Movie reviews of Niels Matthijs

The superb cinematography and lovely sound design bring the unique setting to life and form the perfect foundation for a stylish drama with light genre elements embedded. Review

The Blue Danube's blend of bone-dry comedy and everyday absurdities is presented with the necessary flair and conviction to make this an exceptional experience. Review

The stylish presentation, the impressive score, and overall solid casting turn this medical fantasy thriller into a riveting experience, the kind only Gakuryu Ishii can deliver. Review

The mesmerizing cinematography, the superb score, and pitch-perfect performances create a dreamy reality that transforms a traumatic story into a darkly magical experience. Review

The Umbrella Fairy is the latest in a line of technically impressive, visually vibrant, and culturally rich films that are working hard to put their own industry on the map. Review

18×2 is a loveable, stylish take on Pan-Asian romance cinema, sporting a great cast, a pleasant score, and cozy cinematography, all in support of some heartwarming moments. Review

While there are moments when the film struggles with its budgetary limitations, Bewilogua's talent and creativity overcome these moments swiftly. The result is a bewildering, loud, and extroverted film that left me a little dazed. Review

The stylish cinematography, the tailored score, and the strong performances lend the plot the necessary credibility, the little genre touches are the icing on the cake. Review

Welcome to the Game is straight-up genre fare, a puzzling power struggle between two camps, dressed up nicely and executed with the proper amount of flair. Review

Despite my reservations about the wonky aspect ratio, this turned out to be an accomplished film that stands out in just about every area that matters, from styling to performances to pacing, everything is polished to perfection. Review

If you're like me and you love this type of quirky, detail and wit-driven narration it's a real boon, as few films seem to get this formula right. Review

It's a strong film that offers a different take on the classic drama niche, but unless you're fully aware of these differences the impact may be minimal. Still, the lovely cinematography, some very fine performances, and a series of fun little twists make certain that Thorns of Love will go down relatively easily for most people. Review

It's a bold, inventive, and provoking film, sporting superb performances and a lush presentation, adding to rather than stealing from the work of geniuses that came before her. Review

Krazy House is a delightful descent into madness, starting out as a goofy spoof of the 90s US sitcom while continuously adding more juicy genre fun and a wicked sense of humor to create a mad genre experiment. Review

Doing a zombie outbreak as a one-shot endeavor was a smart choice and thanks to the excellent execution MadS turned into a film that does its premise proud. Review

The performances are great, the cinematography is inviting, the score is pleasant and the drama is potent, all signaling the budding talent of a young director. Review

Shipei Wen's direction is confident, the presentation is lavish and the central performances are strong, turning this into a veritable delight. Review

It's a string of impressive performances and an unwavering commitment to handling its delicate themes that sets this film apart, just come prepared if you're easily triggered. Review

Great performances, a stylishly gritty presentation, pleasant befuddlement, and plenty to chew on once the credits start rolling. The Box Man has it all, just make sure you heed the film's warning/mantra. Review

When the cinematography is splendid, the score is tailored to perfection and the performances are exceptional, you know you're getting a lovely film from Iwai. Review

The impressive animation is the film's clearest selling point, but the intriguing fantasy premise and the smart reveal of the plot help ground the experience. Review

The maximalist styling and the breakneck pace aren't going to be for everyone. They're right up my alley though, and I wish more directors would have the creative freedom to do what Li does. Review

The superb performances, the stylish presentation, and the perfect balance of plot and character focus make this one of the better contemporary Japanese dramas. Review

The maximalist presentation, the vast array of quirky ideas and moments, and the flashy action scenes all add up to make a vastly entertaining film. Review