Few films in the past five years have divided critical and audience opinion to the extent of ‘Joker’. Comments on the film have ranged from “It laughs at disability” through to “It is a dangerous exploration of mental health”. However, the truth is ‘Joker’ opens an uncomfortable door into societies views on criminality, isolation and mental health. A door that …
Henry James 1898 novella ‘The Turn of Screw’ has found itself the subject of several cinematic adaptations and interpretations over the years. The most notable of these being Jack Clayton’s exquisite and unparalleled The Innocents in 1961. However, with The Turning director Floria Sigismondi attempts to take the gothic horror of Henry James into 1990’s America. While equally playing with …
‘기생충’ Spoiler Free Winner of the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival this year. Korean director Bong Joon-Ho‘s new movie, Parasite is as close to cinematic perfection as I have seen during 2019. Creating a film that ebbs and flows with deliciously dark humour, shocks and drama in equal measure. While taking the audience on a rollercoaster ride of …
Following on from her 2014 masterpiece of suspense The Babadook. Jennifer Kent’s second feature ‘The Nightingale’ provides a gut wrenching journey into the horrors of oppression and colonialism. While searing itself into the memory of the viewer, with a vice like grip. On paper providing a thriller that plays to rape-revenge genre, while embedding the plot with a far more …
It is hard to believe that is was almost 25 years ago that Martin Scorsese brought us Casino, starring Joe Pesci and Robert De Niro. A film that many thought would mark the end of the Pesci – DeNiro partnership born in the 1980 film Raging Bull. While Al Pacino although having worked De Niro on The Godfather, never crossed …
Few films in the past five years have divided critical and audience opinion to the extent of ‘Joker’. Comments on the film have ranged from “It laughs at disability” through to “It is a dangerous exploration of mental health”. However, the truth is ‘Joker’ opens an uncomfortable door into societies views on criminality, isolation and mental health. A door that …
Stephen King published his 22nd novel ‘IT’ back in 1986 to a mixed reception from critics. The novels coming of age themes sitting alongside a supernatural presence who fed on fear, captivated some and bemused others. Its 1300+ pages demanded attention and commitment from the reader. While its core themes dug deep into childhood and adult fears, providing an uncomfortable …
Creature movies have had a rough time over the past few years. Often offering little more than a simple story, while delivering nothing of substance. From Rampage to The Meg, natural predators have been treated as mere action fodder for simple muscle clad heroes. However, with Crawl director Alexandre Aja (Maniac) manages to bring us a far more nuanced thriller. …
Quick Read Review In 2013 we were given Olympus Has Fallen, followed in 2016 by London Has Fallen. Each blowing up favourite holiday destinations and landmarks. While killing as many people as possible on screen in a shower of bullets, explosions and rocket launchers. Now ‘Die Hard’ wannabe Mike Banning is back, bringing yet more chaos to the White House. …
Released in 1993, The Good Son had a turbulent journey to cinema screens. Beset with re-writes, production changes and Hollywood politics in casting. However, despite its tumultuous journey, The Good Son remains a fascinating insight into child criminality on screen. A mainstream film that tentatively dared to imagine that children can and do hurt others. Within a Hollywood system where …