December 2022 Review: The Best Movies I Saw Last Month

Originally published January 16, 2023

For me, 2022 ended on a very odd note. I got COVID-19 (again) right before Christmas and then spent my recovery spending time with my family. This led to me having little ability to write or watch movies so I am in the process of writing everything that is backlogged. The month itself brought some fun first-time watches but also plenty of poor or average ones too. I watched 22 new films and re-watched 5 films, unfortunately none of these re-watches are noteworthy enough to discuss. Here’s what I have to report back!

Re-Watch Highlight: N/A

BEST #6) Autopsy (1975); Director: Armando Crispino; Italy

Interning at a hospital and hoping to expand on her thesis surrounding fake suicides, a woman gets embroiled in a mystery that may endanger her life. After meeting a mysterious woman, the next day our heroine is horrified to discover the cadaver she is examining is her. As the bodies pile up, her mental state deteriorates. She is not alone in this battle. The brother of the deceased woman has come to down disguised as a priest for the purposes of uncovering the truth behind her death. Autopsy is a fun giallo out of Italy that adds an unusual flair to the typical proceedings. Hints of the supernatural, or else psychological elements, make this little proto-slasher difficult to predict. Of course, the overall plot leans into the trappings of the subgenre, but the additions make for an engaging watch. Fans of 70s Italian horror will be sufficiently satisfied with this and more casual watchers will find it endearing, even if its finale goes off the rails. There isn’t much to examine with Autopsy but that doesn’t stop it from being a damn good time.

Overall Score? 7/10

BEST #5) Hellhole (2022); Director: Bartosz N. Kowalski; Poland

Please check out the full review here.

Overall Score? 7/10

BEST #4) My Dear Killer (1972); Director: Tonino Valerii; Italy/Spain

Before any characters are properly introduced, a man is murdered by construction equipment near a lake. What’s worse is that he is fully decapitated. Police arrive on scene and are stunned at the brutality. They circle back to his family and deliver the news. As the story unfolds, more and more threads unravel leading to a series of bizarre clues and shocking revelations at the center of the case. Among them is the disappearance of a young girl who is the daughter of the victim. Another Italian giallo, My Dear Killer is a fun mystery with plenty of action-packed slasher sequences to enthrall viewers. The twists aren’t as easily broadcast and the setup makes it difficult to guess the killer. Once all is revealed, however, it makes perfect sense. The beauty of this little Italian gem is in its simplicity. The kills are memorable, the cast is strong, and its story is relatively tight considering the subgenre is known for its wacky antics. I promise that you will have fond memories of My Dear Killer if giallos are in your depths.

Overall Score? 7/10

BEST #3) Hypochondriac (2022); Director: Addison Heimann; United States