Bloody Brilliant Horror

My partner is not a fan of a lot of the horror films I watch, but on walking into the room half way through this, a smirk appeared and he sat down to watch the rest of the film.

This is small budget, scurrilous satire I highly recommend you adding to your DVD collection.

You can read my review over on Starburst.

Terracotta Distribution recently released Hansel & Gretel on Blu-ray and it looks amazing on this format. A sad and fascinating fantasy story that takes elements from the Brothers Grimm fairy-tale and twists them to ask the question ‘what would happen if the children never got saved’? A continuous carousel like nightmare plays out in the seemingly idyllic setting of a pastel hued house in a deep forest. 

 You can read my review over on Starburst 

 

Another Terracotta DVD release is Desire to Kill  which comes out on 20th August. You can read my review over on Cinetalk

Other horror titles I have reviewed recently are Lovely Molly which I thought  had a lot of potential...You can read my review over on the fabulous Filmoria 

And although it is not what I would classify as bloody brilliant I did enjoy 

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter as it made me laugh A LOT!

You can read my review over on Starburst

Electrick Children, Brooklyn Brothers, Joyful Noise and the Art of Rap

A lingering love story filled with the curiosity of youth and the gentle nature of innocence. It flows to a modern beat of rock and the timeless tempo of the Utah and Nevada landscape.  An exceptional debut from Rebecca Thomas; can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.  

You can read my review here and I also interviewed Rebecca whose next film will involve Mermaids.. You can read the interview here. 

  The Brooklyn Brothers Beat the Best is another directorial debut from Ryan O Nan who also writes and stars in this musical road trip movie of sorts that starts slowly but strums along nicely once it gets going. Andrew McCarthy makes an appearance!

You can read my review here.

Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton throw bread rolls at each other, sing some songs and give some good old advice to their children and grandchildren in the gospel choir duelling picture, Joyful Noise.

My love for Dolly Parton knows no bounds! 9 to 5 was her finest movie moment (I think we can all agree on that) but to watch her dancing with (the ghost of) Kris Kristofferson under the moonlight was pretty special too!

You can read my review here.

Ice-T meets with a bunch of his friends from the world of rap to discuss their craft.  Each artist shares their different approach and all come across as passionate. The foundations of rap are focused on, the importance of performance, and the creative process of each is fascinating to learn about making this a fine tribute. 

You can read my review of Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap here.

The Dark Knight Rises

It finally arrives tomorrow and it is pretty good, you can read my review over on Starburst

The masks are cool and everything but Selina Kyle wears some wicked boots. Someone send me a pair. Juno Temple makes her way into the Nolan gang too (loved her in Killer Joe and Dirty Girl).

Brave

Pixar do it again! You can read my review over on Starburst

In cinemas Scotland and Ireland : Aug 3rd

In cinemas England and Wales : Aug 13th

Review: Seeking a Friend for the End of the World

“I’m not a survivalist, I’m an optimist!”

Lorene Scafaria’s directorial debut shows promise, with her background as a screenwriter penning Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist her knack for writing a funny line and setting up some amusing and poignant scenes is clear. The soundtrack suits the pensive mood for an end of the world setting and though it falls on the sentimental side it works. Scafaria mixes apocalyptic mind set with road trip adventure and the jovial tone works extremely well for the first half of the film. Unfortunately the “friend” aspect of the film is lost to a romantic storyline between the two lead characters, Dodge (Steve Carrell) and Penny (Keira Knightley). 

There are 21 days left until a meteor hits the earth. Dodge has been abandoned by his wife and Penny regrets her life as a serial monogamist. Both are reflecting on their lives and their misspent ways when Penny stumbles through Dodge’s apartment window and they first meet despite being neighbours for years.  Dodge looks to his first love whereas Penny is looking to reconnect with her family and they both take to the road in search of the void in their lives. Disconnect, loneliness and lack of community spirit are the themes explored, but what it all comes down to is the question, “what would you do if the world was about to end? “ Priorities are changed and rules are thrown out the window making a marvellous first hour of viewing.  The pair cling on to the only pillar of hope they can which is the promise of fulfilment through human connection.  With material items losing value a relationship formed on the road steers these two to their obvious end. 

This is an end of the world comedy that after a strong start takes a turn into romantic schmaltz.  For the most part Scafaria’s strong, witty script keeps the momentum chugging along. People taking drugs, letting their kids get drunk, engaging in promiscuous sexual activity and basically all the conduct of a society on the edge are presented in an exceptionally funny way. Dodge and Penny don't feel fully developed as characters, and though both Carrell and Knightley give good performances, it is hard to believe in their forming relationship. Though mostly charming, it seems to lose the comedic, laid back vibe half way through in favour of mainstream predictability with the emphasis moved from friendship to amorous sentimentality. 

Released in the UK on 13th July