Movie reviews of Niels Matthijs

The film offers a fun and creative peek into one of Japan's most acclaimed popular exports, never too loving or too damning, finished off in typical Gainax fashion. Review

This is truly next-gen stuff, a peek into the future of animated cinema that will reshape what we consider acceptable, not just on a technical but also on a creative level. Review

Thanks to the moody soundtrack, sumptuous cinematography, and strong performances, this turned out to be a film for the ages. Review

It's a film that is all vibe and mood, strengthened by meticulous stylistic choices, a mysterious and befuddling plot, and strong, captivating performances. Review

I get why some people are starting to tire of his work, but as a fan of maximalist cinema and directors with a strong and outspoken visual signature, Asteroid City is a real delight. Review

The film's overwhelming visuals and its bright and bustling fantasy universe were quick to pull me in, the experimental touches and the onslaught of visual detail kept me glued to the screen. Review

It's a dark mood piece, experimental cinema infused with a strong dash of genre, not quite devoid of a plot, but a downright struggle for anyone who wants to have things spelled out. The grungy cinematography is the highlight of the film, the moody score a perfect companion, and the mysterious plot the icing on the cake. Review

The detailed animation and moody score are a big plus, but it's the surreal adventure, swift pacing, and unbridled creativity that make this film such a memorable experience. A veritable cult classic that deserves all the love it can get. Review

The mix of sci-fi and horror is interesting, and the narrative is challenging, but ultimately it's the oppressive and enveloping audiovisual experience that grounds Infinity Pool. Review

The gritty and grainy cinematography and the harsh thematical content contrast superbly with the poetic soundtrack and its emotional core, creating a stylish firecracker of a film. A must-see for fans of Japanese cinema. Review

There's plenty of variation in the action scenes, the action choreography is splendid, the styling is bold and the pacing is slick. It's everything a modern action film should be. Review

The cinematography is lovely, the plot is intriguing, the film is overflowing with weird and ridiculous details and the actors are on top of their game, all adding to the otherworldly experience. Review

The animation is sublime, the art style alluring, the fantasy elements are elaborate and well-executed and even though there's a lot of plot to cover, the pacing is slick. Review

The Tokusatsu angle is cool, the anthology structure is something new to Dupieux's work, other than that you can expect the dry delivery of wackiness that makes his films such a joy to watch. Review

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