Tag: Jerry Sampson
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REVIEW: Cult Hero (2022)
dir. Jesse Thomas Cook There’s a charm to Jesse Thomas Cook’s latest that can’t be denied: by-the-books in many ways its slapstick humour and over-the-top antics show a wry self-awareness, with Cult Hero knowing exactly what it is; silly, gory fun. Ryan Barrett is a standout as Dale Domazar, a reality TV cult deprogrammer who’s fallen on tough…
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REVIEW: Megalomaniac (2022)
dir. Karim Ouelhaj Extreme horror is, to put it lightly, not for everyone. But for those who desire a visceral, disturbing experience it’s the ideal conduit for exploring boundaries which are taboo or subversive. In this director Karim Ouelhaj has created an incredibly impressive and utterly brutal examination of evil in his latest, shocking feature.…
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REVIEW: The Ghost Writer (2022)
dir. Paul Wilkins There’s no shortage of allegory-soaked films that focus on the paralysing fear of creative obstruction, and the horror genre is the perfect place to explore such terrors. In this The Ghost Writer, from writer Guy Fee and co-writer / director Paul Wilkins, makes a valiant effort at tackling such themes in an innovative way…
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REVIEW: Incredible But True (2022)
dir. Quentin Dupieux Sometimes, when dealing with time travel, the best explanation is no explanation at all. And that’s exactly what makes director Dupieux’s latest work; the whimsy of the narrative and impossibility of the science lending to a joyous, heartwarming and – at times – heartbreaking comedy about ageing and growing apart. The French-Belgian production…
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REVIEW: Raven’s Hollow (2022)
dir. Christopher Hatton The influence of Edgar Allan Poe is strongly felt throughout contemporary horror films, in both subtle and more overt ways – the latter of which Raven’s Hollow fully embraces. Influenced by classic poem The Raven, Christopher Hatton’s film sees a young Poe (William Moseley) and his group of West Point cadet friends in 1830 stumble…
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REVIEW: Cross the Line (2020)
dir. David Victori Boasting the aesthetic of Gaspar Noé without actually being a Noé film director David Victori’s sophomore outing focuses on Dani (Mario Casas), a young man whose father has just died and who’s challenged by his sister Laura (Elisabeth Larena) to step out of his comfort zone and travel the world. The result…
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REVIEW: Some Like It Rare (2021)
dir. Fabrice Éboué Everyone enjoys a good love story. But when affections begin to fade, are there any lengths too extreme to reignite that forgotten spark? For Vincent (director Fabrice Éboué) and Sophie Pascal (Marina Foïs), the answer is a deranged no. The owners of a failing butcher shop, the couple stumble upon a stroke…
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REVIEW: A Cloud So High (2022)
dir. Christopher Lee Parson Utilizing psychedelic visuals, recurring echoes and a whole slew of differing – and at times clashing – themes, Christopher Lee Parson’s feature debut attempts to capture the mental breakdown of a young man recently discharged from the military as he returns to a dysfunctional home, and a society that doesn’t know…
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TOP 10: Films of 2021
It’s been another tough year across the board, but horror cinema has continued to thrive, showcasing a veritable smorgasbord of incredible films. Here we polled our contributors to come up with our Top 10 of 2021… 10. Come True Anthony Scott Burns’ film is a cracking combination of Carpenter and Craven, a nightmarish journey with…
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31 DAYS OF HORROR #24: Jerry Sampson on THE DARK AND THE WICKED (2020)
Spoilers Horror critic and screenwriter Jerry Sampson examines Bryan Bertino’s 2020 shocker, and the layers of family lies, secrets and trauma within… The thing about fear is that it can elude you if you indulge too often. You begin to forget how heavily that pit sits in your stomach, the faint taste of iron in…
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