beauty and darkness in a way that invariably links them together as an inescapable part of the human condition. Recensie

It's a high-energy, tense and brash action/crime flick that has a few neat surprises up its sleeve, but is mostly geared at offering the best genre experience possible. Recensie

Fulltime Killer is a sprawling action/crime blend, bustling with cinematic joy and providing ample opportunities for To show off his unique talents. Stylish, fun and never a dull moment in sight. Recensie

A creative, stylistic and technical marvel that honors its fantasy elements in the best way possible. Recensie

A beautiful drama with some raw edges that thrives on a sublime score and killer central performances. Add a very strong ending and some memorable scenes and you have another Ki-duk classic that probably deserves a little more attention than it has been getting so far. Recensie

Chiwawa is a vibrant, confrontational and sincere drama, sporting sprawling cinematography, a great score and lively performances. Recensie

Stylistically it's clear this is a film from a bygone era, but Tanaka's superb sense of humor, several stand-out performances and a couple of very memorable scenes make Drive worth your while. Recensie

Promare is bonkers, hyperactive, grotesque and madcap, a dream come true for those who chase adrenaline cinema, executed in such a way that it oozes unbridled quality and creativity. Recensie

Gretel & Hansel is an extremely atmospheric film, with a strong cast, amazing cinematography and an exemplary use of its score. Recensie

Lost in Love is gentle and warm. A stunningly beautiful and impressively acted romantic drama, dealing with a very intimate and fragile theme that Huo meticulously dissects. Recensie

Eight very distinct and unique shorts offer plenty of stand-out material, more than enough wow moments and plenty of variety to breeze through this anthology and leave you wanting more. Recensie

Adoration is a very impressive film that feels like a complete and unique experience, thriving on sublime cinematography, a perfect score and amazing central performances. Recensie

It Comes is a film that delivers on its genre premise, is different enough to keep you on your toes and is impeccably executed, with beautiful cinematography, strong use of its score and boasting stellar performances. Recensie

The art style is lovely, the fantasy elements feel otherworldly and Palme's journey is grand, without ever feeling cheesy or expected, making this one of the better fantasy epics I've seen. Recensie

It's a combination of genres and styles that don't really go that well together, but somehow Yamashita found a way to create something extremely appealing from them. Recensie

F you love absurd comedy, executed with a deadpan disposition and styled conform the overall tone of the film, with some additional horror elements to boot, then Deerskin is bound to delight. Recensie

The film looks great, sports a sublime soundtrack and Kitano himself shines as the titular character. An easy recommend, especially for people who don't like to venture too far outside their comfort zone, but are willing to take a little gamble. Recensie

Kera delivers a weird, confident and funny film that looks the part, sports some solid comedy acting and has plenty of scenes worthy of a healthy chuckle. It's not quite perfect, nor as noteworthy as some of the bigger names in the genre, but there's still plenty of genius to go around and definitely worth seeking out if you're in the mood for some off-kilter comedy. Recensie