John Carpenter’s original Halloween from 1978 is an iconic horror film because of its Hitchcockian suspense, clever use of creepy music and its memorable characters, particularly Jamie Lee Curtis’ heroine Laurie, Donald Pleasence’ hammy Dr Loomis and of course the indestructible, knife-wielding killer Michael Myers. While it didn’t originate the slasher genre it certainly set the modern template for it
Read moreGhost Stories is an effective horror anthology with touches of Edgar Allen Poe and the Twilight Zone but most notably, British films of the 1960’s and 70’s like Vault of Horror. There’s also a hint of Charlie Brooker’s acerbic and morbid morality tales. The film centres on Professor Phillip Goodman (Andy Nyman who also co-wrote and co-directs) a prominent TV
Read moreThe Nun is the latest spin-off from the Conjuring supernatural horror movie series. The two Conjuring films themselves were thrilling, intense and unnerving spookfests but the spin-offs to date, such as Annabelle, have been underwhelming. Unfortunately, despite some extravagant set-pieces, The Nun is also a disappointment. Set in the 1950’s, the film sees Jesuit Priest, Father Burke (Demian Birchir) despatched
Read moreSome may recall filmmakers Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead’s intriguing and perplexing doomsday cult drama Resolution from 2012. While not a sequel to that film, sci-fi/ horror flick The Endless explores a similar world in equally odd, brain-twisting fashion. This is one of those labour of love movie projects in which the producers, in this case Benson and Moorhead, are
Read moreAnnabelle: Creation is the competently made but tepid origin story for the sinister doll that creeped the bejeezus out of everyone in the Conjuring movies. Set in three time periods but predominantly the 1950’s, the film features a group of orphaned girls who take up residence at the dilapidated farm house inhabited by grumpy, taciturn Mr Mullins (Anthony LaPaglia) his
Read morePost-apocalyptic survivalist thriller It Comes at Night is a stylish slow-burn film that delivers palpable tension and some effective scares but suffers due to its minimalist plot. Joel Edgerton and Carmen Ejogo and Kelvin Harrison Jr play Paul, Sarah and Travis one of what seems to be few surviving families following an unnamed global catastrophe. Eking out a rugged existence
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