My Top 25 Scary Movie Moments: 10 - 1

It's that special day of the year again...

The day that hipsters dress as an abusive Batman villain, women aim to make cats sexy and I ignore my doorbell at all costs.

Instead, I close the curtains, break out the Blu-Rays and try and scare myself silly.  And these are the best way to make my spine tingle, my blood freeze and my goose bump.

10) Pontypool – Ken Reports In

Set-Up: Grant Massey is a radio DJ in the cold town of Pontypool, Canada.  Over the course of his early-morning radio show, Grant starts receiving reports of violence beginning to erupt in the town from their 'Roaming Reporter' Ken Loanee.  But Ken gets in a bit of trouble...

(Watch 29:30-36:00)

Why I Was Freaked:  If there's one thing that scares me more than what you see, it's what you don't see.  The entire genius behind Pontypool is that the whole film takes place within this radio station, and the terror is simply reported from the outside until it's too late.  Reports of people eating each other and tearing themselves apart are much more intense when you use your own imagination.

It brings a whole new terror to the idea of these ordinary people who can't come to terms with the reports they are hearing.  How long would you deny the idea of zombies before too much information overwhelms you and breaks you down to believe such an impossibility?

Stephen McHattie is brilliant as the gruff and brash Massey, and his terrified performance simply mirrors our own bewilderment and incredulity at what we're hearing coming from the relative safety of Ken's grain silo.

Too relatable.  Fuck you, McHattie.

9) Ghostbusters – Who Brought The Dog?

Set-Up: Lovable nerd Louis Tully is hosting a dinner party to woo his neighbour Dana.  Little does he know that there is something waiting in his bedroom...

Why I Was Freaked: God if Childhood Mike didn't have a fear of dogs before he watched Ghostbusters, he most certainly would have done afterwards.

Yeah, the effects may have gotten worse over time, with the stop-motion becoming a bit ropey but damn, those roaring sound effects, the red eyes, sharp teeth, breaking down the door and just looking like a real-life monster.  

It only gets worse later on in the film, with the Hell Hounds chasing down Louis and Dana through restaurants and all the way back to the finale.  This is a comedy, by the way.

Ridiculous.  Fuck you, Hell Hound.

8) James and the Giant Peach – The Rhino

Set-Up: James is orphaned when both of his parents are killed by a rampaging rhino escapes from the local zoo.  He goes to live with his horrible Aunties and escapes on a giant peach.  But whilst in the clouds, he meets a familiar face...

Why I Was Freaked: How fucked up is that rhino?  

Seriously, it's Monstro in the sky with electric powers!  

I HATED this rhino.  He's a parent killer, with terrifying glowing eyes, teeth no rhino should ever have and, yeah, lightning emanating from his giant protruding horn.

Child Mike became incredibly fearful of rhinos, and was wary for around a fortnight, thinking that there were rhinos around every corner of north-west England.

Irrational.  Fuck you, Rhino.  (P.S. I'm not afraid of you anymore, either)

7) Se7en – Sloth

Set-Up: Someone is killing people based on the Seven Deadly Sins.  Two victims have been found, 'Gluttony' and 'Greed'.  But Detectives Mills and Somerset have received a clue and are following up on where they think the killer lives...

Why I Was Freaked: Jesus, I never expected Victor to be alive.  The torture and life that Victor has survived and lived through is probably even more scary than the jump-scare itself.

The scene is so incredibly built up by director David Fincher and the killer is revealed to be willing to go to such incredible lengths to enact his plans, the payoff is chilling.

And Victor waited until Dr Cox was as close as possible before breathing his breath.  Dick move.

Unexpected.  Fuck you, Victor.

6) Watership Down – The Warren's Destruction

Set-Up: When trying to escape the destruction of their home, eight rabbits stumble upon Captain Holly.  Holly recounts what happened to her previous warren...

Why I Was Freaked: Isn't this just lovely?  

So you have elements of being buried alive, drowning, claustrophobia, lacerations, impalement and even some holocaust imagery and referencing Hell.

This is a U-rated film.

Fuck you Watership Down.  You made my sister afraid of rabbits. 

5) The Wicker Man – The First Glance

Set-Up: Sgt Howie has been brought to an isolated island to search for a missing girl, Rowan.  Upon being fooled by the rest of the island, the Sergeant is brought to meet the most popular man on Summerisle...

Why I Was Freaked:  I know it's only a short clip, but that one line gave me so many chills. It's the lack of spectacle or grandeur to this that makes it so chilling.  No music.  Just silence and a single drum beat.  And a lot of people wanting this one innocent man to die.

But after the build up and the bait and switch that the whole audience experiences, we are there with Howie.  We don't know what to expect, but we don't think that this entire island will be willing to commit such a heinous act.

Chilling.  Fuck you, Summerisle.

4) The Birds – Waiting Outside The School

Set-Up: Birds have been randomly attacking the residents of Bodega Bay. But the visiting Melanie Daniels has a few questions to ask of local school-teacher Annie Hayworth.  Melanie waits patiently outside the school for the lesson to finish...

Why I Was Freaked: So.  Many.  Birds.

Hitchcock is truly a master of suspense and this scene really epitomises that opinion.  He always wanted the audience to know more about the situation than the characters, therefore creating the ultimate tense situation.  You just want to scream at Melanie to turn around and get inside, before it's too late.

The unpredictability of the birds is what makes The Birds such a great film to experience.  The attacks truly can come anytime and anywhere, and these crows appear truly menacing and binding their time.

Haven't looked at birds the same since.

Tense.  Fuck you, birds.

3) Signs – The Birthday Party

Set-Up: There have been reports of UFOs appearing all around the Earth, but no encounters with the aliens themselves.  Merrill Hess is hiding in the closet, before a news report appears on the TV...

Why I Was Freaked: I'm not sure what made this so scary for me; either the fact that I'm really not good with aliens, and there goes one just sauntering casually across the TV screen, or the cinema auditorium I was sat in was suddenly filled with high pitched screams all around me.

Regardless, the fact that I'm not a big fan of aliens just made this all the worse.  This was back when Shyamalan was good at his job.  He was fresh off of The Sixth Sense and Unbreakable, and his take on an alien invasion of Earth was done in a very personal and muted way.  So much so that when shit gets real, I really lost my shit.

Earth-shattering.  Fuck you, Shyamalan.

2) The Fourth Kind – Jaw on the Floor

Set-Up: Taking place over several days in Alaska, Dr Abbey Tyler tries hypnosis to contact the extraterrestrial threats that she thinks have taken her daughter.  Milla Jovovich portrays Dr Tyler, whilst also featuring the home video footage and audio...

Why I Was Freaked: So when I first watched The Fourth Kind, it was presented as a film with Hollywood actors portraying real life people, with the accompanying real footage there for verification.  This made this scene incredibly horrifying for me, as again, I'm not good with aliens.

However with audible testimony of an unknown voice announcing itself as God.  I was shitting myself.

It's not real though.  Of course it's not.  It's all fake.  But you couldn't have told me that at the time.  All I knew was fear.  They Fargo'd me.

Jaw-dropping.  Fuck you, Jovovich.

1) Jurassic Park – Raptors In The Kitchen

Set-Up: Dinosaurs are back.  And they're roaming around an amusement park, stalking the visitors.  Some especially deadly dinos, velociraptors, chase a couple of kids into a kitchen...

Why I Was Freaked: OK, so here it is.  The scene I couldn't watch until I was 14 years old.

I was not ready for this as a 6 year old lad, sitting down with my family and ending up with my face buried into a pillow, and not seeing how the kids escaped until I was a freaking teenager!

So much tension, the bait-and-switch, the unknown and sinister enemy that cannot be reasoned with or over-powered.  And I was the same age or even younger than Tim when I watched this, so I instantly put myself into their shoes, and never trusted a kitchen that large again.

It was and still is one of my favourite films of all time, so for my fear to stop me watching it for so long ... well I believe you can see why this scene is at the top of my list.  Never has one scene made so much of an impact on me.

Fuck you Spielberg.  And thank you at the same time.  It's a complicated feeling.

----------------------------------

And that's it for my Halloween countdown.  Thank you for reading it and hope you have a spooky Halloween!

Have you got any moments that stand out in your mind?  Anything that scarred you and I didn't list?
Let me know in the comments below and don't forget to share this article if you like it!

Until next time folks, thanks for reading!

If you enjoyed what you read, 

'Like' me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Mike-Dunn-Reviews 

or 'Follow' me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MikeDunnReviews

My Top 25 Scary Movie Moments: 20 - 11

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

So, the original plan was to release these lists in batches of five, all leading up to Halloween and the grand finale!

However, I moved flats! (HOORAY!) 

But unfortunately I now have no Internet (BOO!)

And I'm currently writing this using Coffee Shop Wi-Fi! (Oh?)

But enough about my reasons, let's get on with what freaked me out when I was a wee one.

20) Dumbo – Pink Elephants

Set-Up: The titular elephant gets a bit too tipsy... and starts seeing Demon Pachyderms...

Why I Was Freaked:  Imagine something like this being in a Pixar film, or on early morning CBBC. OFCOM would be losing their shit!  

Everything had been going pretty normally until this sequence.  Not happy, by any means, since Dumbo is still as fun for a child as burying their pet fish (RIP Stuart The Fish), but nothing psychedelic had occurred so far.  

And then a warbling brass section start tormenting my dreams, with elephants suggestively dancing with lightning bolts and ultimately these black-eyed monsters teach me not to dare try alcohol for a good few decades.

Way too trippy.  Fuck you, Walt.

19) Session 9 – "Hello... Gordon"

Set-Up: Four asbestos removers begin working in an abandoned insane asylum.  But not everything left when the building shut down...

Why I Was Freaked: There is not a single moment in Session 9 that I left at ease.  From the very beginning of the film, it intends on creeping you out and making you feel threatened, and this scene just sums that up perfectly.

As the removal men work longer and longer hours within the abandoned asylum, they discover that Gordon is hiding some dark secrets, such as the creepy voice calling out to him.

I'd highly recommend seeking out Session 9, it's a film that will freak you out even without you knowing it.  There's just something off about that wheelchair, perfectly positioned in the middle of the hallway.  The image is certainly an iconic one, so much so it even influenced the creators of Silent Hill to include an homage in Silent Hill 3.

Creepy.  Fuck you, Gordon.

18) Pan's Labyrinth – The Pale Man

Set-Up: Ofelia is on her second of three tasks to return her to her Fairy Homeworld.  She has to venture into an unknown world and retrieve a special weapon, but there are a few simple rules, otherwise there will be trouble...

Why I Was Freaked: How fucked up is Guillermo Del Toro's mind?  Seriously.  The guy comes up with the most disturbing and grotesque creations.  Hellboy, Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark, Pan's Labyrinth; they're all filled with horrible monsters that he calls 'Friends' but I call, "Sweet Jesus, what is that thing?!"

Doug Jones, the ultimate contortionist, dons another suit for del Toro to terrify and mesmerise with dancer-like precision.  Couldn't Ofelia have just resisted that grape?  She would have saved herself so much hassle and scary-ass chases.

Grotesque.  Fuck you, del Toro.  (Not really, you're actually awesome)

17) Paranormal Activity 3 – Bedsheet Ghosts

Set-Up: a babysitter is minding two young girls, not knowing one of them has a ghostly friend, Toby.  Toby just wants to play...

Why I Was Freaked: By Paranormal Activity 3, I thought that they had done the formula to death and didn't expect any decent genuine scares from it, but I actually believe that it is one of the strongest chapters in a series that is steadily getting worse.

However, instead of relying on jump-scares (ignoring the babysitter one, dick move), the directors instead tease the audience with suspense and intrigue, and I for one had to watch through my fingers as I didn't know how they were going to further use these classic horror tropes.

Admittedly it gets worse and less original from there, but for a time, I thought that we'd have something fresh on our hands.

Tense.  Fuck you, Toby.

16) Zodiac – The Basement

Set-Up: Robert Graysmith is investigating the elusive Zodiac Killer.  His latest clues are that 'Zodiac' has a basement, and may have hand-written a movie poster.  Not much to go off, but he visits an ex-cinema employee who may have some information about the poster ...

Why I Was Freaked: I don't think that guy could have been more creepier if he tried.  Poor Jake.

The weird thing with this scene is that it comes virtually out of nowhere.  Nothing else in Zodiac is this tense or terrifying outside of the recreated Zodiac murder scenes.  It's just so unexpected that it is truly a jolt to the system.

Gyllenhaal's doing that thing with his eyes again.  Whether it is Prisoners, Nightcrawler or even Donnie Darko, Jake uses his big ol' blues to the express his terror, anxiety and fear.  (I bet you've not even got a Top Ten Eye Actors, have you? *scoff*)

Fuck you Fincher, and your incredible ability to keep surprising me.

15) An American Werewolf In London – When Mutant Nazis Attack

Set-Up: David has been attacked by a wolf on the Yorkshire Moors.  After recovering in hospital, he finds himself back in America, ready to study...

Why I Was Freaked:  Ah the old 'Dream Within A Dream' trick.  That's how it's done right, Batman vs Superman! 

Again, it's intense horror and violence out of nowhere that messed up my childhood mind!  Oh and Mutant Nazi Monsters gunning down children and kicking Kermit The Frog in the face!  I mean, he did nothing wrong, and still got it in the face.

But then it's the double-whammy of "It Was All A Dream, only for the Mutant Nazi Monsters to strike again!  I can't take any more Gun-Toting Mutant Nazi Monsters, but thankfully I have yet to encounter them in films since.  But still...

Dick move Landis.  Fuck you.

14) An American Tail – The Giant Mouse of Minsk

Set-Up: After suffering terrible attacks from the cats of America, Russian and Irish mice team up and create a wooden mouse, full of fireworks to scare off the cats for good...

Why I Was Freaked: Good Lord, Don Bluth was responsible for a lot of my scariest film moments when I was a kid, but this really takes the cake.

Just look at it's soulless eyes, it's slow and deliberate movement, the terrifying roar and grotesque head.  This is a creation of the heroes, to scare off the villains; I associated with the villains by the end of it.  

This idea is repeated in A Bug's Life, creating a bird to scare off grasshoppers, but I wasn't traumatised after that; I was entertained.  Not here.  Not with Franken-Mouse.

Ungodly.  Fuck you, Bluth.

13) The Blair Witch Project – The House

Set-Up: Heather and Mike have lost their friend Josh in the woods.  Woods that are supposedly haunted by a local legend, The Blair Witch.  After being tormented by an unseen force for several nights, they discover a house...

Why I Was Freaked: I'm worried that out of context, this ending might seem ill-placed so far up the list. 

However after you've been with Mike and Heather up until this moment, and you know that this has to be the end for them, it's unbearable not knowing what they're going to see.

The original Blair Witch Project was an incredibly subtle film that allowed you to project your imagination onto the screen and imagine what they were running from, and easily changed the horror genre from that point on, but that image of Mike standing in the corner of the room, for no reason and not getting any explanation was terrifying to me.  

Terrifying and annoying.  But mostly terrifying.  Fuck you, Mike.

12) Jacob's Ladder – Welcome To The Hospital

Set-Up: Jacob is a war veteran who wakes up on a stretcher, being wheeled through possibly the worst hospital in the world...

(Warning for those uncomfortable by needles...)

Why I Was Freaked: I'm pretty sure this was the closest thing to depicting a living hell when I was younger.  Possibly still one of my worst nightmares; being trapped in such a hellish place and there's nothing you can do to stop it.

The visuals in this scene alone are worthy of being in anyone's scary moments list, as these really were inspirational, again giving the Silent Hill creative team ideas for their monsters and storylines.

Also, I'm fine with never seeing a needle going into a forehead ever again, thanks.

Scarring.  Fuck you, Jacob.  And your ladder.

11) Pinocchio – Monstro

Set-Up: The little wooden boy has tried to find his father, but ended up being swallowed by the biggest and meanest bastard this side of Bruce the Shark...

Why I Was Freaked: OK, just how scary and intimidating were Disney films back then?  They didn't give a crap about terrifying their audience!  Not to mention that earlier in the film, Pinocchio had visited Pleasure Island and witness young boys physically transform into braying donkeys.  That could have had it's own entry on this list alone.

But no, I've decided to list the crazily-horrible gigantic man-eating monster that comes fully equipped with an incredibly loud orchestra, ready to accompany any movement he makes with high-pitched wails and uncomfortable screeching.  Not to mention how he gets even worse when he's spewing toxic black smoke from his gargantuan mouth.

Sorry I'll stop now, but Jesus, this fish terrified me.

Fuck you Walt, and your ridiculously low threshold for terror.

----------------------------------

And that's part two of my Halloween countdown!

Keep your eyes peeled for the Top Ten coming tomorrow! 

Have you got any moments that stand out in your mind?  Let me know in the comments below and don't forget to share this article if you like it!

Until next time folks, thanks for reading!

If you enjoyed what you read, 

'Like' me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Mike-Dunn-Reviews 

or 'Follow' me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MikeDunnReviews

My Top 25 Scary Movie Moments: 25 - 21

Bloody hell, 2016 is moving by pretty sharpish isn't it?  It only felt like yesterday that we were ringing in the New Year and saying goodbye to David Bowie and Alan Rickman *sniff*

Now it's October and God knows who we're going to be saying goodbye this month!  Not to sound morbid, but it is Hallowe'en Month after all!  So let's get loads of chocolate, sweets and scary movies to give us thrills to remember all the way to Christmas!

Speaking of which, I thought it would be fun/traumatising to relive some of the scariest moments that I've experienced whilst watching films throughout the years.  You might scoff at some of these moments being included in my list, but these honestly did scare the bejesus out of me when I was a youngster (and some more recently...)

However, let's just get it out of the way early: I wasn't scared to go into the ocean by Jaws, I wasn't convinced to say thirteen Hail Mary's after watching The Exorcist and I found The Shining boring and overrated (until recently), so that is why they will not be featuring on this list...

25) Silent Hill – The Nurses

Set-Up: Rose (Radha Mitchell) is searching for her lost daughter in a demon-possessed town of Silent Hill.  When arriving at the final location, a hospital, Rose travels into the depths, not knowing what is waiting for her...

Why I Was Freaked:  It's usually jump-scares or pure shock that grabs your attention during a horror film these days.  However I cannot stand quiet tension.  The 'hold-your-breath' kind of tension.  It kills me.  So when Rose decides to slowly slink through these godawful grotesques, making painful and orgasmic sounds, I didn't know what to do with myself (not like that...)

Whilst the nurses' appearance is lifted straight from the Silent Hill 2 video game, this was still the first time this iconic video game enemy had appeared on the big screen thanks to the fan service from director Christophe Gans.  With that knowledge, I was screaming at the screen, "Run, bitch, ruuuuunnnn!" whilst the chaos erupted around her.  I still can't breathe during this scene.  

Way too tense.  Fuck you, Gans.

24) Day of the Dead – The Calendar

Set-Up: Taking place after Night of the Living Dead and Dawn of the Dead, zombies have quite easily taken over the world and the remaining humans now live mainly underground trying to figure out a cure to the zombie virus. Dr. Sarah Bowman wakes up in an underground facility with a calendar on the wall... But something is wrong...

Why I Was Freaked: Well, didn't it freak you out?   One of the earliest jump-scares that I can remember really catching me off guard, as this is pretty much the start of the film. There I was, late at night, surrounded by darkness and a few calendars of my own.  I didn't know what to expect.  Bang! Straight in there with the shivers.  

Terrifying.  Fuck you, Romero.

23) Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory – The Riverboat

Set-Up: Charlie Bucket has won a chance to visit a famous chocolatier's factory. Half-way through their tour, they come to a nice gentle riverboat and start to ride. But things start getting a bit psychedelic...

Why I Was Freaked: How would this not freak out a little 8 year old like me?  This incredibly friendly, charming and kooky character presents a room full of edible plants and assortments, sings cheery melodies, and then ferries you through a tunnel of nightmares and death! I could never trust a person again! Or see a chicken without thinking that I was going to be shown it's head being taken off! 

Strangely my fragile little brain didn't mind seeing Augustus Gloop get sucked into a pipe, or the obvious forced labour of the Oompa-Loompas, but the ferry ride from Hell accompanied by Gene Wilder's eerie singing? No thank-you, I'd like to get off.

Craziness.  Fuck you, Wilder.  (And rest in peace.)

22) Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring – The Nazgul Reach Bree

Set-Up: In order to travel a deadly weapon back to where it was created, a quartet of Hobbits take refuge in a town called Bree. However hooded black creatures seeking that same weapon for their master arrive there too... with intent on fucking some shit up.

Why I Was Freaked: If there is one thing that Peter Jackson can do well, it's horror. His eye for an otherworldly terror is fantastic, and even though the world he had created so far was particularly grounded, the introduction of the Nazgul / Ringwraiths was the first moments of anything supernatural or demonic interrupting this pleasant countryside world.

With the Nazgul floating into the Prancing Pony surrounded by dramatic fog, standing over our heroes and stabbing the living fuck out of them, all whilst being intensely quiet and meticulous just made the tension even worse. Oh and when you find out that your heroes are fine, and you should be feeling relief? Don't worry, we'll just throw in some ear-piercing shrieks to scare you some more. 

Horrifying.  Fuck you, Jackson.

21) House on Haunted Hill – The Doctor

Set-Up: Geoffrey Rush has called a lot of people to his mansion to intentionally scare them with scary pranks. But unbeknownst to him, there are ghosts in his mansion ready to fuck shit up and kill in various horrifying ways.

Why I Was Freaked: OK, admittedly it might not hold up to other scary scenes on this list, but personally this was the first time I had seen the technique of speeding up someone shaking their head so it appears like they're doing it really really really really fast, and it freaked me out! 

Also combine that with the security guard's face being HOLLOWED OUT!  A fact that Geoffrey Rush seems almost bored by as well, instead paying attention to a creepy doctor making plans on his wife. 

Fuck you Rush, and your ridiculous nonchalance.

----------------------------------

And that's the first part of my October countdown.  Keep your eyes peeled for the rest of this list over the coming few weeks all leading to Hallowe'en!

Have you got any moments that stand out in your mind?  Let me know in the comments below and don't forget to share this article if you like it!

Until next time folks, thanks for reading!

If you enjoyed what you read, 

'Like' me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Mike-Dunn-Reviews 

or 'Follow' me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MikeDunnReviews

My Top 50 of 2015: 10 - 1

So, here we are.  The first Sunday of 2016.  It's all led up to this. 

Looking back over the past year and having to decide on what film ranked where, I feel that 2015 actually was pretty awesome for films.  There have been some stinkers for certain, but overall I'd say even the mediocre films have had some redeeming features.

Apart from Pixels.

That disgrace can gladly die in a fire.

Anyway, on to My Top Ten Films of 2015!....  (please note, this list was compiled on the 1st of December, so Star Wars/Krampus etc didn't make the list!)

10. Sicario

Plot

In order to take down a criminal organisation bringing in dangerous weapons and drugs into America, an idealistic FBI agent begins to work with agencies outside of her own. However, in order to capture the bad guys, she must be willing to stand by whilst her colleagues employ some shady techniques of their own.

Starring

Emily Blunt (Into The Woods), Josh Brolin (No Country For Old Men), Benicio Del Toro (The Usual Suspects)

Verdict

An enthralling and nail-biting crime drama seen through the eyes of a relatively innocent FBI agent as she is shown the true face of America's fight on foreign drug cartels. 

Emily Blunt is a fantastic protagonist, appropriately conveying the audience's confusion and horror at the reality surrounding her, and Josh Brolin is completely at ease in his role as the mission's director.  However del Toro thoroughly steals the film.  His ice cold persona and mysteriously ambiguous back story give his character an ethereal-boogeyman feel, and there are some truly chilling moments where we realise a man we begin to relate to is capable of atrocious acts.

Two memorable scenes stand out in my mind when remembering watching Sicario.  Whilst the opening scene of Blunt's character storming a drug trafficking house sets the film off perfectly with moments of true surprise and horror, the traffic jam scene when trying to cross over the border into America is possibly one of the most tense moments seen this year.

9. The Tale of Princess Kaguya

Plot

A bamboo cutter finds a tiny girl inside a bamboo stalk and raises her as his own child.  She grows into a beautiful woman whose beauty attracts many suitors but she must find ways to avoid agreeing to marry someone she doesn't love.

Starring Featuring the voices of...

Chloe Grace Moretz (Kick-Ass), James Caan (Elf), Mary Steenburgen (Step Brothers)

Verdict

It seems like a yearly tradition to feature the newest Studio Ghibli film in my Top Ten.  Last year, the genius Hayao Miyazaki's final film The Wind Rises added a touch of diversity to my Top Ten and the case is the same here.

It doesn't take a brilliant critic to see how much hard work and effort has been put into a beautiful film such as The Tale of Princess Kaguya; you can see that simply in a frame of animation.  The lack of computer-generated imagery and the reliance on hand-drawn animation is such a refreshing change that even in Studio Ghibli's storied back-log, it visually stands out from the norm.

With a charming and heartfelt story at the centre, and with fantastic voice performances from the cast, it's business as usual for Studio Ghibli.  And whilst this would be a sweet and touching film to finish with, I truly hope we get more films in the future.

8. Mad Max: Fury Road
(Full review can be found here)

Plot

Set after a devastating nuclear war, a desert wanderer is unwillingly thrust into a family conflict between a warlord, one of his lieutenants and some precious cargo stolen from him.  Cue some of the craziest car chase scenes ever committed to film.

Starring

Tom Hardy (Legend), Charlize Theron (Monster), Hugh Keays-Byrne (Mad Max)

Verdict

Managing to capture anarchy and chaos in an organised and stunning way should sounds like a difficult concept to grasp.  But that's before director George Miller made it look effortless with this energetic, complicated and yet simplistic cacophony of car hoods, sandstorms and explosions.

Despite the action, the film works on a character level too.  Whilst Tom Hardy's Max is the titular hero, the story is Charlize Theron's Imperiator Furiosa.  She is an ass-kicker of the highest grade and won't let the patriarchal world she is trapped in be her only life. 

Whilst some of the films in this Top Fifty list are being recommended due to emotional connection or touching artistic choices, Mad Max: Fury Road is probably just the most exciting experience you will have in a long time.  I just hope you don't mind not blinking for about two hours! 

7. Whiplash

Plot

An aspiring jazz drummer joins his college's orchestra, headed by a conductor known for his strict methods and high standards.  Can he stand the pressure or will this force him to become one of the true greats?

Starring

Miles Teller (Fant4stic), J.K. Simmons (Spider-Man), Melissa Benoist (Supergirl)

Verdict

There are three types of films that never really interest me: boxing films, westerns and films centred around music.  The one exception I've found to this is Whiplash.

There aren't many films that leave me wanting more but Whiplash did that easily without me even realising.  There are so many heart-pounding and jaw-dropping musical performances in this film, it will leave you screaming "Encore!" like I almost did in a packed auditorium.

Whilst Miles Teller is surprisingly engaging as the aspirational protagonist, it is J. K. Simmons who steals the show as the tough-to-please conductor.  His raw intensity and amazing charisma earned him an Academy Award for his performance and your eyes are glued to the screen anytime he appears.  As if the fantastic musical performances weren't enough to grab your attention.  Definitely one to watch with the speakers turned up to 11.

6. Selma

Plot

Chronicling the turbulent three month period in 1965 when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. led a dangerous campaign to secure equal voting rights for the black people of America, in face of very violent opposition.

Starring

David Oyelowo (Rise of the Planet of the Apes), Carmen Ejogo (The Purge: Anarchy), Tom Wilkinson (Batman Begins)

Verdict

A very blunt and brave depiction of a march that I had very little knowledge about from growing up in the United Kingdom.  Thankfully the camera never shys away from demonstrating the brutality that African-Americans had to suffer despite already earning the right to vote, all whilst offering non-violent resistance.

However despite the non-violent methods, it is refreshing to see King portrayed as an ordinary man rather than an idolised icon.  He was flawed, he was unfaithful, he wasn't perfect.  He knew that the media coverage of this march would gain nationwide attention and he capitalised on it.

How David Oyelowo wasn't even nominated for an Academy Award, I will never know.  Personally I would have awarded him the Best Actor Oscar instead of Eddie Redmayne, but that's just my opinion.  It is truly one of the disappointments of the year that his portrayal of Martin Luther King Jr. wasn't recognised by his peers, so I will have to sing his praises here instead.

5. The Lobster

Plot

Set in a dystopian future, a man's wife leaves him for another man, who is better at mathematics than he is.  This means he has to leave The City to live in The Hotel, where he has 45 days to find another suitable partner, otherwise he will be turned into an animal of his choosing.

Starring

Colin Farrell (Total Recall), Rachel Weisz (The Mummy), Lea Seydoux (Spectre)

Verdict

To try and sum up The Lobster is a difficult task, as it essentially is a representation of society's depiction and dependency on couples in relationships, and as such is one of the most surreal and brilliantly metaphorical films I have seen in recent memory.  I had no idea what was awaiting me but the lasting impression it has left me with is one I have been trying to impart on all of my friends and colleagues since then.  This could be one of the smartest and most heartfelt romantic-comedies released in the past few decades.

The film manages to satirise people lying to their partners to appear more compatible, the way children are sometimes used to cover flaws in a broken relationship, the scrutiny put upon people who choose to be single, and all with the surreal edge of being turned into an animal if you cannot find love with 45 days.

I feel like I'm not doing the film justice, as it might have to be watched to be truly understood, but I implore you to do so.  The relationship between Colin Farrell and Rachel Weisz's characters might be the most believable and cute coupling I've ever seen.  Just don't take it too seriously; it is a comedy despite the intentionally wooden acting and stilted dialogue.

4. Song of the Sea
(full review can be found here)

Plot

A young boy's mother vanishes one night, leaving only a newly-born sister.  Six years later on the anniversary of her disappearance, the young girl begins discovering her true heritage.  She is part Selkie, a legend of Irish folklore where seals turned into people and back again. 

Despite not speaking for six years, she must sing the Song of the Sea to set all the trapped souls of the faeries free.

Starring Featuring the voices of...

Brendan Gleeson (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire), Fionnula Flanagan (The Others)

Verdict

The second of three animations in my Top Ten of the Year, demonstrating how much increased effort is being invested into animated features as well as live-action films, which is only a good thing.  

Despite definite inspirations taken from Japanese cinema, this film is Irish through and through.  From the central storyline of the Selkies and faeries, to Bruno Coulais' gentle and ethereal soundtrack sung by Lisa Hannigan, the film emits a special and magical quality throughout.

Three-dimensional and believable lead characters being thrust into an unbelievable and surreal world keep the audience grounded, largely thanks to the relatable central pairing of the young Ben and his younger mute sister Saoirse.  Their sibling rivalry is truly fun to watch and recognisable for anyone with a brother or sister.

Despite the otherworldly nature of Song Of The Sea, the central message about bottling up emotions and the importance of understanding them is tackled brilliantly and in a subtle way that most kids probably won't get until they're older, but the message isn't lost on this big kid!



3. Steve Jobs

Plot

Set before the launches of three game-changing pieces of technology (Apple's Macintosh, NeXT and the iMac), Steve Jobs must deal with the pressure of forever altering the face of computing, all the while juggling the responsibilities of old colleagues, demanding bosses and the potential child he has always resisted from raising.

Starring

Michael Fassbender (Shame), Kate Winslet (Titanic), Seth Rogen (Knocked Up)

Verdict

With Danny Boyle as director, Aaron Sorkin as screenwriter and The Fass as main star, the film would have to be truly bad to not feature in my Top Ten of the Year list.  Thankfully, all parts lived up to their hype.  The direction is energetic and innovative as Boyle has so adequately shown since Shallow Grave to Trance.  As mentioned before, Fassbender gives a quality performance as the titular Jobs, showing his many flaws as well as his few but notable redeeming features.

But as standard in a film with Aaron Sorkin as screenwriter, the film truly benefits from a stellar script.  Set over the course of three separate time periods, each in real time is a brilliant piece of screenwriting, allowing the film to rhyme within itself and provide a sort of internal poetry.  We see Jobs adapt and grow as a person as he reacts in three different ways to the same problem presented to him time and time again.  This three act structure allows Steve Jobs to take on an almost theatrical quality which I believe benefits the performance and makes it stand out compared to the alternatives out there.

Forget Ashton Kutcher.  In more ways than one.  Mr Mila Kunis tried his best but against Michael Fassbender, there is only one portrayal of Steve Jobs that audiences will be remembering from now on.

2. Birdman

Plot

An aging screen actor, known for playing the titular superhero, is trying to revitalise his career with an ambitious stage production.  But with the opening night looming, he has to deal with primadonna actors, his wayward daughter, and his own ego telling him he is worth more.

Starring

Michael Keaton (Batman), Edward Norton (Fight Club), Emma Stone (Easy A)

Verdict

Surprised?  Friends of mine should be as the film that I have touted as being my favourite film of the year, straight from exiting the cinema in the first few days of 2015 through the summer and until the end of the year has been pipped to the post!

But that doesn't mean it's an inferior film!  Far from it!  Birdman is everything I strive for in a film; believable and flawed characters, elements of dark comedy that give the film an edge, just the right amount of ludicrous surrealism, all filmed in a truly innovative and dynamic fashion.  Birdman had me hooked from the first time I set eyes on it.

Michael Keaton deserved all the praise heaped on him at Oscar time, as it is definitely a Mickey Rourke-style return to form for the underrated actor.  Plus putting him alongside quality character actors like Ed Norton, Emma Stone, Andrea Riseborough and Naomi Watts.

This would be my number one film in any other year, if it weren't for the release of one film this year that will no doubt have more of a lasting impact than Birdman...

1. Inside Out
(full review can be found here)

Plot

Set inside the mind of a eleven year old, her emotions Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust must take care of the fragile girl whom they inhabit as she moves house with her parents.

Starring Featuring the voices of...

Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation), Phyllis Smith (The Office [U.S]), Bill Hader (Trainwreck)

Verdict

It took a lot of soul searching to decide whether Inside Out or Birdman deserved Top Spot this year in my Top 50 Films, but I believe that I have made the right choice.  Mainly because of the impact that Inside Out will hopefully have on the cinema industry and more importantly, on the youth of today.

I don't mean to sound grandstanding or exaggerating, but I truly believe that whilst Birdman was a technical masterpiece, Inside Out was an emotional breakthrough in terms of conveying complex situations and emotions.  And in a freaking kid's film, no less.  This year Pixar managed to show the pains of growing up, explain the complexity of bittersweet situations and demonstrate the sacrifices that we all must endure at some point in our lives.  That's heavy stuff.

If you have yet to watch Inside Out, I implore you to try.  Not only is it my favourite film of this year, but it has the potential to be a timeless classic, shown to kids for years to come to help explain the complexity of human nature and the mysteries of what is happening within our own consciousness.

Managing to become Pixar's most successful film, I do hope that Inside Out goes on to be nominated for Best Film at next year's Academy Awards.  By this happening, hopefully animated films will start getting the recognition and praise they deserve as they are all too easily dismissed as being unimportant and childish.  No film this year deserves more plaudits than Inside Out, and hopefully it will be the change that the industry needs.

Thank you so much for reading my

Top Fifty Films of 2015!

I wish you all a fantastic and film-filled 2016!

Until next time folks, thanks for reading!

If you enjoyed what you read, 

'Like' me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Mike-Dunn-Reviews 

or 'Follow' me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MikeDunnReviews