10 Great Movies You Definitely Missed In 2015

Those who claim that movies aren't what they used to be need to switch off the latest Adam Sandler film and take a look around. Whether you religiously visited the cinema on a weekly basis or binge watched as many movies as possible on Netflix, 2015 was yet another incredible year for film. These days, we're more spoilt for choice than ever, making it extremely difficult to catch all of the years best flicks, but don't worry... that's where we come in. The following list isn't a rundown of 2015's best necessarily. Instead, these are the films that only received limited screenings, because studios hate us and think we'd prefer the likes of Mortdecai, Entourage and Jupiter Ascending in our local cinemas. From sexy monsters to talking animals, there's something here for everyone, so join us as we countdown ten great movies that you probably missed in 2015. NOTE: While they may not have been available in your country this year, each of the films discussed here were released cinematically somewhere in the world in 2015. 10) The Final Girls The horror genre has always been rife for parody. Scream and Scary Movie built entire franchises around the predictability of slasher films and more recently, both The Cabin In The Woods and Tucker & Dale VS Evil both became fan favourites, so what could The Final Girls possibly add? Genuine, heartfelt emotion, that's what... oh, and dick jokes. A whole lot of dick jokes. But let's stick with the emotion for now. The Final Girls follows a girl called Max (Taissa Farmiga) whose mother (Malin Akerman) became famous as a scream queen in a classic slasher movie. On the anniversary of her mother's death, Max attends a special screening of Camp Bloodbath and somehow becomes trapped within the movie itself. With her friends beside her, Max is forced to use her knowledge of slasher movies to defy the genres conventions and avoid death at the hands of the killer. Horror enthusiasts will revel in the film's unique approach to flashbacks and voiceovers, but what sets The Final Girls apart is the relationship between Max and the character who her mother plays in Camp Bloodbath. The bumbling scream queen Nancy may be world's away from Max's actual mother, but seeing her alive again in any form is still heart-wrenching, elevating the film far above its parody roots. 9) The Lobster If you could become any animal, what would you like to be? An elegant dolphin? A majestic tiger? As you may have guessed, the star of Yorgos Lanthimos' English language debut chose to become a lobster, citing the fact that they remain sexually active into old age as a key reason. If you had the same immediate response, no judgement, my friend. The story of The Lobster is a bizarre amalgamation of comedy and romance, yet defies categorization in either genre. The film itself takes place in a future that looks similar to our own, where single men and women are sent to a retreat and given 45 days to find a romantic partner. If the singletons still fail to find "love" after the mandatory dances and couples propaganda, they're then transformed into an animal of their choosing and released into the surrounding forest. The Lobster is not for everyone. With deliberately stilted acting, moments that shock as much as amuse and a lag in the final act, some may walk away from The Lobster with loathing, but for those willing to give it a chance, Lanthimos's oddity is one of the best films you'll see this year, satirizing contemporary dating in the most bizarre way possible. Seriously though. If you genuinely would have chosen to be a lobster too, then we need to talk. 8) Goodnight Mommy What is it that makes twins so damn creepy? Is it because they look so similar? Is it because they seem to know each other's thoughts? Maybe it's the way they place a cockroach in their mother's mouth while she sleeps... The story of Goodnight Mommy begins with the return of the boy's mother, who has just undergone cosmetic facial surgery that's left her head swathed in bandages. When the new arrival starts to act strangely, the twins worry that this new person may not be their mother at all. Cinema has always taught us that twins can't be trusted, but Goodnight Mommy escalates this to a whole new level, making The Shining sisters look like the Olsen twins in comparison. What makes this Austrian horror so chilling though is that it's impossible to know which characters to trust. The slow burn approach may not appeal to casual movie fans, but Goodnight Mommy is an extremely powerful work of art that entrances audiences with its stunning cinematography and nightmare imagery, searing itself on your brain long after the final twist is revealed. 7) The Closer We Get Social media has never been more prevalent, making it harder than ever to keep our lives away from the inquisitive eyes of others. It takes a brave filmmaker to share their family history with the world, but when the results are this fascinating, one wishes more directors would take the plunge and create a film like The Closer We Get. Karen Guthrie set out to film a documentary about the skeletons in her family's closet, but tragedy struck when her mother suffered a debilitating stroke during the early stages of the filmmaking process. What was already a devastating look at the impact of secrets gained a further dimension, simultaneously exploring how physical impairments can affect the lives of victims and their families alike. Guthrie expertly handles the twists and turns of the central mystery, gradually revealing the painful secrets that tore her family apart many years before. There's a temptation to compare The Closer We Get to other award-winning documentaries such as Capturing The Friedmans, but that would do a disservice to the human element of Guthrie's work, which surprises and inspires in equal measure. 6) Spring Like the characters it follows, Spring is far more than the sum of its parts, veering wildly between romance, horror and even science fiction during its lean 109 minutes running time. Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead's feature is one of those films that works far better if you don't know anything about it, making it somewhat difficult to discuss without spoiling it, but that's the point of this list, so... The basic basic story revolves around an American man named Evan whose life has fallen into disarray. In an attempt to make things better, Evan does what all aimless young people do and decides to travel abroad. In the spur of the moment, Evan chooses to move to Italy, where he falls for a beautiful woman who holds a deadly secret. That's right... She's Republican. While that's obviously not what happens, Spring does take delight in surprising audiences with both its narrative and tone though, becoming that rarest of things: a genre film that defies genre itself. 5) Tangerine Die Hard may be renowned as an unconventional Christmas movie, but if you really want to think outside the box next December, look no further than Tangerine, a film starring a trans sex worker who seeks revenge for her boyfriend's treachery on Christmas Eve. Much has been made of the fact that Tangerine was shot entirely on an iPhone, but to focus solely on the film's admittedly astonishing technical achievements does the movie a disservice. Sean Baker's breakout indie is filled with an anarchic glee that leaps off the screen thanks to powerhouse performances from the film's two leads, both of whom made vital contributions to the development of the script. 2015 has been a pivotal year for the trans community, but while visibility has never been higher, controversial comments from Caitlyn Jenner and high profile performances from cisgender actors show that there's still a long way to go before equality becomes a reality. Fortunately, Tangerine is hugely progressive, using real trans performers to depict a unique L.A. sub-culture in a fascinating light while exploring universal themes of friendship and love. You won't see another film like it this year. 4) Predestination Time travel movies can be a giant mindfuck, there's no two ways about it, and while the same can be said for Predestination, few sci-fi movies possess the same level of ingenuity that can be found in this overlooked gem. Michael and Peter Spierig's film opens with a time travelling agent who's caught in an explosion that disfigures his face. After receiving reconstructive surgery in the future, the man receives his final orders, an assignment that will ultimately destroy the life he has built for himself. Like the aforementioned Spring, Predestination is one of those films that works best with little or no prior knowledge, but trust us when we say that Ethan Hawke's best movies in years is one of those rare movies that will genuinely shock you. We're talking gasp out loud shocks here, people. Sure the twists and turns can be a little difficult to keep up with at times, but the payoff is huge. If that's not enough for you, then Predestination is worth watching just for Sarah Snook, whose breakout role is the most underrated performance of the year, bar none. BB-8 has got nothing on this girl. 3) The Voices Ryan Reynolds' star may have dimmed somewhat after terrible films like Green Lantern and R.I.P.D. caused millions to scratch their own eyes out, but The Voices is a welcome reminder that the man actually has talent, giving us hope once more that Reynolds can fully redeem himself with Deadpool next year. Reynolds' character Jerry seems sweet enough, awkwardly flirting with a girl he fancies in the factory where he works, but it soon becomes apparent that something's not quite right with him. After receiving dating advice from his cat Mr. Whiskers, Jerry's delusions begin to spiral out of control, yet hope appears in the form of a blossoming relationship with a girl in the office. The Voices possesses a dark streak of humour that's all too rare in film these days, bolstered by top notch performances from a cast that includes the likes of Anna Kendrick and Jacki Weaver. Reynolds impresses in particular with the best performance of his career to date, and this is all topped off by a song and dance number with Jesus. What more could you possibly want from a film? 2) Song Of The Sea Animation fans were devastated when industry legend Hayao Miyazaki officially retired, but those who need more than just Disney in their lives should have no fear. The natural successor to the founder of Studio Ghibli has been around for some time, earning Academy Award nominations for his first two features, but mainstream audiences are yet to catch up. The Secret Of Kells was a stunning showcase for Tom Moore's beautifully nuanced style of animation, but his sophomore effort Song Of The Sea is even better, exploring the rarely seen world of Celtic mythology in a way that feels effortlessly timeless. The story follows a boy called Ben who sets off on a journey into the world of the supernatural to save his sister. Along the way, Ben meets a range of eccentric characters that will delight younger and older audiences alike. Moore's work is uniquely special within the world of animation and deserves an audience on par with more mundane franchises such as Minions and Hotel Transylvania, both of which performed inexplicably better at the box office. 1) Slow West Every now and again, a new director comes along who completely knocks it out of the park with his first feature, setting a benchmark against which all of their subsequent films will be measured. M. Night Shyamalan peaked far too soon with The Sixth Sense, but the promise of Slow West suggests that John Maclean has a bright future ahead of him indeed. Starring future Nightcrawler Kodi Smit-McPhee, Slow West follows a young man named Jay who leaves Scotland behind to search for his long lost love in the American West. Early on in his journey, Jay encounters a bounty hunter who agrees to protect him in exchange for a fee. Events soon take an ugly turn though when Silas senses an opportunity to take advantage of the situation, realizing that Jay's estranged lover has a bounty on her head that needs collecting... Michael Fassbender is as impressive as always in the role of Silas, but Kodi's beautifully restrained performance is the standout here, marking him as a talent to watch. In fact, everything about Slow West is beautifully restrained. From the harsh, awe-inspiring landscapes to the dark flashes of humour threaded throughout, Slow West is a stark reminder of what the Western genre has to offer and redefines what first time filmmakers are capable of.