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Blu-Ray Review: To Sleep So As To Dream
Japan has a rich history of oral storytelling and theatre. It’s a culture with a strong emphasis on telling yarns, whether that’s in words or song. So, when silent cinema came to their shores from Europe and America, it was obvious that the public would not be content with silence. They came up with an …
Blu-ray Review: Shock
While Mario Bava may not get the same recognition as his fellow countryman Dario Argento, his films have been as equally influential on generations of filmmakers who have followed in their wake. The likes of Blood and Black Lace, Black Sabbath, A Bay of Blood and The Girl Who Knew Too Much are all criminally …
Blu-Ray Review: Red Angel
War is a horrible business. Whilst today’s technological advancements mean that conflict is often now a hands-off affair, during the Second World War the biggest resource any country had was its fighting men. It made for bloody and brutal combat, especially in the Pacific Theatre. The Second Sino-Japanese War was particularly violent and barbaric, with …
Blu-ray Review: Dillinger
America has a long and complex history with its outlaws. This fascination dates back all the way to the time of colonisation and the Old West. The likes of Jesse James, Billy the Kid and Butch Cassidy wrote their own legends and captured the public’s imagination. As the wild frontier was replaced by urban sprawl …
Blu-ray Review: Mill of the Stone Women
When you see programmes charting the history of horror cinema, all too often they concentrate almost exclusively on films emanating from the English-speaking world. Take Italy, for instance. A country which has been responsible for some of the most iconic and memorable moments in genre cinema. The likes of Dario Argento’s Supsiria, Lucio Fulci’s The …
Blu-ray Review: Sailor Suit and The Machine Gun
There have always been child prodigies whose talent and dedication have allowed them to succeed in their area of expertise. Performing well ahead of their years. This success if usually down to incredibly hard work, as well. Then again, there are those thrust into a position of responsibility well ahead of their time. It used …
Blu-ray Review: Dune
Anyone who has ever read Frank Herbert’s novel, or any of its increasingly confusing sequels, will know that the world of Dune is a fascinating and highly perplexing one. With the release (at the time of writing, at least) of Denis Villeneuve’s version later this year, it’s likely that a whole new generation will be …
Blu-Ray Review: A Tale of Two Sisters
The first wave of modern Asian horror hit the rest of the world at the turn of the century, with the likes of Ringu, Battle Royale, Audition and Pulse wowing and terrifying unprepared and unsuspecting new audiences. Genre filmmaking borrowed generously from national folklore, legends and superstitions. Where Japan led, South Korea soon followed. Whispering …
Blu-Ray Review: El Topo
Many films claim to be unusual, different or just plain strange. Profess to be totally removed from anything we’ve ever seen before. Sadly, very few live up to this billing. Often borrowing wholesale from other movies or pale imitations of someone else’s imagination. This cannot be said for anything Alejandro Jodorowsky has made. He’s one …
Blu-ray Review: Vengeance Trials
Roared on by the success of Sergio Leonne in Hollywood, a host of Italian directors followed is his wake; making a raft of Spaghetti Westerns during the 1960s. Whilst similar in many ways to their American cousins these films revelled in turning genre cliches and tropes on their head. Instead of the likes of John …