Second Sight
Blu-Ray Review: Once Were Warriors
Ever since Peter Jackson brought Frodo and Bilbo Baggins to the big screen, the New Zealand film industry has often seemed to double as an advert for the national tourist board. However, Kiwi cinema has produced a rich tapestry of life, with films such as The Whale Rider and The Dark Horse showing a side …
Blu-Ray Review: Dreamscape
The 1980s was a strange time for cinema. The Cold War was reaching its endgame and technological advancements were heralding a whole new era of gaming and lifestyle possibilities. It was a fertile environment which allowed science fiction and fantasy cinema to flourish. Dennis Quaid seemed to be synonymous with the former. Innerspace and Enemy …
Blu-Ray Review: The Amityville Horror
The most famous house in the history of horror film-making is undoubtedly 112 Ocean Avenue, Long Island, New York. The publication of The Amityville Horror by Jay Anson in 1977, the true story of George and Kathy Lutz, brought infamy and media attention to the neighbourhood. This only increased with the release of Stuart Rosenberg’s …
DVD Review: The Resident
The arrival of your first child is a scary time for both parents. However, having a living miniature human growing inside you for 9 months is liable to leave you both physically and mentally changed. The anxiety about the responsibility can be almost crippling. Combined with the loneliness of being cooped up in the house …
Blu-Ray Review: Assault on Precinct 13
In general, remakes are a blight on cinema. Probably due to his original films being low-budget and acquiring such a cult status, John Carpenter finds his work keenly coveted for new versions. With Starman and Big Trouble in Little China being in the pipeline, directors and producers never learn that his films are too unique …
DVD Review: The Ninth Configuration
A quick look at William Blatty’s writing credits will give you an idea of what to expect from his first film, The Ninth Configuration. Blatty is best known for his screenplay of The Exorcist which he adapted from his novel of the same name (he also directed The Exorcist III). Again, for The Ninth Gate, …
Blu-Ray Review: Re-Animator: Limited Edition 2-Disc Steelbook
The greatest period for horror cinema was undoubtedly the 1980s. Some of the most memorable films the genre has produced were made during that decade. The Fly, Hellraiser, The Evil Dead, A Nightmare on Elm Street, The Thing and The Shining are some of the most beloved films for horror fans. Not every creation was …
DVD Review: Ghost Story
Glossy modern horror films tend to rely on (mostly dreadful) CGI to deliver their ‘shocks’ but there was a time when terror came from the simple art of good storytelling. Anyone familiar with the stories of M.R. James will know the power that imagination and invention can have. In Ghost Story, John Irwin’s film based …
DVD Review: The Sleeping Room
British horror is a difficult beast, with low budgets and tired tropes often overly prevalent. In John Shackleton’s debut feature he tries to do something slightly different, and whilst it sadly doesn’t work as a whole, it’s a great first attempt under such financial constraints. Still affected by the death of her mother, Blue (Leila …
DVD Review: A Hard Day’s Night
The Beatles are possibly the most well known pop group in history, but when A Hard Day’s Night was released they were only on the cusp of world domination. The band received many offers to make a film, but didn’t want to merely be the musical accompaniment to the action taking place on screen; they …