Based on the Emma Donoghue book of the same name, The Wonder was one of the most overlooked films of 2022. It stars Florence Pugh as a nurse from Yorkshire who is sent to an Irish village to observe a girl who refuses to eat. The story examines the power of religion in nineteenth century Ireland and the uncertainty that followed the Great Famine. The Wonder is very bleak and eerie, but Florence Pugh's phenomenal acting makes it worth watching.
2. Rosaline (Disney+)
If you can't resist anything to do with Romeo and Juliet, this film is for you. While most adaptations of the famous play focus on the star-crossed lovers, Rosaline centres on Romeo's previous love interest Rosaline. Kaitlyn Dever may be known for more serious roles such as Betsy in Dopesick and Marie in Unbelievable, but Rosaline proves that she can do comedy too. The cast also includes Kyle Allen as Romeo, Isabela Merced as Juliet, and Minnie Driver as Nurse Janet.
3. On the Come Up (Amazon Prime, Paramount+)
Despite being based on a bestselling novel, On the Come Up unfortunately didn't see a theatrical release in the UK. Starring newcomer Jamila Gray as the lead, On the Come Up follows a teenage girl called Brianna who dreams of becoming a rapper, just like her father. However, after her first song goes viral for the wrong reasons, Brianna must choose between continuing on her path to being a successful rapper or fading back into the shadow.
4. The Swimmers (Netflix)
Towards the end of the year, Netflix released The Swimmers, a moving film inspired by a true story. Yusra and Sarah are two teenage sisters who flee from war-torn Syria to Europe after war threatens their aspirations of becoming Olympic swimmers. The Swimmers is a powerful and inspiring account of the bond between sisters and the perseverance, courage and hope they face as refugees. It has already been nominated for a BAFTA award for Outstanding British Film of the Year, and I have no doubt that it'll be nominated for many more awards.
5. The Fallout (not available yet in the UK)
Megan Park's directorial debut The Fallout is an important film that highlights the fear of going to school in America. Vada (Jenna Ortega) is lost after a tragedy, but her new friendship with Mia (Maddie Ziegler) reminds her that life is worth living. The Fallout is an emotional rollercoaster, and although it deals with a dark topic, the acting is brilliant and you'll really be able to understand the fear and grief that the characters are feeling. Unfortunately, The Fallout isn't on any streaming services in the UK, but hopefully it'll be available to rent soon.
6. The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry (not available yet in the UK)
Not many people saw See How They Run during its short theatrical run last year, but as a fan of Saoirse Ronan and whodunnit mysteries, I absolutely loved it. See How They Run can be summed up as a love letter to Agatha Christie, and throws together Inspector Stoppard (Sam Rockwell) and Constable Stalker (Saoirse Ronan) as they try to solve a murder in London's West End. The film is the perfect blend of comedy and drama, and deserves as much recognition as Knives Out.
8. The Menu (Disney+)
The Menu premiered at the BFI London Film Festival as a surprise film, and was met with rave reviews. It's a dark, satirical thriller that pokes fun at everyone in a restaurant – from the head chef to the food critic to the diners – and will keep you on the edge of your seat throughout its 1 hour 47 minute running time. The Menu is led by Ralph Fiennes, Anya Taylor-Joy and Nicholas Hoult, who are all equally fantastic. Think Midsommar meets Nine Perfect Strangers.
9. White Noise (Netflix)
Sure, White Noise did appear on many critics' roundups of the best films of 2022, but it was still largely overlooked. It's part disaster movie, part comedy, part drama, and part horror. College professor Jack Gladney (Adam Driver) and his family are going about their everyday lives when a massive chemical spill forces them to flee their home. White Noise looks at American consumerism, paranoia and death in the twentieth century. With its somewhat confusing plot and duration of just over 2 hours, White Noise may take a couple of viewings to fully appreciate.
10. Women Talking (in cinemas on 10th February)
Women Talking is not actually out yet in the UK, but I thought I'd include it anyway as it was one of the standout films that premiered at the BFI London Film Festival. Directed by Sara Polley, Women Talking brings together Rooney Mara, Claire Foy, Jessie Buckley, Frances McDormand, Judith Ivey and Michelle McLeod as women of an isolated religious community who decide if they should flee from the abusive men. Women Talking is a slow-paced film that won't appeal to everyone, but it is thought-provoking and will stick with you long after you've seen it.
11. Where the Crawdads Sing (available to rent on Amazon)
Where the Crawdads Sing was one of the most talked about films of 2022, but its mixed reviews and controversy put many people off watching it. A real shame, as Where the Crawdads Sing is a gripping murder mystery set in North Carolina, with stunning cinematography and a gripping plot. It features a standout performance from Daisy Edgar-Jones as Kya, a women who had to grow up alone on the marsh after her abusive father drives her mother and siblings away and then leaves himself. Kya is ostracised by the local community and is the top suspect when a man falls to his death from a fire-tower.
12. Armageddon Time (available to purchase from Amazon)
Despite starring big-name actors such as Anne Hathaway, Jeremy Strong and Jessica Chastain, Armageddon Time had a somewhat quiet release at the end of the year. Directed by James Gray, Armageddon Time is a coming-of-age story loosely based on real life. It's set in the 1980s and follows a young boy who is a bit of a troublemaker at school and forms an unlikely friendship that opens his eyes to racism and privilege.
