When I previewed the movies coming in October, I listed Moonlight and Christine as must-see titles. For some reason, Hollywood decided a suburb of Dallas, Texas wasn’t the best place to screen either title. Therefore, I had to omit them from consideration when constructing this list. I’m opening with this information because I don’t have many other selections otherwise. Regretfully, October has been a lackluster month, which could be a metaphor for the entire year. When deciding on the best October 2016 films, it was definitely a struggle, but these features are still really great and deserve your attention. Here’s my list of the 5 best October films.
– The Accountant –
When reviewing The Accountant here on HorrorGeekLife, I acknowledged the mixed reaction this action-thriller received and questioned the logic behind it. Ben Affleck continues his upward trend as an actor after a string of bad decisions in the 2000s, and really hits home the personality and subtle nuances of an autistic man in his portrayal. On top of the great leading performance, you have fluid, riveting action that seems directly inspired by John Wick‘s gun-play. While the first 30 minutes could’ve benefited from pacing improvements, the rest of the movie delivers in story and character development. While I’m insecure in justifying a full theater ticket price to see Accountant, I definitely recommend this to action die-hard fans, who will appreciate this engaging film, when it’s on demand.
– The Handmaiden –
The Handmaiden was my most anticipated for the month of October, and what do you know? It’s my favorite out of these 5 best October 2016 films. Korean director Park Chan-wook is back in a big way, telling a simplistic drama in an intricately complex way. In his signature style, he plugs in the occasional weird scene or brutally violent sequence, but these moments never feel out of place or mismatched tonally. The non-linear narrative that switches perspectives when you least expect it creates an exquisite, memorable cinematic experience, accompanied by the stunning cinematography and periodically poetic dialogue. This was not just one of the best October 2016 films; it was one of the best of 2016 period. Expect this picture to come up again when I divulge my end-of-year favorites.
– In a Valley of Violence –
Don’t let the unassuming, low-key, on-demand-only livelihood of In a Valley of Violence fool you. This is the western I wished that The Magnificent Seven remake was in every aspect, which I expressed disappointment in throughout my review. Fortunately, we have well-versed writers here at HGL with great taste that introduced me to this gem (thanks Curt), and you can read that full review here. Writer/director/editor/executive producer/genius Ti West tasked himself with the entire feature and it’s evident he’s capable of a wondrous balancing act. The dialogue in this film is poetic in a different way than The Handmaiden, but sharp and smart by western standards. Ethan Hawke and John Travolta turn in tremendous performances and it’s clear the entire cast, down to the extras, are having a blast on set. I’m surprised there are two best October 2016 films with a direct John Wick inspiration, yet this one is more like Wick in premise than action but with more gravitas. This is the best western starring Hawke from this year, and you *need* to see it (after you see the absolute best 2016 western, Hell or High Water).
– Justin Timberlake + the Tennessee Kids –
I was going to write my thoughts on the Justin Timberlake + the Tennessee Kids concert-documentary using exclusively Timberlake song titles, but I stopped the feeling. Regardless of your musical tastes, this man literally has no quit in him and he’s entertaining as hell in any medium. This concert was 90 minutes of straight singing and dancing, and that’s the trimmed down version! His concerts were more in the neighborhood of 2 hours and 30 minutes from this tour. The major feature that deserves commending is director Jonathan Demme (yes, the same director who did The Silence of the Lambs) and his ability to capture the action in a way cinephiles like me can appreciate, even during the slow songs. If you’re bored on a Friday night, don’t be afraid to let yourself have a good time watching this on Netflix. It’s pure joy.
– Under the Shadow –
The next in the best October 2016 films is a Persian-language independent horror film titled Under the Shadow. Using the 1979 Iranian revolution and its subsequent war as a backdrop, the main character Shideh is resigned to being a stay-at-home mom after her doctor husband leaves to provide his services to the wounded elsewhere in the country. She was kicked out of her college due to her participation in the Iranian revolution, which plays a huge part into her psychology, which is brilliantly acted by Narges Rashidi. Her daughter loses a doll that’s of sentimental value to her, and Shideh stays in the dangerous city to help her find it. However, there are supernatural elements at play that lead to the scares and suspense of the film. This movie is along the lines of The Witch in terms of a slow burn, but the payoff is much more gratifying and all of it is visually creative like The Babadook. If you’ve been a fan of the original horror offerings so far this year, you’ll love Under the Shadow.
