After looking back on last year, and with the Sundance Film Festival right around the corner, it’s time to look ahead and see what stuff is on the horizon helping to establish 2018 as another great year in cinema. Here are the top ten films that I’m looking forward to seeing. You can check out last year’s list here.
10 – Untitled Suspiria remake/sequel
Why? As an avid fan of the original I was one of many who rolled their eyes at the idea of yet another classic horror being remade (you can thank 2012’s The Thing, 2013’s Evil Dead and Carrie, 2015’s Poltergeist, among others). But then I heard the new project was being directed by Italian arthouse favorite Luca Guadagnino (Call Me By Your Name, A Bigger Splash) and it’s allegedly not so much a direct remake as it is a new take on something “inspired by the same story”. Color me intrigued.
Principal Cast: Tilda Swinton, Dakota Johnson, Chloë Grace Moretz, Mia Goth
Release Date: TBA
9 – The Nightingale
Why? After terrorizing audiences with the surprisingly-great Babadook, director Jennifer Kent is back with another horror thriller up her sleeves. This one is supposedly a revenge tale set in 18th century Tasmania.
Principal Cast: Aisling Franciosi and Sam Claflin
Release Date: August 10
8 – Isle of Dogs
Why? Everyone and their dog loves Wes Anderson (Moonrise Kingdom, Rushmore) and based on the trailer, we can expect another bone-fide crowd pleaser. Get ready for a barking good time.
Principal Cast: Greta Gerwig, Bryan Cranston, Scarlett Johansson, Tilda Swinton, Bill Murray probably.
Release Date: March 23
7 – Piercing
Why? Just when I thought I had become desensitized and jaded towards genre films, Nicolas Pesce comes along with the beautifully haunting Eyes of My Mother. While on paper this looks like another great entry into the 2018 horror slate, my gut tells me this might end up being more on the artsy side. Both Mia Wasikowska and Chris Abbot have a solid repertoire with these types of indie films and the fact it’s playing in Sundance’s Midnight section gives me solid hope.
Principal Cast: Mia Wasikowska, Chris Abbot, Laia Costa
Release Date: Sundance
6 – The Irishman
Why? Netflix is hosting the long-awaited reunion of Scorsese and De Niro (It’s been 20+ years!). While the streaming giant doesn’t have the greatest reputation of quality when it comes to original movies (looking at you Bright and War Machine), this mob drama looks like it has all the neccisary ingredients to become a major awards contender.
Principal Cast: Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci, Harvey Keitel, Bobby Cannevale and other associated wiseguys
Release Date: Late 2018 or early 2019
5 – Widows
Why? After directing one of the most powerful films of the decade (12 Years a slave) british auteur Steve McQueen is back with a script co-written by Gillian Flynn (Gone Girl).
Principal cast: Liam Neeson, Viola Davis, Robert DuVall, Colin Farrell
Release date: An awards-friendly November 16
4 – The House That Jack Built
Why? Because it’s a Lars Von Trier (Melancholia, Dogville) film about serial killer(s?). Count me in.
Principal Cast: Matt Dillon, Uma Thurman, Riley Keough
Release Date: TBA
3 – Hold the Dark
Why? Because Jeremy Saulnier (Blue Ruin) and Macon Blair (I Don’t Feel At Home in This World Anymore) have proven to be THE most badass team of genre filmmakers working today.
Principal Cast: Riley Keough, Alexander Skarsgard, Jeffery Wright, James Badge Dale
Release Date: TBA
2 – You Were Never Really Here
Why? After seeing We Need To Talk About Kevin and having my soul sucked out, I was convinced Lynne Ramsay was one of the best and boldest in a new wave of dramatic directors (along with Denis Villeneuve, Michael Haneke, Steve McQueen and Paul Thomas Anderson) whose sensibilities lie somewhere in the uncomfortable middle of European neo-realism and arthouse psychodrama. Her latest received nothing but rave reviews out of Cannes where it premiered and it’s always refreshing to Joaquin Phoenix in his post-hip-hop-career.
Principal Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Ekaterina Samsonov, Alessandro Nivola
Release Date: Sundance, and then everywhere April 6
1 – Annihilation
Why? Ex Machina became the surprise sci-fi mindmelter and one of my favorite films of 2015, and so I’ve been eagerly waiting for whatever director Alex Garland does next. A stellar cast and intriguing premise make this an absolute must see.
Principal Cast: Natalie Portman, Oscar Isaac, Tessa Thompson, Jennifer Jason Leigh
Release Date: Feb 23
Of course, 2018 will likely be filled with surprises and many great unknown films I’ve yet to hear about. Let me know what you are looking forward to seeing this year in the comments.
