FIlm Review
Film Review: I, Olga
In 1975 Olga Hepnarová was the last woman executed in Czechoslovakia. As with Ruth Ellis, who was the last woman to receive the death penalty in the UK, people are fascinated by female killers. Indeed, you’d be hard-pressed to name the last men hanged in Britain whilst Ellis is well-known. In 1973 Hepnarová drove her …
Film Review: Panic
David Gyasi is one of a (thankfully) growing number of young black British actors beginning to make their way in Hollywood. Along with David Oyelowo and John Boyega, they’re following hot on the heels of Idris Elba. Gyasi starred in his first film in 2003, but spent many years working in TV before he finally …
Film Review: Dog Eat Dog
Paul Schrader’s name will forever be part of Hollywood folklore. The American director, screenwriter and film critic has been a part of some of the greatest films of the twentieth century. He worked with Scorsese on Taxi Driver, The Last Temptation of Christ, Raging Bull and Bringing Out the Dead. As a director, he’s best …
TV Review: The Killing Season
With the success of the podcast Serial and the Netflix TV series Making a Murderer, documentary investigations into miscarriages of justice and crimes have never been more popular. Traditional confidence and belief in our law enforcement agencies and the court system has been shown time and again to be misplaced. The latest project from Executive …
Blu-ray Review: The Small World of Sammy Lee
London was a very different place in the early 1960s. No area more so than Soho. At the beginning of a decade which would put swinging London on the map, Soho had a reputation of being seedy and dangerous. Whilst tame by today’s standards, at the time many of the clubs and shops were considered …
Celluloid Screams Review: The Autopsy of Jane Doe
The mythos and terror surrounding ghosts, ghouls, demons and the occult has long fascinated film makers and cinema goers alike. Whether it’s Bram Stoker’s Dracula, M.R. James’ ghost stories, fairy tales, Twilight or traditional folklore, people are seemingly transfixed by the unknown or supernatural. This is particularly the case in film, especially around Halloween where …
Film Review: Francofonia
Aleksandr Sokurov is probably best known for his one-shot documentary/cinematic love letter to The Hermitage Museum, Russian Ark. However, he’s spent much of his directorial career working in narrative fiction. His chief focus has been on people. Almost all his work, including The Sun, Alexandra and The Second Circle, are studies of relationships. In his …
Blu-ray Review: La Grande Vadrouille
It’s fair to say that the Colonial European powers have a long and bloody history of not getting along. Since World War II, this has mainly manifested itself in political bickering. However, there no shortage of gentle ribbing, to all out abuse, in European film and TV fare. From ‘Allo, ‘Allo! to Luc Besson’s Taxi! …
Celluloid Screams Review: Antibirth
Women have traditionally fared badly in horror films. Staying alive is one thing, but if they manage to keep their clothes on for the duration, it’s a minor miracle. Not to mention being hacked, slashed and tortured, often simply for the pleasure of the audience. You’ll find no lady-like behaviour on show in In Danny …
Film Review: Rupture
As a sub-genre, captivity horror is one which lends itself to low budgets and sinks or swims based on the script and acting. Unfortunately, all too often directors rely on exploitation and body horror to provide thrills (Hostel anyone?). However, films such as the SAW and Cube series demonstrate what can be achieved with a …