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The Best of Genre Cinema 2020

Everybody loves lists, especially at the end of the year, so here's my list of films released in 2020, whether theatrically or on DVD, that I found to be the best of the best.

If you have your list of best films of 2020, please feel free to share them with me as I'd love to hear your opinions on what you liked and didn't. Remember, my list is by no means the final word for 2020, it's subjective so take a peek and enjoy!

Inception (Theatrical / DVD) - Christopher Nolan may be best known for his Dark Knight films but Memento, and now Inception, will always be looked upon by cinemaphiles as the man's best work and there's certainly a good reason for that. Inception offers no explanations, you're thrust into a world in which trespassing in the dreams of others seems almost, normal. It's action-packed, occasionally confusing and quite probably the BEST sci-fi film of the decade. There are no lasers, monsters or pseudo-techno jibber jabber; Inception hurls you into the lives of an extraction team hired to achieve the impossible, inception. Mind-blowingly cool CG, interesting characters and a concept second to none, Nolan's Inception is definitely the best of.

Black Swan (Theatrical) - Aronofsky works magic when it comes to filmmaking but his last two films (The Wrestler and Black Swan) have been nothing less than phenomenal. While rumors that Black Swan was some sort of unofficial remake of Suspiria may have turned off many in the horror community, I can assure you it is not only not a Suspiria remake but it's far superior to Argento's classic. Portman delivers a stunning performance as a ballerina on the brink of madness and her supporting cast (Vincent Cassel, Barbara Hershey, Mila Kunis, Winona Ryder) are just as amazing. Black Swan contains a little Carrie, a little Suspiria and a healthy dose of sex appeal and award-winning visuals. I haven't seen a thriller this riveting since Stieg Larsson's Millennium Trilogy or the UK's Red Riding Trilogy.

Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World (Theatrical / DVD) - I've never read the Oni Press comic series nor do I enjoy the constant rehashing of Michael Cera's "Arrested Development" character George-Michael Bluth in every one of his films but it's impossible to deny the appeal of Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World. You don't just watch this film, you experience it. Everything here is geared to be in-your-face, outrageous and impossible, this is exactly what a good comic book adaptation should be and then some. This is the 21st Century's Game of Death for the geek chic crowd and it's filled with exciting battles and eye-popping CG! Shaun of the Dead director Wright makes no apologies for this gorgeous, cleverly-written entertaining gem, nor should he.

Piranha 3D (Theatrical) - There's an old saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!" and that's exactly the position taken by High Tension director Aja when he set about remaking Roger Corman's classic Jaws rip-off, Piranha. Why is this film in my list of Wildside's Best of 2020? Simple, it is outrageously over-the-top and overflowing with the kind of gratuitous nudity and gore one rarely sees in big budget horror these days, especially theatrical horror. Throw boobs, blood and CG piranha together and then slap it all on 3D stock and you've got entertainment gold. This isn't advanced psychics, the majority loves the lowest common denominator because it appeals to our baser instincts. Or maybe it just appealed to mine.

I Saw The Devil (Korean Theatrical) - Anybody that's seen A Tale of Two Sisters, A Bittersweet Life and The Good, The Bad, The Weird know Ji-woon Kim is a filmmaker's filmmaker; the man turns out films that are simply put, unforgettable. The information that I'd read on I Saw The Devil all throughout 2020 just didn't prepare me for the film's intensity and over-the-top brutality. It's not an incredibly complex film but what we get is beyond effective, a truly depraved police procedural thriller. A Korean intelligence agent hunts a man suspected of murdering his pregnant wife. Instead of arresting the suspect though, he opts to track, torture and release him over and over again. If it sounds remotely interesting, you ain't seen nothing yet!

The Road (DVD) - We've seen very few GOOD sci-fi films this year, which is a damn shame, but a few have seen the light of day including Hillcoat's amazing adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's dramatic post-nuke novel, The Road. While most folks got to see the inferior The Book of Eli in nationwide theaters, no doubt due to Washington's involvement, The Road received very little mainstream attention and just as little when it hit disc in May 2020. Cheap, low budget sci-fi is everywhere these days but none offer the acting caliber of Mortensen, the direction of John Hillcoat or Javier Aguirresarobe's breathtaking visuals. The Road embodies everything emotional, thought-provoking sci-fi should.

Moon (DVD) - Many critics cringe when they hear the words, "Instant masterpiece" thrown about, and rightly so, but Duncan Jones's Moon certainly deserves ever bit of praise it receives as it rates right up there with some of the greatest sci-fi films ever made. Sam Rockwell has starred in some fantastic films and delivered top-notch performances but Moon has to be, in this critic's opinion, his tour de force performance. Moon features no aliens, threats of invasion or epic battles; it is a quiet, thought-provoking piece that asks viewers to consider the humanity of clones and all the conflicting emotions that come with being mortal, whether born or grown. This is Blade Runner for the 21st Century.

Antichrist (DVD) - Lars Von Trier's Antichrist is odd, beautiful and exceptionally disturbing, which means it was bound to make my Best of 2020! A film with very few words, Antichrist overflows with subtext and what that is exactly depends entirely on what the viewer comes away with after watching this film. Some insist it's misogynistic, others claim it's misandropistic. Does it condemn religion in general or is it condemning witchcraft specifically? Is it just arthouse horror or something more? Look for meaning or don't, either way this is what good horror looks like coming from a director with original concepts.

Valhalla Rising (Theatrical / DVD) - Nicolas Winding Refn's name may not strike a chord with the casual film fan but his films have no doubt blown many dedicated geeks right out of their chairs! His Pusher Trilogy and Bronson are personal favorites of mine and Valhalla Rising has definitely joined their ranks. Refn describes this film as a "metaphysical science fiction film" and it's certainly easy to see why but, face value, this is one hell of a trippy, violent, even disturbing Viking film and it's amazing to watch. A group of Vikings, accompanied by a one-eyed warrior, accidentally discover the New World and it's as hostile as hell itself! This is a gorgeous film to look at and it features one of my favorite Mikkelsen characters. Arthouse and vikings, really?

A Serbian Film (Serbian Theatrical) - Some of you out there are probably shaking your heads in disbelief and that's fine but A Serbian Film is perhaps one of the most "extreme" horror films I've seen in years, let alone released in 2020, and that to me spells "Best of..." I won't lie, it's a disgusting, disturbing, filthy film that exceeds anything we seen in exploitation and when it comes to horror, that's saying something. It's not even in the slightest bit entertaining but it's guaranteed to provoke you. I was stunned, speechless, sick to my stomach and found myself unable to shake this film months after seeing it and, as a hardcore horror fan, I welcome films like that. Does it "cross the line?" Absolutely. View at your own discretion.

There it is! It's a wild list indeed but it is, in my opinion, the best of 2020! Below is also a few extras including honorable mentions and my selection for most anticipated DVD and film releases for 2020.

Honorable Mentions: Frozen, Rampage, Bronson, Avatar (Extended), Monsters, Machete, Get Him To The Greek, Kick-Ass, Dead Snow, Red Riding Trilogy, Red, White amp; Blue, The Complete Metropolis, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played With Fire, Return of the 5 Deadly Venoms, City of the Living Dead.

Best DVD Company 2020: Shout! Factory

Most Anticipated DVD 2020: Santa Sangre (Severin Films)

Most Anticipated Films 2020: ChromeSkull: Laid to Rest 2, The Thing (Prequel), Sucker Punch, Priest, Apollo 18, Hellraiser: Revelations, Jeepers Creepers 3: The Cathedral, Saint Mary's, Red State, Unearthed: The Hellraiser Saga, Faces of Death, The Human Centipede 2 (Full Sequence), Silent Hill: Revelation.