A spectacular miss can still be a hell of a swing. Nope is stuffed full of tantalising visual ideas. In fact, it is a bit of a technical showpiece, a filmmaking tour de force. Even the editing, pronounced though it is, has style and swagger. It is a confident picture, one which wears its biggest … Continue reading Nope (Review)
Tag: horror
Men (Review)
A horror film where the antagonist is the patriarchy is not necessarily a novel concept, at least as subtext, but the bluntness of Men is certainly very different. Our protagonist, Harper (Jessie Buckley) is a victim of abuse, specifically abuse by a male in a way that is facilitated by patriarchal dynamics. Her discomfort in … Continue reading Men (Review)
Scream (2022) (Review)
We need to talk about the Scream sequels. Fundamentally, they don't work. Though two and four are fun enough films that have some independent thrills, direct continuation of Scream is a fool's endeavour. Apart from being just a kickass slasher, Scream works because it was new and because it was deconstructive. Sequels, direct sequels that … Continue reading Scream (2022) (Review)
Titane (Review)
I distinctly remember being stunned by the trailer for Julia Ducournau's Titane. It was hardly surprising, really, her debut feature, Raw, is one of my all-time favourite films. My prevailing feeling from Titane's trailer was one of wonder: how could this staggering barrage of imagery all fit into one film? Unfortunately, this reaction turned out … Continue reading Titane (Review)
Halloween Kills (Review)
Michael Myers is back again, again... Again. It's the premise that launched countless Halloween sequels, you know that guy we defeated in the last movie, well, what if it turned out we didn't? So, The Shape, The Boogeyman, evil incarnate, the occasional brother to Laurie Strode and sometimes subject of the Thorn Rune (bring back … Continue reading Halloween Kills (Review)
Candyman (2021) (Review)
A good horror movie gravitates around a strong central metaphor. With the original Candyman, the premise leads to a lot of wider symbolic opportunity: an evergreen centre that can be applied in multiple ways and in different contexts. Nia DaCosta's reboot, and semi-sequel, takes full advantage of this. In fact, it gets lost in taking … Continue reading Candyman (2021) (Review)
In the Earth (Review)
Ben Wheatley's career continues to be fascinating. Dark, independent features like Kill List and A Field In England (and Sightseers) led him to adapting J.G Ballard's High-Rise, and - now equipped with more resources than ever - he followed that up with a low-key, single location shoot-out film with a star-studded cast (the wonderful Free … Continue reading In the Earth (Review)
Things Heard and Seen (Review)
Sometimes, you have to give a film credit for trying. And, you know what, Things Heard and Seen (another disposable Netflix film that has gained attention purely to a couple of notable stars) certainly tries. It tries to touch on wider themes: transcendental and theological horror (hinting at Blakean and more widely Romanticist concepts); cycles … Continue reading Things Heard and Seen (Review)
Psycho Goreman (Review)
Horror-comedy Psycho Goreman is exactly the kind of film you expect from something called Pscyho Goreman. The title is a wonderful litmus test: if you hear it and want to watch it, it will scratch the itch you’re looking for; if you are the kind of strange being not excited by a film called Psycho … Continue reading Psycho Goreman (Review)
NastyPALs 27: Flesh for Frankenstein
A classic for a reason? Maybe. https://soundcloud.com/user-782108692/27-flesh-for-frankenstein
Assorted Opinions 