by Tori Potenza, Staff Writer

2024 has been a fascinating year. After a year that included coverage of five film festivals, I watched 84 new releases. Some of them have become immediate favorites, while others failed to leave any sort of impact. In the end, I am impressed by the amount of effective independent releases in a year that was clearly impacted heavily by a writers and actors strike. As we go into 2025, a time many of us in the USA are dreading, I find hope in the many talented performers and filmmakers out there creating art and perfecting their craft.

In the darkest of times we rely on artists to stir our emotions and help us so that we do not become numb to the struggles happening around us. We need films that inspire empathy, films that make us reflect on ourselves, films that challenge us. While films offer comfort, as any art medium, they should bring forth an array of emotions, not just the positive, we need to feel confused, mad, sad, and stressed. And we need a diverse pool of filmmakers and artists to give us perspectives that are not just those of the privileged.

There are certainly films like this to be found in 2024, and I hope that the art that comes forth as we go into uncertain times helps propel us and pushes us to keep learning and thinking in new ways.

Disclaimers: My personal end of year list often reflects what has moved me the most, and that is true here as well. Although I do want to put in a few quick disclaimers before going forth.

Because of the amount of festival work I have been doing there are a lot of films I have missed like Queer. As of writing this I have not been fortunate enough to see Nosferatu, needless to say something directed by Robert Eggers that is described as being horny and unhinged would certainly have made this list. And at least I have one Luca film to adorn the list.
Some truly incredible films that were released for many this year like Red Rooms and Femme, are not on my list because they ended up making my 2023 list after seeing them in festivals. But I want to take this opportunity to shout them out as I think they are still severely underseen.

10. The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim (dir. Kenji Kamiyama)

This was a last minute addition after seeing it just a few days ago. Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy is akin to sacred text in my family. They give me hope and when the world feels shrouded in evil, and I turn to them for a dose of comfort. The War of the Rohirrim gave me a very similar experience, and considering it is the first LOTR film I have seen in theaters in years, I was overcome with emotion. I think this is a perfect film to inspire a sense of rebellion and resistance for the underdog. Considering the trilogy is severely lacking in femme protagonists, the character Héra is the breath of fresh air we needed. As she goes head-to-head with various bullheaded and evil men, we see a woman who is fierce and ready to fight against those that look at her as less than. The threat to the rights of women and marginalized populations in this country makes this an essential battle cry.

The animation is gorgeous and the team does such an amazing job of bringing us into a new story within Tolkien’s world. There are incredible creatures to behold and both new and old favorites for fans to enjoy. If you are a lover of this world and those people in it, this is a perfect movie to drop into. While it is hard to compare anything to the original trilogy, I think this one will have a similar watchability to it in coming years.

9. I Used to be Funny (dir. Ally Pankiw)

I’ll start this off by adding a big content warning for those who have had experience with or are sensitive to stories about sexual abuse. I certainly had trouble with certain parts but the movie handles them so well that it is hard not to love it. There were aspects of this that I found very easy to relate to, especially when it comes to coping with PTSD. Yet Ally Pankiw is able to temper this hard reality with humor and love. Rachel Sennott is an incredible actor and has shown her ability to balance drama and comedic roles many times over. These stories of people who survive this all-too-common kind of violence are important, and it is even more important to see them with the wide array of emotions that they come with. It is up there with a similarly important film from the year, How to Have Sex. It’s sharp wit, impeccable writing, and beautifully constructed characters make this a stand out for the year.

8. Love Lies Bleeding (dir. Rose Glass)

The beginning of the year is typically looked at as a dead time for decent film releases, but that seems to be less and less true especially when something as unique as Love Lies Bleeding came out in February. Katy O’Brian is one of the top actors to watch in the coming years. The way she is able to seamlessly blend femininity with her more masculine features is one of the elements of this film that makes it such a stand out. While it differs tonally from Glass’s debut feature, Saint Maud, her keen eye and use of body horror elements clearly carry over into this story. With impeccable cinematography and stand out performances from the entire cast Rose Glass is a woman in horror that is not to be ignored. With this amount of blood, crime, love, and thrills Love Lies Bleeding really has something for everyone.

7. Monkey Man (dir. Dev Patel)

Dev Patel is an exceptional actor and seeing him craft a directorial debut this good is such an impressive feat in and of itself. I was lucky enough to see this premiere at SXSW and the passion that exuded through him as he discussed his process, struggles, and the collaborative efforts it took was palatable throughout the huge theater. Patel wanted to make the sort of film he dreamed of starring in as a little kid and I think young Dev would be proud. There are incredibly executed action sequences throughout the film that pay homage to some of the best out there, from Oldboy to Enter the Dragon. It is endlessly entertaining while also carrying an important social message, and highlighting an underrepresented population in India. Even the fact that he was able to work with some of the technical issues that plagued the shoot and use them to help the camera work match the story structure clearly shows that Patel has the chops to be one of our next great filmmakers. His filmography has shown he can do it all so we can only hope that other filmmakers utilize all facets of his array of talents.

6. A Different Man dir. Aaron Schimberg

I feel like A Different Man did not get quite the release it deserved, so I truly hope people seek this one out. Adam Pearson and Sebastian Stan give two of the best performances of the year in this strange meditation on identity. The movie feels completely unique in its humor, and has a darkness to it that, at times, makes you uncertain if you should be laughing or not. Film is such a perfect place to work on themes of body dysmorphia and A Different Man feels like it belongs up there with some of the greats like Eyes Without a Face and Face of Another. While it does not attempt to answer any of the questions around moving through the world so noticeably differently than other people, it does give us many different elements to think on in regards to this, including the role our mind and perspective have in the way we move through life. The bleakness of Stan’s performance perfectly matches the unabashed joy and acceptance of Pearson’s character. This is the kind of movie that I cannot wait to watch again as I know its complex nature will lend itself to some fascinating epiphanies in the future.

5. The Beast (dir. Bertrand Bonello)

The Beast is in fact a beast of a movie, both in its meaty runtime and themes. This is another movie that almost has too much to grasp in a single viewing. Stories of dystopian futures that want to remove complex human emotions are not anything new, but Bonello is able to give such a unique perspective in his story of two souls who are tragically intertwined. Léa Seydoux is always able to command the screen with her presence and gravitas. It is impressive to watch George MacKay hold his own against her. Between this and Femme he has shown that he too is a cinematic force to be reckoned with. With its dry humor and complicated storylines it can be a lot to take in but there is something so beautifully human about the struggle in confronting complex emotions and the idea that our past can ripple through to our future lives. While this is not the story of star-crossed lovers that we saw in Past Lives, it plays with similar themes to grapple with our personal histories and collective futures.

4. Longlegs (dir. Osgood Perkins)

I loved Longlegs on a first viewing, but was not sure how it would work on future viewings. I was more than impressed when I realized that the level of sheer dread Oz Perkins crafts is still just as strong even when you know where the story is going. Nicolas Cage gives one of his best performances as the title villain, and it is impressive to see Maika Monroe hold her own against such a force. The way Longlegs’ presence is felt in every scene, even when he is not present, shows how talented Perkins is at crafting his characters and blending their DNA into his story. Alicia Witt is almost unrecognizable in her role as Ruth which makes her feel even more like something conjured up for this world alone. While the experience of watching Longlegs is thrilling in and of itself, it also lends itself to some fascinating conversations after the fact, making it stick out even more as one of the most memorable films this year.

3. Rebel Ridge dir. Jeremy Saulnier

I look forward to Jeremy Saulnier’s deal with Netflix to wrap up because his films are so cinematic that they truly feel meant for the big screen. He is one of our great directors for his expert visual storytelling and the way he is able to craft such effective action sequences. It is a film that moves and demands your attention, making it hard to look away even when the social realities and implications make it hard to look. While the movie is a technical achievement in direction, cinematography, and production design, it is also the perfect setting to highlight the incredible acting of its star Aaron Pierre. From the moment you meet his character, Terry, you are locked in. Terry’s focus on non-lethal action makes for even more stakes in the story as he faces down against racist corrupt police officers. After a rewatch, this bumped even higher up my list because of what a gorgeous thriller this is that also takes its social messaging very seriously. As we move into 2025 when blue lives matter confederate wannabes likely become more emboldened, it is important to remember how cruelly our justice system treats people and how everyone needs to fight back.

2. Challengers (dir. Luca Guadagnino)

As someone who is not a sports watcher, I am always impressed when television or movies can make me care about a sport so much. Luca Guadagnino has not disappointed me so far and even though his movies can feel wildly different from one another he always knows the exact vibes he is trying to create. Challengers is a thrilling good time that keeps a fast-paced energy throughout the runtime. Part of this is due to the sexually charged performances from its leads, the incredible vision of its filmmaker, and of course a score that doubles as a perfect party mix from Atticus Ross and Trent Reznor. Even when we are just with one or two of the leads, it always feels like the others are present in the room. From close up touches to powerful glances there is so much unspoken in the film that says more than a full monologue could. Tashi, Art, and Patrick are all very complicated characters and we see the good and bad they each hold within them, yet they are perfect in their complexities and regardless of how we think of them it is hard not to cheer along in the closing minutes.

1. I Saw the TV Glow dir. Jane Schoenbrun

From the moment I saw this at SXSW, I knew it would be near impossible for anything to eek out ahead and claim the number one spot from I Saw the TV Glow. There is something truly magical about a film that feels like it was made just for you, and hits you right where I need at that moment. It is a reminder of how subjective and spectacular the art of media is. Jane Schoenbrun is unlike any filmmaker we have. There is something about the kind of longing for self, loneliness, and sadness those of us growing up in the 90s and 00s can feel. While it is certainly powerful for a lot of trans and gender non-conforming folks like myself, it was also powerful on many levels. As we age and face the cycles of death and rebirth we can only hope that we get closer and closer to our true selves, and as the film highlights sometimes a piece of media can be so powerful it can show you who you can be. We live in a world that forces us into boxes and labels and a society that constantly reminds us of its hatred of things outside the binary but there is so much power to be found in fighting against that current. Schoenbrun is a gift as a director and this movie is stunning on so many levels. Most importantly it reminds me that as long as we breathe life there is still time to be who we are meant to be.

Honorable Mentions

Crafting a top 10 was incredibly difficult because there are so many great films to highlight from this year. So here are a few I loved and think are important to give their due.

Cuckoo (dir. Tilman Singer)
We need to praise weird films more. Tilman Singer is a very strange director that brings his strange German humor to the films he creates. This is such a unique and strange beast, but it is fascinating to spend time in this world. Dan Stevens gives an awe-inspiring performance Herr König and it is truly a sight to behold.

Blink Twice (dir. Zoë Kravitz)
There have been several impressive directorial debuts in 2024, and that includes Blink Twice. It is hard to discuss if you have not seen it but Kravitz crafts a really incredible and poignant film that is perfect for our time and place socially. Channing Tatum gives a performance that shows off he is much more than the goofy himbo type.

Girl Internet Show: A Kati Kelli Mixtape (dir. Kati Kelli)
If you have not seen my coverage of Fantastic Fest then you have not heard me rave about this unique piece of art. Kati was a YouTube personality who died in 2019, right after making her first short film. This is a gorgeous compilation of her work and although it is unclear when it will be possible to see it outside of the festival circuit you can watch her Youtube channel and become acquainted with her incredible humor and talent.

Babes (dir. Pamela Adlon)
Adult friendships are much more important than we give credit to. This is an ode to the besties. As someone in my 30s watching my friends go off in all sorts of directions this is a beautifully hilarious reminder that our people and our community are a part of our family and giving them the love and care they are due helps fuel and energize us.

That is 2024 in the bag. This has been a whirlwind of a year for many reasons both personally and as a society but as I spend this time reflecting on beautiful art it is hard not to feel gratitude and hope for what is to come. Take care, rest easy, and see you in the New Year.