10 great movies you might have missed in 2023

So, the year is drawing to a close and you're writing a list of your top ten film releases much to the imagined anticipation of your fellow cinephile friends. What’s on there? Oppenheimer? Barbie? Across the Spider-Verse? Great film but it doesn’t anyone any favours. Everyone is aware of their existence. How about throwing a few films that got a lot less attention?

Before you make your top 10 list official and have it notified, co-signed, and registered, here’s 10 films you should watch first... (Qualifying credentials: The film had to be released in Ireland in 2023 and be available to stream as of the time of writing)

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HOLY SPIDER

Based on the true story of Said Hanaei, a serial killer who targeted women on the streets of Mashhad in Iran from 2000-2001, this film was deserving of its seven-minute standing Ovation at the Cannes Film Festival in 2022.

Holy Spider follows journalist Arezoo Rahimi (the excellent Zar Amir Ebrahimi) as she decides to help bring the "Spider Killer" to justice. However, as she soon realises, because the victims are all female sex workers, many outspoken members of society disturbingly don't feel justice is necessary.

An engrossing, infuriating but powerful film.

Currently streaming on MUBI and available to buy on Apple TV as download or as rental on Curzon Home Cinema and Apple TV online.

SICK OF MYSELF

If you recently enjoyed the excellent Nicolas Cage film, Dream Scenario, you should check out director Kristoffer Borgli's previous film, which also has a lot to say about fame.

Signe is a barista living with her artist boyfriend, Thomas in Oslo. As Thomas’s career is taking off Sine finds herself desiring more attention for herself, going as far as to too fake a severe allergic reaction at an event celebrating the opening of his new exhibition.

Signe takes things a step further when she aquires and doses herself with a recalled Russian medication that has caused severe skin disease. The symptoms present themselves and Signe gets the fame she desires becoming a defacto spokesperson and model but at what cost?

A shocking and darkly funny of narcissism and fame.

Currently available to buy via Apple TV, Rakuten TV and Google Play Movies as download, or rent it on Rakuten TV, Apple TV, Google Play Movies and Curzon Home Cinema online.

INFINITY POOL

Unsuccessful novelist James (Alexander Skarsgård) and his wife Em (Cleopatra Coleman) are staying in a luxury resort in the fictional poverty stricken country of Li Tolqa. There, they meet the very eccentric Gabi (Mia Goth) and her husband. Gabi reveals herself to be a massive fan of James's failed novel.

While out on an unsanctioned excursion from the resort with the group, James finds himself in trouble with the authorities after a hit and run. The punishment is death - but fortunately for James, there’s a loophole for those who can afford it. And it’s pretty messed up.

A twisted sci-fi horror from Brandon Cronenberg (son of David Cronenberg) with lashings of black comedy plus an unmissable and delightful performance from Mia Goth that cements her as our new genre queen.

Currently available to watch via streaming on Sky Go, or as download via Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Rakuten TV and the Microsoft Store.

ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT'S ME, MARGARET

Okay, if those first three were a little too dark for your taste, here's the perfect palette cleanser.

The often-parodied title may be one of the reasons this film was ignored by audiences unfamiliar with novelist Judy Blume presuming its a tale of American born again tale of someone finding God.

And while religion is definitely a strong theme of this 1970s coming of age tale of Margaret, an 11-year-old New York girl with a Christian mother (Rachel McAdams) and a Jewish father (Benny Safdie) who has been left to her own devices to pick a faith. She begins to talk to God about her anxieties about religion, identity, and puberty.

Director Kelly Fremon Craig is in familiar coming of age territory here (her last film The Edge of Seventeen is also deserving of your attention) and she handles the source material beautifully, feeling genuinely like a product of the 70s while also feeling relevant to modern day childhood. A funny and warm treat.

Currently available to buy via Apple TV, Microsoft Store, Google Play Movies and Rakuten TV as download, or rent it via Apple TV, Rakuten TV, the Microsoft Store and Google Play Movies online.

PAST LIVES

In Seoul, South Korea, a young boy and girl, Na Young and Hae Sung have a powerful connection and seem destined for each other. Unfortunately, Na's parents have other plans. They're to move to Toronto and Na is to become Nora.

Twelve years later, the two reconnect over Facebook and pick up where they left off. Their cultural differences barely an obstacle, the two talk about meeting in real life but the lack of commitment on Hae’s side causes another parting. The film then jumps forward another 12 years: Hae is visiting Nora’s new hometown, New York, he wants to reconnect and she’s happily married.

A beautiful film that plays with nostalgia and speculation. It’s not overly dramatic, in fact, it's delicately subtle. No loud declarations of adoration or hateful love rivals. It’s a film about missed opportunities and understated melancholy, similar to Richard Linklater’s Before Trilogy. Thoughtful and quiet, it’ll stay with you.

Currently available to rent on Rakuten TV, or via the Microsoft Store online.

WHEN EVIL LURKS

In an a nearby farmhouse brothers Pedro and Jimmy find a man whose body has been infected with demonic possession, the man is bloated beyond belief and seemingly comatose. Finding themselves out of their depth, their actions lead to an epidemic of demonic possession within their Argentinian community.

This film is like no other demonic possession film you've seen, there’s no attempts of exorcism or Bible waving and the victims show very little signs of change that is until… they do something very, very out of the ordinary. Be warned, this is truly one of the most shocking and unpredictable films of the year.

Currently available to watch via Shudder. It is also possible to buy via Google Play Movies and the Microsoft Store as download, or rent it via the Microsoft Store and Google Play Movies online.

SOFT AND QUIET

In a film all shot in one take, we follow seemingly normal kindergarten teacher, Emily to a meeting of seemingly normal friendly women. Then, through the means of cake, it's revealed what type of meeting we’re actually at…

There’s a swastika on their cake. Yep, they’re white supremacists called the "Daughters for Aryan Unity". Their hateful fears, frustrations and prejudices are welcomed and encouraged in the group. When the meeting is abruptly ended, Emily and three other members decide to get some post meeting drinks; en route they bump into Anne and Lily, Asian-American sisters - the resulting encounter leaves the women to plan an ill-conceived evening of revenge and retribution.

A sickening and gross little film with despicable characters, the leader desperately trying to maintain her "white, suburban, respectable" persona despite being complicit in violent, stupid actions which constantly exacerbate the situation for the group and their victims.

Currently available via Apple TV as download or rent it on Apple TV online.

PASSAGES

There's a moment in Ira Sachs' modern Parisian love story in which the freewheeling Tomas (Fran Rogowski) excitedly informs his softly spoken husband, Martin (Ben Whishaw), that he had sex with a woman, Agathe ( (Adèle Exarchopoulos) the previous night. Martin isn’t furious at this betrayal, merely unimpressed and disinterested. Nor are we subjected to questions like; "Wait, so you’re not gay?" or "What was it like, different?". And that’s when you realise, we’re past all that - well, these characters are anyway.

And so begins a fascinating and unpredictable love triangle between a German filmmaker, a British printer and a French teacher. The printer and teacher are obviously deserving of a lot better than the narcissicitc and hedonistic filmmaker, but his appeal isn’t lost on the audience. The three leads fizzle on screen, compellingly attractive and human characters with desires and instincts that constantly contradict logic. Brilliant.

Currently streaming on MUBI.

NO ONE WILL SAVE YOU

This fantastic little sci-fi horror arrived directly to Disney Plus with little to no fanfare earlier this year, but it's well deserving of some recognition.

Brynn (Kaitlyn Dever) is a seamstress who lives alone on the outskirts of a small town; she has been ostracised by her community for reasons that'll eventually become clear. One night a lone alien (classic design - grey, spindly, big black eyes, tiny mouth) invades Brynn’s house. The less you know the better but this is the start of an intense ride as the visitors’ plans become clear and Brynn fights them off without saying a word. Yes, this is a virtually wordless script, the lack of dialogue making the situation feel even more intense. Thrilling and fun - also full of endless surprises, with a brilliant lead performance holding the whole thing together.

Currently streaming on Disney Plus.

MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON

Possibly the first mockumentary that blends stop motion with live action, Marcel the Shell with Shoes On is told from the point of view of a filmmaker who moves into an Airbnb to discover that he's co-habitating with a one inch tall talkingshell called Marcel (voiced by Jenny Slate) along with Marcel’s grandmother (also a shell) and Alan, a pet ball of lint.

It's all as adorable and surreal as it sounds, as we learn about lonely little Marcel, whose family - along with his extended shell community - was accidently taken away by the previous owners.

The whole thing would bring a smile any inanimate object; it’s impossible to not be immediately endeared to Marcel with his quirky character and raspy little voice. Charming and funny, and (unlike most films on this list) one for the whole family.

Currently streaming on Sky Go or available to buy as download via Apple TV, Google Play Movies and Rakuten TV.

10 great movies you might have missed in 2023

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