Just like 2022, the viewing opportunities in 2023 grew so fast that I found myself yet again juggling all of my streaming services and struggling to get to the cinema often enough because as always, I seemed to have an over-abundance of new release material to trawl through.
There was a head spinning amount of high quality viewing material to absorb this year, and I was very grateful to be constantly distracted from the political and environmental disasters of 2023 with cinematic offerings. I also received many welcome high quality recommendations from friends and family throughout the year as well, which has stretched my viewing choices as well. Long story short, we were all very spoilt for choice in 2023, and if you couldn't find something to watch, then in my opinion, you just weren't trying hard enough!
I managed to get through 180 movies and 160 television series this year. Basically, I was flat out watching something every day of the year and I still didn't get to half of the material that still sits waiting on my 'to see' lists, which has now blow out to more than 580 titles, so it is fair to say that I am not going to be slowing down any time soon either.
The task of seeing everything has become arduous beyond anyone's means, and unless you are willing to permanently strap yourself to the couch and do nothing but watch movies and TV, there is just no way that you can manage to see it all in one year. So now more than ever, you must be discerning, and hopefully this is where I can offer a hand and some sound advice around what you should be investing in your time in; if you haven't done so already.
Again, I was thrilled to be able to view so many great movies and TV across all genres, for which I am always grateful. In particular, I again really appreciated seeing so many excellent horror, thriller and fantasy offerings this year; most of which boasted stunningly good visuals and terrifically original storylines. I am now sure that audiences are becoming more acclimated to a few jumps and jolts, and more and more people are embracing high quality horror, thriller and challenging viewing choices, because these genres do thankfully seem to still be on the rise.
And so, without further ado....here is my selection for the best viewing experiences of 2023.
BEST MOVIES (2023 release):
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse - Kid Friendly 4.5 Chilli Peppers
Oppenheimer - Drama 4 Chilli Peppers
The Banshees of Inisherin - Drama 4 Chilli Peppers
Saltburn - Thriller 4 Chilli Peppers
Talk to Me - Horror 4 Chilli Peppers
Barbie - Comedy 4 Chilli Peppers
John Wick Chapter 4 - Action 4 Chilli Peppers
Evil Dead Rise- Horror 3.5 Chilli Peppers
The Killer - Crime/ Action 3.5 Chilli Peppers
Leave The World Behind - Sci-Fi 3.5 Chilli Peppers
Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves - Action/ Super 3.5 Chilli Peppers
Guardians of the Galaxy VOL 3 - Super 3.5 Chilli Peppers
HONOURABLE MENTIONS - 2023 Release:
Skinamarink- Horror 3 Chilli Peppers
No Hard Feelings - Comedy 3 Chilli Peppers
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny - Action/ Adventure 3 Chilli Peppers
Here are my top recommendations for pre-2023 releases that I didn't get around to seeing until 2023:
Pinocchio - Kid Friendly 5 Chilli Peppers
Aftersun - Drama 4.5 Chilli Peppers
Triangle of Sadness - Drama 4 Chilli Peppers
The Menu - Drama 4 Chilli Peppers
You Wont Be Alone - Art House 4 Chilli Peppers
The Worst Person in the World - Art House 4 Chilli Peppers
Paul Dood's Deadly Lunch Break- Art House 3.5 Chilli Peppers
Delicious - International 4 Chilli Peppers
Boiling Point - Drama 4 Chilli Peppers
RRR - International 3.5 Chilli Peppers
The Call - International 3.5 Chilli Peppers
Marcel the Shell with Shoes on - Kid Friendly 3.5 Chilli Peppers
Wildcat - Doco 3.5 Chilli Peppers
A Man Called Otto - Drama 3.5 Chilli Peppers
Bones and All - Horror 3.5 Chilli Peppers
The Survivor- War 3.5 Chilli Peppers
Where the Crawdads Sing - Romance 3 Chilli Peppers
Deerskin-Art House 3 Chilli Peppers
Baby Teeth - Romance 3.5
Be My Cat: A Film for Anne - Gritty 3 Chilli Peppers
BEST TELEVISION SERIES 2023:
Lessons in Chemistry - Drama 5 Chilli Peppers
The Bear S2 - Drama 5 Chilli Peppers
Succession S4 - Drama 5 Chilli Peppers
The Last of Us- Sci-Fi 5 Chilli Peppers
Love and Death - Drama 4.5 Chilli Peppers
Tiny Beautiful Things - Drama 4.5 Chilli Peppers
The Fall of the House of Usher - Horror 4 Chilli Peppers
Beef - Drama/ comedy 4 Chilli Peppers
Slip - Fantasy 4 Chilli Peppers
Dave S3 - Comedy 4 Chilli Peppers
The Righteous Gemstones S3 - Comedy 4 Chilli Peppers
Platonic - Comedy 4 Chilli Peppers
Life and Beth - Drama 4 Chilli Peppers
GEN V- Super/ Comedy 4 Chilli Peppers
Copenhagen Cowboy - Fantasy/ Art House 4 Chilli Peppers
Shrinking - Comedy/ Drama 3.5 Chilli Peppers
Interview with the Vampire - Horror 3.5 Chilli Peppers
Mythic Quest S3- Comedy 3.5 Chilli Peppers
FISK S2- Comedy 3.5 Chilli Peppers
Our Flag Means Death S2 - Comedy 3.5 Chilli Peppers
Mirror, Mirror by Todd Samson S3 - Doco 3.5 Chilli Peppers
2023 TV HONOURABLE MENTIONS:
1899- Fantasy 3 Chilli Peppers
Down for Love - Reality 3 Chilli Peppers
The Big Door Prize - Comedy 3 Chilli Peppers
Poker Face - Crime 3 Chilli Peppers
Cunk on Earth - Comedy 3 Chilli Peppers
Daisy Jones and the Six - Drama 3 Chilli Peppers
Always Sunny in Philadelphia S16 - Comedy 3 Chilli Peppers
Somebody, Somewhere S2-Comedy 3 Chilli Peppers
High Desert - Comedy/ Crime 3 Chilli Peppers
Jury Duty - Reality/ Comedy 3 Chilli Peppers
Aunty Donna's Café- Comedy 3 Chilli Peppers
Deadloch - Crime/comedy 3 Chilli Peppers
Swarm- Horror 3 Chilli Peppers
War on Waste S2- Doco 3 Chill Peppers
The Traitors - Reality 3 Chilli Peppers
What We Do in the Shadows S4- Horror/Comedy 3 Chilli Peppers
There was a head spinning amount of high quality viewing material to absorb this year, and I was very grateful to be constantly distracted from the political and environmental disasters of 2023 with cinematic offerings. I also received many welcome high quality recommendations from friends and family throughout the year as well, which has stretched my viewing choices as well. Long story short, we were all very spoilt for choice in 2023, and if you couldn't find something to watch, then in my opinion, you just weren't trying hard enough!
I managed to get through 180 movies and 160 television series this year. Basically, I was flat out watching something every day of the year and I still didn't get to half of the material that still sits waiting on my 'to see' lists, which has now blow out to more than 580 titles, so it is fair to say that I am not going to be slowing down any time soon either.
The task of seeing everything has become arduous beyond anyone's means, and unless you are willing to permanently strap yourself to the couch and do nothing but watch movies and TV, there is just no way that you can manage to see it all in one year. So now more than ever, you must be discerning, and hopefully this is where I can offer a hand and some sound advice around what you should be investing in your time in; if you haven't done so already.
Again, I was thrilled to be able to view so many great movies and TV across all genres, for which I am always grateful. In particular, I again really appreciated seeing so many excellent horror, thriller and fantasy offerings this year; most of which boasted stunningly good visuals and terrifically original storylines. I am now sure that audiences are becoming more acclimated to a few jumps and jolts, and more and more people are embracing high quality horror, thriller and challenging viewing choices, because these genres do thankfully seem to still be on the rise.
And so, without further ado....here is my selection for the best viewing experiences of 2023.
BEST MOVIES (2023 release):
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse - Kid Friendly 4.5 Chilli Peppers
Oppenheimer - Drama 4 Chilli Peppers
The Banshees of Inisherin - Drama 4 Chilli Peppers
Saltburn - Thriller 4 Chilli Peppers
Talk to Me - Horror 4 Chilli Peppers
Barbie - Comedy 4 Chilli Peppers
John Wick Chapter 4 - Action 4 Chilli Peppers
Evil Dead Rise- Horror 3.5 Chilli Peppers
The Killer - Crime/ Action 3.5 Chilli Peppers
Leave The World Behind - Sci-Fi 3.5 Chilli Peppers
Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves - Action/ Super 3.5 Chilli Peppers
Guardians of the Galaxy VOL 3 - Super 3.5 Chilli Peppers
HONOURABLE MENTIONS - 2023 Release:
Skinamarink- Horror 3 Chilli Peppers
No Hard Feelings - Comedy 3 Chilli Peppers
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny - Action/ Adventure 3 Chilli Peppers
Here are my top recommendations for pre-2023 releases that I didn't get around to seeing until 2023:
Pinocchio - Kid Friendly 5 Chilli Peppers
Aftersun - Drama 4.5 Chilli Peppers
Triangle of Sadness - Drama 4 Chilli Peppers
The Menu - Drama 4 Chilli Peppers
You Wont Be Alone - Art House 4 Chilli Peppers
The Worst Person in the World - Art House 4 Chilli Peppers
Paul Dood's Deadly Lunch Break- Art House 3.5 Chilli Peppers
Delicious - International 4 Chilli Peppers
Boiling Point - Drama 4 Chilli Peppers
RRR - International 3.5 Chilli Peppers
The Call - International 3.5 Chilli Peppers
Marcel the Shell with Shoes on - Kid Friendly 3.5 Chilli Peppers
Wildcat - Doco 3.5 Chilli Peppers
A Man Called Otto - Drama 3.5 Chilli Peppers
Bones and All - Horror 3.5 Chilli Peppers
The Survivor- War 3.5 Chilli Peppers
Where the Crawdads Sing - Romance 3 Chilli Peppers
Deerskin-Art House 3 Chilli Peppers
Baby Teeth - Romance 3.5
Be My Cat: A Film for Anne - Gritty 3 Chilli Peppers
BEST TELEVISION SERIES 2023:
Lessons in Chemistry - Drama 5 Chilli Peppers
The Bear S2 - Drama 5 Chilli Peppers
Succession S4 - Drama 5 Chilli Peppers
The Last of Us- Sci-Fi 5 Chilli Peppers
Love and Death - Drama 4.5 Chilli Peppers
Tiny Beautiful Things - Drama 4.5 Chilli Peppers
The Fall of the House of Usher - Horror 4 Chilli Peppers
Beef - Drama/ comedy 4 Chilli Peppers
Slip - Fantasy 4 Chilli Peppers
Dave S3 - Comedy 4 Chilli Peppers
The Righteous Gemstones S3 - Comedy 4 Chilli Peppers
Platonic - Comedy 4 Chilli Peppers
Life and Beth - Drama 4 Chilli Peppers
GEN V- Super/ Comedy 4 Chilli Peppers
Copenhagen Cowboy - Fantasy/ Art House 4 Chilli Peppers
Shrinking - Comedy/ Drama 3.5 Chilli Peppers
Interview with the Vampire - Horror 3.5 Chilli Peppers
Mythic Quest S3- Comedy 3.5 Chilli Peppers
FISK S2- Comedy 3.5 Chilli Peppers
Our Flag Means Death S2 - Comedy 3.5 Chilli Peppers
Mirror, Mirror by Todd Samson S3 - Doco 3.5 Chilli Peppers
2023 TV HONOURABLE MENTIONS:
1899- Fantasy 3 Chilli Peppers
Down for Love - Reality 3 Chilli Peppers
The Big Door Prize - Comedy 3 Chilli Peppers
Poker Face - Crime 3 Chilli Peppers
Cunk on Earth - Comedy 3 Chilli Peppers
Daisy Jones and the Six - Drama 3 Chilli Peppers
Always Sunny in Philadelphia S16 - Comedy 3 Chilli Peppers
Somebody, Somewhere S2-Comedy 3 Chilli Peppers
High Desert - Comedy/ Crime 3 Chilli Peppers
Jury Duty - Reality/ Comedy 3 Chilli Peppers
Aunty Donna's Café- Comedy 3 Chilli Peppers
Deadloch - Crime/comedy 3 Chilli Peppers
Swarm- Horror 3 Chilli Peppers
War on Waste S2- Doco 3 Chill Peppers
The Traitors - Reality 3 Chilli Peppers
What We Do in the Shadows S4- Horror/Comedy 3 Chilli Peppers
TALK TO ME
Release Date: 2023
Rating: R 18+
Running Time: 95 mins
An Australian supernatural horror, directed by Danny and Michael Philippou. Talk To Me made its worldwide premiere at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival and has been seriously creeping out audiences ever since. With a virtually unknown cast and a seriously unsettling storyline, Talk To Me is destined to become a cult horror classic.
A group of teenagers get their kicks from conjuring spirits, filming the outcomes and posting them onto social media. With the aid of a mysterious embalmed hand they are able to allow entities to possess their bodies, but as with all stories of possession, things go wrong and the consequences are of course, dreadful!
This is a genuinely gripping horror tale that had me captivated from start to end. Touching on concepts of grief, loss and the desperate need for belonging when it comes to teens, this film plays out in believable and disturbing ways, with the main actors giving convincing and emotional driven performances.
Talk To Me really does get under your skin, and it also delivers enough gore and shock value to appease hardcore fans of horror.
FINAL SAY: I let you in.
4 Chilli Peppers
Release Date: 2023
Rating: R 18+
Running Time: 95 mins
An Australian supernatural horror, directed by Danny and Michael Philippou. Talk To Me made its worldwide premiere at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival and has been seriously creeping out audiences ever since. With a virtually unknown cast and a seriously unsettling storyline, Talk To Me is destined to become a cult horror classic.
A group of teenagers get their kicks from conjuring spirits, filming the outcomes and posting them onto social media. With the aid of a mysterious embalmed hand they are able to allow entities to possess their bodies, but as with all stories of possession, things go wrong and the consequences are of course, dreadful!
This is a genuinely gripping horror tale that had me captivated from start to end. Touching on concepts of grief, loss and the desperate need for belonging when it comes to teens, this film plays out in believable and disturbing ways, with the main actors giving convincing and emotional driven performances.
Talk To Me really does get under your skin, and it also delivers enough gore and shock value to appease hardcore fans of horror.
FINAL SAY: I let you in.
4 Chilli Peppers
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