A gripping western-horror hybrid filled with strong characterisation, S. Craig Zahler proves his filmmaking instincts are on point in his debut feature. Yes his films are long and slow, but make no mistake, they are deliberately paced to allow the character work to shine through, which pays off later on.
Continue reading “Show no mercy… ‘Bone Tomahawk’ Review”
I like Zack Snyder, so I was odds-on going to like his latest effort – a brazenly wild attempt to combine heist action and zombie horror. The result is a flawed but enjoyable bout of glitz and gore.
Continue reading “No guts, no glory… ‘Army of the Dead’ Review”
Great director. Great cast. Average movie. ‘The Newton Boys’ has a compelling, fact-based story at its core about America’s most successful and non-violent bank robbers, but its impact is curtailed by an uneven tone.
Continue reading “Path of least resistance… ‘The Newton Boys’ Review”
Polish horror drama ‘Werewolf’ concerns a group of children recently liberated from a Nazi concentration camp. As they settle into an abandoned mansion deep in the forest, they not only have to overcome thirst and hunger, but also fend off a pack of vicious dogs…
Continue reading “Beyond enemy lines… ‘Werewolf’ Review”Warning – Spoilers
Director Sam Mendes and cinematographer Roger Deakins combine their talents to deliver an epic war film that is not only a flawless technical achievement worth marvelling at all by itself, but an emotional experience that’ll leave you breathless. It’s a feeling many films of its ilk strive for, but few can succeed at those lofty ambitions of hitting all the right notes across the sensory spectrum.
Gore > Style > Substance. A disappointing way of approaching directing, Rob Zombie frustrates because he shows flashes of talent, but leans too heavily on tired formula. He prides bloody violence over character development, relies on shoddy writing to fill in the gaps between bloodshed, and fails to distinguish this horror film from being another straight-to-DVD exercise in banality.
Continue reading “’31’ – Rob Zombie’s latest bloody disappointment”“Can you spy him, deep within? Little Possum, black as sin.”
Disturbing psychological drama Possum starts with promise: disgraced children’s puppeteer Philip (Sean Harris) returns home with the intention of destroying his hideous puppet, while confronting the traumas of his past and his unpleasant Uncle (Alun Armstrong).
Continue reading “‘Possum’ Review”Imagine the world we live in now, but eclipsed with advanced technology. Picture an augmented human race, apply a thick gloss of neon to the cityscape, and witness new rules initiated by illicit cybernetic modifications that redefine someone’s structure.
A cyberpunk reality.
From the first frame to the final image, Mandy is a work of art that has been crafted by a director with a distinct vision and confidence in his ideas. Panos Cosmatos melds abstract landscapes and otherworldly weaponry into a simple story, crosses unlikely genres of psychedelic romance with demonic fantasy, and creates a bold, blood-red hellscape of stunning sights and sounds.
“There is a place in time where dreams and reality collide.”
The Minds Journal
The SS Criticism 