Despite not getting to see several exciting motion pictures this year, including Equity, Hell or High Water, Tower and Hacksaw Ridge, this was a pretty good year. Without further ado, my Top Ten:

 1. Nerve. I admire the originality on display here. Every second of Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman’s digital age thriller kept me enthralled.

 2. Don’t Breathe. With no eyes to establish an emotional connection, Stephen Lang uses far more aggressive body language. He’s my choice for Best Supporting Actor.

3. The Shallows. Proving that shark thrillers don’t have to be dumb or toothless, director Jaume-Collet Serra and actress Blake Lively combine their talents. As a genre icon, this film runs second only to Steven Spielberg’s Jaws.

4. Arrival. A seemingly unoriginal premise – aliens visiting Earth – undergoes a unique transformation from the inside out. Kudos to screenwriter Eric Heisserer.

5. Bleed for This. An inspirational underdog story like Rocky or Cinderella Man. Sublime acting from Miles Teller, Aaron Eckhart and Ciaran Hinds.

6. Ouija: Origin of Evil. Not everybody’s Earl Grey, yet horror can move between imitation and innovation. Mike Flanagan’s film occupies the latter category with distinction.

7. Doctor Strange. One of my favourite blockbusters from 2016, despite sharing more or less the same title as the famous 1964 Stanley Kubrick picture.

8. The BFG. Steven Spielberg created a warm glow around my heart. Featuring a very good score by John Williams. Textbook woodwinds.

9. 10 Cloverfield Lane. From start to finish, I was hooked waiting to see what happened next. Strong performances, a delightful ‘what if’ scenario and claustrophobic tension set to the tune of Bear McCreary.

10. The Nice Guys. Truly the finest Russell Crowe movie I have encountered in ten years. Instantly wanted to revisit Shane Black’s comedy if only to indulge in the numerous sight gags.