Our blitz to watch the best movies of 2014 continues. Or did, at least, until we returned to work earlier this week.

• Willow Creek (imdb | rotten tomatoes) was scarier than any movie about Bigfoot deserved to be. Straight-up Blair Witch rip-off, but really effective. Certainly the scariest scene from inside a tent since Blair Witch.
• We knew nothing about The Babadook (imdb | rotten tomatoes) before we started watching it, other than that it had a dumb name. But it was one of the more effective horror movies I’ve seen in years. Almost impossible to believe that they made it for $30,000.
• Starred Up (imdb | rotten tomatoes) is a great example of a simple story gaining weight with a lot of amazing performances, especially Jack O’Connell. Holy cow. Prison, emotional breakthroughs, family…simple themes are sometimes the best ones, if they’re done right.
• A Most Wanted Man (imdb | rotten tomatoes) made me sad that we won’t get any more Philip Seymour Hoffman. This was such a taut, graceful thriller, and he so awkwardly, bearishly trod around in it, feeling out of place the whole time, and yet totally in control. Terrific political thriller though.

.:.

Cover photo by anthonyfmiller, used under Creative Commons license