Moody, atmospheric, emotional and cerebral are words that best describe the films of French-Canadian film director Denis Villeneuve. Villenueve, the director behind box-office hits such as “Arrival,” “Sicario” and “Prisoners,” as well as the acclaimed gems “Blade Runner 2049” and “Incendies,” is the winner of the “Filmmaker of the Decade” award from the Hollywood Critics Association. Part of what makes Villenueve special is his versatility in film: he has made widely loved crime thrillers, sci-fi and dramatic action. Want to jump in but don’t know where to start? Here’s a guide to all of Villenueve’s most relevant works. 

Polytechnique (2009)

“Polytechnique” is one of Villeneueve’s first films and it shows. The work is a retelling of the École Polytechnique massacre of 1989, one of the deadliest mass shootings in Canadian history. Some aspects of Villeneueve’s genius shine through: creative cinematography, a chilling tone and courage to tackle disturbing subjects, but this is his only film I cannot recommend. This depicts the shooting in brutal detail, with much of the film being the shooting itself. While these scenes build extreme tension and emotion, his ability to draw greater themes, as seen in his later films, is absent. This only succeeds in showing the audience that mass shootings are terrible. Is that a morally useful piece of art? This felt disturbing just to be disturbing. Only check it out if you’re a big fan of Villeneueve’s other work. 

Incendies (2010)

“Incendies” is Villenueve’s first great film. This tells the story of twins Jeanne and Simon after the death of their mysterious mother. The mother leaves the twins two letters, and tells them to deliver the first letter to their father and the second letter to their brother. The only problem is they don’t have a brother, and they thought their father died at war. This leads them on a search in their mother’s native country to find not only their father and brother, but to also learn the hidden story of their mother’s life. This is a masterclass in pacing — the film is over two hours long, yet feels like an hour and a half. I love how the film cuts back and forth between the past and the present, and as the twins find more information about the mother, we see exactly what happened in flashback form. This is a harrowing film, containing some extreme violence and tragedy. While I was watching, I didn’t understand the purpose for visually showing such tragedies, but the ending makes everything work. If you want a thrilling and tragic emotional rollercoaster, check it out. 

Enemy (2013)

“Enemy” is Villenueve’s strangest film. This is a mystery-thriller unafraid to confuse you. Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, the film revolves around a college professor who finds his doppelgänger. This is unlike any other Villenueve film in that some things shown are not meant to be taken literally. This is a masterful character study with a typical mind-blowing performance from Gyllenhaal, but this is one of a couple of his films I would not recommend to everyone. If you enjoy movies that challenge you to find your own interpretation, or if you are okay with leaving a movie knowing less than when you started, this is a must-see. Still, even as someone who had to look up what this film meant, the suspense of the mystery, the purposefully off-putting color palette, the staggering visuals and foreboding music all made this an enjoyable experience. Don’t forget your thinking cap.

Prisoners (2013)

“Prisoners” is my favorite Villeneueve film and my second favorite film of all time. The movie is about the abduction of two children and focuses on one of the fathers, played by Hugh Jackman. Jake Gyllenhaal plays Detective Loki, a harsh but determined cop on the case. The film is an exploration of vigilantism, justice and abuse. This is a perfect film; the acting from both Jackman and Gyllenhaal is unbelievable. Jackman sells heartbreak and desperation and Gyllenhaal completely transforms into his character. It’s a masterclass in mood: the somber music, the rainy town and the muted color palette synthesize to an emotionally-draining experience. All the characters are well developed and compliment the themes of the film. Villeneueve also reveals his uncanny ability to bring gushing emotion from simple cues. This film is consistently thrilling and intense, the two and a half hour run time flies by. Most of all, I love how this film explores its central themes. This is a heavy watch, but it feels justified considering its purpose. If you want to avoid downers, skip this. If you can handle it, you will be floored.

Sicario (2015)

“Sicario” is an action-thriller starring Emily Blunt as an FBI agent as she gets recruited for a CIA mission to bring justice to two of her fallen officers killed in a drug bust. Do not get fooled by the description — this is no typical action movie. Villeneueve takes the genre and makes it his own: this film is atmospheric, unnerving and engaging. In particular, the cinematography and score are phenomenal. With constant low, droning horns, the music gives you a persistent sense of dread. The camera work is mindblowing: it makes you feel like you are on the team with them. Some of the coolest shots appear through night-vision goggles, drones and other military technology. This film also masterfully develops its themes regarding war, crime and justice. This is not my favorite film of his, but it’s still one of my favorite action movies. If you are looking for an action flick with more than just explosions, “Sicario” is a great choice. 

Arrival (2016)

“Arrival” is Villeneuve’s first science-fiction movie and it’s respectable. The film takes place during an alien invasion where a linguist, played by Amy Adams, is hired to help decipher the aliens’ language while simultaneously coping with her daughter’s death. While this is one of my least favorite Villeneueve films, there are still many things to love. The visuals, especially the aliens and their spacecraft, are astonishing. This combined with the music creates a mind-bending experience. The biggest problem with this film is the pacing; Villeneueve’s movies tend to be on the slower side, but the atmosphere and thematic elements normally keep me invested. Here, the film didn’t quite keep my interest. Nonetheless, I would still recommend “Arrival” to any cerebral sci-fi fan. 

Blade Runner 2049 (2017)

“Blade Runner 2049” is a sequel to one of the most critically acclaimed sci-fi films of all time, “Blade Runner.” Oftentimes with remakes or sequels to old classics, the follow-up falls flat on its face. “Blade Runner 2049” did the impossible: Villeneuve surpassed the classic. Ryan Gosling stars as Agent K, and he gives a beautifully subtle, heartbreaking performance as the film features a brilliant story about what it means to be a hero. This film is the most visually-impressive film I have ever seen by using its genre to its full potential: the colors and set pieces are unforgettable. The score by Hans Zimmer and Benjamin Wallfisch supports the visuals flawlessly. However, this film is not  just a visual feast. I recommend going into this movie blind, but even if you don’t, you’ll have one of the most immersive film experiences of your life. Watch it on the biggest screen.

Edited by Elise Mulligan | emulligan@themaneater.com