From its influence on pop culture to the music scenes popping up in every corner of the world, it’s frustrating as a signed-up fan of punk rock to be forever told that it is dead. For one, no music scene can truly die, and two, where is the rebellious spirit […]
From the Festivals
Son of Adam (London International Fantastic Film Fest 2024)
The late film critic Manny Faber had an evocative phrase for the kind of movies he preferred. He called them “termite art”, as opposed to the “white elephant art” that proliferates in awards seasons and major festivals. The termite artist was small and unobtrusive, spurning the flash, technique and classicism […]
Favourite Discoveries (London Film Festival 2024) Feat. Last Swim, Stimming Pool & More!
To cap off my coverage of London Film Festival I want to spotlight six of my favourite discoveries from this year. There’s nothing quite like sitting down and discovering a new voice, an emerging actor or experiencing a fresh way of challenging perceptions. Mahmood Bakri and Aram Sabbah deliver stunning […]
Memoir of a Snail, the Order and More: Montclair Film Festival 2024 in Snapshot
The Montclair Film Festival is held in Montclair New Jersey at the Clairridge (A non-profit cinema in the area) every year during October. The festival includes American films, foreign films, short films and documentaries. Some of the films that were shown this year included Anora, The Order, The Piano Lesson, […]
6 Things Not To Miss at Soho Horror Festival (2024 Curtain Raiser)
The end of November sees the award-winning Soho Horror Festival return to Brixton – 3 days of fresh and independent horror that is certain to make jaws drop, entertain and raise the flag for us horror weirdos. The line-up has something for everyone, dipping into many different sub-genres but here […]
Documentary Competition (London Film Festival 2024) Feat. Mother Vera, The Shadow Scholars and Seeking Mavis Beacon
For whatever reason, I’ve unfairly neglected the Documentary Competition at London Film Festival. This year, I sort of stumbled upon it. I think the best thing about LFF is that, if you go looking, you’ll always find a good surprise. As I was unable to make it into town most […]
The Headliners (London Film Festival 2024) Feat. Hard Truths, Bird & The End
I love London Film Festival. As soon as the summer rolls around I’m counting down the days until the festival kicks off. My short film V played in the festival in 2017 and being granted a filmmaker’s pass was like finding a golden ticket. We saw over forty films that […]
Delivery Run (Grimmfest 2024)
Online food delivery workers finally get their moment in the headlights in Joel Palmroos’ wintry rendition of Steven Spielberg’s road rage classic Duel. Getting it’s World Premiere at the recent Grimmfest, Delivery Run is a Finnish production set in Minnesota USA but seamlessly filmed entirely in Lapland. The story revolves […]
Sayara (Grimmfest 2024)
Fan favourite director Can Evrenol, whose 2015 film Baskin was well-received in horror circles, had a new film playing this past weekend at Grimmfest, and although it’s not a horror per se, there are certainly grim, dark, and horrific parts to it. Sayara is a quiet young woman from Turkmenistan […]
Children of the Wicker Man (Grimmfest 2024)
The Wicker Man (1973) needs no introduction. To many, myself included, Robin Hardy’s folk-horror classic is considered one of the greatest British horror films – heck, perhaps horror films in general – of all time. However, to two of the director’s sons, Justin and Dominic Hardy, The Wicker Man is […]