Nothing like getting it in under the wire right? Without further ado, my predictions for what the academy voters will chose as the nominations for the 2023 Academy Awards. (My list would look hella different, but it is what it is I guess). I will come back later today with
Author: scotthgilliland
Just a guy from Northern Ireland over sharing my life details as I continue my weight loss journey, lover of films and sports and music (like everyone on Earth) and exercise of all forms, so expect a lot of nonsense, apologies beforehand.
Beautiful Beings – ★★★★
Full of tenderness, heartache & cruelty, Beautiful Beings is a must-watch film that offers a portrait of friendship despite abandonment. You will gain something with each viewing – brutally fantastic.
37th BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival to be presented from 15-26 March 2023
Tuesday 13 December 2022, London. The BFI today announces the dates for the 2023 edition of the UK’s largest queer film event, BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival. The Festival, which screens the best in contemporary LGBTQIA+ cinema from around the globe, in addition to a rich selection of events and
Barbican’s Emerging Film Curators Series highlights new perspectives curated by up-and-coming film programmers 1 Dec 2022 – 7 Mar 2023
Barbican Cinema is delighted to announce the Emerging Film Curators Series developed by up-and-coming film curators who took part in the second Emerging Film Curators Lab at the Barbican in June 2022. This five-part series, which explores the notion of ‘community’ across Africa, Asia and Europe through film screenings, spoken
Horror films to watch: Letter P (Part One)
Welcome back to our horror list! We have moved onto the first part of the letter P, we have some great ones in here and maybe a surprise or two as well. Enjoy. Poltergeist (1982) The film where everyone has an open suspicion that Spielberg wanted to direct a horror
Award-Winning, Nerve-Rattling Crime Drama Emily The Criminal Comes To UK In The New Year
23rd November 2022, London UK – Mediumrare Entertainment announces the crime drama EMILY THE CRIMINAL is being released on DVD and Blu-ray on 16 January 2023. An extraordinarily assured debut from writer/director John Patton Ford, EMILY THE CRIMINAL sees Aubrey Plaza (Parks and Recreation) as a young woman driven to credit card fraud in Los Angeles. Plaza is
The Runner – ★★★
Edouard Philipponnat is outstanding as the doomed Aiden in Michelle Danner’s solid The Runner. A film that does some great work at making her latest a warning for those tempted by the allure of drugs.
Bulldog Film Distribution presents Out Of This World on digital HD 5 December
Directed by Marc Fouchard, Out Of This World is a stylish and twisted tale of violence that takes you inside the troubled mind of a serial killer. The very private Leo has issues communicating with others due to past trauma and only lives for his music. For now, not able to have
To Leslie – ★★★★ (Raindance 2022)
An empathetic glance at the damage of addiction, To Leslie like its lead Andrea Riseborough, transfix you. Careful and powerful, there is so much to love about Michael Morris’ film, making it one that should not be ignored.
Anonymous Club – ★★★★ (Raindance 2022)
Much like Courtney Barnett’s music, there is a fantastic personal touch to Danny Cohen’s documentary Anonymous Club that entices you. He captures an artist in her purest and most honest form – a wonderfully thoughtful doc.
108 Media launches action-horror series NIGHTSHADE with Neil Marshall & Simon Uttley as Showrunners
Monday, 14th November 2022, London, UK: London/Singapore-based international content investment studio 108 Media will finance, co-develop, and produce the upcoming premium live-action supernatural-action returning series NIGHTSHADE (6 x 60’) with co-showrunners Simon Uttley and Neil Marshall, who will be directing the pilot. Sprung from the deep genre wellspring of the
Most Horrible Things – ★★ 1/2
What should be a standard mystery thriller, Most Horrible Things becomes a muddled endeavour. A film that never really gets going the way you want it to, and by the time it tries, it is far too late. When six young strangers are invited to a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity – an exclusive dinner
Roving Woman – ★★★ 1/2 (Raindance 2022)
What could spiral into a chaotic film, Roving Woman actually ends up becoming an insightful meditative piece. A breakup road trip movie that, at times, wanders rather aimlessly but, like its lead character, finds its way in the end. A breakup leaves Sara reeling and directionless, standing alone on her ex’s doorstep
Relative – ★★★★★ (Raindance 2022)
As important a documentary as you will see this year, Tracey Arcabasso Smith’s Relative knocks you clear off your feet. Harrowing and brave, she gives sexual abuse survivors the voice they may have lost long ago in this unforgettable film that leaves you stunned. Unravelling a complex tapestry of vulnerability,
Falcon Lake – ★★★★★ (Raindance 2022)
A gorgeous debut from Charlotte Le Bon, Falcon Lake is a haunting coming-of-age tale. She has created a stunning, emotional and captivating film that you won’t soon forget – you will love this film. Bastien (Joseph Engel) and Chloé (Sara Montpetit) spend their summer vacation with their families at a
Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game – ★★★★ (Raindance 2022)
Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game is as fresh and confident a film as you will see. With bags of charm throughout, there is so much to love in Austin and Meredith Braggs directorial feature debut that you have a massive smile planted on your face. An unsettled writer with a fantastic
Erin’s Guide to Kissing Girls – ★★★★ (Raindance 2022)
Writer/director Julianna Notten has nailed it with her feature debut, Erin’s Guide to Kissing Girls, a positively refreshing, funny and authentic tale. An integral coming-of-age story for young LGBTQ+ people, but most importantly, just a really good film. As middle school comes to an end, Erin (Elliot Stocking), the only out
Dear Zoe – ★★★
A frustrating film, that is elevated by performances from Sadie Sink & Theo Rossi, Dear Zoe has just too much going on in the wrong places at times. Gren Wells gives her film a lot of heart making it still worth a viewing. When Tess and her family suffer an
Romance turns to horror on a devilish dinner date for a group of singles hoping to find love in Most Horrible Things
Deliciously dark and gloriously gory, this might just be one of the Most Horrible Things you’ve seen in a long time… Hiroshi Katagari – who has worked on a slew of Hollywood blockbusters including Jurassic Park, A.I., War of the Worlds, Wolverine, The Hunger Games, Avatar: The Way of Water,
Paloma – ★★★ 1/2 (Raindance 2022)
Paloma feels like a daydream slowly eroding into reality; Marcelo Gomes’ film will affect you a great deal. This is a tender yet painful film about a woman fighting for her place in society.
Something in the Dirt – ★★★★
Another gem of a picture from Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead, Something in the Dirt, is possibly their biggest triumph. A film that fans of the duo will wholeheartedly adore. With it also becoming a wonderful jumping-in point for new audiences. Benson and Moorhead have firmly cemented themselves as the filmmakers to watch with
The Runner is coming to UK digital platforms on 21st November
A talented young runner races headlong into trouble in this gripping, award-winning thriller. On your marks, get set for The Runner, an adrenaline-fuelled, heart-racing thrill ride. This award-winning, action-packed potboiler sees a troubled teen get involved with drugs way over his head… This slick and suspenseful coming-of-age thriller from Hollywood
A brand new collector’s range of iconic classics in 4k housed in stunning new packaging and containing premium collectibles
AVAILABLE FROM WARNER BROS. DISCOVERY AND UNIVERSAL PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT ON 4K ULTRA HD AND BLU-RAY DECEMBER 12th THE FILM VAULT is launched this December, a brand new collector’s range featuring titles across the Warner Bros. Discovery and Universal Pictures catalogues, with four highly-collectable and beautifully packaged titles on 4K
The Sleep Experiment – ★★ 1/2
The Sleep Experiment is a frustrating watch. Some moments work very well, yet the faults are sadly too front and centre to ignore. A film that hinders itself when it has everything going for it. Two detectives begin investigating the ethics involved in the top-secret research facility, Porton Down. One
The Deep House – ★★★ 3/4
A fantastically effective horror, The Deep House works on your fears of being underwater with limited oxygen and amplifies it tenfold with a haunted house. As fresh as it comes, this isn’t one to miss.
Ghostwatch – (Blu-Ray) ★★★★ 1/2
The BBC gives over a whole evening to an ‘investigation into the supernatural’. Four respected presenters and a camera crew attempt to discover the truth behind ‘The most haunted house in Britain’, expecting a light-hearted scare or two and probably the uncovering of a hoax. They think they are in
Ashkal ★★★ 1/2 – London Film Festival 2022
The sense of dread has a firm grasp of you throughout Youssef Chebbi’s Ashkal. A haunting film that never reveals its hand too much, it is one that will undoubtedly linger in your mind. In the Gardens of Carthage, a district of Tunis initiated by the former Regime whose construction
Censor – ★★★★ (Blu-Ray)
Of all the horror films that came out last year, Censor was perhaps the most striking. Prano Bailey-Bond’s film has been given an unbelievable Blu-ray release from Second Sight, making an already must-buy film an absolute essential purchase. Enid (Niamh Algar) spends her days meticulously watching and assessing gruesomely violent and disturbing movies, taking
Externo out now on Amazon Prime Video
One of our favourite films from 2021 Externo is out now via digital release via Amazon Prime Video Externo is the story of Joseph, a revolutionary businessman that wants to conquer the world financially and politically. He does it starting with an initial amount of U$S 2,000 and ends up building
12th Annual Queens World Film Festival (QWFF) 2022 Returns 1st – 6th November 2022
12th Annual Queens World Film Festival (QWFF) 2022 HIGHLIGHTS: Screening 157 films from 27 nations including 2 from Ukraine, 7 from Iran, 8 from Canada, 10 from India, 3 from Asia, 11 from Spain. + We screen the best of NYC Boroughs: featuring 29 films from Queens, 19 from Brooklyn,
Heart-wrenching coming of age drama Dear Zoe, starring Sadie Sink released November 7th.
The undeniably brilliant, Sadie Sink, who recently stunned audiences with her powerhouse performance in the latest series of Stranger Things, gives another awe-inspiring, powerful turn as the lead in brand-new feature Dear Zoe. This heart–wrenching, endearing and compelling coming-of-age drama is set to receive its UK premiere this November, courtesy
From the creators of The Endless & Synchronic SOMETHING IN THE DIRT is released in UK Cinemas from 4th November
Lightbulb Film Distribution is thrilled to confirm that the surreal, critically acclaimed sci-fi / horror Something In The Dirt will be in UK Cinemas from 4th November and then available on Digital Download from 28th November and Blu-ray from 5th December. Something In The Dirt is the latest title from
A BANQUET LIMITED EDITION BLU-RAY Arrives 31 October 2022
‘Sketches out the sinister dread just under the happy-family surface; she is in expert control ofher film, achieving her effects with economy and force. It is really unnerving.’ The Guardian ★★★★ A feast for the eyes, A Banquet, Ruth Paxton’s critically acclaimed directorial feature debut is released on Bluray in
Raw Deal ★★★ – 4K UHD, Blu-ray, DVD & Limited Edition SteelBook
Arnold Schwarzenegger was on one hell of a run in the 80s, then came Raw Deal, a misfire of a film that ended up an explosion-filled shoot ’em up. Pure sheer charisma alone, though, Arnold almost saves it. Almost. Dishonoured and forcibly retired from the FBI on the grounds of
Raindance announces opening and closing gala screenings and much more.
Opening Gala: Jon Hamm In The Corner Office Closing Gala: Pinball – The Man Who Saved The Game Raindance Goes Maverick With Film Premieres + Special Screenings From The Festival Archive Including Pulp Fiction & Blair Witch Project 26 October – 5 November, in London cinemas and online throughout the
Honey (Madhu) ★★★★ London Film Festival 2022
For 13 perfect minutes, Honey (Madhu) has you, becoming the type of short with a situation and characters you yearn to have more time with. However, Tanmay and Tanvi Chowdhary know exactly what they are doing and instead give us a wonderful glance at the longing that can exist in
Human Flowers of Flesh ★★★ New York Film Festival 2022
Like an artist painting a picture leisurely yet with a strong purpose, Helena Wittmann’s Human Flowers of Flesh never hurries itself while it absorbs you with its gorgeous textures. Ida lives on a sailing yacht with a crew of five men. While on shore leave in Marseilles, she becomes fascinated
Haulout (Short Film) ★★★★ London Film Festival 2022
Haulout is a powerful documentary that shows the sheer overwhelming scale of the consequences of climate change on beautiful animals in the Arctic. Tragic and sobering, Evgenia Arbugaeva and Maxim Arbugaev’s film is essential viewing. A lonely man waits to witness an ancient gathering on a remote coast of the
The Adventures of Gigi the Law ★★★ New York Film Festival
A quasi-documentary that is as charming as it is contemplative, The Adventures of Gigi the Law has some very strong moments of emotion that catch you off guard. Alessandro Comodin has made a film that you can’t help but gravitate towards. Gigi, a good-natured, contemplative policeman in a small village
Birds (Short Film) ★★★★★ London Film Festival 2022
A film of discovery, Katherine Propper’s Birds is a lovely look at a time when summer could feel like a never-ending dream. A wonderful exploration into connection with friends, love, nature and everything in between. You can’t but adore this film. Moments in the lives of Austin teenagers during the
Groom (Short Film) ★★★★ London Film Festival 2022
Through some top-notch performances and cinematography, Leyla Josephine Coll-O’Reilly’s Groom is a cautionary tale that hits home for those who wanted to fit in when they were teenagers – a great debut
My Year of Dicks (Short Film) ★★★★ London Film Festival 2022
As relatable a story about your sexual awakening as you will see, My Year of Dicks is a wonderful short film that tells a sincere, funny and honest tale. A female-driven animation than harmonises exceptionally well with the story – a must-watch. It’s 1991, and Pam is trying very hard
Dry Ground Burning ★★★ 1/2 TIFF
Dry Ground Burning is an absorbing film with a lot to say and punches each of those points home without hesitation. Bold throughout, this hybrid documentary is a film like a few others. Sisters Chitara and Léa are the leaders of an all-female gang who steal oil from pipelines to
Pennywise: The Story of IT ★★★ 1/2
Filmmakers John Campopiano and Chris Griffiths present audiences with their definitive look back at the much-loved IT miniseries in Pennywise: The Story of IT. Full of details the avid fan will love, there is a lot here to enjoy. Exploring the 1990 miniseries, based on Stephen King’s iconic novel IT,
The UK Jewish Film Festival 2022 announces full programme of feature films and shorts
After presenting mostly digital editions for the past two years the UK Jewish Film Festival is pleased to be returning to cinemas in London and across the nation, with screenings running from 10 – 20 November 2022, and with a selection of films available online from 21 – 27 November 2022. Offering an outstanding
Blonde ★ 1/2
Instead of mourning the tragedy of Marilyn Monroe’s death in Blonde, Andrew Dominik revels in her misery. Never does he appear interested in the woman and more just the despair she faces. While Blonde looks fantastic and has a passionate performance from Ana de Armas yet thise can’t save this tasteless, exhausting endeavour that never lets you in.
Leonor Will Never Die ★★★ 1/2 TIFF 2022
Absurd, funny, chaotic, self-aware and most importantly heartwarming, Martika Ramirez Escobar’s Leonor Will Never Die an absolute treat for those who love cinema – a clever film that takes you by delightful surprise. After creating a string of successful action films, Leonor Reyes was once a major player in the
Maya and the Wave ★★★ 1/2 TIFF 2022
A decent feature documentary that would be better suited to being a series, Maya and the Wave connects well but feels rushed. Maya Gabeira is a force; a longer format is needed to showcase that. Maya Gabeira grew up in Brazil with a dream to surf competitively. Like any surfer,
The Banshees of Inisherin ★★★★ TIFF
The trio of Martin McDonagh, Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson strike gold again with the utterly fantastic The Banshees of Inisherin. A sublime film, it knows precisely what it is doing. Quite possibly the filmmaker’s best film yet. On a remote island off the coast of Ireland, Pádraic (Colin Farrell)
To Kill A Tiger ★★★★ 1/2 TIFF 2022
A film that strikes you at your core Nisha Pahuja’s harrowing and uncomfortable To Kill A Tiger shows us that hope can always grow, even in the most hopeless of situations -utterly fantastic.
Autobiography ★★★ 1/2 TIFF 2022
Director Makbul Mubarak challenges how far loyalty will go in his debut film, Autobiography. A confident film that never loses its way, strengthened by two strong performances from its leads. A young man working as a housekeeper in an empty mansion. When its owner returns to start his mayoral election
We Are Still Here ★★★★ TIFF 2022
What shines through when watching the anthology film We Are Still Here is how important the scope is of what we are viewing. This is a film that will resonate with you in a multitude of ways, and despite the continual pain that indigenous people go through, hope blossoms through
The Colour of Ink ★★★ 1/2 TIFF 2022
As much a history lesson about ink processes as it is a humanist journey via art, The Colour of Ink is an unexpected treat of curiosity for a craft we are perhaps willfully ignorant to. What an absolute must-watch. Ink is our primal medium. It has always been with us,
Canary (Short Film) ★★★★ TIFF 2022
A lovely story about escaping one’s situation for something brighter, Canary switches up its light-hearted tone for something all the more serious and never misses a step in doing so. A gorgeous and affecting short film. In 1922, a young boy named Sonny worked in an underground coal mine with
Victim ★★★ 3/4 TIFF 2022
Vita Smachelyuk blows you away in Michal Blaško’s increasingly stressful Victim. Full of socio-political narratives, his film drives through the point that even the most well-intentioned of people can be forced into horrible positions—a great feature debut film. Irina lives with her son Igor in a small Czech border town.
It’s What Each Person Needs ★★★★ (Short) TIFF 2022
There is an evocative command to Sophy Romvari’s It’s What Each Person Needs that engrosses you with the greatest of ease. She has perfectly encapsulated the power and importance of connecting with another person – just a fantastic short. A portrait of a young woman providing companionship for juxtaposing demographics. Conversations come in
Sweet As ★★★ 1/2 – TIFF 2022
Healing is never easy, and in Jub Clerc’s Sweet As , we see how a young group try to figure that out in the gorgeous setting of Pilbara. A sentimental coming-of-age film that hits all the right notes.
Riceboy Sleeps ★★★★★ TIFF 2022
A strong drama that strikes a number of emotional chords, Riceboy Sleeps is a delicately handled personal film from director Anthony Shim; finding the right tone throughout, this intimate film will break your heart. So-young is a Korean single mother raising her adolescent son Dong-hyun in the suburbs of Canada
Ever Deadly ★★★★ TIFF 2022
An immersive experience that is much more than a biographical music documentary Ever Deadly is as much an education as it is a look into Tanya Tagaq’s life. You will undoubtedly come away with something meaningful here. Tanya Tagaq is an avant-garde Inuit throat singer who continually explores sound transformation
Skin Deep ★★★★ Venice Film Festival
A compelling, intimate gender identity drama, Alex Schaad’s feature directorial debut Skin Deep offers a fascinating look at relationships. With complex pitch-perfect performances, Skin Deep is a profound viewing. At first glance, Leyla (Mala Emde) and Tristan (Jonas Dassler) seem like a happy young couple. But when they travel to
The Flying Sailor (Short) TIFF 2022
Like our titular character, Wendy Tilby and Amanda Forbis have thrown a mixture of animation stylings up into the air and meshed them together in their excellent meditative short The Flying Sailor. Two ships collide in a harbour, an explosion shatters a city, and a sailor is blasted skyward. Then,
Goliath ★★★★ Venice Film Festival
The stunning scenery of southern Kazakhstan is the setting for an emotionally bruising Euro-Asian western in Adilkhan Yerzhanov’s powerful Goliath. A film that grabs your interest and only pulls you in further as it goes along. The Kazakh village Karatas has long been subjugated by a criminal boss called Poshaev
Crimes of the Future – ★★★★
David Cronenberg focuses on the grim possibilities that humanity may have in its future in his hypnotic Crimes of the Future. A nightmare in that you could see his grim, emotionless world be a reality. As the human species adapts to a synthetic environment, the body undergoes new transformations and
Dogborn ★★★★ 1/2 Venice Film Festival
Dogborn shows us that no matter how low a position you feel you are in life, there is always another level, and even just to escape your own situation, there is usually the cruellest of prices. The question is whether your humanity is worth risking to get there. Isabella Carbonell
Dear Mama … ★★★★ HollyShorts Film Festival
Winter Dunn gets everything perfectly right in her latest short, Dear Mama … Grief comes in all forms, and Dunn capably shows us just how complex that feeling is. An emotional and powerful film that is tremendously led by its two talented leads.
Bite ★★★ FrightFest 2022
An ambitious film that does stretch itself a tad too thin at times, Bite is still a great watch that warmly embraces its horror to provide quite a few inducing moments. James Owen’s debut feature is one that satisfies. Nina (Shian Denovan) is desperate to put her life back on
The Eyes Below ★★★★ 1/2 FrightFest 2022
Just when you thought that silly childhood fear of something alone in your bedroom had left, Alexis Bruchon comes along with his film The Eyes Below to shatter it all. A simple concept is carried out so effectively that you are left as astonished as you are spooked—a truly sensational
Burial ★★★ FrightFest 2022
Burial is a period thriller that hits enough of the right notes to leave you satisfied while never striking just the right chord. It remains a compelling film with great performances from Charlotte Vega and Tom Felton. London, 1991. The home of an old woman (Harriet Walter), who watches the
End Zone 2 – FrightFest 2022
The remaining two acts of End Zone 2 are presented to audiences after the terrific The Once and Future Smash, a brutally authentic 70s trash horror that will leave you wondering just how good that missing 3rd act really was. Fifteen years after the events of End Zone, Smash-Mouth is
The Once and Future Smash ★★★★ FrightFest 2022
The Once and Future Smash is an absolute treat for genre fans. With so many wonderful moments carefully laden within the spoof film that you could easily find yourself clapping away at it. Just a joy of a film. The End Zone 2 was a football-themed slasher from 1970 that
Festival Street 2022 to ignite Toronto with free screenings, interactive activations, and musical performances; TIFF 2022 Cinematheque Programme announced
TORONTO — Back for its seventh year, the excitement and fun of the Toronto International Film Festival pours out from the theatres onto Festival Street and over to David Pecaut Square. King Street West between Peter Street and University Avenue will transform into the TIFF street party. Festival Street celebrations
Full programme announced for Take One Action Film Festival 2022
The fifteenth edition of the UK’s leading global change film festival will run in Edinburgh (16-18 Sep); Glasgow (23-25 Sep); Aberdeen (21-23 Oct); and Inverness (28-30 Oct) together with special screenings on Tiree and Lochgilphead in the Screen Machine. With the theme of ‘the land beneath our feet’ the in-person
Horror films to watch starting with O
Opera (1987) Dario Argento comes back again to the list with this vicious film. What strikes you most about Opera is just how visually stunning it is, and considering how overlooked this is amongst Argento’s work, that becomes a surprise. Of course, Argento’s weaknesses come to the fore here, but
Edgar Wright teams up with BBC Maestro to teach Filmmaking
Multi-award-winning British filmmaker steps in front of the camera for BBC Maestro’s latest course. Available 8th September 2022 “Filmmaking is a craft that’s passed through generations. So your duty as a filmmaker is to learn from the masters and take the influences that speak to you and interpret them in
GHOSTWATCH Available on Limited Edition Blu-ray 31st October 2022
101 Films presents Ghostwatch (1992), a BBC production that terrified Britain on 31st October 1992. Despite being part of BBC Drama’s Screen One series, the presence of trusted presenters, along with the quality of the production, convinced thousands of people that the events depicted on screen were genuine, and taking
Her Way ★★★ 1/2
Laure Calamy owns every second of Her Way, pulling herself every which way emotionally as the exhausted single-parent sex worker. Cécile Ducrocq’s debut is a strong and memorable one full of humanity. Marie (Laure Calamy) is a confident, optimistic sex worker in Strasbourg who is determined to provide a better
Aurinko in Adagio ★★★★★ HollyShorts Film Festival
A rather beautiful look at honing a craft and being lifted by the support of your family, Aurinko in Adagio is a joy. Elisee Junior St Preux has a wonderful touch as a filmmaker, with his film hitting you close to the heart with its effectiveness. Director: Elisee Junior St
The Moviegoer (Short Film)
The Moviegoer is Ross Munro’s short film love letter to cinema. Fun and heart-warming, his film allows you to reminisce fondly and brings so much charm that you can’t help but like it.
MINK! ★★★ 1/2 HollyShorts Film Festival
MINK! is an open and informative documentary that is well worth 20 minutes of your day. We need more documentaries about people like Patsy Takemoto Mink for it shows the good that there is and that progress never stops. You can watch it below in the link provided at the
HollyShorts Film Festival 2022 Award Winners
The 18th Annual HollyShorts Film Festival has come and gone, and while it will be dearly missed, there is still a cause for celebration as we get to give the best films of the festival some well-deserved recognition! With over 400 amazing films to choose from, the jury had some
Dog Soldiers – Standard and Limited Edition 4K UHD/Blu-ray (Second Sight Films)
Neil Marshalls Dog Soldiers has gotten a glorious special release from Second Sight Films. The top-notch werewolf horror still packs a punch with how effective it is and has barely aged a day. During a routine training mission in the Scottish Highlands, a small squad of happy-go-lucky British soldiers, including
Moshari ★★★★ 1/2 HollyShorts Film Festival
A never ending sense of dread envelopes Moshari, & never lets go. Wonderful filmmaking from Nuhash Humayun that has you immediately standing up & taking notice. A must watch from a filmmaker on a fast ascent. Director: Nuhash Humayun Cast: Sunerah Binte Kamal, Nairah Onora Saif IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt17499740 It’s the end of
Deathstalker and Deathstalker II Blu-Ray
Roger Corman never passed on an opportunity to jump on a trend and make a few dollars on it, so he jumped into the sword fantasy trend to co-produce the Deathstalker franchise (amongst others). 101 Films have lovingly given us a set with the first two from the Deathstalker films
The Outrageous Late-Night Television Legend EUROTRASH! To Have All Sixteen Series Released On DVD and Digital 26 September!
Yes my friends you read that right. Eurotrash is back! Let two delightful, devil-may-care Frenchmen take you firmly by the hand and lead you into a surreal world of weird wonders, celebrity interviews, sexy supermodels – and more smut than you can shake a stick at! Hosted by everyone’s favourite
Skin & Bone ★★★★ HollyShorts Film Festival
Weird and wonderful, Eli Powers atmospheric Skin & Bone is an unsettling short that isn’t afraid to hold its card close to its chest. Amanda Seyfried & Thomas Sadoski excel in a film that commands your attention. Director: Eli Powers Cast: Amanda Seyfried, Thomas Sadoski, Nick Verdi, McCaleb Burnett IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt20783516 After taking
Return to Sender ★★★ HollyShorts Film Festival
Return to Sender is a strong thriller that grabs onto our fears of being watched. With the increasing dependency on the digital world, Russell Goldman shows how we are losing the control we crave for our own lives. Director: Russell Goldman Cast: Allison Tolman, Emma Pasarow, IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15225028 When recovering alcoholic Julia
Kickstart My Heart ★★★★ HollyShorts Film Festival
A film that isn’t afraid to kick some ass, Kickstart My Heart is everything you want it to be. Kelsey Bollig has made a film you never want to end – a fantastic short from a highly promising filmmaker.
Paper Thin ★★★★★ HollyShorts Film Festival
An excellent short film, Paper Thin, focuses on the feelings that run through you when you are losing a loved one. Running at a mere six minutes, Neil Dua and Thomas Archer have made a pitch-perfect and faultless film. Director: Neil Dua Cast: Thomas Archer, Jimi Hernandez IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21415680/ An intimate exchange between two unlikely strangers
When I Consume You ★★★
When Perry Blackshear focuses his latest film on the trauma and bleakness of his character’s situation, When I Consume You excels as a psychological thriller. The sense of dread is rife throughout the film, it loses itself when it tries to do too much. Nevertheless, this film affects you with
Love, Dad ★★★★ HollyShorts Film Festival
For 13 minutes, you are heart-wrenchingly moved in Diana Cam Van Nguyen’s Love, Dad. Told through voiceover and paper animation, we are struck by how affecting her film is, as if we are seeing a form of therapy bared before us on screen. Director: Diana Cam Van Nguyen IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14972316/
Bainne ★★★★★ HollyShorts Film Festival
Stunning, that is really all you can say about Jack Reynor’s director debut Bainne. A near-wordless stunning piece of cinema. Atmospheric in its desolation of the time period, what a beautifully haunting film.
Work ★★★★ HollyShorts Film Festival
Breakups can be messy endeavours, and for Marisela Zumbado’s Gabi, she needs to shake things up in April Maxey’s relatable film Work. This melancholy piece explores that longing for a connection with another person. Director: April Maxey Cast: Marisela Zumbado, Darlisa Ali, Star Amerasu, Elaine Whae, Jay Dathorne, Sarah Gordon
Elsa ★★★★ 1/2 HollyShorts Film Festival
Cameron S. Mitchell’s documentary Elsa perfectly captures a woman who will not be defined and forces you to take her seriously. Elsa engrosses and becomes a shot in the arm to make representation in the world fairer. Director: Cameron S. Mitchell Elsa Sjunneson is a DeafBlind professor, media critic, skilled
Anaïs in Love ★★★ 1/2
Entertaining throughout, Anaïs Demoustier charms the life out of you in Anaïs in Love – a directorial debut from Charline Bourgeous-Tacquet, this is a wonderful portrait of a woman at the crossroads in her life. Anaïs (Anaïs Demoustier) careers from one lover to the next while trying to find some
Shudder Announces 61 day Halloween celebration starting September 1st
SHUDDER, THE HOME FOR HALLOWEEN, ANNOUNCES ITS BIGGEST SLATE OF MUST-SEE ORIGINAL SERIES AND NEW MOVIES SHUDDER’S 61-DAY HALLOWEEN CELEBRATION FROM 1ST SEPTEMBER TO 31ST OCTOBER New Film Premieres: V/H/S/99 • Dario Argento’s Dark Glasses Deadstream • Speak No Evil • Saloum • Raven’s Hollow • Sissy Who Invited Them New Series
How Do You Measure a Year ★★★★ 1/2 HollyShorts Film Festival
How do you measure a year? is fabulous, a brilliant love letter to the relationship between a father and daughter—a beautiful look at the experience of growing up. Director: Jay Rosenblatt Cast: Ella Rosenblatt IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15026956 From the time she was two years old, and until she turned 18, they had
Triggered ★★★★ 1/2 HollyShorts Film Festival
A powerful and tough watch, Tara Westwood’s Triggered is a shattering look at loss and its painful consequences. A film that lingers with you long after the credits have rolled. Director: Tara Westwood Cast: Isiah Whitlock Jr., Caitlin Mehner, Robert John Burke, Tara Westwood IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15301336 A US Senator faces
Troy ★★★ 1/2 – HollyShorts Film Festival
Troy is a film that you cannot help but love, a wonderful breath of comedic fresh air for one reason: we would most likely (almost definitely) be like Thea and Charlie. Mike Donahue’s film knocks it out of the park.
Sandstorm (Mulaqat) ★★★★ HollyShorts Film Festival
Seemab Gul looks at how social indoctrination still impacts Pakistani teens in her latest film, Sandstorm (Mulaqat). Gul ensures that our young protagonist is not someone who will play the role of the victim for long. A poignant and contemplative film. Director: Seemab Gul Cast: Ayesha Shoaib Ahmed, Qasim Ali,
Elevate ★★★ 1/2 HollyShorts Film Festival
A sombre and considerate piece that showcases the importance of compassion and the human touch, Elevate is a striking short that works on you emotionally, accumulating in a powerful ending. Director: Dylan Boom Cast: Tracie Thoms, Jason Butler Harner, Rickey Eugene Brown, Gwyn LaRee IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15699084 Tiffany (Tracie Thoms) works the
Act of God ★★★★ HollyShorts Film Festival
Act of God ‘s authentic charm is what drives this excellent observational short. Unexpectedly funny and poignant, Park Smith and Spencer Cook have made a refreshing and welcome film that shows disability in all of its complex forms. A disabled man’s commute is interrupted by a $100 bill lying on
Shark ★★★ 3/4 HollyShort Film Festival
Shark is a dark comedy that knows when to pull the rug on our fun having newlyweds. Nash Edgerton’s latest short is a deliciously dark delight.
Bump ★★★★ – HollyShorts Film Festival
Rory Keenan’s debut film, Bump, is a rounding success, ably bringing some biting comedy while finding the perfect chance to wipe that smile clean off our faces. A strong start to a promising career as a director. Director: Rory Keenan, Cast: Gemma Arterton, Macy Nyman, Nylah Sweeney IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12435324 Heavily pregnant
North Star – ★★★★★ – HollyShorts Film Festival
Devastating, just totally and utterly devastating, that is perhaps the only way to describe P.J. Palmer’s North Star. Colman Domingo astounds in one of this year’s best short films.
Donkerster ★★★★ 1/2 – (Short) Small Gauge Trauma – Fantasia International Film Festival
Donkerster is a film that brings two things to the table: an astounding atmosphere and one terrific performance from young actress Adriana Bakker. A faultless short film.
I Call Upon Thee – (Short Film) Small Gauge Trauma – Fantasia International Film Festival
Michael Kratochvil successfully unsettles his audience once his film I Call Upon Thee gets going. With strong performances from the young actresses, this is a short you won’t soon forget. “It’s not, dad. It’s worse.” Two young sisters in an unhappy home perform an incantation to summon… something… anything in
Lucienne in a World Without Solitude – (Short) Small Gauge Trauma – Fantasia International FIlm Festival
An unsettling slice of dystopian perfection, Geordy Couturiau has created a unique film. Stéphane Caillard is breathtaking in her double role. An absolute essential watch.
The Last Son – ★★★
A great premise with impactful moments The Last Son has all the makings to be a great Western. Sadly it stumbles in the middle act, but importantly never falls. There is a lot to like about the film including Worthington and Colson. It’s the bleakest of winters, and LeMay (Sam
Prey – ★★★★
For a prequel in a long running franchise, Prey has no right to be as good as it is. Yet, Dan Trachtenberg has helmed a fantastic genre film with Amber Midthunder emerging as an absolute star. A fantastic must watch film. Naru (Amber Midthunder), wants to emerge as the latest
Hysteric – (Short) Small Gauge Trauma – Fantasia International FIlm Festival
Hysteric is as bold and emotionally brutal a 9-minute film as you will see this year, hell maybe ever. Rod Blackhurst has gone out and done his best to traumatise you in the simplest of ways. At a remote house in Astoria, Oregon, two sisters are suddenly under attack by
The Last Son available on digital August 8th.
Sam Worthington, Machine Gun Kelly and Heather Graham star in this darkly brutal tale of vehement violence and family ties. Sam Worthington (Avatar, Clash of the Titans), Colson Baker aka Machine Gun Kelly, Heather Graham (Boogie Nights, Twin Peaks) Thomas Jane (The Thin Red Line, Deep Blue Sea), Emily Marie
The Breach ★★★ 1/2 Fantasia International Film Festival
The Breach may tread down familiar paths but does so with great confidence. The focus on the story is what shines through here. Though it doesn’t hurt that when the film wants to get gruesome, it does so with glee.
Cult Hero ★★★ Fantasia International Film Festival
Dale Domazar (Ry Barrett) is a washed-up private investigator and “cult-buster” whose last cult bust resulted in a mass suicide. Kallie Jones (Liv Collins) is a realtor who needs to control everything. With her husband Brad (Justin Bott) sleepwalking through life, Kallie is certain a stay at Master Jagori’s (Tony
Horror fans can enjoy multiple fright nights watching 67 films at the 18th Annual HollyShorts Oscar-Qualifying® Film Festival Screening from August 11-20th, 2022
Horror fans can enjoy multiple fright nights watching 67 films at the 18th Annual HollyShorts Oscar-Qualifying® Film Festival Screening from August 11-20th, 2022
King Knight – ★★★ Digital Release
With a tremendous opening act Richard Bates, Jr’s King Knight should be a home run of a comedy. Its farcical premise falls away in the middle, yet the warmness of the characters & story keep you watching and laughing along.
The Fight Machine ★★★★ Fantasia International Film Festival
The Fight Machine is a film that connects throughout; combining two stories is a bold choice from Andrew Thomas Hunt, but it works marvellously here. Fantastically cast from top to bottom, this is a fight drama you do not want to miss. Paul (Greg Hovanessian) and Rob (Dempsey Bryk) come from
The Blood of the Dinosaurs (short) ★★★ 1/2 – Fantasia International Film Festival
Joe Badon has chucked in a hell of a lot into such a short timeframe in his short film The Blood of the Dinosaurs that you are almost purposely overwhelmed from what you see. A wonderfully creative and disturbing short, you simply can’t stop watching. ‘The Blood of the Dinosaurs’
HAIL V/H/S! SHUDDER PRESSES PLAY ON V/H/S/99, A NEW FILM IN THE BLOCKBUSTER V/H/S FRANCHISE
Filmmakers Maggie Levin, Johannes Roberts, Flying Lotus, Tyler MacIntyre and Vanessa & Joseph Winter to Direct the Production from Studio71 V/H/S/99 Streams Thursday, October 20 only on Shudder NEW YORK – July 28, 2022 – Shudder, AMC Networks’ premium streaming service for horror, thriller and the supernatural, announced today the return of Studio71’s hit
TIFF announces films in the Gala and Special Presentations programmes
TORONTO — Today, TIFF is delighted to announce the selections in the Gala and Special Presentationsprogrammes for the 47th Toronto International Film Festival, taking place September 8–18. This list of films from the 2022 Official Selection features 18 Galas and 45 Special Presentations. “We’re excited to welcome some of the
19 British Films selected for the Oscar-Qualifying®18th Annual HollyShorts Film Festival
Filmmakers and stars include fan favourites Sir Steve McQueen, Gemma Arterton and Double Academy Award Winner ® Paul J. Franklin Screening from August 11-20th, 2022 The annual Academy Awards® Qualifying HollyShorts Film Festival will celebrate its 18th year in August 2022. HollyShorts (HSFF) brings together top creators, industry leaders, and
Sissy – ★★★★ – Fantasia International Film Festival
A horror for millennials, Sissy takes the idea of social ostracism and childhood trauma and runs with it. Resulting in a compelling and unexpected bloodbath of a film, thoroughly tremendous. Writer-directors Hannah Barlow and Kane Senes along with lead Aisha Dee have knocked it out of the park. Cecelia (Aisha
Incredible But True – ★★★★ – Fantasia International Film Festival
Typical absurdist film from Quentin Dupieux in his tenth feature, Incredible But True. A thoroughly funny tale of a midlife crisis, we have a ridiculously entertaining and charming film that also compels and actually has a lot of heart. Alain (Alain Chabat) and Marie (Léa Drucker) have been together for a
Mercenaries from Hong Kong – ★★★ – Fantasia International Film Festival
Getting a fantastic 2k restoration from Arrow Films, Mercenaries from Hong Kong is an entertaining slice of action from the early 80s. This relentless film throws everything it can at the screen, and you will love it for it. A notorious assassin (Philip Ko) must be eliminated at all costs. A mysterious
Orchestrator of Storms: The Fantastique World of Jean Rollin – ★★★★ Fantasia International Film Festival
Utterly captivating, Orchestrator of Storms takes you on an honest but loving journey through the life and career of “fantastique” filmmaker Jean Rollins. A wonderful watch.
Lion Spy – ★★★★
Rogue Rubin’s Lion Spy takes you through a wide range of emotions in its 76 minutes, from anger all the way to being inspired. A fantastic and urgent documentary that pushes you into action.
Summer Ghost – ★★★★ 1/2 (Short) Fantasia International Film Festival
For 40 minutes, Summer Ghost is magnificent, a look through adolescent eyes concerning death. Stunningly beautiful and emotionally haunting, an essential viewing. A trio of teenagers who’ve connected online through a shared curiosity about the paranormal meet up in person and visit a disused airstrip. They hope to spot the
A Girl Meets a Boy and a Robot – ★★★★
Shinichiro Watanabe provides a melancholic outlook on the apocalypse with his latest short A Girl Meets a Boy and a Robot. As gorgeous to watch as it is emotionally painful, this is a beautiful short. A girl without memory wanders the ruined wastes of the world that once was, where
Deiji Meets Girl – ★★★ 1/2 (Short) Fantasia International Film Festival
Deiji Meets Girl is a wonderful little love letter to its setting, Okinawa. A short full of promise and intrigue bites off a bit more than it can chew but remains a piece that satisfies.
Dr Lamb ★★★ 1/2 – Fantasia International Film Festival 2022
Exploitative Cat III classic Dr Lamb leaves little to the imagination once our killer reveals all. A wild ride of a film that refuses to relent in its perversity and is one that you are not likely to forget anytime soon.
Employee of the Month ★★★ 1/2 – Fantasia International Film Festival 2022
Employee of the month has a lot to saw for a black horror comedy with writer-director Véronique Jadin nailing her message. A film that has you cheering for the under appreciated.
Arrow Video FrightFest 2022 announces line-up
Guest charge led by Dario Argento, Neil Marshall, Brea Grant, Brigitte Lahaie and Mark Kermode. Neil Marshall’s THE LAIR is monstrous opener Passes on sale from Sat 16th July, noon, Single tickets on sale from Sat 23 July, noon Arrow Video FrightFest, the UK’s most popular horror and fantasy film festival,
17 films not to miss at Fantasia International Film Festival 2022
Fantasia International Film Festival kicks off tonight and here are 17 films that you you must watch.
The Fire Within: Requiem for Katia and Maurice Krafft ★★★★★ Sheff Doc Fest 2022
The Fire Within is an absolute triumph that engrosses you in the wonders of our planet, much as the Kraffts would have wanted us to be from their work; the perfect eulogy.
The Oil Machine – ★★★ 1/2 Sheff Doc Fest 2022
We know that we must reduce the drilling and use of oil, yet here in The Oil Machine, we are presented with a difficult watch of seeing just how deeply rooted our society is in fossil fuels. Emma Davie’s documentary takes us on an urgent journey that only speeds up
British Boys and Happiness is £4 Million – Shorts Sheff Doc Fest 2022
British Boys Director Marcus Curvelo, Country: Brazil, 15 Mins Two men in Bahia, Brazil, try to prove their UK ancestry to qualify for a small plot of land in the city’s finest location: the British Cemetery. As entertaining as it is, British Boys shows how, even two hundred years later,
Off The Rails – ★★★ 1/2 Sheff Doc Fest 2022
Trauma has taken hold of our two subjects in Peter Day’s Off The Rails. As they battle through their pain, we become all the more concerned for them —an empathetic and engaging piece that is well worth your time. Rikke Brewer and Aiden Knox struggle with the death of their best friend
Peace and Tranquillity – ★★★★ (Short) Sheff Doc Fest 2022
Director Myro Klocho, Country: Ukraine, 12 Mins Two weeks after Russia invaded his country, acclaimed playwright Andrii Bondarenko focused on the life he had lived. A peaceful childhood had followed bloodshed. And now, in adulthood, he faced the threat that previous generations of his family had witnessed. These thoughts took
Man On Earth – ★★★★ 1/2 Sheff Doc Fest 2022
With Amiel Courtin-Wilson’s excellent documentary Man on Earth, we get an eye-opening glance at assisted suicide with his delicate portrait of the fearless Bob Rosenzweig.
An Exploration Short Film Strand – Part Two
Hair Tie, Egg, Homework Books 头绳，鸡蛋，作业本 Director Runxiao Luo – 15 minutes As a model student in her elementary school, 11-year-old Yuqi is assigned to give a speech about her family at the Parent’s Meeting. But after Yuqi finds out that she shares the same secret with a mischievous classmate,
The Ark – ★★★★★ Odyssey Chinese Film Festival
Dan Wei’s The Ark is an extraordinary glance at the struggles of a family doing all they can for an ailing loved one. Raw and powerful this is an unmissable documentary.
An Exploration, Short Film Strand: Part One – Odyssey Chinese Film Festival 2022
We continue on with the short films from the Odyssey Chinese Film Festival running from now until June 10th via https://www.odysseychinesecinema.uk/. Here are three of the An Exploration strand, expect many more from this strand over the coming days as we have been treated by the festival with some tremendous
Neo Horizon Strand: Odyssey Chinese Cinema Film Festival
Sarira 舍利 Director: Mingyang Li – 28 minutes When an excavator attempts to destroy a temple, a monk’s ancient faith is finally confronted by modern society: it is from then that he must begin his interrogation of the world. Sarira is the type of drama that takes you by surprise
UK-CHINA Film Collab (UCFC) Is Presenting ‘ODYSSEY’- The Biggest Chinese Film Festival Of The year In The UK From Now Until June 10th
‘Odyssey: a Chinese cinema season’ is launching in the UK this May. Collaborating with Picturehouse Cinemas , The Prince Charles Cinemas (in – person) and Shift 72 (online), the festival will create a hybrid experience to reach as many attendees as possible across the UK and worldwide. Named after one