Stephen King must be the most adapted author in horror: there are over 60 direct efforts to bring his work to the big screen. The number of movies that those 60 have inspired or the sequels they have spawned, his influence is indisputable. One of the weirder is the Children […]
Rob Simpson
Chief Editor
Host of the Uncut Network. With a love of movies kicked off by Hong Kong Action and Claymation Monsters, Rob has forever been cradled in the bosom of Cinema. Rob has his hands in many a pie, including no budget film making. Filthy
Cat O Nine Tails (1971) Dario Argento’s Grizzly Americanised Giallo (Review)
In 1970, Dario Argento came flying out of the gates with one of the best genre debuts you’re likely to see. Bird with the Crystal Plumage not only made a lot of money on the international box-office, it also made Argento a name on the international scene. He followed that […]
PTU (2003) The work of a heroic bloodshed artist (Review)
Hong Kong Action, when you hear that term, a few things come to mind – first will be one of the biggest movie stars of the past 40 years, Jackie Chan. Second is balletic shootouts, thanks to John Woo, Tsui Hark and Ringo Lam and their stunningly choreographed movies that […]
Blow Out (1981) Travolta & De Palma’s Masterpiece (Review)
Getting right to it, the 1981 movie, Blow Out, is Brian De Palma’s masterpiece – with Carrie a close second. The Philadelphia shot movie is based on Antonioni’s 1966 classic, Blow-Up, albeit with all the danger and purpose of the New Hollywood era and a focus on the craft of […]
Vengeance Trails (1966-70) Four Classic Westerns (Review)
Westerns have always been one of the more troubling genres for me, not because of any traits or questionable standards, on the contrary, I love martial arts cinema which is far more problematic on that level. My problem with westerns is that I am not a fan, and from the […]
The Psychic (1977) Style, legacy, and Lucio Fulci’s Halloween 3 (Review)
Lucio Fulci, there’s a name from horror cinema that has a unique legacy. Known for the like of The Beyond, City of the Living Dead and Zombie Flesh Eaters – his filmography is one of over the top gore and nightmare logic, well, logic is a strong word, his films […]
Boys from County Hell (2020) Deliriously Dark Irish Comedy Horror (Review)
First made as a 17-minute short in 2013, Boys from County Hell continues the tear that Irish horror has been on in recent years. The emerald isle has been punching way above its weight, delivering some of the most compelling new low-budget horror movies made anywhere in world cinema. While […]
Daimajin Trilogy (1966) A forgotten kaiju trilogy with a unique shintoist spin (Review)
There are two telling facts that need establishing first and foremost when discussing Arrow Video’s new release of the Daimajin trilogy. The studio landscape for the monster movie was divided between Toho and Daiei. Toho had the spoils with Godzilla and Mothra, whereas Daiei had Gamera and the Daimajin. Secondly, […]
One-Armed Boxer (1972) The Good, The Shaft and the Okinawan Karate Vampire (Review)
Perhaps I should’ve seen this coming. When I watched the cult favourite, Master of the Flying Guillotine, the arrival of the bad guy was scored by krautrock legends Neu!. While not strictly legal, this use of music made the threat to the heroes feel more dangerous and substantial than any […]
Encounters of a Spooky Kind (1980) Funny and Spooky, the perfect antidote to a bad day (Review)
Sammo is much more than Jackie Chan’s friend and co-collaborator and the butt of so many fat jokes in the 80s and 90s, he also happens to be one of the best action directors Hong Kong cinema ever produced. At his peak he was just as good behind the camera […]