‘Alien: Romulus’ Director’s Favorite Film of 2024 Is ‘Inside Out 2’

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As a longtime fan of horror movies, I was taken aback when Fede Álvarez, the mastermind behind some of the most gruesome films like “Evil Dead” and “Don’t Breathe”, publicly declared his favorite film of 2024 to be none other than “Inside Out 2”. Now, I must admit, I was expecting him to pick something more akin to “Longlegs” or “Terrifier 3”. But this unexpected choice by Álvarez only serves to prove that even the most hardened horror filmmakers have soft spots.

Fede Álvarez, the director known for one of this year’s top horror films, “Alien: Romulus,” shares his preferred movie from the past year. One might expect him to select well-known horror titles like “Longlegs” or the brutal “Terrifier 3.” However, Álvarez has left everyone astounded by opting for a Disney animated film as his top pick of 2024 – yes, you read that right!

It’s accurate. It seems that the director behind films such as the gruesome “Evil Dead” and the intense “Don’t Breathe“, does indeed possess a tender heart, and he’s deeply in tune with his emotions. Álvarez has selected “Inside Out 2 ” as his top film of the year, and he even penned a short essay that was featured by Variety. The article, which also showcases the choices of Christopher Nolan, Chris Columbus, and Barry Jenkins for “best film of 2024,” includes a personal review of “Inside Out 2” by Álvarez. Here’s an extract:

I’ve consistently held the view that the most powerful achievement for a movie is to affect us profoundly, leaving an enduring mark on how we perceive life. The original “Inside Out” demonstrated the significance of occasionally permitting sadness into our children’s hearts, and our own, in a manner that has remained etched in my memory ever since.

As I settled in to watch Inside Out 2, my mind swirled with thoughts and preconceptions. Anticipating another profound life lesson, I found myself instead captivated by the tale’s hypnotic narrative. The sound of my children laughing, a testament to director Kelsey Mann’s impeccable craftsmanship, drew me in. With skillful finesse, Mann guided us through Riley’s initial teenage experiences and the clever interplay of her new emotions. Each plot development seemed organic and unavoidable.

Inside Out 2 delivers everything you’d anticipate from a sequel of the original Inside Out. It offers more feelings, more intensity. The primary human character, Riley, has entered puberty in this installment, which naturally amplifies emotions. Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust are the usual suspects; however, the story takes an interesting turn when lesser-known emotions like Anxiety and Envy make their appearance on the scene.

The long-awaited Pixar sequel served as a blockbuster hit for Disney, raking in approximately $1.7 billion at the box office and claiming the title of the highest-grossing animated film ever made. This success was a significant triumph for Disney, who also celebrated their win in distributing Deadpool & Wolverine, the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time. Interestingly, Álvarez’s Alien: Romulus was distributed by 20th Century Studios, a distribution company owned by Disney.

“Pixar at Its Best”

The director behind ‘Alien: Romulus’ commends the exceptional portrayal in ‘Inside Out 2’ of a universally relatable emotion – the trials of adolescence. We wholeheartedly concur with the director, as Pixar’s groundbreaking 2024 release masterfully embodies its theme, striking an exquisite balance to captivate both young and mature viewers with equal emotional impact, as per Álvarez’s sentiment.

As I watched Riley navigate her personal growth, it stirred memories of my own turbulent teenage years and the sense of being utterly adrift. Before long, melancholy made its presence known. Yet, this time, I invited it in, perhaps because I knew that the tears would eventually give way to a comforting hug – the kind that comes with realizing that those tumultuous teenage experiences we often believe are unique to our lives, are in fact widely shared among us all.

The sequel to “Inside Out” brought back memories of the incredible impact a fantastic movie can have. It’s laugh-out-loud funny, captivating, emotionally stirring, and truly showcases the brilliance of Pixar animation.

You can stream “Inside Out 2” on Disney+, whereas “Alien: Romulus” is available for streaming on Hulu. Interestingly, “Alien: Romulus” can also be temporarily rented or bought digitally from various online platforms.

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2024-12-19 00:33