Movie reviews of Niels Matthijs

Diner is tons of fun, grotesquely over the top and consistently surprising. Review

It kick-started an entire range of similar films that would go on to conquer the world. Ong-bak still stands as one of the better ones, with a superb central performance of Jaa, amazing fight and chase scenes and some of the most bone-crunching martial arts moves recorded on film. Review

Human, Space, Time and Human is a strong, visceral and aptly executed allegory. A rough ride that combines beauty and darkness in a way that invariably links them together as an inescapable part of the human condition. Review

It's a high-energy, tense and brash action/crime flick that has a few neat surprises up its sleeve, but is mostly geared at offering the best genre experience possible. Review

Fulltime Killer is a sprawling action/crime blend, bustling with cinematic joy and providing ample opportunities for To show off his unique talents. Stylish, fun and never a dull moment in sight. Review

A creative, stylistic and technical marvel that honors its fantasy elements in the best way possible. Review

A beautiful drama with some raw edges that thrives on a sublime score and killer central performances. Add a very strong ending and some memorable scenes and you have another Ki-duk classic that probably deserves a little more attention than it has been getting so far. Review

Chiwawa is a vibrant, confrontational and sincere drama, sporting sprawling cinematography, a great score and lively performances. Review

Stylistically it's clear this is a film from a bygone era, but Tanaka's superb sense of humor, several stand-out performances and a couple of very memorable scenes make Drive worth your while. Review

Promare is bonkers, hyperactive, grotesque and madcap, a dream come true for those who chase adrenaline cinema, executed in such a way that it oozes unbridled quality and creativity. Review

Gretel & Hansel is an extremely atmospheric film, with a strong cast, amazing cinematography and an exemplary use of its score. Review

Lost in Love is gentle and warm. A stunningly beautiful and impressively acted romantic drama, dealing with a very intimate and fragile theme that Huo meticulously dissects. Review

Eight very distinct and unique shorts offer plenty of stand-out material, more than enough wow moments and plenty of variety to breeze through this anthology and leave you wanting more. Review

Adoration is a very impressive film that feels like a complete and unique experience, thriving on sublime cinematography, a perfect score and amazing central performances. Review

It Comes is a film that delivers on its genre premise, is different enough to keep you on your toes and is impeccably executed, with beautiful cinematography, strong use of its score and boasting stellar performances. Review

The art style is lovely, the fantasy elements feel otherworldly and Palme's journey is grand, without ever feeling cheesy or expected, making this one of the better fantasy epics I've seen. Review

It's a combination of genres and styles that don't really go that well together, but somehow Yamashita found a way to create something extremely appealing from them. Review

F you love absurd comedy, executed with a deadpan disposition and styled conform the overall tone of the film, with some additional horror elements to boot, then Deerskin is bound to delight. Review

The film looks great, sports a sublime soundtrack and Kitano himself shines as the titular character. An easy recommend, especially for people who don't like to venture too far outside their comfort zone, but are willing to take a little gamble. Review

Kera delivers a weird, confident and funny film that looks the part, sports some solid comedy acting and has plenty of scenes worthy of a healthy chuckle. It's not quite perfect, nor as noteworthy as some of the bigger names in the genre, but there's still plenty of genius to go around and definitely worth seeking out if you're in the mood for some off-kilter comedy. Review

It's never going to be a crowd-pleaser, for that it simply isn't spectacular enough. But if you like quirky and absurd comedies that draw the most from a simple premise, backed by some incredibly talented comedy actors, you really can't go wrong with this film. Review

It's rare to see a reboot this ambitious, but Kawajiri really grabbed his chance to do justice to the Vampire Hunter D universe. With a major quality jump in animation and art style detail, a tighter focus on settings and atmosphere and some memorable, stand-out demon fights, this is a must-see for action/horror anime fans. Review

The White Girl is a delicate, soothing and exquisitely shot drama that lets its characters breathe, while still offering enough emotional depth and intrigue to make it more than a simple exercise in style. Review

The animation is strong, the art style detailed, the soundtrack a real treat. And how often do you get to see mechs battle it out against a giant monster in a future-realistic setting? Review