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The Dead Center

Psychiatrist treates a patient that has risen from the dead

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
14-06-2021
8

An unpleasant surprise

Morgue-scenes, already my weakspot! But this movies doesn't solely rely on their creepy atmosphere. It has an intelligent, well constructed uncanny atmosphere throughout, and I love the natural acting and believable hospital atmosphere that was created. It really elevates the story.
8

Life of Pi

After a shipwreck, boy is stuck on a lifeboat with wild animals as he sails into a trippy journey

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
24-05-2013
8

wonderful journey

Intriguing mix of hardship and fantasy storytelling. Unique, brave and utterly beautiful.
8

Ex Machina

Software developer wins a trip to a genius living in solitude, who created a new tier in artificial intelligence
average 8.0

RockmeNow
RockmeNow
17-09-2015
8

Not just another AI movie

Enjoyable approach towards the artificial intelligence debate, with some nice twists in the plot
8

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
21-08-2015
8

Clever and good looking scifi

A very stylish, smart and engrossing scifi flick with some nice twists to boot.
8

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

Now that the the cave is vacant again, a war for it's treasures is immenent

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
03-01-2015
8

This is more like it

Yes. Less hobbit whining and dwarf singing. More intense combat, both on a massive scale as one on one close encounters. All this intense and beautiful action and hardship finally made me care about the creatures in this movie.
8

First Man

Neil Armstrong's mission to the moon

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
04-11-2018
8

But why so serious

Apparently, everyone involved was deeply serious and humorless about going to the moon, making this movie more depressing than it probably ought to be. But my goodness, those spaceflight scenes are mindbogglingly exciting and extremely well shot.
8

Enter the Void

Smalltime drug dealer in Tokyo experiences after death experience and reincarnation... while on drugs

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
13-01-2018
8

What a trip

I am assuming this is about the closest you can get to tripping out (or dying) in beautiful Tokyo without doing any drugs. The camera work, images an music are really extraordinarily done and it treats the 'expected' after-death events in a sort of believable way. Very long though.
8

Soul

Just before a breakthrough live performance, a jazz musician has an accident and get assigned a quest somewhere in the afterlife

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
22-01-2021
8

Beautifully abstract and heartfelt.

Another bold Pixar endeavor that doesn't shy away from emotions, highly abstract concepts and symbolism. Apparently, kids get it instantly, but I needed some time to figure it out. Any which way, it is just lovely, beautiful and wonderful.
8

Men

A woman retreats to an English cottage to proces a violent and traumatic divorce, but the local strange men only bring more horror

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
03-07-2022
8

A well thought out and intriguing horror

The simple setup gradually unfolds a lot of depth, symbolism and metaphors without being pretentious. Uncanny without cheap tricks, with a spot-on atmosphere. The finale is spectacular too; no matter how bizarre it was, it somehow made sense.
8

Rambo 4

Rambo and a few mercenaries confront evil troops in Burma in order to rescue a kidnapped family.

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
12-12-2014
8

Brutally effective

The atrocities committed by the badguys make sure you don't care for a moment when they are blown to pieces by Rambo. An unusual mixture of the trademark Rambo one-man-army action combined with a dead serious and horrifying look of what that would actually look like. It hits you like a hammer.
8

It Follows

Girl has unknown people walking slowly but straight at her

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
07-02-2016
8

Scores in many fields

The seemingly simple story in this little marvel is told with style and confidence, supported by a nice cast, good music and great camera work, and manages to be scary without over-relying on the same old cliches. Unique and refreshing.
8

Hereditary

The death of a tyrant grandmother does not spell relieve, but drags a family into paranormal turmoil

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
15-07-2018
8

No cheap tricks, pure dread.

While I may not have been as shellshocked as many other reviewers, I do agree think this was remarkably good under-the-skin horror that uses some common themes but threats them in a much more adult, slow and agonizing manner.
8

Oppenheimer

A biography of the father of the atomic bomb

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
11-08-2023
8

A fascinating drama disguised as an adrenline action ride

A very intense and splendidly shot, acted and directed movie. But part of me thought Nolan was cheating, by presenting what is essentially a drama as an pumping action movie, using all of his film-making prowess. There was a dissonance beween what was actually happening and how it was presented.
8

The Signal

Computer hackers hunt down a rival hacker. But their roadtrip brings them to something much more mysterious and unearthly.

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
03-01-2015
8

A pleasant surpise

Well this is nice! A very stylish movie with a tasteful combination of science fiction, mystery, fine acting and suspense. Accompanied by wonderful music throughout.
8

Life

The crew of spacestation ISS manages to acquire a sample from mars soil... with life in it.

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
01-04-2017
8

Very good space horror

It is not perfect, but overall I found this to be very solid, exciting, great looking film that reconfirmed just how much and why I love space horror. The spacestation and camerawork floating through it are first class.
8

The Revenant

After being left for dead and betrayed after a bear attack, a man must defeat nature and other dangers to make it home and take revenge

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
15-03-2016
8

Big

A majestic and profound experience that is beautifully shot. Personally I wasn't able to connect fully with the main character, as he is mostly a puffing and groaning wild man, but that's a minor quibble.
8

Contagion

A viral oubreak

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
24-02-2013
8

Succesfully dark

Has a realtime, stressed feeling throughout which makes it upsetting and eerie.
8

Dune (2021)

Clans fight for control of planet Arrakis and it's resources, both with other clans and with the native inhabitans

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
17-10-2021
8

What the word 'epic' was meant for

Wow, this was quite an epic experience on all accounts. Incredible spaceship designs, compelling imagery, great music and overall an enticing story. Very very tasteful. On the downside, the sterile environments and characters meant it had only a limited emotional impact and didn't really stick.
8

The Autopsy of Jane Doe

During an autopsy of a beautiful women, the cause of death becomes increasingly mysterious, as are the things that are happing to the coroners

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
17-05-2017
8

Creepy setting, creepy movie, excellent idea

Any morgue setting will instantly cater for a horror movie. But this original, focused and terrifying movie sure exploits it to great lengths. Love how the mystery unfolds and how the autopsy and dead people are straight up in your face!
8

World War Z

Zombies

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
27-07-2013
8

Triple A mediocrity

For a movie about zombies investing the world, people seeking shelter in save havens with high walls, and a hero finding a cure just in time, this one is very good.
8

Beau is Afraid

A scarred man is literally and figuratively going on a bad trip to his mother

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
27-08-2023
8

A wonderfully bad trip

To think that someone made up this story, somehow decided it was finished, and concluded it was ready to make a movie out of it is even more baffling the the movie itself. But here it is, and I am glad it is. A wild ride, bizarre, disorienting but also skillfully made, intriguing and unique.
8

Mother!

In an isolated house, a woman struggles with her husband's increasing tendency to have strangers stay over, up until extreme and paranormal levels (this description probably sucks, you tell me!)

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
28-09-2017
8

A different kind of horror

A reminder that horror and unrest can come in many shapes, not just ghouls and ghosts. A disturbing but very engrossing experience which I thought was fresh, well acted and intense. It felt great to see a movie again that sticks with you and leaves a goddamn impression.
8

Smile

Psychiatrist investigates a chain of people who kill themselves after have seen a smile from strangers

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
28-12-2022
8

Quality horror to make you smile

While the concept is quite familiar, I quite enjoyed this. On a few occasions it resorts to banal jump scares, but mostly it proves that it stands above these, with quality horror containing plenty of moments to send shivers down your spine.
8

Die Brucke - Bernhard Wicki (1959)

There can't be enough anti-war movies
average 8.0

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
06-03-2023
7

a sad warstory, told well

After all these years, this is still a worthwhile movie, effectively painting contrast between the boys in their daily life and the pointless and violent war they end up in. Some remarkable cinematography for it's age, too.
7

hente
hente
10-10-2013
9

Armed conflict can infect us all

I saw this movie half a century ago and it is still impressive even without the usual mass scenes and shoot-outs. Make sure you watch the original version by director Wicki and not the later re-make with the same title.
9

The Northman

When his father is killed, a young viking grows up with nothing but revenge on his mind

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
17-04-2022
8

Great as a spectacle, but average in involvement

A big, brutal, sweaty and intense historic epic, that I was spectating and enjoying rather than feeling. Perhaps because all characters continuously speak in this these articulated, poetic, over-dramatic phrases, which kind of dehumanizes them. It worked in Lighthouse, here it alienates.
8

Alita: Battle Angel

Man rebuilts a cyborg he found in a trashpile. A very special cyborg it turns out...

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
25-02-2019
8

Great

Fearing a hysteric and flat CGI bonanza, I was pleasantly surprised. We actually get to like the characters, it's exciting and original. It has a nice big-amazing-adventure vibe that I haven't felt for while. But yes, it does feature awesome, bright daylight CGI in every scene.
8

Raised by Wolves

Escaping a war torn earth, two androids fly to a distant planet in order to restart humanity. But they are not the only ones.

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
16-04-2023
8

Even if it can't keep up the with the first eposide, it still is great

Although it looses a bit of momentum with every episode after to the majestic grand opening, this series had a lot going for it. Fantastic design that mixes medieval with ultra futuristic, a deep and interesting storyline and intense characters. And a splendid opening track to top it off!
8

Alpha

Set in the stone age, a boy gets seperated form his group and must find his way home, but befriends a wolf along the way

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
16-12-2019
8

Beautiful and heartfelt

I like to think of this as perhaps the first domestication of wolfs, eventually leading to dog breeds. Extremely pretty, akin towards kitsch, but never crossing that line. The storyline is also gripping, making me care about this journey and swallowing tears near the end.
8

The Raid

Police squad in Jakarta raids a tower inhabited by criminal scum. It turns bad really quickly.

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
31-08-2015
8

Brutally refining

A really sweaty and hardcore fighting movie with a deep sense of pain and tired bones. It is unpleasant in a way, but it is also spectacular, amazingly well performed and choreographed and a genuine new benchmark for brawling movies - that had been going nowhere until this came along.
8

The Shape of Water

In a 50's secret facility, a mute cleaning lady falls in love with an aquatic creature they experiment on

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
23-03-2018
8

A unique and pretty modern fairytale experience

It is an unusual blend of humor, science fiction and an escape movie, all wrapped in an arthouse atmosphere, and somehow it works beautifully. The trademark color tones and style of Del Toro look as gorgeous as ever in this 50s setting.
8

The Incredibles 2

Again living in secrecy, the family gets a chance to do their superhero stuff again when they are contacted by a secret organization

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
30-06-2018
8

What a lovely family

A lovely episode that once again shows the aces of the franchise: Spectacular action, a lot of humor and an exciting, well-developed story line. But what The Incredibles absolutely excel at are the non-heroic moments where we see them as normal, fallible persons trying to get by like anyone else.
8

Zero Dark Thirty

The hunt for UBL

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
19-05-2013
8

ladies and gentlemen, she got him

Stylish and engrossing hunt for Usama.. which is quite an achievement since it apparently involved so much waiting and utter lack of progress. The movie ends with a nail biting assault on the man.
8

Open Water

Scuba diving couple emerges to find the boat not there

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
06-08-2023
8

A nailbiter that kept reeling me in

I wanted to do something else but I could not resist this movie. My complements for making the simple plot and scenery not a limitation but a strength. The natural, almost amateuristic camerawork and non-sensationalist footage of sharks is also a masterstroke making everything up close and personal.
8

The Nightingale

After unspeakable cruelty was done to a woman and her family, she chases down the perpetrators through the Tasmanian bush, with the aid of a native aboriginal

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
12-05-2020
8

Heavy, but very good

It covers a lot of heavy-handed subjects (racism, revenge, rape, murder, repression) and inevitably features some tough scenes. But it has all been done really well. I liked how during the revenge part she remained fragile and insecure, and didn't have sudden superskills that came out of nowhere.
8

Saint Maud

Deeply religious palliative nurse becomes dangerously fanatical when she thinks she has performed a revelation on a patient

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
01-08-2021
8

Impressive and scary, with thick layers of atmosphere

An impressive psychological thriller with some horror and supernatural elements in a very tasteful, restrained and effective way. The atmosphere oozes of the screen, performances are great, especially Maud's of course.
8

Everything Everywhere All at Once

Woman struggling to manage her store, marriage, tax audit and daughter, suddenly gets access to skills of her self in other parallel dimensions

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
26-05-2022
8

Completely bonkers yet keeping it real

Probably the craziest, most out-there, outrageous, over the top movie ever, that still - impressively - manages to keep it together, bring it with humor and have it resonate on an emotional level. It's too bizarre to really reach inside, but I am just so glad that stuff like this gets green-lighted.
8

Speak No Evil

Danish couple visits Dutch friends they met on vacation. The weekend slowly becomes agonizing, then turns into something much worse.

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
20-11-2022
8

A tough watch, but the quality makes it a worthwile one

The feeling of ever growing discomfort really gets to you, and works well because of the natural acting and settings. It ends sad and depraved, but somehow feels like the right conclusion of the dread that had been accumulating.
8

You Won't be Alone

In the nineteeth century, a young girl is turning into a witch, inhabiting different bodies as she goes

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
02-07-2023
8

A poetic, beautiful and unique witch movie

With numerous voice-overs pondering her faith, the dreamy cinematography and absence of viewer pampering, this felt more than a poetic essay, depicting witches more as misunderstood outcasts than malicious beings. I found it beautiful and a highly refreshing.
8

Spy

Condemned to work in a basement supporting agents doing all the action, a CIA agent finally gets a change to do some fieldwork of her own

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
14-08-2016
8

Dare I say hillarious?

In a time where 'comedies' merely evoke a vague smile at best, I was delighted to find this genuinely funny movie that had me laughing out loud several times. Deliciously nasty and hysterical.
8

Junji Ito Maniac: Japanese Tales of the Macabre

Collection of short horror manga

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
05-02-2023
8

Worthwhile collection of weird but effective horror stories

As usual, I needed time to adjust to some of the intricacies of Manga that always annoy me. But eventually I did, thanks to high tempo and the wonderfully weird, intense and sometimes quite scary stories. Most of them are open-ended or just end plain unhappy. Refreshing.
8

Lux Æterna

Actors and crew are trying to shoot a moviescene featuring the burning of witches

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
24-09-2023
8

Utterly strange, uncomfortable and intense

Even if this movie is mostly people cursing and shouting in chaos, and it remains unclear what the real problem is, there is something very intense about it. The anxious feeling of wanting to leave the place is deep. The finale will blast your senses, leaving you shellshocked on the couch. Awesome.
8

Antichrist

A therapist helps out his own wive in recovering from the tragic loss of their son, and takes her into the woods to do so.

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
12-05-2018
8

Wow and ouch

A von Trier movie that checks all his boxes; Borderline pretentious, unsettling and uncomfortable, slow, provocative, vile and at times staggeringly beautiful. I am starting to appreciate his style more and more. These are movies that matter, make an impact within.
8

Radius

A man looses his memory after car accident, and acquires a deadly trait for people getting too close him

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
26-08-2023
8

An exciting orginal

What a nice surprise this was. An movie with some fresh ideas, tightly brought to the screen and intriguing from the very beginning until the end. It's never sensationalist, but let's the script and actors deliver the thrills.
8

Annihilation

Scientist team is sent into area that is surrounded by an expaning bubble from space, in which strange things happen

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
23-03-2018
8

Refreshing

A really good and satisfying scifi mystery that mixes some familiar elements but ends up being quite original as a whole. Sometimes scary, sometimes gory but mostly fascinating. I thought it was let down mainly because of the rather unconvincing science protocols and way this mission was set up.
8

Dune: Part Two

Paul joins the Fremen on Arakis. Some say he is the chosen one to lead their cause.

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
10-04-2024
8

An epic epic

This part spends more time on the characters and the tribe rituals, but there is also epicness in large quantities, making this a massive joy to simply experience. But I have to say, there's still something preventing it from truly knocking your socks off.
8

L'année dernière à Marienbad (1961)

Man meets woman, woman meets man, or perhaps they didn't

hente
hente
10-10-2013
8

Time and place are no longer certain

As we are constantly cheating our memories, actual life becomes a guessing game in this stylish movie. Ultimately, all movies are addressing space and time. This one adds to the mystery like a photo of a photographer. Over-aged? How can time be dismissed as being too old? Call it matured...
8

Lamb

Couple who run a secluded sheepfarm get a very special lamb one day

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
12-11-2021
8

Bizarre and modest at the same time

I think I'd call it horror, which is uncanny, bizarre and disturbing but at the same time very plain, pure and subtle and without ever becoming cheap. And I finally liked Noomi Rappace, who looks and acts fantastic here.
8

Camp X-Ray

Newbie MP soldier get stationed at Guantanamo, where she bonds with one of the detainees

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
05-03-2016
8

Honest little gem

A sober yet rewarding experience, with an awesome looking and playing Stewart and very good music backing it up. I sort of missed a beat in the transition of Lector turning into a genuine nice guy, but that's ok.
8

Chronicle

Found footage of teenagers developing superpowers

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
19-02-2013
8

Unique approach to what superpowers would be like

Real people with some superpowers are more exciting than superpeople with massive superpowers. Nice effects too.
8

Lego Movie

The insignificant life of a lego nobody turns on it's head when he is the chosen one to act against evil plans that threaten lego world

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
16-02-2014
8

Fantastic frantic

Could have gone wrong in many ways, but did not. Loaded to the brim with action, jokes, fantastic visuals and brilliant 'real' animation. I did think it was a little to nervous and restless, and overcomplicated for kids to follow comfortably.
8

Fall

Two girlfriends climb a huge radio tower to overcome trauma

Wittenberg
Wittenberg
13-11-2022
8

I forgot what movies can do to you

"These first 10 minutes were more exciting that the entire Starwars series we are watching," my wife remarked. And she was right. It may not be perfect or very realistic, but I can't remember a recent movie I shouted advice at, and which caused so much anxiety and sweaty hands.
8

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