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Blu-Ray Review: The Bloodthirsty Trilogy
Folklore and legend play a huge role in the evolution of Japanese horror films. Unlike the genre’s development in the Western world, Japanese filmmakers have been largely concerned with psychological and supernatural terror. Ghost stories drove literature, theatre and film. Whilst this century has seen the likes of Ringu, Dark Water and The Grudge make …
Film Review: The Cured
In the old days zombies basically shuffled about slowly and semi-uselessly. Unless you were careless enough to get yourself trapped in a confined space, you’d probably be alright. Somewhere in the 1980s (many argue Return of the Living Dead) they began to run. Since then, there have been so many different takes on the sub-genre …
Blu-Ray Review: Dark Blue
With his strong jaw, boyish charm and confident swagger, Kurt Russell epitomised the typical leading man in the 1980s. Men wanted to be him, women wanted to be with him. However, beneath that boyish smile and bad-boy persona there was an actor who never really got the credit he deserved. Russell starred in some of …
Blu-ray Review: Killer Klowns from Outer Space
Are we alone? The eternal question which has occupied humans for centuries. In the 1950s, the boom is science-fiction books and films, followed by interest in the space race, sparked the imaginations of a new generation. When considering what extra terrestrials will look like, the most popular notion at the time was that of little …
Blu-Ray Review: The Cat O’ Nine Tails
As Ana Lily Amirpour discovered to her cost last year, following up on a critically acclaimed debut can be a tricky business. A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night was widely lauded, and for good reason. However, her second film, The Bad Batch, was at best messy. The ‘sophomore slump’ has afflicted many directors, most …
Blu-Ray Review: Hounds of Love
Australians seem to possess a rather perverse dark humour which they bring to their film-making. This is especially the case in their horror films. Whether it’s the psychological terror of the classic Wake in Fright, the deliciously gruesome Wolf Creek, the almost surreal ‘true story’ Lake Mungo or the snappy Black Water, there’s something rather …
Blu-Ray Review: Carrie
There must be very few authors who have had more of their work adapted for film and TV than Stephen King. I can only think of William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, and of course God. Indeed, 2017 has been a bumper year for him. Along with the stylish new version of It, there’s also been films …
Blu-Ray Review: House
The Vietnam War was a nightmarish experience for all involved. Whilst you could write countless books on the horrors endured by the Vietnamese, Cambodians and Laotians, American cinema is more concerned with the impact on the aggressors. Indeed, American soldiers became victims themselves due to the lack of duty of care shown to them by …
Blu-Ray Review: The Thing
The Thing is one of those films which is a cult classic whilst being part of mainstream culture. It’s a good remake. Arguably the best remake there’s ever been. It’s a John Carpenter film which is not only a good John Carpenter film (arguably his best above Escape from New York, Halloween and They Live) …
Blu-Ray Review: The Villainess
The lone female assassin motif has produced some memorable cinematic performances. Whether it’s Uma Thurman in Kill Bill 1&2, Anne Parillaud as Nikita or Meiko Kaji in Lady Snowblood, there’s a powerful celluloid attraction to the pull of deadly sensuality. Indeed, this has been particularly the case in Asia, where Shu Qi in The Assassin, …