Here’s a list of 2014’s most underappreciated…

If youre looking for a decidedly atypical horror film,The Sacramentis well worth watching.

Yet there are two reasons why it sits here.

Firstly, given the lack of decent family films in summer 2014,Earth To Echostood out.

Furthermore, its rare to see a good, live-action adventure thats aimed purely at a younger audience.

Secondly, its really rather enjoyable.Earth To Echohas limits, and holes are not tricky to pick in it.

Its also, bluntly, excellent.

Life After Beth

A romantic comedy with zombies?

SoLife After Bethnever really tries.

And then who just happens to come back to life.

As, yknow, a zombie.

Only to, well, gradually start appearing again.

Paul Reisers in there too.

But its Plaza in particular who makesLife After Betha joy.

May she continue to seek out adventurous indie fare and resist the call of the blockbuster.

Because it seems she can spot a decent script a mile off right now.

Cold In July

LikeBlue Ruin,Cold In Julyis another unmissable low-budget thriller.

Even at this stage in his long career, Gilliam remains a mischievous, vibrant and iconoclastic director.

Gutierrez puts so many ideas on the screen that theres something really quite irresistible about the end result.

Very moving, and politically challenging, its one of the best documentaries of 2014.

Mark Kermode on his radio show framed this well, arguing thatThe Riot Clubdidnt feel angry enough.

But Im not sure I agree.

And the last thing I hit was my thumb with a hammer in 2009.

And in truth, director Lone Schefig doesnt look for too many other angles on this.

And it has the most hateful ensemble of characters of any 2014 release.

Most of all,A Most Wanted Manis a must-see for Hoffmans weary, captivating performance.

Its a fitting testament to the enormity of his talent.

Hardy plays a quiet barman whos drawn into an increasingly brutal cycle of violence when a robbery goes wrong.

ButStarred Up?Good grief, hes really something special here.

Before long, the trio are drawn into a tangled web of murder, deceit and false identities.

But while reviews were largely positive, Michods post-apocalyptic thriller sneaked out on a limited release in US cinemas.

No less a figure than Quentin Tarantino praisedThe Roveras a mesmerising, visionary achievement.

And who are we to argue?