Check out our favourite films of 2022 below:

Honourable Mention: Barbarian

Unbelievably original and freakishly scary, writer/director Zach Cregger’s Barbarian was one extremely clever piece of horror that came right out of left field and delivered on all the terror. From its foreboding opening scenes to the excessive gore of its closing moments, Barbarian was a hell of a watch, and it really put the fear into audiences. This was a film that was unexpected and completely took audiences by surprise and its jump scares and repellent horror elements made for one of the best horror experiences of the year.

10. Cyrano

Noted filmmaker Joe Wright returned behind the camera for the opulent tale of the historical classic Cyrano de Bergerac in Cyrano, and this musical-historical-romance was a cinematic extravaganza. Show with a very luxurious eye and styled with beautiful baroqueness this film explores the very notion of love and its control over our souls. Peter Dinklage again commanded the very centre of the screen and as an audience member you could not but be caught up in the beauty and elegance of this amazing work.

9. Nightmare Alley

Visionary director Guillermo del Toro brought his unique gothic sensibilities to the outlaw carnival realm of the 1930s in his gripping and intense psychological thriller Nightmare Alley. And the result was film noir with a mean sense of bite. Re-adapting William Lindsay Gresham classic thriller to the big screen, del Toro narrowed in on the complexities of power and the dark side of man as Bradley Cooper’s ambitious carnie Stanton ‘Stan’ Carlisle would do anything for fame and fortune. With its dramatic scale and nerve-racking vigour, Nightmare Alley was a cinematic experience that kept audiences on edge the whole way through.

8. The Northman

A cinematic experience of full force, Robert Eggers’ The Northman was a teutonic movie of epic power and bold mythology and in watching it you felt the full fury of the Viking Age. Balancing the blood-letting ferocity of the past with the mysticism of the pagan era, The Northman was a beast of a movie and its savage power made you sit up in your seat. Alexander Skarsgard went to an extreme edge to become the murderous Prince Amleth, and this was a cinematic presentation that hit with the force of a battle axe!

7. Parallel Mothers

Renowned for his mastery of the cinematic arts, Pedro Almodóvar’s Parallel Mothers was a piece of cinema that completely wrapped you up in the complexity of its layered storytelling and its dramatic severity made a lasting impact on the audience. Exploring themes of love, motherhood, family, trauma and history, Parallel Mothers was a film that surprised you at every moment and its narrative turns led to plenty of shocking exposition. Penélope Cruz and Milena Smit created a very meaningful sense of chemistry between one another, and all of Almodóvar’s creativity and focus were refined down in this picture.

6. The Batman

With a brooding film noir presence director Matt Reeves brought the Dark Knight back to cinemas and this was a new type of Batman that audiences had never witnessed before. Laced with shadows and psychological complexity, The Batman was a rough and tumble portrait of an all-new Batman and it made for a very severe watch. Robert Pattinson brought a new quality to his obsessive and extreme portrayal of Bruce Wayne/Batman, which was matched with the seductive sensuality of Zoe Kravitz Selina Kyle/Catwoman. Then there was the psychopathic villainy of Paul Dano’s The Riddler and the old-school gangster bravado of Colin Farrell’s The Penguin, and all of it made for a new kind of watch. The Batman was bold and operatic in its cinematic presentation and its opening 20 minutes is some of the best cinematic presence ever captured on film. A new Dark Knight rose with The Batman, and audiences were spellbound.

5. Avatar: The Way of Water

After 13 years visionary filmmaker James Cameron returned to cinemas with the much-awaited sequel to his 2008 triumph Avatar, with Avatar: The Way of Water, and this was an utter masterpiece. Pushing the art of cinema further than it had ever been pushed before, Avatar: The Way of Water dialled up the technology of its storytelling to present an utterly beautiful presentation, and the action and intensity of this film ran at speed. Cameron jumped on the accelerator with this picture, and for those lucky enough to see it in IMAX, this was a film that delivered on the sheer scale that only cinema can present.

4. Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris

With its heartfelt storyline, loveable characters and gorgeous haute couture style, Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris was simply one of the best films of the year and audiences would be spellbound by its presentation. Anchored by a flawless performance by Lesley Manville, Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris was a beautiful movie-going experience right from start and you couldn’t help but get wrapped up in the lovely little story. Every part of this production came together with a beautiful sense of refined elegance and it was an utterly magical piece of cinema to watch.

3. The Menu

In terms of cinematic satire, nothing was sharper this year than director Mark Mylod’s The Menu and from beginning to end audiences were in for one hell of a shock. With a pitch-perfect cast, clever narrative, elegant decor and acute moments of horror, The Menu was horror cinema with a pulse and it certainly served up something new to the genre. Anya Taylor-Joy and Ralph Fiennes engaged in one hell of a standoff in this picture, and the shock factor of this picture kept the audience guessing at every single moment.

2. Top Gun: Maverick

In 2022 Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise once again stepped back onto the flight deck and buckled in for the adrenaline rush of Top Gun: Maverick as Captain Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell, and this was a film that pulled audiences right back into the danger zone. With its non-stop adrenaline, heartfelt nostalgia and cinematic technology that put you right into the centre of an F-18 at full velocity, this was a blockbuster extravaganza and it was a picture that brought audiences back to the power of the cinema. From beginning to end, Top Gun: Maverick was a rush of energy and fun, and audiences looking to have their adrenaline maxed out were well rewarded by this picture. It was just AWESOME!

1. Elvis

But when it comes to the cinema of 2022 one film reigned supreme and that was Baz Luhrmann’s auteur rock ‘n’ roll epic Elvis! And damn did this picture groove. With his unique sense of glamour, style and pop energy, Luhrmann brought the life of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll , Elvis Presley, to the cinema as only he could. This was a film of pure spectacle and marked rising star Austin Butler as one performer to seriously keep an eye on. His commitment was complete and total and he rocked out completely as The King! Elvis was a cinematic experience of pure energy and you found yourself fully grooving out in your seat with this picture, and watching it in the dark of the cinema, with a full audience around me was one of the best experiences of the year.

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Starring Alexander Skarsgard as Viking prince Amleth, who following the murder of his father, King Aurvandill (Ethan Hawke) at the hands of his evil uncle Fjölnir (Claes Bang), Amleth sets out to revenge his father and take his kingdom no matter the cost.

Bringing this colossal epic to life up on the big screen is noted visionary filmmaker Robert Eggers’ who has shown with his last two pictures, The Witch and The Lighthouse, that he has the makings of an auteur, and The Northman again clarifies this. Regarded for his keenly detailed eye and maintaining a strong focus for narrative and character, Eggers devotes everything of himself as an artist to The Northman, and his commitment shows in every frame that makes its way to the canvas of the screen. Appearing as an almost Wagnerian painting, The Northman is utterly beautiful to look upon, yet it hides nothing back from the Dark Age in which its brooding narrative is set. This is an age of iron and blood, and while the locations of Norway, The Rus and Iceland are beautiful to look upon, they do not hide the savagery that takes place.

Eggers crafts The Northman as a truly epic film and looks back to the ancient Viking sagas for the setting for his tale, and he tells the revenge tale of Prince Amleth, which inspired Shakespeare’s own Hamlet. Broad in scope and scale, Eggers dives deep into Norse mythology for his tale and his is a story where both man and The Æsir are at work and where men turn themselves into beasts. The language and style of The Northman are utterly Shakespearian, and it is an altogether different kind of epic film that moves at its own pace and pays tribute to the Icelandic sagas of the past. Amleth’s path to his ultimate revenge is tempered with fire at every turn and he is a character who seeks every strike to last. And as we move forward in the narrative the drama grows deeper and the action wilder.

The film’s cinematography, production design, art direction, costuming, hair and make-up, armoury and general detail are utterly fantastic to look upon, with Eggers truly transporting his audience back to a different time and place. This is a true portrait of the Dark Ages, where life and blood run cheap and where fate and fortune intertwine with each other. Cinematographer Jarin Blaschke focuses on a darkened palette of natural light, both in day and night to capture the dark, somewhat nihilistic tone of the narrative, and roaring fires and stark clouds cloak this film in light. The images he captures are vivid and present Alexander Skarsgard’s Amleth as an almighty titan, and the film’s wild excesses will capture your full attention. The Northman is simply stunning to look upon, and it is like watching an Arthur Rackham painting come to life.

Standing at the centre of Eggers’ mighty narrative is Alexander Skarsgard and this Scandinavian acting force gets to channel his inner Viking heritage as the vengeful and crazed Prince Amleth. Robbed of his kingdom and birthright, Skarsgard’s Amleth is now more animal than man, called the ‘Bear-Wolf’, he has become a ferocious berserker who knows no mercy and who lives for the war cry of the battlefield. But when destiny and fortune present themselves, Amleth seizes on his chance for vengeance and a dark road opens up before him to take it. Skarsgard is an utter beast as Amleth, exuding power and strength as the personification of rage, but as he begins his road to the quest for his own revenge, his character changes in unforeseen ways and is tested by dramatic choices. Skarsgard presents Amleth as a tragic-hero figure and as his quest changes him, as secrets are brought to life and the presence of fate interjects on his behalf, the ethics of his plan soon begin to weigh on his heavy brow. Skarsgard holds the gaze of his audience as Amleth and his raw performance is incredibly powerful in its presentation.

Standing beside Skarsgard is Anya Taylor-Joy as Olga of the Birch Forest, a Slavic sorceress who soon becomes a key part to his mission of revenge as well as the love of his life. Standing as a rare beauty in such a chaotic time, Taylor-Joy’s Olga of the Birch Forest is a strong and powerful woman whose wild sorcery gives her dangerous powers, and she is not one to be trifled with. As an actress, Taylor-Joy presents Olga as a survivor, and she shares incredible chemistry onscreen with Skarsgard, and as the narrative moves forward we see them come together in a primordial love that is touching and exhilarating to watch. Taylor-Joy also jumps headfirst into the muck and blood of production, and she puts her mark on the narrative.

Providing a key level of support to The Northman are performers Nicole Kidman, Claes Bang, Ethan Hawk and Willem Defoe and each has a key role to play in the film’s vengeance narrative. As the treacherous Fjölnir the Brotherless, Claes Bang makes for a striking adversary and he squares up to Skarsgard with sword in hand. Nicole Kidman grabs your attention as the complicated and cunning Queen Gudrún, Amleth’s mother and a woman who is not who she presents herself to be. And there’s plenty of venom laced into her performance. Ethan Hawke is an old-war dog as King Aurvandill War-Raven, Amleth’s father and Fjölnir’s brother who strives to teach his son to rule in the old ways, but who is cut down by cold iron and strikes the spark that leads to his son’s path of vengeance. And finally, Willem Dafoe as Heimir the Fool, brings Amleth guidance where needed, and his kooky performance is sure to keep the audience somewhat ill at ease.

The Northman is a film of savage fury and keeps to the history and customs of the Viking Age. As a portrait of a true pagan society, Eggers keeps everything related to historical accuracy and the strong themes of religion, blood ties and family legacies are sewn into the narrative. Questions of right and wrong and moments of perspective and clarity keep this narrative interesting and the audience guessing. There’s a true ferocity to the storytelling and its presentation in The Northman and when Amleth finally draws forth the demonic sword Draugr and sets to his task of vengeance blood flows and heads roll. Key cinematic moments including The Berserker Raid in The Land of the Rus, which is a fierce and haunting spectacle to witness, and the film’s climactic showdown on the gates of Hel, at the base of the Volcano Hekla, is an awe-inspiring sight to witness, especially when set to the rousing score of Robin Carolan and Sebastian Gainsborough.

The Northman stands alone as an utter triumph of the silver screen. As a thunderous portrait of the Viking Age and its incredibly complex and intricate character study, The Northman succeeds on every level of creativity and this Dark Age picture is sure to bound itself to your soul.

Image: Universal Pictures

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In two brand new featurettes ‘Warriors Of Steel’ and ‘Becoming a Viking’, audiences get a first-hand glimpse of just what went into the making of Eggers’ new epic The Northman, and this is a film that did not stray from the mud, blood and steel of the Viking age in its construction.

Showcasing the extensive costuming, production design and weapon handling and stunt training that went into The Northman, audiences get a real ground-level look into Eggers’ extensive attention to detail and the painstaking process that was followed to bring the Dark Ages up onto the big screen.

Here’s the official synopsis:

Starring Alexander Skarsgard as Viking prince Amleth, who following the murder of his father, King Aurvandill (Ethan Hawke) at the hands of his evil uncle Fjölnir (Claes Bang), Amleth sets out to revenge his father and take his kingdom no matter the cost.

The Northman is a bold and brutal epic that is set to take audiences by storm and it’s one you’ll want to be ready for when it arrives in cinemas on may 12.

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Watch the brand new trailer for The Northman below:

Here’s the official synopsis:

Starring Alexander Skarsgard as Viking prince Amleth, who following the murder of his father, King Aurvandill (Ethan Hawke) at the hands of his evil uncle Fjölnir (Claes Bang), Amleth sets out to revenge his father and take his kingdom no matter the cost.

Constructed in a montage style that delivers no specific narrative plot points, but instead paints a picture of what the film’s tone and energy will be about, and it’s raw and savage in its presentation.

Director Robert Eggers has turned back the clock to the time of the Dark Ages and he’s ready to take his audience for a wild ride as Alexander Skarsgard’s Amelth, a forgotten prince turned berserker wages a personal war upon the man who murdered his father and who is ready to unleash hell on earth to gain his vengeance.

The scale and ferocity of The Northman can be evidently seen in this new trailer and the action ramps up quickly, and this trailer is promising a film experience that must be seen up on the big screen.

Ready yourself for a savage rush of adrenaline when The Northman arrives in cinemas on May 19.

Image: Universal Pictures

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Check out the full list of our five most anticipated films of 2022:

The Batman

A new Dark Knight is ready to take to the skyline of Gotham City and deliver justice at the end of his fists in director Matt Reeves’ murky, noir-laced, superhero thriller The Batman. With rising star Robert Pattinson ready to don the cape and cowl of Bruce Wayne/Batman, The Batman is shaping up to be one of 2022’s most intriguing cinematic experiences and with its dark noir cinematography and sinister narrative is our most anticipated film of 2022. Brooding and intense, this will certainly not be one for the faint of heart, but The Batman is set to deliver a cinematic experience you won’t soon forget.

Thor: Love and Thunder

Director Taika Waititi and star Chris Hemsworth are heading back to the cosmos of the Marvel Cinematic Universe for 2022’s Thor: Love and Thunder and let it be said that this is my most anticipated Marvel Studios release of the year! Building off of the rollercoaster ride that was 2017’s Thor: Ragnarok, Waititi is promising a film that is going to dive even deeper into the sci-fi crazy that he first established in 2017 and which will jam out with plenty of 1980s hair metal flair. Add in the fact that Hemsworth has taken his muscled frame to even more heroic levels and we see the return of Natalie Portman as Jane Foster and Christian Bale as intergalactic alien villain Gorr the God Butcher and we’re ready for something incredibly unique within the MCU. Bring it!

The Northman

Prepare to chart coarse to the frozen lands of the Norse in a bloody tale of revenge that is The Northman! This is a piece of cinema that is ready to deliver vengeance at the edge of an axe blade and director David Eggers is crafting a genuine historical epic with this Viking saga. Alexander Skarsgard appears to be at his most savage in the role of Prince Amleth, heir to a Viking kingdom, who, cast out by his evil uncle, swears revenge and is determined to gain his retribution by any means necessary. Prepare to experience the blood and power of the Old Gods with The Northman and ready your call to the halls of Valhalla.

Bullet Train

Ever since I first heard that Hollywood megastar Brad Pitt was teaming up with director David Leitch for the full-on, adrenaline-charging rush of Bullet Train I was hooked. And damn does this blockbuster action thrill ride sound gnarly. Pitt stars as Ladybird, one of five assassins aboard a high-speed bullet train that is hurtling towards Tokyo. But while he has his own score to settle he soon realises that every target onboard is connected and that’s when the bullets start to fly. With Leitch’s talent for kinetic-moving action sequences and Pitt’s star appeal and machismo, Bullet Train is shaping up to be a full-on rush and I cannot wait to see how this one turns out.

Top Gun: Maverick

Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise is ready to take the skies once more as Captain Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell in the must-watch aerial blockbuster that is Top Gun: Maverick. Top Gun is regarded as one of the 1980s most seminal films and now more than 36 years later we’re ready to catch up with Maverick as he prepares for one last charge into the skies. Top Gun: Maverick is shaping up to be a colossal cinematic event, and Cruise has described the film as a ‘tribute to aviation’ and as an avid aviator himself you can tell that he’s ready to push the envelope even further into the danger zone this time.

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Watch the intense new trailer for The Northman below:

Here’s the official synopsis:

The Northman is an epic revenge thriller, that explores how far a Viking prince will go to seek justice for his murdered father.

Starring Alexander Skarsgard as Amleth, a Viking prince whose father King Aurvandill (Ethan Hawke) is murdered by his uncle Fjölnir (Claes Bang) so he can marry his mother Queen Gudrún (Nicole Kidman) and claim his kingdom, Amleth grows into a man and a raider and swears a blood oath of revenge against his father and the action in The Northman is sure hit hard!

Skarsgard has turned himself into an absolute BEAST as Amleth, and has duh deep into his own Viking-Scandanavian heritage to portray this epic character who is a literal force on screen and who will stop at nothing to achieve his revenge. With blood determination, he stalks his uncle Fjölnir from the shadows and sets out on a journey of fate and destiny that will be delivered at the end of an axe.

If the story of Amleth and The Northman sounds familiar, it’s because the character of Amleth, a true historical Viking prince, was the inspiration for Shakespeare’s own Hamlet and I’m certain that Eggers will make his won story a grand and epic tale. The scale and detail of The Northman is unbelievably impressive and the action of this film will ignite your own Viking spirit and wanting you to call out to Odin himself.

Brace yourself for a brutal and intense watch that is made to be seen on the big screen when The Northman arrives in cinemas on April 21, 2022.

Image: Universal Pictures

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