Parasite 

Incomparable film, deft with a clear-eyed understanding of class warfare and the crushing brutality of wealth, as depicted through the characterization of architectural space. 

The Lighthouse

A sculptural richness to the cinematography carves a compelling, and surreal, tale of ego and obsession out of the primal and unknowable stuff of the elements. 

Midsommar

Millenial critique gives way to a lush cult horror, a floral fever dream staged with Swedish design cues and caressed by perpetual golden-hour rays of light.

Paradise Hills

A feminist critique of the princess trope, masquerading in flounces and makeovers.

Exit

The conceit is nonsensical but comes together quickly in this faced paced action, rock-climbing, romance, escape-rescue, story of an every man turned hero. 

Extreme Job

Loser cops turn, unexpectedly successful, fast food restaurateurs to catch their criminal. As hilarious as it sounds.  

Ash is the Purest White

A mobsters girlfriend finally gets out of jail and finds herself left behind, in this melancholy allegory of the jarring affect in China's hyperspeed modernization. 

Furie

Bad-ass mom takes on her child's kidnappers in this relentless chase and action thriller, played out almost solely through ferocious fight sequences. 

Diner

Insane visuals, wackadoodle plot, and campy performances somehow make this movie into a sticky treat, an overly saccharine toothache of crazy. 

Meanwhile, a veritable parade of great tv occupied the small screen. Below, the shortlist: