Films to Broaden Your Cinematic Horizons

Denon said Curious why some mad lads out there intentionally seek out bad films to watch? There is no better introduction than one of the best in the so-bad-their-good film niche. This trail by fire will leave you with no doubt about whether this is something that interests you. And if it interests you, you won't be able to stop laughing. An excellent follow up is Disaster Artists to see why this film shouldn't exist and what makes it so fascinating, or Troll 2 if you're ready for more awful treasure.

Denon said This film is far from perfect, but it serves as a surprisingly accessible first step into arthouse films, since the film is largely told conventionally for the first half. This gets you engaged before a pivotal scene shifts the film into full arthouse mode. Not for the faint of heart, and certainly not perfect, but a smooth transition nonetheless. Follow it up with Climax if your interested in the experience or Enter the Void if you want to double down on abstract storytelling.

Denon said There is a reason the western was so omnipresent in cinema for ages, and Leone showcases it strengths perfectly. This film's suspense riddled shootouts, believable characters, and quiet atmosphere will immerse you in the era. Follow it up with the Leone's Dollars trilogy or explore the genre's roots with classics like True Grit. Once you're intimately familiar with the genre and its tropes, feel free to top it off with Unforgiven for a brutal deconstruction before examining the neo-western.

Denon said Interested in classic black and white films but afraid of outdated technology? This film will hook you with it's human drama and you'll never look back. If your looking to push yourself further, you could follow this up with the silent era with basically any Charlie Chaplin film or Nosferatu. Not ready to ditch the talking? Follow it up with Psycho to see the range in these classic films and why films to this day sometimes opt for black and white over color as Psycho did.

Denon said Interested in exploring anime or simply animated films outside of Disney? As far as I've seen, all Studio Ghibli films are worth seeing, but this is my personal favorite. It's a bit more intense than the studios average fair, but its jaw dropping animation and heartfelt narrative will have you glued to the screen. Spirited Away or My Neighbor Totoro are excellent followups to get a better feel of the general tone of these films.

Denon said Interested in foreign film but still wanting to remain within the comforts of modern film conventions? Oldboy is packed with brilliant action and an engaging mystery at the heart of its depraved story. Follow it up Train to Busan for another Korean film with a riveting story and horror trappings or Shadow if you want more impressive action set in ancient China.

Denon said Already watched every western under the sun and ready for a new take on the genre? The neo-western is for you, taking all those familiar trappings and dumping them in a modern setting with a cynical outlook. This film will ease you in with a desert setting filled with horses and old timer sheriffs. Follow it up with the Frontier trilogy or Logan for a scifi spin on the genre which simultaneously deconstructs the current cinematic zeitgeist in superhero films.

Denon said This is a pretty good entry point if you're interested in indie films with more abstract or thought provoking storytelling. It's one of my personal favorite films of all time. While fairly abstract and open to interpretation, it has an easy-to-follow through line and the story is told fairly conventionally. This can be followed up with Enemy for more Gyllenhaal or Annihilation for more sci-fi.

Denon said Another master of the art of cinema can be found in Kubrick. A director obsessed with perfection (to an often problematic degree), this film showcases said meticulousness while still being fairly accessible thanks to its fairly straightforward plot. Many of Kubrick's films are in different genres with drastically different experiences to present, but I'd follow it up with A Clockwork Orange to ease yourself into the questions Kubrick will continue asking his audience.

Denon said Another (somewhat problematic) filmmaker with undeniably consist results, this film will introduce you to Tarantino's glorious monologues and palpable tension while easing you into the gratuitous violence. They're only Nazi's after all. From here, feel free to explore his earlier, more experimental work with Pulp Fiction or Reservoir Dogs, or keep pace with Django Unchained for more cathartic violence. Just save Once Upon a Time in Hollywood for last, as its Tarantino at his most reflective.

Denon said If you're interested in classic foreign films and their impact on US media, Kurosawa is your man. This film's impressive action and compelling characters that will immediately make clear why Kurosawa is so influential. I'd follow it up with Ikiru if you are interested in his films in a then modern setting with a focus on human drama or Yojimbo if you want to keep rolling with the samurai action. I'd recommend finishing his black and white films before advancing to the color stage of his career.

Denon said Another of the all-time great filmmakers, Scorsese's legacy speaks for itself. This film's high energy and consistent comedy will keep you engaged for the duration of its lengthy runtime. From here, you can become familiar with Scorsese's classic gangster flicks such as Goodfellas before topping it off with The Irishman to see Scorsese reflect upon that legacy, or you can check out Silence or Shutter Island and work backwards to films like Taxi Driver to see Scorsese at his more psychological.

Denon said Interested in the horror genre? This film is a standard haunted house flick to cover your basics, but it's done better than most and never gets too intense. Follow it up with the main sequel, branch into the psychological with The Babadook or Midsommar, investigate creature-features with The Descent, or check out slashers with Black Christmas. Once you know the genre's tropes inside and out, feel free to top it off with Cabin in the Woods and/or Tucker & Dale vs Evil for a fun deconstruction.