It should be noted that I have not seen every movie I wanted to this year, including some key movies that caught my interest. I missed DRIVE and MACHINE GUN PREACHER when they had their theatrical run here and TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY won’t arrive anywhere near me for at least another few weeks. A SERBIAN FILM also wound up on my list last year! I did watch a lot of movies this year though. If DEXTER Season 6 was a movie, it would totally make the list. Unfortunately, it’s not so here are my top 20 of 2011!

20. A CADAVER CHRISTMAS (November 7 on DVD) (Watched it at Salty Horror Film Festival in November)

Salty Horror Film Festival 2011 had one of the most entertaining zombie flicks and the best Christmas movie in years with CADAVER CHRISTMAS. Shot in the period of three years and made with some real talent (both in front and behind the camera), CADAVER CHRISTMAS is so much fun and has a huge amount of entertainment value. The movie looks like it was made in the 80′s, namely with the wash-out colors and effects. I cheered, applauded, and burst out laughing as the movie played in Brewvies for SHIFF ’11 at a midnight showing. This movie came out of nowhere and did everything I could have possibly wanted in a Christmas zombie movie. Dammit, it’s just awesome!

19. CHILLERAMA (September 23 in Limited Release) (Watched it on Comcast On Demand in October)

A loving and geniune tribute to the Drive-In movies of old, CHILLERAMA is delightful in it’s depravity and gross humor. Sure it’s intentionally cheesy, crude, and in some parts badly done, but that’s the point. It’s meant to be like that and it’s also a great movie. The film is four segments (by 3 horror veterans and a children’s movie writer) who each pay homage to a genre of old-school horror. WADZILLA had me laughing and just loving the hell out of the movie. I actually dug I WAS A TEENAGE WEREBEAR, which seems to have a lot of people hating on it, but I loved the soundtrack and writing. ZOM-B-MOVIE was entertaining and worked as bookends to the other segments. The stand-out was Adam Green’s DIARY OF ANNE FRANKENSTEIN which had me in real tears from laughing so hard. That segment is one of the funniest things I’ve seen all year. CHILLERAMA is well worth your time, if you dig these kinds of films.

18. GRAVE ENCOUNTERS (August 19 in Limited Release) (Watched a screener of it in August)

Found footage has pretty much run it’s mark at this point and so have Ghost Hunter style shows. So it’s about time that someone combined the two and made a terrifying film. GRAVE ENCOUNTERS is completely and totally frightening. I jumped at least a dozen times and was thinking about it as I tried to fall asleep after watching it. This was so well-made, especially for the low budget. I am still trying to figure out how they pulled off some of the effects. It also helps that the scares are set up fantastically. This movie starts off with some laughs and slowly becomes a descent into hell. This was just scary on every level. Well-done and I am getting goosebumps just writing about it.

17. THE CALLER (August 26 in Limited Release) (Watched it on Comcast On Demand in August)

Remember the movie FREQUENCY, well THE CALLER is a horror version of that and winds up being one of the most underrated movies of 2011. It was scary, well thought out, and executed with Hitchcockian talent. It doesn’t go where you expect it to and the twists it takes are bold. I definitely wasn’t expecting how dark this movie would get and I absolutely did not predict the dark ending that left me speechless. This is another one that not many people have heard of, but this needs more fans and viewings. People need to see this movie. It’s just fantastic!

16. SUPER (April 1 in Limited Release) (Watched it at the Tower in April)

SUPER is like the indie film version of KICK-ASS. It plays out like such and delves into some serious topics as well, something one wouldn’t expect from a movie about a would-be superhero hitting criminals with a wrench. Rainn Wilson puts in a knockout performance and the supporting cast is great as well. Ellen Page is great as always and Kevin Bacon plays the bad guy (just like he does in another movie further down on this list). The movie opens up with animated credits and ends on a real emotional note. It goes places you don’t expect at all and contains some great dialogue. It’s just a great movie overall.

15. X-MEN: FIRST CLASS (June 3 in Wide Release) (Watched it at Jordan Landing in June)

Who expected this? A prequel to the X-Men series (which was thought to be dead) that is the best in the entire franchise. X-MEN: FIRST CLASS is the best superhero movie I saw all year and the best comic book movie since THE DARK KNIGHT. The cast does an amazing job. Michael Fassbender owns the movie as Magneto and James McAvoy was really good as Professor X. Kevin Bacon is also a stand-out as the main villain. This is a superhero movie that isn’t about mindless action and no consequence. Everything has a purpose and the we really care about the young mutants. As for the fight scenes: When they do happen, they are incredible. The epic final scenes set near the ocean and on an island was pure perfection! Also, best cameo in a movie all year!

14. BLACK DEATH (March 11 in Limited Release) (Watched it on Comcast On Demand in February)

BLACK DEATH is not the movie you are expecting it to be. That’s why it works. A young monk ventures on a quest with a group of violent knights in order to investigate a town that hasn’t been affected by the plague. True horror ensues, but not in the way you think. This movie is really smart and plays on your emotions. This is human horror, that could actually happen. Every member of the cast (including Sean Bean, who is front and foremost on the DVD art) gives a fantastic performance. The score is also incredible. Everything about this movie is perfect and I loved it. It completely and absolutely floored me by the end. This is a must-see!

13. SHERLOCK HOLMES: A GAME OF SHADOWS (December 16 in Wide Release) (Watched it at Jordan Landing in December)

I honestly wasn’t expecting to love this movie as much as I did. I thought the first SHERLOCK HOLMES was okay, but I was pretty much floored by the time this one ended. Just brilliantly done, skillfully acted, and containing a really smart script. I loved this film and found it to be a sequel that is far superior than its predecessor. An excellent mystery-thriller that has everything an audience could want. This flat-out loved this movie. The best surprise I had in 2011!

12. INSIDIOUS (April 1 in Wide Release) (Watched it at Jordan Landing in April)

James Wan creates one of the best horror movies to come out in 20 years. INSIDIOUS is a horror masterpiece. This is the stuff that classic horror films are made of. Made for a mere 1 million, the story of INSIDIOUS is so ingenious and frightening that you will be afraid to go to sleep the night after watching it. Every single scare worked for me (both the jump-outs and the little subtle things) and it winds up being much in the same vein as POLTERGEIST and EXORCIST. This one is by far one of the scariest movies I’ve ever seen in my life. You may love it, you may hate it, but there’s no denying it’s original. Also, fantastic way to end the movie. My blood was chilled when the credits began to roll.

11. TAKE SHELTER (September 30 in Limited Release) (Watched it at Broadway Centre in November)

Michael Shannon puts in a powerhouse performance in this dark drama. He’s a blue-collar worker who begins to have visions of an apocalyptic storm. He begins repairing a storm shelter in his backyard, as his friends and family begin to think that he might be mentally ill. TAKE SHELTER does a good job of keeping the viewer on the edge of their seat. We never truly no if a storm is really coming or if our protagonist is crazy…until the ending. I honestly and truly can’t find a single flaw with this movie. It’s excellent and unnerving. Michael Shannon puts in one of the best performances of the year.

10. I SAW THE DEVIL (March 4 in Limited Release) (Watched it at Sundance Film Festival in January)

I SAW THE DEVIL may very well be one of the greatest revenge movies of all-time. It’s insanely violent, well-written, contains excellent performances, and has some of the most insane cat-and-mouse scenes in quite some time. Containing all sorts of depraved violence (ranging from cannibalism to serial killers) this movie is definitely not for those with weak stomachs. It also makes a point that with revenge, there are no real winners. Just a crazy good and insane film!

9. MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE (October 21 in Limited Release) (Watched it at Broadway Centre in November)

This is one of the most uncomfortable dramas I have ever sat through. The story flashes between past and present as a woman (who was formerly in a cult) tries to adjust to a routine life with her sister. As an elderly woman said leaving my theater “That was an ugly movie”, and so it should be. Life isn’t all beautiful and MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE is a pretty dark and disturbing drama. Elizabeth Olsen knocks it out of the park with her performance as a broken woman. We never know what exactly is truly happening and the final shots of the movie left me uneasy. They are open for interpetation, but I think something dark was going to happen. Fantastic movie that left me thinking about it for days after.

8. SUCKER PUNCH (March 25 in Wide Release) (Watched it at Jordan Landing in April)

I simply don’t understand the hate for this movie. This is a movie that might possibly go down as a CLOCKWORK ORANGE of our era. It’s bizarre and beautiful. I found it to be skillfully done (if not overly stylized), but it was a brilliant and touching film that had a real emotional punch for the entire movie. I was on edge and completely sold on this unique work of art by the end credits. Bravo!

7. RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES (August 5 in Wide Release) (Rented it from Blockbuster in December)

This movie had no excuse to be this good. It’s by far the best film to ever contain the PLANET OF THE APES title. This one is a definite crowd-pleaser that plays out in a three-act storyline, that we already know has a grim ending. You would think watching this movie would get boring or depressing, but it’s not. RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES is a perfectly executed piece of mature science-fiction. Andy Serkis puts on an incredible performance (through motion capture) as Caesar. The other members of the cast are great as well. John Lithgow gives a heart-breaking performance. Tom Felton and Brian Cox are despicable as two animal abusers. It’s just a damn fine movie that deserves a watch!

6. HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART 2 (July 15 in Wide Release) (Watched it at Jordan Landing in July)

The epic conclusion to the Harry Potter series is as bold, brave, and excellent as everyone expected it to be…and then some. Marking the end of an era for my generation (10 solid years this franchise has been running). I saw the first movie opening weekend when I was 11 and watched this one in a theater being the age of 21. It’s a whole decade of my life. I could have put this movie on this list for nostalgic purposes, but instead I put it because it’s a perfect film. Exciting all the way through, full of actors who have grown in size and talent, and it concludes perfectly! This is the masterpiece of the series!

5. RED STATE (March 5 in Limited Release) (Watched it on Comcast On Demand in September)

Kevin Smith directs a horror film and pulls it off?! Who knew he had it in him? RED STATE is a brave movie that has a lot of commentary put into it. The performances are great (especially from a terrifying Michael Parks) and the dialogue rings of Kevin Smith’s wit. The film stands tall in not only the points it’s making, but in the talent that put it together. This is the kind of movie we need more often from Kevin Smith. It’s different, realistic, and extremely solid filmmaking. Considering Smith announced that he will be directing one or two more comedies and then retiring, this may be the best movie in his entire career. Well done sir!

4. THE WOMAN (October 14 in Limited Release) (Watched it at Sundance Film Festival in January)

These days horror usually comes with remakes, cheap slashers, or wannabe grindhouse films. THE WOMAN is fiercely original and the best horror film I’ve seen in quite some time. It’s disturbing and dark for sure, but you can’t shake the power it has on the viewer. It’s intense and downright terrifying, without showing much onscreen violence or gore (that is until the insane final scenes). The acting from these mostly no-names was brilliant! I can’t pick one performance over the others. I can say that this is cinema’s most disfunctional family! THE WOMAN is simply a masterpiece of filmmaking and the best movie to come out of Jack Ketchum’s books or Lucky McKee’s films. The soundtrack is powerful and the writing is simply incredible. The best movie I saw at Sundance and the experience lasted all year with me. Amazing, disturbing, and brilliant. A must-see!

3. THE PERFECT HOST (July 1 in Limited Release) (Watched it on Comcast On Demand in May)

What is THE PERFECT HOST? A comedy? A drama? A thriller? Or maybe it’s a horror film? You really can’t categorize it. It’s a one of a kind movie. The premise is almost like a twistedly funny version of HARD CANDY and it plays out perfectly. This is a movie that is mainly a mind-game between a criminal and a psychopath (played in a pitch-perfect performance by David Hyde Pierce). Full of laugh-out-loud moments, moments that will have you gasping, and a whole lot of twists, this is one unlike any you have ever seen. From the opening scene I was hooked and I never guessed how the movie would end. This is a thinking person’s film and should be required viewing for those who say that independent cinema sucks. I watched it On Demand in my living room and felt like cheering when it had concluded. This is by far one of the best movies of 2011!

2. LONDON BOULEVARD (November 11 in Limited Release) (Watched it on Comcast On Demand in December)

LONDON BOULEVARD went relatively unnoticed when it slipped into limited release this November. Written and directed by the man who wrote THE DEPARTED, this crime-drama went in directions I didn’t see coming. Colin Farrell knocks it out of the park and delivers what might be the best performance of his entire career. I was extremely impressed when this movie ended. This one will probably be overlooked after it hits DVD as well. I beg for more people to see it. Everything worked perfectly and the movie is just stellar as a whole. It also ends on a really emotional note that shocked me. I was angry and at the same time pleased by how it all played out. The very definition of an underrated gem!

1. THE DEVIL’S DOUBLE (July 29 in Limited Release) (Watched it at Broadway Centre in September)

My personal favorite movie of 2011 didn’t come with overblown special effects, jump out of your seat scares, and good natured humor. Rather my favorite movie of 2011 is based on the incredible true story of Latif Yahia. THE DEVIL’S DOUBLE is a shocking, emotional, and challenging look at a man who endured trials that no person should ever be put through. For those who haven’t heard of this film (that’s a lot of people), DEVIL’S DOUBLE is about a man who was taken directly from the Iraqi war in the 1980′s and forced to be Uday Hussein’s body double. Who is Uday Hussein? The sadistic playboy son of Saddam. Believe it or not, he was more evil then his dictator dad. His crimes (all protected by power) ranged from rape, murder, abduction of school children, and even more sadistic deeds. This is one hell of a movie. The soundtrack is incredible. The acting is just astounding! Dominic Cooper plays both Uday and Latif. It shows what a fantastic job he is doing when you can immediately tell which character is on-screen just by the mannerisms used to portray them. This is a chilling look at pure evil and what happens when it is protected by a corrupt government. A modern classic, plain and simple. This is a movie I was literally thinking about for weeks after seeing it. I’ve watched it three times and cannot wait to watch it again. It’s not only my favorite movie of 2011, but also one of my favorite movies of all-time! The best movie of 2011…THE DEVIL’S DOUBLE!

All in all, I would say that we’ve had a pretty fantastic good year when it comes to great cinema. You just have to know where to look. Here’s hoping 2012 is even better!