San Diego Loves Sinners


The San Diego Film Critics Society has announced its picks for the best of 2025.  The winners are listed in bold.

Best Picture
HAMNET
IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT
MARTY SUPREME
ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER (RUNNER-UP)
SINNERS (WINNER)

Best Director
Paul Thomas Anderson, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Ryan Coogler, SINNERS (WINNER)
Yorgos Lanthimos, BUGONIA (RUNNER-UP)
Jafar Panahi, IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT
Chloe Zhao, HAMNET

Best Actor
Timothée Chalamet, MARTY SUPREME
Leonardo DiCaprio, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Joel Edgerton, TRAIN DREAMS (RUNNER-UP)
Michael B. Jordan, SINNERS (WINNER)
Wagner Moura, THE SECRET AGENT

Best Actress
Jessie Buckley, HAMNET (WINNER TIE)
Rose Byrne, IF I HAD LEGS I’D KICK YOU (WINNER TIE)
Renate Reinsve, SENTIMENTAL VALUE
Emma Stone, BUGONIA
Eva Victor, SORRY, BABY

Best Supporting Actor
Benicio del Toro, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Jacob Elordi, FRANKENSTEIN
Sean Penn, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER (RUNNER-UP)
Stellan Skarsgård, SENTIMENTAL VALUE (WINNER)
Jeffrey Wright, HIGHEST 2 LOWEST

Best Supporting Actress
Odessa A’zion, MARTY SUPREME
Nina Hoss, HEDDA (RUNNER-UP)
Amy Madigan, WEAPONS (WINNER)
Wunmi Mosaku, SINNERS
Teyana Taylor, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

Best Comedic Performance
Will Arnett, IS THIS THING ON?
Molly Gordon, OH, HI! (RUNNER-UP)
Liam Neeson, THE NAKED GUN
Da’Vine Joy Randolph, ETERNITY (WINNER)
Tim Robinson, FRIENDSHIP

Best Youth Performance (For a performer under the age of 18)
Cary Christopher, WEAPONS (WINNER)
Shannon Mahina Gorman, RENTAL FAMILY
Jacobi Jupe, HAMNET (RUNNER-UP)
Alfie Williams, 28 YEARS LATER
Nina Ye, LEFT-HANDED GIRL

Best Original Screenplay
Ryan Coogler, SINNERS
Zack Cregger, WEAPONS
David Koepp, BLACK BAG (RUNNER-UP)
Jafar Panahi, IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT (WINNER)
Joachim Trier & Eskil Vogt, SENTIMENTAL VALUE

Best Adapted Screenplay
Paul Thomas Anderson, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER (RUNNER-UP)
Clint Bentley & Greg Kwedar, TRAIN DREAMS
JT Mollner, THE LONG WALK
Maggie O’Farrell & Chloe Zhao, HAMNET
Will Tracy, BUGONIA (WINNER)

Best First Feature (Director)
Drew Hancock, COMPANION
Scarlett Johansson, ELEANOR THE GREAT
Ben Leonberg, GOOD BOY
Kristen Stewart, THE CHRONOLOGY OF WATER (RUNNER-UP)
Eva Victor, SORRY, BABY (WINNER)

Best Documentary
BECOMING LED ZEPPELIN
BILLY JOEL: AND SO IT GOES (RUNNER-UP)
JOHN CANDY: I LIKE ME
ORWELL: 2 + 2 = 5 (WINNER)
PREDATORS

Best Animated Film
ELIO
KPOP DEMON HUNTERS (WINNER)
LITTLE AMÉLIE OR THE CHARACTER OF RAIN (RUNNER-UP)
PREDATOR: KILLER OF KILLERS
ZOOTOPIA 2

Best Foreign Language Film
IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT (WINNER)
LEFT-HANDED GIRL
THE SECRET AGENT
SENTIMENTAL VALUE (RUNNER-UP)
SIRAT

Best Editing
Ronald Bronstein & Josh Safdie, MARTY SUPREME (WINNER)
Barry Alexander Brown & Allyson C. Johnson, HIGHEST 2 LOWEST
Affonso Goncalves & Chloe Zhao, HAMNET
Andy Jurgensen, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER (RUNNER-UP)
Stephen Mirione & Patrick J. Smith, F1: THE MOVIE

Best Cinematography
Autumn Durald Arkapaw, SINNERS
Michael Bauman, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER (RUNNER-UP)
Dan Laustsen, FRANKENSTEIN
Adolpho Veloso, TRAIN DREAMS (WINNER)
Lukasz Zal, HAMNET

Best Production Design
Hannah Bleachler & Monique Champagne, SINNERS (RUNNER-UP TIE)
Cara Brower & Stella Fox, HEDDA
Fiona Crombie & Alice Felton, HAMNET
Tamara Deverell & Shane Vieau, FRANKENSTEIN (WINNER)
Kasra Farahani & Jille Azis, THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS (RUNNER-UP TIE)

Best Visual Effects
AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH (WINNER)
THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS (RUNNER-UP TIE)
FRANKENSTEIN (RUNNER-UP TIE)
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING
SUPERMAN

Best Costume Design
Alexandra Byrne, THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS
Ruth E. Carter, SINNERS (RUNNER-UP TIE)
Kate Hawley, FRANKENSTEIN (RUNNER-UP TIE)
Paul Tazewell, WICKED: FOR GOOD (WINNER)
Malgosia Turzanska, HAMNET

Best Sound Design
AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH
F1: THE MOVIE (RUNNER-UP)
FRANKENSTEIN
SINNERS
WARFARE (WINNER)

Best Use of Music
HEDDA (RUNNER-UP)
KPOP DEMON HUNTERS
MARTY SUPREME
SINNERS (WINNER)
SIRAT

Best Stunt Choreography
BALLERINA: FROM THE WORLD OF JOHN WICK
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING (WINNER)
ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
SINNERS (RUNNER-UP)
SUPERMAN

Best Ensemble
BLACK BAG (WINNER)
JAY KELLY
THE LONG WALK
SINNERS (RUNNER-UP)
WEAPONS

Breakthrough Performance
Chase Infiniti: ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

Special Award for Body of Work
Josh O’Connor: WAKE UP, DEAD MAN, THE MASTERMIND, THE HISTORY SOUND, REBUILDING

The New York Film Critics Online Honor One Battle After Another


The New York Film Critics Online have announced their picks for the best of 2015.  The winners are listed in bold.

PICTURE
Hamnet
If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
It Was Just an Accident
Marty Supreme
No Other Choice
Nuremberg
One Battle After Another (WINNER)
Sentimental Value
Sinners (RUNNER-UP)
Train Dreams

DIRECTOR
Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another (RUNNER-UP)
Park Chan-wook – No Other Choice
Ryan Coogler – Sinners (WINNER)
Mona Fastvold – The Testament of Ann Lee
Olivier Laxe – Sirāt
Jafar Panahi – It Was Just an Accident
Lynne Ramsey – Die, My Love
Josh Safdie – Marty Supreme
Joachim Trier – Sentimental Value
Chloe Zhao – Hamnet

SCREENPLAY
Bugonia
Hamnet
If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
It Was Just an Accident (WINNER)
Marty Supreme
One Battle After Another
Sentimental Value (RUNNER-UP)
Sinners
Sorry, Baby
Train Dreams
Twinless

ACTOR
Timothee Chalamet – Marty Supreme (RUNNER-UP)
Leonardo DiCaprio – One Battle After Another
Sope Dirisu – My Father’s Shadow
Joel Edgerton – Train Dreams
Ethan Hawke – Blue Moon (WINNER)
Lee Byung Hun – No Other Choice
Dylan O’Brien – Twinless
Michael B. Jordan – Sinners
Wagner Moura – The Secret Agent
Jesse Plemons – Bugonia

ACTRESS
Rose Byrne – If I Had Legs I’d Kick You (RUNNER-UP)
Jessie Buckley – Hamnet (WINNER)
Kathleen Chalfant – Familiar Touch
Kate Hudson – Song Sung Blue
Jennifer Lawrence – Die, My Love
Renate Reinsve – Sentimental Value
Amanda Seyfried – The Testament of Ann Lee
Emma Stone – Bugonia
Sydney Sweeney – Christy
Tessa Thompson – Hedda

SUPPORTING ACTOR
Michael Cera – The Phoenician Scheme
Benicio Del Toro – One Battle After Another
Jacob Elordi – Frankenstein (WINNER)
Noah Jupe – Hamnet
Delroy Lindo – Sinners
Pierre Lottin – When Fall is Coming
Paul Mescal – Hamnet
Sean Penn – One Battle After Another
Adam Sandler – Jay Kelly
Alexander Skarsgard – Pillion
Stellan Skarsgard – Sentimental Value (RUNNER-UP)

SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Odessa A’zion – Marty Supreme
Glenn Close – Wake Up Dead Man
Elle Fanning – Sentimental Value
Ariana Grande – Wicked: For Good
Regina Hall – One Battle After Another
Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas – Sentimental Value (WINNER)
Amy Madigan – Weapons (RUNNER-UP)
Wunmi Mosaku – Sinners
Da’Vine Joy Randolph – Eternity
Teyana Taylor – One Battle After Another

ENSEMBLE CAST
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Hamnet
It Was Just an Accident
Marty Supreme
No Other Choice
One Battle After Another (RUNNER-UP)
Sentimental Value
Sinners (WINNER)
The Testament of Ann Lee
Wake Up Dead Man

USE OF MUSIC
Hamnet
KPop Demon Hunters
Marty Supreme
One Battle After Another
Sinners (WINNER)
Sirāt (RUNNER-UP)
Song Sung Blue
Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere
The Testament of Ann Lee
Wicked: For Good

CINEMATOGRAPHY
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Frankenstein
Hamnet
No Other Choice
One Battle After Another
Sinners (WINNER)
Sirāt
Train Dreams (RUNNER-UP)
The Testament of Ann Lee
28 Years Later
Wicked: For Good

DEBUT DIRECTOR
Akinola Davies Jr. – My Father’s Shadow
Harris Dickerson – Urchin
Sarah Friedland – Familiar Touch
Scarlett Johansson – Eleanor the Great
Harry Lighton – Pillion
Carson Lund – Eephus
Charlie Polinger – The Plague (RUNNER-UP)
Kristen Stewart – The Chronology of Water
Constance Tsang – Blue Sun Palace
Eva Victor – Sorry, Baby (WINNER)

BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMER
Odessa A’zion
Everett Blunck
Miles Caton (RUNNER-UP)
Chase Infiniti (WINNER)
Jacob Jupe
Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas
Kayo Martin
Abou Sangare
Eva Victor

ANIMATION
A Magnificent Life
Arco (WINNER)
Elio
KPop Demon Hunters
Little Amelie or the Character of Rain (RUNNER-UP TIE)
100 Meters
Predator: Killer of Killers
Scarlet
Zootopia 2 (RUNNER-UP TIE)

INTERNATIONAL FEATURE
It Was Just an Accident (WINNER)
Left-Handed Girl
No Other Choice
Resurrection
The Secret Agent
Sentimental Value (RUNNER-UP)
Sirāt
Sound of Falling
The Voice of Hind Rajib
We Will Not Be Moved

DOCUMENTARY
Afternoons of Solitude
BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions (WINNER)
Come See Me in the Good Light
Cover-Up
My Undesirable Friends: Part 1 — Last Air in Moscow
Pee-wee as Himself
Put Your Soul in Your Hand and Walk
The Perfect Neighbor (RUNNER-UP)
The Alabama Solution
2000 Meters to Andriivka

One Battle After Another Emerges From The Ashes Of Phoenix


The Phoenix Critics Circle has announced their picks for the best of 2025!  The winners are listed in bold.

BEST PICTURE
HAMNET
IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT
ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
SENTIMENTAL VALUE
SINNERS

BEST COMEDY FILM
THE BALLAD OF WALLIS ISLAND
BUGONIA
FRIENDSHIP
THE NAKED GUN
RENTAL FAMILY

BEST SCIENCE FICTION FILM
BUGONIA
COMPANION
FRANKENSTEIN
MICKEY 17
THE RUNNING MAN

BEST HORROR FILM
28 YEARS LATER
BRING HER BACK
SINNERS
THE UGLY STEPSISTER
WEAPONS

BEST ANIMATED FILM
ELIO
KPOP DEMON HUNTERS
PREDATOR: KILLER OF KILLERS
ZOOTOPIA 2

BEST DOCUMENTARY
DEAF PRESIDENT NOW!
LILITH FAIR: BUILDING A MYSTERY
ORWELL: 2+2=5
PREDATORS
THE PERFECT NEIGHBOR

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT
NO OTHER CHOICE
THE SECRET AGENT
SENTIMENTAL VALUE
SIRAT

BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
TIMOTHEE CHALAMET, MARTY SUPREME
LEONARDO DICAPRIO, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
JOEL EDGERTON, TRAIN DREAMS
OSCAR ISAAC, FRANKENSTEIN
MICHAEL B. JORDAN, SINNERS

BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
JESSIE BUCKLEY, HAMNET
ROSE BYRNE, IF I HAD LEGS I’D KICK YOU
CHASE INFINITI, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
JENNIFER LAWRENCE, DIE MY LOVE
RENATE REINSVE, SENTIMENTAL VALUE

BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
BENICIO DEL TORO, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
JACOB ELORDI, FRANKENSTEIN
DELROY LINDO, SINNERS
SEAN PENN, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
STELLAN SKARSGARD, SENTIMENTAL VALUE

BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
ODESSA A’ZION, MARTY SUPREME
INGA IBSDOTTER LILLEAAS, SENTIMENTAL VALUE
AMY MADIGAN, WEAPONS
WUNMI MOSAKU, SINNERS
TEYANA TAYLOR, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

BEST DIRECTOR
PAUL THOMAS ANDERSON, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
PARK CHAN-WOOK, NO OTHER CHOICE
RYAN COOGLER, SINNERS
JAFAR PANAHI, IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT
JOACHIM TRIER, SENTIMENTAL VALUE

BEST SCREENPLAY
PAUL THOMAS ANDERSON, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
RYAN COOGLER, SINNERS
JAFAR PANAHI, IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT
JOACHIM TRIER & ESKIL VOGT, SENTIMENTAL VALUE
EVA VICTOR, SORRY, BABY

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
MICHAEL BAUMAN, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
AUTUMN DURALD ARKAPAW, SINNERS
ADOLPHO VELOSO, TRAIN DREAMS
KIM WOO-HYUNG, NO OTHER CHOICE

BEST SCORE
ALEXANDRE DESPLAT, FRANKENSTEIN
JONNY GREENWOOD, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
LUDWIG GORANSSON, SINNERS
KANGDING RAY, SIRAT

BEST STUNT COORDINATION
FRANKENSTEIN
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING
ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
SINNERS
WEAPONS

One Battle After Another Wins In Chicago


The Chicago Film Critics Association has announced their picks for the best of 2025.  The winners are listed in bold.

BEST PICTURE
It Was Just an Accident
Marty Supreme
One Battle After Another
Sinners
Train Dreams

BEST DIRECTOR
Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another
Ryan Coogler – Sinners
Mona Fastvold – The Testament of Ann Lee
Jafar Panahi – It Was Just an Accident
Josh Safdie – Marty Supreme

BEST ACTOR
Timothée Chalamet – Marty Supreme
Leonardo DiCaprio – One Battle After Another
Joel Edgerton – Train Dreams
Ethan Hawke – Blue Moon
Michael B. Jordan – Sinners
Wagner Moura – The Secret Agent

BEST ACTRESS
Jessie Buckley – Hamnet
Rose Byrne – If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
Jennifer Lawrence – Die, My Love
Amanda Seyfried – The Testament of Ann Lee
Tessa Thompson – Hedda

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Benicio del Toro – One Battle After Another
Jacob Elordi – Frankenstein
Delroy Lindo – Sinners
Sean Penn – One Battle After Another
Stellan Skarsgard – Sentimental Value

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Odessa A’Zion – Marty Supreme
Nina Hoss – Hedda
Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas – Sentimental Value
Amy Madigan – Weapons
Wunmi Mosaku – Sinners
Teyana Taylor – One Battle After Another

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Blue Moon by Robert Kaplow
It Was Just an Accident by Jafar Panahi
Marty Supreme by Ronald Bronstein & Josh Safdie
Sinners by Ryan Coogler
Sorry, Baby by Eva Victor

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Hamnet by Chloe Zhao & Maggie O’Farrell
No Other Choice by Park Chan-wook – Lee Kyoung-mi – Don McKellar – & Jahye Lee
One Battle After Another by Paul Thomas Anderson
Train Dreams by Clint Bentley & Greg Kwedar
Wake Up Dead Man by Rian Johnson

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
Arco
Boys Go to Jupiter
KPop Demon Hunters
Little Amelie or the Character of Rain
Zootopia 2

BEST DOCUMENTARY
Cover-Up
My Undesirable Friends – Part 1 – Last Air in Moscow
The Perfect Neighbor
Predators
Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
It Was Just an Accident
No Other Choice
The Secret Agent
Sentimental Value
Sirat

BEST ART DIRECTION/PRODUCTION DESIGN
Frankenstein
Marty Supreme
One Battle After Another
The Phoenician Scheme
Sinners

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Dan Laustsen – Frankenstein
Lukasz Zal – Hamnet
Michael Bauman – One Battle After Another
Autumn Durald Arkapaw – Sinners
Adolpho Veloso – Train Dreams

BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Kate Hawley – Frankenstein
Lindsay Pugh – Hedda
Ruth E. Carter – Sinners
Malgorzata Karpiuk – The Testament of Ann Lee
Paul Tazewell – Wicked: For Good

BEST EDITING
Jon Harris – 28 Years Later
Stephen Mirrione & Patrick J. Smith – F1: The Movie
Ronald Bronstein & Josh Safdie – Marty Supreme
Kim Sang-beom & Kim Ho-bin – No Other Choice
Andy Jurgensen – One Battle After Another

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
Rob Mazurek – The Mastermind
Jonny Greenwood – One Battle After Another
Ludwig Goransson – Sinners
Daniel Blumberg – The Testament of Ann Lee
Bryce Dessner – Train Dreams

BEST USE OF VISUAL EFFECTS
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Frankenstein
Mickey 17
Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning
Sinners

MILOS STEHLIK AWARD FOR BREAKTHROUGH FILMMAKER
Mary Bronstein – If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
Sarah Friedland – Familiar Touch
Carson Lund – Eephus
James Sweeney – Twinless
Eva Victor – Sorry, Baby

MOST PROMISING PERFORMER
Miles Caton – Sinners
Chase Infiniti – One Battle After Another
Abou Sangare – Souleymane’s Story
Tonatiuh – Kiss of the Spider Woman
Eva Victor – Sorry, Baby

Here are the 2025 nominations of the Austin Film Critics Association!


Here are the 2025 nominations of the Austin Film Critics Association!

Best Picture
Bugonia
Frankenstein
Marty Supreme
One Battle After Another
The Secret Agent
Sentimental Value
Sinners
The Testament of Ann Lee
Train Dreams
Weapons

Best Director
Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After Another
Ryan Coogler, Sinners
Josh Safdie, Marty Supreme
Guillermo Del Toro, Frankenstein
Joachim Trier, Sentimental Value

Best Actress
Jessie Buckley, Hamnet
Rose Byrne, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
Jennifer Lawrence, Die My Love
Amanda Seyfried, The Testament of Ann Lee
Emma Stone, Bugonia

Best Actor
Timothée Chalamet, Marty Supreme
Leonardo DiCaprio, One Battle After Another
Ethan Hawke, Blue Moon
Michael B. Jordan, Sinners
Wagner Moura, The Secret Agent

Best Supporting Actress
Odessa A’zion, Marty Supreme
Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Sentimental Value
Amy Madigan, Weapons
Wunmi Mosaku, Sinners
Teyana Taylor, One Battle After Another

Best Supporting Actor
Benicio Del Toro, One Battle After Another
Jacob Elordi, Frankenstein
David Jonsson, The Long Walk
Sean Penn, One Battle After Another
Adam Sandler, Jay Kelly

Best Ensemble
The Long Walk
Marty Supreme
One Battle After Another
Sinners
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery

Best Original Screenplay
Ronald Bronstein and Josh Safdie, Marty Supreme
Ryan Coogler, Sinners
Zach Cregger, Weapons
Kleber Mendonça Filho, The Secret Agent
Eskil Vogt and Joachim Trier, Sentimental Value

Best Adapted Screenplay
Paul Thomas Anderson, Thomas Pynchon, One Battle After Another
Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar, Denis Johnson, Train Dreams
Park Chan-wook, Lee Kyoung-mi, Jahye Lee, Don McKellar, Donald E. Westlake, No Other Choice
Guillermo del Toro, Mary Shelley, Frankenstein
Will Tracy, Jang Joon-hwan, Bugonia

Best Cinematography
Michael Bauman, One Battle After Another
Autumn Durald, Sinners
Darius Khondji, Marty Supreme
Dan Laustsen, Frankenstein
Adolpho Veloso, Train Dreams

Best Editing
Andy Jurgensen, One Battle After Another
Stephen Mirrione, F1: The Movie
Michael P. Shawver, Sinners
Joe Murphy, Weapons
Ronald Bronstein and Josh Safdie, Marty Supreme

Best Original Score
Daniel Blumberg, The Testament of Ann Lee
Alexandre Desplat, Frankenstein
Ludwig Göransson, Sinners
Jonny Greenwood, One Battle After Another
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross (NiN), Tron: Ares

Best International Film
It Was Just an Accident
No Other Choice
The Secret Agent
Sentimental Value
Sirāt

Best Documentary
Come See Me In The Good Light
Orwell: 2+2=5
The Librarians
The Perfect Neighbor
Predators

Best Animated Film
Arco
Elio
KPop Demon Hunters
Little Amelie or the Character of Rain
Zootopia 2

Best Voice Acting/Animated/Digital Performance
Oona Chaplin, Avatar: Fire & Ash
Arden Cho, Audrey Nuna, KPop Demon Hunters
Will Patton, Train Dreams
Stephen Lang, Avatar: Fire & Ash
Zoe Saldaña, Avatar: Fire & Ash

Best Stunt Work
Ballerina
F1: The Movie
Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning
One Battle After Another
Sinners

Best Visual Effects
Avatar: Fire & Ash
F1: The Movie
Frankenstein
Sinners
Superman

Best Remake/Franchise Film
Avatar: Fire & Ash
Frankenstein
Superman
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery
28 Years Later

Best First Film
Andrew DeYoung, Friendship
Carson Lund, Eephus
Charlie Polinger, The Plague
Kristen Stewart, The Chronology of Water
Eva Victor, Sorry, Baby

Horror Film Review: Hellraiser (dir by David Bruckner)


Last night, I started watching the Hellraiser reboot.  I fell asleep about 40 minutes in.

That’s never a good sign, especially when it comes to a horror movie.  A horror movie is supposed to be so scary that you can’t sleep.  It’s supposed to be so intense and disturbing that it gives you nightmares, even if you actually do manage to get some rest.  A horror movie is supposed to haunt you, not bore you.  That’s especially true of the Hellraiser movies, which are defined by their grotesque imagery and the terrifying implications of the Cenobites.

This morning, I finished watching the movie.  Somehow, I did not fall asleep again.

The Hellraiser reboot asks the question: “If Doug Bradley isn’t playing Pinhead, is there any point to watching this crap?”

Based on this movie (and, to be fair, the two previous Hellraisers as well), the answer would appear to be no.  Jamie Clayton takes over the role of Pinhead in the new Hellraiser and the results are a bit underwhelming.

I mean, the Cenobites still look somewhat frightening, don’t get me wrong.  And the puzzle box is a huge part of the reboot’s plot.  And there’s still a lot of blood and a lot of talk about how suffering can be music and a lot of people get ripped apart by magical space chains.  But, with all that in mind, the Cenobites still come across as being kind of boring.  They’ve gone from being frightening creatures beyond imagination to just being generic bad guys.

A big problem is that Jamie Clayton never quite captures the all-encompassing contempt for existence that Doug Bradley brought to the role.  Bradley played Pinhead as a regal sadist, delivering his lines with a withering condescension.  As played by Bradley, Pinhead was really neither good nor evil.  He had transcended such concerns in his search for experience.  Hence, he could get away with announcing that he and the Cenobites were angels to some and demons to others.  In the original Hellraiser, Pinhead (and Bradley) made his first appearance by saying, “You called, we came,” and that pretty much summed up what made the character so frightening.  Bradley’s Pinhead had no concern as to the circumstances that led to him being  called and he certainly had no patience for anyone who thought they could talk their way out of the situation.  Bradley’s Pinhead was beyond such concerns and that made him all the more frightening.

Jamie Clayton’s Pinhead, on the other hand, is smug and not much else.  She’s playing a game with humanity but that leaves her vulnerable to losing.  That’s a mistake that Bradley’s Pinhead would not have made.  (Or, at least, he wouldn’t have made it in the original movie.  The Hellraiser sequels are a different story.)  There’s nothing particularly regal about Clayton’s Pinhead.  She’s just another horror villain.  With her demanding a sacrifice from anyone who cuts themselves on the puzzle box, she’s not that much different from the little girl in Ring.

(In Clayton’s defense, she’s not the first person to replace Doug Bradley as Pinhead.  Bradley also did not appear in the two previous Hellraiser films, Revelations and Judgment.  Bradley felt the scripts were poorly written and, perhaps more to the point, Dimension Films wanted him to take a pay cut.)

As for the reboot itself, it’s about Riley (Odessa A’zion), a recovering drug addict who, along with her boyfriend Trevor (Drew Starkey), steals the puzzle box and then cuts herself on the box which leads to the Cenobites stalking all of her annoying friends.  Riley is an incredibly unlikable character and her friends are kind of whiny so who cares?  Gordan Visnjic plays a decadent businessman who is trying to manipulate the box to his own ends.  Visnjic has a good scene at the start of the film, one that perfectly captures the privileged ennui that would lead to someone getting involved with the Cenobites.  But, eventually, even Visnjic is reduced to being a one-dimensional character.

The main lesson of this Hellraiser film (and the previous two films as well) is that things work better with Doug Bradley than without him.