After a big-hitting start to the year, February made way for independent cinema to shine through. That being said, there was still room for one of the biggest blockbuster hits of the year.
So let's take a look at the best films from February 2016.
5) Welcome to Leith
This documentary sees a group of Neo-Nazi's and well-known racists try to take over the miniature rural town of Leith. With a population of just 24, Leith has to band together to fight an invasion of intimidation and hatred.
Particularly poignant in the current political climate, Welcome to Leith raises questions about the balance between retaining the freedoms that makes America so great and trying to put an end to these virulent hate groups.
Directors Michael Nichols and Christopher K. Walker perfectly interweave intense, anxiety-filled and enraging scenes with stunning images of vast South Dakotan vistas to leave juxtaposing tastes of disgust and hope.
4) Bone Tomahawk
As Westworld takes the television world by storm, there appears to be a growing thirst for tales of violence, savagery and pure horror on the American Frontier.
Bone Tomahawk delivers exactly that.
This slow-burn Western serves up a rescue plot that is reminiscent of John Ford's The Searchers (1956). The tremendously well-judged performances of Kurt Russell, Matthew Fox, Richard Jenkins and Patrick Wilson keep the Film at a simmer before a gruesomely thrilling finale.
3) Meru
This gem of a documentary pits the limits of human determination and sheer will against a breathtakingly beautiful but unforgivably perilous landscape.
The near-impossible to conquer Mount Meru provides the ultimate for the world's most talented and daring climbers. This film follows a group as they attempt to become the first to reach Meru's summit.
The cinematography of Jimmy Chin should not be underestimated. He does an excellent job of capturing the ascent and it makes for jaw-dropping viewing, particularly a scene which features Jose Gonzalez's song Heartbreats.
Meru is an inspiring and persistently astonishing film.
2) Chronic
In the month that gave us the most outrageous and brass film of the year, we also got one of the most quietly thought-provoking and sobering films in recent years.
In his English-language debut, Michael Franco gives an unapologetically realist look at a caregiver for the terminally ill. Tim Roth's performance of incredible control and subtly makes this tough-to-watch film compulsory viewing for the ardent movie-goer.
1) Deadpool
Let's face it; the comic book film market is dangerously oversaturated. 2016 has proved there is still potential for these big-money genre films to fail - especially when you prematurely throw Batman and Superman on the big screen together.
However, deadpool found a way to harness this growing fatigue to create something fresh, fun and different. A lot is owed to the two forces that make this film tick: an 'R' rating and Ryan Reynolds.
There is room for satire, subversion, ridicule and more, as Reynolds pushes unexplored boundaries to provide 108 minutes of riotous entertainment.
