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.
Tag: review
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.
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.
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.
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.
Let’s Scare Julie ★★★ 1/2 – Digital release
Let’s Scare Julie is a bold one-take horror that is rife with tension thanks to its excellent young cast, it just doesn’t provide us with enough scares.
Here Awhile ★★★ 1/2 – Digital release
Here Awhile is a sensitively written and directed piece that is enhanced by two fantastic turns by the Anna Camp and Steven Strait. A careful and thoughtful film.
Fall of a Kingdom ★★★
Fall of a Kingdom that others decent action and is beautifully shot. The overly long first act drags but soon picks up to reach a satisfying conclusion.
Akira (1988) ★★★★★ – 50 Mondays of Sci-Fi
We return to our 50 Mondays of Sci-Fi series with the anime of the 80s Katsuhiro Otomo’s astounding and influential Akira (1988)
In Search of Darkness (2019) – ★★★★★
As In Search of Darkness states, the 80s was a booming time in the horror genre. There is a very good reason why the last 20 years has been rife with remakes from that period. Due to political frustrations at the time and a myriad of other fears of things
Borat Subsequent Moviefilm ★★★★
Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, may have not had the same level of surprise as the first film. But it is still nonetheless wholly effective in its message and enhanced greatly with the inclusion of Maria Bakalova. In Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once
Siberia ★★★★ – LFF 2020
Abel Ferrara and frequent collaborator Willem Dafoe join forces in Siberia, a film that explores experimental cinema to its fullest. Clint (Willem Dafoe) lives in a snowed-in wooded area of Siberia. Tending to his small desolate bar. Isolated from the rest of mankind until they visit him he gets by
Shirley ★★★ – LFF 2020
Elisabeth Moss is spellbinding in Josephine Decker’s chaotic drama Shirley that has a story that isn’t on the same level as the performances and style. When we first meet Shirley (Elisabeth Moss), soon to become America’s queen of horror fiction. She seems to be a sad, drunken shut-in, married to