On the Trail of UFOs: Dark Sky is fine as a documentary that looks into the UFO phenomenon occurring in West Virginia, with personable subjects it should be a home run. Yet, towards the back end of the piece, it sadly loses itself. Dark Sky explores decades of reports of
Category: Reviews
Settlers – ★★★
This quiet & bleak chamber piece works very well during its engaging opening act, & tension racked finale. However, #Settlers middle act frustrates due to the lack of answers to the questions posed, regardless, this is an impressive debut.
Fantasia International Film Festival 2021 Preview
Fantasia International Film Festival is almost upon us and as we here at Upcoming On Screen are getting the opportunity to cover it this year, I felt it was a good idea to let you have an idea of what is on offer. Roaring into its 25th year, the Montreal
Out of Death – ★★
A muddling action film that doesn’t quite know what it is trying to be. There are glimpses of a good film living underneath Out of Death, but with such a terrible script, the only saving grace the film has is the strong turn by Jamie King,
The Offering – ★★★ 1/2
Distant direction choices almost overshadow the Offerings dense narrative and strong cast performances. This cynical but intriguing film takes its time at fully getting to its point but remains effective in its execution.
The Most Beautiful Boy In The World – ★★★★ 1/2
The Most Beautiful Boy In The World is at times an uncomfortable but remains a fascinating piece that shows how the scars of the earliest years of one life carry with you to adulthood. A finely crafted documentary that haunts you.
The Babadook – Second Sight LE Blu Ray ★★★★
Jennifer Kent’s The Babadook is a masterful horror film, that takes advantage of its human story to scare the life out of you. An unmissable film in an unmissable package and out from Monday 26th
Kandisha – ★★★ 1/2
An impressive horror from Alexandre Bustillo and Julien Maury utilises many well-used horror tropes and can bring something fresh to the table. Rife with tension and some gruesome scares, Kandisha demands your time.
Joy Womack: The White Swan – ★★★1/2
An interesting glimpse into the life of a person endeavoring to achieve an improbable dream. Joy Womack: The White Swan pulls you in with a fascinating & determined subject.
The Boy Behind The Door – ★★★★
Rife with nail-biting tension, Lonnie Chavis & Ezra Dewey are phenomenal in The Boy Behind The Door. With a simple story done exceptionally well, directors David Charbonier and Justin Powell have created a wonderful thriller.
Fear Street Trilogy Reviews – ★★ 1/2
The Fear Street trilogy misses the opportunity to be something special, instead, bogged down with too much worldbuilding, overbearing scores and mere moments of nostalgia. Disappointing with how forgettable it becomes.
Two of Us – ★★★★
Flippo Meneghetti’s feature debut Two of Us is a heartbreaking look at the battle to keep love together during the most trying of times. A drama that tenderly and carefully carries you along, and like Nina, makes sure never to let you go.
Piccolo Corpo ★★★★ 1/2
Laura Samani’s hauntingly beautiful Piccolo Corpo is a triumph. This is a voyage of uncompromising love and sacrifice, utterly unmissable with enduring and memorable performances from Celeste Cescutti and Ondina Quadri.
Son – ★★★ 3/4 (Shudder)
Andi Matichak shines in Ivan Kavanagh’s effective and surprising chiller Son. Filled with confidence, this is a film that makes sure to get the little things right and, by its finale, has you gripped.
The Green Sea – ★★★ 3/4
Randal Plunkett’s The Green Sea takes us on a very human exploration into a troubled woman’s life portrayed brilliantly by Katharine Isabelle – an intimate film that stays with you.
A Perfect Enemy – ★★ 3/4
A psychological drama that never connects in the way that it thinks it does. A Perfect Enemy misses more than it hits, but when those hits flash before us, they do work well though the lead up to the finale is what costs the film. Successful architect Jeremiasz Angust is approached on
Basenji – ★★★★ Queen’s World Film Festival
Basenji is a film that challenges its audience, and with some fearless direction choices from Ian Scott Clement, we have an experimental film that you easily gravitate towards.
Love Happens – ★★ 3/4 – Queen’s World Film Festival
Love Happens, the debut from Liza Rafael is a solid little comedy about the romantic and career pressures put on someone. Yet, by needlessly pushing the narrative during a perplexing final act, we are left frustrated.
Mosley: It’s Complicated – ★★★ 1/2
At times Mosley: It’s Complicated is an engaging look at a man trying to form a legacy of safety when shrouded in a complex history. We have a film with such a significant story to tell that it can never provide us with enough time to do so Chronicling the life and
Shadows of the Valley ★★★ Queen’s World Film Festival
presents its audience with as bleak a picture as you can imagine for the children & families of Juárez. Yet hope and determined optimism shine in this thought provoking and emotional documentary
My Heart Can’t Beat Unless You Tell It To – ★★★
Rife with atmosphere & doom, this is a film that sticks to its deliberate pacing to show us the struggles of sacrificing everything for family. But it keeps its cards far too close to its chest narratively.
Lust Life Love ★★★★ Queen’s World Film Festival
Lust Life Love is an open & honest look at the sex-positive community. An immersive & intimate film that takes us on a journey less travelled, and thank goodness it does. Not a film to be missed.
Carver ★★★ – Queen’s World Film Festival
An engaging debut from Evgeny Yablokov, has a vigilante get too caught up in his nightly excursions and struggle to keep it all together. A film that satisfies and stays true to itself.
Dr Bird’s Advice For Sad Poets – ★★★ 1/2
Yaniv Raz’s adaption of Dr Bird’s Advice for Sad Poets shows how it was a book made for the big screen. This offbeat look at mental health in teenagers occasionally stumbles but is able to stay on its feet to be an entertaining film. Enter the whimsical world of James
All In My Power ★★★★ 1/2 – Queen’s World Film Festival
A magnificent yet harrowing time capsule of a documentary, All In My Power takes us on a journey through COVID in the opening nine weeks of the pandemic in New York.
Mouse – ★★★★ Queen’s World Film Festival
Adam Engel’s film grips you with a tale of the damage a guilty conscience can do to a person. A film that showcases a filmmaker who you need to keep an eye on.
Senior Moment – ★★ 3/4
A film that knows exactly what it is and never tries to overstretch itself. Senior Moment is an easy watch with a splattering of laughs yet full of harmless charm.
Don’t Look Back – ★★ 1/2
Imagine a plot along the lines of Final Destination without getting to see the deaths and played out by a cast who forgot to emote. Don’t Look Back is a woefully sloppy film that has few bright sparks to speak of.
Uncle Vanya – ★★★★★
The filmed performance of Ian Rickson’s production of Uncle Vanya astounds. A beautiful yet utterly heartbreaking piece with faultless performances. It will live long in the memory. An unmissable experience
Brabham – ★★★
As you go further into Akos Armont’s Brabham, the more confused the film appears to get what it wanted to be. While it can be a solid introduction to the life of multi-time Formula 1 champion Jack Brabham
Parallel ★★★1/2 + DVD Competition
Isaac Ezban’s Parallel has strong central themes that coupled with four strong performances makes Parallel an excellent high concept science fiction film.
Splinters ★★★1/2 Sheff Doc Fest
Natalia Garayalde’s intimate documentary is as much a love letter to family members as about
what befell her community of Río Tercero in 1995. Deftly crafted, we are left with an enthralling yet painstakingly honest film
Nuhu Yãg Mu Yõg Hãm: This Land Is Our Land! – ★★★ Sheff Doc Fest
While the doc stalls at times due to its slightly repetitive nature, it remains an important film highlighting an urgent issue for indigenous communities like this throughout the world.
Factory to the Workers ★★★ 1/2 – Sheff Doc Fest
A fascinating documentary of determination, Srđan Kovačević keeps a neutral gaze on his subjects as they battle through thick and thin to make an impossible task succeed. In Croatia in 2005, a machine tools factory was occupied by its workers. Since then, they have operated collectively, becoming the only successful
From the Wild Sea ★★★★- Sheff Doc Fest
Robin Petré’s From the Wild Sea is a glorious showcase of cinematic imagery and impeccable sound design. A documentary that presents the ever-increasing devastation that humans and climate change have on marine life.
Minamata Mandala – ★★★★★ Sheff Doc Fest
A sprawling and engrossing documentary that leaves no stone unturned in the victim’s crusade for justice. This documentary leaves you angry at the bureaucratic system yet in awe of those who kept going.
Lift Like A Girl – ★★★★ 1/2 Sheff Doc Fest
Mayye Zayed’s fantastic observational doc may focus on challenging gender stereotypes in sport. Yet it becomes so much more by being a film that wears its heart on its sleeve with two wonderful subjects.
Sheff Doc Fest: Sing, Freetown – ★★★★
Sing, Freetown is a captivating look at two men trying to reclaim the identity of their country and show generations, young and old, the importance of their culture. A very personal documentary that racks up the tension to the hopeful opening night. Raised in Sierra Leone and now a Londoner, Sorious
Sheff Doc Fest: Charm Circle – ★★★★
A thought-provoking and intimate look at the damages of insufficient mental health support. Nira Burstein’s feature documentary debut manages to find joy and hope deep within the chaos up a tumultuous upbringing.
Sheff Doc Fest: Delphine’s Prayers – ★★★★ 1/4
Rosine Mbakam’s intimate yet challenging Delphine’s Prayers is the most intense therapy session you can imagine. An emotional whirlwind of a documentary that has you riveted with its subject’s life.
Sheff Doc Fest 2021 – Summer of Soul (…Or When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised) – ★★★★★
Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson has delivered a seamlessly entertaining yet thoughtful time capsule of a documentary with Summer of Soul.
Lake Mungo -LE Blu Ray ★★★★★
Lake Mungo is a wonderfully weaved story that draws you in and utilises atmosphere and fantastic casting to be that cult film that everyone should watch at least once. A perfectly crafted film that astounds you with how authentic it is.
Exhibition On Screen – Sunflowers ★★★★★
Wonderfully revisiting Vincent Van Gogh’s Sunflower series. A very enjoyable piece that paces itself perfectly while we admire the work of the great Dutch artist. Well worth 90 minutes of your time.
Caveat – ★★★ 3/4
Damian McCarthy’s feature debut Caveat is a claustrophobic success that knows precisely what to do to creep you out. A smartly written and directed film that provides the audience with an exciting new voice.
Cruella – ★★★ 3/4
Cruella has it’s faults, but in the end it is a rather enjoyable film with two great performances wrapped around some dazzling production design. An entertaining film that shouldn’t be as good as it is considering it’s stretched runtime.
Externo – ★★★★
Jonathan and Leandro Taub’s take their audience on a grim journey of realisation of how wanting power and uncountable wealth can lead to devastating consequences, not for the person seeking it, but for everyone else on the planet. Externo is a stark wake-up call of a film that has to be seen.
Skull: The Mask – ★★ 1/2
Come & stay for the gore & the B-movie tropes as there isn’t much else going on with Skull: The Mask. A film that falls short of being great due to it forgetting that there needed to be a solid story to hold it all together.
The Philosophers – ★★★ 1/2
John Huddle’s drama has its thinking cap on, and while it falters occasionally. It succeeds in being a refreshing story that allows ideas and thoughts to shine. The Philosophers surprises with just how good it is.
Mandy – ★★★★
A film that goes for the big swings somehow keeps itself together, thanks to terrific performances and a visual style to dream for. Couple that with its hymnal score, then Mandy is a sure-fire winner of a film.
Ten Minutes to Midnight – ★★★
Caroline Williams gives the best performance of her career in Ten Minutes to Midnight. This film has a wonderful underlying story that has you come in for the horror but stay for the on point and insightful commentary.
Homewrecker – ★★
A film with good intentions, Homewrecker just doesn’t click due to some amateur work behind the camera. A genuinely disappointing film despite the efforts of its two leads to make it something more.
Army of the Dead – ★★★
#ArmyoftheDead flatters to deceive with a premise that should make it stand out. but is severely lacking in its script by being just too predictable. Neither disappointing nor great, this is a film that settles with being just okay.
New Voices from Hong Kong Students reviews
And I, And I. Dir Lam Yan Yue Judy, a single mother and Peter, her intellectually disabled son, have been through 45 years with each other. As minorities, lives were half spent with forgotten dreams and helpless love. Yet, they found a temporary exit through music. A genuinely wonderful short
Stalker – ★★★
Stalker is hampered by a laboured & predictable middle half but is saved with a cracker of a final act. A solid thriller that visually paints a great picture, but falls just when you want it to leap. However, it is still worth your time.
Sound of Violence – ★★★★
Alex Noyer’s film utilises its horror graphically well. Yet it shines most when it explores what is under the pools blood left behind with a story full of tragedy, desperation wrapped around PTSD and addiction – A must-see film.
Psycho Goreman – ★★★★
A practical effects-laden joy. Psycho Goreman is everything a genre fan would love but can also go beyond a niche B-movie to be a schlocky film that will entertain everyone. Siblings Mimi and Luke unwittingly resurrect an ancient alien overlord who was interred on Earth millions of years ago after a failed
Shock Wave 2 – ★★★★
A relentlessly compelling action packed thriller, your are invested right from that unbelievable opening sequence. Any minor faults are so readily forgiven, a joy of an action film made for the big screen.
Shock Wave – ★★★ 3/4
Shock Wave is a terrific spectacle of a film that harkens back to the classic 90’s action thrillers. With an awful lot to love about this entertaining film, it becomes a wonderful surprise of a movie.
The 12th Man – ★★★★
Thomas Gullestad is a revelation here in the WW II drama The 12th Man. It is a harrowing and grueling film that never lets up or lets you out of its grip until the final scene—an underseen gem of a movie that fully deserves a chance.
Initiation – ★★★★
John Berardo’s Initiation is a welcome addition to the genre, an excellent slasher has something to say, working best when it centres itself in the world of realism. A film that has its cake & eats it. Watch this great horror immediately.
The Swordsman – ★★★★
With brutal action, The Swordsman becomes a film that capably mixes itself as an entertaining martial arts action film inside a compelling historical drama. A confident and well-executed film that does everything right.
Undergods – ★★★ 1/2
Chino Moya’s hauntingly bleak debut feature Undergods is an ambitious trio of tales expertly interwoven film. A vision that makes him a filmmaker to look out for. A very impressive movie. A collection of darkly humorous, fantasy tales about ill-fated characters and doomed fortune: in a dystopian, post-apocalyptic Europe, K
Betrayed – ★★★ 1/2
Eirik Svensson’s has created a compelling and moving humanist tale here with Betrayed. A film that is a haunting reminder of the pain of your own community and friends deserting you and at times condemning you to a horrible fate. Based on True Events. The Nazi agenda knew no borders. As the
Goodbye Honey – ★★★
Max Strands feature debut is a thriller that does an awful lot right with its minimal style and two great performances. However, it stretches itself too thin just when you are fully compelled. However this is still one to catch.
The Blitz: 80th Anniversary – ★★★
A fascinating but all too short look into one of the darkest periods for Britain during WWII. A great introduction documentary.
Robin Hood: The Rebellion – ★
An abysmally dull affair, Robin Hood: The Rebellion never does anything of note other than frustrating its audience with some terrible action & meaningless dialogue. A shambolic film that should be avoided for your own sanity.
Peaks and Valleys – ★★★★
Michael Burn’s Peaks and Valleys is a wonderful character study of two people who find each other at the right time. With memorable performances in a gorgeous setting, this is a drama that captivates you from beginning to end.
Threshold – ★★★
Powell Robinson & Robert-Patrick Young’s Threshold works best when it focuses on its two siblings simply trying to reconnect. Despite the painfully rushed ending, it shows moments of beauty and allows the viewer to enjoy the overall journey
We Still Say Grace – ★★★★
Brad Helmink and John Rauschelbach’s film is a tremendously effective thriller that does everything possibly right. A slow-burner that reels you in, this is a must-watch film that deserves to find as wide an audience as possible.
The Darkness – ★★
With an overbearing score and a script that simply cannot get to grips with what supernatural influence it wants to take from, The Darkness never gets going. Resulting in a flawed, disjointed film that fails its audience in almost every way possible.
Fried Barry – ★★★
There will be very little between Fried Barry; you will either love this film or hate it. A non-stop ride that takes no prisoners and does even less to explain itself. Jarring and intelligible, this is one for those who love chaos in their sci-fi.
Keep Rolling – ★★★★ 1/2
A wonderful documentary about the auteur Ann Hui. Keep Rolling is an exploration into her storied career that links in perfectly with her personal life. For those unfamiliar with Hui, this remains an open & appealing introduction to the filmmaker.
Truman and Tennessee: An Intimate Conversation – ★★★
An interesting & satisfying documentary that doesn’t quite delve into our subjects as much as you would want it to. Yet, you are invested to the piece thanks to some wonderful visual choices from Vreeland.
The Virtuoso – ★★ 1/2
The Virtuoso is held back by an uninspiring script that hampers itself from the start; a premise that could have had legs is wasted to become a standard assassin thriller. Given only a time, a location, and a cryptic clue, the methodical hitman (Anson Mount) must identify his mysterious foe
Clapboard Jungle ★★★★ 1/2, Arrow Player
Justin McConnell’s engrossing documentary is a treasure trove of valuable information that anyone wanting to break into the film industry must watch.
Beast Beast – ★★★★
Danny Madden’s fantastic feature debut Beast Beast is bold with its perfectly built tension and a final act that hits you like a train, becoming an unmissable and urgent film for young adults in a modern world.
Raw- Second Sight Blu-Ray – ★★★★
Second Sight has made a package that shows the true joy of physical media with their new release of Julia Ducournau’s 2016 film Raw. A special edition release that is worthy of the film that it accompanies.
Here Are The Young Men – ★★★
Eoin C. Macken’s solid picture Here Are The Young Men shines a light on toxic masculinity without ever giving itself the chance to go fully in-depth as its characters deserve.
Lucky Grandma – ★★★ 1/2
With two fabulous performances from Tsai Chin and Hsiao-Yuan Ha, Lucky Grandma weaves a delightful tale that delivers the laughs and knows when to pull at your emotions to bring us a charming film that showcases the value of family.
Tokyo Ghoul S – ★★★
An enjoyable romp that knows not to take itself overly seriously, though it wouldn’t hurt itself to do so to make it a stronger film. A very watchable live-action sequel that keeps true to its anime roots.
Sheep Without A Shepherd – ★★★ 1/2
An intricately written film, Sam Quah’s Sheep Without A Shepherd is a rewarding movie that expertly ramps up the emotional tension in a memorable cat and mouse thriller.
Black Bear – ★★★★
Writer-Director Lawrence Michael Levine’s Black Bear mesmerises with its three devastatingly good leads. This film is full of ambiguity that keeps you engrossed and unable to look away as these characters destroy themselves.
Laddie: The Man Behind The Movies – ★★★ 1/2
A touching tribute to an outstanding producer, Laddie: The Man Behind The Movies is a documentary that should be appreciated by all film fans. While it is far too short, it remains an enjoyable journey. Laddie: The Man Behind the Movies is the story of Alan Ladd Jr., the Oscar-winning producer and
Forget Everything And Run – ★★ 3/4
While being a solid flick, Forget Everything And Run loses itself as it it unveils itself as a standard post-apocalyptic jaunt. A film that takes all too familiar footsteps & regretfully never tries to make its own path.
The Oak Room – ★★★
As The Oak Room begins, you never expect it to be as thoroughly engaging as it eventually becomes. Cody Calahan’s film is assumedly effective in a lo-fi movie that strikes you with its simple premise and striking visuals.
The Banishing – ★★★
The Banishing – ★★★
A solid ghost story, with some great performances, Christopher Smith’s The Banishing gets so close to being a tremendous, however it fizzles out all too soon before the end credits.
I Blame Society – ★★★ 3/4
Gillian Wallace Horvat’s wonderfully uncomfortable yet sharp debut feature I Blame Society, is a film that gets under your skin and once it gets going takes zero prisoners. We have a film that is as fantastic as it is creative.
The Head Hunter – ★★★★
Jordan Downey’s atmospheric The Head Hunter is a beautifully shot piece that does so much right with so little that you are left begging for more. A thriller that knows what its intentions are and executes them perfectly.
The Reckoning – ★★
The high hopes of Neil Marshalls The Reckoning is quickly dissipated by a run of the mill story with woeful dialogue and one of the most overpowering scores in recent times. This is one that sadly needs to be avoided. Set against the Great Plague’s backdrop and subsequent witch-hunts against women, Grace
What’s Eating Gilbert Grape – ★★★★
With a powerful and relatable storyline, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape is a look at small-town America that gives it all the respect it deserves, allowing the film to keep its heart. Gilbert Grape (Johnny Depp) feels trapped – with no father present and an eccentric family to care for, he
Siberia – ★★ 1/2
Siberia is a film that will disappoint those wanting an intriguing thriller, but if you stick around for a doomed romance plot, then there is something worthwhile here. Sadly there isn’t much else to grasp onto.
Sequin in a Blue Room – ★★★★
Samuel Van Grinsven’s debut feature is a superb cautionary tale for young gay men, Sequin in a Blue Room is film at its best. This is an essential watch. Sequin (Conor Leach) explores his burgeoning sexuality through an obsession with anonymous, no-strings sexual encounters. That is until he finds his way into The
Portal (AKA Doors) – ★★★
Portal has high aspirations, and for that, it should be commended and ably brings the audience in with it. Sadly it never keeps up its end of the bargain, and those expectations that the audience had are never met.
Hellraiser: Evolutions – ★★★
A short, yet interesting look at the long running series that is perfect as a starter introduction to the 30 year plus franchise.
Available on Arrow Player now as part of their stories section.
For the Sake of Vicious – ★★★★
Welcome to your new favourite cult midnight movie. For the Sake of Vicious is a film that wears its bloody heart on its sleeve and, after a tense opening half, let’s loose in ways that will have you clapping away in glee.
Willy’s Wonderland – ★ 1/2
Willy’s Wonderland is a stupid film, not a fun horror. It is a pointless film trying to piggyback on a tired videogame. Utterly terrible and devoid of anything worthwhile. Toss into the forget immediately pile. I wish I could.
Red Rage – ★★
Red Rage throws everything at the wall, and in some cases, parts stick, but far too often, it slides down said wall as slowly as possible, and never bothers trying to clean up its own mess.
Mercenary For Justice – ★★
If you want to know the quality deep within Steven Seagals Mercenary For Justice, there is a line in the film that goes, “Yeah, that’s it for you poophole”, and in a weird sort of way, that sums up the film perfectly.
Torpedo: U-235 – ★★★ 1/2
Sven Huynrecht’s Torpedo U-235 is a contemporary submarine film that ticks all of the boxes you need. This is a film that will surprise you with just how good it is. This is a highly rewatchable flick.
Final Days – ★★★ 1/2
Johnny Martin’s Final Days take its time with its story but wisely uses that time to build up a great sense of desolation for the survivors as the action becomes more and more intense. While not reinventing the wheel, this is a surprisingly solid film.
The Black Windmill – ★★★ 1/2
Don Seigel and Michael Caines underseen film The Black Windmill was Taken before Taken could be a thing. This new release from 101 Films brings us a solid film that brings together great actors in an entertainingly gritty crime thriller.
Shortcut – ★ 1/2
We have a film that totally misreads what audience it should be targeting and by trying to go more mature, Shortcut never convinces its audience enough. This is a film that needs to be aimed at younger audiences to be more effective.
He Dreams Of Giants – ★★★★
An intimate, compelling documentary about Terry Gilliam’s battle to make his white whale. This fascinating glimpse is as sincere as a documentary about filmmaking can get.
BFI Flare Shorts – Into the Unknown
As we reach the end of BFI Flare, we highlight the absolutely fantastic shorts that the festival had on offer. Blurred lines of love & friendship between women are explored in these poignant and beautiful films.
BFI Flare Shorts – For The Record
As we reach the end of BFI Flare, we look at the shorts section. Second up is For the Record, traversing a wide range of subjects, this inspiring selection of short-form documentaries is guaranteed to provoke & inspire.
BFI Flare Shorts – Beginnings and Endings
As we reach the end of BFI Flare, it is time to highlight the absolutely fantastic shorts that the festival had on offer. Throughout today we will be breaking down the seven categories and all of their films. First up is the Beginnings and Endings section. If you miss out
The Night – ★★★★
Kourosh Ahari’s The Night is a throwback of a horror that allows for its ample tension to build, coupled with a great script and two fantastic performances, this is a film that never lets you settle.
Charlie Says (2019) – ★★ 1/2
Charlie Says lacks the substance to keep itself moving and when the script has so little depth to it, the whole movie struggles and becomes a laboured piece. A disappointment that missed its chance to say something of note.
Escape Plan 3 (2019) ★★ 1/2
Sylvester Stallone returns for Escape Plan 3, which is far better than the sequel but still languishes from the original. This serviceable action jaunt isn’t the best film, but it never tries to pretend to be.
An Impossible Project – ★★★★
A heartwarming love letter to a more physical world, An Impossible Project is a wonderful documentary by Jens Meurer. A film that both digital and analogue lovers can enjoy and one that they will find hard not to smile throughout. For some, digital is all they know and has totally
The Eight Hundred – ★★★★
Hu Guan’s The Eight Hundred is a tour de force of a war film that showcases heroism at its finest. This brutal film, likes the soldiers in the Shang warehouse, gives no quarters. An awe-inspiring film.
Demon ★ 1/2
Demon is a film that, if given a 30-minute runtime, would be an exceptional look at racial bias and male mental health. Sadly it goes on for too long with too many terrible performances worsened by a plot that doesn’t do enough—a true shame.
Reunion – ★★★ 1/2
Jake Mahaffy’s Reunion utilises its slow-burn storytelling to compel its audience. This complex tale occasionally trips itself up, but with a killer finale, it makes it a film that is worth the build.
Tove ★★★ 1/2 – BFI Flare
Tove is an engaging glimpse into the bisexual life of Tove Jansson, known for the wonderful Moomins. Zaida Bergroth’s biopic is a personal take on Jansson and one that enchants you early on, thanks to Alma Pöysti’s careful performance.
P.S. Burn This Letter Please – ★★★★ 1/2 BFI Flare
Jennifer Tiexiera and Michael Seligman’s P.S. Burn This Letter Please is an astounding documentary that captures its audience early and never let’s go. Full of important stories and experiences, this is an essential watch.
Sweetheart ★★★ 1/2 – BFI Flare
Marley Morrison’s feature debut, Sweetheart, takes ahold of you with its striking charm and sharp dialogue. Coupled with strong performances, this is as entertaining as it is relatable.
Dramarama ★★★★ – BFI Flare
Dramarama gets everything right and becomes the coming of age story that others strive to be. A film that surprises with how strongly it connects causing you to reminisce to your younger days when you were on the cusp of university. A terrific film.
Firebird ★★★ – BFI Flare
While Firebird is a very earnest film, it never allows itself to go through the gears of creating something as emotional as it thinks it should be. By doing this, Peeter Rebane’s film comes across as underwritten and fails to have us fall for the characters on the screen.
Cowboys ★★★★ – BFI Flare
Anna Kerrigan’s Cowboys is a family drama full of emotion and nuance that stays true to itself. This intimate story is as honest as they come.
Cured ★★★★ – BFI Flare
Cured is a film that celebrates the struggle for LGBTQ rights in an era where a simple line in a book stole their freedom for decades. This film has a direct motive in highlighting and educating its audience, to which it does so tremendously.
My First Summer – ★★★★ 1/2 BFI Flare
My First Summer is such a delicate film full of tenderness and love that you can’t help but fall head over heels with it. From the absorbing script to the beautiful cinematography and the standout performances from its leads. Katie Found’s debut feature is one to cherish.
Sacrifice – ★★★
Sacrifice is a horror that forgets that it is trying to tell its audience a story and instead focuses on giving us beautiful shots and imagery. With an able cast who do their best, they are hindered by an underwritten script.
The Greenhouse ★★★★★ BFI Flare
The Greenhouse is a film that is ambitious, and you can see how much heart Wilson-White has given to it; this is a film that stays with you long after you have finished watching it. A hauntingly beautiful picture.
Lava (2019) – ★★★
Lava finds Buenos Aires in a state of chaos as giant snakes, cats and witches start taking out people one by one. This entertaining, albeit all too short feature, is a lighthearted adult animation that will bring the chuckles and you asking for more. Débora, a lonely tattoo artist, endeavours to
Silk Road (2021) – ★★★
Silk Road sees documentarian Tiller Russell venture into dramatic fare with a story that should be right up his alley. Yet by altering this true story, some of the emphasis is lost, hindering itself from the get-go.
The Columnist – ★★★★
Ivo van Aarts horror satire delights in asking questions about free speech, censorship and validation in an online world. This sharp film is an absolute must-watch.
Fukushima 50 – ★★★
While Fukushima 50 comes from a more fact-based background, it can pinpoint how close Japan was to total disaster and how a small group of plant workers became heroes. An emotionally rewarding film of heroism.
Last Moment of Clarity – ★★ 3/4
Last Moment of Clarity is a thriller in all but name only; we have a film with endless possibilities, but it never has a chance to breathe due to its truncating runtime.
The Ice Cream Truck (2017) – ★★ 3/4
Lost in what direction and story it wants to tell, a film that could have so much promise as a drama or a horror. Instead, this mishmash doesn’t go far enough with either subplot to make itself felt.
The Winter Lake – ★★★
Phil Sheerin’s bleak Irish drama is held together thanks to its four leads and some superb direction. The Winter Lake slightly lacks in its plot development; however, those wanting a low key mystery drama are in for a treat.
Come True – ★★★★
Anthony Scott Burns moody and lo-fi science fiction film has echoes of Cronenberg as it stylishly engrosses yet at the same time unsettles. A terrific movie that is a gem ready to be discovered by audiences.
The Stylist (Arrow) – ★★★★
Jill Gevargizian continues her upward trajectory as a filmmaker with her strong feature debut The Stylist. Led by the empathetic yet murderous Najarra Townsend, we are given a film that expands upon her 2016 short tremendously.
Lucky (Shudder) – ★★★ 1/2
It may not seem it at first, but Natasha Kermani’s Lucky is an angry film that challenges its audience while still wearing its heart firmly on its bloody sleeve. A sharp film that makes it’s presence felt.
Butchers – ★★ 3/4
A decent homage to the well worn hill billy films. Butchers has the potential to be far more better than it ends up being floundering by being just too predictable with its story and plentiful clichés.
Gatecrash – ★★★★
Laurence Gough’s second feature is a film that you cannot predict, and from the tense and harrowing opening, the audience will not be able to peel their eyes away from the screen. A true gem of a picture.
Demons and Demons 2 – Arrow Boxset ★★★★ 1/2
Lamberto Bava’s essential Italian horror films Demons and Demons 2 are getting the Ultra 4K treatment from Arrow. This marvelous boxset is a must buy chocked full of extras and commentaries. An splatter fest joy.
Shogun’s Joy of Torture – ★★★★
Exploitation cinema has been around for a very long time; how long? Well, Shogun’s Joy of Torture was made in 1968, and it has been given the complete Arrow Video treatment in this wonderfully depraved Blu Ray release.
Wrong Turn 2021 – ★★★ 3/4
We have a film striving to take a big step away from its predecessors, and it is all the better for doing so. Wrong Turn is an intense, well-written horror that puts its solid stamp on the genre.
The Owners – ★★★
Never rob from someone you know. That is the lesson in Julius Berg’s The Owners. . Not a knockout, but it might knock your granny’s false teeth out.
What Lies Below – ★★★ 3/4
Braden R. Duemmler’s What Lies Below is a stylish sci-fi horror driven by its three exceptional leads. With a great premise with a multitude of interesting elements, this is an atmospheric film not to let sneak under your radar.
The Curse of Dracula – ★★★ 1/4
A film that really comes from nowhere to become a surprising joy of a horror.
Skin Collector (aka Shiver) 2012 – ★★
Despite a strong performance from Danielle Harris, Skin Collector is held down by it’s laugh out loud bad script. With some great ideas, this should be far better than it eventually ended up being. Such a disappointment.
The Nightingale – ★★★★ Blu Ray
Jennifer Kent’s The Nightingale is an extraordinary bold film that is never afraid to go where others dare not. Coupled with performances that will live long in the memory, this is a film that needs to be seen.
Shook ★★★ 1/2 – Shudder release
Jennifer Harrington’s feature is a stylish horror with a great premise. It’s problematic opening half is far outweighed by its excellent second. Shook offers a scathing look at the effects of social media on today’s influencer crazed society. A film that has so much potential, but just doesn’t quite hit
Ashes in the Snow ★★★ – Digital Release
A heartbreaking tale of losing one’s innocence during Soviet occupation, by a regime that cares as little for you or its soldiers. It struggles to remain compelling despite some particularly strong performances.
Anti-Life (aka Breach) ★★
A film that has its moments, but is seriously held back by some of the disinterested cast and CGI effects that time forgot. Anti-Life could be so much better than it ends up being. A real shame.
Broil ★★★ – Digital Release
Broil brings with it an interesting premise and a sprinkling of great moments. Yet struggles with this potential. In the end actually needing more runtime to flesh itself out. However, this is still a film where much reward can be found.
Clementine (2019) ★★★ – Digital Release
Lara Jean Gallagher’s feature debut takes us on a slow journey filled with mystery and questions as it has the viewer sink into its interesting mood. Sadly it leads itself astray, but not enough to lose the audience.
Hurt By Paradise ★★★ – Digital Release
Greta Bellemacina’s Hurt By Paradise is a whimsically charming piece that floats through its running time by rarely giving its audience something to grab onto to fully embrace both of the leads.
Tammy and the T-Rex ★★1/2 – Blu Ray Review
Tammy and The T-Rex is a shamelessly fun B-Movie that has been given its rightful cut by 101 Films. An utter joy of a cult comedy horror.