The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) - John Wayne and Jimmy Stewart are pitted against one another in the rare film that features both cinema icons. It’s directed by the arguably the finest filmmaker of the Western genre, John Ford. Ford’s real classic is The Searchers, but this late period Western sees Ford at his most pensive and looking back on his long career. It has an effect that gives the usual and still highly enjoyable tropes added emotional weight that makes Valance one of the best films of Ford’s career and necessary viewing for any fan of film.

Strike (1925) - Director Sergei Eisentein became internationally famous for his Marxist opus Battleship Potemkin, a film credited with inciting revolutionist attitudes that would satisfy any Marxist. Strike is a lesser seen film. Eisentein’s real claim to fame is the ‘montage’ visual style, where harshly contrasted images are put up against one another to imply arresting political ideas. For instance, cutting between the butchering of an animal and the rising tensions of a military crew. The power is in the juxtaposition. For a powerful history lesson and a fascinating watch, I highly recommend Strike. Plus, it’s short.

Antichrist (2009) - Only for the most twisted viewers. Antichrist is a plunge into surrealist horror with some of the most unhinged and brutal sequences in recent memory. Written and directed by Danish filmmaker Lars Von Trier, who in 2011 made the surprise art house hit Melancholia, Antichrist follows a couple who find refuge in a cabin deep in the woods after the death of their child. They begin to experience a series of otherworldly phenomena, and stars Charlotte Gainsbourg and Willem Dafoe bring their terror. Gainsbourg won best actress at Cannes for her performance, and it’s earned.