Movie reviews of Niels Matthijs

No highbrow entertainment here, Volcano High offers kitsch, over-the-top fun from start to finish. And it does so with great conviction. The styling is zany and explicit, while the story is little more than an excuse for some great action scenes. Review

The styling is a little by the numbers, but the performances are superb and the way the mood turns during the second half is very impressive. Review

The film quickly won me over the second time around, thanks to the polished cinematography, a strong lead performance, a pleasant score, and some poignant moments. Review

Ishikawa offers a stylish and polished blend of drama and sci-fi that has some interesting things to say, looks absolutely stunning, has a lovely score, and has a great cast to boot. Review

If you're looking for some snide high school comedy, with a memorable lead performance, some upscale visuals, and a challenging finale, give this little gem a shot. Review

The mix of drama, romance, and genre feels fresh and unique, and each part is executed with the proper flair, skill, and gravity to make a mark of its own. It's one of the most unique romances I've seen, and even though the film takes on some more traditional story beats towards the end, it certainly ends with a proper bang. Review

With a splendid cast, stylish cinematography, a cool score, and some interesting thematic strands he delivers a memorable and accomplished film. Review

You get a vibrant blockbuster that conforms to genre standards, while leaving Miike enough room to insert his signature elements. The definition of pure and unfiltered entertainment. Review

The characters are interesting, the performances are perfect, the narrative structure feels fresh and the presentation is stylish without being overly detracting. Review

Expect a somewhat gritty but heartfelt and compassionate look at an underexposed part of Japanese youth culture, appropriately stylized and building up to a memorable finale. Review

A stylish and well-executed fantasy film, sporting Ghibli's polished animation, a lovely soundtrack, and a morally ambiguous lead character. Review

The astounding visuals are a given, the soundtrack is a welcome surprise, the rest is just pure bonus. Review

Dupieux's absurdist comedy is on full display here, the performances are on point and while I didn't fully vibe with the styling I can't but admit that the film has its own, unique style. Review

The Stranger from Afar is a peculiar film, strangely efficient in creating a dreadful and uncomfortable atmosphere, sporting a superb score and a terrific lead performance. Review

The stylish locations and ditto cinematography, a slightly more distinct and contemporary score, and solid performances elevate a simple crime/action film to something more distinct and valuable. Review

The Wandering Moon may sound reprehensible and wrong on paper, but the delicate styling, Lee's nuanced direction, and some stellar performances make all the difference. Review

The presentation is still pretty fitting and stylish, the performances are top notch and the somewhat edgier dramatic elements give the film a unique perspective. Review

The action choreography is superb, Li is at the top of his game, the comedy is bonkers and there are at least a few scenes that will linger well beyond the credits. Review

Slick and atmospheric cinematography, an appropriate and varied score, and stellar performances further increase the appeal. It's a little diamond in the rough, but I fear it is doomed to slip into obscurity as it won't be getting the needed backing from the usual hype channels. Review

The aesthetic and the art style are lovely, the technical competence is insane, the worldbuilding is wildly imaginative and the score plus sound design are virtually unmatched. Review

Make no mistake, this is an excellent film. It's high concept, highly original, and impossible to reproduce, and Jonze has a proper handle on his film at all times, even when things get pretty hectic and confusing. Add a quality cast, some clever writing, and a welcome lack of predictability and you have a film that is strong enough to withstand the test of time. Review

Oshima delivers a very polished and accomplished film, offering splendid cinematography, a lovely score, stellar performances of its main cast, and an intriguing plot. Review

If you care for absurdist tableaus, bleak, dry, and dark comedy, unpleasant characters, and a relentless unwillingness to push forward a clear narrative, this film will be right up your alley. Review

Satoshi Miki made a great pastiche of the genre's weakest elements, resulting in a comedy that might be smarter and slyer than it is laugh-out-loud funny. Review