Film
Film Review: Beasts Clawing at Straws
There’s no country which makes thrillers quite like those produced in South Korea. Whilst the plots themselves might often sound fairly straightforward; the journey rarely is. The land of the morning calm has produced some of the best and most iconic examples of the genre this century, whilst still retaining a cult edge. The likes …
Film Review: Dreamland
Following the Wall Street Crash of October 1929, America was thrown into a decade of high unemployment, deflation and widespread poverty. This period came to be known as the Great Depression and spread across much of the developed and developing world. Growing up during this time was hard, to say the least. Opportunities were scarce …
Blu-Ray Review: Devil in a Blue Dress
Since the late 1980s, Denzel Washington has proven time and time again that he’s one of the best American actors working in cinema today. In 1987, he received his first Academy Award nomination for Cry Freedom, following it up a couple of years later with a win for Glory. He has subsequently gone on to …
Film Review: Archenemy
Over the past couple of decades, superhero films have become big business. The biggest business in town. This is largely, if not wholly, down to Marvel and the Marvel Comic Universe. Since the release of Iron Man in 2008, and the acquisition of the studio by Disney, it has become a multi-billion-dollar industry. Each film …
Xmas Horror Nights – Red Screening
Imagine, you’ve waited months to see a film at the cinema just to have it spoiled by inconsiderate people during the screening. Audience members talking, playing with their phones or getting up and down all the time. To have an experience ruined and be frequently ‘pulled out’ of the moment. Understandably, it might well make …
Film Review: Cocoon
Whilst coming-of-age films are a studio staples, most of what is produced in Hollywood just doesn’t feel authentic; regardless of how good or bad the film actually is. European cinema tends to be much better at it. Céline Sciamma’s Girlhood and Lukas Moodysson’s Show Me Love are both great modern examples of films which are …
Film Review: The Mole Agent
Life expectancy has been steadily rising since the Industrial Revolution in the ‘First World’. This has been largely thanks to improvements in standards of living, healthcare availability and scientific breakthroughs. Along with decades of (relative) peace, this has led to aging populations. Public services and elderly care have failed to keep up, whilst diseases such …
IDFA Review: White Noise
Whilst the Tea Party movement may have eventually been unsuccessful, it did have one huge and lasting impact on US society. The politics of fear, which its proponents used as a weapon, has become commonplace. The rise of Trumpism and the alt-right has resulted in a spike in white nationalism and proto-fascism. Combined with the …
Tallinn Black Nights Review: Fear
Whilst immigration, and the control thereof, is an issue for almost every country, in the EU it has become a political hot potato. Although the focus is often on Greece, France or Italy, each country has their own challenges and issues. Southern Europe sees most of its migration come from Africa, but in countries like …
Film Review: A Christmas Carol
Tis the season of goodwill to all men, but it would be interesting to see what Ebenezer Scrooge made of the modern Christmas. By mid-November we’re bombarded with TV adverts, work parties and dreadful ‘Hallmark’ movies. Bah humbug indeed! Charles Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol remains a cherished and pertinent part of the festivities. It …