Shudder UK
Film Review: The Advent Calendar
Physical disabilities have been used in genre cinema dating back to the silent era, but usually not in a good way. Traditionally, the ‘bad guy’ or ‘monster’ had some form of seen or unseen disability. Thankfully, we’ve come a long way (unless it’s a Bond film) but this stereotype often still persists. Horror filmmakers have …
Film Review: Slaxx
The ‘villain’ in horror cinema comes in many shapes and sizes, including strange mythical creatures, supernatural terrors, terrifying children or simply just a human who has gone very, very bad. The one thing they usually have in common is that they’re living, breathing, intelligent entities. But that’s not always the case. We’ve been tormented by …
Film Review: A Nightmare Wakes
Mary Shelley, nee Wollstonecraft, knew what it’s like to be a woman scorned. For decades she was considered just a bit player in a group which included husband Percy and Lord Byron, often also overshadowed by her parents (William Godwin & Mary Wollstonecraft). Even after writing Frankenstein, she was constantly undermined by questions over its …
Film Review: The Queen of Black Magic
At the end of last century, horror cinema had lost its mojo. After the golden age of the 1980s and the rise of big franchises, the next decade was a damp squib. However, the twenty-first century has seen a huge resurgence, initially sparked by Japanese and South Korean films. In recent years, Indonesia has shown …
Film Review – Leap of Faith: William Friedkin on the Exorcist
Whilst there have been many iconic films over the history of genre cinema, few have had such an impact and lasting appeal as The Exorcist. Whether that’s through the number of scenes which have become entrenched in popular culture or the whole controversy it generated upon release. Whilst Mark Kermode’s favourite film is now almost …
Film Review: Random Acts of Violence
Violence is seemingly everywhere in the modern world, seeping into every aspect of our culture. In our books, comics, video games, films, TV and all over the internet. Turn on the news and you’re never too far away from it. The argument that violent movies, comics or computer games act as catalysts for barbarism has …
Film Review: La Llorona
It’s easy when you sit in a place of privilege to look at horror as simply being the unknown and unexplained. Whether that’s vampires, spectres and other spooks of the night or something not quite of this Earth. All too often, the things that cause the most terror in us are much closer to home. …
Film Review: The Beach House
The unknown can be scary. As humans, we are programmed to look for, even demand, explanation. When it’s not forthcoming, it can leave us with a hollow uncertainty. There’s a fine balance within storytelling between mystery and contrivance. Often, as much of the work of H.P. Lovecraft attests, ambiguity can leave the longest lasting impression. …
Film Review: Scare Package
As any good horror movie fan knows, there are many, many tropes which have been prevalent within the genre for decades. More often than not, it’s the depressing case of a directors lazily copying what has gone before. However, increasingly we’re seeing intelligent, innovative and inspired takes on familiar themes. This is a particular popular …
Film Review: The Wrath
Whilst being cursed today would probably either involve a string of invective or uncontrollable laughter, it was no joking matter only a few hundred years ago. Especially in some of the more superstitious societies, and very few could equal Korea during the Joseon period. It is an era captured frequently in films and on TV. …