At Grimmfest 2023, this critic asked director Raymond Wood if he considered Faceless after Dark to be a ‘woke’ film. He replied that he didn’t like the term, it was too vague and reductive, but described it as a feminist film from a man who considers himself a feminist ally. […]
Vincent Gaine
Give Me An A (Grimmfest 2023)(Review)
Few things could be more horrific than the loss of bodily autonomy, but in June 2022 millions of women across the USA lost theirs when the landmark case Roe V Wade was overturned, removing the right to abortion. Since then, many cases and protests have arisen, as well as various […]
Daliland (2023) Shrugs at the eccentricity of artists without rolling its eyes (Review)
Think of Salvador Dali and it’s likely that some weird images come to mind, maybe of melting clocks, long-legged elephants and perhaps a moustache curled to the point of preposterousness. That’s all well and iconic, but what do you actually know about the man? Artists occupy a peculiar space in […]
Grimmfest 2023 Line-Up
‘The horror we are showcasing this year is interior, intelligent, engaged and explosive. It delights in the genre as much as it bends and redefines it. We are so proud of our 2023 lineup and so excited to share it with you all.’ (Acting co-director Leonie Rowland) Manchester’s International Festival […]
The Moor (Frightfest 2023)(Review)
The landscapes of Britain can suggest a rustic charm and beauty, but they’re also ripe for folk horrors like The Wicker Man and Enys Men. Some of the most evocative locations are the various moors scattered across the land, which can be everything from the setting of Sir Arthur Conan […]
Quicksand (2023) Survival Horror, and when it’s the right time to Suck (Review)
Survival horror works by pitting humanity against nature and the elements. The sub-genre, therefore, taps into fears of the unknown, the uncontrollable, and the insurmountable. This could be a mountain, a river, the sea, or a cave, and dangerous beasties are optional. QUICKSAND, directed by Andres Beltran and written by […]
Frightfest 2023 Preview
The annual FrightFest programme has been released, with new films and classics alike jostling for space at Cineworld Leicester Square and the Prince Charles Cinema. This year, the festival welcomes Pigeon Shrine as its new headline sponsor supporting the five-day event that runs from Thursday 24th to Monday 28th August. […]
Little Bone Lodge (2023) When Little, this Lodge offers plenty to Chill the Bones (Review)
The home invasion sub-genre is characterised by claustrophobia, intensity and genuine scares. Unsurprisingly, it often works as a chamber piece, with a small cast, limited locations and threatening mise-en-scene. One of the key themes is the tension between inner and outer, a theme made all the more apparent in Little […]
Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975) A Beguiling & Intriguing work that put Australian Movies on the Map (Review)
Peter Weir is a director with an eclectic career. From Witness to Dead Poets Society to The Truman Show to Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, Weir’s subject matter and indeed style have rarely fit into easily identifiable boxes. His first international success, 1975’s Picnic at Hanging […]
Illusion (Review) (Kinoteka Festival 2023)
The spectre of a missing person creates a different type of distress than death, because not knowing is a unique form of anguish. While there may be grief over the strong possibility that the missing person is dead, this grief is hard to process when the lack of certainty adds […]