Zombies have long been used as an allegory. From the Haitian legend that treated zombification as an extension of slavery to the Civil Rights and consumerist concerns of George A. Romero; from the mindless shuffle of everyday life in ‘Shaun of the Dead’ to the class divisions in ‘Train to […]
Vincent Gaine
Cruel Hands (2026) A Grim and Tense Domestic Horror of Flight and Fire
A simple premise has great potential, especially in genres that aim for a specific emotional reaction such as action and horror. In the case of Al Kalyk’s domestic horror film, CRUEL HANDS, the premise of a mother and child on the run from an abusive husband leads to an effective […]
The Odyssey (2026) Grounded & Terrifying, Nolan’s Boldest Adaptation to Date
‘The Odyssey’ is one of the foundational texts of Western literature, with adaptations ranging from Georges Méliès’ ‘L’île de Calypso: Ulysse et le géant Polyphème’ to the animated series ‘Ulysses 31’, Tony Robinson and Richard Curtis’ children’s book series ‘Odysseus: The Greatest Hero of Them All’ and ‘Odysseus II: The […]
Diabolic (2026) Conventionally plotted Religious Horror that drips with Dread and Atmosphere
The phrase ‘The following story is inspired by true events’ is a double-edged sword. It can serve as useful marketing, but the presence of such words can smack of lending your film additional gravitas, which raises the question why do we need that gravitas? The phrase will likely invite accusations […]
Red Riding (Glasgow Frightfest 2026)
The opening of Red Riding, and indeed the first act, may raise certain expectations in the viewer. The title, as well as an anecdote from a character, suggests that you are in for a particular type of film with various visual cues supporting this expectation, including artwork, a scientific explanation […]
The Ugly Stepsister (2025) A Beautifully Deranged Fairy Tale
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but it’s generally determined by the standards of society, and when that society is patriarchal, women suffer. It’s a fairly trite observation that’s the subject of a fascinating exploration in The Ugly Stepsister – a version of Cinderella that’s dark and malevolent […]
Grizzly Night (2026): A Sombre, Fact-Based Portrait of a Wilderness Tragedy
A rookie park ranger. A holidaying family. Two groups of teenagers. A chalet manager. A hiking couple. Several grizzly bears. These and more characters come together on a fateful night on which extraordinary odds led to dreadful happenings and major ramifications for humans and animals alike. This is the setting of […]
Potwash (2026, Short) An Intriguing and Enveloping Tale of Work, Music, and Escapism
Potwash, the latest film by East Anglian based filmmaker Josh Trett, is a portrait of initially familiar tropes, that receive an intriguing treatment. The titular Potwash, Isaac (Kyle Malan), is a shy pub kitchen worker. His employment and work colleagues occupy most of his time, and the film embraces this […]
Redux Redux (Imagine Film Festival 2025)
WARNING! This a film worth going into blind. While this review does not contain spoilers, it does outline the premise that it might be more fun to discover for yourself. Still here? Well then, let’s proceed. Revenge is a dish best served cold, or in the case of Redux Redux, […]
Horror in the Andes: Ayacuchean Cinema in the Making (Imagine 2025)
Academic analyses of film can sometimes be esoteric and alienating. References to theorists and terms like ‘mise-en-scene’, ‘postcolonialism’ and ‘intersectional understanding’ might cause readers to lose interest, and in some cases, annoy filmmakers. The documentary Horror in the Andes: Ayacuchean Cinema in the Making indicates such annoyance with its opening […]