The Whisper of Silence is the first film from El Salvador to be given a general release in the UK, and director Alfonso Quijada showcases the country in a way that is very attractive to the viewer. Normally an abundance of establishing shots would strike me as padding but here […]
Reviews
The Killer (2022) Less John Woo, More John Wick (Review)
One of the disadvantages of mainly consuming western cinema is that when one encounters films from further afield, there is a temptation to find western equivalents. Then again, it is also fair to say that much of the cinematic output of China, Japan and Korea has been influenced by Hollywood, […]
V/H/S 99 (2022) Ambitious Latest Entry into Found Footage Anthology Franchise (Review)
“I think America’s got a huge rage revolution on the way. Everyone is so mad. Everyone’s Daddies got too rich.” CONTAINS SPOILERS Found footage is one of my favourite subgenres. It blurs the line between real and choreographed. The remnants of internet dark myths reverberate through every found footage endeavour. […]
The Cow Who Sang a Song into the Future (2022)(Review)
No, you’re quite right, we need to address that title first. What kind of film do you think The Cow Who Sang a Song into the Future might be? Some fusion of Disney singalong and science fiction, maybe, a cross between Home on the Range and Ulysses 31. Sadly, Francesca […]
The Outwaters (2022) A Brave New Nightmarish Hellscape for Found Footage (Review)
Four friends take a trip to the Mojave desert to film a music video, with the plan to camp out for a few days. What they find is a terrifying cosmic descent into fear, madness and murder When first approaching The Outwaters, as a fan of the found footage subgenre, […]
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. […]
George A. Romero’s Martin (1977) Vampire horror through the hazy gaze of an Antisocial Creep (Review)
Martin (1977) is the fifth film from George Romero, coming hot on the heels of The Crazies (1973). It follows the eponymous Martin, a troubled young man who believes he is an 84-year-old vampire. This belief is endorsed by many of his family members who call him Nosferatu and spend […]
Leave (2022) surprising blend of Nordic noir, supernatural chiller and social commentary (Review)
Norway is a remarkable country, beautiful and foreboding all at once. The mountains and fjords speak of a wild landscape, while the universal health care and welcoming cities indicate a peak of civilisation. It is a country with a strong religious history, with over 60% identifying as Christian and only […]
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 […]
Punk Samurai (2018) Samurai Comedy Anarchy that we’ve never seen the likes of before (Review)
Punk Samurai, also known as Punk Samurai Slash Down (a title still retained on the main menu screen of this Blu-Ray release), is a title that evokes mental images of Jidaigeki or Chanbara epics, but with a modern twist, and in many ways that is exactly what it is… and […]