Movie reviews of Niels Matthijs

There's no guarantee you'll end up liking it, it has quite a few technical shortcomings and it might even bore you out of your wits, but it's one of the craziest films I've ever seen. Sakaguchi's performance is stellar, the action is almost meditative and Shimomura's direction does everything in its power to draw the attention towards the implausible feat they pulled off. Review

The sense of adventure, wonder and delight is what set this film apart, combined with a great eye for detail and perfect pacing it makes for a sprawling, joyous fantasy film. It's not Miyazaki's ultimate masterpiece, but it's a confident and powerful step forward that would foreshadow his dominance in the animation scene. Review

Antiviral is unsettling and disturbing, an uneasy take on obsession and celebrity culture that mixes moments of surreal body horror with an extremely stylish delivery. Review

Guns Akimbo is extremely energetic, in your face and funny, packing a couple of neat surprises, a splendid central duo and enough action to fill at least two 90-minute films. If you're looking for some madcap, over-the-top action, don't miss out on this one. Review

Inugami offers a unique trip through Japanese folklore, serving rural mysticism and respect for tradition with fine cinematography, a beautiful score and solid performances. Review

Pintó and Casas crafted a very meticulous, funny and intriguing film that looks great, sports a superb soundtrack and is sure to keep you guessing until the very end. Review

Cool gangs, dystopian settings, huge brawls and lots of posing. And for every checkbox, it's best in class. Well recommended if you know what you're getting yourself into. Review

It's delightfully and excessively violent, sporting superb creature designs, a bold and expressive art style and brisk pacing. Everything you'd ever want and need in a gory, macho action film. Review

It's raw, primordial and unfiltered emotion, an audiovisual experience that gripped me from the very first frame and didn't let go until long after the final credit had faded from the screen. Review

While a little rough around the edges, there are many moments of raw beauty, contrasting cruelty and tenderness in a way only Ki-duk can, creating one of the most contorted romances ever put on film. Review

The cinematography is lush and varied, the soundtrack is impressive, performances are great and the story intrigues, but it's the ridiculously perfect editing that left me floored. Review

It's extremely atmospheric, the build-up is impeccable, performances are great and the finale is exactly what I wanted from this film. A horror film that has the full package. Review

Dancing Mary is a beautifully crafted, constantly surprising and joyous little film that entertains and delights, while also offering something extra to chew on for those who care. Review

An ambitious, raw, vibrant and energetic gem, sporting fine cinematography, a great soundtrack and some stand-out performances that all help to give birth to a unique universe. It's not a blind recommend for Iwai fans, but if you love off-beat and distinctive Japanese cinema, it's a must-see. Review

Wonogawa is a film with superb designs, overflowing with creative ideas, more than enough intriguing lore to fill at least three films and executed in a way that hides most of its financial struggles. Review

It's not quite as zany or extravagant as some of his other work, but there are plenty of vintage Miike moments that are sure to delight. Apart from the horrendous dialogues and stilted acting, this is another 120 minutes of creative and crazy entertainment. Review

The animation is absolutely stunning, the balance between fantasy and romance is perfect and the ending is quite challenging, which makes it, at least in my book, a better film than Your Name. Review

Hakuchi is quality film making, sporting a superb cast, a solid soundtrack and eye-popping cinematography. A slice of urban fantasy/retro sci-fi that mixes classic and contemporary cinema to great effect. Review

It's nice seeing a solid thriller coming out of Taiwan, a genre they're not commonly producing but clearly have the chops for. The result is an incredibly stylish, moody and enthralling film sporting lush cinematography, great sound design and a killer lead that keeps the audience on its toes until the very end. Review

Kai Doh Maru will not deliver a tight story or well-developed characters, but if you appreciate a unique art style, moody atmosphere and technical experimentation there's plenty to look forward to. I... Review

I expected just another mediocre 80s horror flick, but ended up with a stylish, perplexing and completely unique vampire film that hasn't lost much of its shine almost 40 years later. Review

This is a lush and beautiful-looking film, with powerhouse performances, strong drama and some very poignant scenes. Review

The horror bits are still up to par, the contraptions are as iconic as they are repulsive and the end twist is pretty cool, it just would've been better if the others elements of the film would've been on the same level. Review

The film is stylistically slightly more subdued compared to Ninagawa's other work, but all her core qualities are still very much present and No Longer Human is all the more interesting for it. Review