DVD/Blu-Ray Review
Blu-ray Review: The Ape Woman
The popularity of the circus reached its height during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. An excitable public went seeking spectacular marvels and freak shows were a staple. These sideshows usually featured a bearded lady. Julia Pastrana was born with a genetic condition, hypertrichosis terminalis, which meant she was covered with thick black hair. …
Blu-ray Review: The Monster
Anyone watching TV during the 1980s will recognise Joan Collins. Indeed, for several generations of Britons she will always be the ever-scheming Alexis Colby. A character she played in Dynasty for the best part of a decade and who became a stalwart of popular culture. While it might come as a surprise, she’s had a …
Blu-Ray Review: The Dark Eyes of London
Bela Lugosi remains one of the most iconic and recognisable faces in horror cinema. Most famous for his portrayal of Dracula in the pre-code Universal Pictures version of Bram Stoker’s ‘Count’, the Hungarian actor went on to play a number of memorable roles. However, his career was stunted by his thick accent and later addiction …
Film Review: Monstrum
Throughout history, evil and power-hungry men have created fictional monsters in order to control people. Religion is the most obvious example, which has been used for thousands of years as a means of social control. Every society is full of myths and legends. Cautionary tales of fantastical creatures and supernatural beings to keep citizens on …
Blu-Ray Review: One of Our Aircraft is Missing
No one made films quite like Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. Cinema which lifted the spirits until they soared. They collaborated twenty-four times in total, between 1939 and 1972, making some of the greatest British features of all time. The likes of A Matter of Life and Death, The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp …
Blu-ray Review: Beasts of No Nation
Whilst most, if not all, people reading this will have had a childhood, in many places around the world it’s far from guaranteed. Growing up in a stable and relatively affluent country means that schooling, play, learning etc is the norm. Indeed, the former is a legal requirement in most of the developed world. Although …
Blu-Ray Review: The Lighthouse
There’s nothing little Englanders like more than to reference ‘the war’. Indeed, this has always been the case and martial language has seeped into many aspects of our daily lives. Used by populist politicians as a dog whistle to imbue people with a sense of nationalistic pride. Conflict is often glamorised on our screens, although …
Blu-Ray Review: Paranormal Activity
One of the most contentious and derided areas of horror cinema is the sub-genre of found footage films. It’s a conceit that was occasionally used in the past but first came to prominence with the release of The Blair Witch Project in 1999. It has been used badly so many times since, but had a …
Blu-ray Review: Duel to the Death
When Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon was released in 2000 it became a massive box office hit and captured the imagination of film fans across the world, spawning a number of imitators. However, its popularity didn’t come as a surprise to some. Ching Siu-tung, aka Tony Ching, had been working as a director and stunt coordinator …
Film Review: The Servant
While Dirk Bogarde was one of the greatest British actors of his generation, he’s probably best remembered for starring in the ‘Doctor’ film series. During the 1950s, after completing his war service, the Londoner first came to prominence as a matinée idol. However, it was his later work which brought him the most critical acclaim. …