Sunday, January 5, 2025

MCBASTARD'S BEST OF 2024 - THE BEST OF NEW FLICKS, STREAMERS, 4K UHD, BLU-RAY, BOX SETS & FILM DISCOVERIES!


MCBASTARD'S BEST OF 2024

 'Best of' to me is something so subjective, especially in regard physical media, but these Top2 5 lists are unapologetically my favorite feature films, streaming, physical media releases and film discoveries of this past year. There's plenty I didn't get around to see that I wanted to, so there's bound to be some obvious holes, but hey, I can only judge what I actually saw. The lists are in no particular order, other than alphabetical - if you made it to the Best of 2024 congrats, that's amazing, because 2024 in my estimation was the fucking best year yet for physical media releases, my wallet took a savage beating this year, and I wouldn't have it it any other way! I will also note that 2024 was such a strong year I upped my Best list from Top 15 as we did in 2023 to a Top 25!

BEST NEW FILMS IN 2024

Here they are, my favorite new flicks of 2024 that I saw both at the cinema and streaming at home - keep in mind, these are in no particular order other than alphabetical. 

1. ABIGAIL
2. ALIENS: ROMULUS 
3. APARTMENT 7A 
5. THE BIKERIDERS 
7. DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE 
10. THE FIRST OMEN 
12. GODZILLA MINUS ONE
14. HERETIC 
15. IN A VIOLENT NATURE 
17. LATE NIGHT WITH THE DEVIL
18. LONGLEGS 
20. NOSFERATU
22. SALEM'S LOT
23. SMILE 2 
24. STRANGE DARLING 
25. THE SUBSTANCE
    
BEST OF STREAMING SERIES

With as many movies as I watch it's hard to believe I actually find time to watch as many streaming series as I do, but I do - these are my favorites of series that hit the streaming platforms this year. I thought it was another stellar year of streaming programming - especially for genre fans.

1. 3 BODY PROBLEM (Netflix)
2. BATMAN: THE CAPED CRUSADER (Amazon Prime)
3. THE BOYS: S4 (Amazon Prime)
4. CREATURE COMMANDOS (Max)
5. CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM: SEASON 12 (Max)
6. DUNE PROPHECY (Max)
7. FALLOUT (Amazon Prime)
8. HOUSE OF THE DRAGON: S2 (Max)
9. HYSTERIA: S1 (Peacock) 
11. THE LORD OF THE RINGS: RINGS OF POWER S2 (Amazon Prime) 
12. ONLY MURDERERS IN THE BUILDING: S5 (Hulu)
13. OUTER RANGE: S2 (Amazon Prime) 
14. THE PENGUIN: S1 (Max)
15. SKELETON CREW: S1 (Disney+)
16. SWEET TOOTH: S5 (Netflix)
17. TERMINATOR ZERO: S1 (Netflix)  
18. THEM: S2 (Amazon Prime)
19. TIRES (Netflix)
20. TRUE DETECTIVE: NIGHT COUNTRY (Max)
21. X-MEN '97 (Disney+)
22. WEDNESDAY: S1 (Netflix)
23. THE WALKING DEAD: DARYL DIXON THE BOOK OF CAROL (AMC)
24. THE WALKING DEAD: THE ONES WHO LIVE (AMC)
25. WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS: S6 (Hulu)

BEST OF 4K UHD

We've been hearing about the death of physical media for a few years now, yet here we are with another fantastic year that was absolutely packed to the freaking gills with amazing physical media releases, particaurly re-issues of catalog titles and cult films on 4K UHD - from the obscure to classic major studio releases, we were truly spoiled rotten in 2024. The were my favorite 25 4K UHD releases of the year!

1. A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET (1984)  Warner Bros.
2. CEMETERY MAN (1994) Severin Films
3. THE CASE OF THE BLOODY IRIS (1972) Celluloid Dreams
4. CHINATOWN (1974) Paramount) 
5. THE CONAN CHRONICLES (1982-1984) Arrow Video
6. DEATHDREAM (1974) Blue Underground 
7. GHOULIES II (1987) MVD Rewind Collection
8. GUMMO (1997) Criterion Collection
9. THE HITCHER (1986) Second Sight Films 
10. HAPPINESS (1998) Criterion Collection
11. HIGH CRIMES (1973) Blue Underground 
12. HIGH TENSION (2003) Second Sight Films 
13. THE KEEP (1984) Vinegar Syndrome
14. KILLER KLOWNS FROM OUTER SPACE (1988) Scream Factory 
15. LITTLE DARLINGS (1980) Cinematograph
16. LOOKING FOR MR. GOODBAR (1977) Vinegar Syndrome
17. NORTH BY NORTHWEST (1959) Warner Bros. Discovery
18. OPERA (1987) Severin Films 
19. POSSESOR (2020) Second Sight Films 
20. THE SEARCHERS (1956) Warner Archive 
21. SOUTHERN COMFORT (1981) Vinegar Syndrome 
22. SPIDER LABYRINTH (1988) Severin Films
23. THE TENANT (1976) Vinegar Syndrome
24. THE TERMINATOR (1984) Warner Bros. Discovery
25. TRICK OR TREAT (1986) (Red Shirt Pictures/Synapse Films) 

BEST OF BLU-RAY

It was another wonderful year of Blu-ray releases as well, so much terrific stuff getting HD disc releases, some for the first time, and some just getting amazing re-issues, some coming from major studios, but most of 'em coming from boutique labels who have carved out deep, cult-cinema niches, dusting off cult and rarities I never thought would see the light of day. Again, these are in no particular order, other than A-Z,  and these choices cater to my specific tastes, and do not necessarily represent the most technically robust presentations, nor the ones with the most prolific extras - though there are plenty that look wonderful and have awesome extras. The main deciding factor is the level of excitement it generated for me when I had it in my grubby physical-media loving hands. 

1. BAD COMPANY (1972) Fun City Editions 
2. THE BEAST WITH FIVE FINGERS (1947) Warner Archive
3. THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT (1999) Second Sight Films 
4. BLOOD TRACKS (1985) Vinegar Syndrome 
5. CROCODILE (1978) Synapse Films 
6. DEATH SQUAD (1985) Mondo Macabro 
7. DON'T CHANGE HANDS (1975) Severin Films
8. THE FACTS OF MURDER (1959) Radiance Films
9. FUNERAL HOME (1980) Scream Factory 
10. GHOST DANCE (1982) Vinegar Syndrome
11. HEAVENLY BODIES (1984) Fun City Editions 
12. HOLLYWOOD 90028 (1974) Grindhouse Releasing 
13. IMPULSE (1974) Grindhouse Releasing 
14. INSIDE (2007) Second Sight Films 
15. JOYSTICKS (1983) MVD Rewind Collection
16. KILL BUTTERFLY KILL (1983) Neon Eagle Video 
17. THE MAD BOMBER (1973) Severin Films 
18. THE MASK OF FU MANCHU (1932) Warner Archive 
19. NINJA TERMINATOR (1984) Neon Eagle Video
20. THE PRIMEVALS (1994) Full Moon Entertainment
21. RATMAN (1988) Cauldron Films 
22. REDNECK MILLER (1976) Film Masters 
23. SCALA!!!  OR, THE INCREDIBLY STRANGE RISE AND FALL OF THE WORLD'S  ILDEST CINEMA AND HOW IT INFLUENCED A MIXED-UP GENERATION OF WEIRDOS ANS MISFITS (2024) Severin Films
24. VILLAGE OF DOOM (1983) Unearthed Films 
25. ZERO WOMAN: RED HANDCUFFS (1974) Neon Eagle Video

BEST OF BOXSETS

There were so many wonderful box set this year, collections and multi-film sets that explored everything from low budget cinema auteurs, to classic animation and Italian horror compendiums. So many in fact that I couldn't even come close to affording everything I wanted to own, or even make time to pour through several sets that are already sitting on my shelf. So again, this sampling is just what I had access to, the money for, and the time to watch! 

1. ALL THE HAUNTS BE OUR: A COMPENDIUM OF FOLK HORROR - VOLUME TWO (Severin Films) 
2. THE CLASSIC GHOSTS: 1970S GOTHIC TELEVISION (1973) Kino Cult
4. CRUEL BITANNIA: THREE KILLER THRILLERS FROM THE U.K. (1971-1974) Vinegar Syndrome 
6. DARIO ARGENTO'S DEEP CUTS (1972-1987) Severin Films 
8. FORGOTTEN GIALLI VOL. 7 (1983-1987) Vinegar Syndrome 
9. GOLDEN HARVEST VOL. 1: SUPRNATURAL SHOCKERS (1990-1992) Scream Factory 
10. GREG ARAKI'S TEEN APOCALYPSE COLLECTION (1993-1997) Criterion Collection
12. HELLRAISER QUARTET OF TORMENT Arrow Video 
13. HOMEGROWN HORRORS VOL. 2 (1989-1990) Vinegar Syndrome 
14. THE HOUSES OF DOOM (1989) Cauldron Films
15.  INSIDE THE MIND OF COFFIN JOE Arrow Video 
16. LOONEY TUNES COLLECTOR'S CHOICE VOLS. 1-4 Warner Archive
17. THE NICO MASTORAKIS COLLECTION Arrow Video 
19. SEINFELD: THE COMPLETE SERIES (1989-1998) Sony
21. SPANISH BLOODBATH: NIGHT OF THE SKULL, VIOLENT BLOODBATH, THE FISH WITH THE EYES OF GOLD (1974) Vinegar Syndrome 
22. SUPER FRIENDS: THE COMPLETE SERIES (1973-1985) Warner Bros.
23. THE THIN MAN COLLECTION Warner Archive
24. PERIL & DISTRESS: AND SOON THE DARKNESS & SUDDEN TERROR Kino
25. I WALKED WITH A ZOMBIE (1943) + THE SEVENTH VICTIM (1943) Criterion Collection 

FILM DISCOVERIES OF 2024

These were my favorite first-time watches of the year that I would consider absolute gems worth seeking out. 

1. 3 GODFATHERS (1948) Warner Archive 
2. THE BAT WHISPERS (1930) VCI Entertainment 
3. BLACK EYE (1972) Warner Archive 
5. BURN WITCH BURN (1962) aka NIGHT OF THE EAGLE (Kino)
6. CABIN IN THE SKY (1943) Warner Archive 
7. CREEP (2014) Second Sight Films 
8. DOOR-TO-DOOR MANIAC (1966) Film Masters 
9. EIGHTEEN YEARS IN PRISON (1967) Radiance Films 
10. EVERYON WILL BURN (2021) Drafthouse Films 
11. THE GROUP (1966) Imprint Films
12. JAPAN ORGANIZED CRIME BOSS (1969) Radiance Film 
13. JOYRIDE (1977) Cinématographe 
14. LOLA (2022) Severin Films 
15 KID FROM KWANGTUN (1982) 88 Films 
16. MADEMOISELLE (1966) MGM
17. MIRROR MIRROR (1990) Dark Force Entertainment 
18. THE OFFENCE (1973) Imprint Films
19. PRIME CUT (1972) Kino 
20. SPECIAL SILENCERS (1982) Mondo Macabro 
21. STREET SCENE (1931) VCI Entertainment 
22. THIEVES LIKE US (1974)  Cinématographe
23. THE STONE TAPE (1972) 101 Films 
24. THEY DRIVE BY NIGHT (1940) Warner Archive 
25. TORMENTED (1960) Film Masters 
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