Tag: Sci-fi

The Sacred Spirit

Interesting and intense directorial choices find the sweet spot where absurdity, anxiety and satisfaction coexist in harmony. 

/ April 13, 2022

The Inner Friend

Much like the work of Don DeLillo or David Lynch, the narrative summons more questions and mysteries than conclusions or answers.

/ May 18, 2020

Cell

Stephen King cultists will find the humour and originality of the author firmly intact, but perhaps only in fragments and flashes.

/ August 24, 2016

Frankenstein (2015)

Bernard Rose’s Frankenstein is a compelling and thought-provoking yarn that retains an air of unpredictability.

/ February 22, 2016

The Haunting of Black Wood

A carefully constructed and deliberately vague set-up that milks every ounce of tension, with twists coming thick and fast.

/ February 2, 2015

Killer Klowns from Outer Space

An absurd, one-gag pony, but these alien clowns look incredible even now.

/ September 14, 2014

After

With its engaging themes of destiny, fate, and redemption, After emerges as a strangely touching and haunting film.

/ May 26, 2014

Frankenstein (TV Miniseries, 2004)

A bloodless take that merely skims the surface of the story’s rich depth. Uninspiring direction further renders this dreary.

/ January 3, 2014

Lifeforce

Unstrained and anarchic, Lifeforce may not be considered Hooper’s best work, but it’s certainly one of his most wildly entertaining.

/ October 10, 2013

FrightFest: Antisocial

Compare Antisocial to projects with similar production constraints, and there is no parallel in terms of cinematic experience.

/ August 23, 2013

FrightFest: The Dyatlov Pass Incident

The final act crosses the line between fantastical to slightly amusing ridiculousness.

/ August 23, 2013

Konga

A hoot from beginning to end, this is sheer B-movie lunacy of remarkably bad proportions, and all the more essential for it.

/ May 13, 2013

The Corridor

A movie which feels like the filmmakers knew what they wanted to achieve, but were unsure on how to go about it.

/ April 4, 2013

Repeaters

Accepted for what it is, an enjoyable experience which admirably avoided becoming Groundhog Day in another guise.

/ March 22, 2013

The Bay

Piecing together its story in multi-format, it's an interesting spin on found footage, but it falls victim to an over-zealous edit.

/ March 18, 2013

Piranha

Schlocky good fun, but Piranha straddles the line between dull and entertaining, twiddling its thumbs between fish attacks.

/ January 23, 2013

Cube

Vincenzo Natali's debut holds a beauty in purity that matches the mathematical conundrum its characters find themselves in.

/ October 15, 2012

The Curse of Frankenstein

The transfer does not hold quite the same clarity as other recent restorations; an important package nonetheless.

/ October 15, 2012

Arachnoquake

There's very little to recommend this film; any comedy present is lacklustre, while the predictability is too pronounced.

/ September 26, 2012

Dragon Wasps

The biggest mistake here is that the genetically-engineered insects of the title take a backseat. Truly dreadful.

/ September 12, 2012

Underground

Dreadful acting and a basic, sweary script is the order of the day, with poor use of light making the film difficult to follow.

/ September 3, 2012

Chernobyl Diaries

The set piece needs more attention, but the attacks are done reasonably well, an instil of progressive tension reasonably effective.

/ June 22, 2012

Island of Lost Souls

The foreboding set piece complements the horrific story wonderfully, while Charles Laughton is genuinely sinister.

/ May 27, 2012

The Rig

The Rig fails to capitalise on any initial potential and becomes more tedious with every dragging minute of screen time.

/ October 26, 2011

Attack the Block

Stands on its own two feet amongst the usual Brit comedy suspects, which is largely due to its cast of unknowns.

/ April 22, 2011