The Black Mass January 14th, 1978. While a mysterious man shaves, a warped voiceover explains how murderers have no identifiable features, which means that anybody in your life could be demonic. That chilling realisation lingers as the unnamed man (Andy Sykes), walks into a store intending to charm people, pick […]
James Rodrigues
The Circus Tent (1978) – A documentary-esque look at the drifting lifestyle of the marginalised [Review]
![The Circus Tent (1978) – A documentary-esque look at the drifting lifestyle of the marginalised [Review]](https://i0.wp.com/thegeekshow.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Thamp-Director-Aravindan-Govindan-with-Cinematographer-Shaji-N.-Karun-2.jpg?fit=640%2C360&ssl=1)
Known as Thamp̄, a title which translates into The Circus Tent, the acclaimed third film of Indian writer/director Govindan Aravindan was once thought to be lost. The Film Heritage Foundation spent nearly eight painstaking months restoring the film from a duplicate negative taken from a 35mm print and managed to […]
Samurai Reincarnation (1981) – Theatrical bombast meets relevant messages (Review)
Adapting Futaro Yamada’s 1967 novel, Samurai Reincarnation, writer/director Kinji Fukasaku crafts a historical fantasy which begins over 350 years ago following the Shimabara Rebellion. A revolt led to thousands of Christians being slaughtered by the Tokugawa regime, as horrifically conveyed within a display of severed heads – with many split […]
The Bride Wore Black (1968) – An elegantly constructed tale of vengeance (Review)
Based on the novel by Cornell Woolrich (who published it under the pseudonym William Irish), François Truffaut’s sixth feature as a solo director, The Bride Wore Black, was a dark and influential tale of vengeance. An intriguing opening sees Julie Kohler (Jeanne Moreau) prevented from committing suicide by her mother. […]
The Virgin Suicides (1999) – the haunting, silencing cries for help (Blu-Ray Review)
As gentle music plays across the opening moments (of the Virgin Suicides), a sunny day captures families playing outside within a sleepy suburb. This picture-perfect glimpse at the neighbourhood is contrasted with an indoor scene, as Cecilia Lisbon (Hanna R. Hall) – the youngest of five sisters – attempts suicide. […]
Cutter’s Way (1981) – A fascinating search for the abandoned American Dream (Blu-Ray Review)
Opening Cutter’s Way with an on-screen parade, director Ivan Passer takes something which should be celebratory and distorts it to a slow-motion scene, unfolding in monochrome colours to Jack Nitszche’s haunting score. As the camera focuses on a blonde girl dancing in front, there’s an unsettling quality to this celebration […]
Fill er Up With Super (1976) – A charming road trip on the highway of friendship(Review)
As a revving engine opens Fill er up with Super, co-writer/director Alain Cavalier highlights the vehicular linchpin to the unfolding story. Car salesman Klouk (Bernard Crombey) is initially seen dealing with a prospective seller, combating every query which attempts to lower the asking price for a desired car. After a […]
Enter Santo: The First Adventures of the Silver Masked Man (1961) Fascinating Mexican cinematic history (Blu-Ray Review)
One of Mexico’s most famous luchadores, El Santo was a heroic wrestler and folk hero who wore an iconic silver mask. Since his first film in 1961, he led a popular action-movie series where he amassed over fifty starring roles. Indicator has collected El Santo’s first two films, both directed […]
Royal Warriors (1986) – Fast-paced action with little regard for human life (Blu-Ray Review)
After the success of 1985’s Yes, Madame!, Hong Kong production company D & B Films spent the next decade releasing of series of thematically-linked features. Known by the series name In The Line of Duty, director David Chung reteamed with Michelle Yeoh for another entry into the girls-with-guns genre with […]
Adrift In Tokyo (2007) – An understated gem thankfully rediscovered (Blu-Ray Review)
Writer/Director Satoshi Miki opens his film with a curious moment, as law student Fumiya Takemura (Joe Odagiri) hopes buying three-colour toothpaste will save him from his rock-bottom circumstances. The situation reveals itself when loan shark Aiichiro Fukuhara (Tomokazu Miura) bursts in, demanding the debt he’s owed be paid back in […]