Opinions No One Asked For: My Favorite Films of 2016

After last year’s flustercuck of an Oscar’s, one couldn’t be blamed for taking up the flag of cynicism and avoiding this year’s show altogether. I briefly considered hopping on this particular bandwagon as award season approached: the only movie that I had seen from the past year that had left a considerable mark on my psyche was not going to be nominated, as it wasn’t Oscar bait–but hey...at least it made MY list, right? So here is a list of my favorite films of 2016 that I managed to see:

5) GREEN ROOM

Creepy Jesus! This came out of left field! As many of my friends can begrudgingly attest, my hatred of horror films is profound. With a few exceptions (Texas Chainsaw, The Descent, It Follows, Psycho, Norm of the North), I enjoy horror films about as much as I enjoy being too tall to ride all of the fun roller coasters at Six Flags and being sentenced to shooting airballs at the assorted pay-to-play basketball courts around the park (that’s right, I’m bitter). Anyway, Green Room was released back in April of 2016 to less than resounding financial returns. So I initially skipped it, dismissing it as a lame thriller with an interesting premise. Eventually, I sat down with a friend to watch it on a rainy day in June, and I haven’t stopped thinking about it since. Director Jeremy Saulnier utilizes the film’s low (ish) budget to outstanding effect, crafting one of the more disturbing thrillers of recent memory.

The film follows a punk band that’s desperate for any kind of gig, so they take one at a secluded neo-nazi bar. After the band witnesses a murder by one of the Nazi’s in the green room of the venue, they are locked in and must try to survive.

Upon watching the film for the first time, I was shocked by how matter of fact the violence was. In the hands of a lesser director, the blood and gore would be excessive and would ultimately detract from the overall immersion of the audience. Saulnier’s violence is shocking, often coming out of nowhere and terrifying the audience and characters alike. There’s a realism to the world of the film; when characters die, their deaths are quick and lack the glamor or style of other horror films.

Patrick Stewart gives a subdued and terrifying performance as Darcy Banker, the leader of the skinheads. The way Stewart skulks around the decrepit back rooms of the bar with such ease is chilling to watch and a fascinating departure from the actor’s lighter roles.

Green Room is one of the best films of the year, and one of the better horror films of the past decade, and my fifth favorite film of 2016.

(To be continued)