DVD/Blu-Ray Review
Blu-Ray Review: Jigsaw
The days of horror franchises (regardless if the films are any good or not) are back and the blame/credit should probably go to Saw. In 2004, director James Wan and writer Leigh Whannell introduced the world to The Jigsaw Killer and his deadly torture challenges. Six sequels, of varying quality followed, but the release of …
Blu-Ray Review: Breathe
It’s that time of the year where producers and studios have one eye on the awards circuit. There’s nothing judging panels like more than a tale of success in the face of adversity. The likes of The Theory of Everything, The King’s Speech, Hidden Figures, Captain Phillips and 127 Hours all scored big. One would …
DVD Review: Beyond the Woods
Woods and forests have played an important role in fairy tales, folk stories and legends, through the generations. Whether it’s the helpful woodland spirits and mischievous fairies of Russian folklore, the evil witch’s gingerbread house in Hansel & Gretel or as a home for the trolls of Norwegian fable. They’ve also loomed large over many …
Blu-ray Review: Brimstone
Whilst in many ways the Old West was a lawless place, that didn’t mean to say that a lot of people didn’t hold fast to religion. As you’d expect in a such a wild and unforgiving place, the (fire)brand of Christianity favoured was that of Hellfire and damnation. In Westerns, preachers are not always benevolent, …
Blu-Ray Review: The Colour of Pomegranates
Sergei Parajanov will be an unfamiliar name to most Western readers, however he was notorious and famous within cinematic circles of Soviet Union during the 1960s and 1970s. His directorial vision was at odds with the social realism demanded by the regime. He was frequently in trouble with the authorities, banned from working and ultimately …
Blu-Ray Review: Once Were Warriors
Ever since Peter Jackson brought Frodo and Bilbo Baggins to the big screen, the New Zealand film industry has often seemed to double as an advert for the national tourist board. However, Kiwi cinema has produced a rich tapestry of life, with films such as The Whale Rider and The Dark Horse showing a side …
Blu-Ray Review: Ice Cold in Alex
The subject of World War II has been approached from almost every conceivable angle by film-makers. Most dwell on the major events or pivotal moments in the conflict. J. Lee Thompson preferred to focus on the smaller skirmishes and battles, concentrating on the peripheries or human stories. He did this successfully in the big budget …
DVD Review: The Mimic
Whilst Asian film-makers have revitalised genre cinema over the past few decades, the plaudits are usually bestowed upon Japan. The economic boom in Korea led to the resurgence of its national cinema industry around the turn of the century. This sparked a thriving market for horror films, the most notable being Whispering Corridors (and its …
Blu-Ray Review: Michael
Without doubt, Carl Theodor Dreyer was one of the greatest directors of the silent era. He’s best remembered for The Passion of Joan of Arc, but he made a number of notable films, including Leaves on Satan’s, Master of the House and Michael. Whilst his brief forays into talkies also proved fruitful, it’s his silent …
Blu-Ray Review: House (Hausu)
When it comes to iconic, baffling and outsider cinema, there’s no country in the world which can hold a candle to Japan. Ranging from the intentionally obtuse to the downright bonkers, for decades Japanese experimental film-makers have pushed the boundaries of taste and logic. Whilst the work of the likes of Miike and Sono may …