With so many so-called blockbusters, Oscar-bait films and international sleepers, I only managed to see 37 titles released in 2025, some of which technically released in another country last year. The overall quality was slim pickings for me. Anyway, here are the best new films I saw:
Warfare (Alex Garland & Ray Mendoza)
A gripping and intense story based on the memories of two Navy SEAL platoons involved in a tense firefight after the Battle of Ramadi in 2006. It’s a tough film to watch due to its harrowing and uncompromising nature. Both the sound and visuals made me regret not seeing it in the cinema during its brief theatrical run. ★★★★
The Ugly Stepsister (Emillie Blichfeldt)
Emillie Blichfeldt’s twisted take on the classic Cinderella fairytale is a grotesque critique of impossible beauty standards and nobility. Inspired by Cronenberg’s body horror and Borowczyk’s aesthetics, it’s one of this year’s unexpected surprises. Glad Second Sight is releasing it on 4K UHD early next year. ★★★½
Steppenwolf (Adilkhan Yerzhanov)
From Kazakhstan comes a bleak and brutal post-western featuring a protagonist who's more villainous than the archetypal antihero we're accustomed to. The contrast of life being treated worthlessly against the stunning vista of the Kazakh Steppe evokes the post-apocalyptic Mad Max films by George Miller. ★★★½
Weapons (Zach Cregger)
Cregger’s sophomore effort, a compelling mystery about the disappearance of a school class during the night, unfolds through non-linear chapters told through the perspectives of individual characters. It’s a surprisingly engrossing slow burner featuring one of this year’s most ghastly film characters. ★★★½
Nosferatu (Robert Eggers)
You know it's been an abysmal year for films when Robert Eggers's weakest effort thus far still makes it on your end of year list. It's also testament to the auteur's skills and talents surpassing any major misgivings I had with his take on the bootleg Dracula tale. ★★★½
28 Years Later (Danny Boyle)
Danny Boyle and Alex Garland created what's arguably the most significant game changer for zombie movies since George A. Romero’s Night of the Living Dead (1968). Their return to the franchise proved to be highly divisive, as it diverged from audience expectations. Despite this, I found it fascinating to learn about the evolution of the Rage virus and the isolated Great Britain depicted in the film, which also served as both a family drama and a commentary on Brexit. ★★★½
Lurker (Alex Russell, 2025)
Alex Russell’s debut film is a gripping psychodrama about a disturbed fan’s parasocial relationship with a rising celebrity. The film’s cringe-worthy moments and awkwardness are so intense that they leave you feeling unclean. Théodore Pellerin and Archie Madekwe deliver great performances. ★★★½
The Surfer (Lorcan Finnegan)
Nicolas Cage undergoing some form of mental breakdown or existential crisis has practically become a genre in itself. Lorcan Finnegan’s The Surfer is a surreal comedy and psychological thriller that showcases Cage’s talents. It’s the best film featuring the actor since Mandy (2018). ★★★½
Warfare | Opening minutes
Alex Garland & Ray Mendoza | 2025
Around the arse end of the year, I usually try to be open-minded and hope to find another notable film I might have missed in the foreseeable future. However, I’ve had enough. It was so poor that I can't even be bothered with a Worst of 2025 list.
E.g, I gave up on the War of the Worlds remake after three attempts, because I couldn’t bear Ice Cube mean-mugging, zoom calling and cyberstalking his kids in a shameless advertisement for Amazon Prime.
I hope 2026 is a significant improvement, or else I’ll lose my mind.
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